EAST CHATHAM BASEBALL

8U MINORS (A) DIVISION RULES

Currently, East Chatham Baseball (ECB) partners with Little League (LL) and will generally follow the rules and guidelines of LL unless otherwise specified in ECB rules and regulations.

Eligible Players: 
Any player whose age is between 7-8 years old and whose 9th birthday doesn't  before September 1 is eligible to play. 

The Playing Field: 
The distance between all bases shall be 60 feet.  The distance from the point of home plate to the front of the pitching plate shall between 35 & 40 feet.  The pitching plate shall be in the center of a 16’ diameter circle.

There shall be a chalked hash mark ½ the distance between first and second base.  The hash mark shall determine whether a player may advance to the next base or return to the previous base at the time of dead ball.

Official Equipment: 
All players must be in baseball uniforms which shall consist of baseball hat, baseball jersey, baseball pants, shoes/cleats and socks. (See Uniform Guidelines for further.)  Metal cleats are not allowed.

8U Minors (A) Division:

General Rules

• Games are played with 10 players in the field. The fielders include a pitcher, a catcher, 4 infielders and 4 outfielders.

1. Outfielders should begin each play at least 10-15 feet into the outfield grass on regulation Little League and softball fields.  Fields of larger infield dimensions will require the outfielders to be positioned at a depth similar to that of a Little League field (Coaches must ensure that their players adhere to this positioning rule).
2. All infielders (except pitcher) must start behind the base-line prior to the pitch being thrown.
3. The fielding pitcher must stand behind the pitching rubber with at least 1 foot inside pitching circle.

• During the regular season, games can be played with as few as 8 players. In the event a team has 8 or 9 players, an automatic out is not required. For the playoffs, a minimum of 9 players is required, with no automatic outs recorded. In the event a team is unable to field the minimum number of players, the game shall be forfeit. In the event of a forfeit, the teams should split the players evenly and play a scrimmage game.

• Last inning is declared at 1:10 and no new inning can start after 1:20. The goal is to keep total game time under 1:30, but there is not a hard stop time. The umpire is responsible for keeping time.

• The home team will occupy the third base dugout. Only uniformed personnel and 1 dugout volunteer may occupy the dugout. Under no circumstances should teams share a dugout for the game.
• Teams will have a continuous batting order. Meaning all players present will be in the batting order and will hit. Free substitutions on defense are allowed and each player must meet mandatory play requirement. 

• Batting teams will continue until 3 outs are recorded or 5 runs are scored.

• If after 3 innings, one team has a lead of 15 runs, the game is over. If after 4 innings (3.5 if the home team is ahead), one team has a lead of 10 runs or more, the game is over.

• No player can sit more than two consecutive innings in a single game.

• In the event that a game ends in a tie, after six (6) complete innings or the specified time limit, no extra innings will be played. 
  

Offense

• When a team is At Bat, three (3) coaches may be on the field. These include a first base coach, a third base coach, and a coach to operate the pitching machine. The coach operating the pitching machine is NOT allowed to specifically instruct baserunners.

• No infield fly rule is in effect.

• Pitching Machine is to be set at 3 (power pedal), 2 (release arm block), 2 (micro adjustment or thumb screw) at 35 feet (ECB may move distance back to 40 feet as the season moves along). 35 or 40 feet is measured from the rear of home plate to front of machine. If these settings cannot throw strikes, adjust the micro adjustment.

• To prevent delays between innings the pitching machine coach shall use another coach to dial in the machine if waiting on the opposing catcher. The catcher shall get one pitch if a coach catcher has been used. The offensive coach should be ready to go once the defensive team is fully assembled on the field.

• Players have up to 5 pitches in each at bat. If a player hits a foul ball on pitch number 5, they many continue until a swing and miss, a ball in play, or they take a pitch. Players should be encouraged to swing at any pitch that is close to the zone, and not to automatically take certain pitches.

• On overthrows, the player is allowed to take one "at risk" base. If the defender retrieves the ball in a timely manner, they may attempt to get the runner out at the next base. We will limit to one overthrow per pitched ball.

• No runner may advance more than 1 total base (plus 1 additional base if advancing on an overthrow) per pitched ball if the ball is not hit into the outfield. This includes the batter/runner.

• If a batted ball hits any part of the pitching machine an immediate "dead ball" shall be called. The batter/runner will occupy first base automatically and all base runners advance one base without penalty of being put out.

A.     If a batted ball hits the offensive coach feeding the pitching machine, it shall be treated as if the ball struck the machine and the above rule shall apply.

B.     If a thrown ball hits the machine or coach, it is a live ball.

• Bunting is not allowed

• If a player throws the bat for the 1st offense the play stands; the umpire calls time and issues warning to both teams. On the second offense the batter is out, umpire calls time and lets managers and official scorekeeper know.

