2017 BASEBALL RULES (AGES 10-12)
Sports Branch
Semper Fit Division
Marine Corps Community Services
Lejeune-New River, NC
Eligibility and Participation
1. Participants must be 10 years of age on or before 1 May of the current season, but must not be
13 years of age on or before 1 May of the current season.
2. A coach must follow the substitution rule as described here: All substitutions will enter the
game to begin the top of the 3rd inning. A starter that has not had a time at bat cannot be
substituted for. Starters may re-enter the game during or after the top of the 5th inning, if their
substitute has also had a time at bat. This rule is mandatory, and must be enforced by the
scorekeeper and/or Youth Sports Staff.
If a shortened game, (time limit, weather, etc) prevents a player from playing two innings on
defense and getting at least one (1) at bat, then that player(s) must start during the next game.
This rule is mandatory and must be documented in the official book/enforced by the
scorekeeper and/or Youth Sports Staff.
Penalty:
1st offense- coach is suspended for the next game.
2nd offense- coach is suspended for the remainder of the season.
3. Playing ineligible players shall result in forfeiture of all games in which the ineligible player(s)
participated.
Penalty:
1st offense- coach is suspended for the next game.
2nd offense- coach is suspended for the remainder of the season.
All Offenses- forfeiture of game(s)
4. Each team will consist of a maximum of 14 players. The minimum number of players per team
will be determined by enrollment.
Playing Field and Field Equipment
1. The distance between all bases shall be 60 feet. The distance from the rear tip of home plate to
the nearer edge of the pitcher’s plate shall be 46 feet.
2. Home plate, bases, batter’s box, coaches’ boxes, etc. shall all be accordance with current
NFSHSA regulations. The pitcher’s plate may either be regulation baseball size or official Little
League size.
Equipment
1. The ball shall be an official Little League baseball (McGregor or equivalent brand).
2. The bat shall be any official Little League baseball bat or official baseball bat not more than 33
inches in length or more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter.
3. Catchers must wear all protective equipment in accordance with NFSHSA regulations.
4. Tennis shoes or molded rubber cleats must be worn.
5. Batting head protectors (helmets covering both ears) must be worn in accordance with NFSHSA
regulations (including youth coaches). Face masks are mandatory. Helmets for adult coaches are
optional.
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2017 Youth Baseball, 10-12 year olds
Updated 2017 January
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Coaching and Substituting
1. The responsibility of following all rules lies with the coaches of each team. However, the official
scorekeeper shall notify a coach of violations whenever possible to prevent a violation and/or
protested game. Coaches must report their substitutions to the official scorekeeper (home
team) and the opposing team.
2. Coaching on the field will be in accordance with NFSHSA regulations. It is strongly encouraged
that players not in the lineup be utilized as base coaches. Time in the coaches’ box is not
considered playing time. 3 coaches are permitted for the team. Only the head coach and first
assistant coach’s children will be placed on the team. It is recommended where a third adult
coach is desired, the coach is selected from the existing parent/team pool or from a
coach/volunteer without children on the team. One coach will be the designated scorekeeper.
A ‘Team Mom/Dad’ may be in the dugout during the game, but it is not mandatory.
3. Substitutions shall be in accordance with NFSHSA regulations.
EXCEPTION: if a team has used all available substitutions and a player becomes
ill/injured, then the opposing coach will pick a substitute to replace the injured/ill
player. Substitutions will be made if there are available players to be picked.
Starting and Ending a Game
1. Games will be six (6) innings in length or one and a half (1.5) hours. No new inning will start
after 1 hour and 25 minutes except in a tie game. Time will be kept by the home plate umpire’s
watch. Starting time will be noted in the official scorebook. It is recommended that players and
coaches arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to scheduled game time.
2. Each team must start a game with nine (9) eligible players, if nine (9) are present. Teams may
begin a game with eight (8) players and then add the 9th player at the bottom of the line-up
upon arrival. A team cannot continue to play with less than eight (8) players. Teams failing to
field at least eight (8) players at the scheduled game time shall forfeit the game. Forfeits count
as losses and cannot be replayed.
a. Outs will not be assessed when teams can only field the minimum number of players at
the start of the game when the absent players are due at bat. When players are ejected
from the game and there are no others players eligible to replace them, then an out
shall be assessed.
3. Protests on official’s judgment calls will not be considered.
4. Double headers may be played in extenuating circumstances.
5. In case of inclement weather, the losing team must have been at bat four (4) innings to
constitute a legal game.
6. If a team is ahead by 10 runs any time after the 4th inning, the game will be ended provided the
losing team has had equal number of times at bat.
7. There is a 10 run rule per inning; if a team scores 10 runs in an inning, the team at bat will go on
defense. Exception: Unless it is an end of game scenario.
8. In case of a tie in standings for any place, the place will be determined by head-to-head results.
9. Modified Speed-Up Rule will be in effect
a. Waive batter to first on intentional walk.
b. Substitute for catcher when catcher is base runner (mandatory with 2 outs)
c. Substitute for pitcher any time he is on base (not mandatory).
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2017 Youth Baseball, 10-12 year olds
Updated 2017 January
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Pitching
1. A pitcher may not pitch more than 7 innings per game or no more than a total of 12 innings in a
calendar week. A calendar week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday.
2. Any pitcher who pitches at least four (4) innings in a game must have a minimum of 36 hours
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rest before he can pitch in their next game.
3. One pitch constitutes an inning pitched.
4. A pitcher shall be considered ineligible if he makes one (1) legal pitch after reaching the pitching
limitations.
a. No protest of a game in which an ineligible pitcher participates will be allowed unless a
coach refuses to remove the pitcher from the lineup when the infraction is discovered
by the umpires or opposing team.
5. Balks will not be called.
Batting
1. No batter will be allowed to advance to first base on a third strike not properly handled by the
catcher.
2. No Designated Hitter (DH) is allowed.
3. A batter will not throw or sling the bat in a way that could potentially injure someone.
a. Penalty:
1st offense- batter will receive a warning.
2nd offense- offending batter will be removed from participation in the
remainder of the game.
Base Running
1. A base runner must stay in contact with the base until the ball has crossed home plate.
PENALTY:
Base runner is out
2. A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher (required with 2 outs) or pitcher when they are
on base. A courtesy runner must be an eligible substitute. If an eligible substitute is not
available, then the last player to have been put out will be the courtesy runner.
3. A base runner cannot steal home on either the pitcher or catcher. He may score on a passed
ball, wild pitch, or over thrown ball by the catcher to any infielder (including the pitcher), or any
throw by the catcher making an attempt to put out a base runner on first, second or third base.
PENALTY:
1st offense- runner is sent back to third base and coach is warned (team
warning)
2nd offense- runner is out and coach is removed from base coaching for
the remainder of the game.
Governing Bodies
1. The current National Federation of State High School Association rules will govern play in all
leagues, except where superseded by rules stated in this document put forth by Lejeune-New
River Youth Sports.
2. The Youth Sports section has authority in interpreting the foregoing rules and regulations.
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2017 Youth Baseball, 10-12 year olds
Updated 2017 January