• All bats for age divisions 14U and younger must be permanently stamped with the new USSSA 1.15 BPF Mark (Chart 7.01.C), or BBCOR.50 Certified Mark or made of wood and manufactured by a licensed USSSA manufacturer. 
• Any bat permanently stamped with the official USA Baseball logo is legal to use in any USSSA baseball event, except were BBCOR is required.
• In age divisions 4U – 12U, non-metal cleats shall be worn
• The catcher shall wear all appropriate protective gear including a catcher’s helmet with facemask and either a built-in extended throat guard or a separately attached throat guard, chest protector, shin and / or leg guards. 
• All offensive players shall use a double ear-flap batting helmet whenever at bat, on deck, on base or any other time outside of the dugout and the ball is live and in play.

A regulation game will consist of six (6) innings for age divisions 7-8, 9-10, & 11-12, or the time limit, whichever is reached first. See below for details.

3-4 Division

• 1 Hour Sessions
• Sessions will be a joint 30 min practice followed by 30 min game. 

5-6 Division

• 1 hour or 4 innings
• No inning will begin after the time limit, regardless of an open inning being played. 

7-8 Division

• 1 hour 30 min or 6 Innings
• No inning will begin after the time limit, regardless of an open inning being played. 
• Open inning should be called at the top half of an inning, and be called as close to the 1 hour 10 min mark as possible. ( Open inning can be called at 1 hour 5 min for example) or the 6th inning whichever happens first. 

9-10 Division

• 1 hour 30 min or 6 Innings
• No inning will begin after the time limit.
• Open inning should be called at the top half of an inning and be called as close to the 1 hour 10 min mark as possible. (Open inning can be called at 1 hour 5 min for example) or the 6th inning whichever happens first. 

11-12 Division

• 1 hour 45 minutes or 6 innings. 
• No inning will begin after the time limit.

All tournament games will follow the time limit rules and mercy rules, with the exception that the Championship game will be 6 innings with the Mercy rules in effect.  

Mercy Rules

• An imposed Mercy (run) Rule shall be used to complete a regulation game when one team’s margin of lead is greater than or equal to the listed run differential in the corresponding listed start inning. In enforcing this rule, the home team shall not bat if they are winning, and the mercy requirement is met prior to the start of the bottom half of the listed inning. Similarly, if the home team is batting and meets the mercy requirement in the bottom half of a listed inning the home team shall cease batting and the game shall end.
• Run Rule is 18-run differential after three innings; 12-run differential after four innings; 8-run differential after five innings.

• If a game is called due to rain, weather, light failure, or other acts of Nature and cannot be resumed, it is a regulation game if:
• For a six (6) inning game, if three (3) innings have been played or if the home team has scored more runs after two and one half (2 1/2) innings the game shall be declared a complete game.

• An Intentional Walk may be issued upon announcement from either the pitcher or catcher without throwing pitches.
• Coaches may inform the umpire prior to any pitches that they intend to walk the runner. 
• At any time, the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record from the previous inning on defense. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If there are no substitute players available, the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out.
• If the Pitcher or Catcher gets out prior to an out being recorded in the 1st inning, and there are no substitute players the courtesy runner shall be the batter furthest from coming back up to bat in the line-up that is not the Pitcher or Catcher of record. In all other innings, the courtesy runner is the last batted out and if no outs have been recorded, it will be the last out from the previous inning.
• The re-entry status of the courtesy runner, pitcher, and catcher shall not be affected by this rule. If at any time while the courtesy runner is still on base, if determined to be ineligible, a proper replacement pursuant to these rules shall be used without penalty.
• Whenever a tag play is evident, a runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and / or catcher. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Malicious contact is solely up to the discretion of the Umpire. Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the discretion of the Umpires.
• A runner who jumps over a player will be called out whether or not contact is made with the defensive player.
• A dead ball appeal can be appealed directly to the umpire, without the Pitcher throwing to the appealed base. Only one dead ball appeal is allowed on any play.
• Feinting/Faking a bunt and swinging away is not allowed at any level.

Lead Off Rules (Applies to 9/10 and 11/12 only)

• 9/10 League: No runners shall lead off prior to the ball crossing the plate. Once the ball crosses the plate any runner may lead off or steal. Runners must return to the occupied base when the Pitcher has the ball in hand and is on the pitcher's mound. Balk rules are not in effect. 
• Runners shall be called out for leaving the base early. 
• 11/12 League: Lead-off and stealing rules will be governed by NFHS rules. Balk rules are in effect. 
• Infield Fly rules are in effect for 9/10 and 11/12 leagues
• There will be 6 runs per inning max for 9/10 leagues 
• There is no run limit for 11/12 leagues.

The Retreat and Remain Obligation (9/10 specific)

• Any runner who, in the judgment of the umpire, has ceased all efforts to advance to the succeeding base and has initiated a retreat toward the base last legally touched, shall be required to complete the return to that base and remain there. Once this retreat has begun, the runner forfeits the right to attempt an advance to the next base unless one of the following conditions is met:
• An Attempted Play: A defensive player makes an active attempt to retire the runner (e.g., a tag attempt, a throw to the base the runner is approaching, or a direct pursuit by a fielder with the ball).
• Overthrow to the Pitcher: The ball is thrown to the pitcher and becomes an "overthrow" (defined as the ball passing the pitcher or leaving the immediate vicinity of the mound/pitcher's plate), thereby creating a live-ball error scenario.

