Game Length
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum game length from scheduled start time (SOFT STOP: FINISH BATTER) | 90 min | 90 min | 120 min | 120 min | 120 min | 120 min |
| No new inning should start after 1 hour 45 minutes from scheduled start time | applies | applies | applies | applies | applies | applies |
| Games end at sunset. Home manager will google "sunset 94583" prior to the game and announce end time at the plate meeting. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Games end 30 minutes prior to next scheduled game on that field (SOFT STOP: FINISH BATTER) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| If game is called due to time, score reverts to last previously completed inning | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mercy Rule 4.10(e): invoked if a team has a lead of 15 runs after 3 innings, or 10 runs after 4 innings, or 8 runs after 5 innings. **GAME IS NOT TO CONTINUE.** A-ball may continue to time limit. | — | — | PLAY UNTIL TIME LIMIT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Batting
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A batter who is unsuccessful after 7 pitches may have one swing to put the ball in play from a tee. After Spring Break, there is no tee option and the batter is out. | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| **SET LINEUP METHOD.** Lineup is set prior to the first game and remains the same. You pick up the batting order the next game where you left off. (If batter #6 made the last out tonight, then batter #7 is the leadoff hitter for the next game.) | — | — | ✓ | Through mid-season tournament | — | — |
| No walks / No bunting | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Continuous Batting option elected (Rule 4.04) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Batter must keep one foot in the batter's box (Rule 6.02(c)) | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pitching (Count Rules — Supplemental to Green Book)
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach pitch is "overhand" from a knee or bucket. Distance to be at least half the distance from plate to pitching rubber. | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Batter receives up to 5 pitches from a machine, with 3 swinging strikes resulting in an out. On the 5th pitch, 2-strike rules apply. Foul balls get another pitch. | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| **Through March: 35 max pitches + finish the batter** | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| **After 3/31: 50 max pitches + finish the batter.** No player to pitch in more than two games per week (Monday to Sunday) prior to March 31. | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| **After 3/31: 75 max pitches + finish the batter.** No player to pitch in more than two games per week (Monday to Sunday) prior to March 31. | — | — | — | — | ✓ | — |
| **After 3/31: 85 max pitches + finish the batter.** No player to pitch in more than two games per week (Monday to Sunday) prior to March 31. | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Pitcher may not throw more than 9 consecutive outs | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Base Running
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No stealing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Batters/Runners may advance no more than 1 base on a ball hit to the infield, and 2 bases on a ball hit to the outfield | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Batter may not advance past first base on an overthrow to 1st base | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Batters/Base runners return to the dugout if they are out | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Base runners may not pass the next base once a hit ball to the outfield crosses back onto the dirt of the infield. Runners advance at own risk. No "Halfway" Rule. | — | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| A batter cannot advance past first base on a walk, hit by pitch, or catcher interference | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| When stealing, no runner can advance on overthrows from the catcher. **Example A:** Runner on first attempts to steal and catcher overthrows second — runner may not advance to third. **Example B:** Runners on first and third — runner on first steals, catcher overthrows second base — runner on third cannot score unless a play is made from the field to third base. | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stealing of home is not permitted on a wild pitch or passed ball, or on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delayed steals are not allowed. Runner is live and can be tagged out, but if runner advances safely, must return to the original base. | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ball is dead when the pitcher has the ball while on the mound | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| When a batted ball strikes the pitching machine, only forced runners shall advance. **Example:** Runners on 1st and 3rd, batted ball hits the pitching machine — only the runner on first advances. Batter takes first base. | — | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Batter may advance on an uncaught 3rd strike (Rule 6.05(b)(2)) | — | — | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Rule 9.01(d) is **NOT** invoked (stealing signs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Catching
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may complete the at-bat and maintain their eligibility to catch. Conversely, if a player catches 3 innings or less, they may pitch but no more than 40 pitches and must finish the batter. | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| A player who catches **MORE** than 3 innings is not eligible to pitch that day | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Defenses & Minimum Play
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense plays all players: 6 infielders and all remaining in the outfield | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Each player plays infield and outfield every game | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No player will play outfield in 3 consecutive innings (excluding innings sat on bench) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outfielders must start each pitch with both feet on the outfield grass | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| In each game, no player can sit the bench a second inning until all available players have sat one inning. No player can sit a third inning until all available players have sat a second inning, and so on. **Exception:** the starting pitcher in a Majors or AAA game, as long as they do not leave the mound. Any successive pitcher can also go past their next turn to sit, as long as the player has already sat out a full inning prior to taking the mound. Minimum play rules are only for regulation games (6 innings) and do not include extra innings. | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minimum play rules apply to regulation games (6 innings) only — not extra innings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Every player gets at least 1 infield inning within the first 3 innings | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Required infield innings per game per player (shortened games excepted) | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Catcher does not count as infield for minimum play | — | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
Scoring
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-run rule is in place: half inning is over when the 5th run crosses home plate regardless of outs. **Exceptions:** the 6th inning, or any inning that has been declared the last inning by the umpire. | No score keeper | No score keeper | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Declaration of final inning is determined by the umpire prior to the start of an inning | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Umpires — Challenging Calls
| Rule | T-Ball | Farm | A | AA | AAA | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No asking for help or discussions of balls and strikes until playoffs. Umpires can still meet on their own to discuss a call. | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
