MAJOR Youth Baseball League and MAJOR High School League Rules

Revised 8-3-23

The league will play using National Federation of State High School Rules with the following exceptions or modifications below.  If you do not see a rule addressed below, please refer to the NFHS Rule Book.  Additionally, please refer to our Procedure Manual, which can be found in your Clubhouse for further information and clarifications.

1) Pitching and Base Length Distances

Age Pitching Rubber Base Length

7U 40’ 60’

8U 43’ 60’

9U & 10U 46’ 65’

11U & 12U 50’ 70’

ALL TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE ANY FIELD THEY USE FOR THEIR HOME GAMES MEETS OUR FIELD DIMENSION REQUIREMENTS. Permanent mounds are allowed at all age levels, portable mounds are allowed for 10U A and all leagues 11U and older.  Federation rules apply when protesting field dimensions.

2) Game Length and Time Limits:

7U No inning will begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes, unless game is tied

8U-14U No inning will begin after 2 hours, unless game is tied

15U-18U No inning will begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes, unless game is tied

The game clock starts at the conclusion of the pregame ground rules meeting.

The next inning is considered to begin the moment the previous inning ends.

EXTRA INNINGS.  Should a game be tied after 7 innings or when time limit has been reached, up to 2 extra innings can be played to determine a winner.  If game is still tied after 2 extra innings, game will be scored a tie.  For extra innings, the last batted out from the previous inning begins play on 2^nd base and there is 1 out to begin the inning.

TEAMS MUST ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO TRACK PITCH COUNTS

The highest number listed for each age level is the maximum number of pitches a pitcher can throw in a day.  Maximum pitch counts are per day, so in the case of doubleheaders, the maximum pitch count cannot be exceeded by any pitcher in total between both games.

A pitcher is allowed to exceed the daily max pitch count to finish the at bat.  Pitcher must be removed once that at bat is complete.  A pitcher must be removed mid at bat, to avoid surpassing any of the lesser pitch count limits.

To avoid disputes, each team must keep a pitch count for every pitcher for both teams and confirm after each inning.  Should any team not confirm the opposing pitcher’s pitch counts after each inning, and a dispute arises, the pitch count total of the pitcher’s team will be considered official.

Coaches are to be proactive and stop play if it has been determined their pitcher or the opponent’s pitcher has reached the max pitch count and is attempting to continue to pitch.  Violation should be reported to umpire.  It is not the umpire’s responsibility to arbitrate any disputes involving the pitch count rule, reporting this violation is simply to put it on record for the league.  Any pitcher who continues to pitch once it has been confirmed they have reached the maximum pitch count for a day will result in a forfeit of the game.

Each team must enter their pitcher’s pitch counts through the team’s clubhouse for each game and confirm the opponent’s pitch counts, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the game.  At the latest, the process must be completed no later than game time for whichever team is scheduled to play first after the current game.  Any team violating this rule will receive an initial warning and the head coach will be suspended for a game for each occurrence after the initial violation.

A day’s rest is 1 entire day without pitching.  For example, if a pitcher pitches on Monday and is required to rest for 1 day, they can next pitch on Wednesday.  If they require 2 day’s rest, they can next pitch on Thursday and if they require 3 day’s rest, they can next pitch on Friday.  The only way a pitcher can pitch on back-to-back days is by not exceeding the 0 day’s rest limit.

Balks will not be called for ages 7U-10U (Excluding 9U A and 10U A Leagues).  Umpires, coaches and players should use time between innings to discuss any balks that would have been called.  For the 9U A, 10U A and all 11U and 12U Leagues there will be 1 balk warning per pitcher per inning, before penalties will be enforced.

A pitcher must be removed upon the 2^nd visit to the mound in the same inning or on the 4^th visit to the mound in the game and then on every subsequent visit after the 4^th.

4) Courtesy Runners

With 2 outs a courtesy runner for the catcher is OPTIONAL.  A courtesy runner for any other position or with less than 2 outs is not allowed.  For the away team, in the top of the 1st inning, should the player listed as the catcher on the lineup card be on base and there be 2 outs, a courtesy runner for that player is allowed.

5) Mercy Rule

15 after 4 or 3 ½ if home team is winning
10 after 5 or 4 ½ if home team is winning
8 after 6 or 5 ½ if home team is winning

Additionally, at the conclusion of a full inning, or the top of an inning if the home team is winning, regardless the inning, if either team in winning by 8 or more runs (end of full inning) or home team winning (end of top half of inning) and there is 5 minutes or less remaining on the game clock, the game will immediately end.

