Updated April 2017
East Williamson Athletics Coach Pitch – 2017 Spring Season Rules
East Williamson Athletics Coach Pitch is governed by the Little League Baseball Official Rules as modified by the below local league rules. In the event a situation is not covered by either set of rules, the rules of Major League Baseball will be applied.
All COACH PITCH Divisions- 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds)- fifty-five (55) foot base lengths and AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds)- sixty (60) foot base lengths.
1. First games will begin no earlier than 5:30pm during the week. First games will begin no earlier than 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and continue until all scheduled games are completed that day. The Board will schedule make up games as necessary on the next open dates.
2. Umpires shall designate the official start time and advise the scorekeeper of the time.
3. There will be a ten (10) minute grace period for late players. This will be for the first game of the day/night ONLY. (NOTE: If the grace period is needed, the game clock nor the game itself will NOT start. The Manager needing the grace period shall inform the umpires immediately of the need.)
4. All games will have an official time limit of: 5U(5 yr olds)- one hour(1:00) and 6U(6 yr olds)- one hour and fifteen minutes (1:15) and AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds)- one hour and fifteen minutes (1:15). Games are played until the time has expired or the maximum innings has been reached, whichever occurs first. All coach‐pitch divisions will play six (6) innings. No normal inning shall start after five (5) minutes before the time limit is reached. The next inning starts at the time the third out is called in the prior inning.
5. If a tie occurs, then one extra inning will be played to determine a winner. The international tie breaker rule shall be used. If no winner is determined then the game will end in a tie.
a. International Tie Breaker Rule involves the last batter of the previous inning, whose turn at bat has been completed, assuming a position on second base. This will be done at the beginning of each half inning, until, at the conclusion of a full inning a winner is determined or a tie is declared.
6. Interrupted Games – During the regular season, games that have not become official games shall be suspended and resumed from the point of interruption. Any tournament games that have not become official games shall be suspended and resumed from the point of interruption. A game shall be deemed official if either more than half of the innings have been played or forty (40) minutes for 5U(5 yr olds) and forty-five (45) minutes for 6U(6 yr olds) and AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds) of the game time has elapsed, whichever occurs first.
7. Suspended Game Resumption – when a suspended game is resumed each team shall keep their lineup the same. In the event a player that was in the original lineup cannot attend the resumed game that player may be skipped without an out being called (if the team still has nine players). If the situation exists that a regular member of the team was not on the lineup for the original game but is available for the resumed date that player (s) shall be used to replace missing players.
8. Each team bats ALL players present.
a. 5U(5 yr olds)- Six (6) pitches total (no three (3) strike rule). Able to use the tee after four (4) pitches, but the tee is not mandatory. Ball must be put into play after the 6th pitch from the coach or the tee. Foul ball on 6th pitch results in an out. Any batted ball that makes contact with the coach pitching is a dead ball and does NOT count as one of the six (6) pitches. Batted ball must pass the 5-foot circle in front of home plate to be a live ball-(6th pitch that is fair but does not pass 5-foot circle results in an out.)
b. 6U(6 yr olds)- Six (6) pitches total (no three (3) strike rule). Ball must be put into play after the 6th pitch from the coach. Foul ball on 6th pitch will NOT result in an out. Any batted ball that makes contact with the coach pitching is a dead ball and does NOT count as one of the six (6) pitches. Batted ball must pass the 5-foot circle in front of home plate to be a live ball-(6th pitch that is fair but does not pass 5-foot circle will NOT result in an out.)
c. AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds)- Five (5) pitches total or three (3) swinging strikes. A batter will be allowed unlimited foul ball swings on the 5th pitch. Any batted ball that makes contact with the coach pitching is a dead ball and does NOT count as one of the five (5) pitches. NO semi-circle in front of home plate.
9. Everyone does NOT play defense each inning. 10 players will play defense at a time consisting of a catcher, a pitcher, 4 infielders and 4 outfielders. If a team has less than 10 players, you will still need to have a catcher as one of the position players- means you will have fewer outfield positions filled. Outfield will be defined as in the grass- no outfielders allowed to be on the infield/dirt. On a batted ball that reaches or goes past the outfielder, only an outfielder must be the player that retrieves the ball and makes the throw attempt back to the infield. For 6U(6 yr olds) and AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds) the catcher must be in actual catcher position- not standing or against the fence.
