Coaches Responsibilities

¨      Each game shall be run in a relaxed environment. The intent of this program is to teach and have fun. Coaches must set an example of good sportsmanship and ensure that their players show good sportsmanship. Players should be encouraged to cheer FOR their team, but not AGAINST the other team. Winning and losing are part of the game, but should never be the focus. Coaches are reminded to review the Coaches Code of Conduct they are required to sign for further details about what is expected of them.

¨      No one -- including coaches from either team -- is permitted around the backstop during a game to avoid creating a distraction to the batter or pitcher. Coaches must enforce this rule and umpires will be instructed to stop the game until the situation is corrected.

¨      Players must remain on their respective benches when their team is at bat, except for the on-deck batter and any player serving as a first-base coach (with helmet). Coaches must assign a “safety coach” to enforce this rule to avoid injury. Coaches aren’t allowed on the field during play except for a coach serving as a first- or third-base coach. Coaches must stay in the coach’s box and in no way interfere with the play of the game.

¨      Umpires are in charge of the game once it begins. Coaches must provide a good sportsmanship example for players and parents by not arguing judgment calls with the umpire. Coaches are allowed to ask for rule clarifications. If a coach is ejected from a game, the coach will be subject to the disciplinary action outlined in the Mahwah Youth Sports Boosters Bylaws (Appendix III.5). If players are ejected from a game, the player will be suspended for one game, or the game immediately following the ejection.

¨      Coaches are expected to inform the parents of their players about proper behavior before, during and after the games.

¨      Parents shouldn’t linger around the dugout during the games. Parents also aren’t allowed on the field during the games. Most importantly, parents should never argue with umpires for any reason. Infractions such as these may lead to the umpire halting the game until the coach has corrected the situation. Failure to comply may lead to a forfeit. Failure to comply with this rule will lead to disciplinary action as determined by the Mahwah Youth Sports Boosters’ Spring Player Agent.

¨      If an umpire issues a warning to a team for an infraction, it is the coach’s responsibility to communicate the warning to the players with an explanation. Throwing equipment, inappropriate language and any form of unsportsmanlike behavior isn’t allowed by either players or coaches. Infractions will lead to team warnings from the umpire after which the next person to commit this offense will be ejected from the game. Multiple ejections will lead to disciplinary action as determined by the Mahwah Youth Sports Boosters’ Spring Player Agent up to and including suspensions. 

¨      Home team must supply game balls.

¨      Coach of the winning team and losing team must notify the league director of the score, the number of umpires who officiated the game and the number of innings pitched per pitcher. This notification must occur by the next day to ensure team records are kept current. Coaches must notify the league director if a game is rained out.

¨      Home team is responsible for removing bases and equipment from the field equipment boxes and replacing them in the proper box(es) when play has ended. Please take care to ensure that equipment is kept together so the next team to use it has everything it needs.

¨      Coaches must ensure that proper equipment is being used.

¨      Coaches should inform the league director when first aids kits need to be replenished.

¨      If after the season schedule is set a coach becomes aware of a conflict that may cause a forfeit, it is the responsibility of the coaches of the two teams affected to agree on a convenient date to play the game and then inform the league director so that umpires and fields can be assigned.

¨    Postponements or cancelations of games will be made in accordance with Mahwah Youth Baseball's  game postponement procedure.

¨    The lightning detection systems at Airmont and Continental Soldiers Park have a five-mile radius. When there are lightning strikes within five miles of the system a siren will sound and a strobe light will be activated. The initial siren will go off only once for 18 seconds, while the strobe light will stay on for 30 minutes after the last strike. If the strobe light is on it means there is lightning in the area. When all is clear, a horn will sound for 18 seconds and the strobe light will turn off.  Only at that time may players and coaches take the field.

The Players

¨      Each player must play a minimum of three complete innings in the field in each game.

¨      A single, continuous lineup will be used. Each player must bat in his normal rotation, whether or not he played in the field.

¨      Any player arriving late to a game shall be added to the bottom of the batting order. However, that can't take place during the middle of an inning. If one complete turn of the batting order already has occurred the late player would have to wait until the last spot in the order comes around again.

¨      If a player is unable to finish a game, that player’s spot in the batting order is skipped over without an out being recorded.

¨      Catchers must wear a protective supporter in addition to full catcher’s gear. This applies during play, warm-ups, and in the bullpen.

¨      Batters must wear protective helmets while batting, on-deck, or as base runners.

¨      If serving as a base coach, a player must wear a protective helmet.

¨      Bat barrel size may not exceed 2 3/4 inches. There is no differential limit (the difference of the bat’s length minus its weight). An “at bat” begins when the first pitch is thrown. If an illegal bat has been used, a batter will be allowed to switch bats before the first pitch is thrown without penalty. If after the first pitch is thrown it is noticed the batter is using an illegal bat he will be called out on strikes. If it’s discovered the bat is illegal once the plate appearance is completed but before the bat is returned to the dugout the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play. No penalty will be incurred, however, once the bat is returned to the dugout.