6) No Slide Rule

Baserunners are not required to slide but must make an effort to avoid contact.  Any player who in the judgement of an umpire causes unnecessary or excessive contact will be called out and could be ejected if contact was deemed malicious.  Per Federation rules, any fielder who impedes a baserunner will result in obstruction being called, however should a baserunner make any unnecessary or excessive contact on a fielder, the avoid contact rule and penalty will supersede any possible obstruction call.

Fielder must allow baserunner access to a portion of the base when attempting to make a play on a baserunner.  Any fielder who in the judgement of the umpire fails to provide a baserunner access to a portion of the base will result in the baserunner being awarded the base in question.

These rules are in place to avoid injury.  Coaches should educate their players on these rules to help ensure the safety of everyone involved.

7) Fake Bunt is Not Allowed

Showing bunt and then pulling bat back and swinging away is not allowed. Any player doing so will be called out and may ejected from the game, at the umpire’s discretion.

8) Uncontrolled Throwing of Bat

If in the judgement of an umpire a player throws their bat uncontrollably after a swing, they will receive a warning the 1st time.  2nd offense and subsequent offenses will result in a dead ball, batter called out.

9) Batting Order and Defensive Substitutions

All teams are required to bat their entire roster of players in attendance for the game. Free defensive substitutions are allowed for all positions except pitcher. Once a pitcher leaves the mound they cannot return to the mound in that game. Any player who leaves a game due to injury and in the opinion of the umpire is unable to continue, will have their spot in the batting order passed over without penalty.

Any player arriving late for the game MUST be inserted into the batting order as the batter leading off the next inning their team comes to bat. The player will remain in that spot in the lineup for the duration of the game.

Any player who needs to leave a game early for any reason other than injury shall be an out the first time their turn comes up.  Any subsequent times their position in the batting order comes up, it will be passed over without penalty. Once a player’s spot has been passed over, the player cannot return to the game under any circumstances.

10) Player Eligibility, Team Rosters

No player can be older than their respective age bracket prior to May 1st of the current year.  An opposing team can request verification of a player’s age by protesting the player’s participation in the game with the umpire. The protesting coach would then need to contact the Commissioner’s office within 24 hours of the completion of the game and provide a copy of the opposing team’s lineup card and reference the player’s full name and jersey number. The team with the questionable player has 48 hours from the time the Commissioner’s office notifies the coach of the protest to provide a copy of the birth certificate to the Commissioner. Failure to do so will result not only in a forfeit for the game in question, but for all games the player(s) in question have played in previously.

The Commissioner has the right to request an original certified copy of the birth certificate, if the authenticity of the copy provided is in question. The player(s) in question have 5 days to provide an original certified copy from the date of the Commissioner’s request. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of any and all games played by the player in question.

A team’s active roster is limited to 15 players maximum per game.  Players can be added and dropped from a team’s roster at any point of the season.  However, only players listed on a team’s roster on June 10^th (14U and younger), July 1^st (15U and older) are eligible to participate in the league playoffs.  Be sure to confirm the roster you wish to use for the playoffs is properly listed on that day.

Players are allowed to be rostered on more than 1 team that participates in the MAJOR YBL as long as both teams are not in the same league.  Players are prohibited from playing down competition levels from their primary team.  This applies to both age and league level.  For example if a player’s primary team is a 12U team that player cannot play on an 11U team, regardless of age eligibility.  Additionally, should an 11U B League team’s player wish to play up on a 12U team as their secondary team, they can only play on a 12U B League or higher team.  They would be ineligible to play on a 12U C League team in this example.  Any player being added to another team’s roster other than their primary team must notify the coaches of both teams they have joined a secondary team.  

A high school student, who is age eligible, can play on a 14U team only after the completion of their high school season.  Any player that violates this rule will result in any games played in being forfeited and the offending player will be banned from playing any future games in the 14U league, even after the competition of their high school season.

11) Ejections

Players

Any player ejected could also be suspended, in addition to the game he was ejected from.  Additionally, each time the ejected player’s spot comes up in the batting order, an automatic out will be called.

Coaches

1^st ejection for the season, coach who is ejected for inappropriate conduct will receive at a minimum a one game suspension.

2^nd ejection for the season, coach who is ejected for inappropriate conduct will receive at a minimum a two-game suspension.

3^rd ejection for the season, coach who is ejected for inappropriate conduct will be suspended for the remainder of the season and may be banned from coaching in the league permanently.

Assistant coaches are not allowed to contest any call or argue ball and strikes with an umpire under any circumstance.  Any assistant coach who does can, without warning be immediately ejected and will be suspended per above.

