HYDE PARK KENWOOD LEGENDS
BASEBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Updated: 28 Apr 07

Note: Unless stated specifically herein, the official rules and regulations of the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League Baseball apply. In the event the rules conflict, this copy of the Hyde Park Kenwood Legends Baseball Rules shall govern.

ROOKIE DIVISION

The Field

• Coaches from both teams shall be responsible for field maintenance, both before and after the game. This responsibility includes raking the area around home plate, adding additional dirt when needed and available, and cleaning the field and dugout after the game. Coaches should include a team parent and players in clean up.
• The distance between the bases shall be 50 feet. The distance from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate shall be 42 feet. The position of the pitching machine/coach pitch will be a distance of 35 feet.
• In the event the bases are not set before a game, the Home team must set the bases and the pitcher’s rubber.

The Game

• All coaches shall know and abide by the current publication of the Babe Ruth League Baseball Rules and Regulations.
• The ruling of the umpire is final. Arguing with an umpire may result in expulsion from the game.
• Games shall begin promptly at 5:30PM on weekdays (weekends as scheduled). The Visiting team receives the field for warm-up at 5:00PM, and the Home team takes the field at 5:15PM. Warm-up concludes at 5:30PM and the Home team remains on the field for the start of the game.
• Both coaches are responsible for keeping an official score book for each game played. At the conclusion of each game, coaches will sign both books noting the final score. The umpire shall also sign both books.
• Lineups should be submitted to the opposing team’s coach no later than 5 minutes prior to the start of the game. Lineups must include a minimum of nine (9) players, and include names and uniform numbers.
• Failure to field nine (9) players at the beginning of the game shall not be cause for forfeiture, but the missing player shall be counted as an out and marked as a K in the official scoring book each time that player's turn at bat is reached in the batting order. If a team fails to field at least eight (8) players by the start of the game, the game will be forfeited upon appeal to the umpire in charge. Teams may be granted a 15 minute grace period after the scheduled start of the game to field the minimum number of players.
• The game will consist of a maximum of five (5) innings, with no new inning beginning after 7:00PM. Exceptions will be granted if the start of the game is delayed on account of weather, condition of the field, or absence of an umpire.
• Each batter receives a maximum of 5 pitches from the batter’s coach or designated parent-pitcher, with no recording of balls and strikes. If after 5 pitches the ball has not been hit into fair territory, the batter is out.
• An inning is over when a team records three outs, or the team scores five runs in that inning. If more than five runs are scored in an inning by a team, only five runs are recorded in the official score book.
• After two outs, any player who will play the catcher's position in the subsequent inning and has reached base safely, may be replaced by a pinch runner, at the coach’s discretion. The pinch runner shall be a player not due up for the remainder of the inning.
• The infield fly rule does not apply.
• The play is ruled dead, and all runners will not advance once the pitcher has possession of the ball, and is in contact with the pitcher’s rubber.
• Any batter throwing a bat is automatically out.
• Only the umpire, the players and the coaches are permitted on the field of play. Unless acting in the role of coach, no parent is permitted beyond the fenced perimeter of the field.
• The acceptable on-field coaches are the Head Coach, Batting Coach, two Base Coaches, and the Coach Pitcher.
• Base Coaches may not touch or interfere with a base runner, defensive fielder, or the ball.
• No Coach, Player, or Fan will be permitted to stand behind the backstop.
• When called on account of darkness, weather or the time of day, an official game shall consist of three complete innings or 2 ½ if the home team is ahead at the bottom of the second inning. A full game is 5 innings.
• In the event a game is tied, no game should go beyond 5 innings. A tie is recorded by both teams.
• All scores will be submitted by the Home Team to the Rookie Division Coordinator, either by form, or by email, prior to Friday of each week at 6:00PM.
• Rainouts and unfinished games called on account of time or darkness will be rescheduled by the Division Coordinator. Both teams will use the same batting order as in the original game. Only if the players are not available shall a substitution be allowed.
• No team shall participate in a game against a team that is not a part of the HPK Legends Baseball League without the prior approval of the league Commissioner.

The Player

• Wrist watches, jewelry (including finger rings, bracelets, necklaces, chains, chokers and earrings) and any large hair accessories such as barrettes or balls which either extend beyond the baseball cap and could cause injury, or which prevent proper use of the batting helmet, shall be removed prior to the start of the game. This rule applies to both male and female players. Baseball shoes with rubber cleats are optional. No metal cleats are allowed.
• All male players shall wear an athletic supporter with a hard plastic cup during all practices and games.
• No batter, during practice or in a game situation, shall enter the batter's box to receive a pitched ball without an approved protective helmet having temple and ear protection. ALL on deck batters, base runners and player coaches shall wear the same.
• Whenever there is a batter in the batter's box prepared to strike at a pitched ball, no player shall enter the catchers box to receive the pitched ball without the appropriate protective gear: a helmet with face mask and throat guard, a properly fitting chest protector, an appropriately sized knee and shin guard, and, if a male, an athletic supporter with a cup.
• All players shall wear a complete team uniform: hat, team shirt, pants and stockings. No player shall be allowed to compete in games if not in complete uniform. No pins, buttons or patches shall be attached to any part of the uniform.
• There will be one continuous batting order. Coaches may not change a line up once a game begins, except to add late arriving players to the bottom of the order.
• All players shall play a minimum of 2 out the first 4 innings in the field during every game, or six defensive outs.
• During the season, but prior to the playoffs, any player who has not satisfied the requirement set forth in Rule G shall start and play the entire next game.
• During the playoffs, failure to satisfy the requirement of rule G shall be cause for forfeiture of the game upon appeal to the Commissioner.
• Players arriving after the second inning is completed shall play only at the discretion of the coach.
• Players returning from an absence of 3 or more consecutive games and/or practices shall play only at the coaches' discretion. Such player shall miss no more than one game after such absence.
• In the cases set forth in Rule J and Rule K, failure to satisfy the requirement of Rule G shall not constitute cause for forfeiture of the game. It is the responsibility of a late comer's coach to notify the opposing coaches and umpire of all late arrivals that are to play.
• Except when overrunning first base, a base runner shall be out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. If in the opinion of the umpire, the base runner did not act in a safe and sportsmanlike manner, the runner will be called out.
• A fielder who does not have the ball, or who is not in the process of receiving a ball thrown by another fielder, shall not cause a base runner to slide. That defensive player is interfering with the runner who shall be awarded the base.
• Players may not take leadoffs nor attempt to steal bases. Base runners may not leave the base until the ball is put into play by the batter.