ISRAEL ASSOCIATION OF BASEBALL
(Draft as of November 14, 2001)
EXCEPT AS MODIFIED (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY) BY THE RULES SET FORTH BELOW, THE RULES SET FORTH IN THE OFFICAL BASEBALL RULES ADOPTED BY THE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL OFFICAL PLAYING RULES COMMITTEE (LATEST EDITION), SHALL GOVERN ALL IAB SANCTIONED JUVENILE LEAGUE PLAY
1. THE TEAM
1.1 AGE LIMIT - Normally 10 to 12-year old, determined by age as of December 31st of year of season. Upon the request of a coach addressed to the relevant Regional Director, a Regional Director shall have the discretion and authority to permit a 9 year old (but not less than 9) and/or a 13 year old (but not older than 13) to play on a juvenile league team, considering safety, physical development, experience and class in school. A 10 year old can play on a Minor and Juvenile team provided the player is listed on both rosters when he/she joins the Minor team. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the age limit (maximum of 12 years old) as of December 31st of year of season, will determine the eligibility of a player to participate in an end of season national all-star juvenile League tournament, i.e., a 13 year old (by December 31st of the season) who has played on a juvenile league team during the season will not be eligible to play on the regional juvenile league all-star team. A violation of this rule will automatically disqualify the offending team.
1.2 PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTIONS - There shall be free substitution, subject to the following rules: (Amends rule 3.03)
1.2.1 There shall be a minimum of 8 players. In the event of 8 players, (and only if no other players are available) one will be a pitcher and one will be a catcher. There will be no "lending of players" to comply with this rule. A team fielding less than 8 players shall be deemed to have forfeited the game from its commencement, but should make an effort to play the game with player assistance from the other team. If, during the course of a game, a team is unable, for any reason, to continue to field the minimum of 8 players, that team will be deemed to have forfeited the game regardless of the score at the time. (Coaches should not force an injured or unhealthy player to continue just to keep the team from forfeiting. The health and safety of the players are paramount.) (Amends rules 1.01 and 4.17)
1.2.2 Batting line up will be declared to the umpire and opposing coach, before the beginning of the game, to be one of the following: (Amends rule 4.04)
(a) Regular 8-9 man line up.
(b) Full team line up.
A full team line up means that all healthy members on a team’s roster, in attendance, shall be in the line-up and must bat. The batting order may not be changed during the course of the game. A batting order card containing the line-up of the team shall be given to the umpire prior to the start of the game. The umpire must be notified if a player drops out of the batting order due to injury or other legitimate reasons. When a player drops out of the batting order the batting order condenses. The drop-out player may not re-enter the order unless agreed upon by the opposing coach and the umpire. This rule may not be abused for the purpose of improving the batting order.
1.2.3 In both cases listed above, 1.2.2 (a) and 1.2.2 (b), there may be unlimited substitutions including the pitcher as a pitcher. Substitutions are determined by batting order in case (a) and by field position in case (b).
1.2.4 MINIMUM PLAYING TIME – Each player will play a minimum of three outs in the field and have at least one plate appearance. Exception: a short game of not more than 4 full innings for a team with not more than 12 players or 5 full innings for a team with 13 players or more. Penalty: forfeit.
2. THE EQUIPMENT
2.1 Double-flap helmets are required to be worn by batter, base runners and base coaches less than 14 years of age. Only regulation baseball (not softball) bats (metal or wooden) are permitted. Catcher must wear helmet, face mask with throat protector, shin guard, chest protector and cup. At the discretion of the umpire, all jewellery should be removed prior to commencement of game. No metal spikes are allowed - rubber cleats are permitted.
2.2 When warming up a pitcher, catchers must wear a cup and mask if they enter into the stooped position.
2.3 offenders of rules 2.1 and 2.2 should be warned by the umpire and if they persist they may be ejected, as well as the coach, at the umpire's discretion.
3. THE FIELD
3.1 DISTANCES BETWEEN BASES – 18.4 meters (60 feet) (Amends rule 1.04)
3.2 PITCHERS PLATE - The pitcher’s plate (either a pitcher's plate or a chalk mark line) will be 14 meters from the back of home base. By mutual agreement of both team coaches and the chief umpire, who has final say in this matter, the plate can be moved closer to home base, similarly for both teams but no closer than 12 meters. This may be done at the start of the game or during play if deemed necessary by the umpire to move the game along, but only at the beginning of a new inning. (Amends rule 1.07)
4. THE SPECIAL PLAY RULES
4.1 LENGTH OF GAME – (Amends rules 4.10 and 4.11) Except when the "slaughter rule" is applied, the normal length of a game shall be six innings (subject to the need for additional inning/s in the event of a tie at the end of six innings). Coaches may agree, before the start of the game to play fewer innings than six, provided, however, that the game shall not be for less than (whichever occurs first): four innings (3 1/2 innings if the home team is leading at the start of the bottom of the 4th inning.) or 90 minutes of commencement (i.e. if an inning ends within 90 minutes of game commencement, the next inning should be played; if an inning ends 91minutes or more of game commencement, the game {based on the prior agreement of the coaches at the start of the game} will be declared finished).