Spectators

There is no circumstance where a spectator should ever interject themselves into the game to warrant being ejected from a game.  Spectators are to cheer when their team does something positive, and they can also encourage their team.  Under no circumstance are they to direct any comments towards umpires or opposing players or coaches.

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their spectators in attendance.  It is expected coaches will remind spectators before each game to behave appropriately.  Umpires will first warn the head coach of the team whose spectator’s conduct is inappropriate.  Coaches are expected to immediately address the issue with the spectator(s) who are behaving inappropriately after the warning is issued.  If the inappropriate conduct continues the umpire may eject the spectator(s) without additional warning.  Any spectator who is ejected for inappropriate conduct will receive at a minimum a two-game suspension.  

If any ejected coach or spectator(s) do not leave the immediate area surrounding the field in a timely manner, the umpires may award a forfeit victory to the opposing team.

The league will review all ejections, to determine if a longer suspension is warranted. The Commissioner will be the final arbiter of the length of any suspension or expulsion.  There is no appealing either the initial mandatory suspension or any longer suspension issued.

ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS HAD TO ACCEPT A CODE OF CONDUCT PRIOR TO THEIR CHILD BEING ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEAGUE.  COACHES, PLEASE MAKE YOUR PLAYER’S FAMILY MEMBERS AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT TOWARDS THE UMPIRES OR OPPOSING TEAM MEMBERS. REMIND THEM OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A GOOD ROLE MODEL AND DISPLAYING GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. 

BE SURE YOUR SPECTATORS KNOW THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO SPECTATORS INTERJECTING THEMSELVES INTO THE GAME.  THEY WILL BE EJECTED AND SUSPENDED.

Any coach or spectator who confronts the umpire(s) or anyone associated with the opposing team after the completion of the game, off the field of play will face a minimum 5-game suspension.

12) Social Media Posts

No coach, player or family member of a player or coach of a team is allowed to post derogatory comments about an opposing team, coach, player or umpire on social media. The head coach of any team violating this rule will be suspended for a minimum of 1 game. Any family member of a player or a player who violates this rule will result in the player being suspended for at least 1 game. Anyone found to a repeat violator will result in the coach or player being suspended of the remainder of the season and potentially result in the coach or player being banned from participating in the league permanently.

PLEASE ADVISE YOUR PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR DEROGATORY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

13) Rules Concerning Equipment

Metal spikes are only allowed at ages 13U and Older, but turf shoes or plastic spikes are recommended for all age levels.

Pitchers pitching on portable mounds may be required to wear turf shoes or plastic spikes regardless of age, depending on the field provider’s requirements.

All players regardless of age level may be required to wear turf shoes or plastic spikes for games played on turf fields, depending on the field provider’s requirements.

C Flaps for helmets are allowed if they are either part of the helmet or if an added accessory, manufactured by the same company that manufactured the helmet.

All chest protectors must be NOCSAE approved and only hockey style facemasks are allowed for catchers.

There are no bat restrictions regarding length, diameter or drop.

Rolling or shaving of bats is illegal.  Any player using a rolled or shaved bat will be ejected along with their head coach.  Additionally, player will be suspended for a minimum of 5 games and coach may be suspended as well.

Any field the uses a double first base or safety base, the base is considered one giant base, accessible to both the fielder and batter runner.  Once a batter runner becomes a runner, only the base in fair territory can be used by the runner or fielder to determine safe or out.

Games are required to be played using only official MAJOR YBL baseballs.

14) Playoff Seeding Tiebreakers

2 Teams Tied

First tiebreaker: head-to-head

Second tiebreaker: run differential in games against each other

Third tiebreaker: run differential for season (for all 7U-10U leagues, this tiebreaker does not apply, 3rd tiebreaker is coin-toss)

Fourth tiebreaker: coin-toss.

3 or More Teams Tied

Run differential for season, any remaining ties will be broken by coin toss.

Ties count as a half a win.

No team will be rewarded for playing less games or not playing their entire schedule.  Win total is the sole number used to determine tiebreakers above.  For example, a team that finishes 8-8 that won its sole game against a team that finishes 8-6 will be awarded the higher seed as both teams had 8 wins and the 8-8 team beat the 8-6 team in their head-to-head game, thus winning the tiebreaker.  Furthermore, if the 8-8 team and the 8-6 team split their head-to-head games and the 8-8 team has a better run differential in the head-to-head games, they will be the higher seed.

All teams at all age levels are expected to participate in the playoffs.  Any team or organization that shows a history of lack of participation will be denied access to the league in future season.

