Supplemental Rules for "AA" League
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Rules for the Babe Ruth League, Inc., Cal Ripkin Division, will apply unless modified herein. These Supplemental Rules are subject to annual review by the Board of Directors, Wenatchee Youth Baseball.Eligibility
1. AA League players shall be at least 8 years old and not over 11 years old and attend school at either the Wenatchee or Entiat school districts
2. League age shall be the player’s age as of April 30
3. Players who are 8 years old shall be permitted only upon the approval of the Director of Leagues and the Minor League Representative and may be limited due to considerations such as the number of players in each age group and the number or teams
Number and Composition of Teams
1. The number of teams in the AA League shall be determined by the Board of Directors
2. Teams shall consist of eleven or twelve players, unless the Board of Directors determines it is appropriate to change the roster size
3. Each team shall have a manager and up to two assistant coaches with the only 2 automatic players being those children of the coaches (brothers exempt)
4. AA players shall be assigned to teams by the AA League Representative with the assistance of the Registrar
a. Players will be assigned in a manner to facilitate competitive balance
b. All players who are at least 10 years old players shall have participated in a tryout
i. All 11 year old players shall have participated in the Major League tryout
ii. Unless they participated in the Major League tryout, 10 year old players must have participated in the AAA tryout
League Champion
1. Trophies shall be awarded to the top teams of the AA League for the regular season
2. Trophies or other appropriate recognition shall be awarded to the team winning the end of the season tournament
Schedules
1. The schedule shall be prepared by the league representative and the league registrar
2. Amendments shall be approved by the league representative and reported to the league registrar
General Playing Rules
1. Each team will field nine players
a. A team may play with eight players
b. A team unable to field at least eight players from its roster for a scheduled game shall forfeit such game
(Note: upon the agreement of the coaches, a forfeited game will be played using the assigned field and umpires. The outcome will be recorded as a win by forfeit, irregardless of the score of the game played.)
c. There are no restrictions on substitutions at field positions, other than pitcher, except as set forth below to facilitate player rotation
d. All players shall be in the batting lineup regardless of whether they are playing in the field
2. Borrowed Players
a. A team fielding eight players from its roster may borrow a player from the Rookie League to reach nine eligible players
b. The ability to borrow a player is conditioned upon the unanimous consent of the borrowed player, a parent of the player, and coach of the player’s Rookie League team
c. A borrowed player may not pitch at any time
d. This rule shall not be interpreted as prohibiting one team from utilizing a player from the opposing team at a defensive position upon the mutual consent of the coaches
3. Player Rotation
a. Each player shall play a minimum of three innings per game, unless the game is stopped by the umpire or the player is unable to play due to injury or other reason
i. Any player not playing three innings due to shortness of the game will play at least the first three innings of the next game
ii. Player discipline is a valid reason to remove a player from a game or to otherwise deny the player the minimum four innings per game
b. No player shall play at the same position more than two innings in any one game
c. Every player shall play at least one inning at an infield position and one inning at an outfield position in each game
4. Batters
a. The batting lineup shall consist of all players available to play
b. Once a game begins the batting lineup may change only upon the arrival or departure of an eligible player
c. A player arriving after a game starts will be added to the bottom of the line-up
d. Pinch hitters are not allowed
e. Teams shall be subject to a maximum number of batters per inning
i. The maximum number of batters shall be determined by the size of the lineup of the teams involved and shall equal the number of batters on the team with the shortest lineup
ii. The maximum batter rule shall apply to the first five innings
f. The last batter rule shall apply any time the maximum number of batters rule applies
i. Under the last batter rule the batter, upon a hit ball in play, play shall continue until an out is made by the defensive team or base runners of the offensive team cease to advance and the ball has been returned to the pitcher on the mound
ii. The coach of a last batter receiving ball four, or hit by a pitch, shall have the option of accepting the walk or continuing the at bat
