Rules

Rules

  • Under-15 Games
    • Runners allowed to steal bases, but not allowed to take a lead
    • Advancing on passed ball/wild pitch is allowed
    • On a third strike not caught, batter is out if first is occupied with less than two outs. If first is unoccupied or there are two outs, batter becomes a runner and defense must put him/her out.
    • 5-run limit per inning except final inning
    • Pitching distance 54ft, Bases 70ft
  • Under-13 Games
    • Runners allowed to steal bases, but not allowed to take a lead
    • Advancing on passed ball/wild pitch is allowed
    • On a third strike not caught batter is out if first is occupied with less than two outs. If first is unoccupied or there are two outs, batter becomes runner and defense must put him/her out.
    • 5-run limit per inning except final inning
    • Pitching distance 46ft, Bases 60ft
  • Under-11 Games
    • Runners not allowed to take a lead or steal bases
    • Advancing on passed ball/wild pitch is not allowed.
    • Dropped third strike – automatic out
    • 5-run limit per inning except final inning
    • Some U11 teams have sufficient number of pitchers who can throw strikes consistently, but if they run out of pitchers, coaches can act as pitchers. Coach-pitchers will pitch to batters from their own team.
    • Pitching distance 46ft, Bases 60ft
  • Under-8 Games
    • Teams consist of only 6 players (no outfielders)
    • Runners not allowed to take a lead or steal bases
    • Advancing on passed ball/wild pitch is not allowed.
    • Dropped third strike – automatic out
    • 5-run limit per inning except final inning
    • Batters hit using a batting tee or coach pitch
    • Pitching distance 30ft, Bases 50ft
  • Resolving Ties in Group Standings.  In the event of two or more teams finishing in a tie, either by virtue of identical win-loss records or where teams have played an unequal number of games but the “Games Behind” difference between them equals zero, the tie would be broken by using the following criteria in the order given:
    • The head-to-head results between the tied teams should be used to establish placing;
    • If still level, then the team that has conceded the fewest runs in games between or among the tied teams is placed first, the team that has conceded the next fewest number of runs in those games is placed second, and so on;
    • If still level, then the number of runs per game conceded by the tied teams across the whole of the competition should be used to determine placing.
    • If still level, the standings shall be determined by a toss of a coin.
  • Reporting Final Scores.  After every game the two teams are each required to submit the final scores to the Organisers’ tent. 
  • 5 Runs Per Inning Rule. Maximum 5 runs can be scored in any one inning apart from the final inning, when there will be no limitations.
  • Pitching Restrictions. Pitching restrictions as per BBF rules shall apply.
AgeMaximum Pitch Count
14-1695 pitches per day
11-1385 pitches per day
9-1075 pitches per day
  • Rolling substitutions are permitted i.e. players permitted to re-enter the game after being substituted, provided a player returning to the lineup is placed in his original spot in the batting order.
  • Continuous batting order is permitted i.e. bench players can be added to the batting lineup. 

Mercy rule.  No Mercy Rule will be in force.

Rules Applicable to Timed Games. At the start of the game the umpires, will inform both managers the time when the game is scheduled to end. Umpires will be the official timekeepers of all games. No new innings to start 15 minutes from the predefined game ending time. If the predefined game ending time is reached, the umpire will allow the inning to be completed.  This inning will be treated as the final inning with all the implied conditions including: (i) the bottom of this final inning will be played only if the visitors are leading or the game is tied in the middle of this final inning; (ii) if the visitors are in the lead in the middle of this final inning, but the home team takes the lead in the bottom of the inning, the game will end as soon as the home team takes the lead and this will be the final play and the final score. 

Tied games. In the event that a game is tied after the completion of the final inning, the final score would be determined by rolling it back to the end of the inning when one of the teams had a lead. If the score remains tied after rolling back the score, that would be the final score and each team will be awarded 0.5 win and 0.5 loss in the standings.

Disputes. Any disputes will be ruled by the Organizers, whose decision will be final.

Behaviour. Team managers are responsible for controlling behaviour of their team’s players, coaches, volunteers and parents.  Inappropriate language or intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated and anyone breaching this rule may be requested to leave the venue.  Everyone that attends the event is expected to act in a positive manner, no matter what the outcome of a play, call by an umpire, or the game itself. We simply ask the following:

  • Let the players play
  • Let the coaches coach
  • Let the umpires umpire