COVE CREEK PARK
Senior League Rules
1. PITCHING LIMITS
A. 7 innings per week per pitcher (Monday through Sunday)
B. Five pitch warm up only per inning per pitcher
C. During an intentional walk, the pitcher shall be required to throw all
four balls. No automatic passes will be allowed
D. One pitch thrown constitutes one inning
2. GAME LENGTH
A. Seven innings per game for single games
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
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.
D. Double headers will be two 6 inning games.
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 can
not be used
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).
C. All double headers
played at Cove Creek have a 1 hour and 45 minute
time limit. 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 the
1 hour and 45 minute time limit. The umpire will declare the
start
time at the beginning of the game and is considered the
official time
keeper. If a game is called for time on Saturday regardless
of the
number of innings played, the game is considered official.
This rule
supersedes 2C above.
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 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
D. During double headers (twelve innings), each player shall play a
minimum of 4 innings and have 2 at bats through the entire twelve
innings.
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 basepaths, (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. The starting
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.
F. 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.
G. Only wooden bats will be used.
H. 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.
I. 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.
J. 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.
K. All rules not covered in this handout will defer to the National Federation High School Rulebook.