Grant County Youth Baseball

Minor League Division Rules

The following is a summary of some of the rules in the Minor Division of GCYB.  A full explanation of all the rules can be found in the Official Regulations and playing rules of chartering organization.

1. Minor Division teams are created by use of a draft procedure.  Players must attend evaluations and managers will select the players that will be on their team according to a draft procedure approved by GCYB board.  Player’s league age 9, 10 and 11 will be eligible for participation in the Minor division.  A player’s league age is their age as of May 1^st of the current season.  Eight year olds are eligible to play in the Minor division in GCYB, if their skill level is deemed adequate during evaluations.  If an eight year old is not drafted to a Minor division team, the player will be placed on a Machine Pitch team.
2. Games are six (6) innings long.  If a game is shortened for weather or darkness etc. it is a regulation game if 4 innings have been completed, or if the home team is ahead after 3 and ½ innings.  If a game is called before it has become a regulation game and 1 or more innings have been played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off.
3. Time Limit: The game time limit for Minor division games will be two hours.  No new inning may begin after the two hour time limit has been reached.  On Saturdays or when there are two games on a weeknight; no new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 50 minutes.  It is the responsibility of managers and umpires to limit the amount of time spent between innings.
4. Each player must play a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs and get at least one (1) at bat per game.  If a player does not get in the minimum because of a shortened game, that player must then start the next scheduled game, fulfill the playing obligations from the last game, and at least the minimum play for the current game before being taken out.  Violation of the minimum play rules will result in a warning, then possible suspension of the manager by the GCYB board.
5. A players pitching eligibility is determined as follows:  

(a)    Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (Note: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)

(b)   Players once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers.

(c)    The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position.

              League Age:           17 – 18       105 pitches per day

                                              13 – 16       95 pitches per day

                                              11 – 12       85 pitches per day

                                                9 – 10       75 pitches per day

                                                7 – 8         50 pitches per day

              Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed for his/her league age while

              facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following

              conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The

              third out is made to complete the half-inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers 21

              or more pitches cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of

              that day.

(d)   Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest

      requirements:

·         If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest, and a game must be observed.

·         If a player pitches 41 – 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest, and a game must be observed.

·         If a player pitches 21 – 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.

·         If a player pitches 1 – 20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

(e)    A player may not pitch in consecutive games, on the same day.

(f)    Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.

(g)   The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire.  However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.

(h)   The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game.  The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed.  However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.

(i)     Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs.

NOTES: 

1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation.  League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protest.  When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately. 
2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.
3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
4. Catchers must wear cup, mask with throat protector, and catchers helmet during practice, pitcher warm-up and games.
5. The scorekeeper of the home team will keep the official score book (unless the league provides an official score keeper).  No one except eligible players in uniform, managers and not more than two coaches shall occupy the bench or dugout area.  The batter, all base runners and players acting as coaches, must wear helmets at all times.  (All helmets will have a league approved face protector) 
6. There will be no on-deck circle.  Players may not take warm-up swings either inside or outside the dugout.  There shall be no head-first sliding to a base a runner is attempting to reach.  A player is allowed to slide head first back to the base he already legally gained possession of.  Example:  A runner on first may not slide head first into second on a ground ball.  He may, however, dive head first back to first base on a line drive in an attempt not to be put out.
7. Minor division teams will use a player pool to prevent games being forfeited do to lack of players.  (Review the player pool procedure to verify how it is to be used and managed).
8. Teams will be dissolved at seasons end and redrafted at the start of every season.  Draft procedures are defined by GCYB board.

Managers and Coaches responsibilities:

• The home team manager is responsible for raking, soaking, and covering the pitchers mound before and after their game.
• Each manager is responsible for exhibiting exemplary sportsmanship at all times, and is responsible for the sportsmanship of coaches, players and parents from his/her team.
• Players are not permitted to question umpire’s calls, use profanity, belittle or confront other players, or throw equipment.

Approved By:  Grant County Youth Baseball Board            Date: 12/09/07