• There is no On Deck circle. Players should not take practice swings until they approach the home plate area.

• Contact between an infielder and baserunner does not mean interference or obstruction must be called. The decision rests solely with the umpire's judgment.

• There is no “must slide” rule in Little League. The rule is, "Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag."  -- Rule 7.08(a)(3)
  
  LL: Approved Ruling:  For plays at home plate, a runner who does not slide will be ruled out for anything more than incidental contact with the fielder.  
  Note: Umpires are encouraged to err on the side of safety and rule the runner out on questionable decisions.  Coaches are encouraged to teach runners to slide for all plays at the plate.

• Obstruction
  If a defensive player blocks the base/plate or baseline clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe and a delayed dead ball shall be called. – Rule 7.06(b)(Note 2)

• A courtesy runner for the catcher of the next inning is allowed with one or two outs in order to minimize time between innings.  The player last put out must be the courtesy runner.

• Illegal Bat Use
  The batter is ruled out if he/she enters the batter’s box with one or both feet entirely on the ground with an illegal bat (see bat specifications in Little League rule 1.10) or is discovered having used an illegal bat prior to the next player entering the batter’s box.
  NOTE: If the infraction is discovered before the next player enters the batter’s box following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat:  The offending batter is called out and the result of the at-bat does not count.  Play must be resumed to the point prior to the offending batter's at bat and an out recorded.  The inning ends if this is the third recorded out.

Defense

• On balls hit into the outfield or on an overthrow, in order to take an at-risk base, baserunners must be more than halfway to the next base before an infielder first possesses the ball on the infield dirt/grass surface. For the purposes of the rule, we consider the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman and shortstop as infielders.

A. Dead ball should not be called until all baserunners make it safely to a base or are tagged out. Once the play has ended, it is the umpire’s responsibility to return any SAFE baserunners back to the last base they were allowed to advance to.

B. Runners who were tagged out will remain out.

C. Attempts by fielders to make an out does not void this rule. There is no need to hold the ball in the air or stop efforts to make outs.

• Two Defensive coaches can walk around the foul lines past the 1st & 3rd base areas (Not to interfere with base coaches) to help their team while in the field.  An additional coach may be positioned behind the catcher to aid retrieval of balls. This coach may provide guidance to the catcher.

Weather Delays

Lightning policy:

It is ECB policy that anytime lightning is within eight miles there is a 30 min delay and the stadium is cleared of spectators. Parents or guardians should accompany their children back to the safety of their cars. Parents, children and other spectators shall avoid sheds, small or open shelters, dugouts, bleachers, or grandstands.

As part of Little League Baseball®, it is expected that ECB will follow the Lightning Safety Guidelines as outlined in the 2018 Rulebook in Appendix A, page 153. To summarize:

• Administrators and coaches should monitor the weather on practice and game days to know if there is a threat of bad weather.

• Activities should be stopped if lightning is observed or thunder is heard for no less than 30 minutes. Every observation of lightning or thunder results in the clock “starting over.”

To supplement this policy, ECB has purchased two lightning detectors -- one for each game field (EC and PIT). These detectors are a "back-up" safety device in case no coach sees lightning or hears thunder, or there is a dispute as to whether or not it occurred. The safety of the spectators and players is paramount. Therefore, if lightning is seen or thunder is heard, the delay should go into effect immediately.

A game that is shortened by weather is an official game if:

(1)    at least four innings have been completed and less than 15 minutes remain for the time limit; or

(2)    the home team has scored more runs in four or three and a fraction half-innings than the visiting team has scored in four completed half-innings and less than 15 minutes remain for the time limit.

If a game is called for any reason after having reached official length, the game shall revert back to the last completed inning to determine the final score. This may result in a tie.

A game shall be a suspended game if:

(1)    One inning has been completed, there is more than 15 minutes left in the time limit, and it does not complete the above “official game” requirements.

A suspended game shall be resumed at the exact point of suspension of the original game. The completion of a suspended game is a continuation of the original game. The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be exactly the same as the lineup and batting order at the moment of suspension. No additional player shall be added. However, if a player cannot attend the resumed suspended game, it shall bear no penalty to the team. The lineup will be adjusted accordingly, and no “out” will be counted toward the absent player.

A game shall be considered a cancelled game if it does not begin or if less than one full inning is completed. A cancelled game shall have no effect on rosters or lineups. A cancelled game will be rescheduled and treated as a new game.

Pre & Post Game

BOTH Home & Away need to submit scores for their games via league email within 24hrs

BOTH Home & Away teams help set-up fields and pitching machines.

BOTH Home & Away teams help rake out home plate and bases as needed for the following games.

Please have your teams vacate the dugout areas as quickly as possible to allow for next games to get started on time.

Each team is responsible to clean out dugout trash before next team arrives.  Please make sure players remove all items.