Bethesda Chevy Chase Baseball, Inc.

Major League Rules and Regulations

For the 2021-2022 Seasons

League Office Rules Committee Copies Available 40a Southlawn Court 40a Southlawn Court On the internet at Rockville, MD 20850 Rockville, MD 20850 www.bccbaseball.com Phone: 301-229-2724 [email protected]

BCC Baseball – Major League Rules – 2021/2022

Table of Contents C. Defensive Coaching ...... 7 1. General ...... 3 7. Safety Protocols and Equipment Usage .. 8 A. League Policies ...... 3 A. Batting ...... 8 B. Age ...... 3 B. Helmets/Protective Cups ...... 8 C. Official Players ...... 3 C. Bat Limitations/Violations ...... 8 D. Number of Players ...... 3 D. Catcher Equipment ...... 8 E. Official Games/Time Limits...... 3 E. Cleats ...... 8 F. Official Schedule ...... 4 F. Game Ball ...... 8 2. Pre-game: ...... 4 G. Uniform ...... 8 A. Line-Ups...... 4 8. Thunder and Lightning ...... 8 B. Specific Field Ground Rules ...... 5 9. Other ...... 8 C. Scoring the Game ...... 5 A. Hectoring ...... 8 D. Field Setup ...... 5 B. Warnings/Ejections ...... 9 E. Run Limit...... 5 C. Familiarity with Rules ...... 9 F. Team Representative ...... 5 D. Disputes ...... 9 3. During the Game (Player Requirements):5 10. COVID-19...... 9 A. Batting Order...... 5 B. Offense ...... 5 C. Offense ...... 6 4. During the Game (Base Running/Batting) ...... 6 A. Bowling Over/ ...... 6 B. Leading ...... 6 C. Stealing ...... 6 D. Dropped Third Strike ...... 6 E. Infield Fly Rule...... 7 F. Thrown Bat ...... 7 5. During the Game (Pitching) ...... 7 A. Innings and Pitch Count Limitations 7 B. ...... 7 C. Hit Batters ...... 7 6. During the Game (Coaching) ...... 7 A. Criticizing Umpires ...... 7 B. Base Coaches...... 7

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Except as specified below the normal may ever play in a League game, or practice rules of shall with a team. Use of a non-registered/non- apply. The Commissioner of this BCC officially rostered player in a game will Baseball league shall have the right to cause a and suspension of the modify and/or interpret these rules at any manager. Reach out to the league office if time and in any particular situation that you are in need of additional players. may arise, in his or her sole and absolute discretion. D. Number of Players Each team must have at least eight (8) 1. General players and if they cannot field such a team after ten minutes of the scheduled start of A. League Policies the game, it will be considered a forfeit. (If Recreational teams / rosters are not agreeable to both managers, a forfeited permitted to hold informal or formal try outs game may be played unofficially for to form the team. Further, recreational practice.) If at any time during a game, a teams may not be comprised in whole or in team can only field seven (7) players for any part of teams created via tryouts. reason (e.g., injuries, players having to All team rosters and coaches must be leave, ejection of a player), the game shall reviewed and approved by the BCC Director be deemed forfeited by that team. for acceptance into the league, in order to An injured player who is unable to both play ensure consistency with league rules and in the field AND bat, is prohibited from meet the goals and objectives of the league. playing at any time during a game, whether BCC Baseball reserves the right to refuse batting, fielding or running the bases. acceptance of any team and/or expel a team at any time if we feel that the team is not in E. Official Games/Time Limits compliance with the spirit and/or substance Full game: 6 innings of The League policies. Official game: 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team Professional coaches are not permitted to is ahead) coach a recreational team in any capacity Game Time: 2 hours (no new inning after while the team is playing a game. However, one hour and 45 minutes after scheduled professional coaches may be hired by start time) parents of players on a recreational team to assist the parent head coach at practice to Ideally, a game will consist of six full help develop players' skills. innings. An official game will consist of four innings (or three- and one-half innings B. Age if the home team is ahead) if there is a time, BCC Major League is for sixth and seventh weather or darkness limitation. If the game graders, generally 12-and 13-year-olds. is stopped before it becomes an official game, the game will be suspended and C. Official Players restarted from the exact point it is stopped. All players must be officially registered and If an official game is stopped at the end of a assigned by the League management. No complete inning, the score stands. In the one who is not registered, and whose name event of a tie, neither team will be awarded a does not appear on the official league roster, win or a loss. Official games stopped during

