COACH-PITCH RULES
PLAYING RULES
Colorado High School Baseball/Softball rules govern all play in addition to the following Carbon
Valley Recreation league rules:
I.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
II.
A.
B.
C.
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Field and game specifications
Game balls are official flexi-baseballs.
Base distance is 60 feet.
The pitcher's line is 30 feet from home plate and 5 feet in length.
Game times will be 1 hour and 15 minutes or 6 innings (5 1/2 if the home team is ahead),
whichever comes first.
Game time can only be delayed due to weather or severe injury.
Coaches shall be at the field 30 minutes prior to game time.
1. Coaches should have their team ready to play at scheduled game time and have their
line-up ready for the umpire and opposing coach.
Umpires must arrive 15 minutes prior to game time.
The umpire will keep official time.
Forfeit/Postponement
A minimum of 7 players, is needed to start a game.
1. If a team is unable to field 7 players at game time, they can borrow from another
team.
Unplayable field conditions or severe weather postponement decisions will be made by
the umpire, field supervisor and head coaches.
Games in progress, which are postponed, will be considered complete if at least 3 innings
(2 1/2 with the home team ahead) have been played.
Governing Play
Players can be substituted at any time defensively.
No infield fly rule.
No bunting allowed.
The play is ruled "dead" when the ball is thrown to home plate and lands in the vicinity of
home plate, according to the umpire's judgement.
1. Plays at home plate exempt.
E. An umpire reserves the right to charge an out for a player throwing any equipment (ex.
bats, helmets, gloves etc.)
F. Teams can play with 10 defensive players. The 10th player must play behind the base
perimeter (four outfielders). All other players remain on the batting order but are
considered subs.
G. One base is allowed to the base runner on an over throw. After that runners need to
stop at the base they are going to.
IV.
Batting, Pitching and Inning Regulations
A. Players will bat throughout the line-up regardless of their defensive status.
B. Batting order shall remain the same throughout the game.
1. In case of injury, the injured players spot will be skipped.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
2. this will NOT be considered an out.
If a player arrives late to a game, they may enter at the half inning change.
1. This player must be placed at the end of the batting order and the coach must
notify the umpire and opposing team of the addition.
2. No outs will be given for missing players.
A team’s turn at bat is completed when any of the following occur:
1. 3 outs have been made.
2. 5 runs have been scored in one inning.
A coach will pitch either under-hand or over-hand to his/her own team. The batting
team will provide its own player pitcher which must stay behind the designated
pitching line until the ball is hit.
Maximum number of pitches per batter is 4.
1. If after 4 pitches, the batter has not put the ball into play, the batter gets 1
attempt off of the tee. Balls, foul balls, a ball striking a player, a player
missing a pitch or a player not swinging at a pitch are all counted toward a
batters total number of allowable pitches.
The player pitcher must remain behind the pitcher’s line and may not move until the
ball is hit.
The game is over if one team is 15 runs ahead after 4 innings (or 3 ½ if the home
team is ahead).
A coach can only pitch to a player. No other physical participation is allowed by the
coach. No other coaches are allowed on the field.
A player may only play a maximum of 2 innings at any given position.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
I.
Player/Coach Conduct
A. Only the players, umpires, batting team’s first & third base coaches, base runners,
batter and on-deck batter will be allowed on the field during play.
1. Players not on the field shall stay on the team bench or in the dugout.
a. Only players, coaches and scorekeepers can be on the team bench or in the dugout.
B. The offensive coaches may not physically take part in or come in contact with the ball
or any player while the ball is in play. In the event of violation of this rule, the ball will
immediately be declared “dead” and the runners will return to their original bases and the
batter will be called out.
C. Every attempt must be made to keep the baseline clear.
1. Penalty: the obstructed runner will be advanced one additional base.
2. Runners may not intentionally collide with a defensive player unless the runner is
sliding.
D.Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, parents and assistants.
Coaches will be given 1 warning for inappropriate conduct for the persons listed
above.
E. The following will not be allowed by any coach, player, parent, spectator, field
personnel or umpire:
1. Harassment
2. Foul Language
3. Conflicts with umpires
4. Unsportsmanlike conduct
5. Negative field or dugout chatter
6. Obscene gestures or demonstrations toward anyone in the area
7. Appearing at the facility or field under the influence of drugs or alcohol
8. Verbally or physically abusive attacks
a. Result will be a warning to the coach or ejection from the field or game.
b. Umpires or field supervisors have the authority to stop the game if any of
these infractions occur.
II.
Uniforms
A. Uniform must be of like color and design with numbers and must remain tucked in if
possible. Carbon Valley Recreation will provide jerseys and hats for the teams.
B. Carbon Valley Recreation will also provide the coaches shirts (if budget allows) and
should be worn during games to help identify them as coaches.
C. Suitable shoes must be worn. Shoes with metal cleats are NOT allowed.
D. For safety and injury prevention, no player will be allowed to wear exposed jewelry
of any kind.
1. Exception: posts in pierced ears will be allowed if taped over.
E. Any player who is batting, on base, or in the on-deck circle MUST wear a batting
helmet.
F. Catchers must be in full gear (ex. face mask, shin guards and chest protector) when on
the playing field.
ADMINISTRATIVE
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Carbon Valley Recreation (field supervisor) will provide game balls
A coach has the right to hold a player out of a game for disciplinary reasons as long as
the parents are notified.
No protests are allowed
The first team arriving at the field can chose their dugout. This is not governed by home
and away teams because in some cases this will not be determined until game time.