Play Ball with McCabe Park Little League!

 Game Time and Structure: 

● Games last six innings or 1 hour and 10 minutes.

● An inning cannot begin after 1 hour; an inning officially begins when the third out is made or the fifth run is scored in the bottom half of the preceding inning.

● A half inning ends when a team records three outs or scores five runs.

● Mercy rule is 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings.

● A team may not begin a game with fewer than eight players. If a team does not have eight players by the scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the game.

● Teams will use a continuous batting order; players may be entered / reentered defensively at any time.

Pitching:

● Coach pitches 40’ from home plate, which is 6’ in front of pitching rubber on the Big Field and from the pitching rubber on Small Field.

● Pitches are thrown overhand.

● A batted ball that contacts the coach pitcher is a dead ball and is not counted as a pitch.

● The coach pitcher is to leave the field when the ball is in play and only return after the umpire calls “time”; when exiting the field, the coach pitcher should use discretion and avoid disrupting a ball in play.

Batting: 

● A batter receives a maximum of five pitches.

● A strikeout is a combination of three foul balls and swinging strikes.

● A foul ball on the third strike or fifth pitch earns a subsequent pitch.

● There are no walks.

● A batter who throws the bat may be called out at the umpire’s discretion.

● Bunting is not permitted, and players are encouraged to take full swings; intentional bunts, including intentional half swings, will be counted as a swinging strike.

Base Running: 

● Baserunners are not allowed to lead off or steal.

● Baserunners are not allowed to slide headfirst; if a baserunner slides headfirst, they may be called out.

● Baserunner will be called out if the base coach makes contact with the runner.

● Neither the defense nor the baserunner “owns” any base, including first base. The defense has the right to attempt a put out, and the runner has a right to attempt to possess the base. Incidental contact during a play does not determine whether a baserunner is safe or out. That said, if there is a close play at any base, the baserunner must attempt to avoid contact or slide. Further, a baserunner who makes contact with a defensive player in an attempt to dislodge the ball will result in the runner being called out.

● There may only be one overthrow during a play, regardless of the base. After the first overthrow occurs, all baserunners have the right but not the obligation to advance one subsequent base at their own risk. Baserunners cannot take multiple bases on an overthrow, and time will be called immediately following a subsequent overthrow, at which point all runners must remain at their current base.

● If the catcher for the next inning is on base with two outs, the last-batted out may run for the catcher.

Fielding: 

● Two defensive coaches are allowed on the field when their team is playing defense. Defensive coaches may be stationed behind the infielders, in the outfield, or behind home plate.

● There are a maximum of 10 players in the field, including 4 outfielders. Outfielders must be positioned on the grass and cannot stand in the infield. On the Small Field, Infielders may stand on the edge of the grass.

● A player may only play pitcher or 1B for a maximum of two consecutive innings and no more than 4 total innings at one or both of these positions in a single game. After the player is moved from either pitcher or 1B, the player must play an outfield position, catcher, or rest for the number of innings equal to the time which they played pitcher or 1B prior to returning to any infield position.

● A player may play outfield the entire game if a coach determines it is in that player’s best interest.

● The umpire will call “Time” only once the defense has impeded the progress of the lead runner and dissuaded him/her from advancing or there has been an overthrow at 1B, 2B, or 3B. The exception to this rule is on the second overthrow of a given play, at which point the umpire will call “time” immediately and no baserunners may advance further.

● The player pitcher position is required to wear protective face gear.

● The catcher is required to wear full-body protective gear.

 Game Time and Structure: 

● Games last six innings or 1 hour and 20 minutes.

● An inning cannot begin after 1 hour and 10 minutes; an inning officially begins when the third out is made or the fifth run is scored in the bottom half of the preceding inning.

● A half inning ends when a team records three outs or scores five runs.

● Mercy rule is 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings.

● A team may not begin a game with fewer than eight players. If a team does not have eight players by the scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the game.

● Teams will use a continuous batting order; players may be entered / reentered defensively at any time.

Pitching:

● Coach pitches 40’ from home plate, which is 6’ in front of pitching rubber on the Big Field and from the pitching rubber on Small Field.

