RULES

Rule Updates for 2007

CHANGES DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUNG THROWING ARMS AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND FUN

The RPBL Board of Directors has approved a number of rules updates for the coming season. Here's a preview. Note that there are no new rules for the Teeball League. Complete rules will be published in the RPBL Annual Program.

INTERNATIONAL (7-8) - (1) Every child must play at least one inning in the infield each game. (2) If a child swings and misses at 3 pitches or after 5 total pitches, the child bats off a tee. (3) The bases will be moved back 5 feet, to 55 feet, to allow more defensive plays to be made.

NATIONAL (9-10) - (1) In the event of a tie, games may continue past 7:45, even if coaches have not agreed to extended play before the game, unless the umpire determines that it is too dark to play (2) No child may pitch more than 2 innings in a game. (3) If, during “No walks in April,” the child hits only the tee and not the ball, and the ball rolls off the tee onto the playing field, the ball is not in play.

AMERICAN LEAGUE (11-12) - (1) In the event of a tie, games may continue past 7:45, even if coaches have not agreed to extended play before the game, unless the umpire determines that it is too dark to play. (2)After being removed from a game, a pitcher may be brought back to pitch later in the game once. A pitcher may pitch as many as three innings.

TEEN (13-15)- (1) In the event of a tie, games may continue past 7:45, even if coaches have not agreed to extended play before the game, unless the umpire determines that it is too dark to play (2) The batter may advance to first on a dropped third strike if first base is not already occupied, unless there are two outs, in which case the batter may advance to first even if first base is occupied. (3) For players not yet in high school (seventh, eighth-grades) the bat ratio shall be not greater than -8. For players in high school (ninth, tenth grades, etc), the bat ratio shall be not greater than -3. There is no restriction as to barrel circumference. (4) A runner at third base may steal home if a play is made on any runner, however, the runner may not advance on a throw back to the pitcher (5) Although balks aren’t called, a runner cannot be picked off a base following a balk.

GENERAL: Rules on overthrows have changed to match general baseball rules so that a runner may advance two bases from the time the ball was thrown rather than from the time the ball leaves the field of play.

A REMINDER: Metal spikes are NOT permitted.