COVE CREEK PARK

13 YEAR OLD RULES

2013

1.  PITCHING LIMITS

      A.  6 innings per week (Monday through Sunday)

      B.  Can not pitch two days in a row

      C.  If four or more innings are pitched in one day, mandatory two days wait to
          pitch again    EX.  On Saturday four innings are pitched, the player cannot pitch again until Tuesday

      D.  If three innings are pitched in one day, mandatory one day wait to pitch            
          again    EX.  On Saturday three or less innings are pitched, the player cannot pitch again until Monday

      E.  Five pitch warm up only per inning per pitcher

      F.  During an intentional walk, the pitcher shall be required to throw all four balls.  No automatic passes will be allowed.

      G.  One pitch thrown constitutes one inning

2.  GAME LENGTH

      A.  Seven innings per game

B.    A game is considered complete and final if four full innings have been         

    completed or if three and a half innings are completed and the home team    

    has the lead and is at bat.  If a game is called anytime during the middle 

    of an inning after it is considered a complete game, the final score will

    be determined by going back to the last completed inning. If the score was

    tied in that last completed inning, refer to Rule 17G. 

      C.  If less than four innings have been completed and the game is called, then          
          the game shall be suspended and played at a later date starting exactly                 
          where the game left off.  Scorekeepers for both teams should compare books

          at the end of the suspended game to confirm the score, inning, batting              
          lineup, and substitutes used and left.

3.  COURTESY RUNNERS

      A.  A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher

      B.  The use of a courtesy runner is optional

      C.  The courtesy runner must be a substitute player who is not in the game

D.  If only eight or nine team members are present, a courtesy runner cannot

    be used

      E.  Entering the game as a courtesy does not count towards mandatory innings

          required as stated in 7A

4.  TIME LIMITS

      A.  The umpire has sole discretion to determine when a game is to be called for darkness

      B.  No time limits will be used for weekday games (Monday thru Friday). 
          A 2 hour and 15 minute time limit will be imposed on Saturday games.  This           
          means no new inning may begin after 2 hour and 15 minutes has elapsed.

          If an inning begins before 2 hour and 15 minutes has expired, that inning

          alone may be completed.  A game may not be called by the umpire for time

          if both teams have not completed their at bat (assuming the home team needs

          to bat) and the inning began before 2 hour and 15 minutes.  The umpire will

          declare the start time at the beginning of the game and is considered the official time keeper.

      C.  If a game is called for time on Saturday regardless of the number of innings played,
          the game is considered an official game.

 5.  DUGOUT CONTROL

      A.  Only the manager, two assistant coaches, and the official team scorekeeper          
          are allowed in the dugout during a game

            -These three names, if an assistant coach is the scorekeeper, or four                
            names, if the scorekeeper is not an assistant coach, are to be listed on             
            the line-up card and checked by the umpire before the start of the game

      B.  No food, sunflower seeds, tobacco products, or drinks are allowed in the           
            dugout during games -Only water provided by the park or Gatorade is to be present in the

 dugouts during games

      C.  Players must obtain the permission of the manager or an assistant coach to leave the dugout during a game

6.  INCLEMENT WEATHER

      A.  Upon the first sound of thunder or first sight of lightning during a game,          
          the umpire will stop the game immediately and start timing for 15 minutes. 

          Every instance of lightning or thunder thereafter restarts the 15 minute wait. 

      B.  This same rule will be enforced by managers and/or assistant coaches during practices

7.  MANDATORY PLAY

      A.  Every player shall play a minimum of two innings on defense (six outs), and         
          shall bat at least one time in each game

      B.  If this rule is violated for any reason, the player will start the next             
          game he/she is present and play a minimum of three innings on defense and bat at least one time

      C.  If this rule is violated, the offending manager is responsible for reporting the violation to the league

8.  SLAUGHTER RULE

      A.  If one team is ahead by 10 runs after 4 innings, the game will be called if the losing team has batted four times

9.  DESIGNATED HITTERS

      A.  DH’s will not be used

10.  PLAYERS

      A.  If eight players are present, a game will start at the designated time

      B.  If less than eight players are present, there will be a fifteen minute              
          delay. If after fifteen minutes an eighth player has not arrived the              
          offending team will forfeit that game

      C.  Any player who arrives after a game has started must go to the bottom of           
          the lineup for that team

      D.  A team with only eight players available for a game may notify the League           
          in advance and request the use of an additional player for the game.  The         
          League will use its discretion in locating the additional player.

      E.  If a team starts a game with only nine players, and one is forced to leave          
          the game for any reason, the team may continue to play with the remaining         
          eight.  The vacancy in the batting lineup caused by the absence of the           
          ninth player shall not be considered an out during the hitting rotation.

