HEADQUARTERS EXECUTIVE STAFF:STEVEN M. TELLEFSEN, President/CEO

JOSEPH M. SMIEGOCKI, Vice President/Operations & MarketingROBERT P. FAHERTY, JR., Vice President/Commissioner

ROBERT A. CONNOR, CommissionerDONNA J. MAHONEY, Controller

Contact Headquarters for information on ... Babe Ruth BaseballCal Ripken Baseball

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Copyright 2015 Babe Ruth League, Inc.

The Bambino Buddy Division was established for children ages 4-20 with physical and/or mental disabilities. It also incorporates other children in the league as “Buddies” for the Bambino players.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 0.00-BabeRuthRulesandRegulations........................................................3 - Babe Ruth Birth Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.00-ObjectivesoftheGame. thePlayingFieldEquipment............................................................8 2.00-DefinitionsofTerms...................................................................14 3.00-GamePreliminaries....................................................................18 4.00-StartingandEndingaGame............................................................22 5.00-PuttingtheBallinPlay-LiveBall,DeadBall................................................26 6.00-TheBatter...........................................................................27 7.00-TheRunner..........................................................................33 8.00-ThePitcher..........................................................................44 9.00-TheUmpire.........................................................................42 10.00-RecordingRecordsforCalled/ForfeitedGames...........................................47 11.00-LocalLeagueOptions................................................................48 -TournamentRegulations..............................................................49

NOTATIONS:

CHARTER/FRANCHISE- BabeRuthLeague,Inc.hastherighttorejectanApplicationforCharter/Franchiseor DeclarationofCharter/Franchisewithinitssoleappealablediscretion

RULES- NoBabeRuthSoftballruleorregulationmaybealteredorwaivedwithoutWRITTENpermissionofthe President,VicePresident,orCommissionerofBabeRuthLeague,Inc.ThePresidentofBabeRuthLeagueInc.has theauthoritytoruleonanypointorclarificationnotspecificallycoveredintheserules.Adjustmentscanbemadetotheserulesandregulationsinordertoaccommodateaparticipantwithadocumenteddisability

WAIVER-ItistheobligationoflocalleagueBabeRuthpresidentsforallwaiverrequeststooriginatewiththeir districtcommissioner.Allwaiverrequestsmustbesubmittedinwritingorelectronicallyandmust includetheapprovalandsignatureofthelocalleaguepresident,thedistrictcommissioner,thestatecommissionerandtheregionalcommissionerbeforeitmaybeconsideredforapprovalbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.Headquarters.

PRONOUNS-Wherever,inthefollowingpages,“he”or“she”ortheirrelatedpronounsmayappeareitheras wordsoraspartsofwords,theyhavebeenusedforliteracypurposesandaremeantintheirgenericsenseto includeallhumankindbothmaleandfemalesexes.

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FOREWORDBabeRuthLeague, Inc. isanon-profit,educationalorganizationdedicatedtodevelopingbetter

citizensbyprovidingproperly supervised softball competition for four through18-year-oldplayers.Organized in 1984, it is the fourth division of BabeRuth League, Inc.,which currently serves over50,000teamsandnearly10,000leaguesthroughouttheUnitedStatesandCanada.

Unquestionably,oneoftheprimaryreasonsforthesuccessofthisorganizationisthattherulesandregulationshavebeenestablishedthroughdemocraticprocedureswiththeguidanceofprofessionalrecreationdirectors,highschoolathleticauthoritiesandcollegecoaches.

BabeRuthSoftballRulesandRegulationsprovideaframeworkunderwhichlocalleagues,annuallycharteredbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,operatewithsimplicityanddemocracy.Allrulesandregulationsof Babe Ruth Softballwere determined aftermuch study and research by a committee of a crosssectionofpeople.EachcharteredleagueadministersitsownprogramwithinthisframeworkofrulesandregulationsasestablishedbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

ItisthebasicintentofBabeRuthLeague,Inc.thateverycandidatebegiventheopportunitytoplay intheprogramwithintherulesandregulationsasestablishedbyBabeRuthLeague, Inc.Eachleaguemustadvertiseregistrations,conducttryoutsanddraftplayers.Teamsshouldnotbepermittedtorecruittheirownplayers.

Play it Safe!Thesafetyandwell-beingofyoungplayers isaprimaryconcernof the

International Babe Ruth organization and of local league officials, teammanagers and coaches. This is the main reason Babe Ruth InternationalHeadquarters stresses the following essential components of effectiveAccidentPrevention:

1.Soundconditioning.2.Immediateattentiontoinjuries,howeversmall.3.Developmentofsportsmanship.4.Properexecutionoffundamentals.5.Selectionandcareofequipment.6.Properfieldmaintenance.7.Thoroughphysicalexaminations.

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MISSION STATEMENT OFBABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.

TheBabeRuthBaseball/Softballprogram,usingregulation competitive baseball and softballrules,teachesskills,mentaland physical development,arespectfortherulesofthegame,and basicidealsofsportsmanshipandfairplay.Inallaspects,Babe Ruth League,Inc.iscommittedtoprovidingourparticipantstheverybesteducational,sportsexperiencepossible.Itisourfundamentalbeliefthat everychildwithadesiretoplaybaseballorsoftballbeaffordedthatopportunity.

0.00 Babe Ruth Softball Regulations0.01 Requirements for Charter1. Application for Charter must be submitted to Headquarters and approved. Application must

includetheannualregistrationfeeoftwentydollars($20.00)per(12U,14U,16Uand18U)teamandfifteendollars($15.00)per10U,8Uand6Uteam.

2. All leaguescompetingintournamentplayin2015mustapplyforcharteronorbeforeMay15,2015.

3. AllcharteredleaguesmayaddteamsafterregistrationmerelybyfilingteamregistrationfeeswithHeadquarters.

Players,managersandcoachesonteamsaddedafterJune30,2015arenoteligiblefortournamentplay.

4. LeaguescharteredasBabeRuthLeaguesbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,shalltherebybecomesubjecttothepowersandjurisdictionofDistrict,StateandRegionalCommissionerswithinwhoselimitssuchleaguesoperate.

5. State Commissioners shall approve geographical boundaries established by each league inconjunctionwith the District Commissioner in whose district that league exists and operates.Appropriatewrittendescriptions,mapsorspecificationsofboundarylimitationsmustbecertifiedbyandfiledwiththestatecommissionerandsubmittedtoBabeRuthLeague,Inc.forfinalapproval.Aplayermustplaywithintheleague’sgeographicalboundariesinwhichtheplayerresides.Thisisdeterminedaccordingtothelegalresidenceoftheplayer’sparentsorlegalguardian.Waivers permitting a player to play outside of her geographical boundaries are not permitted in Babe Ruth Softball. (Eachagedivisionshallbeaseparateentityandshallhave itsowngeographicalboundaries.) Suchgeographicalboundaries shall be subject to reviewandadjustmentby stateand regional commissioners and Babe Ruth League, Inc. whenever it is deemed advisable.Geographicalboundariesareestablishedtoeliminatecompetitionofanundesirablenature,butshallnotbeestablishedtopreventhealthyexpansionofteamsandleagueswithinanygivenarea.Theonlyexceptionstotheaboveruleareasfollows:

Ifaplayer rosteredonaBabeRuthSoftball teammovedoutsideof that league’sgeographical boundaries.Inthiscase,theplayermayfinishhisplayingcareerintherespectivedivisionofthat league. NEW –Ifthephysicallocationoftheschoolwhereaplayerattendsclassesduringthetraditional academic year is within the boundaries of an established league, the player is permitted to participate intheestablishedleague.(Note:Thisexcludeshomeschools,cyberschools,sports- related schools, sports academies, or an after school situation where a student participates outsideoftheprimaryschoolinwhichheorsheisenrolled.)Undertheschoolboundaryrule,once aplayerselectstoparticipateinaleaguewheretheplayeriseligible,theplayermustfinishthe currentseasoninthesameleague. Players and their parents/guardians are advised that any false statements regarding residency orschoolattendancemayresultintheplayerbeingdeclaredineligibletoparticipateinCalRipken Baseball,BabeRuthBaseballorBabeRuthSoftball.Thisactionmayalsoresultinthedisqualification ofaplayer,teamfromregularseasonand/ortournamentplay.6. Allleaguesandteamsmustbecoveredbygroup accident insurancebeforetheywillbepermitted

totryout,practiceorstartlocalleagueplay.

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LeaguesusinganinsuranceprogramnotwithBabeRuthLeaguewillberequiredtonameBabeRuthLeague,Inc.asadditionalinsuredandprovidethatcertificatepriortocharterapproval.

0.02 DEFINITION OF LEAGUE, PLAYER, SPONSOR, PLAYING RULES1. LEAGUE.Aleagueshallbecomposedofnotlessthanfour(4)normorethanten(10)teamsto

becomeacharteredBabeRuthLeague.PermissionfromtheStateCommissioner isrequiredtocharterwithfewerthanfour(4)teams.12U,16U,and18Uareeachconsideredaseparateleague.Acharteredleague,however,maycontainmorethanten(10)teamsprovidedtheleagueisdividedintoseparatedivisions.Eachdivisionistobecomposedofnotlessthanfour(4)normorethanten(10)teamsperdivision.TheteamsofonedivisionmayplaytheteamsofanotherdivisioninastraightscheduleoraninterlockingleaguescheduleintheirrespectiveagedivisionswithotherBabeRuthSoftball12U,16U,and18Uleagues,atthediscretionoftheLeaguePresident.

2. PLAYER.Aplayer’sageasofDecember31,2014determinestheagedivisioninwhichtheplayeriseligibletoplayintheupcomingseason.Allplayerswhoareatleast4yearsofageasofDecember31,2013,andnotolderthan18yearsofageasofDecember31,2014,areeligibleforBabeRuthSoftballcompetitionasdescribedinthefollowingparagraphsandbirthcharts.

a. Playerswhoareatleast4yearsofageasofDecember31,2014,andwhoonDecember31,2014,are12yearsoldoryounger,areeligiblefor12Ucompetition.

�NOTE: Within the 12U structure, we recommend that where possible, the league implement a 10U, 8U, and 6U program.

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Allleaguesandteamsmustbecoveredbycommercial general liability insurancebeforetheywillbepermittedtotryout,practiceorstartlocalleagueplay.

7. Background Checks.Backgroundchecksarerequired,willbevalidforathree-yearperiodforanyvolunteerwhosuccessfullypassesanationwidebackgroundcheck.Forexample,avolunteerwhosuccessfullypassedabackgroundcheck in2014willnotbedueforanotherbackgroundcheckuntilthe2017seasonastheirbackgroundcheckisvalidthroughthe2016season.Avolunteerwhosuccessfullypassesabackgroundcheckduringthe2015seasonwillnotbedueforanotherbackgroundcheckuntilthe2018season.

NOTE: Commercial General Liability Insurance must provide coverage for all participants and all league volunteers, and have a minimum limit of $1,000,000 coverage.

Information regarding both types of insurance plans is available from Babe Ruth League, Inc.

b. PlayerswhoonDecember31,2014,are16yearsoldoryounger,areeligiblefor16Ucompetition.

NOTE: Within the 16U structure, we recommend that where possible, the league implement a 14U program.

c. PlayerswhoonDecember31,2014,are18yearsoldoryounger,areeligiblefor18Ucompetition.

IFAPLAYERWASBORNIN1994,THEPLAYERISTOOOLDFORBABERUTHSOFTBALLCOMPETITIONANDISTHEREFOREINELIGIBLE.

a. Therefore,anyplayerwho,bytheabovebirthchartsisyoungerthan4yearsofage,orwhoisolderthan18yearsofage(borninorbefore1995)isnoteligibletoparticipateinBabeRuthSoftballforthe2015season.

b. BabeRuthSoftballcompetitionshallberestrictedtoAMATEURPLAYERSONLY.Playerswhohavereceivedremunerationforplayorothercompensationarenoteligible.AplayeroncedeclaredineligiblecanonlybereinstatedbyherownStateCommissionerafterduereviewofthecasebytheRegionalCommissionerandfinalapprovalofBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

NOTE: Amateur and eligibility status of any Babe Ruth League player shall be determined in accordance with the prevailing rules of the State High School Athletic Association of the state in which the player participates in Babe Ruth League play. Therefore, Babe Ruth Softball local league and state officials should determine their respective State High School Athletic Association’s current rules, regulations and policies governing amateur standing before ruling on any case.

3. SPONSOR. Babe Ruth League, Inc. recommends that local leagues carefully screen applicantsfor sponsorship and suggests civic clubs, fraternal organizations, service clubs, etc., as typicalexamplesofthebroadfieldfromwhichsponsorsshouldbeselected.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. forbids sponsorship by any organization or individual whoseactivitiesmay be regarded as inimical to thewelfare of youth, and, therefore, stronglyadvisesmeticulouscareintheselectionofsponsors.

4. TOBACCO. Babe Ruth Softball prohibits the use of all tobacco products including smokelesstobaccoforbothlocalleagueandtournamentcompetition.Thisruleappliestoallfieldpersonnel.

5. PLAYINGRULES.AllBabeRuthLeaguegamesshallbeplayedaccordingtotheOfficialSoftballRulesaslistedinthisbook.

6. Shoulder Emblem. All players participating on Babe Ruth Softball local league or tournamentcompetitionare required towear theofficialBabeRuth Softball emblem.Theemblemwill bewornoneithertheleftuniformsleeveorontheupperleftchestofthejersey.TheofficialshoulderisrequiredtobepermanentlyaffixedforallWorldSeriescompetition.

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2015 Babe Ruth SoftballBIRTH CHARTS

2010Jan.1-Dec.314

2009Jan.1-Dec.315

2008Jan.1-Dec.316

2007Jan.1-Dec.317

2006Jan.1-Dec.318

2005Jan.1-Dec.319

2004Jan.1-Dec.3110

2003Jan.1-Dec.3111

2002Jan.1-Dec.3112

2001Jan.1-Dec.3113

2000Jan.1-Dec.3114

1999Jan.1-Dec.3115

1998Jan.1-Dec.3116

1997Jan.1-Dec.3117

1996Jan.1-Dec.3118

1995Jan.1-Dec.3119

0.03 JURISDICTION1. Allcompetition,local,district,state,regional,nationalorinternational,shallbeplayedunderthe

jurisdictionofBabeRuthLeague,Inc.2. TheProvincesofCanadaandanyterritoriesoftheUnitedStatesareconsideredtobeidentical

withthestatesoftheUnitedStatesinorganizationandstructureandterminologyfortheserulesNOTE: Whenever the term “state” is employed in these rules and regulations, the words “province” or “provincial” and “territory” or “territorial” may be substituted.

0.04 BIRTH DOCUMENTS, ROSTERS, SCHEDULE, SCOREBOOKS1. PlayersenrolledonaBabeRuthSoftballrostermustpresenttotheirrespectiveLeaguePresident

beforetheirfirstregularlyscheduledgame,anoriginalrecordofbirthoracertifiedcopyoforiginalrecordofbirth,BabeRuthLeague,Inc.electronicI.D. CardprovidedbyheadquartersorOfficialBabeRuthLeague, Inc. laminated l.D.Card. Such recordofbirthmustbeoneof the followingdocuments:

a. ACertificatefromtheState,CountyorCityBureauofVitalStatistics,DepartmentofHealth,Affidavits of Birth, Baptismal Certificates, Hospital Certificates, School Certificates, Recordof Notification of Birth Registration by the Bureau of Census of the U.S. Department ofCommerce, United States Naturalization Certification, United States Passport, Babe RuthLeague, Inc. officially laminated I.D. Card or Babe Ruth League, Inc. electronic I.D. CardprovidedbyheadquartersorBabeRuthLeagueLetterofWaiver.

b. Intheeventoftheplayer’sbirthnotbeingrecordedatthetimeofbirth,aCERTIFIEDCOPYof theDELAYEDREGISTRATIONofbirthwillbeaccepted,providingsaid registration isfiledwithBabeRuthLeague,Inc.andtheStateCommissionerisnotifiedpriortotheplayer’sfirstregularlyscheduledgame.

c. Notification of Birth Registration from the State, County or City Bureau of Vital Statistics,DepartmentofHealth,orotherrecognizedbirthrecordingagency.[Thisistermed“VerificationofBirthRegistration”insomestatesandmayalsobeeitherthestandardnotificationorthebirthregistrationcard(shortform)issuedbytherecognizedbirthrecordingagency.]

2. Noplayershouldeverbeembarrassedbythisrule.Shouldtherebeanydifficulty incomplyingwithbirthcertificaterequirements,anyleague,stateorganization,parentorguardianmaycontactBabe Ruth League, Inc. directly regarding a Letter ofWaiver prior to a player’s first regularlyscheduledgame.ApplicationsforBabeRuthLeagueofficialLetterofWaivershallbeaccompaniedbyasmuchdocumentationasisavailable.

3. AteamrosterandleaguescheduleshallbefiledwithBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,DistrictandStateCommissioners independent of each other on or before the league’s first regularly scheduledgame.ThoseleagueswhichdonotstartregularseasonplayuntilafterJune30,2015,mustfilerosters by that date. League Presidents will certify as to the authenticity of the informationsubmittedandcertifyastopossessionofgroupaccidentinsurance.Faxedoremailrosterswillnotbe accepted.

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7. Cap/VisorEmblemOption:LeagueshavetheoptiontopurchasecapsapproveddealersofPacificHeadwearand/orOutdoorCaporReplicaMajor/MinorcapslicensebyOutdoorCapcontainingtheOfficialCalRipkenBaseballorBabeRuthBaseballemblem.ThesecapsfromPacificHeadwearandOutdoorCapwith theOfficial Cal RipkenemblemandBabeRuth emblemwill satisfy theOfficial Shoulder emblem requirement for local leagueand tournamentplaynot including theBabeRuthLeagueWorldSeries.

8. REGULATION GAME.Inthe6U,8U,10U,and12Udivisions,aregulationgameshallconsistofsixinningsorfourinningsifthegameiscalledorifthehometeamhasscoredmorerunsin3½inningsthanthevisitingteamhasscoredinfourcompleteinnings.

NOTE: A league schedule shall consist of each team playing a minimum of 10 games within their league, or an interlocking league schedule with other Babe Ruth Softball 12U, 16U, or 18U leagues, in their respective age divisions at the discretion of the League President, prior to the start of tournament play. The teams of one division may play the teams of another division in a straight schedule, or interlocking, at the discretion of the League President. Forfeited games, before such games become regulation, do not count toward this compliance. An interlocking league schedule must be with teams in their own age bracket.

4. Each leaguewillmaintainanofficial scorebookorbooks tobecompleted indetail coveringallleague games. These scorebooksmust contain Babe Ruth Softball regular season games only.These scorebooksmust be used by the League President to sign the tournament team rosterverifyingthateachplayerhasmetherlocalleagueseasonparticipationrequirement–seeRules11.03(1.d)and11.04(1.d).

5. Babe Ruth League, Inc. rostered managers and coaches are required to complete coachingeducationandleaguenationwidebackgroundchecks.

NOTE: Visit Babe Ruth League’s Coaching Education Center at www.BabeRuthCoaching.org or www.baberuthleague.org and click on Coaching Certification Program.

0.05 TEAM COMPOSITION1. Eachteamisrequiredtoconformtothefollowingregulations: a. Eachteamshallconsistofnolessthantwelve(12)playersnormorethanfifteen(15)players

inthe12Ulevelandyoungeraswellasthe14Uand16Udivisionsandnolessthantwelve(12)normorethaneighteen(18)playersinthe18Udivision,amanagerandtwocoaches.

  1. Inthe12Udivisioneachteamshallbecomposedofnomorethaneight(8)twelve-year-oldplayers.

  2. Inthe16Udivisioneachteamshallbecomposedofnomorethaneight(8)sixteen-year-oldplayers.All14Uteamsshallbecomposedofnomorethaneight(8)fourteen-year-olds.

  3. Inthe18Udivisioneachteamshallbecomposedofnomorethannine(9)eighteen-year-oldplayers.

b. AftertheregistrationdateofJune30th,ateamvacancymaybefilled.TheleaguewillnotifyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,DistrictandStateCommissionerswiththenameofthereplacementplayer, manager or coach. Players, managers or coaches registered or re-registered asreplacementsortradedafterJune30thshallnotbeeligiblefortournamentcompetition.

0.06 PITCHING LIMITATIONS1. Inthe12Uandyounger,apitcher,regardlessofage,maypitch innomorethan10inningsper

calendarweek. a. Rule0.06-1applies toall games regardlessofwhenplayed.This includes rescheduledand

make-upgames. b. Ifapitcherdeliversone(1)pitchinaninningsheshallbechargedforone(1)inningpitched.2. ThecalendarweekofBabeRuthSoftballisMondaythrough,andincluding,Sunday.3. Therearenopitchingrestrictionsforthe14U,16Uand18Udivisions,however,see“LocalLeague

Options”for14Uand16Upitchingalternatives.4. Games inwhichan ineligiblepitcherhasbeenusedasspecified inparagraphs1and2shallbe

declaredforfeited.

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0.07 PLAYER ELIGIBILITYGames inwhichan ineligibleplayerhasbeenusedas specified inRule0.01-paragraph5andRule0.02-paragraphs2.a,2.band2.cshall,atanytimeupondiscovery,bedeclaredforfeited.

0.08 PROTESTS AND RULE INTERPRETATIONS1. Eachleagueshalladoptrulesgoverningproceduresforprotestingagame,whenamanagerclaims

thatanumpire’sdecisionisinviolationoftheserules.(Seealsorule4.19.)2. All disputes and protests shall be decided by the local League President or by his appointed

committeeprovidedthedecisiondoesnotviolaterulesandregulationsofBabeRuthSoftball.3. ClarificationandinterpretationofrulesbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.willbegivenonlyinWRITING,

andthenonlyuponWRITTENrequest.

1.00 Objectives of the Game1.01 Softballisagamebetweentwoteamsofnineplayerseach,underdirectionofamanager,playedona60-foot-squareinfieldinaccordancewiththeserules,underjurisdictionofoneormoreumpires.

1.02 Theobjectiveofeachteamistowinbyscoringmorerunsthantheopponent.

1.03 Thewinnerofthegamesshallbethatteamwhichshallhavescored,inaccordancewiththeserules,thegreaternumberofrunsattheconclusionofaregulationgame.

1.04 THEPLAYINGFIELD.Thefieldshallbelaidoutaccordingtotheinstructionsbelow,supplementedbyDiagramsNo.1,No.2andNo.3onadjoiningpages.

Theinfieldshallbea60-footsquare.Theoutfieldshallbetheareabetweentwofoullinesformedbyextendingtwosidesofthesquare,asinDiagram1(Page9).Therecommendeddistancefromhomebasetothenearestfenceis200feet.Theinfieldandoutfield,includingtheboundarylines,arefairterritoryandallotherareaisfoulterritory.

Itisdesirablethatthelinefromhomebasethroughthepitcher’splatetosecondbaseshallrunEast-Northeast.

Itisrecommendedthatthedistancefromhomebasetothebackstop,andfromthebaselinestothenearestfence,standorotherobstructiononfoulterritoryshallbeaminimumof25feet.SeeDiagram1.

Whenlocationofhomebaseisdetermined,withasteeltapemeasure84feet,10¼inchesindesireddirectiontoestablishsecondbase.Fromhomebase,measure60feettowardsfirstbase;fromsecondbase,measure60feettowardsfirstbase;theintersectionoftheselinesestablishesfirstbase.Fromhomebase,measure60feettowardsthirdbase;fromsecondbase,measure60feettowardsthirdbase;theintersectionoftheselinesestablishesthirdbase.Thedistancebetweenfirstbaseandthirdbaseis84feet,10¼inches.Allmeasurementsfromhomebaseshallbetakenfromthepointwherethefirstandthirdbaselinesintersect.

Thecatcher’sbox,thebatters’boxes,thecoaches’boxesandthethree-footfirstbaselinesshallbelaidoutasshowninDiagrams1and2.

Thefoullinesandallotherplayinglinesindicatedinthediagramsbysolidblacklinesshallbemarkedwithwet,unslakedlime,chalkorotherwhitematerial.

Thegrasslinesanddimensionsshownonthediagramarethoseusedinmanyfields,buttheyarenotmandatoryandeachleagueshalldeterminethesizeandshapeofthegrassedandbareareasofitsplayingfield.

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Askinnedinfieldisstronglyrecommended.Todeterminetheareaoftheinfieldtobeskinned,measurea60-footarcfromthefrontcenterofapitchingplateplacedat46feetfromtheapexofhomeplate.Althougha40-footpitchingdistanceisusedinthegame,thepitchingrubbershouldbeplacedat46feetformeasurementofthe60-footarctobeskinned.

14U/16U/18Uwillpitchfromadistanceof43feet.

