-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WESTERN KIWANIS 13 YEAR OLD PREP BASEBALL LEAGUE RULES
1. Teams.
A. Each team shall consist of no more than fifteen(15) players.
B. No additions or changes can be made in any team's roster without the
consent of the Commission. This includes trades between teams and dropping
any player from the roster once the player has been picked to play with the team.
2. Age.
Any boy/girl who will not attain the age of 14 before September 1 and any boy/girl who attains the
age of 13 before September 1 of any given calendar year, shall be eligible to active membership
in the League and may participate in any and all of the activities during the year.
3. Legal Games.
A. Games shall be played seven innings.No new inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes.
The inning begins upon completion of the third out of the previous inning. The
umpires will determine that starting time of each game and designate a timepiece as
the official timepiece.
B. Tie Games - If the score is tied at the end of 7 innings or the time limit has
elapsed, an extra inning will be played. The extra inning will be
played as follows:
The player making the last out in the previous inning will start the inning as a
base runner on 2nd base. If the score is still tied after the completion of the
extra inning, the game will be considered a tie in the standings.
C. 10-Run Rule – A baseball game shall end any time after four innings, or after
three and one-half (3-1/2) innings when a team is 10 or more runs behind and
has completed it's turn at bat.
D. Should a game be suspended because of weather or other circumstances and if the
game is made up, it will be made up from the point at which it was postponed.
4. Umpires and Coaches.
A. There shall be two approved umpire at each game. The home plate umpire is
the umpire-in-chief.
B. Umpire in chief shall be behind the home plate, whenever possible. He shall have
the power to overrule on all decisions.
C. Coaches as well as managers shall be assigned by the Commission.
D. No game will be postponed because of an absence of assigned umpires. If the umpires
do not show up for a game, the managers of each team will take appropriate steps
to see that an official game is played.
5. Scorekeepers.
The manager of the home team shall supply a competent scorekeeper. Runs and innings are
the only records required. The umpires will record the innings pitched by each pitcher.
6. Forfeiture and Protest.
A. No team shall be permitted to begin a ball game with less than seven (7) players in
complete uniform. Teams will not be permitted to continue a game with less than seven
players. If a team has less than 9 players, when the empty position in the batting
order is scheduled to bat, he will not be an automatic out.
B. Protesting an error in a rule interpretation will be allowed. The protest must be
done in accordance with baseball rules. Notification must be made to a commissioner
in writing within 48 hours. If the protest is upheld the game will be replayed from
that point, only if it affects the final standings. Protest decisions will be
governed by normal baseball rules and the commissioners decision is final.
C. In the case of a team violating the playing rules, appropriate action will be taken
by the commission. This action could consist of(but not limited to) replaying the
game, playing the game from the time of the infraction, or forfeiture of the game.
7. Playing Rules.
The High School Federation Rules shall be the rules of the League. Prep League Rules
supercede High School Federation Rules.
8. Schedule
A. The schedule of games shall be approved by the Commission.
B. Games shall be scheduled to give teams sufficient rest between scheduled games.
C. The team name appearing first on the schedule is the visiting team. The visiting
team will:
1) Use the first base side dugout;
2) Bat in the top of each inning;
3) No infield/outfield warm-up is permitted on playing infields.
4) Have the use of batting cages from 4:15 - 4:40 at games scheduled at 5:15;
5) Have the use of batting cages from 6:15 - 4:40 at games scheduled
at 7:15;
The team name appearing second on the schedule is the home team. The home team will:
1) Use the third base side dugout;
2) Bat in the bottom of each inning;
3) No infield/outfield warm-up is permitted on playing infields.
4) Have the use of batting cages from 4:55 - 5:10 at games scheduled
at 5:15;
5) Have the use of batting cages from 6:45 - 7:10 at games scheduled
at 7:15;
D. Rain outs. If a game is rained out, it will be rescheduled when there is an
available field. Sufficient notification will be given to each team.
9. Pitchers.
I. Rules for the first round of league play(1st 6 scheduled games):
A. No pitcher will be allowed to pitch more than 7 innings in any calendar week.
(A calendar week is Monday through Sunday). One pitch constitutes an inning
of pitching.
B. A pitcher will not be allowed to pitch more than 4 innings per game.
C. A pitcher must have two (2) calendar days rest between pitching assignments
in which a pitcher pitches four (4) or more innings in any one game.
D. The balk rule will not be enforced by the umpires. Time will be called and
the umpires will inform the pitcher of the balk and instruct the pitcher on
the correct procedure;
E. No breaking pitches will be allowed;
F. If a pitcher is replaced as a pitcher, he may not pitch again in that same game;
G. Pitchers will be allowed 7 warm-up pitches at the start of the game;
H. Between innings, the pitcher will be allowed 5 warm-up pitches or until the
catcher is ready;
I. Pitchers will be allowed 7 warm-up pitches if entering the game as a relief
pitcher;
II. Rules for the 2nd and 3rd round and play-off(effective at 7 seventh scheduled game):
A. No pitcher will be allowed to pitch more than 7 innings in any calendar week.
(A calendar week is Monday through Sunday). One pitch constitutes an inning of
pitching.
