NCBSA RULES AND PROCEDURES
 

Ball Types

K through 1^st graders boys and girls -- soft tee balls as supplied.

2^nd/3^rd/4^th grade softball -- 11 inch RIF softball

5^th/6^th grade (Majors) and Seniors Softball -- 12 inch RIF softball.

2^nd grade boys (Juniors division) -- RIF 5 baseball.

3^rd grade through 6^th grade baseball -- leather covered Little League baseballs.

Seniors baseball – leather covered Senior Little League, Babe Ruth or high school league baseballs.

Base Coaches

While not a requirement, it is recommended for all divisions starting with 5th grade that one of the base coaches be a player.  Players serving as base coaches must wear a batting helmet (with or without a face guard).

Batting Helmets

All age groups, including Seniors baseball, to wear appropriate batting helmets with attached face guards.  Base runners may elect to switch to helmets without face guards.

Bunting

Bunting is allowed in all divisions starting with 3^rd grade.

False bunting is not allowed for any age group (i.e., where batter squares to bunt and then returns to a regular batting position and swings).  False bunting is an automatic out.


Field Size

Baseball for grades 3 through 6 is played on a standard Little League size field, with bases at 60 feet apart, and the pitching rubber 46 feet from home plate.

Softball for grades 3 through 8 are played on a standard girls softball field, with bases at 60 feet apart, and the pitching rubber 40 feet from home plate.

Baseball and softball for 2^nd grade also play on a 60 foot field, but a pitching machine is used (see “Pitching Machine” below).

Seniors baseball for 7^th and 8^th grade boys is played on a regulation high school field, with bases at 90 feet apart, and the pitching rubber on a raised mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

Unless clearly marked on the field, at the start of each game the coaches and the umpire should agree on what areas will be considered out of play.  Once a ball is out of play, no further play can be made.  If a ball goes out of play from  an overthrow, the base runners advance to the next base.

Footwear

Sneakers or rubber cleats (rubber cleats are recommended for better traction).  No metal spikes permitted for any age group.

Infield Fly Rule

In effect for all division starting with 3^rd grade and up.

Intentional Walks
Intentional walks are prohibited in all baseball and softball divisions.

Length of Games and Practices

For tee-ball, see special rules below.

All softball games, and 2^nd grade to 6^th grade baseball games are 6 innings.

Seniors baseball games are 7 innings.

Games should be played for the full number of innings, except that a new inning should not be started if the inning is not likely to be completed before (i) it becomes too dark to play safely, or (ii) the start time of the next following game (on the weekends, usually after 2 hours

Practices generally should be for 90 minutes.

Pitching

COACHES MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PITCHING RULES AT ALL TIMES:

The number of pitches allowed is based on the pitchers age. Specific rest periods are requiredwhen a pitchers reaches a higher threshold of pitches delivered in one day.

The table below gives an overview of pitches that will be allowed per day for each age group:

Age                  Maximum # of pitches

13-16                     90

11-12                     80

10 and under          70

The rest period required is listed below:

1. If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) full calendar days of rest must be observed
2.  If a player pitches 41-60 pitches in a day, two (2) full calendar days of rest must be observed
3. If a player pitches 21-40 pitches in a day, one (1) full calendar day of rest must be observed
4. If a player pitches 20 or less pitches in a day, no calendar day or rest is required before pitching again

COACHES PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE PITCH COUNT. 

.  Coaches need to keep count of number of pitches thrown.  If a player has thrown the maximum number of pitches in a game, he can NOT continue pitching. In addition, regardless of the number of pitches allowed, lower pitch counts in the 50-60 range are appropriate for players 10 and under and all other players during the beginning of the season.

Coaches please be cognizant of this fact. An excessive pitch count will greatly increase the likelihood of injury to the player. 

Pitching Machine Procedures

2^nd grade baseball and softball use a automatic pitching machine instead of live pitching.  The machine may ONLY  be operated by a coach.  Coaches should familiarize themselves with the proper operation of the machine.  When set up and operated correctly, the machines are easy to use and will consistently deliver accurate pitches.

Pitching machines should be positioned on the field slightly in front of the pitching rubber.  Orange cones should be placed around the machine, creating a dead zone of approximately six feet around the machine.  Any ground balls batted into this zone (or line drives that hit or come close to the machine) should be immediately called dead and treated as a “no-pitch” (i.e., the batter is not charged with a strike).