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Diagram No. 1 Softball playing field

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Diagram No. 3

Diagram No. 4

Pitching Plate

Diagram No. 2

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1.05 Homebaseshallbemarkedbyafive-sidedslabofwhitenedrubber.Itshallbea17-inchsquarewithtwoofthecornersfilled insothatoneedge is17 inches long,two8½inchesandtwoare12inches.Itshallbesetinthegroundwiththepointattheintersectionofthelinesextendingfromhomebasetofirstbaseandtothirdbase;withthe17-inchedgefacingthepitcher’splate,andthetwo12-inchedgescoincidingwiththefirstandthirdbaselines.Thetopedgesofhomebaseshallbebeveledandthebaseshallbefixedinthegroundlevelwiththegroundsurface.(SeeDiagram3.)

1.06 Thebases,otherthanhomeplate,shallbe15inchessquare,shallbemadeofcanvasorothersuitablematerialandnotmorethanfiveinchesinthickness.ThebasesmustbesecurelyattachedtothegroundandpositionedasindicatedinDiagram1.Firstandthirdbasesshallbeentirelywithintheinfield.

1.07 Thepitcher’splateshallbearectangularslabofwhitenedrubber,24inchesby6inches.ItshallbesetinthegroundasshowninDiagrams1and4,sothatthedistancebetweenthepitcher’splateandhomebase(therearpointofhomeplate)shallbe40feet.14U/16U/18Ushallbe43feet.

1.08 The league shall furnish players’ benches, one each for the home and visiting teams. It isrecommendedthatsuchbenchesshallnotbelessthanelevenfeetfromthebaselines.Itissuggestedtheyberoofedandenclosedatthebackandends.

1.09 Thesoftballshallbearegular,smoothsurfacedball.Bothflatandraisedseamsarepermitted.ThecentercoreshallbemadeofeitherNo.1qualitylongfiberkapok,amixtureofcorkandrubber,apolyurethanemixtureorothermaterialsapprovedbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,handormachinewound,withafinequalitytwistedyarnandcoveredwithlatexorrubbercement.  ThecoveroftheballshallbeofthefinestqualityNo.1chrome-tannedhorsehideorcowhide,orsyntheticmaterialcementedtotheballbyapplicationofcementtotheundersideofthecoverandsewnwithwaxedthreadofcottonorlinen.Ifthecoverismolded,itmaybebondedtothecoreorbeofthesamecompositionasthecore.Eithermoldedtypemusthaveanauthenticfacsimileofstitching.Eitherthewhite-cover,white-stitchoryellowopticcover,red-stitchballmaybeused. The12”ballshallbeusedfor12U,14U,16U,and18Uregularseasonandtournamentcompetition.The 11” ball is recommended for 10U regular season play, and required for 10U tournamentcompetition. The12”ballshallweighnotlessthan6¼ouncesormorethan7ounces.The11”ballshallweighnot less than5 ⁷⁄₈ouncesormorethan6 ¹⁄₈ounces.Theballused inalldivisionsshallhaveaCORof.47orunder.Anysoftballstamped“OfficialBabeRuthLeagueSoftball”isrecommended.(Trump,Diamond,WORTHandRawlings)1.09 (a)WORTHisofficialtournamentsoftball.1.10 TheOfficialBatshallberound,madeofonepieceofhardwoodorformedfromablockofwoodconsistingoftwoormorepiecesofwoodbondedtogetherwithanadhesiveinsuchawaythatthegraindirectionofallpiecesisessentiallyparalleltothelengthofthebat.Anysuchlaminatedbatshallcontainonlywoodoradhesive,except foraclearfinish.Thebatshallnotbemorethan34 incheslong,andnotmorethan21⁄4inchesindiameteratitslargestpart.Thebat,initsentirety,shallnotexceed38ouncesinweight.Thebatshallhaveasafetygripofcork,tape(notsmoothplastictype),orcompositionmaterial.Thesafetygripshallnotbe less than10 inches longandshallnotextendmorethan15inchesfromthesmallendofthebat.Thebatshallbemarked“OFFICIALSOFTBALL”or“OFFICIALFASTPITCH”bythemanufacturer.Thebatmayalsobemadeofmetalandametalbatmaybeangular.Thebatshallhavenoexposedrivets,pins,roughorsharpedges,oranyformofexteriorfastenerthatwouldpresentahazard.Allexposedsurfacesofthebatshallbesmoothandfreeofburrs.Ametalbatshallnothaveawoodenhandle.Itshallconformtoalltheabovespecifications,withtheexceptionthatitismetalinsteadofwood.

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Unlessthebatismadeofonepiececonstructionwiththebarrelendclosed,thereshallbearubberorvinylplasticinsertfirmlysecuredatthelargeendofthebat.AONEPIECERUBBERGRIPANDKNOBCOMBINATIONISILLEGAL.Ametalormagnesiumbatmusthaveaknobonthehandleendweldedormechanicallyfastened.

NOTE: The on-deck batter may loosen up only with official softball bats or approved warm-up bats. Nothing may be attached to a bat such as a donut, fan, etc. when loosening up.

1.11 (a) (1)All players on a team shouldwear uniforms identical in color, trimand style, and all players’uniformsshouldincludeminimalsix-inchnumbersontheirbacks.Headgear(visors, headbandsandcaps)isoptionalforplayers.However,teamsmaynotmixcaps,visors,and headbands. Plastic visors, bandannas, and handkerchiefs are not allowable headgear. All coachesmustbedressedalikeanddisplayteamcolors.(2)Anypartofanundershirtexposed toviewshallbeauniformsolidcolorforallplayersonateam.Anyplayerotherthanthe pitchermayhavenumbers,letters,insigniaattachedtothesleeveoftheundershirt.

NOTE: It is permissible to allow individual team local league uniforms during tournament competition provided they are like in style and each player has a different number.

(b)Aleagueshouldprovidethateachteamwearadistinctiveuniformatalltimes. (c) (1)Sleevelengthsmayvaryforindividualplayers,butthesleevesofeachindividualplayer shall beapproximately the same length. (2)Noplayer shallwear ragged, frayedor slit sleeves. (d)Noplayershallattachtoheruniformtapeorothermaterialofadifferentcolorfromher uniform. (e)Solid-coloredslidingpants/shortsareallowed. It isnot required forallplayers towear slidingpants/shorts,butifmorethanoneplayerwearsthem,theymustbealikeincolor andstyle.Noplayermaywearragged,frayedorslitlegsonexposedslidingpants. (f) Glassbuttons,polishedmetaloranyexposedjewelryofanykindshallnotbeused.Hair barrettesarenotconsideredjewelryandareallowedunlessadjudgedbytheumpiretobe dangerous. (g)Noplayershallattachanythingtotheheelortoeofhershoeotherthantheordinaryshoe plateortoeplate.Shoeswithmetalspikesorcleatsarenotpermitted. (h)Uniformsforteammanagersandcoaches– Theteammanagerandcoacheswillbe requiredtowearidenticaluniformsconsistingofthefollowing: (1)acollaredshirtinthe samecolorsastheteam’suniform,(2)dressshortsorpantsofthesamestyleandinthe samecolorsastheteam’suniform,and(3)athleticfootwearincludingrunningshoes, sneakers,cleatsandexcludingopentoedfootwear.

1.12 Thecatchermaywearamittofanysize,shapeorweight.

1.13Thefirstbasemanmaywearaleathergloveormittnotmorethantwelveincheslongfromtoptobottomandnotmorethaneightinchesacrossthepalm,measuredfromthebaseofthethumbcrotchtotheouteredgeofthemitt.Thespacebetweenthethumbsectionandthefingersectionofthemittshallnotexceed5½inchesatthetopofthemittandshallbeconstructedsothatthisspaceispermanentlyfixedandcannotbeenlarged,extended,widened,ordeepenedbytheuseofanymaterialsorprocesswhatsoever.Theglovemaybeofanyweight.

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All Divisions –IfanybatinBabeRuthSoftballcannotbeclearlyidentifiedforitsmakeandmodeltodeterminethebarrelcomposition,thenthebatshouldberemovedfromthegame.

1.14 Eachfielder,otherthanthefirstbasemanorcatcher,maywearaleatherglovenotmorethan14incheswide.

1.15 (a) Thepitcher’sgloveshallbeuniformincolor,orofvaryingshadesofthesamecolor,and may have contrasting stitching, lacing, and/or webbing, provided the glove, lacing, or webbingisnotwhite,gray,oropticyellow. (b)Nopitchershallattachtohergloveanyforeignmaterialofacolordifferentfromtheglove. Thepitchermaywearherbattinggloveonhernon-pitchinghandunderherpitcher’sglove providedthebattinggloveisnotwhite,gray,oropticyellow.

1.16 (a)Allplayersshalluseaprotectivehelmetwithamaskorshieldondeck,atbatandwhile onthebasesandbyplayersinthecoaches’boxduringpracticeandallgames.Such headgearmustcoverthetopoftheheadandhaveextendedearflapswhichcoverboth ears andproperlyfit theplayerwearing it. All batboys/girlsmust alsowearprotective headgearwhileoutofthedugoutorbench.PENALTY–Ifaplayerrefusestowear theheadgear,theplayershallberemovedfromthegame. (b)Theuseoffaceguardsonallbattinghelmetswillberequiredforalldivisionsandalllevels

ofplay.

1.17 Playing equipment including but not limited to the bases, pitcher’s plate, softball, bats,uniforms,catcher’smitts,firstbaseman’sgloves, infielder’sandoutfielder’sglovesandprotectivehelmets,asdetailedintheprovisionsofthisrule,shallnotcontainanyunduecommercializationoftheproduct.Designationsbythemanufactureronanysuchequipmentmustbeingoodtasteastothesizeandcontentofthemanufacturer’slogoorthebrandnameoftheitem.

1.18Thecatcheroranyoneactingasthecatchershallwearacatcher’smaskwhilewarmingupthe pitcher at home plate or at any other location. In addition, during the course of the gameandpractice,acatchershallwearacatcher’smask,protectiveheadgearwhichcovers thetopofthehead, throatprotector,shinguardsandchestprotector. (Hockeystylemaskdoesnotrequire“dangling”throatprotector.)

2.00 Definitions of Terms

ADJUDGEDisajudgmentdecisionbytheumpire. AnAPPEAListheactofafielderinclaimingviolationoftherulesbytheoffensiveteam. ABALL isapitchwhichdoesnotenterthestrikezoneinflightandisnotstruckatbythebatter.Ifthepitchtouchesthegroundandbouncesthroughthestrikezoneitisa“ball.”Ifsuchapitchtouchesthebatter,sheshallbeawardedfirstbase.Ifthebatterswingsatsuchapitchaftertwostrikes,theballcannotbecaught,forthepurposeofRule6.05(c)and6.09(b).Ifthebatterhitssuchapitch,theensuingactionshallbethesameasifshehittheballinflight. ABASEisoneoffourpointswhichmustbetouchedbyarunnerinordertoscorearun;moreusuallyappliedtothecanvasbagsorothersuitablematerialandtherubberplateswhichmarkthebasepoints. ABASE COACH isateammemberinuniformwhoisstationedinthecoach’sboxatfirstorthirdbasetodirectthebatterandtherunners. ABASE ON BALLSisanawardoffirstbasegrantedtoabatterwho,duringhertimeatbat,receivesfourpitchesoutsidethestrikezone. ABATTER isanoffensiveplayerwhotakesherpositioninthebatter’sbox. BATTER-RUNNERisatermthatidentifiestheoffensiveplayerwhohasjustfinishedhertimeatbatuntilsheisputoutoruntiltheplayinwhichshebecamearunnerends. TheBATTER’S BOXistheareawithinwhichthebattershallstandduringhertimeatbat.

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TheBATTERY is the pitcher and the catcher. BENCH orDUGOUTistheseatingfacilitiesreservedforplayers,substitutesandotherteammembersinuniformwhentheyarenotactivelyengagedontheplayingfield. ABUNTisabattedballnotswungat,butintentionallymetwiththebatandtappedslowlywithintheinfield. ACALLED GAMEisoneinwhich,foranyreason,theumpire-in-chiefterminatedplay. ACATCH istheactofafielderingettingsecurepossessioninherhandorgloveofaballinflightandfirmlyholdingit;providingshedoesnotusehercap,protector,pocketoranyotherpartofheruniformingettingpossession.Itisnotacatch,however,ifsimultaneouslyorimmediatelyfollowinghercontactwiththeball,shecollideswithaplayer,orwithawall,orifshefallsdown,andasaresultofsuchcollisionorfalling,dropstheball.Itisnotacatchifafieldertouchesaflyballwhichthenhitsamemberoftheoffensiveteamoranumpireandthen iscaughtbyanotherdefensiveplayer. If the fielder hasmade the catch and drops the ballwhile in the act ofmaking a throwfollowingthecatch,theballshallbeadjudgedtohavebeencaught.Inestablishingthevalidityofthecatch,thefieldershallholdtheballlongenoughtoprovethatshehascompletecontroloftheballandthatherreleaseoftheballisvoluntaryandintentional.Acatchislegaliftheballisfinallyheldbyanyfielder,eventhoughjuggled,orheldbyanotherfielderbeforeittouchestheground.Runnersmayleavetheirbasestheinstantthefirstfieldertouchestheball.Afieldermayreachoverafence,railing,ropeorotherlineofdemarcationtomakeacatch.Shemayjumpontopofarailing,orcanvasthatmaybeinfoulground.Nointerferenceshouldbeallowedwhenafielderreachesoverafence,railing,ropeorintoastandtocatchaball.Shedoessoatherownrisk.Ifafielder,attemptingtocatchattheedgeofthedugout,is‘’heldup”andkeptfromanapparentfallbyaplayerorplayersofeitherteamandthecatchismade,itshallbeallowed. TheCATCHERisthefielderwhotakesherpositionbackofthehomebase. THECATCHER’S BOXisthatareawithinwhichthecatchershallstanduntilthepitcherdeliversthe ball. ACOACH isateammemberinuniformappointedbythemanagertoperformsuchdutiesasthemanagermaydesignate,suchasbutnotlimitedtoactingasbasecoach. A COURTESY RUNNER–Thepitcherand/orcatchermayhaveacourtesyrunnerrunforthemeverytimetheyareuptobat.Eachcourtesyrunnerusedmustbeaplayerwhoisnotinthegameatthetime.Eachcourtesyrunnermayonlypinchrunonceperinning. ADEAD BALLisaballoutofplaybecauseofalegallycreatedtemporarysuspensionofplay. TheDEFENSE (orDEFENSIVE)istheteam,oranyplayeroftheteam,inthefield. ADOUBLE-HEADERistworegularlyscheduledorrescheduledgames,playedinimmediatesuccession. ADOUBLE PLAY isaplaybythedefenseinwhichtwooffensiveplayersareputoutasaresultofcontinuousaction,providingthereisnoerrorbetweenputouts. DUGOUT(SeedefinitionofBENCH) AFAIR BALL isabattedballthatsettlesonfairgroundbetweenhomeandfirstbase,orbetweenhomeandthirdbase,orthatisonoroverfairterritorywhenboundingtotheoutfieldpastfirstorthirdbase,orthattouchesfirst,secondorthirdbase,orthatfallsonfairterritoryonorbeyondfirstbaseorthirdbase,orthat,whileonoroverfairterritorytouchesthepersonofanumpireorplayer,orthat,whileoverfairterritory,passesoutoftheplayingfieldinflight.

Afairflyshallbejudgedaccordingtotherelativepositionoftheballandthefoul line,includingthefoulpole,andnotastowhetherthefielderisonfairorfoulterritoryatthetimeshetouches theball.

Ifaflyballlandsintheinfieldbetweenhomeandfirstbase,orhomeandthirdbase,andthenbouncestofoulterritorywithouttouchingaplayerorumpireandbeforepassingfirstorthirdbase,

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itisafoulball;oriftheballsettlesonfoulterritoryoristouchedbyaplayeronfoulterritory,itisafoulball.Ifaflyballlandsonorbeyondfirstorthirdbaseandthenbouncestofoulterritory,itisafairhit. FAIR TERRITORY isthatpartoftheplayingfieldwithin,andincludingthefirstbaseandthirdbaselines,fromhomebasetothebottomoftheplayingfieldfenceandperpendicularlyupwards.Allfoullinesareinfairterritory. A FIELDERisanydefensiveplayer. FIELDER’S CHOICEistheactofafielderwhohandlesafairgrounderand,insteadofthrowingtofirstbasetoputoutthebatter-runner,throwstoanotherbaseinanattempttoputoutaprecedingrunner.Thetermisalsousedbyscorers(a)toaccountfortheadvanceofthebatter-runnerwhotakesoneormoreextrabaseswhenthefielderwhohandleshersafehitattemptstoputoutaprecedingrunner;(b)toaccountfortheadvanceofarunner(otherthanbystolenbaseorerror)whileafielderisattemptingtoputoutanotherrunner;and(c)toaccountfortheadvanceofarunnermadesolelybecauseofthedefensiveteam’sindifference(undefendedsteal). AFLY BALLisabattedballthatgoeshighintheairinflight. AFORCE PLAYisaplayinwhicharunnerlegallylosesherrighttooccupyabasebyreasonofthebatterbecomingarunner. Confusionregardingthisplayisremovedbyrememberingthatfrequentlythe“force”situationisremovedduringtheplay.Example:Manonfirst,oneout,ballhitsharplytofirstbasemanwhotouches the bag and batter-runner is out. The force is removed at that moment and runneradvancingtosecondmustbetagged.Iftherehadbeenarunneronthirdorsecond,andeitheroftheserunnersscoredbeforethetag-outatsecond,theruncounts.Hadthefirstbasemanthrowntosecondandtheballthenhadbeenreturnedtofirst,theplayatsecondwasforceout,makingtwoouts,andthereturnthrowtofirstaheadoftherunnerwouldhavemadethreeouts.Inthatcase,norunwouldscore. Example:Notaforceout.Oneout.Runnersonfirstandthird.Batterfliesout,Twoout.Runneronthirdtagsupandscores.Runneronfirsttriestoretouchbeforethrowfromfielderreachesfirstbaseman,butdoesnotgetbackintimeandisout.Threeouts.If,inumpire’sjudgment,therunnerfromthirdtouchedhomebeforetheballwasheldatfirstbase,theruncounts. A FORFEITED GAMEisagamedeclaredendedbytheumpire-in-chiefinfavoroftheoffendedteambyscoreof7to0,(6-0in12U)forviolationoftherules. AFOUL BALLisabattedballthatsettlesonfoulterritorybetweenhomeandfirstbase,orbetweenhomeandthirdbase,orthatboundspastfirstorthirdbaseonoroverfoulterritory,orthatfirstfallsonfoulterritorybeyondfirstorthirdbase,orthat,whileonoroverfoulterritory,touchesthepersonofanumpireorplayer,oranyobjectforeigntothenaturalground.

Afoulflyshallbejudgedaccordingtotherelativepositionoftheballandthefoulline,includingthefoulpole,andnotastowhetherthefielderisonfoulorfairterritoryatthetimeshetouchestheball.Abattedballnottouchedbyafielder,whichhitsthepitcher’srubberandreboundsintofoulterritory,betweenhomeandfirst,orbetweenhomeandthirdbaseisafoulball.

FOUL TERRITORYisthatpartoftheplayingfieldoutsidethefirstandthirdbaselinesextendedtothefenceandperpendicularlyupwards. AFOUL TIPisabattedballthatgoessharpanddirectfromthebattothecatcher’shandsandislegallycaught.Itisnotafoultipunlesscaughtandanyfoultipthatiscaughtisastrike,andtheballisinplay.Itisnotacatchifitisarebound,unlesstheballhasfirsttouchedthecatcher’sgloveorhand. A GROUND BALLisabattedballthatrollsorbouncesclosetotheground. The HOME TEAMistheteamonwhosegroundsthegameisplayed,orifthegameisplayedonneutralgrounds,thehometeamshallbedesignatedbymutualagreement.

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ILLEGAL (or ILLEGALLY)iscontrarytotheserules. AnILLEGAL PITCH is(1)apitchdeliveredtothebatterwhenthepitcherdoesnothaveherpivotfootincontactwiththepitcher’splate;(2)whenthepitcherdeliversthepitchwithaforeignsubstanceappliedtotheball.Rosincanbeappliedtothehand; (3)apitchnotmade inaccordancewiththepitching rule. AnILLEGALLY BATTED BALLis(1)onehitbythebatterwithoneorbothfeetonthegroundentirelyoutsidethebatter’sbox,or(2)onehitwithabatwhichdoesnotconformtoRule1.10. AnINFIELDERisafielderwhooccupiesapositionintheinfield. An INFIELD FLY isafairflyball(notincludingalinedrivenoranattemptedbunt)whichcanbecaughtbyaninfielderwithordinaryeffort,whenfirstandsecond,orfirst,secondandthirdbasesareoccupied,beforetwoareout.Thepitcher,catcherandanyoutfielderwhostationsherselfintheinfieldontheplayshallbeconsideredinfieldersforthepurposeofthisrule. When it seemsapparent thatabattedballwillbean InfieldFly, theumpire shall immediatelydeclare“InfieldFly”forthebenefitoftherunners.Iftheballisnearthebaselines,theumpireshalldeclare“InfieldFly,ifFair.” Theball is aliveand runnersmayadvanceat the riskof theball being caught,or retouchandadvanceaftertheballistouched,thesameasonanyflyball.Ifthehitbecomesafoulball,itistreatedthesameasanyfoul. IfadeclaredInfieldFlyisallowedtofalluntouchedtotheground,andbouncesfoulbeforepassingfirstorthirdbase,itisafoulball.IfadeclaredInfieldFlyfallsuntouchedontothegroundoutsidethebaseline,andbouncesfairbeforepassingfirstorthirdbase,itisanInfieldFly. Ontheinfieldflyruletheumpireistorulewhethertheballcouldordinarilyhavebeenhandledbyaninfielder—notbysomearbitrarylimitationssuchasthegrass,orthebaselines.Theumpiremustrulealsothataballisaninfieldfly,evenifhandledbyanoutfielder,if,intheumpire’sjudgment,theballcouldhavebeenaseasilyhandledbyaninfielder.Theinfieldflyisinnosensetobeconsideredanappealplay.Theumpire’sjudgmentmustgovern,andthedecisionshouldbemadeimmediately. Whenaninfieldflyruleiscalled,runnersmayadvanceattheirownrisk.Ifonaninfieldflyrule,theinfielderintentionallydropsafairball,theballremainsinplaydespitetheprovisionsofRule6.05(l).Theinfieldflyruletakesprecedence. IN FLIGHT describesabatted,thrown,orpitchedballwhichhasnotyettouchedthegroundorsomeobjectotherthanafielder. IN JEOPARDYisatermindicatingthattheballisinplayandanoffensiveplayermaybeputout. AnINNING isthatportionofagamewithinwhichtheteamsalternateonoffenseanddefenseandinwhichtherearethreeputoutsforeachteam.Eachteam’satbatisahalf-inning. INTERFERENCE (a) Offensiveinterferenceisanactbytheteamatbatwhichinterfereswith,obstructs,impedes, hindersorconfusesanyfielderattemptingtomakeaplay.Iftheumpiredeclaresthebatter, batter-runnerorarunneroutforinterference,allotherrunnersshallreturntothelastbase thatwas,inthejudgmentoftheumpire,legallytouchedatthetimeoftheinterference,unless otherwiseprovidedbytheserules. Intheeventthebatter-runnerhasnotreachedfirstbase,allrunnersshallreturntothe baselastoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch. (b) Defensiveinterferenceisanactbyafielderwhichhindersorpreventsabatterfromhittingapitch. (c) Umpire’sinterferenceoccurs(1)Whenanumpirehinders,impedesorpreventsacatcher’s throwattemptingtopreventastolenbase,or,(2)Whenafairballtouchesanumpireonfair territorybeforepassingafielder. (d) Spectatorinterferenceoccurswhenaspectatorreachesoutofthestands,orgoesonthe field,andtouchesaliveball. Onanyinterference,theballisdead.

