Section 3 Rules

Regulation Game

7 innings

Regulation Game UNLESS

the home team needs none or only part of its 7th inning to take the lead; the game goes into extra innings (international tie breaker), each half inning begins with last batted out on 2nd base, conference rules dictate when the ITB is used, but non-conference - the coaches decide if/when ITB goes into effect; the game ends due to run rule (8 runs after 5 innings); the umpire calls, halts, or forfeits the game

Scoring Runs

a run is scored after a baserunner successfully touches all four bases before the 3rd out of the inning; a run doesn’t count if the 3rd out of the half inning is: a batter runner being forced out at 1B or another base runner being forced out at another base, another baserunner being tagged out before the lead base-runner touches home plate, a preceding runner declared out during the play or due to an appeal

Positions of the offensive team

all team personnel are restricted to the dugout, bullpen, or dead ball area, except for the batter, the on-deck circle and any runners on base; at the start of the game, between half innings, and during pitching changes: the batter and on deck batter can do warm up swings in foul territory, bench personnel can warmup by running in the foul territory of the outfield, base runners currently on base at the time of a pitching change can practice leadoffs from their respective bases

Positions of the defensive team

a team shall have a pitcher, catcher, infielders, and outfielders; a player won’t be considered to have changed defensive positions if they don’t exchange fielding positions with another player, but instead only TEMPORARILY occcupy a different location on the field (5th infielder for a batter); all personnel must remain in the dugout except for the 9 current defensive players during stoppages of play; warmups are permitted at the start of the game, in between half innings or during pitching changes: the 4 infielders can warmup with grounders using one ball, any number of playres can be in the outfield throwing the ball or running in foul territory, fungo hitting is not permitted

Time between innings

this time begins when the last defensive person crosses the foul line to go on offense, if the new defensive team takes longer than 90 seconds, a BALL is called, if the new offensive team takes longer than 90 seconds, a STRIKE is called

Dead ball

AN ACTION THAT STOPS PLAY, actions that lead to dead balls: time is granted to coach/player, blocked balls, hit by pitch, batted or thrown ball goes into dead ball area, a caught ball with the receiver having 1 foot in live ball territory and 1 foot in dead ball territory, spectator reaches onto field and touches a ball or player, an umpire briefly suspends play (a plate ump holds up his or her hand signaling for the pitcher not to pitch the ball until everyone is ready); once a ball is declared a dead ball, no offensive play can be put out and no base runner can advance, the umpire may award bases to base runners when situations dictate a ruling based on the action that created the dead ball

Delayed dead ball

AN ACTION THAT VIOLATES A RULE, BUT PLAY IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, WITH A RULING COMING AFTER THE BALL BECOMES DEAD, actions that lead to delayed dead balls: inaccurate lineup/illegal substitution, catcher or fielder obstruction, illegal pitch, batter interference, running leaving before the pitch’s release, thrown bat illegally batted ball, batter contacts a pitch with any part of her foot outside the batter’s box lines

Delay dead ball ruling

once the play has ended, the coach of the team impacted by the violation will be given the option to take: 1. the result of the play, 2. the penalty for the violation (ball, strike, out, etc)

Suspension of Play

the umpire can suspend play by granting or calling “Time” for actions such as: batter requests, base runner requests (to stand up after sliding into base or to hand elbow guards and other equipment to a base coach), catcher requests to have player-to-player conference, coach requests (to request conference, discuss a play/ruling, substitution), a player injury on the field that requires attention; an umpire will not grant a player or coach time until play has been completed/runners are held at base, a request for time must be granted by the umpire - NOT automatic

Conferences

each team is allowed 7 charged conferences involving coaches and players per regulation game: 7 is the total number of combined offensive/defensive conferences, when the opposing team has a coach involved conference, you can have an uncharged conference during that time (base runners can leave their bases to meet with coaches)

Charged Defensive Conference

a meeting between a coach and defensive players after a suspension of play - this can include players coming to dugout to receive instruction (the defense is allowed 1 defensive conference per half inning)Cha

Charged Offensive Conference

a meeting that takes place between an offensive player and a coach - offenses are allowed 1 offensive conference per half inning

NOT charged conferences

giving instructions from the dugout without requesting a suspension of play, removing a pitcher from the pitcher position or making a defensive substitution, attending to an injured or sick player, helping offensive or defensive player make an equipment change, allowing a base runner to put on a jacket or sweatshirt

Player-to-player conferences

each team has 7 charged player-to-player conferences per regulation game: when the opposing team is having a player-to-player conference, you cannot have an uncharged conference (baes runners cannot leave their bases to meet iwth coaches)

Charged player-to-player conference

a meeting that takes place between players that delays the game or suspends play, there can only be 2 player-to-player meetings per half inning

Uncharged conferences

during suspension of play for an injury, both teams may have an uncharged conference; during suspension of play for the administration of a substitute, both teams may have uncharged conferences (in both instances, base runners are restricted to their bases - unless it is a pitching change)