2008 Penn Township Athletic Association 7 & 8 Year old Divisions 

1.      All games will be six innings or two hours long.  There will be free substitution and continuous batting.  There is a five runs per inning rule, except for the last inning in which there must be three outs.  All teams must play four outfielders (evenly spaced) with no rover.

 2.      Two umpires will be assigned for each game.  The umpires will be responsible  for establishing the ground rules with the two team managers prior to the start of the game.

 3.      A game is considered regulation (if stopped due to the weather) when 3 ½ innings are completed and the home team is ahead.  A regulation game that is tied after four innings and stopped due to the weather may be resumed at a later date from the exact point where the game was halted.  If a game is tied after six innings, play will continue, if time and conditions permit until a winner is determined.  Any game halted prior to 3 ½ innings due to weather, will be played from the exact point at a later date. 

4.      A Maximum of 10 players in the field, with 4 outfielders (evenly spaced).  No rover is permitted.  Teams must have a minimum of 8 players to for the start of a game, if you cannot field 8 players you will forfeit that game (the cathers position must be filled).  If a player cannot bat due to illness or injury, you must scratch him from the lineup before he steps into the batter’s box or the batter will be called out.  After a player is scratched from the line-up they may not re-enter the game.  The player will be crossed off from the score books for the rest of the game and no outs will be assessed to that players turn at bat. 

5.      A player cannot leave the base until the ball is hit.  Each team will receive one warning per game.  Each time thereafter the base runner will be called out if his foot leaves the base.  All base runners must keep their helmets on until they are in the dugout area.

6.      Hash marks will be used to determine the 1/3 points between the bases (18’ 4”) for the purposes of establishing where the runners are when the infielder takes possession of the ball on a throw from the outfielder, at which point the umpire will say “possession”.  If the base runner is ruled not passed the hash marks, when the infielder takes possession of the ball and makes it safely to the next base, the umpire will have that runner return to the previous base.  However, if the defensive team makes a play on the runner and he is called out – the out stands.  Remember, you run at your own risk.  Once the umpire rules “possession”  there will be no extra bases awarded on any kind of overthrow even if you are making a play on the runner.  An outfielder who runs the ball into the infield will not be considered in “possession”.   The ball must be in possession of an infielder.  If the ball is thrown out of play from the outfield,  the runner will be awarded the base he is going to and that is all.  The infield is considered the area between the foul lines and the perimeter of the outfield grass.  A ball thrown from the outfield into the backstop area is not considered in the infield while in the possession of the catcher, unless the catcher brings the ball to home plate or in front of it.  If the adult pitcher inadvertently touches or catches the ball not yet ruled in possession, while the base runners are in transit, the ball will be ruled “dead” and all runners will return to the previous base regardless of where they are in relation to the hash marks.  There is no tagging up on fly balls to the infield.  Runners can only advance one base on a ball that does not leave the infield and do not have to be passed the hash marks before the ball is fielded. 

7.      A runner will be called out if there is a play at a base and they make no attempt to slide to avoid contact with the defensive player.   This is a judgement call made by the umpires, there will be no protests considered on these calls. 

8.      Questioning of an umpire’s call can be only made by a team manager.  Anyone else questioning an umpires call or who in any way attempts to intimidate or harass a youth umpire will be subject to review by the Baseball Board.  

9.      All teams will be extended a courtesy runner when the catcher is on base and there are two outs.  The player who made the last out will be permitted to run in the place of the catcher. 

10.  The 10 run rule will be in effect if a team is ahead after 4 ½ or 5 innings. 

11.  The home team will be determined by the first team listed on the master schedule.  The home team will keep the official score book therefore, it is up to the visiting team to check the home teams score book to ensure that both teams have the same score.  The home team is responsible for having the field ready to play, including setting the bases and lining the foul line and pitchers circle.  The pitching circle is approximately 9’ in diameter and the front of the circle is to be located 40’ from the back of home plate.  The home team will also provide 2 baseballs per game. 

12.  A designated adult pitcher will pitch to his own team and must have one foot inside the pitching circle.  The youth defensive pitcher must also have one foot inside the circle and he must wear a protective helmet and a chest guard.  If the adult pitcher is hit with a batted ball, the ball is ruled “dead” and the pitch does not count.  The seven pitches or three strikes rule will be in effect.   The umpires will inform the adult pitchers at several intervals of the pitch count.  The batter must swing at the seventh pitch or he will be called out.  If the seventh pitch is fouled, the player can continue to bat until the ball is put into play, or if the batter does not hit the ball.   

13.  A batter that throws a bat will be given a warning.  This is an individual player warning.  If that player throws the bat again, he will be called out. 

14.  Foul balls caught by the catcher behind home plate will be an out only if the ball travels above the head of the batter, however foul tips caught by the catcher on a third strike will be an out regardless of the location. 

15.  Any runner that runs out of the base line by more than 3’ to avoid being tagged by the defensive player will be called out.  This is a judgement call and no protests will be considered.