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THE LEAGUEisagroupofteamswhoseteamsplayeachotherinapre-arrangedscheduleundertheserulesfortheleaguechampionship. The LEAGUE PRESIDENTshallenforcetheofficialrules,resolvedisputesinvolvingtherules,anddetermineanyprotestedgames. LEGAL (or LEGALLY)isinaccordancewiththeserules. A LIVE BALLisaballwhichisinplay. ALINE DRIVEisabattedballthatgoessharpanddirectfromthebattoafielderwithouttouchingtheground. The MANAGERisapersonselectedbytheleaguetoberesponsiblefortheteam’sactionsonthefield,andtorepresenttheteamincommunicationswiththeumpireandtheopposingteam. (a) Themanagermayadvisetheumpirethathehasdelegatedspecificdutiesprescribedby therulestoaplayerorcoach,andanyactionofsuchdesignatedrepresentativeshallbe official.Themanagershallalwaysberesponsibleforhisteam’sconduct,observanceofthe officialrules,anddeferencetotheumpires. (b) Ifamanagerleavesthefield,heshalldesignateacoachashissubstitute,andsuch substitutemanagershallhavetheduties,rightsandresponsibilitiesofthemanager. OBSTRUCTIONistheactofafielderwho,whilenotinpossessionoftheballandnotintheactoffieldingtheball,impedestheprogressofanyrunner. Ifafielderisabouttoreceiveathrownballandiftheballisinflightdirectlytowardandnearenoughtothefieldersoshemustoccupyherpositiontoreceivetheballshemaybeconsidered‘’intheactoffieldingaball.”Itisentirelyuptothejudgmentoftheumpireastowhetherafielderisintheactoffieldingaball.Afterafielderhasmadeanattempttofieldaballandmissed,shecannolongerbeinthe“actoffielding”theball.Forexample:aninfielderdivesatagroundballandtheballpassesherandshecontinuestolieonthegroundanddelaystheprogressoftherunner,sheverylikelyhasobstructedtherunner. AnOUTisoneofthethreerequiredretirementsofanoffensiveteamduringitstimeatbat. An OUTFIELDER isafielderwhooccupiesaposition in theoutfield,which is theareaof theplayingfieldmostdistantfromhomebase. OVERSLIDE (or OVERSLIDING)istheactofanoffensiveplayerwhenherslidetoabase,otherthanwhenadvancingfromhometofirstbase,iswithsuchmomentumthatshelosescontactwiththe base. A PASSED BALLisalegallydeliveredballthatshouldhavebeenheldorcontrolledbythecatcherwithordinaryeffort. APENALTYistheapplicationoftheserulesfollowinganillegalact. ThePERSONofaplayeroranumpireisanypartofherbody,herclothingorherequipment. A PITCHisaballdeliveredtothebatterbythepitcher. APITCHER isthefielderdesignatedtodeliverthepitchtothebatter. Thepitcher’sPIVOT FOOTisthatfootwhichmustremainincontactwith,orpushoffanddragawayfrom,thepitcher’splateprovidedcontactismaintainedwiththegrounduntiltheotherfoot,withwhichthepitcherstepstowardhomeplate,hastouchedtheground. “PLAY”istheumpire’sordertostartthegameortoresumeactionfollowinganydeadball. AQUICK RETURNpitchisonemadewithobviousintenttocatchabatteroffbalance. REGULATION GAME. See Rules 4.10 and 4.11. A RETOUCH istheactofarunnerinreturningtoabaseaslegallyrequired. ARUN (or SCORE)isthescoremadebyanoffensiveplayerwhoadvancesfrombattertorunnerandtouchesfirst,second,thirdandhomebasesinthatorder.

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A RUN-DOWNistheactofthedefenseinanattempttoputoutarunnerbetweenbases. ARUNNERisanoffensiveplayerwhoisadvancingtoward,ortouching,orreturningtoanybase. “SAFE” isadeclarationbytheumpirethatarunnerisentitledtothebaseforwhichshewastrying. SHOES -Metal cleatswill bepermitted in14U,16U, and18Udivisions. In the10Uand12Udivisions,onlyrubbercleatswillbepermitted. ASTRIKEisalegalpitchwhensocalledbytheumpire,which— (a) Isstruckatbythebatterandismissed; (b) Isnotstruckat,ifanypartoftheballpassesthroughanypartofthestrikezone; (c) Isfouledbythebatterwhenshehaslessthantwostrikes; (d) Touchesthebatterasshestrikesatit; (e) Touchesthebatterinflightinthestrikezone; (f) Becomesafoultip;or (g) lsbuntedfoul(batterisoutandballisdead,ifballisbuntedfoulonthirdstrike) The STRIKE ZONE isthatspaceoverhomeplatewhichisbetweenthebatter’sarmpitsandthetopofthebatter’skneeswhentheplayerassumesanaturalstance.Theumpireshalldeterminethestrikezoneaccordingtothebatter’susualstancewhensheswingsatapitch. ASUSPENDED GAMEisacalledgamewhichistobecompletedatalaterdate. A TAG istheactionofafielderintouchingabasewithherbodywhileholdingtheballsecurelyandfirmlyinherhandorglove;ortouchingarunnerwiththeball,orwithherhandorgloveholdingtheball,whileholdingtheballsecurelyandfirmlyinherhandorglove. A THROWistheactofpropellingtheballwiththehandandarmtoagivenobjectiveandistobedistinguished,always,fromthepitch. A TIE GAMEisaregulationgamewhichiscalledwheneachteamhasthesamenumberofruns. “TIME”istheannouncementbyanumpireofalegalinterruptionofplay,duringwhichtheballisdead. TOUCHTotouchaplayerorumpireistotouchanypartofherbody,herclothingorherequipment. A TRIPLE PLAYisaplaybythedefenseinwhichthreeoffensiveplayersareputoutasaresultofcontinuousaction,providingthereisnoerrorbetweenputouts. A WILD PITCH isonesohigh,so low,orsowideof theplate that itcannotbehandledwithordinaryeffortbythecatcher.

3.00 Game Preliminaries3.01 Beforethegamebeginstheumpireshall— (a) Requirestrictobservanceofallrulesgoverningimplementsofplayandequipmentof players; (b) Besurethatallplayinglines(heavylinesonDiagramsNo.1andNo.2)aremarkedwith lime,chalkorotherwhitematerialeasilydistinguishablefromthegroundorgrass; (c) ReceivefromtheleagueasupplyofregulationsoftballswhichmeetBabeRuthstandards. Theumpireshallbethesolejudgeofthefitnessoftheballstobeusedinthegame; (d) Beassuredbytheleaguethatadditionalballsareimmediatelyavailableforuseifrequired; (e) Haveinhispossessionatleasttwoalternateballsandshallrequirereplenishmentofsuch supplyofalternateballsasneededthroughoutthegame.Suchalternateballsshallbeput inplaywhen— (1) Aballhasbeenbattedoutoftheplayingfieldorintothespectatorarea; (2) Aballhasbecomediscoloredorunfitforfurtheruse; (3) Thepitcherrequestssuchalternateball.

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Theumpireshallnotgiveanalternateballtothepitcheruntilplayhasendedandthepreviouslyusedballisdead.Afterathrownorbattedballgoesoutoftheplayingfield,playshallnotberesumedwithanalternateballuntiltherunnershavereachedthebasestowhichtheyareentitled.Afterahomerunishitoutoftheplayinggrounds,theumpireshallnotdeliveranewballtothepitcherorcatcheruntilthebatterhittingthehomerunhascrossedtheplate.3.02Noplayershallintentionallydiscolorordamagetheballbyrubbingitwithsoil,rosin,paraffin,licorice,sand-paper,emerypaperorotherforeignsubstance. PENALTY:Theumpireshalldemandtheballandremovetheoffenderfromthegame.Incasetheumpirecannotlocatetheoffender,andifthepitcherdeliverssuchdiscoloredordamagedballtothebatter,thepitchershallberemovedfromthegameatonce.3.03Aplayer,orplayers,maybesubstitutedduringagameatanytimetheballisdead.Asubstituteplayer shall bat in the replaced player’s position in the team’s batting order.When two or moresubstitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall,immediatelybeforetheytaketheirpositionsasfielders,designatetotheumpire-in-chiefsuchplayers’positionsintheteam’sbattingorderandtheumpire-in-chiefshallsonotifytheofficialscorer.Ifthisinformationisnotimmediatelygiventotheumpire-in-chief,heshallhaveauthoritytodesignatethesubstitutes’placeinthebattingorder. Apitchermaychangetoanotherpositiononlyonceduringthesameinning;e.g.thepitcherwillnotbeallowedtoassumeapositionotherthanapitchermorethanonceinthesameinning. Anyplayerotherthanapitchersubstitutedforaninjuredplayershallbeallowedfivewarm-upthrows.(SeeRule8.08forpitchers).3.04Aplayerwhosenameisonherteam’sbattingordermaynotbecomeasubstituterunnerforanothermemberofherteam.NOTE:Anyoftheninestartingplayersmaywithdrawandre-enteronceprovidedsuchplayeroccupiesthesamebattingpositionwheneversheisintheline-up.Asubstitutewhoiswithdrawnmaynotre-enter.ThestartingpitcherisgovernedbytheprovisionsofRule3.05ifwithdrawnwhileonthemoundpitching.Thestartingpitcherwithdrawnwhileabatterorbaserunnermayre-enterthegameimmediately. Ifthestartingpitcher isremovedfromthegamebecauseofasecondtripinthesameinning,shemayre-enterthegameinanypositionwiththeexceptionofpitcher. Ifaplayerre-entersillegallyasapitcher,fielderorrunner,thereisnopenaltyexceptthatshemustberemovedfromthegameimmediatelywhendiscovered.Ifshere-entersillegallyasabatter,suchillegalre-entryispenalizedaccordingtoOfficialBabeRuthRule6.07,BattingOutofOrder.3.05 (a)Thepitchernamedinthebattingorderhandedtheumpire-in-chief,asprovidedinRules 4.01(a)and4.01(b),shallpitchtothefirstbatteroranysubstitutebatteruntilsuchbatteris put out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the judgmentoftheumpire-in-chief,incapacitatesherfrompitching. (b)If thepitcher is replaced, thesubstitutepitchershallpitchtothebatterthenatbat,ora substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive teamisputout,unlessthesubstitutepitchersustainsinjuryorillnesswhich,intheumpire- in-chief’sjudgement,incapacitatesherforfurtherplayasapitcher. (c)Ifanimpropersubstitutionismadeforthepitcher,theumpireshalldirecttheproperpitcher toreturntothegameuntiltheprovisionsofthisrulearefulfilled.Iftheimproperpitcheris permittedtopitch,anyplaythatresultsislegal.Theimproperpitcherbecomestheproper pitcherassoonasshemakesherfirstpitchtothebatter,orassoonasanyrunnerisputout. IfamanagerattemptstoremoveapitcherinviolationofRule3.05(c)theumpireshallnotifythemanageroftheoffendingclubthatitcannotbedone.If,bychance,theumpire-in-chiefhas,throughoversight,announcedtheincomingimproperpitcher,heshouldstillcorrectthesituationbeforetheimproperpitcherpitches.Oncetheimproperpitcherdeliversapitchshebecomestheproperpitcher.

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3.06Themanagershallimmediatelynotifytheumpire-in-chiefofanysubstitutionandshallstatetotheumpire-in-chiefthesubstitute’splaceinherbattingorder. Playersforwhomsubstitutionshavebeenmademayremainwiththeirteamonthebenchormay“warm-up”pitchers.Ifamanagersubstitutesanotherplayerforherself,shemaycontinuetodirectherteamfromthebenchorthecoach’sbox.Umpiresshouldnotpermitplayersforwhomsubstituteshavebeenmade,andwhoarepermittedtoremainonthebench,toaddressanyremarkstoanyopposingplayerormanager,ortotheumpires.3.07 Theumpire-in-chief, afterhavingbeennotified, shall immediately announce, or cause to beannounced,eachsubstitution.3.08 (a)Ifnoannouncementofasubstitutionismade,thesubstituteshallbeconsideredashaving enteredthegamewhen— (1) Ifapitcher,shetakesherplaceonthepitcher’splate; (2) Ifabatter,shetakesherplaceinthebatter’sbox; (3) Ifafielder,shereachesthepositionusuallyoccupiedbythefieldershehasreplaced,and playcommences; (4) Ifarunner,shetakestheplaceoftherunnershehasreplaced. (b)Anyplaymadeby,oron,anyoftheabovementionedunannouncedsubstitutesshallbelegal.3.09Playersinuniformshallnotaddressorminglewithspectators,norsitinthestandsduringagame.3.10 (a)The league shall be the sole judge as to whether a game shall be started because of unsuitableweatherconditionsortheunfitconditionoftheplayingfield. (b)Theumpire-in-chiefshallbethesolejudgeastowhetherandwhenplayshallbesuspended duringagamebecauseofunsuitableweatherconditionsortheunfitconditionoftheplaying field; as to whether and when play shall be resumed after such suspension; and as to whetherandwhenagameshallbeterminatedaftersuchsuspension.Heshallnotcallthe game until at least thirtyminutes after play has been suspended. Hemay continue the suspensionaslongashebelievesthereisanychancetoresumeplay. Theumpire-in-chiefshallatalltimestrytocompleteagame.Hisauthoritytoresumeplayfollowingoneormoresuspensionsofasmuchasthirtyminuteseachshallbeabsoluteandheshallterminateagameonlywhenthereappearstobenopossibilityofcompletingit.3.11Whentheumpiresuspendsplayheshallcall“Time.”Attheumpire’scallof“Play,”thesuspensionisliftedandplayresumes.Betweenthecallof“Time”andthecallof“Play”theballisdead.3.12Theleagueshallestablishgroundrulesforitsplayingfield.Shouldnonebemadeknowntotheumpirespriortothestartofthegametheumpire-in-chiefshallhavetheauthoritytomakethem.3.13 Membersoftheoffensiveteamshallcarryallglovesandotherequipmentoffthefieldandtothedugoutwhiletheirteamisatbat.Noequipmentshallbeleftlyingonthefield,eitherinfairorfoulterritory.3.14 Nopersonshallbeallowedon theplayingfieldduringagameexceptplayersandcoaches inuniform,managers,newsphotographersauthorizedbytheleagueandumpires.Incaseofunintentionalinterferencewithplaybyanypersonhereinauthorizedtobeontheplayingfield(exceptmembersoftheoffensiveteamparticipatinginthegame,oracoachinthecoach’sbox,oranumpire)theballisaliveandinplay.Iftheinterferenceisintentional,theballshallbedeadatthemomentoftheinterferenceandtheumpireshallimposesuchpenaltiesasinhisopinionwillnullifytheactofinterference.

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NOTE:See Rule 7.11 for individuals excepted above, also see Rule 7.08 (b).

The question of intentional or unintentional interference shall be decided on the basis of theperson’saction.Forexample:abatboy/girl,ballattendant,policeman,etc.,whotriestoavoidbeingtouchedbyathrownorbattedballbutstillistouchedbytheball,wouldbeinvolvedinunintentionalinterference. If,however,hekickstheballorpicks ituporpushes it, that isconsidered intentionalinterference,regardlessofwhathisthoughtmayhavebeen. PLAY:Batterhitsballtoshortstop,whofieldsballbutthrowswildpastfirstbaseman.Theoffensivecoachatfirstbase,toavoidbeinghitbytheball,fallstothegroundandthefirstbasemanonherwaytoretrievethewildlythrownball,runsintothecoach;thebatter-runnerfinallyendsuponthirdbase.Thequestionisaskedwhethertheumpireshouldcallinterferenceonthepartofthecoach.Thiswouldbeuptothejudgmentoftheumpireandiftheumpirefeltthatthecoachdidallhecouldtoavoidinterferingwiththeplay,nointerferenceneedbecalled.Ifitappearedtotheumpirethatthecoachwastryingtointerfere,theumpireshouldruleinterference.3.15Whenthereisspectatorinterferencewithanythrownorbattedball,theballshallbedeadatthemomentofinterferenceandtheumpireshallimposesuchpenaltiesasinhisopinionwillnullifytheactofinterference. APPROVED RULING: Ifspectatorinterferenceclearlypreventsafielderfromcatchingaflyball,theumpireshalldeclarethebatterout. Thereisadifferencebetweenaballwhichhasbeenthrownorbattedintothestands,touchingaspectatortherebybeingoutofplayeventhoughitreboundsontothefieldandaspectatorgoingonto thefieldor reachingover,underor throughabarrierand touchingaball inplayor touchingorotherwise interferingwith aplayer. In the latter case, it is clearly intentional and shall bedealtwithasintentionalinterferenceasinRule3.15.Batterandrunnersshallbeplacedwhere,inumpire’sjudgment,theywouldhavebeenhadtheinterferencenotoccurred. Nointerferenceshallbeallowedwhenafielderreachesoverafence,railing,ropeorintoastandtocatchaball.Shedoessoatherownrisk.However,shouldaspectatorreachoutontheplayingfieldsideofsuchfence,railingorrope,andplainlypreventthefielderfromcatchingtheball,thenthebatsmanshouldbecalledoutforspectator’sinterference. Example:Runneronthirdbase,oneoutandabatterhitsaflyballdeeptotheoutfield(fairorfoul).Spectatorclearlyinterfereswiththeoutfielderattemptingtocatchtheflyball.Umpirecallsthebatteroutforspectatorinterference.Ballisdeadatthetimeofthecall.Umpiredecidesthatbecauseofthedistancetheballwashit,therunneronthirdbasewouldhavescoredafterthecatchifthefielderhadcaughttheballwhichwasinterferedwith;therefore,therunnerispermittedtoscore.Thismightnotbethecaseifsuchflyballwasinterferedwithashortdistancefromhomeplate.3.16 Playersandsubstitutesofbothteamsshallconfinethemselvestotheirteam’sbenchesunlessactuallyparticipatingintheplayorpreparingtoenterthegame,orcoachingatfirstorthirdbase.Nooneexceptplayers,substitutes,managers,coaches,trainersandbatboys/girlsshalloccupyabenchduringagame.

PENALTY: For violation the umpire may, after warning, remove the offender from the field.

3.17Theleagueshallprovidepoliceprotectionsufficienttopreserveorder.Ifaperson,orpersons,entertheplayingfieldduringagameandinterfereinanywaywiththeplay,eitherteammayrefusetoplayuntilthefieldiscleared.

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4.00StartingandEndingAGame4.01 Theumpiresshallproceeddirectlytohomebasewheretheyshallbemetbythemanagersof theopposingteams.Insequence— (a)First,thehomemanagershallgivehisbattingordertotheumpire-in-chief,induplicate. (b)Next,thevisitingmanagershallgivehisbattingordertotheumpire-in-chief,induplicate. (c)Theumpire-in-chiefshallmakecertainthattheoriginalandcopiesoftherespectivebatting ordersareidentical,andthentenderacopyofeachbattingordertotheopposingmanager. Thecopyretainedbytheumpireshallbetheofficialbattingorder.Thetenderofthebatting orderbytheumpireshallestablishthebattingorders.Thereafter,nosubstitutionsshallbe madebyeithermanager,exceptasprovidedintheserules. (d)Assoonasthehometeam’sbattingorderishandedtotheumpire-in-chief,theumpiresare in charge of the playing field, and from that moment they shall have sole authority to determinewhenagameshallbecalled,suspendedorresumedonaccountofweatherorthe conditionoftheplayingfield. Obvious errors in the batting order, which are noticed by the umpire-in-chief before he calls“Play”forthestartofthegame,shouldbecalledtotheattentionofthemanagerorcaptainoftheteaminerror,sothecorrectioncanbemadebeforethegamestarts.Forexample,ifamanagerhasinadvertentlylistedonlyeightplayersinthebattingorder,orhaslistedtwoplayerswiththesamelastnamebutwithoutidentifyinginitialandtheerrorsarenoticedbytheumpirebeforehecalls“Play,”heshallcausesucherrororerrorstobecorrectedbeforehecalls“Play”tostartthegame.Teamsshouldnotbe“trapped”laterbysomemistakethatobviouslywasinadvertentandwhichcanbecorrectedbeforethegamestarts.4.02Theplayersofthehometeamshalltaketheirdefensivepositions,thefirstbatterofthevisitingteamshalltakeherpositioninthebatter’sbox,theumpireshallcall“Play”andthegameshallstart.4.03 Whentheballisputinplayatthestartof,orduringagame,allfieldersotherthanthecatchershallbeonfairterritory. (a)Thecatchershallstationherselfdirectlybackoftheplate.Shemayleaveherpositionatany timetocatchapitchormakeaplayexceptthatwhenthebatterisbeinggivenanintentional baseonballs,thecatchermuststandwithbothfeetwithinthelinesofthecatcher’sboxuntil theballleavesthepitcher’shand.PENALTY:Illegalpitch. (b)Thepitcher,whileintheactofdeliveringtheballtothebatter,shalltakeherlegalposition. (c)Exceptthepitcherandthecatcher,anyfieldermaystationherselfanywhereinfairterritory; (d)Exceptthebatter,orarunnerattemptingtoscore,nooffensiveplayershallcrossthecatcher’s lineswhentheballisinplay.4.04 The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a player is substituted foranother.Inthatcase,thesubstituteshalltaketheplaceofthereplacedplayerinthebattingorder.4.05 (a)Theoffensiveteamshallstationtwobasecoachesonthefieldduringitstermatbat, onenearfirstbaseandonenearthirdbase.(b)Basecoachesshallbelimitedtotwoinnumberandshall(1)beinuniform,and(2)remain withinthecoach’sboxatalltimes.

PENALTY:Theoffendingbasecoachshallberemovedfromthegameandshallleavethe playingfield.

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  Ithasbeencommonpracticeformanyyearsforsomecoachestoputonefootoutsidethecoach’sboxorstandastrideorotherwisebeslightlyoutsidethecoachingboxlines.Thecoachshallnotbeconsideredoutoftheboxunlesstheopposingmanagercomplains,andthen,theumpireshallstrictlyenforcetheruleandrequireallcoaches(onbothteams)toremaininthecoach’sboxtosignaltheplayertoslide,advanceorreturntoabase.Thismaybeallowedifthecoachdoesnotinterferewiththeplayinanymanner.4.06 (a) Nomanager,player,substitute,coach,trainerorbatboy/girlshallatanytime,whether fromthebench,thecoach’sboxorontheplayingfield,orelsewhere— (1) Incite,ortrytoincite,bywordorsignademonstrationbyspectators; (2) Use languagewhichwill inanymanner refer toor reflectuponopposingplayers,an umpire,oranyspectators; (3) Makeintentionalcontactwiththeumpireinanymanner. (b) Nofieldershalltakeapositioninthebatter’slineofvision,andwithdeliberateunsportsmanlike intent,actinamannertodistractthebatter. PENALTY: Theoffendershallberemovedfromthegameandshallleavetheplayingfield.4.07 When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, he shall leave the fieldimmediatelyandtakenofurtherpartinthatgame.Hemaytakeaseatinthegrandstandwellremovedfromthevicinityoftheteam’sbenchorbullpen.4.08 Whentheoccupantsofaplayers’benchshowviolentdisapprovalofanumpire’sdecision,theumpireshallfirstgivewarningthatsuchdisapprovalshallcease.Ifsuchactioncontinues—

PENALTY: The umpire shall order the offenders from the bench. If he is unable to detect theoffender, or offenders, hemay clear the bench of all substitute players. Themanager of theoffendingteamshallhavetheprivilegeofrecallingtotheplayingfieldonlythoseplayersneededforsubstitutioninthegame.

4.09HOWATEAMSCORES. (a) One run shall be scored eachtime a runner legally advances to and touches first, second, thirdandhomebasebeforethreeplayersareputouttoendtheinning.EXCEPTION:Arunis notscorediftherunneradvancestohomebaseduringaplayinwhichthethirdoutismade(1) byabatter-runnerbeforeshetouchesfirstbase;(2)byanyrunnerbeingforcedout;or(3)bya precedingrunnerwhoisdeclaredoutbecauseshefailedtotouchoneofthebases. (b) Whenthewinningrunisscoredinthelasthalf-inningofaregulationgame,orinthelasthalf ofanextrainning,astheresultofabaseonballs,hitbatteroranyotherplaywiththebases fullwhich forces the runneron third toadvance, theumpireshallnotdeclare thegame endeduntiltherunnerforcedtoadvancefromthirdhastouchedhomebaseandthebatter- runnerhastouchedfirstbase. Anexceptionwillbeiffansrushontothefieldandphysicallypreventtherunnerfromtouchinghomeplateorthebatterfromtouchingfirstbase.Insuchcases,theumpiresshallawardtherunnerthebasebecauseoftheobstructionbythefans.

PENALTY:Iftherunneronthirdrefusestoadvancetoandtouchhomebaseinareasonabletime,theumpireshalldisallowtherun,callouttheoffendingplayerandorderthegameresumed.If,withtwoouts,thebatter-runnerrefusestoadvancetoandtouchfirstbase,therunshallcount,buttheoffendingplayershallbecalledout.

Approved Ruling:Norunshallscoreduringaplayinwhichthethirdoutismadebythebatter-runnerbeforeshetouchesfirstbase.Example:Oneout,Jonesonsecond,Smithonfirst.Thebatter,Brown,hitssafely.Jonesscores,Smithisoutonthethrowtoplate.Twoouts.ButBrownmissesfirstbase.Theballisthrowntofirst,anappealismade,andBrownisout.Threeouts.SinceJonescrossedtheplateduringaplayinwhichthethirdoutwasmadebythebatter-runnerbeforeshetouchedfirstbase,Jones’rundoesnotcount.

