General Rules
Regular Season
Summer: 23 games per team, followed by double elimination playoffs
Fall: 12 games per team, followed by double elimination playoffs
Minimum Players to Start
Summer: A team must have 8 rostered players to start a game
- Fewer than 8 = automatic forfeit (opposing team wins 7-0)
- If neither team has 8 players, the game is recorded as a Tie
Fall: A team must have 7 rostered players to start a game
- Fewer than 7 = automatic forfeit (opposing team wins 7-0)
- If neither team has 7 players, the game is recorded as a Tie
Time Limit: No new inning starts after 60 minutes of game play
- Game 1 clock begins at scheduled time (no exceptions)
- Taking the field late = lost time
- No time limit in playoffs
Official Game: 5 full innings (or 4½ if home team is leading) must be completed
- If incomplete, game restarts on makeup date
Adding Players Mid-Game: Rostered players can be added before the start of the 4th inning
- New players bat at the bottom of the order
- No players may join after the first pitch of the 4th inning
8-Player Game Special Rule: If you have only 8 rostered players, the opposing team must provide a catcher
- This catcher cannot make any plays in the field
- Other position players cover home plate
9-Player Rule: If you have 9 players, one MUST play catcher (no courtesy catcher provided - 0 exceptions)
Ejections:
- 1st ejection: Miss remainder of game + 1 game suspension
- 2nd ejection: 3-game suspension
- 3rd ejection: Suspended for remainder of season
Fighting: Any player striking another or involved in a fight will be thrown out of the League indefinitely
Equipment: No metal spikes allowed
Substitutes: There will be NO substitutes in 2025 (0 exceptions)
In-Game Rules
Line-Up/Defense
Batting Each player that shows up must be in the batting line-up for that game
Defense Players are not required to play the field. Defense is left entirely up the coach/team's decision
Pitching
Pitch Height: Slow pitch rule 6' to 12' (no lower, no higher)
Pitcher Position: Must have one foot on the rubber while throwing
- If pitching behind the rubber, must have one foot in-line with the rubber
Pitcher Equipment: Pitchers cannot wear anything on their throwing hand
Strike Zone
Strike Extension: A rubber plate extension is used for calling strikes
- If pitch lands on home plate OR the extension = strike
Base Running
Leaving the Base: Runner must wait until contact is made
- Leaving early may result in being called out by the umpire
Scoring: Runner can touch either home plate OR the extension when scoring
Non-Contact League: Must slide or avoid contact ("give yourself up") at all times
- Applies to attempted double plays
- Hard take-out slides and baseline interference = automatic double play
Phantom Tags: Not tolerated - penalty at umpire's discretion
Batting
Count: Each batter starts with a 1-1 count
- Foul ball with 2 strikes = strikeout
- No courtesy foul
Player Leaving Early Should a player need to leave early for any reason
- The batting order will just skip the player's prior spot. There is no automatic out applied.
Batter's Box: A defined batter's box will be used. At least one foot must remain in the box at all times during the at-bat
No Distractions: No vocal or visual distractions are permitted during the pitch
Mercy Rule
Game-Ending Mercy Rules:
- 15 runs after 4 innings
- 12 runs after 5 innings
Field Boundaries
Light Poles/Boxes:
- Above fence line = home run
- Below fence line = live ball
Deerfield Ground Rule: A ball that passes through the center field gap will be ruled a ground-rule triple
Catch and Carry Rule
If a ball is caught in-play and the player's momentum carries them out of play:
- Ball remains live
- Runners are NOT awarded a base
Ball Thrown Out of Play
If a ball is thrown out of play, the play is blown dead and:
- If the ball is thrown from the infield, runners are awarded 1 base
- If the ball is thrown from the outfield, runners are awarded 2 bases
Rules Controversy
If a situation arises not covered by these rules or a dispute occurs:
- Only captains may discuss rules interpretations or raise issues with the umpire
- Judgment calls will not be argued by anybody
- If no agreement is reached, the umpire makes the final decision