13 YEAR OLD RULES
                         COVE CREEK PARK 2007
 
 
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. Six 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 1      
    hour and 45 minute time limit will be imposed on Saturday games. This      
    means no new inning may begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes has elapsed.
    If an inning begins before 1 hour and 45 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 1 hour and 45 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
A. Each of the nine starting players may be withdrawn from the game and   
     re-entered. Re-entry must occur after the starters substitute has played two
     innings in the field.
B. When re-entered, a player must occupy the same batting position as he/she     
     occupied when starting the game - the starter and his/her substitute cannot     
     be in the game at the same time.
C. A substitute withdrawn from the game can re-enter but only for the starter    
     they originally went in for.
D. If all substitutes have been used, and an injury occurs, the opposing       
     manager shall select from the players not in the lineup a substitute to      
     replace the injured player. This type of re-entry can take place only when  
     the injury prevents a player from continuing in the game. The injured      
     player, once removed from the game, cannot re-enter the lineup.
E. A pitcher may not re-enter the game as a pitcher.
F. A pitcher may be removed from the mound, remain in the game, and return to   
     the mound to pitch. A non-starting pitcher may not return to the mound.
 
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   
    dividing 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 Cove Creek teams will count towards regular season standings.
     No games with teams outside Cove Creek 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.