Duxbury Youth Baseball
Cal Rikpen Minors Rules
Duxbury Youth Baseball
Cal Rikpen Minors Rules
BASE COACHES
Adults should always be used as a base coach.
BUNTING
Bunting is allowed at any time. A batter will be called out if he steps on home plate or out of the batter’s box while attempting to bunt or if an attempted bunt on a third strike is bunted foul.
COMPLETE GAMES/EXTRA INNINGS/FORFEITS/RAIN OUTS
If a game is called after 3 ½ innings with the home team ahead or after 4 innings with either team ahead, it is a complete game. If a game is not complete, it should be continued and picked up exactly where the game was left off (inning, score, outs, count, baserunners). If a pitcher had already pitched in the pre-postponed portion of the game, they will not be able to pitch in the rescheduled portion.
There are no extra innings unless it is a playoff game.
Rained out or cancelled games must be made up as soon as possible to avoid accumulating too many games at the end of the season. The players deserve to play all of their scheduled games. Reschedule rainout games for the following at a mutually agreeable time between the two coaches. Enlist the services of the Commissioner if any challenges in rescheduling surface. Games always take priority over a practice. Thus, if a conflict exists that would prevent a field from being available to play a game, the practice will be canceled.
SEVEN (7) players are required to have an official game. The team that is short a player can borrow up to two players (to have 9 players in the field) from the opposing team. The last batter or two batters in the offensive lineup for the respective inning should be the players given to the opposing team.
No inning can be started after 7:50 PM. An inning that has been started prior to 7:50 PM can be finished (light permitting). Please use reasonable judgement with safety as the first priority.
CONDUCT
A coach has the authority not to play an individual because of disciplinary reasons and to bench a player during a game for the same reasons (unsportsmanlike conduct, throwing bats, abusive language, etc.). In addition, a player is subject to ejection from a game by the umpire for unsportsmanlike conduct which may include the use of profane or abusive language, throwing bats/helmets, etc.
Fighting among players is not allowed and is cause for immediate ejection from the game. Any player ejected from a game by an umpire must sit out the next game. If a player is ejected from more than one game, he may be removed from the team by the League Commissioner and DYB President.
Taunting the opposing team or coaches is not allowed and continued taunting following notification by the umpire to stop is reason for forfeit. If this is a Coach, this may result in being removed as a Coach for the season.
Players, coaches and fans are discouraged from standing behind the backstop.
DROPPED THIRD STRIKE
Hitter cannot run to first if the catcher drops the third strike.
EQUIPMENT
Metal spikes are not allowed.
USA Bats must be used – no exceptions. Barrel sizes up to 2 5/8 are allowed. Coaches need to police their own teams and call each other out, if necessary.
If illegal bat used, no immediate penalty but bat should be removed from game
All players in the field must wear a baseball cap, bill forward and have their uniform shirt tucked into their pants.
All catchers in the game must use full protective equipment including helmet, face shield with throat protector, chest shield and shin guards. Players warming up pitchers must wear face shields with throat protectors.
All batters must wear a protective helmet.
All base runners must wear a helmet.
As a safety precaution, players should not wear any jewelry, including wristwatches, necklaces, neck chains, rings or bracelets.
INFIELD FLY RULE
The infield fly rule is not in effect.
LEADING OFF
A base runner cannot lead at any time.
MANDATORY PLAY
All players must play in the field at least three innings, however, it strongly encouraged that all players play at least four innings. The entire roster will bat in the lineup (even if you have 12-13 players).
ON DECK CIRCLE
Players should be instructed to remain on the bench during a game, behind the protective fence, when not in the field. Only the on-deck and in the hole batters are allowed away from the bench area in the designated areas for being on-deck and double-deck. No fans should be allowed in this area.
OVERTHROWS
As a general rule, overthrows can be advanced only one base if the ball is ruled out of play. If the ball ends up in fair or foul territory, the runner can advance at this own risk.
Keene Field: A ball is out of play when it crosses the dugout fence (extended). This includes Keene Fields #1 - if an overthrown ball hits the parking lot fence, it is out of play and the runner advances to second base.
A player at third base cannot score on an overthrow. The player can only score from third on a batted ball.
Mounding is required to get to a dead ball situation. Unless otherwise indicated by the umpire, a play is not considered over until the pitcher has control of the ball and is standing on the mound.
A ball returned to the pitcher by the catcher following a pitch or at the end of a play is a dead ball and no base runners may advance.
PLAYOFFS
Playoffs at the end of the regular season will involve all teams. The League Commissioner will organize and schedule playoff games.
PITCHERS
A pitcher may pitch only two innings per game and six innings per week. A week is considered Monday through Sunday. One pitch constitutes an inning. The same rules apply to playoffs.
In the playoffs, a pitcher may pitch only six innings in each playoff series regardless of calendar week. One pitch constitutes an inning. Extra innings and makeup games are included in the total innings pitched per week. A pitcher who has pitched two innings in a game cannot pitch any extra innings.
