ALL LEAGUE GAMES DO NOT PERMIT THE FOLLOWING –
- Sunflower seeds/Gum (on field and in stands)
- Cameras attached to the backstop (no hanging on the fence/netting)
- Metal spikes
- Outside food and drink, including coolers.
- No Tobacco at all venues.
- Fan interaction with umpires
****Play9 Sports reserves the right to remove any player, coach, or fan from the venue if these rules are violated. If the individual(s) fails to comply with removal of the venue, a forfeit will be issued to the coordinating team. No refunds will be issued. This is a strict rule from the venues and all participants of the event must comply including Play9 staff.
****A Team Fine of $250.00 will be invoiced to the team in violation on behalf of the venue. Payment of said fine is required to complete the remaining league schedule.
Play9 Sports LLC reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
IMPORTANT RULES and EXCEPTIONS:
Of note, various age groups have age-specific rules. These age specific rules are directly in the chart below, with all other exceptions found throughout the remainder of this document. All rules not mentioned will follow the MLB rule book (baseball) and the USSSA rule book (softball)
Play9 Eureka Baseball / Softball League Rules (Mercies: 8 by 5)
| MP | 9u Rec | 9u Open/10u | 11/12u | 13u | 10uSB | 12uSB | |
| Base Distance | 55 | 65 | 65 | 70 | 80 | 60 | 60 |
| Pitching Distance | 40 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 54 | 35 | 40 |
| Innings Played (Max) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Time Limit | 1:20 | 1:30 | 1:30 | 1:45 | 1:45 | 1:30 | 1:30 |
| Max Runs / Inning | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Balks? | MP | 1 Warning | 1 Warning | Yes | Yes | n/a | n/a |
| Infield Fly? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Drop 3rd Strike? | Out | Out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Out | Yes |
| Stealing? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes** | Yes |
| Walks? | MP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No*** | Yes |
**Players may only be rostered on one team per division. Ex. John Smith is rostered for Team A in 12u competitive. John Smith CANNOT be registered in Team B in 12u competitive.
** If time expires and a team is winning by the amount greater than max runs/inning, the losing team will still get their final at bat.
**9u Recreation SPECIFIC RULE: There are no leadoffs. Runners may steal once the ball is released from the pitcher. Home plate is NOT open. Home plate does open up on a throw from the catcher in an attempt on a stealing runner or on an overthrow to the pitcher.
** 10u Softball, runners may only steal second and third. In order to advance to home, a play must be made on you after previously reaching third base. Additionally, you may be batted in from any base.
***In 9u RECREATIONAL and 10u Softball: There will be NO walks. Once a batter receives four (4) balls, a batter will receive 2 coach-pitches to put ball in play in order to allow play to move forward. If ball is not put in play after the 2 coach-pitches, batter is out. Foul ball on the second coach pitch will allow the batter to get another coach pitch to put the ball in play. When the coach is pitching, the defensive pitcher may stand anywhere in the pitching circle but not in front of the rubber. Note: Runners may not steal any base when the coach is pitching. 9u Competitive will play normal walk rules.
Machine Pitch Specific Rules
– All Machine Pitch games will have a 1:20 time limit, finish the inning
– The ball is dead when in CONTROL by an infielder. The umpire’s discretion will be final, and the umpire will call time when control is deemed to be established.
– If the ball hits the machine, this will be treated like a walk. Meaning, the batter will get first base and other runners will only advance if forced to do so.
– A catcher is required. If no catcher, the game will be played but ruled as a forfeit in the favor of the other team.
– Coaches may adjust the height/angle of the machine to best suit their athletes. If this results in a bad pitch, this will still count towards the 7 allowed. Coaches CANNOT adjust the machine speed, only the umpire can do so. Unless this is dire need, any speed adjustments will come following a completed inning.
–The manager/coach will drop the ball into the machine for their own team when it is their turn at bat. The coach dropping the balls into the pitching machine cannot leave the immediate area of the pitching machine. (The coach may not run with the base runners coaching them and confusing the defense). Base runners are to be coached by the first and third base coaches only. Before dropping the ball into the machine, the manager/coach will hold the ball over their head and make eye contact with the bat.
– Bunting will be deemed an out.
– No walks or hit batsman
- Seven pitches, or three swings – whichever comes first. The third swing shall be treated like a two-strike count, any foul balls will be treated as such
- Teams may have the option of having a coach in the field during defense. Having a coach in the outfield during defense is NOT required, it is to the coaches discretion
- 35mph. +-2 to ensure strikes
Mercy Rule:
8 after 5
There is no mercy rule for machine pitch.
There will be a maximum of 5 runs scored per inning for all divisions except 14u.
No inning will start after the time limit has elapsed. The umpires will be the official timers for every game. A new inning starts when the last out of the previous inning is made. This is not a hard-stop… finish the inning! Home and away teams will be determined via coin flip during the umpire/coaches meeting prior to the game. Teams must adhere to this predetermined designation. All games tied after 7 innings or the expiration of the time limit (whichever occurs first) will be recorded as a tie. Tie games will not go into extra innings regardless of remaining time.
Trips to the Mound:
The pitcher must be replaced on the (2nd) trip by a coach to the mound in any inning. There will also not be a pitch clock utilized.
Hitting Lineup:
Lineups can consist of 9, 10, or 11 hitters. The coach may also elect to bat his entire roster. The lineup must stay with the same number of batters for the entire game. The 10th and 11th hitter, if used, will be designated as an EH and XH on the lineup card. XH is a 2nd EH. The EH and XH are the same as any position on the field. All games must be started with at least eight (8) players. A game can be finished with no less than eight (8) players. A courtesy runner for the pitcher/catcher may be used at anytime. In the event that a team has no subs, the last batter out can serve as this courtesy runner.
Weather Issues:
Time constraints will determine the status of all rain out games. It is solely the team’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of any scheduling changes. All information will be posted on Twitter @Play9Sports.
If a game is stopped, the game must resume within 1 hour of the stop in play. The game will resume but the original game clock will be the remaining balance game time. The Site Director will have discretion to amend plans to complete the game should the above steps not lead to a completed game. All efforts will be made to keep the remaining schedule intact and on time.
If a game is not resumed, it will become suspended or called official. If three (3) innings have been completed, or 2 1/2 innings and the home team is ahead; the game will be official if not resumed within 1 hour.
A suspended game will resume where the game was stopped. *As a note, the results of any postponed game, now considered official, will revert back to the last completed inning.
Protests:
Protests will be heard and ruled on by the league committee. The team protesting must make a cash payment of $100 at the time of the protest. If the protest is ruled in the protesting team’s favor the $100 will be refunded. The ruling made by the committee will be final. If during the game, protests must be filed and ruled on before the next pitch. If the protested call ends the game, the protest must be made before the umpires leave the field.