NEAAU Baseball League 2017 Regular Season Rules Major League Baseball & NFHS RULES  NEAAU League plays under MLB rules, except where identified Some NFHS rules are used. Please read all rules below to ensure you and your entire coaching staff are aware Field Dimensions / Leading 
9U ‐ 46/60 (no leading) 10U ‐ 46/60 (no leading) 11U ‐ 50/70 (leading allowed) 12U ‐ 50/70 (leading allowed) 13U+ ‐ 60/90 Home Plate Meeting 
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Payment of the umpires Baseballs should be placed into the game Identify if you are using the continuous batting order Lineup card exchange Confirm start time for each game with opposing coach & umpires All teams are playing Major League Baseball rules accept where amended by NEAAU Regular Season Umpire Rules 
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Host club responsible for scheduling umpires for regular season games Host can use whichever assigner they wish Host must assign High School or AAU certified umpires Teams will split cost of umpires Umpires should be provided with 3 new baseballs from each team 9‐10U League Games Only one (1) certified umpire is required If your team is hosting 9U or 10U regular season league games and you wish to assign two (2) umpires we ask that you notify the visiting team to prepare them that you wish to assign two (2) umpires as this will double the umpire costs 11U‐18U League Games 
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Two (2) umpires MUST be used If one of the two umpires fails to arrive for a game, the game(s) can be started with one umpire. However the opposing team must agree to start with one (1) umpire Innings 
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9‐12U ‐ 6 innings 13U and above ‐ 7 innings Time Limit 
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9‐12U – 2 hours 13U and above – 2 hours and 15 minutes Start time officially begins after home plate meeting is complete There is NO drop dead time limit No new inning can begin after the time limit. Complete any inning started before the time limit extra inning can be played if the score is still tied after the time limit is reached. If the score remains tied after the (1) extra inning the game will be recorded as a tie All coaches and umpires should agree to the official start time to avoid any confusion It is the responsible of the coaches to make sure the umpires fully understand this rule Download League Web App so you have rules on your phone while on the field Mercy Rules 
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12U and Under ‐ 10 runs after 4 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings 13U and Older ‐ 10 runs after 5 innings, 15 runs after 3 innings If an inning is started, it must be completed. In other words, if the away team goes ahead by the mercy rule total in the top half of the inning, then the home team still gets to bat in the bottom half of the inning. Suspended Game/Official Status 
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9u – 12u: Four (4) innings (3 1/2 innings if home team is ahead). 13u & Older ‐ Five (5) innings (4 1/2 innings if home team is ahead) Suspended game having reached official status ‐ If the game is suspended when the teams have not had an equal number of completed times at bat, the score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team in its half of the incomplete inning, scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent's score, the final score shall be as recorded when the game is called. Suspended game without reaching official status – If a regular season game is suspended before reaching official status the game must be resumed from the point of suspension at a date and time agreed upon by both teams. Rain 
See Schedule page for detailed rules regarding rained out regular season games Batting Order 
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Teams can bat 10 and use the EP (Extra Player) No free substitution if batting 10 Team can use a continuous batting order ‐ must declare before game starts Free substitution allowed is using continuous batting order If a team is using a continues batting order must use for the entire game If a player is injured is removed from the game while using a continuous batting order their spot in the lineup will be recorded as an out Allowed to start game with 8 players. 9th spot in the lineup will be recorded as an out Pitching Rules 
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There are NO Pitching rules for league play during the regular season We encourage coaches to make their player’s health their first priority Pitching rules are implemented during the League Playoffs Extra Player (EP) & Designated Hitter (DH) 
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At the beginning of a game, either the EP and and/or the DH may be elected Designated Hitter (DH) provision as covered in the rulebook published by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) applies The Extra Player (EP) is listed in the batting order and may assume any of the nine defensive positions (including pitcher) without being counted as a substitution Under all of the following options, there are never more than the standard nine defensive positions If use neither DH nor EP: Nine (9) players in the batting order and the same nine (9) players on defense If use only the DH, and not the EP: Nine (9) players in the batting order, one of which is replaced by another line up player on defense If use only the EP, and not the DH: Ten (10) players in the batting order, of which nine play on defense If use both the DH and EP: Ten players in the batting order. One of the nine (9) defensive players is replaced by the DH in that batting order. The DH can be removed during the game. The EP position may not be removed during the game The same number of players that are listed in the batting order to begin the game will continue throughout the game. If the game is started using an EP, the game must be finished using an EP Players not listed in the starting line‐up may serve as substitutes In case of injury, the NFHS rule book applies except that if an EP is being used and injury prevents that slot in the batting order from being filled, an automatic “out” applies in that slot SUBSTituTIONS/RE‐ENTRY 
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Teams are using the High School reentry rules of the State they are playing in Teams can use a DH and EH/EP In the case of injury the DH can enter the game as a player but the team loses the DH EH/EP can enter the game but must stay in the same spot in the batting order. 
EH/EP can enter the game like any other starter, but can only enter the game once, just like any other starter Courtesy Runner 
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Courtesy runner can only be used for the pitcher or catcher The Courtesy runner must be a player that has never been in the game Dropped 3rd Strikes & Slashing 9U & 10U cannot run on dropped third strikes No slashing in 9U and 10U League games INTENTIONAL WALKS 
NFHS rule will be used Head First Slides 
Allowed in all age groups Cleats 
12 and under cannot use metal spikes Regular Season Protests 
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Player eligibility & misapplication of a playing rule can be protested Coach cannot protest an umpire's judgement call Coach must present protest immediately to umpires & opposing team's head coach Coach must then email their NEAAU Age Group Leader within 24 hours NEAAU will not consider protests not filed on time