Age Group | Base Distance | Mound Distance |
9u & 10u | 65’ | 46’ |
11u & 12u | 70’ | 50’ |
13u & 14u | 80’ | 54’ |
*As soon as a pitcher throws 1 pitch, it is considered an inning pitched.
Warmup Pitches
a. Eight (8) pitches if the starting pitcher or new pitcher; five (5) pitches if an existing pitcher.
In 9U & 10U, there will be no leading off or pickoffs allowed. Runners may attempt to steal a base after the pitch has crossed home plate. For the first offense of a pitcher balking, a warning will be given to that individual pitcher and the reason for the offense will be explained. For the second offense and the offenses after, a “dead ball” will be called allowing the runner to advance to the next base. Dropped 3rd strikes will not be played.
In 11&12 and 13&14, leadoffs and steals will be allowed. Dropped 3rd strikes will also be played.
4. Players arriving after the start of a game will be placed at the end of the batting order with no penalty if the batting order has not batted around. After that, the player is ineligible to enter the game.
5. Games may start and play with only eight players. Exception: T-Ball.
6. If an inning begins before time expires, the complete inning will be played unless the home team is ahead.
Time limits are as follows:
- 5u & 6u: 55 minutes
- 7u & 8u: 1 Hour & 10 Minutes
- 9u &10u: 1 Hour & 30 Minutes
- 11u & 12u: 1 Hour & 40 Minutes
- 13u & 14u: 1 Hour & 40 Minutes
7. In the event of a tie at the end of a game during the regular season, the game will be ruled a tie. During the postseason, the game will be extended, and the California rule will be implemented in all extra innings. The California Rule states that the last out from the previous inning will start off at second base to begin extra innings for each team.
8. The Home Team will be responsible for providing an adult scorekeeper to keep the official scorebook and the Visiting Team will be responsible for providing an adult to work the SingleScore app. It is the responsibility of the last home team of the day to ensure that the official scorebook and equipment bag (if applicable) is returned to the concession stand. There will be no coaching from the scorekeeper’s booth. No children are allowed in the scorekeeper booth during games.
- For kid pitch leagues, it is the winning coach’s responsibility of reporting the pitching totals from each team. Pitch Count and Innings Pitched.
9. The head coach is, always, responsible for the conduct of their assistant coaches, players and parents. Poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. One warning will be given to the offending party. Violation of these and any other conduct rules generally accepted as community standards shall constitute grounds for immediate expulsion from the Association event. Repeat offenses may bar future participation in South Cherokee events if so determined by the Baseball Board of Directors. This shall apply to all coaches, parents, players and spectators.
10. Arguing with the umpires will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game. Any coach or player that is ejected from a game for any reason shall be required to sit out their next scheduled game. No exceptions.
11. T-Ball league coaches are allowed to pitch to players; limit to 3 pitches before using the tee.
12. 5u league will have a total of five attempts to put the ball in play; he/she may use the tee after three pitches. A foul on the batting tee for the fifth attempt results in an out.
- 5U League Rule: Batter and Runner Advancement on Overthrows
- Batter Advancement: The batter is not permitted to advance beyond first base on an overthrow to first. Once reaching first base safely, the batter must remain there, regardless of any defensive errors or overthrows.
- Runner Advancement:
- Runners already on base (2nd or 3rd) may advance one additional base on an overthrow at first.
- Example: If a runner is on 2nd base when the batter hits the ball and an overthrow occurs at first, the runner may advance to 3rd base but may not proceed home.
- Similarly, a runner on 3rd base may advance home on an overthrow at first.
- Play Continuation: Once all runners have advanced according to the rule above, play is considered dead, and no additional advancement is permitted.
- This rule ensures fair play and keeps the game moving at an appropriate pace for the 5U division.
13. 6u – 8u will have a total of five pitches, with players called out after three swinging strikes. If a batter does not swing at the 5th pitch, the batter will be called out. If a batter fouls off the fifth pitch, the batter continues to hit until he/she swings and misses or puts the ball into play.
14. Safety Rules
- 5u – 8u All Pitcher position players must wear a Face Mask.
