2024 General Rules

Harlan/Hoagland/Monroeville/New Haven/Woodburn Youth Leagues

1.    All rules fall under ISHAA regulation unless negated by specific rules.

2.    No alcohol or smoking in the proximity of the playing areas, concessions or areas where families and players gather. (New 2019)

***Coaches, Managers, Scorekeepers caught will be immediately ejected and will miss the following game. Spectators will be up to the board. ****

3.    Weather and mandatory school functions are the ONLY acceptable reasons to cancel a game. Rain outs are to be called to the visiting team and umpires 1 hour prior to game time. (2019 Revised)

4.    Home or Visiting team may contact to give option dates for make-up games within 7 days. If not resolved within those 7 days, teams will escalate to league presidents. (2019 Revised)

5.    Baseball - Prep 6-8, Minor 8-10, Major 11-12, Koufax 13-14 as of April 30th. Softball - Prep 6-8, Minor 8-10, Major 11-12, Senior League 13-14 as of January 1st. (2022 Revised)

***VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED AND MUST BE APPROVED BY HOMETOWN BOARD. THOSE THAT PLAY DOWN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PITCH IN ANY DIVISION.

6.    Unless otherwise noted in specific rules, games are 6 innings. If weather ends a game, it will be considered complete if 4 innings are played or 3 1/2 innings with the home team leading.

7.    Start time of the game will be when the first pitch to a batter is thrown.

***Umpire and board officials make this determination on calling the game with the board having the ultimate decision. If there is a delay for the weather, the clock is stopped, and the game continues exactly where it left off. Clock restarts at this time.

***Tournament games will follow regular season time limit rules except for the championship games being unlimited. ****2023 Revision**** . If inclement weather or other non-man-made situations do not allow for a complete game, the game will be completed on the next possible date from the point at which it was stopped. The game will be played as if on the original day. All pitching records will reflect the original scheduled game. ****2023 Revision**** No new innings will be started after 10:45 pm. Drop dead stop time will be 11 pm. (2019 Revised)

8.    T-ball uses an indoor flex ball. Prep girls use a 1O" flex ball during the entire season. (2019 Revised) Minor girls use 11" ball. Major girls use a 12" ball. Prep/Minor boys DLL-1 ball (or equivalent). Major/Koufax boys DSLL-1 ball (or equivalent).

9.    No jewelry except medical or religious and those must be taped down.

10. If a team is going to be short on players, they may call up. This means players of your league one division down. Majors bring up minors for example. You cannot "borrow" players from another team in the same division. Players called up may NOT pitch.

11. Baseball batters must try to move away from the pitch. Softball batters have the box and do not have to move.

12. A coach may go to the mound, but the pitcher must be replaced on the second visit in the same inning or the third visit in a game.

13. When advancing to 1st, runners must use the orange bag (when provided) if there is going to be a play.

14. Headfirst slides into any base are not allowed and will be an out EXCEPT when a player is coming back to base after a lead off.

15. Metal cleats are not permitted.

16. If a ball goes under a fence or out of Field of Play or Out of Reach, the player is to put their hands up, the hit will be a ground rule double. If the ball is thrown out of play the runners are awarded up to one additional base, beyond what the runner would've accomplished. Umpire discretion. If the umpire sees the ball go under the fence, no need to raise hands.

15.  There will be no "coaches' option" regarding these rules. *** Coaches who agree to override any general rule or league rule will result in an automatic forfeit*** (2022 Revision)

16.  Any coach who is ejected from a game by an umpire shall serve a one game suspension for the next available game. **** (2022 Revision)****

                                                                             2024 Prep Boys Rules
                                                            Harlan/Hoagland/Monroeville/Woodburn

1. This is a Coach Pitch League.

2. Baselines shall be sixty (60) feet.

3. Pitching distance from home plate to pitching rubber shall be approximately (46ft). Pitching circle willbe (16ft) diameter. Both pitcher’s feet must remain in the circle for the duration of the pitch and pitch must be overhand in order to teach players to see the ball in a normal pitching release. If the coach - pitcher does step outside of the circle with any part of the foot, the play is dead, but the pitch does count as one of the 6 pitches for that batter.