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Approved Ruling:Followingrunnersarenotaffectedbyanactofaprecedingrunnerunlesstwoareout. Hereisageneralstatementthatcovers: Whenarunnermissesabaseandafielderholdstheballonamissedbase,oronthebaseoriginallyoccupiedbytherunnerifaflyballiscaught,andappealsfromtheumpire’sdecision,therunnerisoutwhentheumpiresustainstheappeal;allrunnersmayscoreifpossible,exceptthatwithtwoouttherunnerisoutatthemomentshemissesthebag,ifanappealissustainedasappliedtothefollowingrunners. Approved Ruling:Oneout,Jonesonthird,Smithonfirst,andBrownfliesouttorightfield.Twoouts.Jonestagsupandscoresafterthecatch,Smithattemptedtoreturntofirstbuttherightfielder’sthrowbeatshertothebase.Threeouts.ButJonesscoredbeforethethrowtocatchSmithreachedfirstbase,henceJones’runcounts.Itwasnotaforceplay.4.10 (a) A regulation game consists of seven innings, unless extended because of a tie score, or shortened(1)becausethehometeamneedsnoneofitshalfoftheseventhinningoronlya fractionofit,or(2)becausetheumpirecallsthegame.NOTE:  For 12U play, see Rule 0.02, paragraph 7.

(b) Ifthescoreistiedaftersevencompletedinnings,playshallcontinueuntil(1)thevisiting teamhasscoredmoretotalrunsthanthehometeamattheendofacompletedinning,or (2)thehometeamscoresthewinningruninanuncompletedinning. (c) Ifagameiscalled,itisaregulationgame: (1) Iffiveinningshavebeencompleted; (2) Ifthehometeamhasscoredmorerunsinfourandafractionhalf-inningsthanthevisiting teamhasscoredinfivecompletedhalf-innings; (3)Ifthehometeamscoresoneormorerunsinitshalfofthefifthinningtotiethescore. (d) Iftheteamhasthesamenumberofrunswhenthegameends,theumpireshalldeclareita “TieGame.”

NOTE: In the case of a “tie game,” the results are entered into league records as a “tie game” and are so indicated in league standings. After the regular season is concluded, if the tie game affects league standing of either team involved, the game is replayed as a new game. Pitching eligibility in the 12U division for the replay is determined according to the calendar week in which the game is replayed. If no league standings are affected by the tie game it remains as originally recorded. In order for a game to be declared a tie game by the umpire it must be a regulation game, i.e. 41⁄2-5 innings must have been played. Note: This applies to local league play only. Local leagues also have the option to replay tie games as they occur.

(e) Ifagameiscalledbeforeithasbecomearegulationgame,theumpireshalldeclareit“No Game.”

NOTE: If a game fails to reach the regulation minimum limit of 41⁄2-5 innings played it is not a regulation game and must be replayed as a new game. According to rule 4.10(e), it is declared “No Game” by the umpire, no records (pitching or otherwise) are kept and pitching eligibility, etc., is intact as it was prior to the beginning of the “No Game” situation. It is as if no pitch was thrown, no ball hit or caught. Note: This applies to local league play only.

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4.11Thescoreofaregulationgameisthetotalnumberofrunsscoredbyeachteamatthemomentthegameends. (a) Thegameendswhenthevisitingteamcompletesitshalfoftheseventhinningifthehome teamisahead. (b) Thegameendswhentheseventhinningiscompleted,ifthevisitingteamisahead. (c) Ifthehometeamscoresthewinningruninitshalfoftheseventhinning(oritshalfofan extrainningafteratie),thegameendsimmediatelywhenthewinningrunisscored.

EXCEPTION:Ifthelastbatterinagamehitsahomerunoutoftheplayingfield,thebatter-runnerandallrunnersonbasearepermittedtoscore,inaccordancewiththebase-runningrules,andthegameendswhenthebatter-runnertoucheshomeplate.APPROVED RULING:Thebatterhitsahomerunoutoftheplayingfieldtowinthegameinthelasthalfoftheseventhoranextrainning,butiscalledoutforpassingaprecedingrunner.Thegameendsimmediatelywhenthewinningrunisscored.

NOTE: 4.11 (a)(b)(c)- For 12U play, see rule 0.02, paragraph 7.

(d) Acalledgameendsatthemomenttheumpireterminatesplay.

NOTE: Refer to rule 10.01 for recording records of called games.

EXCEPTION:Ifthegameiscalledwhileaninningisinprogressandbeforeitiscompleted, thegamebecomesaSUSPENDEDgameineachofthefollowingsituations:

(1) Thevisitingteamhasscoredoneormorerunstotiethescoreandthehometeamhas notscored; (2) Thevisitingteamhasscoredoneormorerunstotaketheleadandthehometeamhas nottiedthescoreorretakenthelead.4.12SUSPENDEDGAMES (a) Aleagueshalladoptthefollowingrulesprovidingforcompletionatafuturedateofgames terminatedforanyofthefollowingreasons: (1) Acurfewimposedbylaw; (2) Atimelimitpermissibleunderleaguerules; (3) Lightfailure; (4) Weather,ifthegameiscalledwhileaninningisinprogressandbeforeitiscompleted, andoneofthefollowingsituationsprevails: (i) Thevisitingteamhasscoredoneormorerunstotiethescore,andthehometeam hasnotscored. (ii) Thevisitingteamhasscoredoneormorerunstotakethelead,andthehometeam hasnottiedthescoreorretakenthelead. (b) Suchgamesshallbeknownassuspendedgames.Nogamecalledbecauseofcurfew,weather, oratimelimitshallbeasuspendedgameunlessithasprogressedfarenoughtohavebeen aregulationgameundertheprovisionsofRule4.10.Agamecalledundertheprovisionsof 4.12(a)(3),shallbeasuspendedgameatanytimeafteritstarts.

NOTE: Weather, darkness and similar conditions – 4.12 (a) (1 through 4) – shall take precedence in determining whether a called game shall be a suspended game. A game can only be considered a suspended game if stopped for any of the four (4) reasons specified in Section (a). Any legal game called due to weather with the score tied [unless situation outlined in 4.12(a) (4) (i) prevails] is a tie game and can be replayed in its entirety.

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(c) Asuspendedgamecanberesumedandcanbecompletedasfollows: (1) Immediatelyprecedingthenextscheduledgamebetweenthetwoteams; (2) Ifasuspendedgamehasnotbeenresumedandcompletedonthelastdayoftheseason andhasnobearingontheleaguestandings,itshallbecalledagame. (d) Asuspendedgameshallberesumedattheexactpointofsuspensionoftheoriginalgame. Thecompletionofasuspendedgameisacontinuationoftheoriginalgame.Thelineupand battingorderofbothteamsshallbeexactlythesameasthelineupandbattingorderatthe moment of suspension, subject to the rules governing substitution Any player may be replacedbyaplayerwhohadnotbeeninthegamepriortothesuspension. Aplayerwhowasnotwiththeteamwhenthegamewassuspendedmaybeusedasa substitute,evenifshehastakentheplaceofaplayernolongerwiththeteamwhowouldnot havebeeneligiblebecauseshehadbeenremovedfromthe lineupbeforethegamewas suspended. If immediatelypriortothecallofasuspendedgame,asubstitutepitcherhasbeenannouncedbuthasnotretiredthesideorpitcheduntilthebatterbecomesabaserunner,suchpitcher,whenthesuspendedgameislaterresumedmay,butisnotrequiredtostarttheresumedportionofthegame.However,ifshedoesnotstartshewillbeconsideredashavingbeensubstitutedforandmaynotbeusedinthegame.4.13 The umpire-in-chief shall order the playing field lights turned on whenever in his opiniondarknessmakesfurtherplayindaylighthazardous.4.14 Agamemaybeforfeitedtotheopposingteamwhenateam– (a) Beinguponthefield,refusestostartplaywithinfiveminutesaftertheumpirehascalled “Play”attheappointedhourforbeginningthegame,unlesssuchdelayedappearanceis,in theumpire’sjudgment,unavoidable; (b) Employstacticspalpablydesignedtodelayorshortenthegame; (c) Refusestocontinueplayduringagameunlessthegamehasbeensuspendedorterminated bytheumpire; (d) Failstoresumeplay,afterasuspension,withinoneminuteaftertheumpirehascalled“Play”; (e) Afterwarningbytheumpire,willfullyandpersistentlyviolatesanyrulesofthegame; (f) Fails toobeywithina reasonabletime theumpire’sorder for removalof aplayer from the game.4.15 Agameshallbeforfeitedtotheopposingteamwhenateamisunableorrefusestoplacenineplayersonthefield.4.16Iftheumpiredeclaresagameforfeitedheshalltransmitawrittenreporttotheleaguepresidentwithintwenty-fourhoursthereafter,butfailureofsuchtransmittalshallnoteffecttheforfeiture.

NOTE:  Refer to rule 10.01 for recording records of forfeited games.

4.17 PROTESTING GAMES.Eachleagueshalladoptrulesgoverningprocedureforprotestingagame,whenamanagerclaimsthatanumpire’sdecisionisinviolationoftheserules.Noprotestshalleverbepermittedonjudgmentdecisionsbytheumpire.Inallprotestedgames,thedecisionoftheLeaguePresidentorhisappointedcommitteeshallbefinal.(SeeRule0.08). Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the gamewill beordered unless in the opinion of the League President or his appointed committee the violationadverselyaffectedtheprotestingteam’schancesofwinningthegame. Wheneveramanagerprotestsagamebecauseofallegedmisapplicationoftherulestheprotestwillnotberecognizedunlesstheumpiresarenotifiedatthetimetheplayunderprotestoccursandbeforethenextpitchismadeorarunnerisretired.(SeeRule11.05(2)regardingtournamentplay.)

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5.00 Putting the Ball in Play. Live Ball5.01Atthetimesetforbeginningofthegametheumpireshallcall“Play.”5.02Aftertheumpirecalls“Play,”theballisaliveandinplayandremainsaliveandinplayuntilforlegalcause,orattheumpire’scallof“Time”suspendingplay,theballbecomesdead.Whiletheballisdeadnoplayermaybeputout,nobasesmayberunandnorunsmaybescored,exceptthatrunnersmayadvanceoneormorebasesastheresultofactswhichoccurredwhiletheballwasalive(suchas,butnotlimitedtoanoverthrow,interference,orahomerunorotherfairhitoutoftheplayingfield.) Shouldaballcomepartiallyapartinagame,itisinplayuntiltheplayiscompleted.5.03Thepitchershalldeliverthepitchtothebatterwhomayelecttostriketheball,orwhomaynotofferatit,asshechooses.5.04 Theoffensiveteam’sobjectiveistohaveitsbatterbecomearunneranditsrunneradvance.5.05Thedefensiveteam’sobjectiveistopreventoffensiveplayersfrombecomingrunners,andtopreventtheiradvancearoundthebases.5.06 Whenabatterbecomesarunnerandtouchesallbaseslegallysheshallscoreonerunforherteam. Arunlegallyscoredcannotbenullifiedbysubsequentactionoftherunner,suchasbutnotlimitedtoanefforttoreturntothirdbaseinthebeliefthatshehadleftthebasebeforeacaughtflyball.5.07Whenthreeoffensiveplayersarelegallyputout,theteamtakesthefieldandtheopposingteambecomestheoffensiveteam.5.08Ifathrownballaccidentallytouchesabasecoach,orapitchedorthrownballtouchesanumpire,theballisaliveandinplay.However,ifthecoachinterfereswithathrownball,therunnerisout.(SeeRule3.15)5.09Theballbecomesdeadandrunnersadvanceonebase,orreturntotheirbases,withoutliabilitytobeputout,when— (a) Apitchedballtouchesabatter,orherclothing,whileinherlegalbattingposition;runners,if forced,advance; (b) Theplateumpireinterfereswiththecatcher’sthrow;runnersmaynotadvance;

NOTE: The interference shall be disregarded if the catcher’s throw retires the runner. (c) Anillegalpitchiscommitted,runnersadvance. (d) Aballisillegallybatted;runnersreturn; (e) Afoulball isnotcaught;runnersreturn.Theumpireshallnotputtheball inplayuntilall runnershaveretouchedtheirbases; (f) A fair ball touches a runner or an umpire on fair territory before it touches an infielder includingthepitcher,ortouchesanumpirebeforeithaspassedaninfielderotherthanthe pitcher; Ifafairballtouchesanumpireworkingintheinfieldafterithasboundedpast,orover,thepitcher,itisadeadball.Ifabattedballisdeflectedbyafielderinfairterritoryandhitsarunneroranumpirewhilestillinflightandthencaughtbyaninfielderitshallnotbeacatch,buttheballshallremaininplay. Ifa fairballgoes through,orby,an infielder,andtouchesa runner immediatelybackofher,ortouchesarunnerafterbeingdeflectedbyaninfielder,theballisinplayandtheumpireshallnotdeclaretherunnerout.Inmakingsuchadecisiontheumpiremustbeconvincedthattheballpassedthrough,orby,theinfielderandthatnootherinfielderhadthechancetomakeaplayontheball;runnersadvance,ifforced; (g) Apitchedballlodgesintheumpire’sorcatcher’smaskorparaphernalia,andremainsoutof play,runnersadvanceonebase.

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5.10 Theballbecomesdeadwhenanumpirecalls“Time.”Theumpire-in-chiefshallcall“Time”— (a) Wheninhisjudgmentweather,darknessorsimilarconditionsmakeimmediatefurtherplay impossible; (b) Whenlightfailuremakesitdifficultorimpossiblefortheumpirestofollowtheplay;

NOTE: A league may adopt its own regulations governing games interrupted by light failure.

(c) Whenanaccidentincapacitatesaplayeroranumpire; (1) Ifanaccidenttoarunnerissuchastopreventherfromproceedingtoabasetowhich sheisentitled,asonahomerunhitoutoftheplayingfield,oranawardofoneormore bases,asubstituterunnershallbepermittedtocompletetheplay. (d)Whenamanagerrequests“Time”forasubstitution,orforaconferencewithoneofherplayers; (e) Whentheumpirewishes toexaminetheball, toconsultwitheithermanager,or forany similarcause; (f) Whenafielder,aftercatchingaflyball,fallsintoabenchorstand,orfallsacrossropesintoa crowdwhenspectatorsareonthefield.Aspertainstorunners,theprovisionsof7.04(b) shallprevail. Ifafielderaftermakingacatchstepsintoabench,butdoesnotfall,theballisinplayand runnersmayadvanceattheirownperil; (g)Whenanumpireordersaplayeroranyotherpersonremovedfromtheplayingfield; (h) Except in the cases stated in paragraphs (b) and (c) (1) of this rule, no umpire shall call “Time”whileaplayisinprogress.5.11 Aftertheballisdead,playshallberesumedwhenthepitchertakesherplaceonthepitcher’splatewithanewballorthesameballinherpossessionandtheplateumpirecalls“Play.”Theplateumpire shall call “Play” as soon as the pitcher takes her place on her plate with the ball in herpossession.6.00 TheBatter6.01 (a) Eachplayeroftheoffensiveteamshallbatintheorderthathernameappearsinherteam’s battingorder.(b) Thefirstbatterineachinningafterthefirstinningshallbetheplayerwhosenamefollows thatofthelastplayerwholegallycompletedhertimeatbatintheprecedinginning.6.02(a) Thebattershalltakeherpositioninthebatter’sboxpromptlywhenitishertimeatbat. (b) Thebattershallnotleaveherpositioninthebatter’sboxafterthepitchercomestoPitching Positionorstartsherwindup. PENALTY:Ifthepitcherpitches,theumpireshallcall“Ball”or“Strike,”asthecasemaybe. The batter leaves the batter’s box at the risk of having a strike delivered and called, unless sherequeststheumpiretocall“Time.”Thebatterisnotatlibertytostepinandoutofthebatter’sboxatwill. Onceabatterhastakenherpositioninthebatter’sbox,sheshallnotbepermittedtostepoutofthebatter’sboxinordertousetherosinorthepinetarrag,unlessthereisadelayinthegameactionor,inthejudgmentoftheumpires,weatherconditionswarrantanexception. Umpireswillnotcall“Time”attherequestofthebatteroranymemberofherteamoncethatpitcherhasstartedherwinduporhascometosetpositioneventhoughthebatterclaims“dustinmyeyes,”“steamedglasses,”“didn’tgetthesign”orforanyothercause. Umpiresmaygrantahitter’srequestfor“Time”oncesheisinthebatter’sbox,buttheumpireshouldeliminatehitterswalkingoutof thebatter’sboxwithout reason. Ifumpiresarenot lenient,batterswillunderstandthattheyareinthebatter’sboxandtheymustremainthereuntiltheballispitched.

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Ifapitcherdelaysoncethebatterisinherboxandtheumpirefeelsthatthedelayisnotjustifiedhe mayallowthebattertostepoutoftheboxmomentarily. Ifafterthepitcherstartsherwind-uporcomestothePitchingPositionwitharunneron,shedoesnotgothroughwithherpitchbecausethebatterhassteppedoutofthebox,itshallnotbecalledanillegalpitch.Boththepitcherandbatterhaveviolatedaruleandtheumpireshallcalltimeandboththebatterandpitcherstartoverfrom“scratch.” (c) Ifthebatterrefusestotakeherpositioninthebatter’sboxduringhertimeatbat,theumpire shallorderthepitchertopitch,andshallcall“Strike”oneachsuchpitch.Thebattermaytake herproperpositionafteranysuchpitch,andtheregularballandstrikecountshallcontinue, but if shedoesnot takeherproperpositionbefore three strikesare called, she shall be declaredout.6.03Thebatter’slegalpositionshallbewithbothfeetwithinthebatter’sbox. APPROVED RULING:Thelinesdefiningtheboxarewithinthebatter’sbox.6.04Abatterhaslegallycompletedhertimeatbatwhensheisputoutorbecomesarunner.6.05Abatterisoutwhen— (a) Herfairorfoulflyball(otherthanafoultip)islegallycaughtbyafielder; (b) Athirdstrikeislegallycaughtbythecatcher;“Legallycaught”meansinthecatcher’sglove before the ball touches the ground. It is not legal if the ball lodges in her clothing or paraphernalia;orifittouchestheumpireandiscaughtbythecatcherontherebound. Ifafoul-tipfirststrikesthecatcher’sgloveandthengoesonthroughandiscaughtbybothhandsagainstherbodyorprotector,beforetheballtouchestheground,itisastrike,andifthirdstrike,batterisout.Ifsmotheredagainstherbodyorprotector,itisacatchprovidedtheballstruckthecatcher’sgloveorhandfirst. (c) Athirdstrikeisnotcaughtbythecatcherwhenfirstbaseisoccupiedbeforetwoareout; (d) Shebuntsfoulonthirdstrike; (e) AnInfieldFlyisdeclared; (f) Sheattemptstohitathirdstrikeandtheballtouchesher; (g) Herfairballtouchesherbeforetouchingafielder; (h) Afterhittingorbuntingafairball,herbathitstheballasecondtimeinfairterritory.Theball isdeadandnorunnersmayadvance.Ifthebatter-runnerdropsherbatandtheballrolls against thebat in fair territoryand, in theumpire’s judgment, therewasno intention to interferewiththecourseoftheball,theballisaliveandinplay; Ifabatbreaksandpartofitisinfairterritoryandishitbyabattedballorpartofithitsarunnerorfielder,playshallcontinueandnointerferencecalled.Ifbattedballhitspartofbrokenbatinfoulterritory,itisafoulball. Ifawholebat is thrown into fair territoryand interfereswithadefensiveplayerattemptingtomakeaplay,interferenceshallbecalled,whetherintentionalornot. Incaseswherethebattinghelmetisaccidentallyhitwithabattedorthrownball,theballremainsinplaythesameasifithadnothitthehelmet. Ifabattedballstrikesabattinghelmetoranyotherobjectforeigntothenaturalgroundwhileonfoulterritory,itisafoulballandtheballisdead. If,intheumpire’sjudgment,thereisintentonthepartofabaserunnertointerferewithabattedorthrownballbydroppingthehelmetorthrowingitattheball,thentherunnerwouldbeout,theballdeadandrunnerswouldreturntolastbaselegallytouched. (i) Afterhittingorbuntingafoulball,she intentionallydeflectsthecourseoftheball inany mannerwhilerunningtofirstbase.Theballisdeadandnorunnersmayadvance; (j) Afterathirdstrikeoraftershehitsafairball,sheorfirstbaseistaggedbeforeshetouches firstbase;

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(k) Inrunningthelasthalfofthedistancefromhomebasetofirstbase,whiletheballisbeing fieldedtofirstbase,sherunsoutside(totherightof)thethree-footline,orinside(totheleft of) the foul line, and in theumpire’s judgment in so doing interfereswith thefielder taking the throwatfirstbase; except that shemay runoutside (to the rightof) the three-foot line orinside(totheleftof)thefoullinetoavoidafielderattemptingtofieldabattedball; (I) Aninfielderintentionallydropsafairflyballorlinedrive,withfirst,firstandsecond,first and third, or first, secondand thirdbaseoccupiedbefore twoareout. Theball is deadand runnerorrunnersshallreturntotheiroriginalbaseorbases; APPROVED RULING: In thissituation, thebatter isnotout if the infielderpermits theball to dropuntouchedtotheground,exceptwhentheInfieldFlyruleapplies. (m) Aprecedingrunnershall,intheumpire’sjudgment,intentionallyinterferewithafielderwho isattemptingtocatchathrownballortothrowaballinanattempttocompleteanyplay. Theobjectiveofthisruleistopenalizetheoffensiveteamfordeliberate,unwarranted,unsportsmanlikeactionbytherunnerinleavingthebaselinefortheobviouspurposeofcrashingthepivotmanonadoubleplay,ratherthantryingtoreachthebase.Obviouslythisisanumpire’sjudgmentplay.6.06Abatterisoutforillegalactionwhen— (a) Shehitsanillegallybattedball; Ifabatterhitsaball fairor foulwhileoutof thebatter’sbox,sheshallbecalledout.Umpiresshouldpayparticularattentiontothepositionofthebatter’sfeetifsheattemptstohittheballwhilesheisbeingintentionallypassed.Abattercannotjumporstepoutofthebatter’sboxandhittheball (b) Shestepsfromonebatter’sboxtotheotherwhilethepitcherisinpositionreadytopitch; (c) Sheinterfereswiththecatcher’sfieldingorthrowingbysteppingoutofthebatter’sboxor makinganyothermovementthathindersthecatcher’splayathomebase.

EXCEPTION: Batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference.

Ifthebatterinterfereswiththecatcher,theplateumpireshallcall“interference.”Thebatterisoutandtheballdead.Noplayermayadvanceonsuchinterference(offensiveinterference)andallrunnersmustreturntothelastbasethatwas,inthejudgmentoftheumpire,legallytouchedatthetimeoftheinterference. If,however,thecatchermakesaplayandarunnerattemptingtoadvanceisputout, it istobeassumedtherewasnoactualinterferenceandthatrunnerisout—notbatter.Anyotherrunnersonthebaseatthetimemayadvanceastherulingisthatthereisnoactualinterferenceifarunnerisretired.Inthatcaseplayproceedsjustasifnoviolationhadbeencalled. Ifabatterstrikesataballandmissesandswingssohardshecarriesthebatallthewayaroundand,intheumpire’sjudgment,unintentionallyhitsthecatcherortheballinbackofheronthebackswingbeforethecatcherhassecurelyheldtheball,itshallbecalledastrikeonly(notinterference).Theballwillbedead,however,andnorunnershalladvanceontheplay. (d) She uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire’s judgment, has been altered or tamperedwithinsuchawaytoimprovethedistancefactororcauseanunusualreactionon thesoftball. Noadvancementofthebaseswillbeallowedandanyoutoroutsmadeduringaplayshall stand. In addition tobeing calledout, theplayer shall beejected from thegameandmaybe subjecttoadditionalpenaltiesasdeterminedbyherLeaguePresident.

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6.07 BATTINGOUTOFTURN. (a) Abattershallbecalledout,onappeal,whenshefailstobatinherproperturn,andanother battercompletesatimeatbatinherplace. (1) Theproperbattermaytakeherplaceinthebatter’sboxatanytimebeforetheimproper batterbecomesarunnerorisputout,andanyballsandstrikesshallbecountedinthe properbatter’stimeatbat. (b) Whenanimproperbatterbecomesarunnerorisputout,andthedefensiveteamappeals totheumpirebeforethefirstpitchtothenextbatterofeitherteam,orbeforeanyplayor attempted play, the umpire shall (1 ) declare the proper batter out; and (2) nullify any advanceorscoremadebecauseofaballbattedbytheimproperbatterorbecauseofthe improperbatter’s advance tofirst baseonahit, anerror, abaseonballs, ahit batteror otherwise.

NOTE: If a runner advances, while the improper batter is at bat, on a stolen base, wild pitch or passed ball, such advance is legal.

