Canton/ Braintree Summer Friendship Baseball League

Playing Rules

The following rules are for the Canton Little League (CLL) baseball summer friendship league Age 13-15 Division. These were reviewed and agreed on by various members of the CLL board of directors. Our goal is to teach the rules of baseball that are used at this level in order to form a strong base that can be built upon in future play.   The focus is on developing baseball skills and knowledge of the game as well as providing a positive experience in being part of a team. 

Goals:

Each team shall play a regular season schedule and participate in a playoff tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. The number of regular season games shall be determined at the start of each season, but shall be at least twelve (12) games in accordance with the regulations and playing rules of Little League Baseball. 
 
PLAYING RULES

1. No stealing, no advancement on passed balls, wild pitches, or over-throws to the pitchers from the catcher after a pitch,    and no balks. Players on base may leave the base when the ball crosses the plate (no leading before the pitch crosses plate) but they may not advance to the next base unless a pick-off attempt is made and the throw gets by the fielder (runner advances at his or her own risk) or until ball is hit into the field of play by batter or until forced ahead by a walk or hit batter.  No stealing but players may leave the base as ball crosses the plate.  Player leaving the base may not advance but does so at his own risk and may be picked off (a runner may advance on an over-throw on the pick-off attempt).  A player can't just take off for the next base on a pick-off attempt.  He must attempt to return to the base and may advance only if the throw gets by the fielder. 

2.  Bunting is NOT allowed.

3.  Infield fly rule does not apply and will NOT be called.  Tagging up on a fly ball is allowed.  

4.  "Full Roster Batting".  All teams will use a "Complete Team Batting Order”. That is, every player attending the game bats in turn, regardless of whether he or she is playing in the field or on the bench. If a player is injured and misses a turn at bat, he is removed from the game and may not return. Only batters that cross the plate count as runs scored.  See Rule 6 below.  The batting order is "restarted" at the beginning of each game and is not continued from game to game.

5.  Free substitution. Ten players in the field at a time (6 traditional infielders and 4 outfielders).  Players may be moved in and out of the field positions at will, except for the pitcher. Once removed as a pitcher, a player may NOT pitch again in that game but may play any other position in the field. See Pitching Rules.

All players must play a minimum of nine (9) defensive outs in the field.  Although Players and spectators may cheer for their team and team mates, there is no chanting or singing.  "organized songs" or "organized cheers" are not permitted.  This is a matter that must be resolved between the Managers.  

6. Batter Limit Per Inning. A team's inning at bat will end after three (3) outs are recorded, or after every player in the line up has batted in an inning.  If one team has more players then the other at the game, each team will be allowed to bat the higher number of players in an inning, if the three outs are not recorded in the inning.
Last batter rule: The Manager of the batting team will approach the umpire to quietly state that it is the last batter. This is to prevent the runners from taking additional bases/running off of the field. 
 
BY DESIGN, THERE IS NO SLAUGHTER RULE (OTHER THAN THE ONCE AROUND THE BATTING ORDER RULE). HOWEVER, WE EXPECT MANAGERS TO BE REASONABLE AND REMEMBER THE PURPOSES OF THE LEAGUE.  

7. Dead Ball when "Mounded".  The ball is dead, when it is HELD on the mound area by any player. Runners advancing will be returned to the last base touched, (if they are halfway or less to the next base).  Umpire's judgment.

8. Four (4) outfielders are allowed on the field. They must play the outfield, no short fielders. (left, left center, right center, right fielders).  Regular infield positions.  No additional in-fielders.

9. Sliding.  No head first sliding.  "Slide or Avoid" Rule applies.  If a play is being made on a runner he must either slide or avoid contact.  NO CRASHING THE BASE MAN/CATCHER.  Umpire’s discretion.  If a play is being made on a runner with no slide and contact is made,  Runner is out!!
 
10. A pitcher may pitch a maximum of two (2) consecutive  innings in a game (they must be consecutive), and a maximum of six (6) innings per pitcher in a week (A "week" starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday). Delivery of one single pitch constitutes an inning!  Once a pitcher stops being the pitcher (regardless of whether or not it is at the end or in the middle of an inning or he goes to the bench or another position in the field), he cannot return to the game as a pitcher.  There is no pitch count! A pitcher may appear as a pitcher only in two consecutive innings.  (If he throws one pitch in relief in the second, he may pitch the entire third inning but must be removed after the third inning).

