2008
MADISON BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
LOCAL RULES & REGULATIONS
SECTION 5 - PREP LEAGUE -DIVISION A
6 (six) year old Coach Pitch League

1.      A team may consist of 13 players or less.

2.      Home team has 3rd base dugout.

3.      In addition to the offensive first base coach and third base coach, a third offensive coach may assume a position near home plate behind the batter.  Also, three defensive coaches may assume positions in the field but must not interfere with play.  In addition, an adult of the offensive team will operate the pitching machine.

4.      All players present at game time shall be placed in the batting order.  Any player arriving after the beginning of the game shall be added to the bottom of the batting order. 

5.      Any player “slinging the bat” which in the coaches’ judgment creates a dangerous situation shall receive a warning.  The managers of the opposing teams shall be notified of the warning.  For any infractions in the same game, the batter shall be declared out and no base runner shall be allowed to advance.

6.      There is no minimum number of players required to play a game.

7.      A half inning is considered complete when 1/2 of the players of one team have batted.

8.      A regulation game shall consist of at least two full innings.  A new inning shall not start after 1 hour of play if a regulation game has been completed.  As a goal, time should be budgeted so that 4 innings are played, so each player bats an equal number of times.  More innings are encouraged.  Play will not continue into the next teams’ time slot.

9.      A T-ball baseball or equivalent shall be used in all local an tournament play.

10.   A pitching machine will be used in the Prep League.  The machine will be located in the pitching circle with its center 41 feet from the back point of home plate.  The machine will be adjusted to throw a baseball no more than 33 miles per hour.  If the ball is not put into play after five (5) pitches from the pitching machine, the batter gets three (3) swings at the ball on the tee.  If the ball is not put into play off the tee, batter is out and returns to the dugout.  If an offensive player “pops out” or is thrown out at any base, they must return to the dugout until the next half inning.  Since this is a noncompetitive league, neither runs nor outs will be counted.  There is no winning or losing team.

11.   Bunting is prohibited.

12.   The defensive team shall consist of up to 13 players.  In addition to the pitcher and catcher, there shall be up to 5 infielders and up to 6 outfielders.  One of the five infielders may be designated a second pitcher and be on the opposite side of the pitching machine.  All players must remain behind an imaginary line from 1^st to 3^rd base.  Catchers must remain behind the plate until the ball has been hit.  Catchers shall not gather missed balls until after play of the batted ball has been declared dead.  Catchers shall remain in a safe position near the backstop, wearing all the protective gear and be on the same side as the batter (where he can read the number on the batter’s back).

13.   A batter/runner may advance to each available base until the ball is called dead.  A dead ball will result when in the judgment of the coaches in the field, a reasonable effort has been made to throw a runner out at a base.  If the ball is missed, and continues into the outfield or foul territory, base runners may advance a maximum of one base but with risk of being put-out.  A ball is considered dead when a player has control of the ball in the pitcher’s circle.  When the ball is considered dead, base runners may advance to the next base if they are more than half way between the bases.  Base runners less than half way must return to the previous base.  In addition, a dead ball will result when a defensive player has control of the ball and is in such position as to prevent any additional advancing of the base runners without a player actually being in control of the baseball within the pitching circle.  The last at-bat of the inning will be treated the same as every other at-bat, in that the batter and associated base runner(s) may advance only until play is called dead in accordance with the preceding rules.  The last batter of the inning will start the following inning at second base.

14.   Base stealing is prohibited.

15.   Coaches may adjust the Tee for the batter. 

16.   It is the responsibility of the coach to move the Tee out of play when a runner is coming home without interfering with the catcher, runner or umpire.

17.   There is no infield fly rule.

18.   The visiting team may take the field twenty minutes prior to game time if available.  The home team may take the field ten minutes prior to game time if available.  If there are less than twenty minutes available, the time shall be divided equally between the teams.  If time does not permit, there will be no infield practice.

19.   No base runner shall slide headfirst into any base.  The first infraction of this rule shall result in the player sitting out the remainder of the game.

20.   A batter accidentally hit by a pitched ball, regardless if he/she swings the bat, shall advance to first base, unless he/she wishes to remain as a batter.

21.   If a batted ball hits the pitching machine, or machine operator prior to being touched by a defensive player, the ball shall be declared dead, and the batter shall be awarded first base without liability of being put out.  Any base runners forced to advance shall move one base.  A runner not forced to advance shall not do so.  If a batted ball hits the pitching machine after being touched by a defensive player, the ball is live unless the pitching machine operator for safety reasons declares the ball dead.  If so declared, it is as if the ball hit the machine first.

22. All batters and base runners will wear a league approved helmet equipped with a face mask.