A defensive player should play the pitcher’s position, but should be positioned to one side or the other of the pitching machine, a safe distance from the dead zone.

Balls and strikes are not called in games using a pitching machine.  There are swinging strike-outs.  Accordingly, a player bats until he or she hits the ball in play, hits a foul ball that is caught, or strikes out on a third swing miss.

Playing time/Positions

The NCBSA Spring season is a recreational program.  All players regardless of ability should be given equal playing time.

All players should be given an opportunity to play different positions.  Players should play both infield and outfield positions.

All players, and particularly at the younger levels, should be given the opportunity to pitch if they desire.  Coaches should work with players to develop their pitching skills so as to maximize their success on the mound (the NCBSA.com website contains materials from Pro Swing on coaching pitching skills).  Of course some players will be weaker pitchers than others, and the coaches should use reasonable discretion in determining how often and for how many batters to pitch a struggling pitcher, keeping in mind everyone’s interest in keeping the game flowing.

Roster Batting

All NCBSA Spring teams play with roster batting, and free substitutions in the field.

Sliding

Head first sliding is prohibited except when sliding back into a base from a pickoff throw.

Players must slide into every base where there is a play, other than first base.  A player that doesn’t slide at a base where there is a play can be called out for runner’s interference.

Catchers cannot block home plate -- they must allow the runner a clear lane to slide into home plate.  For a play at home plate, the catcher should stand in front of the plate in order to be able to receive the throw and be in position to make the tag out.

Safety

The safety of all players is of critical importance.  Please consult the separate NCBSA safety rules (copy available on the www.ncbsa.com   website). 

Stealing

There is no leading or stealing for any age groups until the 5^th/6^th grade divisions.

In those divisions and in Senior Softball, stealing is allowed but there is no leading.  The runner is not allowed to leave the base until the pitch crosses home plate.

Coaches for 5^th and 6^th grade baseball and 5^th/6^th grade softball may limit the number steals allowed per half-inning, but only after consultation with the league coordinators for those divisions.

Other than for Seniors baseball, runners cannot advance (stealing or otherwise) after the ball is thrown by a fielder or the catcher to the pitcher on the mound.  Runners in the process of running to a base before the ball reaches the pitcher at the mound can advance to that base, but cannot advance further.

There is no advancing to first base on a third strike pitch dropped by the catcher.

In Seniors baseball, there is full leading and stealing –the separate CWBA league rules should be consulted.

Tagging Up

Allowed at all age levels.

Weather:

If any question as to field conditions, check the NC Recreation Department hotline for game/practice cancellations – 914-238-2540.  The hotline usually is updated by 3pm each week day, and by 8am on the weekends.

If games are not cancelled on the hotline, but it rains shortly before or during game time, coaches should use their discretion on whether the field conditions are not playable.  For 7^th and 8^th grade teams or any other games using a “patch” umpire, the umpire will make the call at the field.

Any time is lightening is visible, the field should be vacated immediately.

Tee-Ball Rules and Procedures

 Boys and girls Tee-ball is played on Sunday afternoons.  There are four Tee-ball divisions – separate boys and girls Kindergarten divisions, and separate boys and girls 1^st grade divisions.

Tee-ball is intended to be a developmental program, that teaches children fundamental baseball and softball skills, while also making the ball game fun for them.

Each session will last for approximately 90 minutes, with the first 45 minutes devoted to practicing skills, and the second 45 minutes involving a scrimmage between the two teams that share the field.  Scrimmage typically go for 2 innings.

All players on a team play in the field during a scrimmage.  The infield should be positioned just with the standard 5 players at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd bases, short stop and player at the pitcher’s mound.  There is no catcher (the player at the pitcher’s mound can cover home plate in the unlikely event of a play at the plate).  All other players on the team should be positioned in the outfield, with as much distance between them as possible.

An inning ends when the team this is batting bats around  the order.  No team scores are kept.

All batting is off of a tee (i.e., no pitching by coaches).  Experience has shown that hitting off of a tee develops superior batting habits.  Coaches should consult the Pro Swing coaches clinic materials on the www.ncbsa.comwebsite for further information on how to position the batting tee, and teach batting stance and other swing fundamentals.  

For players that are more advanced, coaches can adjust the location of the tee so as, for instance, to teach the player to pull an inside pitch down the line and hit an outside pitch to the opposite field.