(c) Whenanimproperbatterbecomesarunnerorisputout,andapitchismadetothenext batterofeitherteambeforeanappealismade,theimproperbattertherebybecomesthe properbatter,andtheresultsofhertimeatbatbecomelegal. (d) (1)Whentheproperbatteriscalledoutbecauseshehasfailedtobatinturn,thenextbatter shallbethebatterwhosenamefollowsthatoftheproperbatterthuscalledout;(2)When an improperbatterbecomesaproperbatterbecausenoappeal ismadebeforethenext pitchthenextbattershallbethebatterwhosenamefollowsthatofsuchlegalizedimproper batter.Theinstantanimproperbatter’sactionsarelegalized,thebattingorderpicksupwith thenamefollowingthatofthelegalizedimproperbatter. Theumpireshallnotdirecttheattentionofanypersontothepresenceinthebatter’sboxofanimproperbatter.Thisruleisdesignedtorequireconstantvigilancebytheplayersandmanagersofbothteams. Therearetwofundamentalstokeepinmind:Whenaplayerbatsoutofturn,theproperbatteristheplayercalledout.Ifanimproperbatterbatsandreachesbaseorisoutandnoappealismadebeforeapitchtothenextbatter,orbeforeanyplayorattemptedplay,thatimproperbatterisconsideredtohavebattedinproperturnandestablishedtheorderthatistofollow.6.08 Thebatterbecomesarunnerandisentitledtofirstbasewithoutliabilitytobeputout(providedsheadvancestoandtouchesfirstbase)when— (a) Four“balls”havebeencalledbytheumpire; Abatterwhoisentitledtofirstbasebecauseofabaseonballsmustgotofirstbaseand touchthebasebeforeotherbaserunnersareforcedtoadvance.Thisapplieswhenbasesare fullandapplieswhenasubstituterunnerisputintothegame. If,inadvancing,thebaserunnerthinksthereisaplayandsheslidespastthebasebeforeoraftertouchingit,shemaybeputoutbythefieldertaggingher.Ifshefailstotouchthebasetowhichsheisentitledandattemptstoadvancebeyondthatbase,shemaybeputoutbytaggingherorthebaseshemissed. (b) Sheistouchedbyapitchedballwhichsheisnotattemptingtohitunless(1)Theballisinthe strikezonewhenittouchesthebatter,or(2)Thebattermakesnoattempttoavoidbeing touchedbytheball; Iftheballisinthestrikezonewhenittouchesthebatter,itshallbecalledastrike,whether ornotthebattertriestoavoidtheball.Iftheballisoutsidethestrikezonewhenittouches thebatter,itshallbecalledaballifshemakesnoattempttoavoidbeingtouched.APPROVEDRULING:Whenthebatteristouchedbyapitchedballwhichdoesnotentitlehertofirstbase,theballisdeadandnorunnermayadvance.

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Visit our store at www.baberuthstore.com

or call 1-800-327-0074, ext. 783.

All softball patches are available for purchase through the Babe Ruth Store.

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Visit our store at www.baberuthstore.com

or call 1-800-327-0074, ext. 783.

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The Offcial Babe Ruth Softball shoulder emblem is required for

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Visit our store at www.baberuthstore.com

or call 1-800-327-0074, ext. 783.

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(c) Thecatcheroranyfielderinterfereswithher.Ifaplayfollowstheinterference,themanager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that she elects to decline the interference penalty and accept the play. Such election shall bemade immediately at the end of the play.However,ifthebatterreachesfirstbaseonahit,anerror,abaseonballs,ahitbatsman, orotherwiseandall other runners advanceat leastonebase, theplayproceedswithout referencetotheinterference. Ifcatcher’sinterferenceiscalledwithaplayinprogress,theumpirewillallowtheplaytocontinuebecausethemanagermayelecttotaketheplay.Ifthebatter-runnermissedfirstbase,orarunnermisseshernextbase,sheshallbeconsideredashavingreachedthebase,asstatedinNoteofRule7.04(c). Examplesofplaysthemanagermightelecttotake: 1.Runneronthird,oneout,batterhitsflyballtotheoutfieldonwhichtherunnerscoresbutcatcher’sinterferencewascalled.Theoffensivemanagermayelecttotaketherunandhavebattercalledoutorhaverunnerremainatthirdandbatterawardedfirstbase. 2.Runneronsecondbase.Catcherinterfereswithbatterasshebuntsballfairlysendingrunnertothirdbase.Themanagermayratherhaverunneronthirdbasewithanoutontheplaythanhaverunnersonsecondandfirst. In situations where the manager wants the ‘’interference’’ penalty to apply, the followinginterpretationshallbemadeof6.08(c):  Ifthecatcher(oranyfielder)interfereswiththebatter,thebatterisawardedfirstbase.If,onsuchinterferencearunneristryingtoscorebyastealorsqueezefromthirdbase,theballisdeadandtherunneronthirdscoresandbatterisawardedfirstbase.Ifthecatcherinterfereswiththebatterwithnorunnerstryingtoscorefromthirdonasqueezeorsteal,thentheballisdead,batterisawardedfirstbaseandrunnerswhoareforcedtoadvance,doadvance.Runnersnotattemptingtostealornotforcedtoadvanceremainonthebasetheyoccupiedatthetimeoftheinterference.  Ifthecatcherinterfereswiththebatterbeforethepitcherdeliverstheball,itshallnotbeconsideredinterferenceon thebatterunderRule6.08 (c). In suchcases, theumpire shall call “Time”and thepitcherandbatterstartoverfrom“scratch.” (d) Afairbattedballstrikesanumpireorarunnerinfairterritorybeforetouchingafielder.If afairballtouchesanumpireorarunnerafterhavingpassedafielderotherthanthepitcher, orhavingtouchedafielder,includingthepitcher,theballisinplay. Ifarunneristouchingabasewhentouchedbyafairbattedball,includinganinfieldfly,the runnerisnotoutunlesssheintentionallyinterfereswiththeballoraninfieldermakinga play.Iftheclosestdefensiveplayerisinfrontofthebasetherunnerisincontactwith,the ballislive.Iftheclosestdefensiveplayerisbehindthebase,theballisdeadandthebatteris awardedabasehit.Onlythoserunnersforcedtoadvanceduetothebatterbeingplacedon firstbaseshallbeadvancedonebase.6.09Thebatterbecomesarunnerwhen— (a) Shehitsafairball; (b) Thethirdstrikecalledbytheumpireisnotcaught,providing (1) firstbaseisunoccupied,or(2)firstbaseisoccupiedwithtwoouts. Whenabatterbecomesabaserunneronathirdstrikenotcaughtbythecatcherandstartsforthedugout,orherposition,andthenrealizedhersituationandattemptsthentoreachfirstbase,sheisnotoutunlesssheorfirstbaseistaggedbeforeshereachesfirstbase.If,however,sheactuallyreachesthedugoutordugoutsteps,shemaynotthenattempttogotofirstbaseandshallbeout. (c) Afairball,afterhavingpassedafielderotherthanthepitcher,orhavingbeentouchedbya fielder,includingthepitcher,shalltouchanumpireorrunneronfairterritory; (d) Afairballpassesoverafenceorintothestands.Suchhitentitlesthebattertoahomerunwhensheshallhavetouchedallbaseslegally;

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(e) Afairball,aftertouchingtheground,bounds intothestands,orpassesthrough,overor underafence,orthroughorunderascoreboard,orthroughorundershrubbery,orvineson thefence,inwhichcasethebatterandtherunnersshallbeentitledtoadvancetwobases; (f) Any fair ballwhich, either before or after touching the ground, passes through or under afence,orthroughorunderascoreboard,orthroughanyopeninginthefenceorscoreboard, orthroughorundershrubbery,orvinesonthefence,orwhichsticksinafenceorscoreboard, inwhichcasethebatterandtherunnersshallbeentitledtotwobases. (g) Anyboundingfairballisdeflectedbythefielderintothestands,oroverorunderafenceon fairorfoulterritory,inwhichcasethebatterandallrunnersshallbeentitledtoadvancetwo bases; (h) Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory,inwhichcasethebattershallbeentitledtoadvancetosecondbase;butifdeflected intothestandsoroverthefenceinfairterritory,thebattershallbeentitledtoahomerun.6.10Inthe18UDivisiononly,ahittermaybedesignatedforanyonestartingplayerandallsubsequentsubstitutesforthatplayerinthegame.Adesignatedhitterforsaidplayermustbeselectedpriortothestartofthegame,andhernamemustbeincludedonthelineupcardspresentedtotheumpire-in-chiefandtheofficialscorer.It�is�not�mandatory�that�a�team�use�a�designated�hitter,butfailuretodeclaresuchahitterpriortothegameprecludestheuseofadesignatedhitterinthatgame.Ifapinchhitterorpinchrunnerforthedesignatedhitterisused,theroleofdesignatedhitteristerminatedattheendofthehalfinningforthedurationofthegame.Thedesignatedhittermayre-enterasanyotherplayerunderthere-entryrule.Astartingplayerforwhomthedesignatedhitterbatsmaypinchhitorpinchrunforthedesignatedhitter,butifthishappens,itshallterminatethedesignatedhitterrolefortheremainderofthegame.Thedesignatedhittermaybeuseddefensively,butmustcontinuetobatinthesamepositioninthebattingorderasdeterminedpriortothegame.Onceadesignatedhitterassumesadefensiveposition, thismoveshall terminate thedesignatedhitter role for the remainderof thegame.A�designated�hitter�is�“locked”�into�the�batting�order.Nomultiplesubstitutionsmaybemadethatwillalterthebattingrotationofthedesignatedhitter.

NOTE:Ifapinchhitterorpinchrunnerisusedforadesignatedhitterandthatteambatsaroundinthathalfinning,theplayerwhowasthedesignatedhitterwasremovedfromthegameforthefirsttimewhenthepinchhitterorpinchrunnerwasused.Aftertheroleofthedesignatedhitteristerminated,thatplayernortheoriginaldefensiveplayermaybeinthegameatthesametime.

7.00 TheRunner7.01Arunneracquirestherighttoanunoccupiedbasewhenshetouchesitbeforesheisout.Sheisthenentitledtoituntilsheisputout,orforcedtovacateitforanotherrunnerlegallyentitledtothat base. Ifarunnerlegallyacquirestitletoabase,andthepitcherassumesherpitchingposition,therunnermaynotreturntoapreviouslyoccupiedbase.7.02Inadvancing,arunnershalltouchfirst,second,third,andhomebaseinorder.Ifforcedtoreturn,sheshallretouchallbasesinreverseorder,unlesstheballisdeadunderanyprovisionofRule5.09.Insuchcases,therunnermaygodirectlytoheroriginalbase.7.03 Tworunnersmaynotoccupyabase,butif,whiletheballisalive,tworunnersaretouchingabase,thefollowingrunnershallbeoutwhentagged.Theprecedingrunnerisentitledtothebase.7.04 Eachrunner,otherthanthebatter,maywithoutliabilitytobeputout,advanceonebasewhen— (a) Thebatter’sadvancewithoutliabilitytobeputoutforcestherunnertovacateherbase,or whenthebatterhitsafairballthattouchesanotherrunnerortheumpirebeforesuchball hasbeentouchedby,orhaspassedafielder,iftherunnerisforcedtoadvance;

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Arunnerforcedtoadvancewithoutliabilitytobeputoutmayadvancepastthebasetowhichsheisentitledonlyatherperil.Ifsucharunner,forcedtoadvance,isputoutforthethirdoutbeforeaprecedingrunner,alsoforcedtoadvance,toucheshomeplate,therunshallscore. PLAY.Twoout,basesfull,batterwalksbutrunnerfromsecondisover-zealousandrunspastthirdbasetowardhomeandistaggedoutonathrowbythecatcher.Eventhoughtwoareout,therunwouldscoreonthetheorythattherunwasforcedhomebythebaseonballsandthatalltherunnersneededtodowasproceedandtouchthenextbase. (b) Afielder,aftercatchingaflyball,fallsintoabenchorstand,orfallsacrossropesintoacrowd whenspectatorsareonthefield; Afielderorcatchermayreachorstepinto,orgointothedugoutwithoneorbothfeettomakeacatch,andifsheholdstheball,thecatchshallbeallowed.Ballisinplay. Ifthefielderorcatcher,afterhavingmadealegalcatch,shouldfallintoastandoramongspectatorsorintothedugoutaftermakingalegalcatch,orfallwhileinthedugoutaftermakingalegalcatch,theballisdeadandrunnersadvanceonebasewithoutliabilitytobeputout. (c) Whilesheisattemptingtostealabase,thebatterisinterferedwithbythecatcherorany otherfielder

NOTE:Whenarunnerisentitledtoabasewithoutliabilitytobeputout,whiletheballisinplay,orunderanyruleinwhichtheballisinplayaftertherunnerreachesthebasetowhichsheisentitled,andtherunnerfailstotouchthebasetowhichsheisentitledbeforeattemptingtoadvancetothenextbase,therunnershallforfeitherexemptionfromliabilitytobeputout,andshemaybeputoutbytaggingthebaseorbytaggingtherunnerbeforeshereturnstothemissedbase.

7.05 Eachrunnerincludingthebatter-runnermay,withoutliabilitytobeputout,advance— (a) To homebase, scoring a run, if a fair ball goes out of the playing field in flight and she touchesallbaseslegally;orifafairballwhich,intheumpire’sjudgment,wouldhavegone outoftheplayingfieldinflight,isdeflectedbytheactofafielderinthrowingherglove,cap, oranyarticleofherapparel; (b) Threebases,ifafielderdeliberatelytouchesafairballwithhercap,maskoranypartofher uniformdetachedfromitsproperplaceonherperson.Theballisinplayandthebattermay advancetohomebaseatherperil; (c)Threebases,ifafielderdeliberatelythrowshergloveatandtouchesafairball,theballisin playandthebattermayadvancetohomebaseatherperil; (d) Twobases,ifafielderdeliberatelytouchesathrownballwithhercap,maskoranypartof heruniformdetachedfromitsproperplaceonherperson,thatballisinplay; (e) Twobases,ifafielderdeliberatelythrowshergloveatandtouchesathrownball.Theballis in play. Inapplying (b-c-d-e) theumpiremustrulethat thethrowngloveordetachedcapormaskhastouchedtheball.Thereisnopenaltyiftheballisnottouched. Under(c-e)thispenaltyshallnotbeinvokedagainstafielderwhosegloveiscarriedoffherhandbytheforceofthebattedorthrownball,orwhenherglovefliesoffherhandasshemakesanobviousefforttomakealegitimatecatch. (f) Twobases,ifafairballbouncesorisdeflectedintothestandsoutsidethefirstorthirdbase foullines;orifitgoesthroughorunderafieldfence,orthroughorunderascoreboard,or throughorundershrubberyorvinesonthefence;orifitsticksinsuchfence,scoreboard, shrubberyorvines;

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(g) Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands,orintoabench(whetherornottheballreboundsintothefield),oroverorunder orthroughafieldfence,oronaslantingpartofthescreenabovethebackstop,orremains inthemeshesofawirescreenprotectingspectators.Theballisdead.Whensuchwildthrow isthefirstplaybyaninfielder,theumpire,inawardingsuchbases,shallbegovernedbythe positionoftherunnersatthetimetheballwaspitched;inallothercasestheumpireshall begovernedbythepositionoftherunnersatthetimethewildthrowwasmade;

APPROVED RULING:Ifallrunners,includingthebatter-runner,haveadvancedatleastonebasewhenaninfieldermakesawildthrowonthefirstplayafterthepitch,theawardshallbegovernedbythepositionoftherunnerswhenthewildthrowwasmade.

Incertaincircumstancesitisimpossibletoawardarunnertwobases.Example:Runneronfirst.Batterhitsflytoshortright.Runnerholdsupbetweenfirstandsecondandbattercomesaroundfirstandpullsupbehindher.Ballfallssafely.Outfielder,inthrowingtofirst,throwsballintostand. APPROVED RULING: Sinceno runner,when theball isdead,mayadvancebeyond thebase towhichsheisentitled,therunneroriginallyonfirstbasegoestothirdbaseandthebatterisheldatsecondbase. Theterm“whenthewildthrowwasmade”meanswhenthethrowactuallylefttheplayer’shandandnotwhenthethrownballhittheground,passesareceivingfielderorgoesoutofplayintothestands. Thepositionofabatter-runneratthetimethewildthrowleftthethrower’shandisthekeyindecidingtheawardofbases.Ifthebatter-runnerhasnotreachedfirstbase,theawardistwobasesatthetimethepitchwasmadeforallrunners.Thedecisionastowhetherthebatter-runnerhasreachedfirstbasebeforethethrowisajudgmentcall. Ifanunusualplayariseswhereafirstthrowbyan infieldergoes intostandsordugoutbutthebatterdidnotbecomearunner(suchascatcherthrowingball intostandsinattempttogetrunnerfromthirdtryingtoscoreonpassedballorwildpitch)awardoftwobasesshallbefromthepositionoftherunnersatthetimeofthethrow.(ForthepurposeofRule7.05(g)acatcherisconsideredaninfielder.) PLAY.Runneronfirstbase,batterhitsaballtotheshortstop,whothrowstosecondbasetoolatetogetrunneratsecond,andsecondbasemanthrowstowardfirstbaseafterbatterhascrossedfirstbase.Ruling—Runneratsecondscores.(Onthisplay,onlyifbatter-runnerispastfirstbasewhenthrowismadeissheawardedthirdbase.) (h) Onebase,ifaball,pitchedtothebatter,orthrownbythepitcherfromherpositiononthe pitcher’splatetoabasetocatcharunner,goesintoastandorabench,oroverorthrough afieldfenceorbackstop.Theballisdead;

APPROVED RULING:Whenawildpitchorpassedballgoesthroughorbythecatcher,ordeflectsoffthecatcher,andgoesdirectlyintothedugout,stands,abovethebreak,oranyareawheretheballisdead,theawardingofbasesshallbeonebase.Onebaseshallalsobeawardedifthepitcherwhileincontactwiththerubber,throwstoabase,andthethrowgoesdirectlyintothestandsorintoanyareawheretheballisdead.

If,however, thepitchedor thrownball goes throughorby thecatcheror through the fielder,andremainsontheplayingfield,andissubsequentlykickedordeflectedintothe dugout,standsorotherareawheretheballisdead,theawardingofbasesshallbetwobases frompositionofrunnersatthetimeofthepitchorthrow. (i) Onebase,ifthebatterbecomesarunneronBallFourorStrikeThree,whenthepitchpasses thecatcherandlodgesintheumpire’smaskorparaphernalia. Ifthebatterbecomesarunneronawildpitchwhichentitlestherunnerstoadvanceonebase,thebatter-runnershallbeentitledtofirstbaseonly.

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Thefactarunnerisawardedabaseorbaseswithoutliabilitytobeputoutdoesnotrelieveheroftheresponsibilitytotouchthebasesheisawardedandallinterveningbases.Forexample:batterhitsagroundballwhichaninfielderthrowsintothestandsbutthebatter-runnermissedfirstbase.Shemaybecalledoutonappealformissingfirstbaseaftertheballisputinplayeventhoughshewas“awarded”secondbase. Ifarunner is forcedtoreturntoabaseafteracatch,shemustretouchheroriginalbaseeventhough,becauseofsomegroundruleorotherrules,sheisawardedadditionalbases.Shemayretouchwhiletheballisdeadandtheawardisthenmadefromheroriginalbase.7.06Whenobstructionoccurs,theumpireshallcallorsignal“Obstruction.” (a)Ifaplayisbeingmadeontheobstructedrunner,orifthebatter-runnerisobstructedbefore shetouchesfirstbase,theball isdeadandall runnersshalladvance,without liability to beputout,tothebasestheywouldhavereached,intheumpire’sjudgment,iftherehad beennoobstruction.Theobstructedrunnershallbeawardedatleastonebasebeyondthe baseshehadlastlegallytouchedbeforetheobstruction.Anyprecedingrunners,forcedto advancebytheawardofbasesasthepenaltyforobstruction,shalladvancewithoutliability tobeputout. Whenaplay isbeingmadeonanobstructedrunner,theumpireshallsignalobstruction inthesamemannerthathecalls“Time,”withbothhandsoverhead.Theballisimmediatelydeadwhenthissignalisgiven;however,shouldathrownballbeinflightbeforetheobstructioniscalledbytheumpire,therunnersaretobeawardedsuchbasesonwildthrowsastheywouldhavebeenawardedhadnoobstructionoccurred.Onaplaywherearunnerwastrappedbetweensecondandthirdandobstructedbythethirdbasemangoingintothirdbasewhilethethrowisinflightfromtheshortstop,ifsuchthrowgoesintothedugouttheobstructedrunneristobeawardedhomebase.Anyotherrunnersonbase in this situationwouldalsobeawarded twobases fromthebase they last legallytouchedbeforeobstructionwascalled. (b) Ifnoplayisbeingmadeontheobstructedrunner,theplayshallproceeduntilnofurther actionispossible.Theumpireshallthencall“Time”andimposesuchpenalties,ifany,asin hisjudgmentwillnullifytheactofobstruction. Under7.06(b)whentheballisnotdeadonobstructionandanobstructedrunneradvances beyondthebasewhich,intheumpire’sjudgment,shewouldhavebeenawardedbecauseof beingobstructed,shedoessoatherownperilandmaybetaggedout.Thisisajudgmentcall.

NOTE:Thecatcher,withouttheball inherpossession,hasnorighttoblockthepathwayoftherunnerattemptingtoscore.Thebaselinebelongstotherunnerandthecatchershouldbethereonlywhensheisfieldingaballorwhenshealreadyhastheballinherhand.

7.07Anyrunnerisoutwhen— (a) (1)She runsmore than three feetaway fromadirect linebetweenbases toavoidbeing tagged,unlessheractionistoavoidinterferencewithafielderfieldingabattedball;or(2) aftertouchingfirstbase,sheleavesthebaseline,obviouslyabandoningherefforttotouch thenextbase. Anyrunnerafterreachingfirstbasewholeavesthebaselineheadingforherdugoutorherpositionbelievingthatthereisnofurtherplay,maybedeclaredoutiftheumpirejudgestheactoftherunnertobeconsideredabandoninghereffortstorunthebases.Eventhoughanoutiscalled,theballremainsinplayinregardtoanyotherrunner.

