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YouthSportsNYC League Rules

Please review league rules below by age group. If you have a question, contact us BEFORE your game or settle the question during your home plate meeting BEFORE the game starts. Umpire has final rule once game begins. 

 

Scroll further to see specific rules, by division /age group

 
* Each manager and coach must be knowledgeable of the current OFFICIAL RULES. To not know the rules creates problems with Umpire(s), other managers/coaches & even players, and shortchanges the manager’s ability.
 
FOOTWEAR
  • 6U - 12U - Sneakers, Turf Shoes or Molded Cleats ONLY (NO METAL)
  • 13U+ Sneakers, Turf Shoes, Molded Cleats and Metal Spikes all allowed
  • ALL AGE GROUPS - NO Cleats/Spikes for any age group on artificial turf fields; Sneakers or Turf Shoes ONLY 
PITCH COUNT LIMITS 
  •  Pitch count limits are in effect for all ages/divisions.
  • At minimum, every 2 innings, coaches from both sides are to confirm pitch counts w/ home plate umpire. If there is difference, umpire will split the difference and go with count in the middle.
  • SEE CHART BELOW FOR DAILY MAX (PITCHES IN A GAME) & REQUIRED DAYS REST

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 

This apply to all divisions!

Recruitment/Changing Teams & Rosters
● No manager may actively recruit a player currently playing with another team. After a player has signed an official player’s agreement, the player will not be allowed to move to another team through the calendar year.
● Managers may add player(s) to their roster, however all add on must be completed by the league's deadline. Rosters will be frozen after the deadline set by the league.
● Player(s) will not be allowed to play if their registration requirements have not been received by the deadline assigned.
● Original rosters will be kept on file.
 
Ineligible Players
● If a player’s eligibility comes in question, the original documents (Birth Certificate or Passport) will be requested.
 
Uniforms/Umpire(s)
● Every player must be in complete uniform & wear a baseball cup. Manager & all coaches must have the team logo on the shirt/jersey when in the dugout. Only the Umpire(s) has the right to deny a player or team participant if not properly attired.
● Only those players on the team’s roster are allowed in the team’s dugout. The manager, coaches, scorekeeper and players are the only individuals allowed in the dugout area. 
● Once the schedule has been posted, managers will not be allowed to make changes.
 
Fees & Fines
● Protest must be made during the time of infraction or before the last out of the game is made, umpire must then sign the scorebook. Protest must be submitted in writing to the league within 24 hours along with a $100.00 fee. League turnaround time for the protest to be answered will be before your next game scheduled. If the protest is valid the $100.00 fee will be returned. If the protest is invalid the league will keep the $100.00.
● There’s a $25.00 fine for the teams who do not leave their dug out clean. Fine must be paid before your next scheduled game. If a fine is not paid prior to your next scheduled game, the game will result in a forfeit.
 
Once a team plays one game registration fee is non refundable. ​​​​​
 
Managers/Coaches Conduct
● We reserve the right to reject any manager, coach or other person who does not meet the criteria and standards of our league.
● Any and all managers, coaches & players must agree to abide by the rules & regulations of the league. Anyone that violates these rules and regulations are subject to suspension or expulsion from the league.
● Every manager is responsible for the conduct of his/her coaches, players, parents and the followers of his/her team. 
● No manager or coach shall use improper language at any time. Use of improper language may result in disciplinary action. 
● Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game by the Umpire(s) for any reason shall be subject to disciplinary action, suspension will be determined by the league depending on the severity. If a coach is ejected from a game they will be fine $50.00. Coach will not be allowed back in the dugout till this fine is paid. 
● Drinking & Smoking is prohibited. No manager, coach, parent or the follower of any team should be consuming alcohol inside the dugout. If a manager or coach is consuming alcohol while his/her team is playing that manager/coach will be removed from the game immediately. 1st violation will be a 2 games suspension, 2nd violation will be 4 games suspension & the 3rd violation will be an expulsion of the league. (NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE…)
 
Players Conduct
● Any Player fighting, throwing equipment or acting with unruly conduct will be immediately ejected from the game. He/She can be suspended for a minimum of a game.
 
Injuries
● Never use a player who has been injured until you are certain that the player has fully recovered.
 
