2024 Game Time Events Fall Ball Rules
1. Rostered Players and Coaches – Teams must a roster with a maximum of 15 players to Game Time Events Coordinator no later than one day prior to starting the season. All rostered players must comply with the age chart below. Ineligible players will cause their team to forfeit any and all games they participate in. 8U Division – Must be 8 years old or younger, may not turn 9 before May 1, 2025 9U Division – Must be 9 years old or younger, may not turn 10 before May 1, 2025 10U Division – Must be 10 years old or younger, may not turn 11 before May 1, 2025 11U Division – Must be 11 years old or younger, may not turn 12 before May 1, 2025 12U Division – Must be 12 years old or younger, may not turn 13 before May 1, 2025 13U Division – Must be 13 years old or younger, may not turn 14 before May 1, 2025 14U Division – Must be 14 years old or younger, may not turn 15 before May 1, 2025 15U/16U Division – Must be 16 years old or younger, may not turn 17 before May 1, 2025 2. Playing Rules A. IHSA Rules: Games will be played using IHSA rules unless otherwise noted in this document. Each manager is encouraged to review the published rules. B. B. Speed up Rule – IHSA rules apply for batters in batter’s box, one foot must remain in the batter’s box.
C. C. Game Length 8U, 9U & 10U – Games will be six (6) innings in length or at the conclusion of 1 hour and 40 minutes. A game is considered an official game once four (4) innings have been completed. If the home team is leading after 3 ½ innings the home team is deemed the winner. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, then teams will play California Rules to determine winner. Each extra inning will start with one out and last batted out of previous inning on second base. All batters will start with a 1-1 count. Game Length 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, and 15U/16U – Games will be seven (6) innings in length or at the conclusion of 1 hour and 40 minutes. A game is considered an official game once five (4) innings have been completed. If the home team is leading after 3 ½ innings the home team is deemed the winner. If the game is tied at the end of regulation; then teams will play California Rules to determine winner. Each extra inning will start with one out and last batted out of previous inning on second base. All batters will start with a 1-1 count. D. Ties – If a game is called due to inclement weather, darkness, or previously agreed time restrictions, official game rules apply, Games that have reached complete game status and are tied when suspended will be declared a tie. E. Base Distances: 8U – 60 Feet 9U – 65 Feet 10U – 65 Feet 11U – 70 Feet 12U – 70 Feet 13U – 80 Feet 14U – 90 Feet 15U/16U – 90 Feet F. Pitching Mound Distances: 8U – 40 Feet 9U – 46 Feet 10U – 46 Feet 11U – 50 Feet 12U – 50 Feet 13U – 54 Feet 14U – 60’ 6” Feet 15U/16U – 60’ 6” Feet
10U – 14U – Full baseball rules apply; Lead-Offs, Infield Fly Rules, *Balks and Dropped Third Strikes. 8U, 9U, ***NO Lead-Offs, Infield Fly, Balks, or Dropped Third Strike, and runners cannot steal until the ball crosses the plate. 9U cannot steal home, they must score on a hit or walk. 8U No **stealing or bunting. *10- 12U – One Balk Warning, 13-14U – No Balk Warning. **8U League manager discretion, to be decided before season starts. ***9U League manager discretion, to be decided before season starts. G. Continuous Batting Rule: will bat a continuous lineup, for all rostered players present and are allowed free defensive substitutions throughout the game to encourage maximum player participation. Any player leaving before the game is over will result in an automatic out when that player’s next at bat occurs. There are two exceptions to this rule: a. Coaches may announce to the umpire and other coach before the game if a player will be leaving early. b. If a player is injured and cannot bat for his designated spot in the order, thus requiring that player to leave the game. In both of these instances no penalty will occur and the place in the batting order will be skipped over. H. Courtesy Runners: Will be allowed for catchers & pitchers and injury to a player. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out. An injured player who requires a courtesy runner must be removed from the game. Pitchers and catchers of the following inning may have a courtesy runner after two (2) outs. I. Avoid Contact Rule: Runners must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid contact at any base where the defensive player has or is about to receive the ball to make a play. Runners do not have to slide if no play is being made at the base. a. If there is contact, and in the umpire’s judgment, the contact interfered with the fielder making the play, the runner shall be called out. The ball is dead and no other runners may advance. b. If there is contact away from the play, which in the umpire’s judgment, was deliberate or malicious, the runner, if at fault, shall be called out. At the umpire’s discretion, the runner may also be ejected from the game. c. If there is deliberate or malicious contact away from the play, which in the umpire’s judgment was the fault of the fielder, the runner shall be awarded a minimum of one base. At the umpire’s discretion, additional bases may be awarded to the runner, and the fielder may be subject to ejection. d. If there is incidental contact, which in the umpire’s judgment was accidental and did not ultimately interfere with the play, no call shall be made. J. M. Official Scoring: Home team will keep the official scorebook. Please verify scores with opposing team every ½ inning. Updated standings will be provided by Game
