Humble Atascocita Baseball Association

 9u League Rules

Goals-

•   Teach basic pitching, catching, throwing, batting, base running, defensive positioning working cutoffs

Equipment-

• Jerseys, hats, socks, and belts will be provided.
• Players supply their own gloves, baseball pants and cleats. Tennis shoes are allowed in this division cleats are recommended.
• All batters, base runners and players on deck must wear protective head gear.
• HABA does not allow metal spiked cleats in any age division.
• Each manager will be provided with catcher’s equipment
• Bats with the BPF 1.15 stamp or USA stamp (on the transition area between the barrel and handle) are legal. No Tee-ball bats
  • 

Game Time -

·        The game time limit will be a maximum of 1hr 30 minutes or 6 innings of baseball.

·        Game clock starts at the conclusion of the managers plate meeting.

·        Teams may play with 8 players. Batting spot #9 will be an automatic out each time that spot comes to bat. Any player arriving after the game has started will be added to the bottom of the batting roster. Once the #9 batting spot is filled it’s no longer an automatic out.

·        Teams with 7 or less players have 10 minutes from game start time for the 8th player to arrive. At the 10-minute mark if a team has not met the required 8th player the game will be scored as a forfeit of 7-0. Both teams may still play a game as good faith but must complete it by the game time limit of 1hr 30 min from the scheduled start time.  (remember the game is considered a forfeit)

·        An inning will end when the 3rd out is recorded, or the 5th  run crossed the plate to end that half of inning.

·        When time expires the inning will finish. If the home team is batting and is ahead when time expires that will end the game.

·        If the game is tied at the end of time limit or 6 innings the score is declared a tie. There are no extra innings.

Game Scores -

• The home team is the official book. Each team will receive 1 scorebook at uniform pickup.

• Verify the score with the umpire and home team book at the conclusion of each half inning. This will insure the correct score is being recorded.

•  A maximum of 5 runs per inning.

• Run rules are mathematical in 6 innings of play.  16 runs after 3 innings, 11 runs after 4 innings and 6 runs after 5 innings.  Example after 4 innings and the score is 18-7 the game would be considered a run rule.

•  At the conclusion of the game, both teams need to send the game score in to [email protected] please use the following format:
  •  age division, date, team names with scores please.  6u- 4/16/25  Astros  8 vs Rangers 5  Astros win

Batting-

• Each team bats their entire roster. Each team provides the opposing team with a line up with the players name and jersey number clearly wrote on the line up card.
• No intentional walks.
• No bunting. Umpires discretion and the ball is considered dead. Counts as a swing attempt. If it’s on a strike 2 count the batter is declared out and all runners return to their bases.
• Runners may not lead off or leave the base until the ball crosses the plate. Umpires discretion ball is dead and runner returns to the base and no pitch is counted.
• Courtesy runners allowed for Pitcher and Catcher only, Catcher is mandatory with 2 outs to keep the game moving.  The last recorded out will be the courtesy runner.
• There is NO must slide rule. Its umpire discretion of malicious contact. Runner will be out with a warning. Next violation player will be ejected from that game.
• Runners may steal 2^nd our 3^rd when the ball crosses the plate.
• Runner on 3^rd base may not score on a passed ball. Runner can only score if the ball is put into play by a hit ball, bases loaded walk or on a throw down to any base.  
  • Example: pitched ball cross the plate, runner on 2^nd attempts to steal 3^rd base. The catcher throws the ball by the 3^rd baseman the runner may advance to home.
•  No Infield Fly 
  
  

Fielding-

•  A maximum of 6 infielders and 3 outfielders.
  
• No player shall sit out back-to-back innings or more than 2 times in a game.
• Catchers must be properly equipped with provided catchers’ gear. If any equipment issues, please contact the equipment director [email protected]
• Catchers must be positioned behind home plate.

• Catchers will be limited to a maximum of 3 innings per game, no limit for the week

•  Pitching position – 

• Pitcher may only throw a maximum of 3 innings per day and 6 innings for the week (sun- sat)
  We do not require pitch counts. Please limit the number of pitches thrown in a day to 65. This is a recommended number of pitches per day in 9u
  player must have contact with the pitching rubber while pitching 
  NO BALKS in 9u (we are teaching these kids to pitch and not worry about the runners)
  **Once the pitcher is removed from the game, he may not return to the pitching position for the remainder of that game. **
  

• Infielders-

  No shifts and must have 2 players on either side of the imaginary line between home plate and center field.

• Outfielders-

  Outfielders must be in the grass no closer than 10 ft from the infield dirt.

Coaching-

• A maximum of 3 coaches while your team is batting 1^st and 3^rd base coaches, 1 dugout coach to assist in batting order.
• A maximum of 2 coaches while on defense, 2 coaches outside the dugout. Please limit this to avoid confusion with the players.
• 2 defensive and 1 offensive timeouts are allowed. Umpire MUST grant the timeout.
  

Appeal plays-

• Appeals must be made before the next pitch by the manager only
• The manager only must ask for timeout first, go to the umpire who made the call. Once the umpire makes the decision move on. If it’s a rule violation you may ask for a protest.
• Protesting a game must be the following: (judgement calls cannot be protested)
  

• Once it is determined you want to protest a rule issue tell the umpire you want to protest.
• The umpire must write the protest on the game card with the time remaining in the game and both coaches must agree and sign the card.
• Take a picture of the umpire scorecard and the official home teams scorebook of both home and away pages. Make sure it is clearly marked on the player where the protest is taking place.
• Ask for a HABA official by going to the concession stand and tell them you need an official on your field.
• Game time clock will not be stopped
•  The HABA official will make a decision then. If it is warranted the game will resume with how much time is on the clock with what is on the official scorebook.
• In the event a decision cannot be made at that moment, resume the game and the executive board will make a final decision. If it’s warranted the game will be re-scheduled and start from what is clearly marked in the book.

11/25
mh