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A batters box will be required for each W.C.Y.A.A. game during the 2009 Spring-Summer Season. The umpires have been instructed not to start the game without a correct batter’s box.

Coaches, players, and scorekeepers are not allowed to have any tobacco products of any type inside playing field or dugout. Coaches and scorekeepers are not allowed to go outside the field/gate to smoke between innings. Penalty: Per Babe Ruth….. Ejection and two game suspensions.

Base stealing will not be allowed during the 2009 Spring-Summer Season.

A 10 foot line will be drawn immediately in front (5 feet on each side) of the spring loaded pitching machine. The player pitcher must play behind the line until the ball is hit.

Bunting will be allowed for the 2009 Spring-Summer Season. Please note the following rules for bunting:

1. If the player bunts the fifth and final pitch it is a foul ball, then the batter is out.

2. No fake bunting and then swinging away will be allowed. A player may fake a bunt and then not swing.

3. The pitcher, first baseman, and third baseman can charge a bunt once the batter squares to bunt. The pitcher must wait until the ball is hit.

Lines must be drawn ½ way (30 feet) down the third and first base lines. Lines should be approximately 2 feet long. The purpose is to protect the defensive players from getting hurt. Lines are to be drawn in fair territory.

Coaches feeding machine: On each pitch with any runner on base or if a bat is hit, the coach must squat or go down on one knee. If the coach does not follow the rule, the batter-runner will be called out.

One (1) paid umpire, no younger than fifteen (15) years old will be furnished by the W.C.Y.A.A.

Only five (5) runs per inning will be allowed including the last inning or extra innings.

New Rule: Rookie League will use the Spring Loaded Pitching Machine for the 2009 Spring-Summer Season. The pitching machine will be centered at 46 feet.

Each team must play 10 players on defense (if they have 10 players). The 10th players will play outfield (4 outfielders).

Bases will be sixty (60) feet apart and the pitcher’s plate will be forty-six (46) feet from home plate.

An errant throw to first base an infielder going into foul territory (on a force out only) will result in a dead ball situation. All runners will advance only one (1) base from where they were located at the time of the pitch. The throw must come from an infielder. Should an outfielder attempt to force batter out at first an errant throw is made, then it is a live ball situation. If a throw from an infielder (on a force play) is errant but stays in fair ball territory, then the runner may advance.

All runners are legal to advance at their own risk until the lead runner has been stopped. When the lead runner has been stopped, the umpire will call time out and will not allow any further advances met by the trailing runners. Should a fielder stop the lead runner and simultaneously thrown in an attempt to put out a trailing runner, (before umpire calls time out) then the live ball situation sill exists.

Each batter shall receive five (5) pitches or five (5) strikes (swings) before being called out. If the last five (5) pitches are fouled, then the player shall continue to bat until he does not swing or strikes out.

The game will be limited to a one and a half (1 1/2) hours. No innings may start after the time limit has expired. All ties will be played until one team wins. All extra innings will be five (5) run inning.

No tee-ball bats may be used in any situation. Bats must have “baseball” on them.

The catcher must wear skin guards, catcher’s helmet and mask with detachable throat protector, chest protector, and protective cup. The catcher may use either a catcher’s mitt or a regular glove.

There will be a minimum of eight (8) players to start a game and must finish a game with eight (8) players. The catcher’s position must be occupied at all times during the game.

The spring loaded pitching machine will be used the entire game. If a batted ball hits the pitching machine or the coach, then a dead ball will be called. The batter/runner will get one (1st base) and any runner that is forced to move will receive one base. If the spring loaded pitching machine throws a ball that is not hittable, the umpire will call a “no pitch” if the batter does not swing at the ball. If the batter swings at the “bad” pitch, the pitch will count. Each team will provide a coach to feed the spring loaded pitching machine.

It is mandatory that each team bat its entire team in a continuous batting order. Each player must also play half (1/2) of the game on defense.

The player/pitcher must play behind the 10 foot line that is marked at the front edge of the spring loaded pitching machine. The 10 foot line is to be centered on each side of the machine. The umpire will make sure this rule is enforced.

The only time you can change a player’s position during an inning is when an injury or sickness occurs.

If the coach touches any base runner while a play is live, the player will be called out.

All coaches must be in the dugout except the manager. The manager can be located in the doorway dugout. Absolutely NO ONE will be allowed outside the dugout the dugout sitting on buckets. On offense, each team may use two (2) base coaches.

No coaches will be behind the catcher. The player-catcher will be responsible for retrieving the ball and returning it to the adult pitcher.

A player’s helmet must stay on his/her head until the player is in the dugout. Player’s that are required to wear a helmet are: Player’s on deck, a player on base and a player at bat. The penalty for not wearing a helmet is the same as throwing a bat penalty.

Each team gets one (1) warning not to throw the bat. If a player throws a bat a second time, then the player is out. If the same player is warned a second time, then the player is out and ejected from the game.

If a team is playing with eight (8) or nine (9) players then when it comes time for an ejected player to bat, it will not be counted as an automatic out. You skip that position in the batting order. If a player is ejected and there is no legal replacement, then that spot is an automatic out each time.

If a team bats out of order, the batter shall be called out on an appeal when he fails to bat at his proper turn and another batter completes a turn at bat in his/her place. The High School Rulebook, Rule 7, Article 2, Page 43, Exception to the rule #22. If a player is ejected from the game and you have no legal substitutions, that spot will be an automatic out.

The winning team must turn in score sheets. Score sheets must be turned in on Monday by lunch for the weekend games. For weekday games, score sheets must be turned in by the next day by lunch. You may also fax score sheets to Mickey Davis at 252-239-1840. EMAILED SCORESHEETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!!

If you have a rainout, please call Mickey at 252-230-2467 (cell) or 252-239-0652 (office) as soon as possible to cancel the umpires and then call the opposing team’s coach. Mickey will reschedule the rained out or cancelled game as soon as possible and notify both teams.

If the spring loaded pitching machine does not work properly due to weather or malfunction, then the umpire will make the final judgment. The umpire will decide of the coaches who will begin pitching to the player’s.

COUNTY RULE ON PLAYING PLAYER’S WHO MISS PRACTICE! THIS RULE HAS BEEN USED FOR YEARS IN ALL SPORTS BUT HAS BEEN UNWRITTEN UNTIL NOW!

If a team has a rule that players must come to practice or they cannot play in the games, and the player misses practice, you may sit the player out but you must notify the other team. The other team can also request that the player not sit on your team bench.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Do not treat one player differently than another because of their talent. If you do not have a team rule, you cannot use this rule. Please encourage players to come to practice.