Golden West League Rules – Mosquito Division – 2010 Season
Games will be played according to the Baseball Canada Rulebook unless superseded by the league rules:
1. Spirit of the League
· Please be reminded that the Golden West League is a development or recreational level league. The spirit of the games, and rules have been set to ensure fair and equal play for all participants, in a less competitive environment.
· All coaches are encouraged to let the players experience playing all positions during the course of the season unless in the coaches’ opinion the safety of a player is jeopardized by playing a particular position.
· There are UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTIONS (with the exception of the pitcher), and all players bat. To be clear if a pitcher leaves the position he cannot return to pitch again in the same game.
· A player is not to sit more than 1 consecutive inning during the game, and no player shall sit more than two innings in a game until all players have sat at least two innings.
· The home team is responsible for having the diamond ready, umpires and game balls.
· The dimensions of the field will be as follows:
Ø Distance between all bases will be 60 feet
Ø Distance between the front of the pitcher’s rubber to home plate shall be 44 feet
· Lastly, please remember that the coaches are responsible for your fans and parents in the stands. If a parent’s behavior is intolerable or abusive to any participant in the game you may be asked by the umpire or other game participants to ask for that parent to leave the ballpark. If unsuccessful in doing so, your team may forfeit the game.
2. Start of Games - Definition of an Official Game – and Mercy Rules
· Evening games start at 6:30 PM with no new inning to start after 8:00 PM (official time is determined by the umpire’s watch). The umpire may extend the ending time of a game, if the game started late.
· There must be at least 7 players to start a game. If there are not 7 players available by 6:30 PM the team short will have 5 minutes to have the required number of players on the field or shall forfeit the game.
· Home teams are responsible for cancelling games because of bad weather, and must contact the visiting teams coach by 5:00pm of the night of the game. If the visiting team hasn’t heard from the home coach, they are to show up at the diamond to play the game.
· There shall be 6 innings per game. There must be 2 complete innings for an official game in the event of rain or darkness.
· There is a 5 run mercy rule per inning. A complete inning will end when both teams have either 3 (three) outs or 5 (five) run scored. This rule will remain in effect throughout the entire game. The last inning is not open.
3. Pitching Rules
· All pitchers will be allowed to pitch no more that 2 consecutive innings per game and no more than 6 per week, keeping in mind that if the pitcher pitches on a REP team whose innings will count toward the weekly total for innings pitched.
· A pitcher leaving that position cannot return to pitch again in the same game.
· If the pitcher throws 1 pitch, he will be charged with 1 inning pitched whether he remains in the game at that position or not.
· Pitchers will only be allowed 5 warm-up pitches when they enter the game and 5 pitches during any subsequent innings. It would be appreciated if the coaches would warm up their pitchers on the sidelines whenever possible.
· There will be no balks called; instead umpires should talk to pitchers to explain to them what they are doing incorrect.
4. Keeping a Good Pace to the Game
· There is no stealing on a pitched ball. For further clarity, the only methods in which runners can advance a base are on a walk or hit ball.
· Runners are not allowed to lead off. The runner cannot leave the base until the ball reaches home plate. If the runner leaves early and the ball is not hit, they will be brought back to the base they left.
· Coaches are to discourage the pitcher and catcher from meeting halfway between home plate and pitcher’s mound, to exchange the baseball after it has been pitched. This has at times become a common practice to avoid over-throws from the catcher to the pitcher. But this practice delays the player’s development and slows the game down considerably. Catchers should throw the ball back to the pitcher from the home plate area and pitchers should catch the ball a few feet down from the mound area.
· As a suggestion, the batting team may wish to have a player (with a helmet on) ready and available to retrieve pass balls for the other team’s catcher. This will speed up play considerably.
· A courtesy runner for the catcher may be used when there are 2 outs in the inning, and the catcher is on base.
5. Reporting the Game Results
It is the responsibility of the winning team, or in the event of a tie the home team to report the games scores, within 24 hours of the game completion. Scores are to be reported by email to Deb Kosolofski at .ca phoningwww.sjpbaseball.cabdrkosy@shaw 484-8525. Schedules and standings will be available for viewing on the web site
6. 2009 Golden West League Executive
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President:
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Dan Rude - SJP
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Ph # 481-0689
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Vice President:
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Dwight Johnson - Spruce Grove
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Ph # 962-0762
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Disputes & Discipline Directors:
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Scott Erwin – Stony Plain
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Ph # 963-2831
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