2016 12U Rules

EAST CHATHAM BASEBALL

12U - Little League Division Rules
(Click link above to get printable copy.)


Currently, East Chatham Baseball (ECB) partners with Tar Heel Leagues (THL) and will generally follow the rules and guidelines of THL unless otherwise specified in ECB rules and regulations.

Eligible Players: 
Any player whose thirteenth (13) birthday falls on or after May 1st of the current year is eligible to compete in the Midget League Division.

The Playing Field: 
The distance between all bases shall be 70 feet.  The distance from the point of home plate to the front of the pitching plate shall be 50 feet.

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.

The baseball bat shall be round and made of wood or any other approved material, and shall not exceed 36 inches in length or 2 5/8 inches in diameter.  The bat shall have a BPF certification of 1.15 and approved by USABB or affiliate.

A protective helmet must be worn by all batters, base runners and bat boys and must be a helmet that gives protection of temples, ears and base of the skull.

Catchers must wear all protective equipment—full catcher’s helmet and mask with detachable throat protector, shin guards, chest protector, and athletic supporters with protective cup. Any person under 18 warming up another player in live territory must wear a helmet.

Playing Rules:
A team will bat the whole lineup (continuous batting order) Coaches will inform opposing team of defensive substitutions at the start of each ½ inning.

Not more than nine (9) defensive players will be allowed to play at any one time.

No player shall sit in the dugout two (2) straight innings.  Each player must play at least every other defensive inning in the field.

If a player is injured to the extent that he cannot continue, the player will sit out the remainder of the game with no penalty in the batting order.  If a player misses their turn at bat due to injury, that player will not be able to return to that game.  [Note: This is different than Tar Heel Leagues rule]

If a player is ejected and the team does not have a substitute, they will be ruled out each time they are due to bat.

Open bases are in effect; runners may take leads and steal bases, including home plate. Pitchers may pitch from the stretch and may try to pick off base runners.   

Dropped 3rd strike rule is in effect.  A batter may attempt to advance to 1st base upon a dropped 3rd strike if 1st base is not occupied.  A dropped 3rd strike is identified as a ball contacting the ground before the catcher’s glove or if the catcher does not control the ball following the pitch.  
First (1st) base is occupied when a base runner is standing on or taking a lead from 1st base at the time the pitcher moves to deliver the pitch.  With two (2) outs and a runner on 1st, the batter may attempt to advance to 1st and the catcher can attempt a throw out at first base or any other base in order to record the out.

The balk rule will also be in effect.  A balk is called whenever a pitcher interrupts the pitching motion.  Once the pitcher starts in motion toward home plate, the pitcher has to deliver the ball.  If the pitcher stops his motion, a balk will be called.  A balk will result in an immediate dead ball.  The pitch made will be nullified and each runner shall advance one base.  One warning per pitcher will be given per game.

A balk will be called at the discretion of the umpire for any of the following:
• Quick Pitching – Not coming to a set position.  When runners are on base, the pitcher must come to a complete stop from the set position and must not pitch before the batter is ready.
• Pitcher makes a motion typically associated with his pitching motion but his foot is not touching the pitching rubber.  The post foot must be in contact with the rubber while beginning the delivery.
• Fake Pitch – The pitcher cannot make any movement to deceive the runner or batter.
• While on the pitching rubber, the pitcher throws to a base before or without stepping toward that base.  Note that the pitcher can step off of the pitching rubber and throw anywhere.
• Fake a throw to an occupied base without removing his post foot from the rubber as the first movement.  A pitcher must be off the rubber to fake a throw.
• Fake a throw to an unoccupied base.
• Fail to have both hands on the baseball in the set position.
• Pitch without looking at the batter.
• Drop the baseball while on the rubber.

Pitchers may pitch a maximum of (3) three innings per game.  Violation of this limit shall result in the loss of three (3) innings of pitching eligibility in the next game.  A maximum of two coach’s trips to the pitcher’s mound will be allowed per inning.  The pitcher must be substituted on the second trip during the same inning.
**Once a pitcher is removed from the mound or the game they may not return to the mound in the same game. 

Any player, including the pitcher, may be removed from the game by the umpire(s) if, in the umpire(s) opinion, the player was intentionally attempting to injure another player, coach or fan.  

A team may have a courtesy runner for the catcher at any time.  With two (2) outs, catchers must be replaced by a courtesy runner.  The courtesy runner will be the player making the last out.

Head first sliding is allowed.

Updated Game Rules Update 2017: 
There is a maximum of six (6) runs per inning, including the last inning.  If the trailing team cannot catch the leading team in the last inning, the game still will be played to the time limit.  Note: This rule does not apply to tournament play. 
 
The ten (10) run rule will be enforced after four (4) complete innings. 
 
The game will be limited to six (6) innings or a time limit of one (1) hour and fourty-five (45) minutes.
 
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.   
 
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.
 
A lightning detector shall be placed in the concession stand. A board member will turn on the detector upon opening the concession stand. Coaches from both teams shall instruct their “concession duty parents” about the detectors. If the detector indicates lightning within 8 miles, the parents shall notify the home plate umpire that the detector has indicated a lightning strike within 8 miles. 
 
A. Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last 
thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. 
 
B. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin. 
 
GAMES AFFECTED BY WEATHER ONLY
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.
 
The same innings limits will be in effect for the suspended game. If a pitcher has pitched their allotted innings, they may NOT pitch more innings in the suspended game, even if fully rested when the game resumes. A pitcher, who would not be eligible to pitch in the original game due to previous innings limit of that week, shall be able to pitch in the suspended game if fully rested. 

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.
 
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.  

The season rankings will be based first on team records.  If teams have similar win records then a points system will be used to determine the final rankings.

 Two (2) points for each win.
 One (1) point for a tie.
 Zero (0) points for a loss.  

If teams have identical point totals, the way of breaking the tie would be based on the results of their head-to-head games.  In the unlikely event the two teams still remain tied, then the lowest total number of runs allowed for the season will win the tie breaker and, after that, it will be the winner of a coin toss.

FOOTNOTE FOR PITCHING RULES
Tournament
No pitcher in tournament play shall be allowed to pitch more than six (6) innings in any two (2) successive tournament games.  Games in which an ineligible pitcher has been used shall be declared forfeited. No protest is needed from anyone and there is no time limit for the forfeit to be declared.

USA Baseball Pitch Smart Guidelines

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the parent and the athlete to ensure that the player follows the guidelines for his age group over the course of a year – given that some players will often play in multiple leagues with different affiliations covering different times of the year.
ECB encourages coaches, parents and players to follow the suggested guidelines.  More information can be found at USA Baseball’s website pitchsmart.org.
 


 
 

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