Revised 2-12-19

Registration
All teams registered for the League must upload their roster on the site and provide verification of proof of insurance that lists Atlantic Coast Baseball as additional insured prior to starting league play.

Eligibility
Player's birthdates must meet the age requirements of their respective age divisions. A player's league age is based on the age they are as of May 1st. The team manager must have a copy of the birth certificates of all players on him at all times at all league games and tournaments. If the manager does not have a copy of a player's Birth Certificate, he/she cannot participate in the game. If a team is caught using a player that is older than the cutoff for that age division, that team will forfeit every game in which that player has played.

Double Rostering
Players can be rostered on a District Team and Travel Team as long as the District Team is not part of a Travel Organization and the Team is not in the same Division.

Division Rules
(Age division's 9U-12U will play leads and steals)
 

8U Coach Pitch	09U-10U (DIV 1)	09U-10U (DIV 2 & 3)	11U-12U	13U	14U-19U
60' bases	65' bases	60' bases	70' bases	80' bases	90' bases
46' mound	46' mound	46' mound	50' mound	54' mound	60' 6" mound
6 inning game	6 inning game	6 inning game	6 inning game	7 inning game	7 inning game
2 Hour Time Limit *	2 Hour Time Limit *	2 Hour Time Limit *	2 Hour Time Limit *	2 Hour Time Limit *	No Time Limit
*Unless both teams agree before hand that they will not play with a Time Limit.  ** 8U - 43' 60' Little League Rules. Kid Pitch. No Stealing Home. No Leading. Steals are allowed after the ball crosses the plate. Runners cannot advance on a dropped 3rd Strike. Infield Fly Rule IS in effect.

Roster
Teams will have a maximum roster of 18 players. The rosters will be placed on the website and will be frozen on May 1st.

Umpires
The home team, or host team, is responsible for scheduling umpires. Teams will split umpire fees. Patch umpires are required for all ages. 11U and down may have 1 patch umpire. 12U and up must have a Plate and Base Umpire in which both are required to be Patch Umpires.

Official Game
All games are official if the home team is leading after 3 1/2 complete innings for ages 8U-12U, and 4 1/2innings for ages 13U and up. If the home team is losing, you must complete 4 innings (9U-13U) and 5 innings (14U and up) for an official game. All games that are stopped due to rain, or darkness, will be picked up from where it was left off unless the first inning has not been completed.

Scorekeeping

• Each team's manager should prepare 1 written copy of his lineup listing first & last names and numbers of all players and substitutes prior to each game. Lineups will then be provided to the opposing team's manager.
• The Official Scorebook is to be kept by the home team. Both teams should confer after each inning to confirm the score.

Pitching
See the below chart to follow the pitching rules:

• 09U-10U: 2 innings per game / 3 innings per day / 3 innings per opponent
• 11U-12U: 3 innings per game / per day / per opponent
• 13U-14U: 4 innings per game / per day / per opponent
• 15U-18U: 5 innings or 100 pitches (whichever comes 1st) per game / per opponent

This is not a gotcha rule. No forfeits. If a team violates this rule, the pitcher shall be removed at the time of notification to the umpire.
 

Arm Health and Recommended Pitching Limitations

Tournament management will not be involved in counting pitches or regulating pitching during tournament events. The ultimate responsbility of managing pitch counts rests with each team's Head Coach. 

Atlantic Coast Baseball endorses the Pitch Smart program, developed by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball. This program is a series of practical, age appropriate guidelines to help parents, players, and coaches avoid overuse injuries and foster long, healthy careers for youth pitchers. 

About Pitch Smart: USA Baseball and MLB teamed up to help young players reduce arm injuries by providing a comprehensive resource for safe pitching practices. Baseball is a safe game to play at all ages, but research has shown that pitching too much - particularly at a young age - can increase a pitcher's risk of injury. 

Risk Factors: Some factors that increase the risk of arm injury include:

• Pitching while fatigued
• Not taking enough time off from baseball every year
• Throwing too many pitches and not getting enough rest
• Pitching on consecutive days
• Playing for multiple teams at the same time
• Throwing breaking pitches at a young age

Recommended Pitch Count Limits and Recommended Rest:

Age	Daily Max	0 Days	1 Day	2 Days	3 Days	4 Days
7-8	50	1-20	21-35	36-50	-	-
9-10	75	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+
11-12	85	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+
13-14	95	1-20	21-35	36-50	51-65	66+
15-16	95	1-20	31-45	46-60	61-75	76+
17-18	105	1-20	31-45	46-60	61-75	76+

Balks
08U-10U will receive 1 Warning per pitcher. The 2nd infraction will be called a Balk.
11U-18U there will be no warnings on balk calls.

A new rule that MLB posted in their 2013 MLB Rule book will be enforced.
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—
b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails
to complete the throw; A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps. It is a balk if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher steps toward third and does not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second base.

Re-entry
Defensive: Each team will be allowed unlimited substitutions in the field. A player does not have to be in the batting order to play the field.