B. A pitcher will not be allowed to pitch more than 7 innings per game.
C. A pitcher must have two (2) calendar days rest between pitching assignments in
which a pitcher pitches four (4) or more innings in any one game.
D. The balk rule will be enforced by the umpires.
E. Breaking pitches will be allowed;
F. If a pitcher is replaced as a pitcher, he may not pitch again in that same game;
G. Pitchers will be allowed 7 warm-up pitches at the start of the game;
H. Between innings, the pitcher will be allowed 5 warm-up pitchest or until the
catcher is ready;
I. Pitchers will be allowed 7 warm-up pitches if entering the game as a relief
pitcher;
10. Line Ups.
Before the starting of each game during the season, the manager of each team shall provide
an accurate batting order and a listing of all uniformed players, whose names have been
registered with the Commission, to the opposing manager, the scorekeeper and to the Umpire
in chief of said game. In addition, the manager must inform the opposing manager if any
of his players will be withheld from satisfying the participation rule because of injury,
illness, or disciplinary reason.
11. Miscellaneous Rules
A. A courtesy runner will be mandatory for the catcher when there are 2 outs.
1) The player making the last out will run for the catcher.
2) This rule does not have to be followed during the 7th inning or beyond.
B. Managers must try faithfully to call each and every player on his team for all
practices and games.
C. To provide sufficient playing time for all players, the following rules will be
enforced:
1. A continuous batting order will be used. That is, all players attending a
game will be in the batting rotation for the entire game.
2. A player at a games must play a minimum of 9 outs in the field.
3. If for some reason, (example: time limit, darkness) a position player does not
play 3 innings in field, that player will play a minimum of the first 3 innings
of the team’s next scheduled game In the field..
4. If an offensive player is unable to remain in the game(ex. injury), then the
last out will replace that player. The player is removed from the line-up and
can no longer play in the game. In addition, when that player location comes to
bat, it will NOT be an automatic out.
D. If a player is warming up a pitcher on the playing field, he must wear protective
head gear and a protective cup. If a player is coaching a base, he must wear a
batting helmet.
E. A player who is a member of a high school baseball team, shall not be allowed to
play or practice with his Western Kiwanis League Team until completion of his
high school team's schedule. This includes the time during which he is trying out
for the high school team.
F. A $125 fee is required from each player.
G. Any player, coach, or manager throwing equipment or using foul language will be
ejected from the game and suspended from the next scheduled game.
The 2nd offense - 3 game suspension, 3rd offense one year suspension. In addition,
any player, coach, or manager ejected from a game for any reason will be suspended
from the next scheduled game pending a review by the commission. And the person
ejected must leave the ballpark.
H. No Metal Spikes will be permitted.
I. Players shall not intentionally collide with nor attempt to hurdle any other player.
In the case of a runners intentionally colliding with or attempting to hurdle a
fielder, the runner will be called out and may, at the umpires discretion be
ejected from the game. A runner leaving the ground head or feet first in an attempt
to take out a defensive player will be ejected from the game followed by player
disciplinary action. The decision may be subject to league review. All base runners
must slide, or stop and give themselves up, run around a defensive player(however
runners may not avoid a tag by running more then 3 feet out of the baseline) if the
defensive has possession of the ball. NOTE: A player may have incidental contact
without being called and ejected from the game by the umpire. The determination of
intentional and incidental contact is at the sole discretion of the umpire and is
not subject to appeal.
If a defensive player is not in possession of the ball, he cannot block the base or
be in the base path so as to impede or obstruct the base runner right to that base.
Under such circumstances, the umpire will call obstruction. This would allow the
runner/batter to be called safe and to be allowed base advancement upon the umpire
discretion. Also, under these circumstances, runner/batter will follow the rules
outline in paragraph above. In addition, if the obstruction is flagrant, the
defensive may be ejected from the game.
J. Hidden Ball Trick not allowed.
Penalty: 1st offense in a game, the play is nullified. 2nd offense in the same
game - Forfeiture of game.
K. Time Outs/Conferences:
The Offensive Team will be allowed 2 Coach/Player/Runner Time Outs per game.
L. Players must wear an Official Kiwanis baseball cap and shirts must be tucked in.
Any player not in a complete uniform must be removed from the game.
M. If a team is playing a game with less than 9 players, when the vacant batting position comes
it will NOT be an automatic out.
N. Bat Restrictions.
1) In the Prep League, we have the following restrictions:
* No longer than 34 inches;
* No specific weight/length ratio limit;
* Wood, metal or composite is allowed;
* Non- wood and multi-piece wood bats must be either BBCOR or USABat certified;
* Barrel diameter for any bat may be no longer than 2 5/8";
* A complete list of approved bats can be found at www.USABAT.com
2) In the Junior and Senior Leagues, the HS Federation rule is used.
Play-off Rules.
1) Seeding for play-offs based on the following criteria:
(1) Better record;
(2) Head-to-head record;
(3) Least runs allowed;
(4) Coin flip.
2) Substitution/Participation Rule - Same as league play.
3) In the event of extra innings, the game will be played without
putting the out on 2nd base. The game will continue until a winner
is determined.
4) Time Limit:
a) PREP LEAGUE - The championship will have a 2 hour time limit;
b) JUNIOR + SENIOR LEAGUE - The championship game will be 7 innings.