Larkspur - Lightning Summer League Rules


Team Eligibility Requirements:

1.1 Team Composition

Teams entered in the Lightning Baseball - Town of Larkspur Summer League shall have a roster

composed of a minimum of 8 players and a maximum of 24 players.

 

1.2 Rosters

Team Manager or Coach will be solely responsible for providing league supervision their complete roster and contact information for each member of the team.  Roster must include all players, coaches and assistant coaches that may be present on the field of play or in the dugout.  Failure to register a player, coach, assistant coach may result in a forfeit.

If the opposing team finds a player in a game that does not appear on the team’s roster and it is brought to the attention of the home plate umpire by the head coach, with no revised roster submitted using the procedures outlined below, the player must immediately be removed from the game and an out will be charged unless an eligible substitute is available. If the player is not immediately removed from the game, a forfeit will be declared.

A player may appear on only one submitted roster.   

If a player is discovered during the event not on the online roster, the player and head coach will be removed for the remainder of the event.

Exceptions-

If a team is short a player and needs to add a guest player for a game.  The team needs to inform the league supervisor, Umpire, and opposing coaching staff prior to the start of competition.  The player parent must sign the player waiver and provide all contact information before the player can participate.  All parties must agree to the guest player participation.  Guest players are not eligible to pitch in any games.

 

1.3 Proof of age/Grade

During league play proof of age/grade should be available onsite and immediately available throughout the entire tournament. The player must appear on the roster and an acceptable form of proof (see below). Any ineligible player MAY cause the team to be disqualified or put in as last seed. Each case will be looked at by the League Supervisor to determine if the player is eligible.  Failure to produce proof of age documentation upon request of the league supervisor will result in the player being declared ineligible for participation

Acceptable forms of proof of age/grade are:

·        A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate

·        Certified documentation of naturalization

·        Military Certificate of birth or passport.

·        Current school issued report card

·        Official school ID with grade

1.4 Team registration

Registration of your team and payment of all league fees must be made in advance of the start of the season.

 

1.5 Age Divisions

This league will offer competition for 13U, 12U, and 11U competition.  Players age eligibility is consistent with major tournament providers like USSSA, CABA, or Triple Crown Sports.

 

1.6 Proof of Insurance

All teams participating in this league must provide league supervision with a current copy of their insurance naming Lightning Baseball, Parker, CO and the Town of Larkspur as additional insured parties.

It is required that all teams be insured and be at a minimum of 1 million dollars of coverage.

 

1.7 Concussion Certification

All Coaches must be concussion certified Qualified courses would be Chase, Heads up, ASA, NFS, or comparable courses. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 40 – The Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act.

1.8 League Play/Tie breaker criteria for end of season tournament:

1.      Win/loss record

2.      Head to head. (Only when 2 teams are tied) if there are more than two teams tied  the tie breaker moves to #3.

3.      Average Runs Allowed (vs all teams played not just tied teams).

4.      Average Run Differential (against all teams not just tied teams) (maximum +/- 7 runs per game).

5.      Coin Flip

 

Section 2 - Playing field and equipment.

2.1  A The playing field dimensions for this league are:

AGE                          PITCHING                 BASE

DIVISION                 DISTANCE                LENGTHS

11U                                 50'                          70'

12U                                 50'                          70'

13U                                 54'                          80'

 

2.2 Use of metal Spikes

Age’s 11U-12U Metal spikes are prohibited

Age’s 13U Metal spikes are allowed unless noted on portable mound or turf fields. If a player is found to be in violation they must change their footwear upon notification or be removed from the game if alternate footwear is not available.  13U players are required to wear turf shoes when pitching on a portable mound.

 

2.3 Uniforms

All players are to be fully uniformed in baseball pants, socks, baseball caps, shoes and jerseys. Jerseys are not required to match.

The catcher shall wear appropriate protective gear including a catcher’s helmet which fully covers their ears, with face mask and a throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and protective cup.

Offensive players and base coaches under the age of 18 must wear a double ear flap batting helmet at any time when outside of the dugout.

No visible jewelry of any kind will be allowed. (Exception: Medical Alert ALWAYS allowed)

 

2.4 Bats Restrictions

·        ALL 11U-13U MUST HAVE A BAT STAMPED WITH ONE OF THE ABOVE APPROVED BAT STAMPS

·        WOOD BATS ALLOWED AT ALL AGES

·        Any bat declared unsafe will be removed immediately from the field of play.