4.2 If a game is stopped by the chief umpire, for any reason, it will count as an official game if four innings have been completed (three and a half innings if the home team is a head).
4.3 If an official game is halted during an inning:
4.3.1 during the top of an inning: the score reverts to the end of the last completed inning.
4.3.2 at the end of the top of an inning or during the bottom of an inning: if the home team is ahead then the score remains, if the visiting team is ahead the score reverts to the end of the last completed inning.
4.4 SLAUGHTER RULE - In the event a team is leading by 15 runs or more at the end of the fourth inning (3 1/2 innings if the home team is leading at the start of the bottom of the 4th inning) or by 20 runs or more at the end of the third inning (2 1/2 innings if the home team is leading at the start of the bottom of the 3rd inning) , the game shall (unless the coaches agree otherwise at that point in time) be called and the team leading shall be declared the winner of the game. Notwithstanding a game being declared over, due to the slaughter rule, all the players on the losing team who have not had a chance to bat at the time of such declaration will, at the request of the losing team's coach, be given an opportunity to bat, without affecting the score or the previously declared outcome.
4.5 TIE GAMES – Games may end in a tie. (Amends rule 4.10 (b))
5. THE PITCHER (Amends rules 8.05, 5.09c, 7.04a and 7.07)
5.1 BALKS - There are no balks. Since a balk is an act by the pitcher to deceive the runner, and runners are not allowed to lead off the bases, there are no balks.
5.2 ILLEGAL PITCH- When a pitcher makes an illegal pitch with or without runners on base it will be a dead ball. Runners do not advance but one ball is added to the count. Exceptions: if the batter is hit by the ball, in which case he advances to first base, or if the batter hits the ball and reaches first base safely and all runners advance at least one base safely, in which case the play stands. If the batter or any of the runners attempt to advance further they do so at their own risk. (Quick pitch: see rules 2, 8.01 (d), 8.02 (a) (6) and 8.05 (e).)
6. THE BATTER
6.1 Any "called strike" (a "called strike" is a ball that is called a strike by the umpire and not swung at by the batter) will reduce the count by one ball, provided there is at least one ball already on the count. There is no saving up balls or strikes for the purpose of this rule.
6.2 Rule 6.09(b) the "Dropped Third Strike Rule", does not apply. The batter is out on a third strike whether the catcher catches the ball or not.
6.3 THROWN BAT -
6.3.1 The batter is out and the ball is dead if (a) the batter throws the bat unintentionally in a dangerous manner and it hits the catcher, umpire, any player, or coach in his normal position, goes into a dugout or into the crowd which is outside of the playing field (bat must hit spectator or player); or (b) the batter intentionally throws the bat in a dangerous manner or (c) upon hitting a fair or foul ball, the batter unintentionally throws the bat and it interferes with play in any way. These are not appeal plays. They are interference plays and "in a dangerous manner" is to be adjudged by the umpire.
7. THE RUNNER (See rule 7.00)
7.1 LEAD OFF - Runners may not lead off the bases. They may leave their bases only after the pitched ball passes a line even with home plate.
7.1.1 If any runner leaves his occupied base early and the ball is not hit, it is a delayed dead ball. If any runner is put out, the out stands. All runners must return to their bases unless they have been put out. No runner may score.
7.1.2 When a base runner leaves a base early, and the batter hits the ball, the base runner or runners are permitted to continue. If a play is made, and a runner or runners are put out, the play or plays stand. If not put out, the runner or runners must return to the original base or bases or to the unoccupied base nearest the one that was left:
7.1.3 In no event shall a batter advance beyond first base on a single or error, second base on a double or third base on a triple. The Chief Umpire shall determine the base value of the hit ball.
7.1.4 If any runner leaves early and the batter bunts or hits a ball within the infield no run shall be allowed. If three runners were on base and the batter reaches first base safely, each runner shall advance to the base beyond the one they occupied at the start of the play, except the runner who occupied third base, which runner shall be removed from the base without a run being scored. If however, at the conclusion of the play a base is left unoccupied, paragraphs (7.1.2) and (7.1.3) apply.
