The following 'rules of the game' are presented to give you a basic understanding about how the 'Farm' Division operates. If you are a spectator in the stands and are not aware that our kids don't play by the Major League rules we are used to when watching games on television, you may not understand why an umpire has ruled a certain way. The following information is being presented to assist you with the 'Farm' Division rules format.
2005 FARMS INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION RULES
1. 1. The division shall
consist of a minimum of four (4) teams, and a maximum of sixteen (16) teams,
or eight (8) teams per available playing field.
2. 2. Eligible Farms players
should be, six (6) if they have previously completed one (1) season of
Tee-Ball, age seven (7), eight (8), with the exception made for nine (9)
and Ten (10) year old players when it is in the best interest of a particular
child. No child over the age of nine (9) shall be allowed to play
in the Farms Division.
3. 3. Twelve (12) and Eleven
(11) year old players are not eligible to play in the farms Division.
Farms Minor Division Rules (These rules are supplemental to the minor league rules published annually by Little League Baseball, Inc.)
General
A. Farms Division is
an instructional division of Concord American Minor league. The intended
purpose of this division is to teach and train young players.
B. All players must
play a minimum of nine (9) outs on defense per six (6) -inning games. Free
substitution shall be allowed in between innings however player substitutions
shall be reported to the official scorekeeper and innings played will be
noted for each player in the official scorebook.
C. Post game each
manager shall examine the official score book and sign the opposing teams
score page if in agreement that the opposing team has achieved the minimum
play requirements.
D. No set infields are allowed.
Players must be rotated into different positions between the infield and
outfield.
E. Ten (10) players will
be used on defense by use of a fourth outfielder
F. Five (5) run rule – the
fifth run scored in any half-inning ends that half-inning.
G. Three (3) innings shall
constitute a regulation game.
H. No inning shall start
after two (2) hours have elapsed since the official starting time of the
game. It shall be held that a new inning starts immediately when the third
out is made, or the fifth run is scored, ending the preceding inning.
I. Rule 6.05 (e),
(infield fly) shall not apply in the Farm division.
J. Rule 4.19, (protesting
game) shall not apply in the Farm division.
K. One defensive team
coach is allowed on the field for instructional purposes and will also
serve as first and second base umpire.
K. After the ball
has been hit into play and returned to any infielder within the infield
the play is over and no runner may advance. A runner who has advanced more
than half way to the next base may continue his attempt to advance to that
base. The defensive player may attempt a play on the advancing runner.
In this case the ball remains live until returned/retained back to an infielder
or pitcher within the infield area.
Batters
On Deck Batters are not permitted
on the field or in the caged area next to the bullpen.
A. All players on the team
roster will bat in order. Players coming to the game late will be added
to the end of the batting order.
B. No walks will be awarded
batters.
C. No bunting is allowed.
Runners
A. No stealing is allowed.
B. Rule 7.13 (leaving early)
shall use the softball option. Runner may not leave any base on any pitch
until the ball has been batted.
C. In case of injury
to the runner, the last player listed in the batting order at that time
shall be the substitute runner. (See rule 3.04)
Pitching
A. No pitcher of league playing
age nine (9) or above is allowed to pitch in the Farm division.
B. The pitchers plate will
be level with home plate and the distance will be 40 feet from the front
side of the pitchers plate to the rear point of home plate.
C. Pitchers shall only pitch
a maximum of two (2) innings per game and four (4) innings per calendar
week, Sunday through Saturday.
D. Pitcher must have one
calendar day of rest between pitching appearances.
E. Pitchers who hit a total
of two (2) batters in an inning or three (3) total must be removed immediately
as pitcher.
F. Pitchers who intentionally
pitch at any batter shall be removed from the game immediately and also
be suspended from the next game.
G. After the pitch count
reaches three (3) balls to the batter the offensive manager or coach will
pitch to the batter until the at bat is complete. The batter must
put the ball in play or strike out. No walks will be awarded.
When a coach is pitching no base will be awarded to a batter hit by the
pitch.
Umpires
A. Plate umpires shall be
assigned from a non-competing team.
B. The offense shall station
one adult coach in the third base coaching box who shall be the umpire
for that base.
C. Defense shall station
one coach on the field to instruct players as well as act as the umpire
for first and second base.
D. Plate umpire will
call all balls, strikes, catches, and tag-ups. These are judgment
calls and
shall not be argued. Penalty:
after warning, ejection and possible suspension, pending board of directors
action.
E. Batted ball hits adult
pitcher. If defensive player has opportunity to play the ball, batter
is out. Runners return to original bases. If there was no chance for a
play the batter the batter will be awarded first base, all runners advance
one (1) base. This is the Umpires judgment.