2008 Farm League Rules
The goal of Town Teams is to have fun and learn in the process. The rules below are meant to provide consistency—so all coaches in the league play by the same rules, and all players advance to the next level knowing the basic rules of the game. The rules are not meant to take the fun out of the game.
As a coach, your goal is to encourage your players to have fun, be good sports, and play by the rules… as a team. Many of your players will go on to play together in future years. Provide them with all the fun and learning opportunities possible, so their love of the sport continues throughout the years.
Eligibility:
- Coaches will be responsible for equipment return immediately after the last game of their season. All equipment must be returned in good condition ( i.e. - please clean mud off equipment before returning).
- All uniforms worn during game play must be consistent with the players on the team.
- Catchers must wear protective safety helmet and mask, chest protector, and leg guards. The player may use a fielder's glove.
- Boys SHOULD wear a protective cup.
- Only rubber cleats or tennis shoes will be allowed.
- Players may not wear watches, pins or any jewelry of any kind during play.
Coaches:
- Coaches are responsible for seeing that their players meet the age requirements.
- It is the coach's responsibility for designating a team parent for snack and drinks after the game.
- Coaches from both teams that have the first game of the day are responsible for being present or having someone representing the team be present for field set-up one-half-hour before game time. Teams who have the last game of the day are responsible for returning the bases to the storage bin.
The Playing Field:
- The distance between bases will be 60 feet.
- All bases should be firmly tied down to anchors to prevent injury.
- On deck circles will be approximately 5 to 6 feet in diameter and be placed away from the bench area for safety reasons.
General Game Rules:
- Each team shall be limited to 14 players or less.
- A game can be played with a minimum of eight (8) players. We are teaching sportsmanship along with the game. Assuming there are still only 7 players, the coaches may choose to play an exhibition game by loan of players from the opposing team.
- An inning is over after the offensive team gets three outs or the defensive team scores five runs.
- Five Run Rule - A team may score a maximum of five (5) runs in their half of an inning. After the fifth run is scored, the ball is considered dead and no other runs will count. The team at bat must then take the field.
- Rainouts - The Home Team Coach is responsible to call the opposing coach to cancel a game due to rain by 4:00pm. Make up games can be scheduled by coaches at a later date if fields are available and families are willing to participate.
- Games will consist of six (5) innings with/or a time limit of one hour. No inning will start if the time of one hour has been reached. However, any inning started must be complete except by the agreement of opposing coaches.
- If, after four (4) complete innings, a team is ahead by eleven (11) runs or more, the game is considered over and the team ahead is declared the winner. If the winning team is the home team, this rule would apply after three and one half innings. If time permits, and both coaches agree, successive innings may be played.
- Games with a tie score are official, providing at least four (4) innings have been completed.
- A fielding team will consist of a maximum of ten (10) players of which four (4) must be played in the outfield beyond the normal configuration of the infield. All players must play at least three (3) innings in the field based on a complete six (6) inning game. All players may be freely substituted during a game. Any players leaving the game defensively may return to the game and play in any position.
- Players MUST remain on the BENCH when not playing in the field, at bat, or in the batter's circle. It is the coach's responsibility to enforce this rule.
- The home team will occupy the third base bench and the visiting team will occupy the first base bench. This will be designated on the schedule with the home team listed on the right.
Offense Related Rules:
- The coach (or designated adult representative) pitches to his/her own team. He/she is allowed to pitch overhand between 36 and 44 feet from home plate.
- Each batter gets five (5) pitches. If the batter does not hit the ball fair within 5 pitches the batter hits off the tee.
- The pitching coach is to exit the playing field immediately after the ball is in play. Coach is to exit the field on the third base side as to not disrupt runners or plays on the field. The coach may NOT remain on the mound and become a base coach; we want to teach the kids to listen to the base coaches.
- Base runners must have foot on top of the base until the ball is hit. There will be no base stealing.
- Base coaches may not touch a base runner while the ball is in play.
- No head first sliding into bases.
Defense Related Rules:
- No defensive coaches are allowed on the field during play.
- Defensive coach will act as an extra catcher to speed up the return of pitched balls. He/she will remain behind the catcher until the ball is in play.
Scorebooks are not required at this level, but we feel in preparation for the next level (County Baseball) we encourage parents to practice and get familiar with them by following the game with a score sheet while recording the plays.