● Pitches are thrown overhand.

● A batted ball that contacts the coach pitcher is a dead ball and is not counted as a pitch.

● The coach pitcher is to leave the field when the ball is in play and only return after the umpire calls “time”; when exiting the field, the coach pitcher should use discretion and avoid disrupting a ball in play.

Batting: 

● A batter receives a maximum of five pitches.

● A strikeout is a combination of three foul balls and swinging strikes.

● A foul ball on the third strike or fifth pitch earns a subsequent pitch.

● There are no walks.

● A batter who throws the bat may be called out at the umpire’s discretion.

● Bunting is not permitted, and players are encouraged to take full swings; intentional bunts, including intentional half swings, will be counted as a swinging strike.

Base Running: 

● Baserunners are not allowed to lead off or steal.

● Baserunners are not allowed to slide headfirst; if a baserunner slides headfirst, they may be called out.

● Baserunner will be called out if the base coach makes contact with the runner.

● Neither the defense nor the baserunner “owns” any base, including first base. The defense has the right to attempt a put out, and the runner has a right to attempt to possess the base. Incidental contact during a play does not determine whether a baserunner is safe or out. That said, if there is a close play at any base, the baserunner must attempt to avoid contact or slide. Further, a baserunner who makes contact with a defensive player in an attempt to dislodge the ball will result in the runner being called out.

● There may only be one overthrow during a play, regardless of the base. After the first overthrow occurs, all baserunners have the right but not the obligation to advance one subsequent base at their own risk. Baserunners cannot take multiple bases on an overthrow, and time will be called immediately following a subsequent overthrow, at which point all runners must remain at their current base.

● If the catcher for the next inning is on base with two outs, the last-batted out may run for the catcher.

Fielding: 

● Two defensive coaches are allowed on the field when their team is playing defense. Defensive coaches may be stationed behind the infielders, in the outfield, or behind home plate.

● There are a maximum of 10 players in the field, including 4 outfielders. Outfielders must be positioned on the grass and cannot stand in the infield. On the Small Field, Infielders may stand on the edge of the grass.

● A player may only play pitcher or 1B for a maximum of two consecutive innings and no more than 4 total innings at one or both of these positions in a single game. After the player is moved from either pitcher or 1B, the player must play an outfield position, catcher, or rest for the number of innings equal to the time which they played pitcher or 1B prior to returning to any infield position.

● A player may play outfield the entire game if a coach determines it is in that player’s best interest.

● The umpire will call “Time” only once the defense has impeded the progress of the lead runner and dissuaded him/her from advancing or there has been an overthrow at 1B, 2B, or 3B. The exception to this rule is on the second overthrow of a given play, at which point the umpire will call “time” immediately and no baserunners may advance further.

● The player pitcher position is required to wear protective face gear.

● The catcher is required to wear full-body protective gear.

 Game Time and Structure: 

● Games last six innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes.

● An inning cannot start after 1 hour and 20 minutes; an inning officially begins when the third out is made or the fifth run is scored in the bottom half of the preceding inning.

● A half inning ends when a team records three outs or scores five runs, whichever comes first.

● Mercy rule is 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings.

● A team may not begin a game with fewer than eight players. If a team does not have eight players by the scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the game.

● Continuous batting order is required; players may be entered or reentered defensively at any time.

Pitching:  

● 9 and 10-year-olds are limited to 75 pitches in a day.

● Rest schedules are as follows: 1-20 pitches = no rest, 21-35 pitches = 1 calendar day, 36-50 pitches = 2 calendar days, 51-65 pitches = 3 calendar days, 66+ pitches = 4 calendar days.

● A pitcher’s pitch count for the purposes of day(s) rest threshold is determined by the first pitch thrown to a batter. The pitcher may not start a new batter once the above limit has been met.

● The pitcher must be removed from the mound on the second mound visit in an inning or the third mound visit in a game.

● Once removed from the mound, pitchers cannot return to pitch.

● Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

● A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.

Batting: 

● Umpires call balls and strikes.