·        If a bat is declared non-compliant (as outlined in the chart above) prior to being used in the field of play:

First Offense- bat is removed and player and coach are warned. If bat is discovered after ball has been put in play, play is nullified, and batter is called out.

 

Second Offense - the player and head coach will be ejected for the remainder of the game. If bat is discovered after ball has been put in play, the play is nullified, and batter is called out.

 

2.5 Game Preliminaries

The Home team will be determined by a coin toss. For ALL bracket games higher seed will have the choice of home team or visiting team.

Home team will be the official scorebook. Electronic score books will be allowed as long as a printable copy is available at the request of the league supervisor.

Upon completion of the game, both coaches must sign the game cards and verify the score and pitching. Once you sign a game card, you are stating that the information on the card is correct. Any objections to the game cards will require the head coach or team manager, as listed on the online roster, to submit the online scores/pitching inaccuracies with 2 hours of game completion. Refusal to sign the game card will result in forfeiture.

2.6 Batting Lineup:

Teams have 3 options and only these 3 options for a lineup:

1.      A batting lineup of 9 players with legal substitutes on the bench. A substitution can be made with legal players. Upon substitution, the original player in the batting lineup can re-enter in the original batting spot only. The original substitute taken out of the game is not eligible to play on offense or defense anymore. Players in the batting lineup can play any defensive position at any time. Players not in the batting lineup are NOT allowed to play defense at any time. Prior to any substitutions the plate umpire must be notified.  DH is permitted.

 

2.      A batting lineup of 10 players with legal substitutes on the bench. A substitution can be made with legal players. Upon a substitution, the original player in the batting lineup can re-enter in the original batting spot only. The original substitute taken out of the game is not eligible to play on offense or defense anymore.  Players in the batting lineup can play any defensive position at any time. Players not in the batting lineup are not allowed to play defense at any time. The EH can be placed anywhere in the lineup. The EH can play defense at any time. DH is permitted.

 

3.      A batting lineup of all players present with no substitutes on the bench. All players can play any defensive position at any time. Any player taken out of the lineup will be counted as an out unless noted as an injured player with a concussion or where blood is present.

 

A team’s lineup choice must be declared prior to the start of the game and must be used for the entire game.

Courtesy runners are allowed for Pitchers and Catchers.

Lineup is established at the plate meeting.

 

2.6.1 Substitutions

·        If a team uses a lineup with substitutes, starters must return to the original batting slot in the lineup once after being removed. Starters MUST return into the same batting slot which they started the game in. Substitutes may not reenter the game once removed.

·        If a team uses a lineup batting 9 or10 players, there is free defensive substitution with the players in the lineup.

·        If a team bats their entire lineup all players not playing defensive positions are extra hitters, free defensive substitution is also allowed for all players when batting entire lineup.

 

2.7 Reduced Team Roster

A team may play with 8 players; however, an out must be taken each time the 9th position comes to bat.

a)      If a player leaves the game due to injury or illness, he/she may not return to the lineup once his batting position comes to bat. His batting position shall be skipped and an out assessed if no eligible substitutes are available to take his spot.

 

Exceptions:

·        If during a play it is determined by the head coach, or acting head coach, that a possible concussion has occurred, the player shall be removed from the game without penalty. Players removed for possible concussion must have a signed medical release prior to returning to any game for the remainder of the tournament.  

·        In addition, if a player leaves the game for a Communicable Disease reason, the player who recorded the previous out assumes the runner’s position on base and for all remaining at bats the players turn in the batting order shall be omitted for the remainder of the game without penalty.

b)     A 9th player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom of the lineup if the player arrives at any point after the game has begun.

 

2.8 Game Management

Game time begins after the coin flip. The plate umpire will be the official time. Failure to field a team within 15 min will result in a forfeit. A forfeit will be recorded as 7-0 loss in the standings.

 

A regulation game shall be 6 innings or 1 hr and 45 minutes for 11U-12U and 7 innings or 1hr and 45 min for 13U14U.

·       There shall be a 2-hour time limit for all league play games.  All games must end promptly as scheduled.   If an inning has started prior to the 1hr and 45 minute mark but not completed by the 2hr mark; the score will revert back to the last completed inning.

·        No new inning can be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes of play.

·       There is no California Tie Breaker for regular season games.  Games can end in a tie.

 

Championship and Elimination games

·        The run rule is in effect for all games.

·        There shall be a 2-hour time limit for all elimination play games.

·        No new inning can be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes of play.

·        All games will be allowed to continue to the completion of an inning after the 1 hour and 45 minute mark.