It is up to the coach to determine when a pitcher should be removed from a game, however, 4 consecutive base on balls or hitting 3 batters in a game may be a good measuring point, but not a requirement.
No intentional walks are allowed.
No quick pitches are allowed. A batter must be set and clearly facing the pitcher before a ball may be thrown to the plate.
PROTESTS
Protests shall be made at the time of the play. However, umpire judgment calls are not open to protest. The protesting coach should have the home plate umpire and opposing coach sign his scorebook at the time of protest. The game will continue to conclusion with the protesting coach notifying the League Commissioner. Due to the instructional nature of this league, it is expected that there will never be a protest.
SCORE KEEPING
Immediately following the game, the coach of the winning team shall post the final score to the DYB Website.
SLAUGHTER RULE
The slaughter rule is not in effect. The maximum amount of runs scored per half inning per team is 5 runs. However, there is no run limit in the 6 inning.
SLIDING
A runner should slide if a ball is in the possession of the fielder at the base to which he is advancing (except first base). A player should also slide if the ball is in the air and the fielder is already positioned over the base. The runner may be called out or ejected from the game if, in the opinion of the umpire, he did not slide and/or there was an overt attempt to injure or intimidate the fielder. This rule is intended to prevent injuries. It is a judgment call by the umpire which cannot be questioned. Conversely, a fielder cannot block the base if no play is occurring. A fielder shall not “fake” a play to force the base runner to slide, thus delaying his advance. These offenses, along with any interference in the base path itself, will be a judgment call by the umpire, not subject to question. The runner is automatically safe and is awarded one or more bases at the judgment of the umpire as to how far the runner may have advanced.
STEALING
Stealing is allowed only from the fourth inning on.
Steals can take place regardless of the placement of the pitch including wild pitches and passed balls.
Only second base and third base can be stolen or advanced.
Baserunners cannot advance an extra base on overthrows or steal two bases on the same play.
No leading / stealing until the ball has crossed the plate (reaches the catcher)
Double steals are permitted.
UMPIRES
The berating or criticizing of the umpire is not allowed. Only the head coach may discuss a call or the interpretation or application of a rule with the umpire. Head coaches shall control assistant coaches and/or volunteers. Failure to obey this rule will be result in a disciplinary hearing with the Duxbury Youth Baseball (DYB) Executive Committee and possible suspension and/or expulsion. Issues, incidents and/or disputes arising during the course of a game shall be brought to the attention of the League Commissioner and/or Umpires for evaluation and/or corrective action.
Once a game has begun, the umpire shall have the final authority to determine if a game is to be called in event of inclement weather, darkness, etc. The safety of the players, specifically the ability of the players to see a pitched or hit ball shall be of primary concern. However, prior to the game being called, the umpire should discuss with both team coaches. If possible, a game should be called at the end of a complete inning. If a game is called in the middle of an inning, the outcome shall revert back to the score at the end of the previously completed inning assuming the requirements of a complete game have been met (see previous rule regarding Complete Games).
Any ballplayer or coach may ask for a ‘time out’. However, only an umpire may call ‘time’. A request for ‘time’ will not be granted until the umpire has determined that play has stopped.
Umpires shall be scheduled by the Director of Umpires. If a game is cancelled by the coaches, the coach of the home team is required to directly contact the scheduled umpire and notify the Director of Umpires. Schedule umpires for makeup games directly with the Director of Umpires.
Review ground rules prior to every game
Encourage umpires to be vocal and confident with their calls
Home plate umpires must wear a protective mask, a chest protector and shin protectors. No bare feet or open sandals are allowed.
WALKS
After a batter has been pitched 4 called balls in a single at bat he will be awarded first base.
Last updated March 2024
COACHES
Keep the game moving.
Be organized and come to the game with a line up.
Keep a scorebook.
Have your catcher ready to come on to the field before the third out.
For innings 1-3 only. Have a coach stand near the dugout side of the backstop and grab passed balls that get by the catcher.
Mound visits: A coach may come out once in one inning to visit the pitcher. The second trip to the mound must result in the removal from the pitcher who was visited earlier in the inning.
Leave the fields in good condition. There is a rake for every field. When you pick up the equipment bag, please bring the rake and have a volunteer rake the base lines and pitcher’s mound after every game.
SHEDS
Keep sheds clean
Ensure that they are locked if last one there. If not sure, lock to be safe.
Be cautious with sharing lock combination on a need to know basis only.
EQUIPMENT BAGS
Bags should have enough equipment for game. Upon completion of game, please store neatly in shed when done. Also, please refrain from using the equipment bag as a trash bag.
TIEBREAKERS
Wins
Ties
Head to Head
FIELD MAINTENANCE
A rake is available for every field. When you pick up the equipment bag, please bring the rake and rake the base lines and pitcher's mound before every game.
It is the responsibility of the coaches to line the fields prior to the game. The home team should take the lead but the visiting team should be in the position to assist.
Quik dry should only be used in emergencies only.
Do not sweep water onto grass when water pools on infield.
Leave the fields in good shape at the end of the game and remove all trash from your dugout.