Revised 5/5/14
Major League 50/70 House Rules:
All coaches and assistants are required to read and become familiar with the Brighton Baseball General Rules.
The Official Regulations and Rules of Little League Baseball, Inc. will be followed unless specifically modified by
the General Rules or these Major League 50/70 House Rules. The section headings have been used to allow easy
reference to the appropriate section of The Official Regulations and Rules of Little League Baseball, Inc. In
general, the 50/70 Major league will use Junior League Baseball Rules and Regulations, with the exceptions of
the ages permitted, pitching/basepath distances, and any differences highlighted below.
1.00 Objectives of the Game
Brighton Baseball, Inc. is a support network of volunteer parents, coaches and community members who are
dedicated to the positive emotional and physical maturity of our town youth. Our emphasis is the development
of desirable values including fair play, good sportsmanship and community service. We foster a sensitivity and
appreciation for the differences in intellectual, social and physical skills among our children. We believe the
game of baseball is one more opportunity for our children to grow in self-esteem, confidence and motivation in
a safe environment. These are important and desirable attributes, which stay with and serve our participants
well throughout their lives.
1.10 Bats
Although Junior League rules allow 2 5/8” diameter bats, they are not allowed in the Brighton Majors 50/70
League. All other Brighton Baseball bat rules apply.
1.11-a Uniforms
Every player must wear an official Brighton Baseball cap, tucked uniform shirt, and pants to be eligible to play.
Warm layers are encouraged for poor weather but may be worn under the jersey only, sleeves may not be
white. Hats from other youth leagues or other teams are not allowed.
Official coaches (head coach and named assistant) must wear Brighton Baseball shirts during games.
1.11-h Shoes
Shoes with metal spikes are not permitted.
1.16 Protective Helmets
Use of a helmet with a face mask is required by the batter and runners. Coaches are expect to enforce this rule
and may ask the home plate umpire to call out any batter refusing (after a warning) to wear a helmet with a
mask.
3.00 Game Preliminaries
3.13 Local Ground Rules
a) It is the responsibility of the home team coach to review the pertinent house rules with the Umpireinchief and visiting team coach prior to the start of each game.
b) It is expected that the visiting team procures and places the bases and the home team is responsible for
the safe storage of the bases, inserting base box plugs, returning scoreboard controllers, tools, etc.
c) The Home team takes the first base dugout/bench; the Away team uses the third base side.
d) Each coach will provide one game ball to the Umpire-in-chief.
e) Every player must play at least 9 defensive outs by the end of the fifth inning or the violating team
forfeits. Players, who have properly notified the team at least two hours before game time, arriving so
late that two innings are complete, must play every defensive out until the 9 out minimum is reached or
the game is regulation. All players except a starting pitcher that pitches the entire game must play at
least one inning in the outfield. Note: An inning ended early due to run limits shall count as three
defensive outs played.
f) Any player ejected from a game after the fourth inning is suspended from the next game.
4.00 Starting and Ending the Game
4.05 Offensive Coaches
An official (adult) coach or assistant must coach third base. A coach or player, but not both, may coach first
during any single game. A player acting as first base coach must wear a helmet with a mask.
4.10-d Game Called
1) Games called due to weather, darkness or curfew after one complete inning, but before regulation
criteria are reached, shall be resumed from the exact point of play at which they were suspended. A
pitcher can compete in the resumed game and another game on the same day subject to the six innings
per week limitation. Games halted before one complete inning are expunged and replayed from start;
pitchers in this instance must rest one calendar day but do not accumulate any innings toward the
weekly limit.
2) Make-up and suspended games must be completed by the second Sunday following the postponement.
Double headers are allowed provided they do not conflict with scheduled games. No make-up game
scheduled on Mother’s or Father’s day can begin before 12:00 or after 4:00 p.m.
4.16 Minimum Team
A team must field and bat a minimum of eight players at all times or must forfeit.
Note: In the event a team is unable to field eight players, coaches are encouraged to play a game using a
combination of players from the two teams. The results of the forfeit will be reflected in the standings; however
coaches are encouraged to take advantage of the “free” playing time and use the opportunity to develop skills
and sportsmanship.
5.00 Putting the Ball in Play
5.07 Side Retired
a) There is a 3 run limit in the first and second inning.
b) There is a 5 run limit in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
c) Innings must begin within 2’ 15” after start time by the umpire’s watch, the inning starts the moment
the third out (or run limit) is made competing the preceding inning.
6.00 The Batter
6.05 (b) (2) Batter Out When Third Strike Not Caught
This rule applies to the Majors 50/70 League. The batter is out when a third strike is not caught and first base is
occupied before two are out.