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an inning (top or bottom) will be suspended Otherwise, the game will be recorded as a and restarted (from the exact point it is tie. Notwithstanding the above restriction, stopped) if the visiting team is ahead or a tie the umpires have the discretion to let the exists; otherwise, the home team is declared teams play the extra inning as long as the the winner. In this case, the game will be extra inning starts prior to 1 hour and 45 deemed finished at the end of the inning that minutes. is in process although tie games shall be played through the completion of the 6th F. Official Schedule inning. Managers are responsible for The League expects that all managers, scheduling the completion of suspended players, and parents should be entitled to games and must do so within a two-week rely upon the official schedule of games sent period unless given a waiver by the League out by the League Office. As a result, Commissioner. Failure to do so will result managers are expected to have their teams in both teams being charged with a loss. prepared to play at the time/date/place indicated on the official League schedule. Suspended and restarted games will be Therefore, it is generally NOT appropriate subject to the pitching limitations contained for a manager to rearrange games in in Section 5A of these Rules except that the derogation of the official League schedule. restarted game shall be considered a new Where games must be postponed due to game with respect to the daily pitching adverse weather, managers are expected to limitation. make best efforts to arrange suitable time/date/place to make the game up In accordance with the League’s contract including practice time. with the umpires, no new inning shall begin 1 hour 45 minutes after the scheduled start 2. Pre-game: time of the game and the game shall not extend beyond 2 hours in total. Coaches are Players should be at the field at least 15 therefore encouraged to make sure that minutes before the game is scheduled in games start on time and, if necessary, to order to begin the game on time. begin the game without an umpire being present. If the game is not completed within A. Line-Ups the 2-hour time limit, the winner is the team At the start of each game, the managers of that was ahead at the conclusion of the last each team shall exchange a written batting complete inning. order (line-up). (See Section 3A) No substitution is allowed in the line-up once For purposes of determining whether there is the game has begun although a player may enough time to start a new inning, the actual be passed over if unavailable due to injury, start of a new inning shall be deemed the sickness or legitimate need to leave the time at which the third out to end the prior game. A player arriving after the start of the inning occurs. In other words, the third out games shall be inserted at the end of the for the home team immediately triggers the line-up. next inning. NOTE: Due to COVID-19, game line-ups In order for teams that are tied at the end of may be shared via email or text message six innings to play an extra inning, the extra prior to the beginning of the game. inning must start prior to 1 hour and 30 minutes from the start of the game.

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B. Specific Field Ground Rules F. Team Representative Prior to the game, the managers shall agree Prior to every game, each team must identify to necessary and reasonable ground rules an adult (likely a parent) as that team’s (i.e., having to do with field conditions) not “Team Representative” for that particular inconsistent with these rules, including game. The Team Representative will be agreement as to areas that are "out of play". responsible for enforcing player safety rules, The ability to set ground rules does not with an emphasis on compliance with the permit the managers to waive or modify Bat Safety Rule. The Team Representative these "rules and regulations". Managers shall be involved in the pregame meeting at shall be responsible for keeping spectators, home plate with the coaches and umpires (in players, equipment and other objects out of leagues that use umpires). Unless no other areas that are deemed to be "in play" in adult is available, the head coach and order to prevent interference with players, assistant coach should not be deemed the thrown balls, etc. In particular, all bats, Team Representative. It is strongly advised helmets and other equipment shall be by BCC Baseball that the Team maintained behind a backstop or other fence Representative be someone other than one of (if available) to prevent interference with the the base coaches, due to their duties as game. Coach. C. Scoring the Game 3. During the Game (Player Each team manager will be responsible for scoring the game and maintaining Requirements): appropriate scorebook records. The home In BCC Major League, there are certain team book will be considered to the official requirements for offense and defense that book of the game. need to be met for fair play. Managers are strongly encouraged to allow players to play D. Field Setup more than one infield position over the Managers shall insure that the basepaths are course of a game or throughout the season. 70 feet in length and that the distance between the front side of the pitcher's plate A. Batting Order ("rubber") and the rear point of home plate All players must bat in the predetermined is 50 feet. order of the line-up which consists of every player in attendance. E. Run Limit In order to allow for full games to be played B. Offense and to minimize lopsided uncompetitive Each team shall use a "continuous" batting games, the team at bat will be limited to order rather than a nine-player batting order. scoring 5 runs each inning. However, a team As a result, each player is in the offense at that begins any at bat behind by more than 5 all times, batting in accordance with the runs will be allowed to score as many runs manager's written pre-game line-up as necessary in order to tie the score only. consisting of every player available for the This five-run rule is in effect for the entire game. A player who must miss a time at bat game, including the sixth inning. If the game because of injury or ill-ness sustained once is tied after six innings, revert to Rules 1E. the game begins is passed over to the next scheduled batter. A player arriving after the start of a game shall be inserted at the end of the batting order.

