SW Community League 10th - 12th Grade Rules of Play
Revised 1/2023
The National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) rules shall be followed, except for the following modifications and exceptions.
These rules supersede any and all rules of the participating communities.
When a rule seems unclear, the decision of the umpire is final during the game. An unclear rule should first be interpreted in the best interest of safety, then in the interest of providing the best experience for the participants.
Field Dimensions
The distance from the back point of the home plate to the front of the pitcher’s rubber is 60.5 feet and the distance between bases is 90 feet.
Dugouts
The Home team has the first choice of the dugout.
Recording final score
The winning team must record the final score on the league website within 24 hours of completion of the game.
Game Baseballs
The visitor and home teams must each contribute one baseball to the umpire before the start of the game. Each team is equally responsible to contribute more balls to make sure that there are two playable game balls throughout the game.
Player Participation
No player will be on the bench more than one time greater than any other player during a 7 inning game except in the case of injury or illness. This rule intends to assure, that to whatever extent possible, innings played over the season should be distributed equally among all players.
Continuous Batting
All players on the team must be assigned a position in the batting order except in the case of injury or illness. Batting is continuous through all players in the batting order, regardless of whether or not they played a defensive position in the field that inning. Late arrivals are to be placed at the end of the batting order unless otherwise agreed by the opposing head coach. When a player needs to leave early, the coach needs to inform the opposing coach and umpire when this is to happen. No out is to be recorded at the place in the batting order where the player has vacated. Once a player is out of the game, he is no longer an eligible player.
Free Substitutions
Players may be freely substituted throughout the game subject to the restrictions listed in the section covering pitchers, except in the case of injury or a pitching change, defensive players may not be replaced during an inning.
Injured Player
A player who is injured must either take his normal turn at bat or fulfill his equal time obligation in the field, otherwise must be declared injured, “not able to compete,” and be taken out for the remainder of the game. An injury during a game must be declared right after the occurrence to the umpire and the opposing coach, but the decision to declare, “not able to compete,” need not be decided until any subsequent turn at bat or his turn in the field, whichever comes first. When a player is removed from the batting line-up, due to an injury or illness, it is not necessary to take an out in the position in the line-up.
Number of Players
Teams will play a maximum of 9 players in the fields. A team may start and play a game with only 8 players, including substitution players. If one team does not have the minimum number of players (8) within 10 minutes after game time, that team loses by forfeit unless both head coaches agree to play the game as if the forfeiting team has the minimum number of players (8). If both teams do not have the minimum number of players (8) within 10 minutes after game time, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled unless both head coaches agree to play the game as if both teams have the minimum number of players (8).
Substitution players may be used as long as any such player is on the active roster of another SYBL team. The number of substitution players will not be more than 2 and will not be more than required to have 10 players maximum. A substitution player may not pitch or catch and can only play in the outfield. Substitution players must bat last in the batting order.
No non-rostered substitutions are allowed for the season-ending tournament games. Players cannot be rostered on multiple teams. A team that fails to meet these obligations is to forfeit the game.
Maximum Runs Per Inning:
There is no maximum runs per inning rule
Starting the Game
Because the field is available and the object is to play baseball, the teams are encouraged to loan players and begin a practice game if one or both teams do not have the minimum number of players (8) and the head coaches have not agreed to play the game as if both teams have the minimum number of players (8). If the coaches mutually agree to do this, the umpire(s) will work the practice game.
If an umpire has not arrived 10 minutes after game time, the game is to proceed using a volunteer umpire, or a coach from each team will alternate innings as the umpire. If the umpire shows up later, they are to take over their duties.
Inclement Weather
Coaches are encouraged to communicate before arriving at the field to determine if a game should be called due to weather. Once a game starts, the decision to call the game due to weather is based on the home association's rules, the umpire’s discretion or mutual agreement between the coaches and umpire.
During the game, the umpire has discretion for the suspension of play due to rain, lightning, or any unsafe condition. If in the opinion of a coach, there is a danger to a player, he is to call a conference between the other coach and umpire to discuss and agree on the course of action.
If lightning is observed the play is to be halted and the field cleared until no lightning is observed for 20 minutes before play can be resumed.
Play can be continued after the weather threat has passed. If it is obvious that the weather condition will not dissipate in a reasonable time, the game is to be called, based on the umpire’s discretion or mutual agreement between the coaches and umpire. A game called early due to darkness or inclement weather will still be considered official:
- If 5 full innings have been played, or if the home team has scored an equal or greater number of runs in 4 or more turns at bat than the visiting team has scored in 5 turns at bat.
- If play has gone beyond 5 full innings, including tied games beyond 7 innings, and the game is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the fractional inning will not count and the score will be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning except if the home team in its half of the incomplete inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent's score, the final score shall be as recorded when the game is called.
Length of game
The head coaches and umpire will confirm the home field rules for length of the game before the start of the game and those rules will apply unless otherwise agreed to by both head coaches and the umpire. A regulation game is 7 innings.