Offensive: You may bat nine players, your entire lineup, or anywhere in between. After the start of the game, you cannot change the number of batters you have; it must remain the same for the whole game. If you bat your entire lineup and a player should get ejected, or injured, and no substitute (a player not in the batting order) remains then you must take an out in that spot. Once a substitute bats, or runs, for a player in the batting order, then those two players are locked into that position. From then on, one of those two must hit/run in that spot only. 

Courtesy Runners
Courtesy Runners for pitcher and catcher are allowed with 2 outs and must follow rule #11. If a team is playing with 9 players, or batting their entire lineup, then you may use the last recorded out as a courtesy runner.

Slide Rule
In the event of a close play the runner must avoid contact. On double plays, a runner must slide straight into the bag, not past the bag, or to the side to make contact. If a player does make contact sliding past the bag, or to the side, then that player and the runner, to where the defensive player was trying to make the play, are out and the sliding player may be ejected. All close plays and slides are at the umpire's discretion.

Catcher's Equipment
All Catcher's must wear a Hockey Style Mask at all ages

Baseball Cleats
Metal spikes are allowed in divisions 13U and older only.

Bat Restrictions - **NO CHANGES FOR 2019**

PENALTY FOR BAT VIOLATION: PLAYER EJECTION & HEAD COACH EJECTION

• 7U-8U Coach Pitch: cannot exceed a 2 1/4" Barrel and must meet the BPF 1.15 standard. Bats that have the USA and USSSA Stamp are permitted.
• 8U Kid Pitch - 13U (54' 80' events): All bats -5 or greater must be stamped BPF 1.15 USSSA or USA Baseball. There are no bat size restrictions on weight or length as long as bat has "BPF 1.15" stamp.
• All 60' 90' events: will follow PA High School Rules and use a BBCOR certified bat. (Click Here)
• Wood Bats: To be considered a wood bat, a bat must be made of a single piece of wood. No Bamboo Bats or Bamboo Composite Bats.Any other bat composed of Wood and/or Wood Composite bats are allowed.

Please note: The above bat rules are only for League Play. If a team advances to District/States then team must abide by Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth rules. 

Effective April 17th, 2018, the following bats may not be used in ACBaseball events:

• DeMarini 2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8) (29/21, 30/22, 31/23, 32/24)
• DeMarini 2017 CF Zen SL 2 3/4" (-10) (28/18, 29/19, 30/20, 31/21, 32/22)
• DeMarini 2017 CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4" (-10) (29/19, 30/20)
• DeMarini Custom 2017 CF Zen 2 3/4" (-10)
• DeMarini Custom 2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)
• DeMarini 2018 CF Zen CBZ 2 3/4" (31/21, 32/22 only)
• Dirty South Kamo BB KA (-8) (30/22, 31/21, 32/22, 31/23, 32/24 only)
• Marucci Cat5 MCB2 33/30 BBCOR
• Nike BT0636 CX2

To see the official release by DeMarini, including how to proceed to retool your bat, CLICK HERE.

Protests

• Judgment calls by the umpire cannot be protested, rules only.
• The protesting coach must tell the umpire and the opposing team's manager that he is going to protest the game at that specific point in the game. You cannot protest after that point in the game. Play the game out.
• A $100 cash protest fee must be presented to the Atlantic Coast Baseball administrative offices within 24 hours of the protest along with the umpires name and cell phone number.
• A protest is only "Official" if accompanied by the $100 and done within 24 hours.
• Protests include questioning a player's age.
• If the protest is upheld, then the $100 will be refunded and the game will be replayed from the point of the protest.

Entry Refunds
There will be no entry refunds for withdrawal from the league after February 1.

Ejections

• All ejections are at the umpires' discretion.
• NO WARNINGS will be given to coaches, players, or fans for unsportsmanlike or unruly behavior.
• Upon ejection, the coach, player, or fan must completely leave the premises. Failure to comply will result in a team forfeit.

Mercy Rule
All Age Divisions
20 run lead after 3 innings / 10 run lead after 5 innings

Intentional Walk
Coach must notify the umpire and 1st base will be awarded


Game Cancellation/Refundable Forfeit Fee **STILL TBD FOR MERGE**
If a team needs to cancel a game, you must notify the opposing team 6 days prior to the scheduled game to allow the opposing team ample time to schedule another game. If you cancel inside of 7 days, that game shall be scored as a forfeit and the League Office needs to be notified immediately. If a team cancels twice during the course of the season, they will be immediately dismissed from the league. Canceling team must give opposing team 3 open dates to reschedule.

Each team will pay a $150 Refundable Forfeit Fee. $500 for Organizations that enter 4 or more teams. If a team does not forfeit, your money will be returned at the end of the fall season. If your team forfeits, your $150, your money will not be refunded.

Reasons for Cancellation:

• Only acceptable reason is because of playing field conditions, unless proper notification above is followed.
• Unacceptable reasons

• Not enough players
• Played in a tournament and you have no pitching left
• Another game