iii. If the coach elects to continue the at bat, any strikes previously counted shall remain; the strike count shall not be reset to zero
iv. If the walk is accepted, the batter shall advance to first base and any runners on base who would normally advance on a walk, shall advance to the next base, upon which the team’s at bat shall conclude
5. Base Running
a. To avoid injury, base runners must slide at all bases and home plate to avoid a collision when, in the judgment of the umpire, a play is being attempted on the runner by a member of the defensive team and there is a viable play on the base runner
i. The batter attempting to reach first base safely need not slide
ii. A failure to slide when required shall result in the player being call out
b. To avoid injury, base runners must slide at all bases and home plate to avoid a collision when, in the judgment of the umpire, a play is being attempted on the runner by a member of the defensive team and there is a viable play on the base runner
i. The batter attempting to reach first base safely need not slide
ii. A failure to slide when required shall result in the player being call out
c. Obstruction shall be called when a member of the defensive team, not having possession of the ball, blocks the path to a base or home plate causing a base runner to run outside the base path or slide prematurely
d. Base runners must return to the closest/last base occupied immediately when the pitcher has possession of the ball, the pitcher is in contact with the pitching rubber, and the catcher is in the batter’s box
e. Base runners may not leave the base before the pitched ball reaches the plate
i. A runner who leaves the base may be put out by the defensive team
ii. A runner who left base early and was not otherwise out shall be returned to the previously occupied base
iii. If a runner leaves base early and the ball is hit, the runner shall be returned to the base he or she would have been forced to as a result of the batter’s progress
f. Base stealing
i. Base stealing is limited to second base
ii. Only upon a hit pitch may a runner attempt to advance to third or home
6. Pitchers (Modifying Rule 0.06)
a. Pitchers are limited to two innings per game and four innings per calendar week
i. The calendar week is Monday through Sunday
ii. A pitcher must have at least two days of rest between pitching assignments if he or she pitched more than one inning in any one game
b. Each game in which a pitcher pitches constitutes a pitching assignment regardless of the number of pitches thrown
c. The two inning limit applies even in extra inning games
d. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound, he or she may not return to the mound to pitch
e. Any game in which an ineligible pitcher has been used shall be declared forfeit
7. Catchers
Catchers must wear the full catcher’s helmet which covers the ears
8. 10 Run Rule
The game shall be terminated upon becoming a regulation game if one team is ahead by ten or more runs and the teams have had an equal number of at bats or the home team is leading (3 ½ or 4 complete innings)
Decorum
1. All games shall be played according to the rules previously addressed and in accordance with the Official Baseball Rules, Babe Ruth League – Cal Ripkin Division and supplemental rules approved by the Board of Directors, Wenatchee Youth Baseball
2. “Gentlemen’s Agreements” and similar accommodations made prior to or during a game shall not be allowed, unless specifically approved in advance by the Board of Directors
3. The rules set forth above apply to players, fans, managers, and coaches alike
4. Violation of the rules set forth above shall be cause for dismissal, removal, and banishment from the baseball program and the ballpark
5. Player discipline
a. In all instances in which a player is to be held out of all or part of a game based upon conduct occurring prior to the game, the action must be approved by the league representative
i. The player and his or her parents must be notified of the action and its reasons prior to the game
ii. The opposing team’s coach shall be notified of the action prior to the game and advised as to what innings, if any, the player will be eligible to play
a. In all instances in which a player is to be held out of all or part of a game based upon conduct occurring during or immediately prior to the game, the league representative shall be notified at the earliest reasonable opportunity
i. The player and his or her parents shall be notified of the reasons immediately following the game or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible
ii. Upon such action, the opposing team’s coach shall be immediately notified and advised as to what innings, if any, the player will be eligible to play
Sanctions
Violations of the rules may result in penalties as determined by the league president and/or Board of Directors and may include suspension or removal of an offending coach and even forfeiture of effected games
Revised
February 7, 2006