¨      Wood bats are permitted.

¨      Steel spikes aren’t allowed.

Pitching

¨      A pitcher may not pitch more than seven innings in one week.

¨      A pitcher may not pitch more than four innings in one game.

¨      A pitcher’s week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday.

¨      A pitcher can't pitch on two consecutive days. However, this rule is waived if the scheduling of a make-up game creates games on consecutive days. This waiver doesn’t change the rule prohibiting a pitcher from pitching more than seven innings a week. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched.

¨      A player can return to the game as a pitcher after having been removed from pitching during the game, one time only.

¨      A coach is allowed one visit to the mound an inning. The second visit in an inning must result in the pitcher being replaced with another player. The player being removed from pitching may be inserted in another defensive position.

Note: These pitching rules have been instituted to assist in the development of pitchers in a safe manner. Recent studies have detailed arm problems that can affect young players when they are overworked in pitching situations. Coaches should exhibit good judgment to not pitch players beyond their limitations. Coaches should work with the player and the player’s parents when necessary to avoid overwork. Although Mahwah Youth Baseball hasn’t implemented the same rules as Little League Baseball concerning pitch counts, coaches should take note of these rules and use them as a guide. The Little League Rules are as follows:

The number of pitches allowable under the new regulation is based on the pitcher’s age. Specific rest periods are in place when a pitcher reaches a higher threshold of pitches delivered in a day.
The table below gives an overview of the number of pitches that will be allowed per day for each age group during the regular season.
 

The rest periods required are listed below.

Pitchers league ages seven through 16 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 to 60 pitches in a day, two calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 to 40 pitches in a day, one calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches one to 20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again.

Baserunning

¨      Base stealing, considered to be any non-batted advancement including wild pitches, passed balls, errant pickoff throws, etc.,  is unlimited with the following restrictions: A team may steal home plate once an inning. In the event that a second attempt at stealing home occurs, the base runner will be returned to third automatically if he makes it home safely. If he is tagged out then the out will be recorded and the base runner won’t be allowed to return to his base. However, if a team has used up its one steal of home and a wild pitch goes into the dugout resulting in a dead ball, the runner at third is entitled to home plate.

  ¨  Caught stealing doesn’t count as a steal. 

  ¨  On a throw from a fielder that goes out of play, the base runner will be entitled to the base he was running to plus one additional base. On a wild pitch where the ball goes out of play, the base runner will be awarded one base from the base he was on at the time of the pitch.

¨      Leading is allowed.

¨      If there is the possibility of a play at any base, including home plate, the base runner must SLIDE or ATTEMPT TO AVOID contact with the defensive player. A base runner may not attempt to run into or knock over an opposing player. Failure to SLIDE or AVOID will result in the runner being called out. If a runner intentionally runs into or knocks down an opposing player, he will be called out and ejected from the game. Head-first slides are only allowed when returning to a base and a player will be called out otherwise.

¨      On a wild throw, or on an error where the ball goes out-of-play, the base runner will be entitled to the base he was running to plus one additional base.

The Game

¨      The Baseball Rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations shall be followed except for rules specified in this document. In cases where contradictions exist between these two sets of rules, the rules specified in this document shall supersede the baseball rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

¨      The pitcher’s mound is 60 feet from home plate and the base paths are 90 feet long on the Airmont, Continental Soldiers and Commodore Perry fields.

¨      A regulation game is six innings.

¨      When the home team is ahead, 3 ½ innings shall constitute on official game. When the home team is behind, four innings constitutes an official game. 

¨      Tie scores are permitted.

¨      A team must have a minimum of eight players throughout the game in order to play a game.  If one team only has eight players to play in the field, the other team will still play nine players in the field.

¨      A team must have a minimum of eight players throughout the game in order to play a game. If one team only has eight players to play in the field, the other team will still play nine players in the field. If a team has seven or few players it will forfeit the game and be given a loss in the standings. The umpires won’t remain to officiate the game.

¨      The infield fly rule will be in effect.

¨      No more than two bunts a game are permitted. Faking a bunt and then swinging away is prohibited. If a bunt is faked and the batter then swings away he will be called out whether or not contact was made with the ball.

¨      Intentional walks aren’t allowed.

¨      Balks will be called. Each pitcher will be issued one warning. Any balk(s) the pitcher commits after the warning will result in each runner getting an extra base. The pitch count will remain as it was before the balk occurred.

¨      The dropped third-strike rule will be in effect. On an uncaught third strike with no runner on first base, or with two outs whether or not there is a runner on first, the batter immediately becomes a runner. The batter may then attempt to reach first base and must be tagged out or thrown out.

¨      No inning may start after two hours from the start of a game. 

¨      A coach is allowed five defensive time outs per game. A defensive time-out is considered to be a visit to the mound (see rule regarding visits to the mound under “Pitching” above).

¨      The game is over when a team is winning by 12 runs or more (the mercy rule) and the losing team has batted four times.