CONTENTS The Leagues; Play Ball Indiana Divisions ...........................................................................................3 Role of the Parent ..............................................................................................................................3 Pitchers ..............................................................................................................................................4 Night Games ......................................................................................................................................4 Mandatory Play ............................................................................................................................. 4-5 Official Playing Rules ............................................................................................................ 5-39 1.00 - OBJECTIVES OF THE GAME ............................................................................................5-8 1.01 – Description of Competition ................................................................................................5 1.02 – Object .................................................................................................................................5 1.03 – Game Determination .........................................................................................................5 1.04 – The Playing Field ............................................................................................................ 5-6 1.05 – Home Plate .........................................................................................................................6 1.06 – Bases ..................................................................................................................................6 1.07 – Pitcher’s Plate.....................................................................................................................6 1.08 – Bench Area .........................................................................................................................6 1.09 – Ball .....................................................................................................................................7 1.10 – Bats ....................................................................................................................................7 1.11 – Uniforms ............................................................................................................................7 1.12 – Catcher’s Mitt .....................................................................................................................7 1.13 – First Baseman’s Glove ........................................................................................................7 1.14 – Field Players’ Gloves ...........................................................................................................8 1.15 – Pitcher’s Glove ...................................................................................................................8 1.16 – Helmets ..............................................................................................................................8 1.17 – Protective Equipment .........................................................................................................8 2.00 – Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................... 8-13 3.00 – Game Preliminaries .................................................................................................. 13-16 3.01 – Umpire Duties ..................................................................................................................13 3.02 – Altering the Baseball ........................................................................................................13 3.03 – Line-up Re-entry ......................................................................................................... 13-14 3.04 – Substitute Runner ............................................................................................................14 3.05 – Pitcher Substitution ..........................................................................................................14 3.06 – Notification of Substitution ..............................................................................................14 3.07 – Announcement of Substitution ........................................................................................14 3.08 – Substitution Entrance .......................................................................................................14 3.09 – Fraternization/Coach Participation ..................................................................................14 3.10 – Playable Conditions ..........................................................................................................15 3.11 – Double Headers ................................................................................................................15 3.12 – Suspended Play ................................................................................................................15 3.13 – Ground Rules ....................................................................................................................15 3.14 – Equipment on Playing Field ..............................................................................................15 3.15 – Field Access ......................................................................................................................15 3.16 – Spectator Interference .....................................................................................................15 3.17 – Bench Admittance ............................................................................................................15 3.18 – Electronic Equipment ................................................................................................. 15-16 3.19 – Field Security ....................................................................................................................16 4.00 - STARTING AND ENDING THE GAME ........................................................................... 16-21 4.01 – Exchange of Lineups .........................................................................................................16 4.02 – Beginning the Game .........................................................................................................16 4.03 – Fielders’ Positioning .........................................................................................................16 4.04 – Batting Order .............................................................................................................. 16-17 4.05 – Base Coaches ...................................................................................................................17 4.06 – Participant Decorum/Sportsmanship ...............................................................................17 4.07 – Ejections ...........................................................................................................................17 4.08 – Violent Actions .................................................................................................................17 4.09 – How A Team Scores ..........................................................................................................18 PlayBallIndiana.com | @PlayBallIndiana | Play Ball Indiana & RBI Indianapolis 1 4.10 – Regulation Game ..............................................................................................................18 4.11 – End of Game ............................................................................................................... 18-19 4.12 – Tie Games.........................................................................................................................19 4.13 – Double Headers ................................................................................................................19 4.14 – Darkness/Field Lights .......................................................................................................19 4.15 – Forfeits ....................................................................................................................... 19-20 4.16 – Fielding a Team at the Start of a Game ............................................................................20 4.17 – Inability to Field a Team During a Game ..........................................................................20 4.18 – Forfeited Games ...............................................................................................................20 4.19 – Protesting a Game ...................................................................................................... 20-21 5.00 - PUTTING THE BALL IN PLAY - LIVE BALL ..................................................................... 21-23 5.01 – Start of the Game .............................................................................................................21 5.02 – Live/Dead Ball ..................................................................................................................21 5.03 – Pitching ............................................................................................................................21 5.04 – Offensive Objective ..........................................................................................................21