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C. Offense touch the plate be-tween or around the Each player must play three (3) defensive catcher's legs. Violations of this rule will, at innings in the field during the first five (5) the umpire’s discretion, result in the runner innings of the game. This is to ensure being called safe. players are afforded adequate defensive playing time during games where a team Managers are directed to familiarize their does not take the field for six innings (due to players with the protective purpose and time limit, darkness, etc.). Defensively, a application of this rule before games are player may be removed from the game and played. be reinserted any number of times thereafter for another defensive player in order to B. Leading accumulate his/her three innings in the field A base runner may lead off the base and (but players always retain their original spot may steal at any time. (Pitchers ought to be in the batting order). taught what a is, how to hold runners, and how to pitch from the stretch etc.). A 4. During the Game (Base runner leading off a base may dive back headfirst to that same base to avoid a pick- Running/Batting) off attempt by the pitcher or catcher without A. Bowling Over/Interference violating the general rule requiring feet first At no time and under no circumstances may slides. A runner going back to a base (e.g., a runner either "bowl over" a defensive overrunning a base and then going back) player in pursuit of a base or slide headfirst during a play may also dive headfirst into into a base. So too, at no time may a that base. However, that runner may not defensive player purposely “bowl over" a dive headfirst into any other base to which base runner in pursuit of a hit or thrown ball. he may advance either on a stealing attempt Sliding may only be done "feet first" at any or when otherwise running the basepaths. base unless a player is returning to a base to Outside of these exceptions, any player avoid being picked off. Any player sliding sliding headfirst into a base shall be ruled headfirst into a base shall be ruled out. out.

Also, whenever there is a reasonable Managers are directed to familiarize their prospect of a defensive play at home plate players with the protective purpose and the runner must attempt to slide rather than application of this rule before games are run through the plate. However, if the played. catcher has moved up the third base line with the ball or to receive the throw, the C. Stealing runner may try to evade the tag and does not A base runner may steal home. A batter is have to slide. A runner who violates any obligated to make reasonable efforts to get portion of this rule is automatically deemed out of the batter's box so as not to obstruct "out". the defensive players' efforts to tag the runner attempting to steal home. Catchers shall never block the plate while awaiting a throw by kneeling on or around D. Dropped Third Strike the plate, thereby leaving a runner no access Upon a "dropped third strike" the batter is to the plate in a slide. Catchers should out and may not run to first. However, any remain standing while awaiting a throw, base runner is free to steal second or third thus leaving space for a sliding runner to base.

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E. Infield Fly Rule in the batter being disadvantaged in any way The infield fly rule is in effect. on a balk move, the pitch shall be deemed a non-pitch. F. Thrown Bat Each team will receive one warning by the C. Hit Batters Umpire to the batter and manager for a If a pitcher hits two batters with pitches in thrown bat by a batter after which any batter the same inning, the Manager shall remove on that team who throws a bat will be that player as pitcher (although the player deemed “out” by the Umpire. may be moved to another position) for that inning. The player may not return to pitch 5. During the Game (Pitching) in subsequent innings. The exception to this rule shall occur if the umpire determines in A. Innings and Pitch Count Limitations his/her sole judgment that the hit batter did Players may only pitch for six (6) innings in not make a reasonable effort to avoid being any calendar week (Monday through hit by the pitch in which case the pitch shall Sunday) and may pitch no more than three not count toward the total hit-by-pitch count (3) innings in any game. If the pitcher for the inning. delivers at least one (1) pitch in an inning and is then removed that pitcher shall be 6. During the Game (Coaching) charged for one (1) inning. A player that pitches in a game may not be removed from A. Criticizing Umpires the pitcher position and subsequently Managers and coaches shall refrain from reinserted as pitcher anytime throughout the criticizing an umpire and from making remainder of the game. Coaches are strongly anticipatory ball/strike, safe/out or fair/ encouraged to develop pitchers by offering "calls" of plays to intimidate or influence the players who want to pitch and who can umpire, and shall take reasonable action consistently throw strikes the chance to pitch with their players, parents and fans of the in games. team to secure their cooperation with this rule. Upon receipt of a complaint from an For more detailed pitching rules and umpire or from an opposing manager regulations, please see the BCC Baseball regarding compliance with this rule by Pitching Regulations, which are coaches, players, parents or fans, a manager incorporated into these rules, and can be shall ask the offending individual associated found at bccbaseball.com. Violations of the with his/her team to comply or to leave the pitching rules shall result in forfeit of the vicinity of the field. game and may result in discipline of the manager by the League. B. Base Coaches Adults may serve as base coaches at first Games in which an ineligible pitcher has and third and are encouraged to do so. been used as specified in the above limitations shall be declared forfeited. C. Defensive Coaching Managers and coaches shall conduct their B. Balks defensive coaching from the vicinity of their There is no for balking. However, team's bench. Coaches shall not stand on or the umpires shall be instructed that, if a coach from the opposing team's side of the runner is picked off on a balk move, he shall field. not be called out and if a balk move results