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Thisrulealsocoversthefollowingandsimilarplays.Lessthantwoout,scoretiedlastofseventhinning,runneronfirst,batterhitsaballoutofparkforwinningrun,therunneronfirstpassessecondandthinkingthehomerunautomaticallywinsthegame,cutsacrossdiamondtowardherbenchasbatter-runnercirclesbases.Inthiscase,thebaserunnerwouldbecalledout“forabandoningherefforttotouchthenextbase”andbatter-runnerpermittedtocontinuearoundbasestomakeherhomerunvalid.Ifthereweretwoout,homerunwouldnotcount(seeRule7.12).Thisisnotanappealplay.  PLAY.Runnerbelieving she is calledoutona tagatfirstor thirdbase starts for thedugoutandprogressesareasonabledistancestillindicatingbyheractionsthatsheisout,shallbedeclaredoutforabandoningthebases.  Intheabovetwoplaystherunnersareconsideredactuallyabandoningtheirbasepathsandaretreateddifferentlythanthebatterwhostruckoutasdescribed.APPROVEDRULINGOF7.08(a).APPROVEDRULING:Whenabatterbecomesarunneronthirdstrikenotcaught,andstartsforherbenchorposition,shemayadvancetofirstbaseatanytimebeforesheentersthebench.Toputherout,thedefensemusttagherorfirstbasebeforeshetouchesfirstbase. (b) Sheintentionallyinterfereswithathrownball;orhindersafielderattemptingtomakeaplay onabattedball; Arunnerwhoisadjudgedtohavehinderedafielderwhoisattemptingtomakeaplayonabattedballisoutwhetheritwasintentionalornot. If,however,therunnerhascontactwithalegallyoccupiedbasewhenshehindersthefielder,sheshallnotbecalledoutunless,intheumpire’sjudgment,suchhindrance,whetheritoccursonfairorfoul territory, is intentional. If theumpiredeclares thehindrance intentional, the followingpenaltyshallapply:Withlessthantwoout,theumpireshalldeclareboththerunnerandbatterout.Withtwoout,theumpireshalldeclarethebatterout. If,inarun-downbetweenthirdbaseandhomeplate,thesucceedingrunnerhadadvancedandisstandingonthirdbasewhentherunnerinarun-downiscalledoutforoffensiveinterference,theumpireshallsendtherunnerstandingonthirdbasebacktosecondbase.Thissameprincipleappliesifthereisarun-downbetweensecondandthirdbaseandsucceedingrunnerhasreachedsecond(thereasoningisthatnorunnershalladvanceonaninterferenceplayandarunnerisconsideredtooccupyabaseuntilshelegallyhastouchedthenextsucceedingbase). (c) Sheistagged,whentheballisalive,whileoffherbase.EXCEPTION:Abatter-runnercannot betaggedoutafteroverrunningoroverslidingfirstbaseifshereturnsimmediatelytothe base; APPROVEDRULING:(1)Iftheimpactofarunnerbreaksabaseloosefromitsposition,noplay canbemadeonthatrunneratthatbaseifshehadreachedthebasesafely. APPROVEDRULING:(2)Ifabaseisdislodgedfromitspositionduringaplay,anyfollowingrunner on the same play shall be considered as touching or occupying the base if, in the umpire’s judgment,shetouchesoroccupiesthepointmarkedbythedislodgedbag. (d) Shefailstoretouchherbaseafterafairorfoulballislegallycaughtbeforeshe,orherbase, istaggedbyafielder.Sheshallnotbecalledoutforfailuretoretouchherbaseafterthefirst followingpitch,oranyplayorattemptedplay.Thisisanappealplay; Runnersneednot“tagup”onafoultip.Theymaystealonafoultip.Ifaso-calledtipisnotcaught,itbecomesanordinaryfoul.Runnersthenreturntotheirbases. (e) Shefails toreachthenextbasebeforeafieldertagsherorthebase,aftershehasbeen forcedtoadvancebyreasonofthebatterbecomingarunner.However,ifafollowingrunner isputoutonaforceplay,theforceisremovedandtherunnermustthebasetowhichsheis forcedtoadvance,andifsheoverslidesoroverrunsthebase,therunnermustbetaggedto be putout. However, if the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards thebaseshehad lastoccupied, the forceplay is reinstated,andshecan againbeputoutifthedefensetagsthebasetowhichsheisforced;

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PLAY.Runneronfirstandthreeballsonbatter;Runnerstealsonthenextpitch,whichisfourthball,butafterhavingtouchedsecondsheoverslidesoroverrunsthatbase.Catcher’sthrowcatchesherbeforeshecanreturn.Rulingisthatrunnerisout.(Forceoutisremoved.) Overslidingandoverrunningsituationsariseatbasesotherthanfirstbase.Forinstance,beforetwoareout,andrunnersonfirstandsecond,orfirst,secondandthird,theballishittoaninfielderwhotriesforthedoubleplay.Therunneronfirstbeatsthethrowtosecondbasebutoverslidesthebase.Therelayismadetothefirstbaseandthebatter-runnerisout.Thefirstbaseman,seeingtherunneratsecondbaseoffthebag,makesthereturnthrowtosecondandtherunneristaggedoffthebase.Meanwhilerunnershavecrossedtheplate.Thequestionis:Isthisaforceplay?Wastheforceremovedwhenthebatter-runnerwasoutatfirstbase?Dotherunsthatcrossedtheplateduringthisplayandbeforethethirdoutwasmadewhentherunnerwastaggedatsecond,count?Answer:Therunsscore.Itisnotaforceplay.Itisatagplay. (f) She is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder.Theball isdeadandnorunnermayscore,norrunnersadvance,exceptrunners forcedtoadvance. EXCEPTION:IfarunneristouchingherbasewhentouchedbyanInfieldFly,sheisnotout, althoughthebatterisout. Iftworunnersaretouchedbythesamefairball,onlythefirstoneisoutbecausetheballis instantly dead. IfrunneristouchedbyanInfieldFlywhensheisnottouchingherbase,bothrunnerandbatter areout. (g) Sheattemptstoscoreonaplayinwhichthebatterinterfereswiththeplayathomebase beforetwoareout.Withtwoout,theinterferenceputsthebatteroutandnoscorecounts; (h) Shepassesaprecedingrunnerbeforesuchrunnerisout; (i) Aftershehadacquiredlegalpossessionofabase,sherunsthebasesinreverseorderforthe purpose of confusing the defense or making a travesty of the game. The umpire shall immediatelycall“Time”anddeclaretherunnerout; Ifarunnertouchesanunoccupiedbaseandthenthinkstheballwascaughtor isdecoyedintoreturningtothebaseshehaslasttouched,shemaybeputoutrunningbacktothatbase,butifshereachesthepreviousoccupiedbasesafely,shecannotbeputoutwhileincontactwiththatbase. (j) She fails to returnatonce tofirstbaseafteroverrunningoroversliding thatbase. If she attemptstoruntosecondsheisoutwhentagged.If,afteroverrunningoroverslidingfirst baseshestartstowardthedugout,ortowardherposition,andfailstoreturntofirstbaseat once,sheisout,onappeal,whensheorthebaseistagged. Runnerwhotouchesfirstbaseinoverrunningandisdeclaredsafebytheumpirehas,withintheintentof Rule 4.09 (a) “reachedfirst base” and any runwhich scoreson such aplay counts, eventhoughtherunnersubsequentlybecomesthethirdoutforfailuretoreturn“atonce,”ascoveredinRule7.08(j). (k) In running or sliding for home base, she fails to touch home base and makes no attempt to return to thebase,whenafielderholds theball inherhand,while touching homebase,andappealstotheumpireforthedecision. Thisruleappliesonlywhererunnerisonherwaytothebenchandthecatcherwouldberequiredto chase her. It does not apply to the ordinary playwhere the runnermisses the plate and thenimmediatelymakesaneffort to touch theplatebeforebeing tagged. In that case, runnermustbetagged.

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7.08Itisinterferencebyabatterorarunnerwhen— (a) Afterathirdstrikeshehindersthecatcherinherattempttofieldtheball; (b) Afterhittingorbuntingafairball,herbathitstheballasecondtimeinfairterritory.Theball isdeadandnorunnersmayadvance.Ifthebatter-runnerdropsherbatandtheballrolls against thebat in fair territoryand, in theumpire’s judgment, therewasno intention to interferewiththecourseoftheball,theballisaliveandinplay; (c) Sheintentionallydeflectsthecourseofafoulballinanymanner; (d) Beforetwoareoutandarunneronthirdbase,thebatterhindersafielderinmakingaplay athomebase;therunnerisout; (e) Anymemberormembersoftheoffensiveteamstandorgatheraroundanybasetowhicha runnerisadvancing,toconfuse,hinderoraddtothedifficultyofthefielders.Suchrunner shallbedeclaredoutfortheinterferenceofherteammateorteammates; (f) Anybatterorrunnerwhohasjustbeenputouthindersorimpedesanyfollowingplaybeing madeonarunner.Suchrunnershallbedeclaredoutfortheinterferenceofherteammate; Ifthebatterorarunnercontinuestoadvanceaftershehasbeenputout,sheshallnotbythatactalonebeconsideredasconfusing,hinderingorimpedingthefielders. (g) If,inthejudgmentoftheumpire,abaserunnerwillfullyanddeliberatelyinterfereswitha battedballorafielderintheactoffieldingabattedballwiththeobviousintenttobreakup adoubleplay,theballisdead.Theumpireshallcalltherunneroutforinterferenceandalso calloutthebatter-runnerbecauseoftheactionofherteammate.Innoeventmaybasesberun orrunsscoredbecauseofsuchactionbyarunner; (h) If,inthejudgmentoftheumpire,abatter-runnerwillfullyanddeliberatelyinterfereswitha battedballorafielderintheactoffieldingabattedball,withtheobviousintenttobreakup adoubleplay,theballisdead;theumpireshallcallthebatter-runneroutforinterference andshallalsocallouttherunnerwhohadadvancedclosesttothehomeplateregardless wherethedoubleplaymighthavebeenpossible.Innoeventshallbasesberunbecauseof suchinterference. (i) Inthejudgmentoftheumpire,thebasecoachatthirdbase,orfirstbase,bytouchingor holdingtherunner,physicallyassistsherinreturningtoorleavingthirdbaseorfirstbase; (j) Witharunneronthirdbase,thebasecoachleavesherboxandactsinanymannertodraw athrowbyafielder; (k) Inrunningthelasthalfofthedistancefromhomebasetofirstbasewhiletheballisbeing fieldedtofirstbase,sherunsoutside(totherightof)thethree-footline,orinside(totheleft of)thefoullineand,intheumpire’sjudgment,interfereswiththefieldertakingthethrowat firstbase,orattemptingtofieldabattedball; Thelinesmarkingthethreefootlaneareapartofthat“lane”buttheinterpretationtobemadeisthatarunnerisrequiredtohavebothfeetwithinthethreefoot“lane”oronthelinesmarkingthe“lane.” (I) Shefailstoavoidafielderwhoisattemptingtofieldabattedball,orintentionallyinterferes withathrownball,providedthatiftwoormorefieldersattempttofieldabattedball,and therunnercomesincontactwithoneormoreofthem,theumpireshalldeterminewhich fielderisentitledtothebenefitofthisrule,andshallnotdeclaretherunneroutforcoming incontactwithafielderotherthantheonetheumpiredeterminestobeentitledtofield suchaball; Whenacatcherandbatter-runnergoingtofirstbasehavecontactwhenthecatcherisfieldingtheball,thereisgenerallynoviolationandnothingshouldbecalled.“Obstruction”byafielderattemptingtofieldaballshouldbecalledonlyinveryflagrantandviolentcasesbecausetherulesgivehertherightofway,butofcoursesuch“rightofway”isnotalicenseto,forexample,intentionallytriparunnereventhoughfieldingtheball.Ifthecatcherisfieldingtheballandthefirstbasemanorpitcherobstructsarunnergoingtofirstbase,“obstruction”shallbecalledandthebatter-runnerawardedfirstbase.

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(m)Afairballtouchesheronfairterritorybeforetouchingafielder.Ifafairballgoesthrough,or by,aninfielder,andtouchesarunnerimmediatelybackofher,ortouchestherunnerafter havingbeendeflectedbyafielder, theumpireshallnotdeclaretherunnerout forbeing touchedbyabattedball.Inmakingsuchdecisiontheumpiremustbeconvincedthattheball passed through,orby, thefielder, and thatnoother infielderhad the chance tomake aplayontheball.If,inthejudgmentoftheumpire,therunnerdeliberatelyandintentionally kickssuchabattedballonwhichtheinfielderhasmissedaplay,thentherunnershallbe calledoutforinterference.

PENALTYFORINTERFERENCE:Therunnerisoutandtheballisdead.7.09Anyrunnershallbecalledout,onappeal,when— (a) Afteraflyballiscaught,shefailstoretouchheroriginalbasebeforesheorheroriginalbase istagged; “Retouch,” inthisrule,meanstotagupandstartfromacontactwiththebaseaftertheball iscaught.Arunnerisnotpermittedtopositionherselfbehindandnotincontactwithabasetogetarunningstartonanyflyball. (b) Withtheballinplay,whileadvancingorreturningtoabase,shefailstotoucheachbasein orderbeforeshe,oramissedbaseistagged. APPROVED RULING: (1) No runnermay return to touch amissed base after a following runnerhasscored.(2)Whentheballisdead,norunnermayreturntotouchamissedbase oroneshehasleftaftershehasadvancedtoandtouchedabasebeyondthemissedbase. PLAY.(a)Batterhitsballoutofparkorgroundruledoubleandmissesfirstbase(ballisdead)—shemayreturntofirstbasetocorrecthermistakebeforeshetouchessecondbutifshetouchessecondshemaynotreturntofirstandifdefensiveteamappealssheisdeclaredoutatfirst.

PLAY.(b)Batterhitsballtoshortstopwhothrowswildintostand(ballisdead)—batter-runnermissesfirstbasebut isawardedsecondbaseontheoverthrow.Eventhoughtheumpirehasawardedtherunnersecondbaseontheoverthrow,therunnermusttouchfirstbasebeforesheproceedstosecondbase.Theseareappealplays. (c)Sheoverrunsoroverslidesfirstbaseandfailstoreturntothebaseimmediately,andsheorthebaseistagged; (d)Shefailstotouchhomebaseandmakesnoattempttoreturntothatbase,andhomebaseis tagged. Anyappealunderthisrulemustbemadebeforethenextpitch,oranyplayorattemptedplay.If theviolationoccursduringaplaywhichendsahalf-inning,theappealmustbemadebeforethedefensiveteamleavesthefield. Anappealisnottobeinterpretedasaplayoranattemptedplay. Successiveappealsmaynotbemadeona runnerat the samebase. If thedefensive teamonitsfirstappealerrs,arequestforasecondappealonthesamerunneratthesamebaseshallnotbeallowedbytheumpire.(Intendedmeaningoftheword“err”isthatthedefensiveteaminmakinganappealthrewtheballoutofplay.Forexample,ifthepitcherthrewtofirstbasetoappealandthrewtheballintothestands,nosecondappealwouldbeallowed.) Appealplaysmayrequireanumpiretorecognizeanapparent“fourthout.”Ifthethirdoutismadeduring a play inwhich an appeal play is sustained on another runner, the appeal play decision takesprecedence in determining the out. If there ismore than one appeal during a play that ends a half-inning,thedefensemayelecttotaketheoutthatgivesittheadvantage.Forthepurposeofthisrule,thedefensiveteamhas‘’leftthefield”whenthepitcherandallinfieldershaveleftfairterritoryontheirwaytothebenchorclubhouse.

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Iftworunnersarriveathomebaseaboutthesametimeandthefirstrunnermisseshomeplatebutasecondrunnerlegallytouchestheplate,thefirstrunnerwillbecalledoutonappeal.Iftherearetwoout,andthefirstrunneristaggedoutonherattempttocomebackandtouchthebaseoriscalledout,onappeal,thensheshouldbeconsideredashavingbeenputoutbeforethesecondrunnerscoredandbeingthethirdout.Secondrunner’srunshallnotcount,asprovidedinRule7.12. Ifapitchermakesanillegalpitchwhenmakinganappeal,suchactshallbeaplay.Anappealshouldbeclearlyintendedasanappeal,eitherbyaverbalrequestbytheplayeroranactthatunmistakablyindicatesanappealtotheumpire.Aplayer,inadvertentlysteppingonthebasewithaballinherhand,wouldnotconstituteanappeal.Timeisnotoutwhenanappealisbeingmade.7.10Theplayers,coachesoranymemberofanoffensiveteamshallvacateanyspace(includingbothdugouts)neededbyafielderwhoisattemptingtofieldabattedorthrownball.  PENALTY: Interferenceshallbecalledandthebatterorrunneronwhomthatplay isbeingmadeshallbedeclaredout.7.11 Unless twoareout, the statusofa following runner isnotaffectedbyapreceding runner’sfailuretotouchorretouchabase.If,uponappeal,theprecedingrunneristhethirdout,norunnersfollowinghershallscore.Ifsuchthirdoutistheresultofaforceplay,neitherprecedingnorfollowingrunnersshallscore.7.12Whenapitcherisincontactwiththepitcher’splateinpossessionoftheballandthecatcherisinthecatcher’sboxreadytoreceivethedeliveryoftheball,baserunnersshallnotleavetheirbasesuntiltheballisreleased.

Note: SeeLocalLeagueOptionsfor12Ubaserunningalternative

PENALTY: For violation, base runner will be called out. The ball will be dead and “No Pitch”declared.However, if thepitcherdoesnot allow sufficienttime to runner to return toabase, therunnershallnotbecalledoutforbeingoffthebasebeforethepitcherreleasestheball.Therunnermayadvanceasthoughthebasewasleftlegally.

NOTE:Whenabaserunnerislegitimatelyoffbase,i.e.,movingoffabaseafterapitchorroundingabaseafterahitorwalk,thepitcherisobligatedtoallowsufficienttimefortherunnertoreturn;however,oncethepitcherhastheballwithinaradiusofeightfeetfromthecenterofthepitcher’splate, the runner is obligated tomove directly toward the next base or the base last touchedwithoutanymotionorrecognitionbythepitcher.Therunnermaynotstandmotionless,orafterreturning to thebase,maynotmoveoff that base even though thepitcher is standingoff thepitcher’splate.Failureoftherunnertorespondasindicatedshallcausetheumpiretosignaltherunnerout.Theballshallbedeclareddead.However,iftheballisnotinthe16-footcircleorafakethrowismade,therunnersarenotgovernedbythisnote.

7.13CONTACTRULE–Ifarunnerattemptingtoreachhomeplateintentionallyandmaliciouslyrunsintoadefensiveplayerintheareaofhomeplate,shewillbecalledoutontheplayandejectedfromthegame.Theobjectiveof this rule is topenalize theoffensive team fordeliberate,unwarranted,unsportsmanlikeactionbytherunnerfortheobviouspurposeofcrashingthedefensiveplayer,ratherthantryingtoreachhomeplate.Obviously,thisisanumpire’sjudgementcall.

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8.00 ThePitcher8.01Thepitchershalltakeapositionwithbothfeetfirmlyonthegroundandwithbothfeetincontactwith,butnotoffthesideofthepitcher’splate. (a) Preliminarytopitching,thepitchermusttakeapositionwithshouldersinlinewithfirstand thirdbasewiththeball ineitherorbothhands.Pitchershalltakesignsfromthecatcher whilestandingonthepitcher’splate. PENALTY:Afterawarningby theumpire fornot taking the sign, thepitcher,on thenext offense,shallberemovedfromthemoundasapitcherfortheremainderofthegame. (b) Thepitchershallholdtheballineitherorbothhandsfornotlessthanonesecondandnot morethan10secondsbeforereleasingtheball. (c) Thepitchershallnotbeconsideredinpitchingpositionunlessthecatcherisinpositionto receivethepitch. (d) The pitchermay not take the pitching position on or astride the pitcher’s platewithout havingtheballinherpossession. NOTE:Toindicatetothepitcherthatshemaynotstartthepitch,theumpireshouldraise one handwith the palm facing the pitcher. “NO PITCH” shall be declared if the pitcher pitcheswhiletheumpirehasherhandinsaidposition. PENALTY:Illegalpitchin(a)and(b).8.02Thepitchstartswhenonehand istakenofftheballorthepitchermakesanymotionthat ispartof thewindup. In theactofdeliveringtheball, thepitchershallnot takemorethanonestepwhichmustbeforward,towardthebatter,andsimultaneouswiththedeliveryoftheballtothebatter.Towardthebatterisinterpretedaswithinthe24”lengthofthepitcher’splateuntiltheotherfootwithwhichthepitcherstepstowardhomeplatehastouchedtheground.Thepivotfootmustremainincontactwith,orpushoffanddragawayfrom,thepitcher’splatepriortothefrontfoottouchingtheground,aslongasthepivotfootmaintainscontactwiththeground.

NOTE: It isnotastepifthepitcherslidesherfootacrossthepitcher’splate,providedcontactismaintainedwiththepitcher’splate.

8.03Alegaldeliveryshallbeaballwhichisdeliveredtothebatterwithanunderhandmotion. (a) Thereleaseoftheballandthefollowthroughofthehandandwristmustbeforwardpast thestraightlineofthebody. (b)Thehandshallbebelowthehipandthewristnotfartherfromthebodythantheelbow. (c)Thepitchiscompletedwithasteptowardthebatter. (d)Thecatchermustbewithintheoutsidelinesofthecatcher’sboxwhenthepitchisreleased. (e)Thecatchershallreturntheballdirectlytothepitcheraftereachpitchexceptafterastrike out,orput-outmadebythecatcher.Thepitcherhas20secondstoreleasethenextpitch. EXCEPTION:8.03(e)doesnotapplywithrunnersonbase. PENALTY:8.03(e)—Anadditional“ball”isawardedthebatter.8.04Thepitchermayuseanywind-updesiredproviding: (a) Nomotiontopitchismadewithoutimmediatelydeliveringtheballtothebatter. (b)Thepitcherdoesnotusea rockeraction inwhich,afterhaving theball inbothhands in pitchingposition,removesonehandfromtheball,takesabackwardandforwardswingand returnstheballtobothhandsinfrontofthebody. (c) Thepitcherdoesnotuseawind-upinwhichthereisastoporreversaloftheforwardmotion. (d)Thepitchermustnotmaketworevolutionsofthearminthewindmillpitch.Apitchermay dropthepitchingarmtothesideandtotherearbeforestartingthewindmillmotion.

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(e) Thepitcherdoesnotcontinuetowind-upaftertakingtheforwardstepwhichissimultaneous withthereleaseoftheball. EXCEPTION:8.03(e)doesnotapplywithrunnersonbase. PENALTY:8.03(e)—Anadditional“ball”isawardedthebatter.8.05Thepitchershallnotdeliberatelydrop,roll,orbouncetheballwhileinpitchingpositioninordertopreventthebatterfromstrikingit.8.06Thepitchershallnotatanytimeduringthegamebeallowedtousetapeorothersubstancesupontheball,thepitchinghandorfingers,norshallanyplayerapplyaforeignsubstancetotheball.Underthesupervisionandcontroloftheumpire,powderedresinmaybeusedtodrythehand.Thepitchershallnotwearanyitemonthepitchinghand,wristorarm,orthighwhichmaybedistractingtothebatter.

NOTE: Battingglovemaynotbewornonthepitchinghand.  PENALTY: Rules 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06. Any infraction is an illegal pitchwith theexceptionof8.03(e)whichiscoveredseparately.Theumpireshallgiveadelayeddeadballsignalbyextendinghisorher leftarmhorizontally.Aball is calledon thebatter.Baserunnersareentitled toadvanceonebasewithoutliabilitytobeputout.EXCEPTION:Ifthepitchercompletesthedeliveryoftheballtothebatterandthebatterhitstheballandreachesfirstbasesafelyandallbaserunnersadvanceatleastonebase,thentheplaystands,andtheillegalpitchisnullified.Allactionasaresultofthebattedballstands.Nooptionisgiven.Otherwise,themanagerhastheoptiontotaketheresultoftheplay,ortheillegalpitchisenforcedbyawardingaballtothebatterandadvancingallrunnersonebase.

NOTE:An illegalpitchshallbecalled immediatelywhen itbecomes illegal. Ifcalledbytheplateumpire,itshallbecalledinavoicesothatthecatcherandthebatterwillhearit.Theplateumpirewillalsogivethedelayeddeadballsignal.Ifcalledbythebaseumpire,itshallbecalledsothatthenearestfieldershallhearit.Thebaseumpireshallalsogivethedelayeddeadballsignal.Failureofplayerstohearthecallshallnotvoidthecall.

NOTE:Thepitchershallnot,atanytime,intentionallypitchatthebatter.

If,intheumpire’sjudgment,suchaviolationoccurs,theumpiremayelecteitherto: 1. Expelthepitcher,orthemanagerandthepitcher,fromthegame,or 2.Maywarnthepitcherandthemanagerofbothteamsthatanothersuchpitchwillresultin theimmediateexpulsionofthatpitcher(orareplacement)andthemanager. If,intheumpire’sjudgment,circumstanceswarrant,bothteamsmaybeofficially“warned”priorto thegameoratanytimeduring thegame. (LeaguePresidentsmay takeadditionalactionunderauthorityprovidedinRule9.05.) To pitch at a batter’s head is unsportsmanlike and highly dangerous. It should be – and is –condemnedbyeverybody.Umpiresshouldactwithouthesitationinenforcementofthisrule.8.07Nopitchshallbedeclaredwhen: (a) Thepitcherpitchesduringthesuspensionofplay;or (b) Thepitcherattemptsaquickreturnoftheballbeforethebatterhastakenpositionorisoff balanceasaresultofapreviouspitch;or (c) Therunneriscalledoutforleavingthebasetoosoon;or (d) Thepitcherpitchesbeforeabaserunnerhasretouchedthebaseoccupiedafterafoulball has been declared and the ball is dead.PENALTY:8.07(athrud)—Theballisdeadandallsubsequentactiononthatpitchiscancelled.

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8.08 Atthebeginningofeachinningorwhenapitcherrelievesanother,nomorethanoneminutemay be used to deliver notmore than five balls to the catcher or other teammate. Play shall besuspendedduringthistime.Forexcessivewarm-uppitchesapitchershallbepenalizedbyawardingaballtothebatterforeachpitchinexcessoffive.

NOTE:Umpire isauthorized toallowmorepitcheswhenweather is inclementor ifpitcherwasremovedduetoaninjury.

8.09Iftheballslipsfromthepitcher’shandduringthedelivery,aballisdeclaredonthebatter,theballwillremaininplayandtherunnersmayadvanceattheirownrisk.8.10 Thepitchershallnotthrowtoabasewhilea foot is incontactwiththepitcher’splateafterhavingtakenthepitchingposition.PENALTY:Illegalpitch,theballisdead,aballiscalledonthebatterandallrunnersadvanceonebase.

NOTE: The pitcher can be removed from the pitching position by stepping backwards off thepitcher’splate.Steppingforwardorsidewaysconstitutesanillegalpitch.Itisanillegalpitchifthefieldertakesupapositioninthebatter’slineofvisionorwithdeliberateunsportsmanlikeintent,actsinamannertodistractthebatter.Apitchdoesnothavetobereleased.