Poor Weather Condition/Suspended Games.
● Team should always report to the field. It is the decision of the Umpire(s) as to whether or not to play the game. First consideration should be the safety of the players & field condition. Once a game has started the Umpire may either call the game or impose a delay.
● Suspended games due to bad weather or darkness will be rescheduled only if it’s necessary for Playoff. If the game is official (4th inning) the team leading wins the game (after the 4th inning has been closed), but if the game is not official then the game will be rescheduled and played as a new game.
 
Meetings
● Managers are required to attend all meetings or send a representative. Attendance will be taken at every meeting.
 
Standings/Games
● In the event that all teams do not play an equal amount of games, standings will be determined on a percentage.
● A player must play at least 30% of the season with his/her team in order to participate in the playoffs & championship games. If a team has ineligible player(s) the team will be disqualified. Is the manager(s) responsibility to protest the infraction.​​
 
When two teams finish in a tie for a playoff, the following tie-breaking formula will be used;
  1. Best record head to head competition
  2. Fewest runs allowed against all opponents
  3. Most runs scored against all opponents
  4. Coin flip
Revised: April 18th, 2023

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 6U

  • Game for this division is 1:15
  • No new inning will start after an hour and 15 minutes
  • (1) one Umpire per game
  • Manager/Coach pitch to their own team/hitters
  • No catcher; coaches only will catch
  • Universal Lineup
  • Hitters get a maximum of 5 pitches or 3 strikes, whichever comes first
  • Play is stopped once a fielder either gets an out or the fielder has full possession of the ball. 
  • League-wide mercy rule is NOT in effect for this youngest division of play
  • Field Size -  15 ft. mound / 40 ft. bases
  • Leading & Stealing - Leading & Stealing is not allowed. (1) one warning per team & then player is out, if he/she leaves early
  • No Bunting
  • No tag-ups on fly ball outs
  • Drop 3rd strikes are NOT enforced
  • Bats Allowed - Babe Ruth "T-Ball" or "TB" (Metal) up to 26" and USA Approved 
  • Runs per inning - 5 runs per inning,  ALL runs count until end of play
  •  Last inning - (5) inning is open (no run limit)
  • Up to 9 players allowed in the field (5 infielders, 4 outfielders)
  • Up to 5 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION).

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 8U Hybrid

  • Game for this division is 1:30
  • No new inning will start after an hour and 30 minutes
  • (1) one Umpire per game
  • Universal Lineup​​​​​​
  • Field Size -  38 ft. mound / 50 ft. bases
  • Leading & Stealing - No leading. Steal Allowed once pitch crosses the plate. Runners can not advance on over throw. No stealing home.
  • PITCHING RULES - Pitch count using pitch smart chart
  • Bats Allowed - Wood bats & USA stamp bats​​​​​​Bunting - Allowed, but NO slash bunts
  •  THE FIRST TWO AND LAST TWO INNINGS WILL BE COACH PITCH.  EACH BATTER WILL GET 5 PITCHES TO HIT THE BALL. THE BATTER WILL BE OUT AFTER 3 SWINGING STRIKES OR AT THE END OF FIVE PITCHES. IF THE BATTER HAS NOT PUT THE BALL IN PLAY AFTER 5 PITCHES IT IS AN OUT.  THE 3RD and 4TH INNINGS WILL BE PLAYER PITCH (4 BALLS AND 3 STRIKES.)
  • DURING COACH PITCH, THE PLAYER-PITCHER MUST POSITION THEMSELVES TO THE IMMEDIATE LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE COACH WITHIN THE CIRCLE OF THE MOUND
  •  A BATTER HIT BY A PITCH IS NOT AWARDED FIRST BASE IN COACH PITCH. IT WILL COUNT AS A PITCH. IF A BATTER IS HIT DURING PLAYER PITCH THEY WILL BE AWARDED FIRST BASE
  • PLAY WILL ONLY BE STOPPED WHEN THE BALL IS RETURNED TO THE PITCHER (NOT THE COACH, THE PLAYER) AND IN CONTROL ON THE MOUND. IF THE BASE RUNNERS ARE IN-BETWEEN BASES THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE NEXT BASE IF THE UMPIRE DETERMINES THE RUNNER TO BE HALF WAY OR CLOSER TO THE NEXT BASE
  • Runs per inning - 5 runs per inning, ALL runs count to end of play!!6th inning is ONLY inning that is open; no limit to runs scored.
  • Mercy Rule - 12 runs after 4 innings, 8 runs after 5 innings
  • 4 outfielders in this division
  • Maximum of 5 runs per inning, with the exception of the last inning.Each team will get one warning for a runner leaving the base early. Second violation of this will be declared an out. 
  • All runners must slide feet first. Head first will be called as an out. 
  • SPEED-UP RULE – When the offensive team has two outs, if the catcher for the next inning is a base runner, that player must be replaced by either the last batted out or a player not in the lineup. 
  • Up to 4 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION).

   YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 8U 

  • Game for this division is 1:45
  • No new inning will start after an hour and 45 minutes(1) one Umpire per game
  • Universal Lineup
  • Field Size -  42 ft. mound / 55 ft. bases
  • ​​​​​​​Leading & Stealing - No leading. Steal Allowed once pitch crosses the plate. Runners can not advance on over throw. 
  • No stealing home.
  • Drop 3rd strikes are NOT enforced​​​​​​​
  • Infield fly IS enforced​​​​​​​
  • PITCHING RULES- Pitch count using pitch smart chart
  • Bats Allowed - Wood bats & USA stamp bats
  • Bunting - Allowed, but NO slash bunts
  • Runs per inning - 5 runs per inning, ALL runs count to end of play!!
  • 6th inning is ONLY inning that is open; no limit to runs scored.
  • Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings 
  • 4 outfielders in this division
  • Maximum of 5 runs per inning, with the exception of the last inning.  
  • Each team will get one warning for a runner leaving the base early. Second violation of this will be declared an out. 
  • All runners must slide feet first. Head first will be called as an out. 
  • SPEED-UP RULE – When the offensive team has two outs, if the catcher for the next inning is a base runner, that player must be replaced by either the last batted out or a player not in the lineup. 
  • Up to 4 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION).

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 10U

  • Game for this division is 1:45
  • No new inning will start after an hour and 45 minutes
  • (1) one Umpire per game
  • Field Size - 46 ft. mound / 65 ft. bases
  • Leading & Stealing - No leading. Steal Allowed - after release of pitch!
  • PITCHING RULES - Pitch count using pitch smart chart
  • 1 warning per team & then player is out if player leaves early
  •  NO Drop 3rd strike
  • Infield fly rule is enforced
  • Bats Allowed - Wood bats & USA stamp bats
  • Bunting - Allowed, but NO slash bunts
  • Runs per inning - 7 runs per inning
  • The 6th inning is the ONLY inning that is open; no limit to runs scored.
  • Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings 
  • ALL runs count until end of play!
  • Universal Lineups
  • Up to 4 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION).

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 12U

  • Game for this division is 2:00
  • No new inning will start after two hours
  • Field Size - 50 ft. mound/ 70 ft. bases
  • Leading & Stealing is allowed
  • Drop 3rd strikes are enforced
  • Infield fly rule in effect
  • Bats Allowed - Open Bats
  • Bunting - Allowed, but NO slash bunts
  • Lineups - Universal optional 
  • Starters can re-enter in same lineup spot; bench players cannot re-enter

  • Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings 

  • Up to 3 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION).

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 14U

  • Game for this division is 2:00
  • No new inning will start after two hours
  • Field Size - 60 ft. mound / 90 ft. bases
  • MLB Modified rules
  • RE-Entry rule
  • Bats Allowed - -3 BBCOR or non composite wood bats. NO BAMBOO, BAUM bats allowed. 
  • Lineups - Universal Option
  • DH/Multiple EH Allowed
  • Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings 
  • Up to 3 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION)

YOUTHSPORTSNYC ~ 16U

  • Game for this division is 2:00
  • No new inning will start after two hours
  • Field Size - 60 ft. mound / 90 ft. bases
  • MLB Modified rules
  • RE-Entry rule
  • Bats Allowed - Wood & Baum bats only 
  • Lineups - Universal Option
  • DH/Multiple EH Allowed
  • Mercy Rule - 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings 
  • Up to 3 coaches are allowed inside the dugout. Coaches must also wear league/team's shirts to be allowed in the dugout (NO EXCEPTION)

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