9U DIVISIONAL RULES

1. FIVE INNINGS (One (1) hour and forty-five (45 minutes) - no extra innings during the regular season.

2. Begin at 6:00 PM. Players and coaches should arrive at 5:45 to allow for a proper warm-up, line-up setting and line-up exchange with the other team. Note that a 15-minute grace period is usually given for a team who does not have all their players at 6:00 PM. Coaches should ensure that this is not abused.

3. FOUR (4) RUN MERCY RULE AFTER EACH INNING - LAST INNING OPEN (Each team can only go through their batting order once).

4. TEN RUN (10) MERCY RULE AFTER FOUR INNINGS (three and a half innings if the home team is leading).

5. Wins/losses/ties will be recorded for standings.

6. RAINOUTS are considered ties, if not made up.

7. WINS will result in two points and TIES will result in one point.

8. Final standings will determine playoff format.

9. Teams tied at the end of the regular season will be determined by:

- total wins

- if still tied: total games won against each other

- if still tied: total runs scored

- if still tied: total runs against

** IMPORTANT **

If HRM declares that the field(s) are not playable then all coaches must adhere to their decision. Coaches who decide to play and/or practice after HRM has declared the fields unplayable will result in the coach being given an immediate suspension.

9U PLAYING RULES

The following rules are those that govern 9U play in the Halifax Minor Baseball Recreational League.

 RULES:

 1. Coaches exchange their line-ups with each other before the start of the game. Scorekeepers on both teams should keep track of runs both for and against.

 2. Coaches are required to coach from the bench or coaches’ boxes. A coach may be used in the outfield to organize players for the first month of play.

 3. ONLY ONE COACH PER TEAM IS ALLOWED TO ASK THE UMPIRES ABOUT A CALL. That coach is to be named before the game begins, when Coaches and Captains are called to the plate. Players cannot be named to this role. If a non-named coach or player approaches the umpires, it is an automatic ejection. If the named coach gets ejected, the team loses the right to have a coach approach the umpires. Coaches will only be permitted to cross the foul lines to assess and/or assist injured players or ask for a ruling clarification.

 4. The winning coach is responsible for calling in or emailing the scores and highlights to the league statistician within 24 hours of the game.

 5. Teams not fielding a minimum of 8 players forfeit the game. - The catching position must be filled.

 If Coaches are expected to be short players, they shall organize “call-up” players (see Rule #6 below). 

For Regular Season only: If at game time, there is a team of seven (7) players and the opposing team has ten (10) or more players, the opposing team shall lend player(s) to the other team. The opposing team shall never go below nine (9) players. For example: If a team has seven (7) and the opposing team has eleven (11), then the opposing team with eleven (11) will lend two (2), so both teams have nine (9).  We encourage coaches to choose players fairly (i.e. Ask players to volunteer or choose randomly). The rule’s intent is to make sure the kid’s play.

 6. Only second year Novice players may be called up to 9U. Coaches should evenly distribute call-up opportunities amongst their eligible players. Call-ups are not eligible to pitch or catch in 9U.

 7. All players must wear a ball cap, and properly – Baseball Nova Scotia rule.

 8. All players in full uniform - players will not be permitted to play if they show up in shorts.

 9. All players must have a number on their shirt (no two numbers are to be the same).

 10. Batting helmets and chin straps are mandatory while at bat and on the base-paths.

 11. It is recommended that all players wear a protector cup (or Jill straps for females).

 12. No leadoffs - runners cannot leave the base(s) until the batter hits the ball.

 13. No Bunting.

 14. All players bat in order. Once the batting order is set, the batting order cannot be changed. Note: batting out of order will result in an out.

 15. The only player who will be allowed to swing/hold a bat is the batter. There is no on-deck circle for safety reasons.

 **IMPORTANT**

Over the years, several players and spectators have been hit with a bat by young players, who in their eagerness to swing a bat, do not look around to see if anyone is near where/when they are swinging.