Time Events. At the conclusion of each game, the winning coach will email the final score to [email protected] K. Run Rule: 12 Runs after 4 innings, and 10 Runs after 5 innings. L. Bunt Rule: Batters who show bunt must either bunt or take the pitch. The batter may not swing the bat at the ball. Batters will be called out whether they make contact with the ball or not and ejected from the game and that position in the batting order will be an automatic out in the line-up. M. Warm-ups: Each team will be allowed 15 minutes of warm up time prior to the game provided they arrive early enough. Home team should be the first to warm up. Use good judgment and courtesy in order to get the game started on time. N. Pitching Rules and Limitations a. Tournament management will not be involved in counting pitches or innings for pitchers. b. Game Time Events endorses the Pitch Smart Program, developed by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. This program is a series of practical, age appropriate guidelines to help parents, players and coaches avoid overuse injuries and foster long, healthy careers for young pitchers. c. Mound Visits One free trip to mound per inning by a coach or manager is allowed and only a total of two free trips are allowed per pitcher per game. On the second trip per inning or third trip per game the pitcher must be removed. Balk explanation trips are excluded as a trip to the mound. d. Removal of Pitcher- Pitchers once removed from a game may not re-enter as a pitcher. e. Warmup Pitches Pitchers will receive a maximum five (5) warm-up pitches every inning. Relief pitchers will receive a maximum of ten (10) warm-up pitches. f. Pitchers may not wear white wristbands, a white batting or fielder’s glove or a white long-sleeved undergarment (which may distract the batter). g. A pitcher hitting three batters with a pitched ball in a game requires the removal of the pitcher. O. Equipment a. Metal spikes may not be worn at the 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U divisions.
b. Batters, on deck hitters, and base runners must wear helmets. c. Players may not wear jewelry. d. For a bat to be legal it must be permanently marked “1.15 BPF”, “USA”, “BBCOR” or be a wood bat. The 13U division must be no lighter than -8. The 14U division will be the only division that must use a -5 or -3 bat. The 15U/16UU division will be the only division that must use a -3 bat. e. Players coaching bases must wear a helmet. f. For safety reasons all players must wear a protective cup. Catchers must wear protective catcher’s equipment and a protective cup. g. The umpire prior to the start of the game may approve a non-identical ball. Conduct a. Only team managers may discuss a call with an umpire and only if the discussion is a question about rules call. Judgment calls are final. b. Players Ejected will have an out recorded at their position in the batting order. c. Ejections: Any manager, coach, player or family member ejected from a game; the following penalties will be assessed: 1st Ejection: Will include a warning and up to a 1 game suspension. 2nd Ejection: Minimum 1 Game suspension. Note: Any manager, coach, player, or family member ejected from a game for disciplinary reasons must be reported by both managers to the Game Time Events within 24 hours. P. Team managers will be responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players and fans. Umpires are authorized to throw violators out of a game and ask them to leave the park or subject their team to a forfeit. Q. All teams are asked to clean-up their dugout and bleacher areas after each game. R. Players who throw their bat after swinging shall be given one warning. On the second and all subsequent occurrences, the player shall be called out. Safety is the primary concern here. S. Players who throw a tantrum and toss their bat, helmet or any equipment in a dangerous manner will be ejected. T. Tie Breakers – Divisional Standings (Regular Season)
a. Team with the best record in head-to-head competition. (Only applicable when 2 teams are involved. Anytime more than 2 teams have the same record in division/pool play head-to-head is thrown out and the next tie breaker is in effect.) b. Team with the best division/conference record, if applicable. c. Team allowing the fewest runs overall. d. Team scoring the most runs overall. U. End of the Season Tournament A. All Teams will participate in the single elimination tournament with seedings based on regular season standings.
Tournament Rules and Procedures (Updated Oct 2024)
Game Time Events Fall Ball Rules