Pitchers may not pitch on consecutive days, this applies to make-up games also.  Make sure you schedule your makeup games accordingly.  Pitching Rules may be "re-set" for play-offs at League's discretion.

11.  A pitcher must be removed after hitting two (2) batters in an inning or three (3) in a game.

12. Pitchers will throw from a throw down pitching rubber (anchored if possible) placed approximately three (3) feet closer to home than the normal distance for a Little League pitching rubber or 43 feet from the "back" or peak of the plate (normal little league pitching distance is 46 feet).  Managers should agree on pitching rubber location prior to the game.  A manager may elect to have his pitcher pitch from the 46’ distance but this must be announced before the game and all pitchers for that team must pitch from the 46’ distance for the entire game.  In all Play-off Games, all Pitchers shall pitch from the 43’ Distance.  No exceptions. 
Regulation and age appropriate Little League or Cal Ripken approved baseballs must be used.  Each team provides one new ball per game.  No "soft" or "t-balls" allowed.

13. In addition to a first base coach and third base coach, the only coach allowed on the field of play is to be positioned behind the catcher to return passed balls. The defensive team should supply this coach each inning.  He is needed in order to speed up the game to retrieve balls that get by the catcher, but should not instruct, direct or otherwise coach the players from that position. This coach must stay to the left or right of the catcher, not directly behind the catcher. One coach is allowed on the bench to keep score, keep kids in line and maintain batting order.

14. Umpiring should be done from behind the catcher. Home team provides the umpire(s) at its expense. Please make sure Managers and Umpires review the Friendship League "Special Rules" and local ground rules before the game.  We ask that young umpires be supervised by an adult and adult umpires must be used in the play-offs.

15. There is no two hour rule (no time limit) and there are no extra innings (except play-offs). Regular season games are played so as to complete a regulation Game, if possible, meaning 6 innings or less due to inability to play due to weather conditions or darkness.  Except in the play-offs, if it rains or gets dark, you have a regulation regular season game after  4 full Innings or 3 and ½ if the home team is ahead after 31/2 innings.  If you don’t have a complete or regulation game Little League rules for completion of games applies.  If there is a tie after a complete or regulation game it goes into the books as a tie.  NO EXTRA INNINGS!!  (Except in play-offs.)

16.  Unlike regular season games, all play-off games must be played the full six (6) innings ( 5 1/2 if home team is ahead).  Play-off games not completed must be played to completion the next night.

17.  Except as herein provided, the Rules of Play shall be governed by the Little League Baseball Rules in force and effect for the applicable season (2013).  2013 Little League Baseball Rules apply unless covered by Rules 1-16 above.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
 
1. Please remember that this is a FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE! Please be considerate of the other team's players and spectators, as well as your own. Managers should attempt to accommodate each other's needs, and agree on rules interpretations with the umpire(s) before the game begins.   THERE IS NO SLAUGHTER RULE BUT PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE DEALING WITH 8 YEAR OLDS AND WE EXPECT MANAGERS TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY.  

2.  Make check payable to: Braintree National Youth League or Foxborough Little League.  Team Commitments and Registration Fees must be received by June 1st.  Late registrations or payments subject to wait list and availability and $50.00 late charge.

3.  Team rosters must consist of twelve (12) to fifteen (15) players and must be submitted to the Director no later than June 15, 2012.  All rosters must contain the Certificate of their League President.  No exceptions. 

4. Players may not be older than Little League Age eight (8) on April 30.  No exceptions.  Copies of birth certificates must be submitted with rosters no later than June 15.  We will provide the Roster form (attached).  Only players from recognized Little League, Cal Ripken or "other" Regular Season Spring Leagues.  All players must meet League residency requirements.  Teams from multiple towns, leagues or programs are not allowed!  Players will be declared ineligible.

5.  Scores must be e-mailed by each team after each game.   All East or Braintree Conference scores are to be submitted to Paul Machado by e-mail at  AND to no later than 10:00 p.m. the night of the game.  All Foxborough West Conference scores must be Stew Bayuk: .   If the Manager is not an e-mail person, please designate a parent from your team for purposes of communicating scores and receiving information from the League.

6. If it becomes necessary to reschedule a game (rain), the manager of the home team must arrange an alternate date with the visiting team manager and notify the BNYL within 24 hours. If possible, the game should be played during that same week (preferably the next day), at either team's field. If this is not possible, it must be played as soon as possible! In case of conflict contact the Director of the Friendship League. Please play games as soon as possible. We will establish a deadline at the end of the season for completion of games for play-off seeding purposes.  Do not wait until later in the season to schedule make-up games.  If you don’t play the games, you don’t get credit for the points. (and our purpose is to have the kids play the games) .