Note: A runner occupies a base if he/she has not advanced to the next base at the time of pitch. A runner on
first base leading off for second is still occupying first base at the time of pitch. When a third strike is not caught
and first base is occupied before two are out the batter is out, a runner leading off first base at time of pitch is in
jeopardy until he/she reclaims first base or advances safely to another base.
6.09 (b) Batter Becomes a Runner
This rule applies to the Majors 50/70 League. The batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by the
Umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied or (2) first base is occupied with two out.
Note: a batter forfeits his/her opportunity to advance to first base when he/she enters the dugout or other dead
ball area.
6.06 Illegal Action
The batter shall control the bat safely. If the Umpire-in-chief determines the bat was unsafely handled or
“thrown”, the batter’s team is issued a warning. Each team is afforded one warning per game. Second offense
by the batter or any subsequent team member results in ejection, if the ball was hit on the play where the bat
was thrown the ball is dead and the batter is out. Runners do not advance.
7.00 The Runner
7.06 Obstruction
a) The fielder/catcher may not completely block the access to the base/plate. Both fielder and runner shall
make effort to avoid contact beyond a simple tag. The umpire may award the base/run to the team at
bat if in his/her judgment the fielder/catcher blocked access.
b) An umpire may call the runner out if deliberate attempt at collision is made regardless of whether a
successful tag was made. If either or both are determined by the umpire to have flagrantly caused
collision, either or both should be ejected.
7.07 Catcher/Fielder Interference on Squeeze Play
This rule applies to the Majors 50/70 League and may result in a called balk.
7.08(a)(4) Runner is out
a) The Runner is out if the Runner slides head first while advancing.
Runners must slide into home plate if a play is on, or may be called out. This will be the Umpireinchief’s call.
Approved Ruling: When a batter becomes a runner on a third strike not caught and starts for the bench
or his/her position, that batter may advance to first base at any time before entering the bench. To put
the batter out, the defense must tag the batter or first base before the batter touches first base.
7.13 Leading Off
This rule does not apply to Majors 50/70 League. Leading off is allowed.
8.00 The Pitcher
8.05 Balks
There are no Balks called in the Majors 50/70 League with the exception of rule 7.07.
Pitch Counts
All pitching requirements default to Little League Baseball Junior League pitching Regulations (Little League
Regulations, section VI – Pitchers.) If a player is pitching in another league, follow the rules for that league’s
games as well. Adhering to the rules will be up to each Coach. A subsection of these regulations are provided
below.
Little League Regulations, section VI - Pitchers
(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. Exception: Any player who has played the position of
catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not allowed to pitch on that calendar day.
(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound and remaining in the game, but moving to a different position,
can return as a pitcher, but only once per game.
(c) .The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted
below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age:
Max. Number of pitches
11-12:
85 pitches per day
9-10:
75 pitches per day
7-8:
50 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter,
the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:
1. That batter reaches base;
2. That batter is put out;
3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning.
Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the
remainder of that day.
(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
a.
If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
b.
If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
c.
If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
d.
If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
e.
If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, zero (0) calendar days of rest must be observed. (k)A
player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games per day (Exception: If a player pitched 31 or more pitches
in the first game, that player may not pitch in the second game on that day.)
9.00 The Umpire
9.03 Umpires not Present
If the umpire is not present 10 minutes after scheduled starting time, the two coaches may agree to select
temporary umpires from the available spectators or assistant coaches. It is suggested that two umpires be
agreed upon, one acting as the umpire-in-chief calling from behind home base (from the mound if protective
equipment is not available) and the other calling the field (from first base until runners are on). If possible, the
two should rotate after each complete inning, particularly if the two are selected from opposing team’s
spectators. This arrangement is voluntary. The goal is to get the games completed whenever possible. If the
umpire arrives after the game has started, he/she will begin umpiring at the conclusion of the at bat in progress
after the Game Preliminaries are reviewed at the direction of the home team coach.
Game Results
It is the responsibility of winning coach to post scores at www.brightonbaseball.org within 24 hours of
the completion of the game.
• The League President or designee should be notified by email within 24 hours for the following:
o Game suspension or postponements with make up plans outlined (home coach) o
Any injury requiring a player to stop play or leave the field (both coaches) o Protests, observed
rule violations, etc. (both coaches) o Ejection of any coach or player (both coaches) o
•
Inappropriate fan behavior impacting the experience of any player(s) (both coaches).
Please put team name and game date in email subject line.
Note: When the League President is also acting as a coach involved in any protest or ejection the Commissioner
should be informed directly.
End of Major League 50/70 Rules.
Revised 5/5/14