15) Special Rules for 7U-10U and 15U-18U Leagues, Not Previously Covered Above.

7U Leagues

Baserunners are not allowed to advance on an errant throw by the catcher to the pitcher or on pass balls or wild pitches.

Baserunners are allowed to lead off the base when the pitch enters the hitting zone, but not allowed to steal.

A batter who has been walked and has become a base runner CANNOT advance past 1st base as a result of the walk.

The strike zone will be two ball width wider than home plate on the outside and the inside and one to one and a half ball width below the knees. Umpires will be encouraged not to call the high strike. The widened strike zone is in place at this age level to reduce potential walks.

Teams are allowed to bat through their lineup only 1 time per inning. If 3 outs have not been made by the time a team has batted around, the half of the inning will end. Any runners on base will only be allowed to advance as many bases as the hitter advanced on the last at bat of the inning. Dead ball will be called when play is made on any base runner, or an infielder has secured the baseball and is in the infield.

If teams have a different number of players, to determine the “bat around number”, use the larger of the 2 numbers.

Intentional walks are not allowed.

8U Leagues

Leading off or stealing is allowed when the ball enters the hitting zone. A runner leaving early will result in a dead ball. The same runner leaves early twice during the same appearance on base, will be called out.

Runners who at the start of play are on 1^st base or 2^nd base can attempt to advance on passed balls, wild pitches or errant throws by the catcher to the pitcher, runners who at the start of play are on 3^rd base CANNOT.  The runner on 3^rd base at the start of play can attempt to advance home when there is a batted ball in play, there is a base loaded walk, a bases loaded hit by pitch or the defense attempts to pick off the runner on 3rd base.  The runner on 3rd base at the start of play CANNOT attempt to advance home, if the defense attempts to pick off any other runner or attempts to throw out another runner attempting to steal.  However, should the defense attempt to pick off the runner on 3^rd base, they can advance on an errant throw.

Should there be a runner on 2^nd base and there is an errant throw while they are attempting to steal 3^rd, they cannot attempt to advance home.

A batter who has been walked and has become a base runner CANNOT advance past 1st base as a result of the walk, unless there is an errant throw by the catcher to the pitcher or the pitcher does not catch the return throw from catcher cleanly.  The catcher is expected to regularly throw the ball back to the pitcher to develop this skill and not hand the ball to the pitcher after each pitch in an attempt to avoid errant throws. When appropriate a catcher can still hand the ball to the pitcher.  A batter cannot advance to first base on dropped 3rd strike, but any runner on 1st or 2nd base can advance at their own risk.  Infield fly will not apply.

The strike zone will be one ball width wider than home plate on the outside, one to two ball widths wider on the inside and one ball width below the knees. Umpires will be encouraged not to call the high strike. The widened strike zone is in place at this age level to reduce potential walks.

Teams are allowed to bat through their lineup only 1 time per inning. If 3 outs have not been made by the time a team has batted around, the half of the inning will end. Any runners on base will only be allowed to advance as many bases as the hitter advanced on the last at bat of the inning. Dead ball will be called when play is made on any base runner, or an infielder has secured the baseball and is in the infield.

If teams have a different number of players, to determine the “bat around number”, use the larger of the 2 numbers.

Intentional walks are not allowed.

All 9U Leagues, except 9U A

Leading off or stealing is allowed when the ball enters the hitting zone. A runner leaving early will result in a dead ball. The same runner leaves early twice during the same appearance on base, will be called out. A batter cannot advance to first base on dropped 3rd strike, but baserunners can advance at their own risk.  Infield fly will apply.

Teams are allowed to bat through their lineup only 1 time per inning. If 3 outs have not been made by the time a team has batted around, the half of the inning will end. Any runners on base will only be allowed to advance as many bases as the hitter advanced on the last at bat of the inning. Dead ball will be called when play is made on any base runner, or an infielder has secured the baseball and is in the infield.

If teams have a different number of players, to determine the “bat around number”, use the larger of the 2 numbers.

Intentional walks are not allowed.

All 10U Leagues, except 10U A

Leading off or stealing is allowed when the ball enters the hitting zone. A runner leaving early will result in a dead ball. The same runner leaves early twice during the same appearance on base, will be called out. Batters can advance to first base on a dropped 3rd strike and infield fly rule will apply.

9U A and 10U A
As previously covered above, Federation rules apply except for any of the exception and modifications covered.

15U-18U
Only run rules is 10 after 5.

Teams are allowed to bat 9 with or without a DH or bat 10 using an XH

Current WIAA pitch count rules apply