STALLION LEAGUE RULES

KENILWORTH WINNETKA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION

Stallion League Rules

(Revised March 2007)

I.                  Baseball Season 

1.              All games will be played on Sundays from 12:00pm-1:15pm.

2.              Teams will be allowed a  30 minute warm-up before games (11: 30am-12:00pm).

3.              There will  be batting practice before the games using batting tools to be supplie
   by the League.

4.              Teams will conduct a one-hour practice during the week. 

II.               Sportsmanship 

1.              It is the primary responsibility of the coaches to promote good sportsmanship
  among their players and fans.

2.              The coaches should do their best to emphasize the League’s purpose of developing
  skills and providing fun for the players, while minimizing the competitive aspect of
  the games.

3.              Wins, losses and scores of the games will not be kept.

4.              A player or coach who swears, throws a bat or batting helmet, or is otherwise
  disruptive or unsportsmanlike will be given a warning by the umpire (and in the case
  of a player), lose his next turn at bat.  Any subsequent act of misconduct by that
  player or coach will result in that player or coach being immediately ejected from
  the game and directed to leave the playing field by the umpire.

5.              Coaches and players may not question or protest judgment calls made by the umpire
  and coaches will be responsible for causing their players and their team’s fans to do
  likewise. 

III.           Equipment and Uniforms 

1.              Rubber soled gym shoes or rubber-cleated shoes are required.  No metal spikes of
  any kind are allowed.

2.              All batters and base runners must wear a batting helmet at all times. 

3.              Each player should wear his team hat and jersey at every game.  Players should wear
  baseball pants and not shorts. Team jerseys and hats may not be altered in any manner.

IV.           Avoidance of Contact Rule 

                1.           “BOWLING OVER” at any base is prohibited.  If, in the umpire’s judgment, the runner
                                either tries to “bowl-over” the fielder or does not make an effort to avoid unnecessary
                                contact, the runner is called out. 

                2.            Any defensive player who does not have possession of the ball shall not impede the
                                progress of the offensive player as he or she runs the base.  The offensive player will be
                                awarded the base  and other as seen fit by the umpire. 

                3.            All sliding must be feet first or the umpire may send the runner safely back to the
                                 immediately preceding base.

IV.          V.            Games 

1.            The distance between bases will be 60 feet.  The distance between home plate and the pitching rubber will be 35 feet (measured from the back tip of the plate).  If this is too close for a very good pitcher, then that pitcher can be moved back up to 43 feet or any distance in between that fits the pitcher.

2.            Games will last a maximum of one hour and thirty minutes with no inning begun after 1:15 minutes.  Each team will bat an equal number of times. All play must cease immediately at 1:30 pm.

3.             During the first three games of the season, the following will be in effect:

·       Coaches will pitch to their players (no walks, but there will be strikeouts)

·       Batting tees will not be used

·       The inning will be finished when every player has had a turn at bat except that if both teams have only 7-8 players, then each team will bat through the order twice. 

4.            Starting with the fourth game of the season, the following will be in effect:

·      Kids will pitch to the opposing players (there will be no walks, but there will be strikeouts).  The exception to this rule shall be that the dad coaches will pitch the first inning from the knee at the same speed that players pitch.

·      If a kid-pitcher throws four balls to the opposing player, the opposing player’s coach will come in to pitch and finish the count (i.e., if the hitter has one strike in the count, the coach will be able to throw two more strikes).

·      The inning will be finished when there are three outs or when every player has had a turn at bat (whichever comes first).  The players will bat through the order in the first inning regardless of the number of outs.

 ·     Starting with the fourth game, the umpire shall move behind the plate to make calls.

·      If both teams have only 7-8 players per team for a game, then the coaches can decide at game time to bat through the order twice instead of only once (the three-out rule will stay in effect). 

5.            Each team may play a maximum of 10 players in the field (six infielders and four outfielders – including short center).  Coaches are no longer allowed in the outfield to help with instruction. 

6.            The position of catcher has been implemented for Stallion League.  Depending on ability, the catcher will either 1) play the actual catcher position catching the pitches or 2) stand behind the dad/coach catcher and will come forward after hits to make defensive plays. Catchers will wear helmets with attached masks.  If there are not enough players to have a catcher position, then the dad/coach catcher will make plays at the plate.  A dad/coach will always be behind the plate to help get the ball back to the pitcher.  To help expedite games, a catcher can be pulled off base to prepare for the following inning and will have a substitute runner put in his/her place.  

7.            No bunts allowed.

8.             No lead-offs are allowed.

9.             No stealing is allowed.

10.             The “infield fly” pop up rule will not be followed – any ball that is hit in “live”. 

11.            No advances on an overthrow.

12.            Infield hit:  the batter and runner(s) may advance one base. 

13.            Outfield hit:  the batter and runner(s) may advance two bases.

14.            Hits past the outfielders:  the batter and runner(s) may advance until the pitcher has
  the ball.  Once the ball is with the pitcher, the runners must stop.

15.            No infield or outfield warm-ups between innings.

16.            Kid-pitch warm-ups:  3-5 pitches.

17.          Player Rotation:  Players must rotate positions throughout the game.  Each player may play a single defensive position for only one inning during the game (i.e. shortstop one inning, left field one inning, etc.).  A single pitcher can pitch for only one inning in a game and cannot pitch a second time until all players have had the opportunity to pitch.  All players who can safely pitch the 35’ distance will be allowed to pitch.  More than one pitcher can pitch in an inning.

18.           Players should play both infield and outfield positions during the game.

19.          Let the umpires call the game.

20.           Make sure the kids have fun!