·        California Tie Breaker rules apply for Championship and Elimination games.

 

 

2.9 Run Rules

Run Rules-

·        15 runs after 3 innings

·        10 runs after 4 innings

·        8 after 5 innings

 

2.10 Potential for Game Stoppage

In case a game cannot be completed due to weather, light failure or an act of God the game, is considered a completed regulation game if:

·        11U-12U for a 6 inning game 3 innings have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in 2 innings or 2 ½ innings than the visiting team has scored in 3 innings or if the home team scores 1 or more runs in its ½ of the 3rd inning to tie the score.

·        13U for a 7 inning game 4 innings have been completed, or if the home team has scored more runs in 3 Innings or 3 ½ innings than the visiting team has scored in 3 innings or if the home team scores 1 or more runs in its ½ of the 3rd inning to tie the score.

Regular season games may end in a tie.  All games will end in a time limit as described in section 2.9 OR when the inning limit is reached.

Elimination games that are tied at the end of regulation play (time or inning limit) will finish the game using California tie breaker until a winner is decided.

 

2.11 California Tie-breaker-

Each half inning will start with the one out and the last batter, who recorded an out, of the respective team’s previous half-inning, occupying 2nd base. The game will continue until a winner is determined. (Example: the game ends in a 3-3 tie. The visiting team determines the #8 batter is due up. The team will put the #7 batter on second and there will be one out in the inning and both teams will play likethis until a winner is decided.

 

2.12 Courtesy Runners

Courtesy runners for catcher’s or pitchers are permitted.

 

2.13 Intentional Walks

An intentional walk may be issued by informing the home plate umpire. The 4 pitches need not be thrown. 

 

2.14 Player safety Close plays

When a close play is evident, the runner must either attempt to avoid contact (malicious contact intended to dislodge the ball in the catcher’s possession which can cause injury) or slide. Failure to do so, could result, depending on the point of contact, in the player being ejected and possibly called out.  The call is made by the Umpire officiating the game.

 

2.15 Mound Trips

Coaches may make one mound trip per pitcher per game, upon the second (2nd) mound trip the pitcher must be removed from the mound.

 

2.16 Pitching

A pitcher may NOT return to pitch in a game once removed from a game as the pitcher.

Innings pitched will be recorded by 1/3 of an inning. 1 out = 1/3 inning pitched, 2 outs = 2/3 of inning pitched, and 3 outs =1 full inning pitched. If no outs are recorded the pitcher is not charged with any innings pitched. If a pitcher has 1/3 inning left and a double play is turned the pitcher is not in violation due the continuous play.

Each pitcher is allowed the following innings pitched per day of play. Innings may be used at the coaches’ discretion over the course of a single day of play. 

Age	Total Innings Pitched
11	4
12	4
13	4

 

 If a pitching violation is determined at any time, a forfeit will be imposed.

 

2.17 Balks

For ages 11U-13U there will be no balk warnings.

 

3.0  Code of Conduct:

 

·        All players, coaches, managers, and spectators will always conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their parents and their spectators.

·        Physical contact with an official, opposing staff or site staff will not be tolerated under ANY circumstances and will result in an immediate ejection for the remainder of the event.

·        Abusive language or cursing will not be tolerated under any circumstances and will result in immediate ejection for the remainder of the event.

·        Throwing of equipment will result in immediate ejection for the remainder of the event.

 

3.1 Code of Conduct Enforcement

·        At the discretion of the umpire or the league supervisor, any player, coach, manager or spectator whose conduct is unsportsmanlike or abusive shall at a minimum be given a warning. If warranted the offending party shall be ejected from the game and or additional future games as well as the player associated.

1) Verbal warning

2) Restricted to the dugout

3) Removed from facility for the remainder of the day of play.

4) Egregious behavior can result in suspension from all league play.

 

3.2 Removal from Premises

Any non-player (Coaches, Parents, Grandparents etc.) ejected from a game shall immediately remove themselves from the vicinity of the fields and/or stands for the remainder of the game. Ejected persons are required to leave the park or venue. Further penalties are at the discretion of the League Supervisor.

Additional Rules:

·        Games may be played in adverse weather conditions.

·        League game formats (time/innings) may be changed at the discretion of the league supervisor. Format changes may include but are not limited to:

o   Shortening of game times or innings due to weather or other influencing condition affecting the schedule.

·        Infield warm-ups: NO pre-game infield warmups are allowed

·        RULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE and changes will be communicated to coaching and officiating staff.