The 8/9 level introduces competitive concepts to baseball.Score is kept, and umpires are being utilized to call games fairly.
At the beginning of the game a Game Coordinator may be identified (may not be a member of either team in any capacity including a parent of a player).The Game Coordinator and the Officer of the Day are allowed on the field during the game.They have the authority to disqualify and eject any player, coach, manager or to eject any fan for objecting to the decisions of an umpire, for unsportsmanlike conduct, or for language.
Only the Manager may ask questions to the umpire regarding calls or rule interpretations.Coaches and fans are not allowed to yell at or question the umpire regarding calls or rule interpretations.
At no time may anyone speak disparagingly to the umpire.
In the case of any ejection, play cannot continue until that person has left the area surrounding the field.
Any Coach or Manager ejected from a game are automatically suspended at minimum the following game and must appeal to the BBSA Board before being allowed to resume their duties. Until such an appeal their suspension is indefinite.
In the case of any ejection, play cannot continue until that person has left the area surrounding the field.
Any Coach or Manager ejected from a game are automatically suspended at minimum the following game and must appeal to the BBSA Board before being allowed to resume their duties. Until such an appeal their suspension is indefinite.
The Game Coordinator and/or Officer of the Day will be involved in any decision to suspend play due to weather.
Each half inning will have a 4 run cap. Once the 4th run is scored, that half inning is over. Even on extra base hits with multiple runners scoring, the tally stops at the 4th run.
Teams must attempt to field a full defense of 9 fielders. A team can play with 8, fielding 2 outfielders instead of 3. Teams without 8 players can borrow players from the other team to play defense. We do not want forfeits, so make every attempt to play using the kids that did show up for the game.
No coaches can be on the field for the defensive team. Only base coaches can stand in the coaches’ boxes on each side.
Runners can continue to advance until the ball is controlled by the pitcher in a circle with an 8’ radius around the pitching rubber. Play will be called dead and runners sent to the closest base relative to the half way point between the bases.
Kids will pitch all innings.Kid pitchers are limited to 4 walks/hit batters per inning than they must be replaced.
Once a pitcher is replaced he cannot re-enter the game as a pitcher. This includes being replaced for Coach Assist
A player who catches in 4 innings cannot pitch that day. A pitcher who throws 40 pitches cannot catch that day. A player who catches 3 innings then throws 20 pitches can not return to catching.
No balks allowed. In the case of motion restart by the pitcher, the umpire will call the play dead.
It is a dead ball after a walk.
For the first few games of the regular season we will have coach assist, so after 4 walks/hit batters the offense coach will complete the inning. After May 21st we will eliminate Coach Assist. When a pitcher reaches 4 walks/hit batters they must be replaced with another kid pitcher. The tournament will not have coach assist.
For Fall Ball Coach Assist will continue for the whole season.
No walks during coach pitch, but strikes do apply.
Coach pitch cannot be a lob.
Pitch counts do apply. See Little League International Green Book for guidelines. This includes manager suspensions for breaking rest days.
Managers will have 24 hours after the game to report pitch counts and game score in the system.
Coaches may not warm up pitchers.
When a team is batting they can warm up a pitcher in foul territory. The players must be within the fences surrounding the field along the outfield foul line. The pitcher must pitch towards the outfield fence and a player or coach must stand beside them for protection. The catcher must wear the catcher’s mask.
There is no on-deck batter. All the offense players must remain in the dugout until it is their turn to bat or they are on the bases.
No player is allowed to warm up (throwing or batting) behind the dugout.
No more than 3 coaches in the dugout during the game.
There are no leadoffs from bases. Players must stay on bases until the ball crosses the plate.
Each team can steal two bases per inning. Teams cannot steal home.
On a steal attempt there is no advancement on an overthrow. The ball is dead after the throw from the catcher.
No In-Field Fly rule.
All batting helmets must NOCSAE certified and include a facemask or face guard. The Markwart C-Flap and other similar third party helmet accessories are not allowed.
No jewelry may be worn.
No new innings may begin after 1 hr and 30 minutes. The umpire will attempt to notify teams that it could be the last inning, but even without notification no new innings can begin after 1hr and 30minutes. The last inning will be played to completion.
When there are 2 outs and the catcher for the up coming half an inning is on base, a courtesy runner can be used to help speed up the game. The courtesy runner will be the last recorded out.
For the Tournament play there will be no new innings after 1 hr 45 minutes. The Championship has no time limit.
Tournament seeding will be determined in this order