10. For 6U(6 yr olds) and 8U(7-8 yr olds) Divisions ONLY- Each team must have eight (8) players to start a game. If any team falls below eight (8) players due to any reason then that team will forfeit. The team with eight (8) players will take an out each time the 9th batter is due to hit. The 9th player may be added to the lineup upon arrival, thus removing the automatic out for only having eight (8) players. A team can add one (1) player from the Nolensville Rec age group immediately below the division in need of a player ONLY to avoid a forfeit (less than eight (8) players). In addition, that player must play in the outfield and must occupy the last batting position.
11. Each team will be allowed no more than four (4) coaches in the dugout to coach the team and/or manage the dugout. For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds) only, no more than two (2) coaches in the outfield while on defense. One coach can be around the plate to help with the catcher, but not to do all the work for the catcher. For AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds) only, no more than one (1) coach outside of the dugout while on defense- must stay in foul territory in front of the dugout.
12. Ejection / Player & Coach Suspensions:
a. If an umpire removes a coach from a game, that coach shall not be allowed to
participate in his/her next played game. The coach must appear in a meeting with the NBL Board to review the circumstances of the ejection. A second ejection of a coach shall result in the coach banned from coaching for the remainder of the season. Offending coach does have the right to appeal before the NBL Board for reinstatement.
b. If an action is deemed excessively malicious then the NBL League President can impose player or coach suspensions in addition to the ejection penalties listed above.
c. If an ejection occurs after the game has concluded then the penalty shall include the next two played games. (Reason is that an ejection during the game involves loss of time in two games where an ejection after a game is over would not.)
d. If a player is removed from a game for using profanity OR is caught using profanity anywhere within the jurisdiction of the East Williamson Athletics Coach Pitch (practice fields, playing fields, or anywhere else in the baseball parks) that player shall be subject to an additional suspension of one game. This same rule applies to the use of tobacco products by any player (regardless of age) while participating in league events. (Note: This penalty can be applied by umpires as well as any league board member that witnesses the incident.)
13. For AA Ball(7-8 yr olds) only, base runners shall be encouraged to slide at second, third and home base only if there is a legitimate play in process at the base. Upon the umpires discretion, any malicious contact by any player can result in the offending player being out on the play and/or being ejected from the game. (No contact rule)
14. If a player leaves the game due to sickness or injury, that players subsequent at bats will be passed over and is not an out. If a player is ejected from game or leaves by his/her or the coaches own choice then the subsequent at bats will be recorded as an out. See rule number ten (10) if number of players fall below eight (8).
15. Bat slinging:
a. Player – if the same player has more than one (1) incident during the same game, he/she will be called out. A warning will be given for the first incident.
16. We will play three (3) outs per inning or a maximum of five (5) runs per inning. The mercy rule will be in effect and umpires will enforce it.
a. For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds)- Eleven (11) run mercy rule in effect after four (4) innings, six (6) run mercy rule after five (5) innings.
b. For AA Ball(7-8 yr olds)- Eleven (11) run mercy rule in effect after four (4) innings, six (6) run mercy rule after five (5) innings.
c. If both coaches agree to play after the mercy rule has been reached, the umpires will leave. At that point, it becomes practice. This rule is only allowed if no other games are scheduled to be played after the current game.
17. Coach‐Pitcher Rules:
a. The coach pitcher must pitch overhand to his batters and has to pitch standing up. The coach pitcher cannot pitch from a knee.
b. For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds)- Founders Field- The coach pitcher must position themselves in a straight line between home plate and 2nd base with at least one foot in the pitcher’s circle. A three (3) foot chalk line will be drawn twenty-five (25) feet from the front of home plate. The middle of the circle will be thirty-five (35) feet from the front of home plate. The circle will be ten (10) feet from the front of the circle to the back of the circle, the front of the circle will be thirty (30) feet from the front of home plate.
c. For AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds)- Field 1 and Lanny McGowan- The middle of the circle must be forty-six (46) feet from the front of home plate and will be twelve (12) feet from the front of the circle to the back of the circle, basically the front of the circle will be forty (40) feet from the front of the plate. A three (3) foot chalk line will be drawn thirty-six (36) feet from the front of home plate. The coach pitcher must position themselves with at least one foot on or behind the marked three (3) foot line in front of the circle to start their delivery to the batter.