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7. Safety Protocols and D. Catcher Equipment Any player playing catcher or warming up a Equipment Usage pitcher at home plate shall wear a catcher's A. Batting mask and helmet. A throat protector is Where there is no safe (fenced-off) on-deck considered part of the catcher's mask. All batting location, the on-deck batter shall catchers, during games or practice, shall only be permitted to swing a bat while wear a protective cup and well-fitting standing on the field between the (or protective gear such as a chest protector and the bench) and home plate on the side of the leg protectors. field facing the back side of the batter at the plate (e.g., with a right-handed batter at the E. Cleats plate, the on-deck batter will stand on the Metal cleats or spikes are not permitted to be third-base side of the field). No other player worn by any player. is permitted to swing a bat, including the batter in the hole. F. Game Ball The official game ball for the Major League If any player on a team violates the bat is a regulation hard ball (i.e., not a RIF ball). safety rule (where the only player permitted to swing a bat is the on-deck batter per the G. Uniform rule), the team violating the rule shall be While on the field during a game, players issued one team warning by the umpire. are required to wear the official League Following the team warning, any player on uniform, which at a minimum consists of the team that has been warned who violates League-issued hat and shirt. the Bat Safety Rule, will be ejected for the remainder of the game. The Bat Safety Rule 8. Thunder and Lightning and this penalty system will be strictly At the first instance of lightning or thunder enforced and thus compliance with the rule Managers shall halt the game and remove shall be the primary responsibility of the their teams from the field to the security of Team Representative. cars or buildings that offer appropriate B. Helmets/Protective Cups protection. If field conditions permit and where otherwise reasonable, consistent with Protective helmets shall be worn by all protection of the players and others in players on deck, at bat, while base running attendance, the game may resume 15 and in the coaches’ box, during practice and minutes after the last instance of lightning or at games. BCC Baseball strongly thunder. Section 1E still applies. recommends that ALL players wear a protective cup and coaches are strongly encouraged to re-quire their players to wear 9. Other protective cups. A. Hectoring Managers shall not permit their players, fans C. Bat Limitations/Violations or parents to purposely hector or distract the Refer to BCC Baseball Bat Regulations – opponent's players, either directly by 2021. comment or indirectly by the playing of music, singing, chanting or excessive cheering, even if ostensibly for your own batter. Upon the opposing manager's

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complaint in this regard, a manager shall D. Disputes take action to terminate the distracting Any disputes over the Rules or judgment behavior of his/her team. calls by the umpires shall be conducted in a brief, calm and dignified manner. If B. Warnings/Ejections satisfaction is not obtained after such effort, While an umpire is not required to give a the manager should simply note an appeal of warning before ejecting a player, manager or the situation to the umpire and continue the coach for egregious unsportsmanlike game in a sportsmanlike manner. Appeals behavior such as intentionally throwing or shall be filed after the game with the League kicking bats or helmets, arguing with Commissioner. . Incorrect interpretation of umpires, hectoring, etc., upon the first rules is a basis for protesting a game. instance of such behavior each team, not just Judgement of umpires regarding “safe/out” the infringing individual, will be given a or “ball/strike” calls or any other judgement warning for . After calls are not a basis for protesting the result such warning to the team, the umpire may of a game. order any infringing player, manager, or coach to be removed from the game for the 10. COVID-19 next instance of unsportsmanlike conduct. It All players, coaches, and families are is not considered unsportsmanlike conduct, required to follow the most up to date if in the opinion of the umpire, a bat COVID protocols sent out by the League inadvertently slips out of a batter's grip Office prior to the beginning of the season. while swinging at a pitch. In such case the batter should be warned and may be called out for repeated occurrences if the umpire feels that the safety of others is jeopardized.

The League shall review any instance where a player, coach, parent or manager is ejected, and the BCC Baseball Leadership Committee shall determine the extent of any ensuing suspension. Notwithstanding the above review process, any player, coach, manager or parent ejection shall result in an automatic one-game suspension, with a longer suspension at the discretion of the BCC Baseball Leadership Committee.

C. Familiarity with Rules All managers are expected to be fully familiar with these Rules and to carefully instruct their coaches and players on these Rules. Managers are also expected to bring the Rules to the game and to go over them with the umpires before the game to maximize efficient and orderly administration of the game.

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