7.2 PITCHER POSSESSION, DEAD BALL -Once a ball is hit or after a pitched ball has passed a line even with home plate, runners are free to advance at their own risk, until the ball is in the possession of the pitcher who is in contact with or immediately adjacent to the pitching plate. The ball is then declared dead and runners advance or return to their bases as follows:
7.2.1 Runners between first and second base or between second and third base: if the runner has passed the half way point between the bases, the runner may choose to advance at risk. If the runner has not passed the half way point, the runner is returned to the last occupied base at the time of the dead ball declaration without risk of being put out.
7.2.2 A runner between third base and home must be 3/4 towards home to continue to advance at risk. If not the runner must return to third base without risk.
7.2.3 If the pitcher attempts a play on a runner by releasing the ball from his/her possession then the ball will become live and runners may advance at their own risk.
7.2.4 In the event a ball is hit directly back to the pitcher while he is on or immediately adjacent to the pitchers plate, the pitcher has the option to play the ball or to hold same. Should the pitcher decide to hold the ball, the ball will be declared dead, the batter will take first base and all other runners who are forced shall advance one base from the base they occupied immediately prior to the ball being hit. Exception, if a runner has, by the time the ball comes into the possession of the pitcher on or immediately adjacent to the pitcher's plate, advanced more than half the distance towards third or 3/4 toward home base, they may continue their advance at risk. This rule applies also if the pitcher fields a ball off the pitchers plate and carries the ball to the pitchers plate.
7.3 COLLISIONS AND TAKE OUT SLIDES –
7.3.1 Runners may not run with force into a fielder in possession of the ball waiting to tag him/her out, touching a base, or in the act of catching a thrown ball in order to make a play on the runner. The runner must slide, stop, go by or return to his base with risk. Violation of this rule will result in the runner being out and a dead ball declared, regardless of whether or not there was intent. The umpire will place all remaining runners on the bases that in his/her opinion they would have attained. Umpires may choose to warn players and coaches or eject the offending player at his discretion. This rule should not be confused with a collision (no fault) and is adjudged by the umpire and is not an appeal play.
7.3.2 No take out slides. A take out slide is a slide that's sole purpose is to take out a fielder attempting a play, with no attempt to reach the base safely. If a runner is clearly out and continues to advance, sliding into the fielder, and in the judgement of the umpire the runner was far enough away from the fielder when "called out", the runner may be adjudged by the umpire to have violated this rule. Penalty: runner is out and runner closest to home plate is out. Umpires may warn or eject players for this violation of this rule. The umpire will award base placement to the remaining runners.
8. COACHING (See rule 4.05).
8.1 Other than the batter, on-deck batter and base runners, there shall be no more than two base coaches from the offensive team on the field at any time. No coach from the defensive team shall be on the field at the time the team is on defence except one coach standing in the area near the defensive team's dugout.
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9. UMPIRE -
9.1 The home team must provide the umpire "ground-rules" for the field as well as these rules which are to be reviewed (but not modified) by the coaches and umpire prior to the beginning of the game.
9.2 Umpires should use the full strike zone as described in the Major League Rule Book. Any part of the ball touching any part of the strike zone is a strike.
10. SPORTSMANSHIP -
Sportsmanship, fair play and mutual respect are essential elements of the game of baseball. Adherence to these qualities is equally important as the outcome of the game. Therefore, the coaches of each team shall ensure the good and sportsmanlike behaviour of his players, as well as any parents accompanying the team. The coach should be a role model for his players and refrain from questioning and arguing umpire judgement calls ( i.e. safe or out at a base, strike or ball, etc). The conduct of players, coaches or parents who act in a disrespectful, abusive, intimidating or unsportsmanlike manner towards members of the other team (such as players spitting on hands prior to shaking hands at the end of the game) or towards the umpire or opposing coaches, shall be reported to the regional director for investigation. If the abusive, intimidating, disrespectful or unsportsmanlike conduct or actions are confirmed, then: (a) the team committing these acts will forfeit the game regardless of the actual score on the field, and/or (b) the offending player/s and/or coaches will be suspended from playing future game/s, and/or (c) such other action will be taken by the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) deemed appropriate under the circumstances, all as determined by the President of the IAB in coordination with the regional director.
11. RECOMMENDATIONS –
11.1 NO BACKSTOP - Fields without a backstop may adopt a ground rule limiting the number of runs to be scored on passed balls and wild pitches during a half inning. The recommendation is 2 runs in a half inning.
11.2 CATCHER'S OVERTHROW – The following rule has been recommended and will be tested out at the 2001 Hanukah Tournament: When a catcher makes a throw to second base in order to put out a runner attempting to steal second, and the ball is overthrown or an error is made by the fielder and as a result the ball goes by and into the outfield, the runners may only advance one base from the occupied base when the ball was pitched.