16. The “Infield Fly Rule” is not in effect for this division.

17. Catchers cannot block home plate unless they are attempting to field the ball thrown directly to home plate – safety reasons - called for interference.

 18. Fielders must not block the path of a runner(s) - called for interference.

 19. Runners must not interfere with the fielders attempt at fielding the ball – called for interference.

 20. Runners are instructed to slide or attempt to avoid contacting a fielder – safety reasons.

 21. No runner advancement on any ball thrown out of bounds. Players are to be encouraged to throw the ball to appropriate base.

 22. A player can only go two (2) bases on a hit. If a runner is on first and the ball is hit to the outfield, they must stop at 3^rd.

 23. The pitcher will pitch to a 3-ball count, then a designated coach will come in to finish the batter. The pitcher will stay near the coach to field the ball.

 24. Batters are given up to a maximum of four (4) pitches from the coach. If, the batter has two strikes and they swing at the first pitch and miss, they are out. Swinging strikes are all that will be counted when the coach is pitching. If the batter does not swing at the 4^th pitch they are out.

 25. A pitcher who hits three (3) batters in an inning must be removed from the mound, even if the pitch hits the ground prior to hitting the batter.

 26. If the pitcher cannot reach the plate with their throw, they can move in to a maximum of 4 ft. toward the plate.

 27. Batters who are hit by a pitch from the Pitcher are awarded a base.

 28. A batter/base runner will be declared out:

* if they strike out

* if they fly out

* if they ground out

* if they hit into a force out

* if they wait for the full four (4) pitches from the coach

* if they are called out or tagged out on the bases

 Note: A foul ball on the 4^th or subsequent pitch will allow the batter to receive another pitch.

 29. Players can catch and pitch in the same game.

 30. A player can only pitch one (1) inning per game.

 31. A Rover (4^th Outfielder) is allowed in this division. This will keep more kids in the field, and off the bench engaged in the game. However, this player must stay in the outfield grass. They are not to be used as an extra infielder.

 32. All players play a minimum of three (3) innings in a game during the regular season and playoffs.

 33. The 9U playing field shall be sixty (60) feet between all bases and the distance between the point of home base and the front side of the pitcher’s plate shall be forty (40) feet – to a max of forty six (46) feet.

 34. The bat shall be round and made of approved material and shall NOT be more than thirty-two (32) inches in length, or more than 2-3/4 inches in diameter at its thickest part. Bats may be taped to a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches from the handle.

 35. Shoes with metal cleats or “spikes” are prohibited. Rubber molded cleats on running shoes are permitted.

 36. All players can wear sunglasses. If pitchers wear sunglasses they must be non-reflective. Proper sports sunglasses are strongly recommended.

 37. No jewelry is allowed, except for medical alert.

 38. There will be no alcohol or tobacco products (smoking) on the field and around the dugouts. All player/coaches are asked to pick up any garbage in or around their dugout at the end of the game.

FAIR PLAY POLICY

An individual player can only play one additional inning more than any other teammate per game - including playoffs.

The overall intent is:

* THROUGHOUT THE SEASON/YEAR ALL PLAYERS PLAY AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME as all players have paid the same amount to play baseball.

* To prevent some players from playing every inning of every game while other players are splitting games.

* Coaches will rotate the batting order during the regular season so that the same players are not hitting at the bottom of the order all year. However, once a batting order is set for a game it must remain unchanged for that game.

SUBMITTING GAME SCORES

The WINNING Team (HOME Team in the event of TIE) is responsible for submitting the game scores to the LEAGUE. Click on the following link to open an email with the correct reporting addresses:

scheduler@halifaxminorbaseball.com

Game scores should be submitted by 10:00 PM on game day to ensure they are entered on the HMB website.

SUBJECT: Game Scores - Halifax Minor Baseball
HALIFAX MINOR BASEBALL

DIVISION:
DATE:
WINNING TEAM: Team Name Score
LOSING TEAM: Team Name Score