Pitching
A player may pitch a maximum of 5 innings in any game played. Having pitched in any part of an inning is counted as a whole inning. A pitcher that has been replaced during a game may not re-assume the position of pitcher unless it is the starting pitcher and they have pitched less than the maximum number of innings.
An umpire must give a balk warning to each pitcher before calling a balk.
No Contact Rule
Players must attempt to avoid contact and sliding is preferred. Any offensive player that runs into a defensive player attempting to make a putout is automatically out, except for the first basemen moving into the path of the runner. Intentionally sliding into a fielder who is attempting to perform a double play is not allowed and the penalty of doing so will result in an automatic out of the second runner. If the offensive player intends to injure, the umpire is to throw the player out of the game. Any such incident is to be communicated to the community commissioner.
A pinch runner may be allowed for a player with an injury that prevents him from running at full speed. If the player has the condition before the game, the umpire must observe that the injury affects the player’s ability to run. If a player is injured during the game, the umpire needs to determine if the injury adversely affects the player’s ability to run. Pinch runners are also allowed for the player who will be in catcher position the next inning with 2 outs remaining in an inning.
Infield Fly Rule
A fair fly ball (not a line drive or attempted bunt) that can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort is an infield fly provided first and second bases or all bases are occupied and there are less than two outs. The umpire shall immediately declare, “infield fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the umpire does not declare “infield fly”, and it should have been called, the umpire shall at his discretion rule that the batter is out and may return the runners to their original bases. The ball is alive and runners may advance at their risk as on any fly ball. If the ball is foul, it is treated as any foul ball.
Team Conferences
During each game, a manager or coach may make only one trip to the mound per pitcher before removing the pitcher from the game. On the second trip to the mound, the pitcher must be removed. Any conference to discuss the balk rule is not considered a trip
Only one offensive conference is allowed per inning. A conference with an injured player is not a charged conference. A conference where a pitcher is removed is not a charged conference. The other team may conference during the same time as the team that called the conference and not be charged for the conference.
Bats
Each bat must be 2-3/4 inches or less in diameter at the thickest part. Bats shall not weigh more than 3 ounces less than the length of the bat in inches (for example, a 31-inch-long bat must weigh 28 ounces or more). There are no restrictions on the length of bats. Wood bats are allowed. Bats with a USA/USSA/BBCOR Baseball Stamp are allowed.
Spikes
Molded plastic spikes are recommended, but metal spikes are allowed.
End of the Season Playoff Rules
The final standings will be confirmed after the last regular season game is completed. The higher seed will be the home team for every game and the home team association will be responsible for the field and umpire. No games can be scheduled to start before 4:00 pm unless agreed upon by both head coaches and their associations. The standings will be first based on number of points. If 2 teams have the same number of points, then the team with the higher winning percentage has the tiebreaker. If 2 teams have the same number of points and winning percentage, the next tiebreaker is head-to-head, then average run differential, then average runs against, then average runs for, and then coin flip. If 3 or more teams have the same number of points, then the team with highest winning percentage has the tiebreaker. If 3 or more teams have the same number of points and winning percentage, the next tiebreaker is overall winning percentage against the tied teams. If 2 teams remain tied, the next tiebreaker is head-to-head for the 2 tied teams, then average run differential, then average runs against, then average runs for, and then coin flip. If 3 or more teams remain tied after overall winning percentage against the tied teams, then the next tiebreaker is average run differential, then average runs against, then average runs for, and then coin flip. Only scores in games played, not forfeits, will be used to calculate average run differential, average runs against, and average runs for.
All regular season rules are in place with the exception of the following:
1. A player may pitch a maximum of 4 innings in any playoff game, 8 innings total for the entire playoffs.
2. In the event of a forfeit, the higher seed advances. Neither team will loan any players to the other team.
3. A game cannot be called for darkness unless at least 15 minutes have passed since the National Weather Service sunset time.
4. If an official game cannot be played due to darkness or inclement weather, the teams will work with SYBL to reschedule or resume the game as soon as possible. In the event of a tie after 7 innings of play, teams will play extra innings until a winner has been determined. If a winner cannot be determined in extra innings before the game is called for darkness or inclement weather or if the game is tied when called early for darkness or inclement weather but is still an official game, the higher seed will advance with the exception of the championship game which will be replayed the next day or as soon as possible subject to weather. The replayed championship game will be treated like a new game except innings pitched in the prior game count as if pitched in the replayed game. This means any player who pitched but did not start or close the prior game cannot pitch in the replayed game. Only players who started, closed, or did not pitch in the prior game would be available to pitch in the replayed game, subject to the 4 inning per game / 8 inning in playoffs maximums noted above. The closing pitcher from the prior game would have to start the replayed game in order to pitch. A fractional inning played in the prior game before being called for darkness or inclement weather will not count as any inning pitched.
5. A link to a Google Sheet will be provided with the updated bracket to all head coaches. Every team is required to enter in the score and innings pitched for both teams' pitchers. This is to be posted no later than 30 minutes after the end of each game.