- All age groups: Heart Guard must be worn to play. If a player shows up to a game without a heart guard, they are not allowed to play in the infield & must be in an outfield position.
- All age groups: Helmets must be worn in and around the batting cages, no exceptions.
- All age groups: if a male catcher squats down behind home plate, they must wear a cup & shin guards.
- A chinstrap & facemask is optional equipment on batting helmets.
15. Each Head Coach will be furnished with enough game balls for the regular season. Each coach must provide a wrapped game ball to the Home Plate Umpire at the start of each game.
16. The first time a player slings the bat, a warning will be given. If the player slings the bat a second time, he/she will be called out.
17. All eligible players will be in the batting lineup. 5u, 6u, 7u, & 8u age groups will play up to 10 (4 OF) in the field each inning and may have two coaches in the outfield. 5U & 6U outfield coaches MUST remain on the grass and behind the outfield players. 7U & 8U coaches MUST remain on the grass outside of the foul lines. The penalty for this infraction shall be a delayed dead ball option to the offense once the play is complete.
18. Each player can only sit a maximum of 1 inning of a game. The only exceptions to this rule are due to injury or illness.
19. A coach may never touch a player, either to advance the runner or to hold a runner on base. This will result in an immediate out. In all coach pitch leagues, as soon as the ball is hit, the coach-pitcher must immediately retrieve the bat and leave the field of play. The offensive coach (pitcher) that does not attempt to get off the field and interferes with the defensive player keeping him from making a play will result in the runner being called out. No runners will advance.
20. Coaches CANNOT run up and down the baseline or outside the fences coaching the players. If there is no coaching box drawn, the base coaches must remain in the vicinity of the base. The coach will be replaced after one warning of this violation. Except for the base coaches, all players and coaches MUST remain in the dugouts throughout the game.
21. For the 5u, 6u, 7u, and 8u leagues, the coach may pitch anywhere from in front of the 20-foot foul arc to the pitching circle. He may not cross the foul line or enter the pitching circle. He must keep one foot on or straddle the pitching line. Failure to do so will result in the defensive team getting the choice of the play or re- bat.
22. All age groups must make an attempt to throw the ball to a base to achieve an out. Rolling a ball to a base will result in the runner being safe automatically. This will include overhand throwing of grounders and is up to the subjective call of the umpire.
23. Should a question arise as to the interpretation of the playing rules, only the head coach may appeal or protest. A protest which involves an umpire’s judgment may not be made. The only legal protest is one in which there is a violation of playing rules which will result in the replaying of the game from the point of the infraction or the use of an ineligible player or substitute and which will result in forfeiture of the game by the offending team. The protesting coach must immediately notify the umpire that the game is being played under protest.
The time of the protest, the infraction, and the exact image of the field at the time of the infraction shall be made in the official scorebook. An appeal play will be handled in a similar manner. The Head Coach shall ask for, and be granted, time. The appeal will be made to the umpire who made the call and, at his discretion, can either accept help from or deny help from, the second umpire.
24. The Baseball Board of Directors is responsible for closing the park and releasing the teams from play due to inclement weather. Any coach that releases their team without Board of Director approval shall forfeit the game. Umpires do not have the authority to release teams.
25. A total of four (4) Adults, including the team mom, are allowed in the dugouts during games. No Exceptions.
26. Post Season Tournament Seeding is determined by the following:
27. Walk up music is NOT permitted for the rec season or post season tournament.
28. Ejection Policy
- Coaches, players, and spectators ejected from a game will receive a one game suspension on the next scheduled game.
- Coaches, players, and spectators ejected twice in the same season will be removed from coaching for the remainder of the season and pending a review by the Board of Directors.
29. Borrow a player Rule:
Teams that have less than 9 players prior to a game are allowed to borrow a player(s) from a team(s) in order to get to 9 players at the start of the game. Players eligible to be borrowed are players that have not been on an All Star team in the prior summer season and must play in the same or lower age group. Borrowed players will be required to bat last and play outfield for the entirety of the game. The borrowed player shall wear their current team jersey to the game in order to be recognizable.
30. In age divisions 9U and up pinch runners will be allowed as an option for catchers. The pinch runner shall be the last batted out, regardless of if the out occurred in the current inning or the previous inning.