11.  STEALING

      A.  Lead offs are allowed.

12.  SLIDING

      A.  Head first sliding is allowed.

      B.  A runner who in any manner causes a collision without sliding, shall be             
          called out, and may be ejected from the game.

      C.  No defensive player, with emphasis on the catcher, shall block the runner’s         
          path in route to a base unless the defensive player has possession of the         
          ball or possession is imminent.

      D.  Runners are strongly encouraged to slide into any base at any time a play          
          may be imminent.

13.  HELMETS     

      A.  All bat boys/girls are required to wear helmets while retrieving bats from          
          the field.

      B.  All batters and runners must keep helmets on when:

          (1) in the batters box, (2) on the bases and base paths, (3) the ball is in         
           play, (4) after crossing home plate and returning to the dugout.

      C.  Any player who throws a helmet, bat, glove, or ball to show anger or                
          disapproval with the call of an umpire, or in frustration with his/her own        
          performance, or the performance of his/her teammates or coaches, will             
          automatically be ejected from the game. 

      D.  A player may wear a cap under a helmet.

14.  RE-ENTRY RULE

      See Attached Rule Addendum Sheet.

15.  PROTEST

      A.  Protest shall be considered only when based on the interpretation or                
          violation of a playing rule or the use of an ineligible player.  No protest       
          shall be allowed based on the decision of an umpire’s judgment.

      B.  Only the acting head coach or manager shall have the right to protest a game.

      C.  The protesting manager or head coach shall immediately, and before the next         
          pitch is thrown, notify the chief umpire that the game is being played under protest.

      D.  Following the notice of protest, the chief umpire shall consult with the associate umpires,
          and if it is determined that the decision is in conflict with the rules, then the decision
          shall be overturned.  If, however, after consultation, the chief umpire is convinced
          the decision is not in conflict with the rules, then the decision shall stand and the chief umpire shall                
          announce that the game is being played under protest.

      E.  Within 24 hours, a written report of the protest shall be filed by both the
          protesting manager or head coach, and the chief umpire, with the League office.

F.    A Protest Committee shall consider the protest and issue a prompt decision.

16. EJECTIONS

      A.  All ejections should be reported to a league official immediately.

      B.  Any player or coach ejected from a game may serve a next game suspension after the Board reviews the offense.            

      C.  Players and/or coaches may be subject to further game suspensions if the Board deems necessary. 

17.  MISCELLANEOUS

      A.  Managers and assistant coaches are encouraged to warm-up their pitchers between innings if the catcher is not ready

      B.  Between pitches, every batter shall keep one foot in the box

      C.  A manager may call time and walk to the pitcher’s mound to talk to his pitcher. 
          On the second trip to the mound in a game to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be pulled

      D.  All protective equipment not issued by the park must be approved by the

          League before it can be used in games and/or practices.  This change in

          policy is due to new insurance regulations.  This includes any catching

          equipment and batting helmets.

      E.  No jewelry may be worn by players during games or practices.  This includes

          earrings, necklaces, rings, and watches.  It should not be up to the

          umpire to inspect for jewelry.  Check your players before games and

          practices.  This rule has been implemented for the safety of the players.

      F.  Only uniforms (shirts, caps, pants, and socks) issued by the park may be           
          worn during games.  If a player forgets a piece of his/her uniform the           
          park will try to issue a substitute for that one game only.  If the park              
          can not provide something for the player, he/she should borrow the item               
          from a teammate when possible, but the player is expected to be in proper     
          uniform for the next game.  A player who willfully violates this rule will        
          not be permitted to play.  Additional hats, socks, and pants are available

          for purchase should a player lose or destroy the first set.  The costs are

          as follows:  Hat $6, Socks $5, Pants $5.

G.    All bats must be solid wood.

H.    Players are allowed to wear metal cleats.

I.  If a game is tied after it is considered a complete game (four full innings

    have been completed or three and a half innings if the home team has the

    lead) or after the time limit expires on Saturdays, that game shall end in

    the tie.  No extra innings will be played to break the tie.

      J.  Tie Breakers to determine final regular season records are decided by               
          the following:  1.  Head to head  2. If an unequal number of games are           
          played by any team compared to other teams in their division, that teams              
          record will be determined by a percentage.  This percentage is computed by           
          ividing number of games won by total number of games played.  Tie games

          count as a full game played with half a win.

K.    Disciplinary Rule:  Coaches may remove a player from a game for             
disciplinary reasons.  If there are substitutes who have not entered the game yet
they may be used.  If all substitutes have been used when the    
disciplinary problem occurs, the manager is to inform the opposing coach of the
situation and the opposing manager may select a player to enter the    game.

L.    Only games between the two Cove Creek teams will count towards the regular season
standings.  No games with travel or Lane teams will count towards regular season
seedings for the tournament.

      L.  All rules not covered in this handout will defer to the National Federation

          High School Rulebook.