Rule Clarification: If the runner begins the retreat and then attempts to reverse course back toward the succeeding base before a play is made or an overthrow occurs, the umpire shall call "Time," and the runner shall be directed back to the last touched base. If the ball is in play, the runner remains at risk of being put out while returning to the original base, but cannot be awarded the succeeding base.

 The starting pitcher is the only pitcher that can return to the game once removed, provided they have not reached their innings limit for the day or for the week.

Maximum Innings Pitched

• Week: The maximum number of innings a pitcher may legally pitch in one calendar week (Sunday-Saturday) is EIGHT (8).
• Day: The maximum number of innings a pitcher may legally pitch in one day is FOUR (4). The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day.
• NOTE: The maximum number of innings a pitcher may legally pitch and retain eligibility to pitch the next day is THREE (3). If the player pitches three and one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player cannot legally pitch the next day.
• For purposes of pitching limitations rules, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if he records any out above the legal pitching limits pursuant to these rules.
• Exception: Exceeding the maximum innings allowed in the case of a double or triple play shall not be counted against the pitcher for the purpose of this rule but shall be counted towards the pitcher’s limits with regards to the eligibility to pitch the next day, etc.
• It shall be the responsibility of each team to challenge pitching violations by notifying the Umpire and then filing a Protest with the League/Baseball Commissioner. A protest may be filed at any point after the pitcher in violation records any out beyond his legal limit AND while the pitcher in violation is in the game as the pitcher of record. If such violation is the last recorded out of the game, the protest MUST be filed prior to the Umpires and the protesting team leaving the field of play.
• NOTE: If possible, all protests should be handled on the field at the time of the protest. 
• Coaches may visit the pitching mound twice (2) per inning. The second visit to the mound in the same inning must result in a pitching change.
• An injury check does not count as a mound visit, as long as it is to check on the injury only. No gathering of the infield is allowed during injury checks on the pitcher. 

Pitching Distance

• 9-10 League: 46 Feet. The distance is marked by orange markers on the ground. Line up the front tip of the mound orange mark on the mound with the orange marker in the ground. The Marker closest to home plate is for 9/10.
• 11-12 League: 50 Feet. The distance is marked by orange markers on the ground. Line up the tip of the back of the mound with the orange marker in the ground. The marker farther from home plate is 11/12.
• The home pitcher will have 8 warm up pitches or 90 seconds to warm up prior to the start of the game. The visiting team pitcher will have 8 warm up pitches or 90 seconds in the bottom half of the first inning. All subsequent pitchers shall have no more than 4 warm up pitches or a minute in between innings. New Pitchers will be given 5 pitches or 90 seconds from the time they take the mound.
• Catchers should be ready to play at the start of each inning. Excessive time could result in balls being called for the batter. To help with the time, catchers should remain in shin guards unless they are at-bat or on the base paths.
• Coaches may warm-up pitchers while waiting for catchers to prepare to play if they have been at-bat or on the base paths.

• Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
• The player playing pitcher must start with at least 1 foot inside of the circle. 
• Pitcher’s Line: The pitching coach shall have at least one foot on the line at the start of the pitch. The pitching line shall line up with the front of the pitching rubber.  
• The pitching coach shall not verbally or physically coach while in the pitching position. After a second warning, the coach can be removed from the pitcher for the rest of the game. 
• The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit.
• Pitching Coach: The Pitching Coach shall be an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baseline.
• The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.
• Defensive coaches shall not be allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.
• The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.
• Teams may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order shall remain the same.
• Bunting shall not be allowed.
• The batter shall receive a maximum of six (6) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. (The at bat is extended if the last pitch is hit foul).
• A player may only be Intentionally walked once per game by announcement from the defensive team.
• Runners shall not lead off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.
• A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out. If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base. If the team batting has not played defense yet and a courtesy runner is used for a player, the player that was run for must assume the catching position the next inning. This scenario only applies in the first inning for the visiting team.
• A team may score a maximum of six (6) runs per inning.
• The game is over when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. (Run Rules still apply)
• Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as all the runners are not attempting to advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule. 
• If runners are past the halfway mark, they are awarded the next base. 
• Rule 8.20 Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
• When a batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the following shall apply:
• If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out and no runners shall advance.
• If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead, and a no-pitch is declared.

• Batters will receive a maximum of six (6) pitches to hit. If they do not hit the ball fair, they will be given two (2) swings off the batting tee. If they are unable to hit, they will be called out. 
• If a foul ball is hit with the last pitch, the batter will get another pitch or swing. 
• All players will play the field, with 5 infielders, and all other players will take an outfield position. 
• A team may score a maximum of six (6) runs per inning.
• The half inning is over when the batting team scores (6) runs or the fielding team records 3 outs, whichever is first. 
• Runners may only advance extra bases when balls are hit to the outfield. Time is called once a player in the infield has control of the ball. 
• Overthrows to first allows runners one base on the overthrow.
• We want to encourage players to learn the right way to play, so we want players to throw the ball to first. 
• Open inning will take place in the 4th inning, or the last full inning before the time limit.
• Mercy rules are not in effect for this league.