● Batters must keep one foot in the batter’s box except for certain specified conditions.

● A strikeout is a combination of three foul balls, called strikes, and swinging strikes. A dropped third strike counts as a strikeout.

● There are walks, which constitute four balls.

● A batter who throws the bat may be called out at the umpire’s discretion.

● Bunting is not permitted.

Base Running: 

● Base runners are not allowed to lead off or steal.

● Base runners are not allowed to slide headfirst and will be called out.

● Baserunner will be called out if the base coach makes contact with the runner.

● Neither the defense nor the baserunner “owns” any base, including first base. The defense has the right to attempt a put out, and the runner has a right to attempt to possess the base. Incidental contact during a play does not determine whether a baserunner is safe or out. That said, if there is a close play at any base, the baserunner must attempt to avoid contact or slide. Further, a baserunner who makes contact with a defensive player in an attempt to dislodge the ball will result in the runner being called out.

● If the catcher for the next inning is on base with two outs, the last-batted out should run for the catcher, or the coaches should dress a different catcher for the next inning.
 

Fielding: 

● There are a maximum of 10 players in the field, including 4 outfielders.

● The umpire will call “Time” only once the defense has impeded the progress of the lead runner and dissuaded him/her from advancing.

● Play resumes when the pitcher has the ball and places his/her foot on the rubber.

 Game Time and Structure: 

● Games last six innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes.

● An inning cannot start after 1 hour and 30 minutes; an inning officially begins when the third out is made or the fifth run is scored in the bottom half of the preceding inning.

● A half inning ends when a team records three outs.

● Mercy rule is 15 runs after three innings, 10 runs after four innings.

● A team may not begin a game with fewer than eight players. If a team does not have eight players by the scheduled game time, the team will forfeit the game.

● Continuous batting order is required; players may be entered or reentered defensively at any time.

● All players are guaranteed a minimum of one at-bat per game and two innings in the field.

Pitching:  

● 11- and 12-year-olds are limited to 85 pitches in a day.

● Rest schedules are as follows: 1-20 pitches = no rest, 21-35 pitches = 1 calendar day, 36-50 pitches = 2 calendar days, 51-65 pitches = 3 calendar days, 66+ pitches = 4 calendar days.

● A pitcher’s pitch count for the purposes of day(s) rest threshold is determined by the first pitch thrown to a batter. The pitcher may not start a new batter once the above limit has been met.

● The pitcher must be removed from the mound on the second mound visit in an inning or the third mound visit in a game.

● Once removed from the mound, pitchers cannot return to pitch.

● Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

● A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.

Batting: 

● Umpires will call balls and strikes.

● Batters must keep one foot in the batter’s box except for certain specified conditions.

● A strikeout is a combination of three foul balls, called strikes, and swinging strikes. In the event of a dropped third strike, the batter is out if first base is occupied with less than two outs. If first is unoccupied or there are two outs, the batter becomes a runner and defense must put him/her out.

● There are walks, which constitute four balls.

● A batter who throws the bat may be called out at the umpire’s discretion.

● Bunting is permitted.

Base Running: 

● Base runners are not allowed to lead off.

● Base runners are allowed to steal, including stealing home.

● Base runners are not allowed to slide head first and will be called out.

● Base runner will be called out if the base coach makes contact with the runner.

● Neither the defense nor the baserunner “owns” any base, including first base. The defense has the right to attempt a put out, and the runner has a right to attempt to possess the base. Incidental contact during a play does not determine whether a baserunner is safe or out. That said, if there is a close play at any base, the baserunner must attempt to avoid contact or slide. Further, a baserunner who makes contact with a defensive player in an attempt to dislodge the ball will result in the runner being called out.

● If the catcher for the next inning is on base with two outs, the last-batted out should run for the catcher, or the coaches should dress a different catcher for the next inning.
 

Fielding: 

● There are a maximum of 9 players in the field, including 3 outfielders.

● The umpire will call “Time” only once the defense has impeded the progress of the lead runner and dissuaded him/her from advancing.

● Play resumes when the pitcher has the ball and places his/her foot on the rubber.