8.11Noplayer,managerorcoachshallcall“Time”oremployanyotherwordorphraseorcommitanyactwhiletheballisaliveandinplayfortheobviouspurposeoftryingtomakethepitchercommitan illegal pitch.PENALTY:Nopitchshallbedeclaredandawarningissuedtotheoffendingteam.Arepeatofthistypeactbytheteamwarnedshallresultintheoffenderbeingremovedfromthegame.8.12 Thefollowingrulepertainingtothevisitofthemanagerorcoachtothepitchershallbeused: (a) Thisrulelimitsthenumberoftripsamanagerorcoachmaymaketoanyonepitcherinany oneinning;(b)Asecondtriptothesamepitcherinthesameinningwillcausethispitcher’s automatic removal from the game as a pitcher; (c) Themanager or coach is prohibited frommakingasecondvisittothemoundwhilethesamebatterisatbat,but(d)ifapinch hitter issubstitutedforthisbatter,themanagerorcoachmaymakeasecondvisittothe mound,butmustremovethepitcher. Amanageror coach is considered tohaveconcludedhervisit to themoundwhenshe leavesthe8-footcirclesurroundingthepitcher’srubber. Ifthemanagerorcoachgoestothecatcherorinfielderandthatplayerthengoestothe moundorthepitchercomestoheratherpositionbeforethereisaninterveningplay(apitch orotherplay)thatwillbethesameasthemanagerorcoachgoingtothemound. Anyattempttoevadeorcircumventthisrulebythemanagerorcoachgoingtothecatcher or an infielderand then thatplayergoing to themound to conferwith thepitcher shall constituteatriptothemound. Ifthecoachgoestothemoundandremovesapitcherandthenthemanagergoestothe moundtotalkwiththenewpitcher,thatwillconstituteonetriptothatnewpitcherthatinning. Inacasewhereamanagerhasmadeherfirsttriptothemoundandthenreturnsthe secondtimetothemoundinthesameinningwiththesamepitcherinthegameandthe samebatteratbat,afterbeingwarnedbytheumpirethatshecannotreturntothemound, themanagershallberemovedfromthegameandthepitcherrequiredtopitchtothebatter untilsheisretiredorgetsonbase.Afterthebatterisretired,orbecomesabaserunner,then this pitchermust be removed from the game. Themanager should be notified that her pitcherwillberemovedfromthegameaftershepitchestoonehitter,soshecanhavea substitutepitcherwarmedup.

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9.00TheUmpire9.01(a) Theleaguepresidentshallappointoneormoreumpirestoofficiateateachleaguegame. Theumpires shall be responsible for the conduct of the game in accordancewith these officialrulesandformaintainingdisciplineandorderontheplayingfieldduringthegame. (b)Eachumpire is a representativeof the leagueand is authorizedand required toenforce alloftheserules.Eachumpirehasauthoritytoorderaplayer,coach,manageror league officertodoorrefrainfromdoinganythingwhichaffectstheadministeringoftheserules, andtoenforcetheprescribedpenalties. (c)Eachumpirehasauthoritytodisqualifyanyplayer,coach,managerorsubstituteforobjecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified personfromtheplayingfield.Ifanumpiredisqualifiesaplayerwhileaplayisinprogress,the disqualificationshallnottakeeffectuntilnofurtheractionispossibleinthatplay. (d) Each umpire has authority at his discretion to eject from the playing field any person, manager,coach,playerorsubstitutefromtheplayingfield.9.02(a)Anyumpire’sdecisionwhichinvolvesjudgment,suchas,butnotlimitedto,whetherabatted ballisfairorfoul,orwhetherapitchisastrikeoraball,orwhetherarunnerissafeorout, isfinal.Noplayer,manager,coachorsubstituteshallobjecttoanysuchjudgmentdecisions. Playersleavingtheirpositioninthefieldoronbase,ormanagersorcoachesleavingthebenchorcoachesbox,toargueBALLSANDSTRIKESwillnotbepermitted.Theyshouldbewarnediftheystartfortheplatetoprotestthecall.Iftheycontinue,theywillbeejectedfromthegame. (b) Ifthereisreasonabledoubtthatanyumpire’sdecisionmaybeinconflictwiththerules,the managermayappealthedecisionandaskthatacorrectrulingbemade.Suchappealshall bemadeonlytotheumpirewhomadetheprotesteddecision (c) If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information beforemaking a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interferewithanotherumpire’sdecisionunlessaskedtodosobytheumpiremakingit. Themanagerorthecatchermayrequesttheplateumpiretoaskhispartnerforhelponahalfswingwhentheplateumpirecallsthepitchaball,butnotwhenthepitchiscalledastrike.Themanagermaynotcomplainthattheumpiremadeanimpropercall,butonlythathedidnotaskhispartner for help. Field umpiresmust be alerted to the request from the plate umpire and quicklyrespond.Managersmaynotprotest thecallof aballor strikeon thepretense theyareasking forinformationaboutahalfswing. Appealsonahalfswingmaybemadeonlyonthecallofballandwhenaskedtoappeal,thehomeplateumpiremustrefertoabaseumpireforhisjudgmentonthehalfswing.Shouldthebaseumpirecallthepitchastrike,thestrikecallshallprevail.  Baserunnersmustbealerttothepossibilitythatthebaseumpireonappealfromtheplateumpiremayreversethecallofaballtothecallofastrike,inwhicheventtherunnerisinjeopardyofbeingputoutbythecatcher’sthrow.Also,acatchermustbealertinabasestealingsituationifaballcallisreversedtostrikebythebaseumpireuponappealfromtheplateumpire.Theballisinplayonappealonahalfswing.  Onahalfswing,ifthemanagercomesouttoarguewithfirstorthirdbaseumpireandifafterbeingwarnedshepersistsinarguing,shecanbeejectedassheisnowarguingoveracalledballorstrike. (d) Noumpiremaybereplacedduringagameunlessheisinjuredorbecomesill.9.03(a) Ifthereisonlyoneumpire,heshallhavecompletejurisdictioninadministeringtherules.He may take anypositionon theplayingfieldwhichwill enablehim todischargehis duties (usuallybehindthecatcher,butsometimesbehindthepitcheriftherearerunners). (b)Iftherearetwoormoreumpires,oneshallbedesignatedumpire-in-chiefandtheothers fieldumpires.

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9.04(a) Theumpire-in-chiefshallstandbehindthecatcher.(Heusuallyiscalledtheplateumpire.) Hisdutiesshallbeto: (1)Takefullchargeof,andberesponsiblefor,theproperconductofthegame; (2)Callandcountballsandstrikes; (3)Callanddeclarefairballsandfoulsexceptthosecommonlycalledbyfieldumpires; (4)Makealldecisionsonthebatter; (5)Makealldecisionsexceptthosecommonlyreservedforthefieldumpires; (6)Decidewhenagameshallbeforfeited; (7)Ifatimelimithasbeenset,announcethefactandthetimesetbeforethegamestarts; (8) Informtheofficialscorerof theofficialbattingorder,andanychanges in lineupsand battingorder,onrequest; (9)Announceanyspecialgroundrules,athisdiscretion. (b)A field umpiremay take any position on the playing field he thinks best suited tomake impendingdecisionsonthebases.Hisdutiesshallbeto: (1) Makealldecisionsonthebasesexceptthosespecificallyreservedtotheumpire-in-chief; (2)Takeconcurrentjurisdictionwiththeumpire-in-chiefincalling“Time”,illegalpitches,or defacementordiscolorationoftheballbyanyplayer. (3) Aids the umpire-in-chief in every manner in enforcing the rules, and excepting the power to forfeit the game, shall have equal authority with the umpire-in-chief in administeringandenforcingtherulesandmaintainingdiscipline. (c) Ifdifferentdecisionsshouldbemadeononeplaybydifferentumpires,theumpire-in-chief shall call all the umpires into consultation, with no manager or player present. After consultation,theumpire-in-chief(unlessanotherumpiremayhavebeendesignatedbythe league president) shall determinewhich decision shall prevail based onwhich umpire wasinbestpositionandwhichdecisionwasmostlikelycorrect.Playshallproceedasifonly thefinaldecisionhadbeenmade.9.05(a) Theumpireshallreporttotheleaguepresidentallviolationsofrulesandotherincidents worthyofcomment,includingthedisqualificationofanymanager,coachorplayer,andthe reasonstherefore. (b)Whenanymanager,coachorplayerisdisqualifiedforaflagrantoffensesuchastheuseof obsceneorindecentlanguage,oranassaultuponanumpire,manager,coachorplayer,the umpireshallforwardfullparticularstotheleaguepresident. (c)Afterreceivingtheumpire’sreportthatamanager,coachorplayerhasbeendisqualified,the league president or his appointed committee shall impose such penalty as he deems justified,andshallnotifythepersonpenalized.10.00 RecordingRecordsForCalledandForfeitedGames10.01Ifaregulationgameiscalled,includetherecordofallindividualandteamactionsuptothemomentthegameends,asdefinedinRules4.10and4.11.Ifitisatiegame,donotenterawinningorlosingpitcher.Ifaregulationgameisforfeited,includetherecordofallindividualandteamactionsuptothetimeofforfeit. Ifthewinningteambyforfeit isaheadatthetimeofforfeit,enteraswinningandlosingpitcherstheplayerswhowouldhavequalifiedifthegamehadbeencalledatthetimeofforfeit.Ifthewinningteambyforfeitisbehindorifthescoreistiedatthetimeofforfeit,donotenterawinningorlosingpitcher.Ifagameisforfeitedbeforeitbecomesaregulationgame,includenorecords.Reportonlythefactoftheforfeit.

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DUAL PARTICIPATION AnyregisteredBabeRuthSoftballLeaguemayadoptalocalleaguerule,toalloworprohibitoftheLeaguePresidentandBoardofDirectors,tothebeginningoftheleague’sseason,prohibitingany player or teamplaying in that league fromalso participatingon a teamor in a leagueof anyothersoftballprogram,thisincludesbutnotlimitedtoopickupgames,travelteamsandinvitationaltournments.Thisoption,however,cannotbeadoptedbyanyotherBabeRuthSoftballorganizationhigherthantheleaguelevel.

RE-ENTRY OF USED PLAYER BabeRuthSoftballwillallowre-entryofalreadyusedplayers ifallsubstituteshavebeenusedandan injuryoccursor aplayer is ejected. Selectionof this substitutemustbemadeby theopposingmanager.Thistypeofre-entrycanonlytakeplacewhenan injurypreventsaplayerfromcontinuinginthegameoraplayerisejected.Theinjuredorejectedplayer,onceremovedfromthegame,cannotre-enter.

MINOR LEAGUES BabeRuthSoftballsanctions,approvesandcharters“MinorLeagues”inthe12Udivisionsprovidedtheleaguehascharteredaminimumof4(four)12U“Major”teams.T-Ball(recommendedforplayersages5-6),Rookie(recommendedforplayersages7-8),andMinor(10U)leaguerulesarelocatedattheendofthisrulebook.

16U PITCHING LIMITATIONS AnyregisteredBabeRuthSoftballleaguepriortothebeginningoftheregularseason,mayadoptpitchinglimitationsforthe16Udivisioninaccordancewiththeleague’sneedsdependinguponitssize,structure,schedule,andlevelofexperience.Ifaleaguedoesadopt16Upitchinglimitations,andinterlockswithotherBabeRuthSoftballleagues,pitchinglimitationswillneedtobecoordinatedwiththeleaguesinvolvedintheinterlockingschedule.

PITCHING DISTANCE ExceptiontoRule1.07:Inthe12Udivision,aleaguemayelecttopitchfrom35feet.Ifaleagueusesthisoption,itisrecommendedthatthepitchingdistancebegraduallyincreasedthroughtheseasonaspitchersdevelop.Pitchingdistancefor12Utournamentcompetitionis40feet.

10U-12U BASE RUNNING ExceptiontoRule7.13–Fortheregularseason,aleaguemayelecttoadoptthefollowingrule:Inthe12Udivision,baserunnersshallnotleavetheirbasesuntilthepitchedballhasreachedthebatter.Forviolation,baserunnerwillbecalledout.Fortournamentcompetition,rule7.13willapplyandthebaserunnermayleavethebaseuponthepitcher’sreleaseoftheball.Ifaleagueadoptsthe10U-12UbaserunningoptionforthelocalseasonandinterlockswithotherBabeRuthSoftballleagues,coordinationwiththeinterlockingleaguewillbenecessary.

10 RUN RULE AnyBabeRuthSoftballlocalleaguegamemaybeterminatedoncebecomingregulationifoneteamisaheadby10ormorerunsandhashadequaltimeatbatorthehometeamisleading.

TIME LIMIT AnyregisteredBabeRuthleaguepriortothebeginningoftheregularseason,mayadoptthefollowingtimelimitrule:Nonewinningmaystartafteranhourandahalf.Gamescalledbecauseofthetimelimitwillbeconsideredaregulationgameregardlessofthenumberofinningsplayed.

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11.00 Babe Ruth Softball Tournament Regulations11.01 LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY1.EachcharteredBabeRuthLeagueshallbeeligibleforrepresentationintournamentplayprovided theleaguehascompliedwiththefollowingrequirementsonorbeforethespecifieddates: a. Rule0.01—paragraph2. b. Rule0.01—paragraph5. c. Rule0.01—paragraph6. d. Rule0.04—paragraph3. e. Rule0.04—paragraph4. f. Rule0.05—paragraph1.a g. StateandRegionalrulesandregulationsasestablishedbysaidStateand RegionalCommissioners.

2.EachcharteredeligibleBabeRuthleaguemayberepresentedbyonetournamentteamin tournamentcompetition.Ifaleagueisdividedintotwoormoredivisions,eachdivisionshallbe representedbyonetournamentteamintournamentcompetition.Eachtournamentteamshallbeselectedfromadivisionorleagueconsistingofnotmorethantenteams.3.AuthorityandresponsibilityisdelegatedtoStateCommissionerstodeterminetournament eligibilityofeachindividualleaguebaseduponRule11.01,paragraph1.LettersofLeagueEligibilityorNon-Eligibilitywillbeforwardedtoeachregisteredleagueand/ordivision(s)bythe StateCommissioner.TheletterofeligibilitycanonlybeissuedbytheStateCommissioner.League eligibilityissubjecttoreviewbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.4. Background Checks.BabeRuthLeague,Inc.charteredleaguesare requiredtoconducta nationwidebackgroundcheckonallManagersandCoaches,BoardofDirectors,andanyother persons,volunteersorhiredworkers,whoprovideregularservicetotheleagueand/orhave repetitiveaccessto,orcontactwithplayers.Thepurposeofthesebackgroundchecksis,firstand foremost,toprotecttheplayers.

11.02 TEAM COMPOSITION1.Eachtournamentteaminthe12Uandyoungerand14Uand16Udivisionsmayconsistoffifteen( 15)players,one(1)managerandtwo(2)coaches,andinthe18Udivision,eighteen(18)players, one(1)managerandtwo(2)coaches. a.Eachtournamentteammayconsistofanyplayersfromtheleagueordivisionplayed duringtheregularseason.�In�the�18U�division�only,playerswhoseagesqualifythem toparticipateina16Uleaguemayinsteadparticipateinan18Uleagueforlocal seasongames,butremaineligibletobeselectedfor16Utournamentcompetitionat the16ULeaguePresident’sdiscretion. b.Managersandcoachesmustbeselectedfromregisteredteamrostersfromtheleague ordivisioninwhichtheymanageorcoach.

NOTE: Atnotimeisitpermissibleforaplayer,managerorcoachtoappearonmorethanoneofficialBabeRuthtournamenttrailteamrosterinthesamecalendaryear.

NOTE: Babe Ruth League strongly recommends each league take a full roster of players intotournamentcompetition.Players,managerandcoachesmaybereplacedinaccordancewithrule11.03,1(b)betweentournamentlevels,butaleaguemaynotaddplayersaftersubmittingateamrosteratthefirstleveloftournamentplay.

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11.03 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY1.Playerslistedonteamrostersorrevisionsthereto,whicharefiledwithHeadquarters,State CommissionersandDistrictCommissionersinaccordancewithRule0.04,paragraph3,shallbe eligibleforthetournamentteamprovidedthatbirthdocumentsasdefinedinRule0.04, paragraph1,areinthecustodyofthepropertournamentauthoritybeforethestartof thecompetition.Playerslistedona10U,8Uor6ULeaguerosterarenoteligiblefor12U tournamentcompetition. a.INNOCASEshallaplayerbeallowedtoparticipateintournamentcompetitionunless saidbirthdocumentispresentedtothetournamentofficials.Notournamentofficial District,StateorRegionalCommissionershallhavetheauthoritytowaivethis requirement. b.Duetodeath,injury,orifaplayer,managerorcoachleavestheteamonherown accord,shemaybereplaceduponpresentationofwrittenapprovalfrom BabeRuthLeagueInc.,totheTournamentDirector.Thereplacementplayer,manager orcoachiseligiblebeginningatthenextleveloftournamentcompetition.The player,managerorcoachreplacedisnoteligibleforfurthertournamentcompetition andreplacementsmustmeetalltournamenteligibilityrequirements.Proofofinabilityofplayer,managerorcoachtocontinuemustbepresented,inwriting,bytheLeague PresidenttoBabeRuthLeague,Inc. c.Tobeeligibletocompeteintournamentplay,aplayer,managerorcoachmustbe listedonleagueandtournamentrosters.Theplayeriseligiblefortournament competitionintheofficialagedivisioninwhichsheparticipatedduringregularlocal seasonplay.Inthe18Udivisiononly,playerswhoseagesqualifythemtoparticipateinthe16Uleaguebutwhochosetoparticipateinthe18Uleagueforlocalseason games,may,atthe16ULeaguePresident’sdiscretion,participateonthe16U tournamentteamprovidedallothertournamenteligibilityrequirementsaremet. d.TobeeligibleforofficialBabeRuthSoftballtournamenttrailplay,aplayermusthave playedinatleastone-half(1⁄2)ofherteam’sscheduledleaguegamesplayedprior tothestartoftournamentplay.Eachteammustplayaminimumof10games withinitsleague,orinterlockingschedulewithotherBabeRuthSoftballleagues,at thediscretionoftheleaguepresident,priortothestartoftournamentplay.

NOTE: When an odd number of games are involved, the player receives the benefit—i.e. foreligibilityone-half (1⁄2)of thirteengamesplayed is sixgames. Ifaplayer isunable tomeet theabovebecauseofinjuryorparticipationinscholasticsports,contactBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

2.Thelasttournamentgameplayedshall,atanytimeupondiscovery,beforfeitedforuseofan ineligible player.

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11.04 DOCUMENTS1.Thetournamentteammanagermustplaceinthecustodyofthetournamentofficialsthefollowingdocumentspriortothestartofcompetition: a.BirthdocumentsorrecordsasspecifiedbyRule0.04,paragraph1,foreachofthe tournamentteamplayers. b.AccordCertificateofCoverageofgroupaccidentinsurancepolicy. c.AccordCertificateofCoverageofleagueliabilityinsurancepolicy. d.TournamentteamrostercertifiedandsignedbyLeaguePresident. e.BabeRuthLeague,Inc.LetterofTournamentLeagueEligibilityform. f. ConsentforTreatmentforms(startingatFirstlevelofPlay). g.Teamphotouploadedwiththerosteronline.Copyofthesamephotomust beplacedintheteamcredentialbooks. h.CoachingI.D.CardorCertificate.TournamentManagersandCoachesmustcomplete coachingeducationpriortothestartoftheirfirstleveloftournamentcompetition.

NOTE:ThesedocumentsmuststayinthepossessionofTournamentDirectorduringeachtournamentlevel.Thesesamedocumentsshallaccompanytheteamsastheyadvanceintournamentcompetition.

11.05 SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS1.AllBabeRuthSoftballTournamentRulesandRegulationsareinadditiontoBabeRuthSoftball Ruleslistedinthisbook.2.Eachdistrict,state,andregionaltournamentgamemustbeplayedinthepresenceofthe TournamentDirectorandProtestCommittee.Notournamentteamshallstartplayintheabsence ofsaiddirectorandcommittee.3.Alldistrict,state,andregionaltournamentcompetitionshallbedecidedbyusingeitheradouble eliminationorapoolplayformat.TheofficialtournamentbracketsissuedbyBabeRuth Leagueforsingleordoubleeliminationorpoolplayformatsmustbeused.

NOTE:TheofficialtiebreakersissuedbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.forpoolplayformatsmustbeused.

4.All14U,16Uand18Utournamentgamesshallbeseven(7)completeinnings,unlessthehome teamleadsattheendof6½inningsofplay.All12U,10U,8U,6Utournamentgamesshallbesix (6)completeinnings,unlessthehometeamleadsattheendof5½inningsofplay.Intheevent agameiscalledbeforecompletion,itshallbecompletedfromthepointofdiscontinuance.5.BabeRuthSoftballwillallowre-entryofalreadyusedplayersifallsubstituteshavebeenusedandaninjuryoccursoraplayerisejected.Selectionofthissubstitutemustbemadebytheopposing manager.Thistypeofre-entrycanonlytakeplacewhenaninjurypreventsaplayerfrom continuinginthegameoraplayerisejected.Theinjuredorejectedplayer,onceremovedfrom thegame,cannotre-enter.6.AnyBabeRuthSoftballtournamentgamemustbeterminatedoncebecomingregulationifone teamisaheadbyten(10)ormorerunsandhashadequaltimesatbat,orthehometeamis leading.

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7.District,StateandRegionalCommissionersortheirdesignatedrepresentativesshallappoint ProtestCommittees,composedofatleastthreemembers,tobepresentatthetournamentgames.AmanagermustimmediatelyclaimaviolationofaruleatwhichtimeplaywillbesuspendeduntiltheProtestCommitteehasmadeitsdecisionbaseduponinformationreceivedfromthe managersandumpiresandtheCommittee’sobservations.TheProtestCommittee’sdecisionwillbefinal.Noprotest,exceptonplayereligibility,willbehonoredafteragamehasbeencompleted.8.NobyesshallbeallowedinBabeRuthSoftballtournamentsafterthefirstroundofplay.9.Notournamentteammayplayinmorethanthreegamesinaday.Ifateamplaysinthree tournamentgamesinoneday,thereshallbeaminimum30-minuterestperiodbetweeneach game.10.Ateammayelecttoaddatenthhittertothebattingorderfortournamentgames.Priortothe beginningofthegame,thisplayerwillbeindicatedintheline-upasthe“EP”.The“EP”willbe treatedasanyotherstarter,andcannotbeeliminatedduringthecourseofthegame.11.AllteamscompetinginlocalleagueandtournamentcompetitionmustweartheOfficialBabe RuthSoftballshoulderemblemasperrule0.02,paragraph6.12.Nopitcherin10U/12Utournamentplayshallbeallowedtopitchinmorethannine(9inningsin anytwo(2)successivetournamentgameswithinthesametournamentlevel.(e.g)Allplayers havefullpitchingeligibilitybeginningateachleveloftournamentcompetition.)10Uandyoungerleveltournamentplayshallbeallowedtopitchinnomorethan9inningsinanytwosuccessive games.TherearenopitchinglimitationsinBabeRuthSoftballtournamentgamesforthe14U, 16Uand18Udivisions.13.Gamesinwhichanineligiblepitcherhasbeenused,asspecifiedinparagraph12,shallbe declaredforfeited.14.AllumpiresarerequiredtobeaBabeRuthLeague,Inc.NationalUmpireAssociationmemberto workdistrict,state,regionalandWorldSeries

NOTE:Ifapitcherdeliversone(1)pitchinaninningthatpitchershallbechargedforone(1)inningpitched.

11.06 JURISDICTION1.AlldistricttournamentsshallbeunderthejurisdictionoftheDistrictCommissioner.Tournament DirectorsmaybeappointedbytheDistrictCommissioner,however,theyremainunderthe jurisdictionoftheDistrictCommissioner.2.AllstatetournamentsshallbeunderthejurisdictionoftheStateCommissioner.Tournament DirectorsmaybeappointedbytheStateCommissioner,however,theyremainunderthe jurisdictionoftheStateCommissioner.3.AllregionaltournamentsshallbeunderthejurisdictionoftheRegionalCommissioner.TournamentDirectorsmaybeappointedbytheRegionalCommissioner,however,theyremainunderthe jurisdictionoftheRegionalCommissioner.4.TheteamwinningtheDistrictChampionshipshallcompetewiththeotherdistrictchampions withinthestatetodeterminetheStateChampion.5.TheteamwinningtheStateChampionshipshallcompetewiththeotherstatechampionswithin theregiontodeterminetheRegionalChampion.6.Theteamswinningthe12Uand16URegionalChampionshipshallcompetewithotherregional championstodeterminetheWorldSeriesChampion.7.Thehostteamsforalldivisionsofsoftball,havingreceivedeligibilityapprovalfromBabeRuth League,Inc.andattheirLeaguePresident’sdiscretion,shallbeeligibletoenterofficialtournamentcompetitiononelevelbelowthetournamentleveltheywillbehosting.

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8.AttheLeaguePresident’sdiscretion,astateorregionalhostteammaychoose,althoughitisnot required,toparticipate inanofficialBabeRuthSoftballtournamentcompetitionpriorto itsfirst gameashostteam.

Ifastateorregionalhostteamparticipatesinanofficialtournamenttrailcompetitionpriortoitsfirstgameashostteamandwins,bothitandthesecond-placeteamwilladvancetothenextlevel.