4. The game will consist of six (6) innings or 1 hour and 15-minute time limit, whichever comes first. No
inning to start after that time. Games can end in a tie. If the score is tied at the end of regulation
play, no extra innings will be played. If needed, a playoff game will be played to make final seeding.

5. Field ten (10) players with a minimum of eight (8) players. Standard call up rules apply. Coaches may
bring up players from T-Ball league to fill player positions. In the event that a team has only 9 players,
coaches may opt out of having to field a catcher.(2024 Revision)

6. Outfielders start in the outfield. Cannot be extra infielders.

7. Every player must play at least every other defensive inning.

8. Prep Boys League will use DLL-1 (or equivalent) baseballs.

9. Three outs or ten (10) batters per inning. When the 10th batter is coming to bat, that coach shall
notify the opposing team’s coach that it is their last batter for that inning. If the announcement is not
made, the batter is declared out. Play stops as soon as an out is made or as soon as the player
pitcher has control of the ball and at least one foot in the pitcher circle on a ball fielded in the infield or
an infield position player has control inside the base lines on a ball fielded in the outfield. If a runner is
advancing towards home during the 10 th batter of the inning, their run will only count if they have
crossed the plate before an out was made or the ball is in control of the pitcher in the pitcher circle. A
batted ball back to the pitcher and the pitcher does not make a play attempt, all forced runners will get
to advance one base.

10. All players in attendance must be in the batting line up.

11. Each batter gets (6) pitches, with 3 strikes as an out. Last pitch must be swung at, or the batter is out,
unless foul tip. Batter will continue to bat until he is out or on base.

12. No Bunting, walks, stealing, headfirst slides or lead offs.

13. For purposes of encouraging concentration on the bases, runners may leave the base after the ball
crosses the plate. Players will be warned for leading off or leaving early the first time, players will be
out on second offense.

14. The batted ball must pass the 10’ line to be allowed. Fair balls hit inside the arc will not be counted as
a strike but will count as a pitch.

15. On overthrows to first base all but the batter may advance (1) base. This is to encourage teaching the
play at 1st base.

16. A batted ball to the pitcher in the circle is a live ball for making a play at first or any other base of the
pitcher’s choice.

17. Play stops when the player-pitcher has control of the ball with one foot inside the circle on balls
hit/fielded in the infield. On balls fielded in the outfield play stops once an infield position player has
control of the ball within the baselines. Runner(s) not past the halfway point (30ft) to the next base,
must return without being put out.(2024 Revision) Coaches will make the decision for each play and
are encouraged to coach their players with the spirit of the game as the priority.
Example: A coach should not send a runner from 1st to 2nd while the shortstop has the ball with the sole
purpose of inducing an overthrown ball, the spirit of the game would tell you play is dead. There is only
one base on an overthrown ball. The runner(s) may advance only one base at their own risk, after that the play
will be called dead. There can only be 1 overthrown ball a play.

18. Infield fly rules do not apply.

19. If the coach-pitcher is unintentionally contacted with a batted ball, the play is dead (NO PLAY), and
the batter is awarded first base. All unforced runner(s) remain at their base. (2024 Revision)

20. The batter will be warned for throwing the bat. The second infraction of the same player will result
in the batter being declared out and all runners being returned to their previous bases.

21. All bats used must have a USA stamp. (2024 Revision)

22. Age determination: 30 April prior to opening day for boys -Prep boys ages:
(5) with approval of board, (6) & (7), (8) tryout for Minor Boys.

23. Home team coach is responsible for setting up the field, providing someone to work the scoreboard,
and tearing down the field. This includes raking around bases and low spots.

24. If a sick or injured player leaves the game and a substitute is not available, that position in the batting
order will be skipped without penalty. There will not be an out counted against the team.

25. First and second place tournament trophies (or other awards) only, will be awarded. Division
standings are based on the following: teams overall record, head-to-head record, defensive runs
allowed, offensive runs allowed. Coaches are responsible for reporting game scores to the division
representative or “rep”. The division rep will gather and maintain standings for tournament seeding..
These standings are only against teams in that division. Tournament will be by division
(Harlan/Woodburn and Hoagland/Monroeville) with the two division champions playing each other for
the league championship. The Home Team will be determined by year. Odd years will be North, Even
years will be South.

26. No Coach’s options on these rules. *** Coaches who agree to override any
general rule or league rule will result in an automatic forfeit ***