18. Base coaches may not physically interfere or assist with a base runner.
19. Specific Rules Governing Defensive Play:
a. Defensive Substitutions: A coach may request time to change his players defensive alignment one time in a given inning and only twice during the course of a game. If an umpire deems that the defensive substitutions are an attempt to delay the game the umpire can refuse to allow the substitution and resume the game.
b. Players to play their assigned positions: Removed the “chasing” rule for Spring. Players are NOT allowed to roll the ball from one player to another – they must attempt an overhand throw. For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds) only, no player may play the position of pitcher or first base for more than TWO consecutive innings. Players may switch between the two spots, but can not stay at the same spots.
c. Player‐Pitcher Requirements: For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds)- the player-pitcher is required to wear a helmet with a face mask. It is optional to wear a helmet with a face mask for the AA Ball-8U(7-8 yr olds). The player‐pitcher must position themselves with at least one foot inside the pitching circle. If the player‐pitcher fields the ball in the circle. Removed the “chasing” rule for Spring.
d. Batter/Runner: For 5U(5 yr olds) and 6U(6 yr olds)- The Batter/Runner is limited to a maximum of one (1) base advancement on an overthrown/passed ball during a play at first base. The runner is not automatically awarded the extra base on an overthrown/passed ball at first base unless it is determined a “dead ball”. “Dead ball” will be defined as any ball thrown that goes into any dugout, leaves the field of play, or that comes in contact with the first base fence during a play at first, which will result in all runners moving up one extra base- the base they were heading to plus one extra base. On all other plays, if the ball is overthrown, but not pronounced “dead”, the runner can advance, at their own risk, and can be called out. All other runners may also advance until play stoppage occurs, which is at the discretion of the umpire(s). Ordinarily, stoppage occurs when the ball is returned to the infield, controlled by a defensive player and that player is standing on any of the bases or the base runner has stopped his/her momentum at a base. For AA Ball(7-8 yr olds)- All overthrown/passed balls at first base are live unless the ball goes into any dugout, which will result in a “dead ball”. “Dead ball” will be defined as any ball thrown that goes into any dugout, which will result in all runners moving up one extra base- the base they were heading to plus one extra base.
20. For A Ball(5-6 yr olds)- To stop play, a defensive player must be in possession of the baseball at either 2nd base, 3rd base, or home plate or the lead runner has stopped his forward progress and the ball is in the infield, which at either situation the umpire will call time based on his or her best judgment. We will no longer allow for a player to be in the dirt or in the base paths and just hold the ball up, unless the runners forward motion has stopped and the umpire has called time. Any runners who are deemed to be more than halfway to the next base will be awarded that base. Any runner who is deemed to be less than halfway to the next base will be sent back to the base they were coming from. Hash marks will need to be placed halfway in between first and second base, second and third base, and third base and home plate. If a defensive player is continuing to make an effort to record an out on a live runner, time should not be called regardless of the location of the defensive player.
21. Jewelry: Metal rings, earrings, piercings, and non‐breakaway necklaces / bracelets shall not be allowed. Any other jewelry that the umpire deems could cause injury will also not be allowed. Pitchers should never wear jewelry that can be a distraction to the batter and umpires will direct that such be removed.
22. The bat may not exceed 33”in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 ¼” in diameter. Only 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bats marked BPF 1.15 will be allowed.
23. The speed up rule will be in effect. This rule allows for each team to have two (2) minutes to change sides, going from offense to defense or going from defense to offense. A warning will be given each time this rule is broken and the coach/team will be reported by the umpire to the baseball board/commissioner if the rule continues to be broken by that same coach/team. Penalties will then potentially be assessed going forward for that team(s).