Humble Baseball Association
8U League Rules – Spring 2007
1. League games shall be six innings
maximum. No inning shall begin after 1
hour 15 minutes. If a
tie exists after six innings of play, or at the end of regulation time,
the game will remain a tie. THERE
WILL BE NO EXTRA INNINGS.
2. The new inning begins when the 3rd
out is made from the previous inning.
3. At
the end of regulation time, 1 hr and 15 minutes, should an inning be in
progress, the inning will be completed.
If the home team is ahead after the visiting team has made 3 outs when
regulation time has expired, the game is over; however, if the home team
is behind when regulation time has expired, the home team will get to bat.
4. If for any reason a team cannot field 8
(Fall) 9 (Spring) uniformed players no later than 15 minutes after scheduled
game start time, that team shall forfeit by a score of 7‑0. The Official Game Start Time will
remain. Example: Official game time
5. If a Manager or Coach is ejected
from a game, he is suspended from any coaching responsibility for the remainder
of that game
6. If a player is ejected from a
game, it is mandatory that he sit out the remainder of that game
7. For use with coach pitchers:
a.
Coaches or managers shall pitch from a pitching plate 38
feet from the point of home plate.
b.
The player fielding the pitcher’s position shall take a
position always to the rear of the pitching plate, and on the left or right
side of the coach pitcher.
c.
While playing
in the pitcher position, the player is required to wear a helmet with facemask
while ball is being hit. The player may
take helmet off after ball is in play.
d.
If a batted ball strikes the coach pitcher, the ball is
dead, the pitch counts as a foul ball and no runners shall advance.
e.
Intentional interference by the coach pitcher with any
defensive player shall result in the batter being called out.
f.
At no time shall the pitching coach offer any coaching or
encouragement to the batter except to position him at the plate.
8. A maximum of 5 pitches will be allowed
each batter. A batter failing to hit
after 5 pitches or after 3 swinging strikes shall be declared out, even if the
catcher drops the third strike.
9. Ten defensive players will be allowed
on the field, with the tenth being a fourth outfielder. No more than 6 infielders will be allowed.
10. Substitute players must participate in at
least 3 consecutive defensive outs every other inning, unless being disciplined
by the manager. If a player is being so
disciplined, it shall be noted in the official score book prior to the
game. Exceptions to this rule should be
reported to the Board of Directors in writing.
If a uniformed player is not scheduled to participate for any reason,
the manager shall inform the opposing manager, umpire and official scorekeeper
prior to the game
11. In the event that one team has fewer
players on the game roster than its opponent, the batting rosters will consist
of the number of players of the team having the least number of players. The extra player or players will be listed to
the right of the batter they will alternate with and those batting positions
will alternate every other at bat.
Failure to comply with this rule will result in batting out of
order. Application of this rule shall
be at the option of the manager having the greater number of players.
12. The 5 run/3 out rule will apply to the 1st
through 4th innings. The 5th
and 6th innings will be open, only the 3 out rule will apply – no
run limit. If a team is ahead after by
15 runs completion of 3 full innings of play (2-1/2 innings if the home team is
ahead), the game shall be considered complete.
The 10 run rule is in effect after the 4th and 5th
innings.
13. Base runners are not allowed to lead off
or steal bases and must remain in contact with the base during a pitch until
the ball is hit or crosses the plate.
Penalty: Runner is out, ball is
dead, and the pitch does not count and no runners advance.
14. There is no infield-fly rule.
15. When the ball is in possession of an
infielder and in the judgment of the umpire the lead runner's advancement has
been halted, the umpire shall call time out, the ball is dead and runners must
return to the base to which they are legally entitled.
16. The catcher will assume a defensive
position behind the plate in order to field the pitched ball. The catcher shall wear all approved
equipment, with the exception that he shall have the option to use any glove. Due to the difficulty of mastering the
catcher's position at this age level, it may be advisable to have the catcher
stand away from the plate until the batter has swung.
17. The batter is not allowed to bunt or
intentionally swing easily at the ball.
Penalty: The batter is called
back to the plate, the ball is dead, no runner may advance and the pitch shall
be considered a foul ball.
18. A manager shall be limited to 1 offensive
time out and 2 defensive time outs per inning, upon permission of the umpire.
19. Appeal plays shall be made by the manager
only. Appeals must be made immediately
following the contested play and prior to another pitch, at which
time the umpire shall call time out, hear the appeal and rule accordingly.
20. No manager or coach shall be allowed to
walk behind the infield area to coach outfielders.
21. Batting orders will consist of the entire
team roster, so that substitutions during the game are made only for defensive
purposes. Should it become necessary,
because of an injury, to substitute for a base runner, the player having made
the last previous out will be substituted for the injured runner. THERE SHALL BE NO COURTESY RUNNERS FOR
ANY OTHER REASON.