Ifthehostteamlosesinanofficialtournamenttrailcompetitionpriortoitsfirstgameashostteam,itwillnotparticipateagainuntilthetournamentitishosting,butwillbeeligibletoparticipateatthattime.9. Suchtournamentrulesandregulationsasmaybedeemedadvisabletomeetwithlocalconditions maybeestablishedbyDistrictCommissioners,StateCommissionersorRegionalCommissionersas longassaidrulesandregulationsarenotinconflictwithBabeRuthSoftballRulesandRegulations. Alldistrict,stateandregionalofficialsshallestablishtheirtournamentrules,inwriting,andevery league,districtandstateshouldbeadvisedinwritingoftheestablishmentofsaidrules. TheserulesmustbeapprovedbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.SomespecialrulesapplytoWorldSeriescompetition.ParticipatingWorldSeries teamswillbeprovided these rules inwritingbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

11.07-10UAllBabeRuthSoftball12& Underdivisionsoftball rulesandregulationsshallapply for10&Upost-seasontournamentcompetitionswithclarification/additionand/ortheexceptionofthefollowing: a.Teamcompositionshallconsistofnine(9)playersasfollows: Pitcher,Catcher,1st Baseman,2ndBaseman,3rdBaseman,Shortstop,Leftfielder,Centerfielderand Rightfielder. Theteammayselecttouseanextraplayer(EP).(Seetheextraplayerruleexplanation 11.05#10onpage54.)IftheExtraPlayeroptionisused,therewillbeten(10)batters listedinthebattingorder,andnine(9)defensiveplayersinthefield.Ifateamstarts thegamewithten(10)batters,itmustendwithten. b.Thebattermaynotadvanceonadroppedthirdstrike. c.Stealingbasesispermittedintournamentplay,onreleaseofthepitch. d.TheplayingfieldshallbeasdescribedintheRule1.04,however,thepitchingdistance willbesetatthirty-five(35)feet. e.AWORTHeleven(11”)officialBabeRuthSoftballshallbeusedforallpost-season tournamentcompetitions. f. All10&Undertournamentgamesshallbesix(6)innings,unlessthehometeam leadsattheendof5½inningsofplay.AnyBabeRuthSoftballtournamentgamemust beterminatedoncebecomingregulationifoneteamisaheadbyten(10)ormoreruns andhashadequaltimesatbat,orthehometeamisleading. g.A10&Underpitchershallbeallowedtopitchinnomorethannine(9)inningsinany twosuccessivegames.Ifapitcherdeliversone(1)pitchinaninningthatpitchershall bechargedforone(1)inningpitched.

11.07-8U COACH PITCH OR PITCHING MACHINE SECTIONAll Babe Ruth Softball 8& Under post-season tournament rules and regulations shall complywithapplicable Babe Ruth 12&U Division rules and regulations AND the 10&U tournament rules, asapprovedtheclarification/additionofthefollowing:

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a.Notimelimitpergame.Gamewillbeplayedtocompletionorwhen10runruleis applicable. b.Therewillbeafive(5)runsperinninglimitwithanopen6thinning. c.Teamcompositionshallconsistofnine(9)playersasfollows:Pitcher,Catcher,1st Baseman,2ndBaseman,3rdBaseman,Shortstop,Leftfielder,Centerfielder, andRightfielder.Theteammayselecttouseanextraplayer(EP). (Seetheextraplayerruleexplanation11.05#10onpage56.) d.IftheExtraPlayeroptionisused,theremaybeten(10)batterslistedinthebatting orderfortournamentgames. e.TournamentteamswilluseCoachpitch.TheCoachpitchershallremainsilentwhile onthemound,andmaynotgivehandsignalsnormakebodymovementsthatmaybe consideredacoachingsignal.TheCoachpitchermuststartwithbothfeetonthe35 ft.rubber.TheCoachpitchermustmakeanattempttogetoutofthedefensive player’swaywhenfieldingorthrowing. f.IftheCoachpitcher,bystandingstraightupornotmovingoutofthefieldofplay, forcesaplayertothrowoverthecoachorintentionallyhinderstheplayerfieldingor throwingtheball,interferencemaybecalledandapenaltyapplied. g.EventhoughtheteamwillutilizeCoachpitch,theplayerfieldingthepitchingposition musttakeadefensivepositioninlinewith,orslightlybehindthepitchingrubberand withinthepitchingcircle. h.Eachbatterwillhavethree(3)swingingstrikesoramaximumofsix(6)pitches.There arenocalledballsorstrikesonthebatter.(Anoutwillberecordedifthebatterfails toputtheballinplayaftersix(6)pitches.)Ifthe6thpitchishitfoul(orsuccessive pitch(es)fouledoff),thebatterwillreceiveanotherpitch. i.Althoughthetournamentteamcompositionshallbeaminimumof12oramaximum of15players,Managerandtwo(2)Coaches,theteam’sscorekeepermaysetupatthe outsideofthedug-outandassistwithcontroloftheteamplayerswhiletheCoach pitcherisonthemoundandtheothertwointhecoachingboxes. j.Thereisno“stealing”atthe8&Ulevel,therefore,thebaserunner(s)mustmaintain contactwiththebaseuntilthepitchedballreachestheplate. k.TheplayingfieldshallbeasdescribedinRule1.04withthefollowingexception:the pitchingrubberwillbesetatthirtyfive(35)feet. l.WORTH11”softballs,properlystamped“OfficialBabeRuthSoftball”mustbeusedfor alltournamentcompetitions. m.Noinfieldflyrule.

11.07-8U PLAYER PITCH SECTION

All Babe Ruth Softball 8& Under post-season tournament rules and regulations shall complywithapplicable BabeRuth 12&U Division rules and regulationsAND the 10&U tournament rules, asapprovedtheclarification/additionand/orofthefollowing: a.Notimelimitpergame.Gamewillbeplayedtocompletionorwhen10runruleis applicable. b.Therewillbeafive(5)runsperinninglimitwithanopen6thinning. c.Teamcompositionshallconsistofnine(9)playersasfollows:Pitcher,Catcher,1st Baseman,2ndBaseman,3rdBaseman,Shortstop,Leftfielder,Centerfielder,and Rightfielder.Theteammayselecttouseanextraplayer(EP).(Seetheextraplayer ruleexplanation11.05#10onpage53.)

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d.IftheExtraHitteroptionisused,theremaybeten(10)batterslistedinthebatting orderfortournamentgames. e.Thereisno“stealing”atthe8& Ulevel,therefore,thebaserunner(s)mustmaintain contactwiththebaseuntilthepitchedballreachestheplate. f.TheplayingfieldshallbeasdescribeinRule1.04withthefollowingexception:the pitchingrubberwillbesetatthirtyfive(35)feet. g.Noinfieldflyrule. h.WORTH11”softballs,properlystamped“OfficialBabeRuthSoftball”mustbeused foralltournamentcompetitions. i.Playerpitchisnotusedinallregionaltournaments.Pleasecheckwiththesoftball commissionerforyourregiontomakesureyouhavetheproperformat.

POWERS OF DISTRICT, STATE AND REGIONAL COMMISSIONERS1.LeaguescharteredasBabeRuthSoftballLeaguesbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.shalltherebybe subjecttothepowersandjurisdictionoftheDistrict,StateandRegionalCommissionersandthedistrictandstateorganizationswithinwhoseterritoriallimitssuchleaguesexistandoperate.2.Stateorganizationsshallconstitutionallyestablishdistrictsencompassingacertainnumber ofleagueswhichcanbedirectlyandsatisfactorilyadministeredbyadulyelectedDistrict Commissioner.Biennialdistrict-widemeetingsshallbeheldtoelectDistrictCommissioners.Each 12U,each16Uandeach18Uleaguewithinthedistrictshallbeentitledtoonevoting representativeatsuchmeetingtobeheldpriortoOctober1ofeachodd-numberedyear.3.BiennialstatemeetingsshallbeheldtoelectStateCommissionersandestablishstate organizations.EachDistrictCommissionershallbeentitledtoonevoteatsuchmeetingstobeheldpriortoOctober1ofeachodd-numberedyear.IftherearenoDistrictCommissionersinthestate,theStateCommissionershallbeelectedbyavoteoftheleagueswithinthestateasdescribedin paragraph 1.4.RegionalCommissionernominationsandelectionproceduresshallbefollowedassetforthinthe InternationalConstitutionandBy-Laws.Theinternationalboardofdirectorsshallelect,biennially, byOctober15,eight(8)RegionalCommissioners.5.BabeRuthLeague,Inc.mustapproveandcertifyallDistrict,State,andRegionalCommissioners, andshallhavethepowertoremoveanyCommissionerwithorwithoutcause.6.Annualstatefeesmaybeestablishedatfivedollars($5.00)perteam.

NOTE:StateandregionalfeesaswellasanyotherassessmentsinexcessofthosestatedmustbeapprovedinwritingbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

7.TheStateCommissionersmayformulate,inconjunctionwiththeircommittees,suchrulesand regulationsandterritorialandjurisdictionallimitsnotinconflictwithBabeRuthSoftballRuleand RegulationsaswillenablesaidCommissionerstobetterconducttheirorganizationsandgovern leaguesexistingandoperatingwithintheirterritoriallimits.BabeRuthLeague,Inc.shallpassfinal approvalonallstaterules,regulationsandpolicies.8.StateCommissionersorRegionalCommissionersshallhavethepowertosuspendanyofficial, manager,coach,player,sponsor,teamorleagueviolatingDistrict,State,RegionalorBabeRuth Softballrulesandregulations.SuchsuspensionwillbesubjecttoofficialreviewbyBabeRuthLeague,Inc.9.DistrictCommissionersshallfunctionasdirectrepresentativesoftheStateCommissionerandBabeRuthLeague,Inc.inrelationtoadministrationofleagueswithintheirdistrictsandshallenforceallrules,regulations,anddirectivesasissuedbytheStateCommissionerandBabeRuthLeague,Inc.

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10.ReportsandcorrespondenceconcerningDistrict,StateandRegionalactivitiessuchasminutesof meetings,financialstatements,etc.,mustbesubmittedtoBabeRuthLeague,Inc.byNovember 1st.Inaddition,copiesofdistrictcorrespondencemustbesenttoStateandRegional Commissioners.StatecorrespondencemustalsobesenttotheRegionalCommissioneraswellas BabeRuthLeague,Inc.

DETERMINATION OF POOL PLAY STANDINGSWhen competition begins with pool play format, each division will play a pool play schedule asdeterminedby thecommissionerunderwhose jurisdiction the tournament falls.At theendof thepoolplayschedule,apre-determinednumberofteamsfromeachdivisionwilladvancetothesingle-eliminationcompetition.Participatingteamswillbeadvised,inwriting,priortothestartoftournamentcompetitionhowmanyteamswilladvancetothedouble-eliminationround.

Poolplaystandingswillbedeterminedasfollows: 1)WIN-LOSSRECORD ThetiebreakersareusedinordertoadvanceorseedONEteamata time.Eachtimeatieisbrokentoadvanceoneteam,leavingatie betweentwoormoreteams,thesituationrevertstocriterion#2. (Head-to-headresults).Ifstilltied: 2)RESULTSOFHEAD-TO-HEADCOMPETITION Example: Threeteamsaretiedwithidenticalrecordsforthefirstplace attheendofpoolplay.TeamsA,BandCplayedagainsteachother onceinpoolplay.TeamAwonallofitsgamesagainstTeamBand TeamCduringpoolplay.Result–TeamAadvances,whichthen createsatwo-waytiebetweenTeamBandTeamC.Thattiethenis brokenbyrevertingtocriterion#2.Ifstilltied: 3)FEWESTRUNSGIVENUP Iftheresultsofthehead-to-headmatchup(s)oftheteamsthatare involvedinthetiecannotbreakthetie(becausenoteamdefeated eachoftheotherteamsinthetieeachtimetheyplayed,orbecause noteamhasdefeatedalloftheotherteamsinvolvedinthetie,or becausetheteamsinvolvedinthetiedidnotplayoneanotherduring poolplay),thenthetieisbrokenusingcriterion#3.Theremainingteams’tieisbroken byrevertingtocriterion#2.Ifstilltied: 4)RUNDIFFERENTIALWITHAMAXIMUMOF10PERGAME Intheeventatieiscreatedbyvirtueofaforfeitedgame,andthetie cannotbebrokenbycriterion#2,theorderofCriterions#3and#4will bereversedandappliedtothetie.Sincethenumberofrunswhichmighthavebeen scoredduringthegamemayhaveaffectedthefewestrunsallowedstanding(andthe awardingoftheforfeitgivesthe“winningteam”noadditionalrunsgivenup),this orderwillbetteradjustforthatevent.

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STATEMENT OF POLICY BabeRuthSoftball isanactivityfortheyouthofAmericaandCanadawhichwascreatedandexistsfortheparamountpurposeofbenefitingyouth.ItisthestatedpolicyofBabeRuthLeague,Inc.,anythingwhichisinconsistentwiththatpurpose,orwhichweakensordetractsfromit,isalientotheessenceofthisprogramandcannotbesupported. Accordingly,theprogrammustnotbeusedasasourceofprivategaintoanyindividualortoanyorganizationsonanylevel,whethernational,regional,state,districtorlocal.Anyearningsmadeonanylevelmustbeputbackintotheprogram. IMPORTANT —ListsofBabeRuthleagues,etc.CANNOTbereleasedtoanyfirmorindividual.AllrequestsforitshouldbereferredtoInternationalHeadquarters.Itisyourresponsibilitytopreventanyindividualororganizationfromutilizingourprogram. It is thefirmresolutionofBabeRuthLeague, Inc., theaforestatedpolicygoverns theentireBabeRuthSoftballorganizationandallBabeRuthSoftballoperationsanditbeabasictenetthereof.AnyviolationofsuchpolicyisconsideredtobesoinimicaltotheprinciplesoftheBabeRuthSoftballprogramitwillconstitutecauseforexpulsiontherefromofanyoffendingindividualsororganizations.

BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC. Originatedin1951inHamiltonTownship,NewJersey,asalocalyouthbaseballathleticactivity,BabeRuthBaseballhasbecometheworld’slargestteenagebaseballprogram. BabeRuthLeague,Inc.isanon-profit,tax-exemptorganizationdevotedtoprovidingwholesomeamateurbaseballandsoftballcompetitionfor4-18yearoldplayers. BabeRuthSoftball,designedforgirls,wasestablishedin1984.Itshistoryisoneofsteadygrowthwithnewleaguesregisteringeachyearastheyoungparticipantsexperiencethethrilloforganizedcompetitioninaprogramlaudedbyyouthandrecreationleaderseverywhere. In addition to softball, ever-increasing numbers of participants are taught basic idealswhileplayingundertheBabeRuthbannerandthisunceasinggrowthseemscertaintocarrythisprogramtoevengreaterheightsincomingyears. BabeRuthSoftballandtheaffiliatedleaguesenjoythesupportandsponsorshipofrecreationdepartments, recreation supervisors, civic and service organizations, educators, judges, policeauthorities and people in all walks of life. The basic rules of the organization have proven highlyworkable in communities of all sizes, among all ranges of population and under awide variety ofcircumstances.Undercommonrulesandcommonpurpose,theleagueshavebecomeanotherofthetiesjoiningcommunities. The strength of the program rests in its simplicity and its democracy. The few rules andregulationsweresanctionedonlyafterexhaustivesurveyswereconductedfortheorganization.Eachlocalleagueisanautonomousunitwithfullauthoritytoadministeritsownprogramwithinthesefewrules. The 17-member policy-making body, the Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc., iscomposedofvolunteersfromallwalksoflifeandrepresentsthecombinedthinkingofadultofficialsatalllevelsofadministration. BabeRuthSoftball,aboveall,isforyouth.Inadoptingrules,inestablishingstandardsandinallplanning,theprimaryconsiderationatalllevelsiswhatisbestfortheparticipants.

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REGIONS

NEW ENGLANDConnecticutMaineEasternMassachusettsWesternMassechusettsNewHampshireRhodeIslandVermont

MIDDLE ATLANTICDelawareMarylandNorthernNewJerseySouthernNewJerseyEasternNewYorkMetroNewYorkWesternNewYorkPennsylvania

OHIO VALLEYNorthernIllinoisSouthernIllinoisNorthernIndianaSouthernIndianaEasternKentuckyWesternKentuckyMichiganOhioWestVirginiaWisconsin

SOUTHEASTFloridaGeorgiaEasternNorthCarolinaWesternNorthCarolinaSouthCarolinaEasternTennesseeWesternTennesseeVirginia

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MIDWEST PLAINSColoradoIowaKansasMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNorthDakotaSouthDakota

SOUTHWESTAlabamaNorthernArkansasSouthernArkansasLouisianaMississippiNewMexicoOklahomaTexas

PACIFIC NORTHWESTAlaskaAlbertaBritishColumbiaIdahoMontanaOregonWashingtonWyoming

PACIFIC SOUTHWESTArizonaNorthernCaliforniaCentralCaliforniaSouthernCaliforniaGuamHawaiiNevadaUtah

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEVEN M. TELLEFSEN,President/CEOBABERUTHLEAGUE,INC.

P.O.Box5000Trenton,NewJersey08638

1-800-880-3142

JAMES WAGONER TIM KUNTZ ChairmanoftheBoard 1701N.26thSt. 2920JennyLind Bismarck,NorthDakota58501 FortSmith,Arkansas72901 (701)220-2773 (479)782-3041

RAYLA J. ALLISON GEORGE R. LALLY, JR. 9127ForestHillsCircle 85SpruceRoad Bloomington,Minnesota55437 Norwood,Massachusetts02062 (612)802-5541 (781)762-1121

ROBERT DICKSON NORMAN TRAVIS 252WestBirchLane P.O.Box339 Alexandria,Indiana46001 Burlington,Colorado80807 (765)724-4883 (719)346-8803

RUSSELL E. DIETHRICK, JR. RAYMOND A. LOTIERZO 153HallockStreet 100EastLinwoodAvenue Jamestown,NewYork14701 MapleShade,NewJersey08052 (716)487-0609 (856)482-1328

JOE FEATHERSTON NORM MESSIER 611NE2ndStreet 149SherbornePlace Bentonville,AR72712 Lyndonville,Vermont05851 (479)936-0306 (802)626-8535

LEONARD J. HAMMER HENRY P. SERMONS 1012AhronianAvenue 218BryanStreet Fowler,California93625 Havelock,NorthCarolina28532 (559)834-2419 (252)447-5660

JIM HILL MARK A. WATKINS 315TerryPondCove 123No.MainStreet WhiteHall,Arkansas71602 Louisville,Illinois62858 (870)267-1590 (618)665-48851040

STEPHEN HUPKA GORDON W. WELBOURNE 1022OakCreekDrive 6121BoundaryDriveWest Nolensville,Tennessee37135 Surrey,BC,CanadaV3X2A5 (615)283-3672 (604)597-1659

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INDEXReferences are to Rule #, Section #

APPEALS Defined .....................................................................................7.09 Improper Batter .........................................................................6.07 Half Swing ...............................................................................9.02(c) On Runner ..................................................................................7.09 On Umpire Decision..................................................................9.02

BALL Bases On .............................................................. 6.08(a), Def. pg. 12 Bounces Out of Play .....................................................5.10(f), 7.04(b) 7.04(approved ruling) Called .................................................................................Def. pg. 13 Dead ..........................................................................Def. pg. 13, 5.10 Delayed Dead Ball ........................................................................7.06 Fair .....................................................................................Def. pg. 14 Fly ......................................................................................Def. pg. 14 Foul ....................................................................................Def. pg. 15 Ground ...............................................................................Def. pg. 15 Live .....................................................................................Def. pg. 16 Touches Runner ........................................................................7.08(m)

BASE Missed .................................................................................7.09(c)(d) Retouch ..................................................................Def. pg. 17, 7.09(a)

BASELINE ...................................................................................7.07 (A)

BAT Specifications ..........................................................................1.10 On Deck Devices ..............................................................1.10 Note Touched by Batted Ball ............................................6.05(h), 7.08(b) BATTER Awarded First Base ..................................................................6.08 Becomes a Runner ...................................................................6.08

BATTER ORDER ...........................................................................4.04

BATTING OUT OF ORDER .....................................................6.07, 4.01

BENCH CONDUCT ........................................................................4.08

CATCH ................................................................................Def. pg. 13

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CATCHER Interference With ........................................................................6.08 Obstruction .........................................................................7.06 Note

CHECK SWING ................................................................................9.02

CONFERENCES Charged .......................................................................................8.12 Defensive .................................................................................8.12(a) Offensive ....................................................................................None Pre-Game .....................................................................................4.01

CONTACT RULE ...............................................................................7.13

CROW HOP .....................................................................................8.02

DEFINITIONS .......................................................................2.00 (pg. 12)

DESIGNATED HITTER .......................................................................6.10

EXTRA HITTER .........................................................................11.05 (10) (Local League Options, page 52)

EQUIPMENT Balls ..............................................................................................1.09 Glove Regulations.................................................1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15 Bats ...............................................................................................1.10 FIELDER Falls into Dugout ........................................................................7.04(b) Interfered With ..........................................................................6.05(k)

FORFEIT .........................................................................................4.15

FOUL BALL Caught .......................................................................................6.05(a) Not Caught ................................................................................5.09(e) Foul Tip ......................................................................................6.05(b)

GAME Beginning Of ...................................................................................4.03 Called ..........................................................................................4.10(c) Ending .............................................................................................4.11 Protested ........................................................................................4.17 Suspended ......................................................................................4.12 Forfeited .................................................................................4.15, 4.16

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GLOVE REQUIREMENTS 1st Base ................................................................................1.13 Catcher .................................................................................1.12 Fielder ..................................................................................1.14 Pitcher ..................................................................................1.15

ILLEGAL PITCH ..................................................8.06 (penalty), 8.10

INFIELD FLY RULE ............................................................Def. pg. 15

INTERFERENCE .........................................................................3.14 Double Play ........................................................................7.08(g) Offensive ............................................................................7.08(l) Ball Hits Runner ................................................................7.08(m) Batter Impedes Fielder ...............................................6.06(c), 7.08 Coach .............................................................................3.15(play)

LEAVING BASE EARLY ................................................................7.09 (def. of catch pg. 13)

OBSTRUCTION ................................................................7.06, 7.08(l)

OUT ................................................................................Def. pg. 17

PITCHER Hit by .....................................................................................5.09 Changed Field Position ..........................................3.03, 3.04, 3.05 Conferences ...........................................................................8.12 Defaces Ball ...........................................................................3.02 Fake Throw ............................................................................8.10 Foreign Substance ..................................................................8.06 Illegal Equipment ...................................................................8.06 Pivot Foot ..............................................................................8.02 Prep (warm up) pitches ..........................................................8.08 Limitations .............................................................................0.06

PRE GAME PROCEDURES ...........................................................4.01

PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS .....................................................1.04 (pics page 9)

RE-ENTRY ..................................................................................3.04

REGULATION GAME 16-18 ......................................................................................4.10 12-U ..........................................................................0.02 parag. 7

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SLIDING Illegal ........................................................................................7.13 Legal .........................................................................................7.13 STEALING Regular season ...............................................(local league options) Pitch release ............................................................................7.12 10-U ...................................................................................page 50

STRIKE ..............................................................................,Def. pg. 17 Called .............................................................................,Def. pg. 17 Defined ...........................................................................Def. pg. 17 Swinging .........................................................................Def. pg. 17 Zone ................................................................................Def. pg. 17

UMPIRE .......................................................................................9.00 Duties .......................................................................................9.04 Field Umpire ..........................................................................9.04(b) Interefence With ...................................................................6.08(d) Jurisdiction ...............................................................................9.04 Plate Umpire .............................................................................9.04

WALK .......................................................................................6.08(a)

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The Sportsmanship Codeof

Babe Ruth LeagueDevelop a strong, clean, healthy body, mind and soul.

Develop a strong urge for sportsmanlike conduct.

Develop understanding of and respect for the RULES.

Develop courage in defeat, tolerance and modesty in victory.

Develop control over emotions and speech.

Develop spirit of cooperation and team play.

Develop into real, true CITIZENS.

Copyright, 1954 by Babe Ruth League, Inc.

Coaches are the key to a positive sport experienceAt Babe Ruth League, we believe there is no one single action that can have more of a positive impact on our players than improving the quality and knowledge of managers and coaches. Babe Ruth League believes that effective youth coaches are properly trained to focus on children’s softball experiences and less on winning games.

Babe Ruth League Coaching Education ProgramTo provide this training, Babe Ruth League has partnered with Human Kinetics Coach Education to deliver online coaching courses for Babe Ruth League softball coaches.

All rostered coaches must complete either the introductory online course or the advanced online course to meet the Babe Ruth League coaching education requirement.

We appreciate your commitment to be a Babe Ruth League coach and a positive influence on our young athletes. Register for your course today!

$19.95 $24.95

www.BabeRuthCoaching.org

NOW BABE RUTH LEAGUE MEMBERS ARE REWARDED!

Call 866-238-1426, visit your local Nationwide® agent or go to nationwide.com/BabeRuthLeague.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING.Only Nationwide® gives Babe Ruth League members an exclusive discount on auto insurance. As a Babe Ruth League member, you could save with special discounts on auto insurance.

In addition, when you add features like Vanishing Deductible®, you can also take $100 off your deductible for every year of safe driving, for a total of $500 in savings.

Nationwide may make a financial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers. Products Underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Columbus, OH 43215. Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies, and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Vanishing Deductible is an optional feature. Annual credits subject to eligibility requirements. Max. credit: $500. Details and availability vary by state. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagles design and Vanishing Deductible are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. AFO-0775AO.1 (10/14)