7. First place/play-off seeding, will be determined by the total number of points acquired. A win earns two (2) points.  A tie earns one (1) point.  Tie breakers:  Head to head, total runs against (season), total runs for, (season), coin-toss.  Reporting scores accurately is important for post season seeding.

8. All teams qualify for the playoffs. The format will be single elimination: (subject to change based upon the number of teams and divisions.)

9. The pitching rules may be reset for the playoffs.  Every team starts fresh at the beginning of the play-offs.

10.  By entering/registering a team in the Braintree National Friendship League, each program, team, player manager, coach and spectator agrees to be bound by the Rules and Administrative Procedures set forth herein.
 
11. Teams should be selected using the "RECOMMENDED TEAM SELECTION METHOD ATTACHED” 

Eastern Conference.  Championship series games will be hosted by Braintree National Youth League at Watson Park or Hollingsworth Field, Braintree.  The winner of the over-all Championship Game will possess the Braintree National Friendship Tournament Trophy until the following year, when it will be passed on to the next year's winner.
 
12.  ALL PLAYERS MUST BELONG TO A RECOGNIZED LITTLE LEAGUE AND/OR CAL RIPKEN LEAGUE SANCTIONED PROGRAM AND MUST BE DERIVED FROM WITHIN LEAGUE AUTHORIZED BOUNDARIES. BNYL FL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE CHARTERS/BY-LAWS OF NON LITTLE LEAGUE OR CAL RIPKEN.  PLAYERS MUST SATISFY LEAGUE BOUNDARY/RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS.  ANY INELIGIBLE PLAYERS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

RECOMMENDED TEAM SELECTION METHOD

As you've read many times in this document, it is and always has been our objective, intention and purpose to encourage fair and balanced competition within the Program.  At age 8, there are plenty of years down the road for "A Teams" and cut-throat competition.  We encourage Programs to enter as many teams as they can in order to afford as many young players as possible a change to participate.

Although they do not have to use the Recommended Team Selection Method, we require that Programs submitting more than one team select their teams so as to balance them.  Our philosophy has always been to discourage and avoid labeling kids as "A" or "B" Team players (as well as the Managers) at age 8.  And we have always advocated adding more teams simply to get more kids exposed to summer ball at the earlier age.  We have always been very proud of this basic philosophy.

Notwithstanding our hopes and dreams (idealistic as they may be), each year we have heard rumblings and allegations that "this team" or "that team" is "stacked".  "Osh Kosh has two teams and one team is an A Team and the other is a B Team.  We picked our teams evenly and we're getting smoked". Not only do we hear the comments, we can see that we are not achieving our balanced team goals because we see the "blow-out" scores… believe me, I know many managers and programs have tried to be fair and do the right thing in games but sometimes lopsided scores can't be avoided

If a Program is entering more than one team, the pool of eligible players for the teams to be created should unlikely be listed in chronological order by date of birth and selected from this pool as follow:

First, Pitchers.  The best pitchers in the pool must first be identified and divided evenly among the teams and placed at the top of the roster of each team with a "Pitcher" or "P" exception designation next to the player's name on the roster.  These Pitchers are then out of the pool and placed on the respective teams.  No more than 4 "P" exceptions may appear on a roster. 

Second.  General Player Selection.  The Players remaining in the pool after selection and removal of the pitchers in Step 1 will be selected and placed on teams in alternating order as they appear on the chronological list of remaining players by their Birth dates.

Example:

until all "non-pitchers" in the pool have been placed on a team.

Third.  Wild Cards.  Recognizing that this procedure, if followed faithfully, might result in a Manager's Assistant's child being placed on the "other" team, and that there are the traditional "car pooling issues", not more than three (3) players may be "traded" from their designated team roster as determined in Step 2 above due to "hardship" or Manager/Coach affiliations.  (Pitchers may only be traded for and replace pitchers).  These players may be placed on another team(remaining and replacing the traded players in chronological order from the other team so as to balance the numbers) by the programs and must be designated on the roster in the Exception or "E" box with a "W" or "Wildcard" next to the player name on the roster.

No more than four (4) "P" designations and no more than three (3) "W" designations on a roster.  All players on the rosters (except the Pitchers) must be alternating birth dates.  So if you "trade" a player from the Red Team, you have to replace him with a player from the Blue Team with the closest player in age/DOB to the one being removed.