RULES - 11U A

2. Start of Games - Definition of an Official Game - and Mercy Rules

• Evening games start at 6:30 PM with no new inning to start after 8:00 PM (official time is determined by the umpire’s watch). The umpire may extend the ending time of a game, if the game started late.
• There must be at least 7 players to s tart a game. If there are not 7 players available by 6:30 PM the team short will have 5 minutes to have the required number of players on the field or shall forfeit the game.
• For interlocking games, HOST teams are responsible for cancelling games because of bad weather, and must contact the visiting teams coach by 5:00pm of the night of the game. If the visiting team hasn’t heard from the Host coach, they are to show up at the diamond to play the game. For non-interlocking games, this shall be the home team’ s responsibility.
• There shall be 6 innings per game. There must be 2 complete innings for an official game in the event of rain or darkness.
• There is a 5 run mercy rule per inning. A complete inning will end when both teams have either 3 (three) outs or 5 (five) run scored. This rule will remain in effect throughout the entire game. The last inning is not open.
• If after the 4th inning a team is ahead by 15 runs or more, a 15 run mercy rule will apply, with the win being awarded to the team with the higher score. If both teams agree, the game can continue regardless.

3. Pitching Rules

• All pitchers will be allowed to pitch no more than 2 consecutive innings per game and no more than 6 per week, keeping in mind that if the pitcher pitches on a REP team whose innings will count toward the weekly total for innings pitched.
• A pitcher leaving that position cannot return to pitch again in the same game.
• If the pitcher throws 1 pitch, he will be charged with 1 inning pitched whether he remains in the game at that position or not.
• Pitchers will only be allowed 5 warm-up pitches when they enter the game and 5 pitches during any subsequent innings. It would be appreciated if the coaches would warm up their pitchers on the sidelines whenever possible.
• There will be no balks called; instead umpires should talk to pitchers to explain to them what they are doing incorrectly.
• A catcher in a game IS permitted to enter as a pitcher. However, if a player has pitched in a game, he is NOT permitted to catch in the same game.
• Pitchers must pitch from the pitching rubber. Pitchers are NOT permitted to move up. While the league acknowledges that so me players struggle pitching from regulation distance, this rule is out of concern for the safety of the pitcher on a hard - hit ball coming back to him/her.
• NEW MODIFIED PITCHING/BATTING RULE:
  • In the spirit of fostering active participation and team accountability throughout the game, the league has decided to implement a NO WALK RULE. The purpose of the rule is to counter the common challenges associated with inconsistent pitching at the house level. These challenges include:
    • Batters choose not to swing at pitches around the strike zone in the hopes they will be walked to first, rather than hitting themselves on base.
    • Pitchers who are learning to pitch often find themselves walking in 5 runs an inning and dealing with discouragement and stress associated with this scenario. This can lead to kids not wanting to pitch in games and limits the coach in regards to pitching options throughout the season.
    • Given the large number of walks during the game, fielders often find themselves inactive and losing interest in the game itself. The hope is the fielders will be able to make plays and practice their skills on an ongoing basis making the game exciting for players and spectators.
    • Additionally, players at bat will experience more opportunities to make contact and increase their chances to get on base via hitting
    • NOTE: Pitchers are still encouraged to throw strikes and work towards strikeouts. This should motivate pitchers to improve their pitching, as they would not want to have the ball turned over to the batting teams coach creating such opportunities for the batter to make contact.
  • All pitching rules and distances remain the same and the re will be no changes to the rules as stated in the Pitching rules section of the Golden West Mosquito rules manual.
  • What has changed, is on ball four, the batter will not be freely given first base. Instead, the batting teams designated coach will underhand soft toss the strikes remaining in the count, from a designated location on the respective foul line 15 feet from home plate.
  • THE COACH IS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE FIELD OF PLAY TO MAKE THE 45 Degree angle toss. The coach is allowed to have one foot on the foul line and the other outside the field of play.
  • In any case, the coach of the batting team is only allowed to deliver a maximum 3 soft toss pitches from the 45 degree angle (assuming the count is 4 - 0) or a minimum of 1 soft toss pitch (assuming the count is 4 - 2).
  • Coaches SHOULD NOT provide their batters with more than the legal number of soft toss pitches allowed and proper pitches to players is the responsibility of the pitching coach to manage.
  • If a coach throws a poor pitch to their batter, they are not allowed to give a make up throw. In cases where the throw is recognized by BOTH coaches as completely unhittable, then with both coaches in agreement, an additional toss may be given. WE WOULD DISCOURAGE THIS PRACTICE as it slows down the game and works against the spirit of the game we are attempting to subjugate. Alternatively, we would encourage coaches to practice soft toss pitches during practice times and before games in an effort to ensure they are properly prepared.

Please refer to the following scenario’s to help understand the rule:

4. Keeping a Good Pace to the Game

• There is no stealing on a pitched ball. For further clarity, the only methods in which runners can advance a base are on a walk or hit ball.
• Runners are not allowed to lead off. The runner IS PERMITTED to leave the base once the ball CROSSES HOME PLATE . I f the ball is NOT put into play as the result of a walk or hit ball, the play will be declared dead and the runner must return to his/her base. If the umpire determines that the runner left the base PRIOR to the ball crossing home plate, any resulting play will be declared dead and the runner must return to his/her base.
• Coaches are to discourage the pitcher and catcher from meeting halfway between home plate and pitcher’s mound, to exchange the baseball after it has been pitched. This has at times becom e a common practice to avoid over - throws from the catcher to the pitcher. But this practice delays the player’s development and slows the game down considerably. Catchers should throw the ball back to the pitcher from the home plate area and pitchers sh ould catch the ball a few feet down from the mound area.
• As a suggestion, the batting team may wish to have a player (with a helmet on) ready and available to retrieve pass balls for the other team’s catcher. This will speed up play considerably.
• A courtesy runner for the catcher may be used when there are 2 outs in the inning, and the catcher is on base.
• The Batter is automatically out on a third strike. The batter is not allowed to advance to 1st base on a 3rd strike (called or swung at), if the ball is not caught by the catcher.

5. Equipment Requirements

• All players are required to wear proper equipment in the field of play. Field of play is defined to include the bull - pen areas. Required equipment includes:
  • Jersey - tucked in.
  • Helmets must fit properly. Chin straps are no longer required.
  • Catchers must have proper gear. Bullpen or warm - up catchers must have a mask on.
  • Met al Bats are r equired to be no bigger than 2 3 /4 inches in diameter. Wood bats ARE permitted. 

6. Reporting the Game Results

• It is the responsibility of the winning team, or in the event of a tie the home team to report the games scores, within 24 hours of the game completion. Scores are to be reported clicking on the link provided on the HOME page of the Golden West League Website. PLEASE ensure that you select the correct link AND fill in ALL information requested. Schedules and standings will be available for viewing on the Golden West League web site as well.
• The web address for the Golden West league: www.ballcharts.com/goldenwestleague

7. Affiliated Players

• A team may use affiliated players if they are going to have less than 9 players at that game.
• Affiliated players must be registered with Baseball Alberta. They may be taken from other house teams in the same league or from teams in a lower league (PeeWees can use Mosquito affiliates, Mosquitos can use Senior Rookie affiliates). Affiliated players must have permission from the coach of their regular team in order to be allowed to affiliate for another team. This rule applies only in the regular season.
• Affiliates cannot be used for the playoffs.
• A team must field a minimum of 7 players.