9U “Closed Base Rules”

Published by Robert Mondoux

Jul 31, 2022

9U “Closed Base Rules”

Field Dimensions:
Mound is 46 feet from back of home plate
Bases are set at 60 feet

Game Play:

A.) Any team not ready to play at official game time will forfeit the game. No game may start more than thirty minutes prior to its scheduled time, unless arranged by the site director. Teams consist of nine (9) defensive players. A team may start and play the game with eight (8) players, however the ninth (9) player will be considered an out each and every time his/her spot comes to bat in the line-up. No team may add a player to their line up once the official score card has been turned in to the umpire in chief. Any errors to the scorecard “Must” be addressed prior to turning into the umpire in chief. It becomes an “official game card” once handed to the umpire in chief.

B.) Home team will be determined by a coin flip in pool play. Higher seeds will have the option in bracket play. The coin flip will also be used in all championship games.

C.) There will be no balks in this division.

D.) No leading off. Runners must be on the base when the pitcher has come to a natural pitching position and cannot leave the base until the ball has left the pitchers hand. If any runner leaves the base before the ball releases the pitchers hand, the umpire will return the runner back to his/her last base occupied. If the ball is put in play then no runner may advance more than one (1) base beyond the batter runners safely occupied base.

E.) The infield fly rule is in effect.

F.) Batters/runners must be put out or forced out on all dropped or missed third strikes and runners may at their own peril seek to advance home on dropped or missed third (3rd) strikes.

G.) Pitching distance is forty-six (46) feet with sixty (60) feet base path.

H.) If an intentional walked is called for, the pitcher will not have to throw four pitches outside the strike zone. Instead, the team’s manager may signal and point the runner to first base. No players can make this call.

Fake a Bunt:

Faking a bunt then taking a swing or a “butcher boy/slash play” is not permitted. Penalty: It is an immediate dead ball, regardless if contact is made or not. The batter is called out and all runners shall return to the base they occupied at the time of pitch.

Pitching Rule:

For all six (6) inning games, 12U and under, a pitcher cannot pitch more than twenty-seven (27) outs in a three-day tournament and no more than (18) outs in one day. Violation of this rule will result in the Manager and player being ejected out of the game. The game will resume. Once removed, no pitcher may return to the pitchers position in the same game.

Please note, Pitchers may not wear on either hand; wrist bands, batting gloves and arm sleeves. Regardless of color or style.

Pitchers may wear prescription glasses. All other eyewear is left up to the umpires discretion.

Re-entry Rule:

Starters can re-enter only one (1) time in a game. Starters and substitutes are “married” to each other for the re-entry requirements.

Coaching:

A.) The area directly in front of each dugout will be considered the “coaches area”. This area will run the length of the dugout and extend five feet out towards the playing field. Each team may have one manager and one coach in this area during the game. (Some fields do not allow buckets on the field so if your at such a location please respect that parks rules and either stand outside or go into the dugout to sit).

B.) No coach or manager may walk/down the foul line to coach or manage a player(s).

C.) Umpires will have the final “judgement” on awarding or taking away bases should a live ball come into contact with either a coach or any foreign objects that are brought onto the field, such as buckets, folding chairs or stools.

D.) Each team may have a total of “four” (4) coaches in their dugout during a game. You may have three coaches and a scorekeeper but not more than four in total.

**Please note that COACHES or PLAYERS may not call “time-out”, they may only ask and the umpire at his discretion may call an official time out.

Ejection Rule:

Any player or coach ejected from any game will have to leave the park, and may only return for their next scheduled game. They may not return to that field even after the final out is recorded and the game is official completed. Depending on the nature of the ejection, the Site Director and Tournament Director may extend the ejection for the next game or suspend them for the remainder of the tournament.

Run Rule:

9U, 10U, 11U and 12U, six (6) inning games: eight (8) runs after five (5) innings, ten (10) runs after four (4) innings and twelve (12) runs after three (3) innings.

Scorekeeping:

A.) The home team is responsible for the scorekeeping. The umpire will also keep the game score and will be deemed the final decision on any and all score related issues.

Protests:

A.) All protests must be raised verbally by the offended team manager at the time of play and before the next pitch.

B.) A fee of $100.00 in cash (refunded if protest is upheld) must accompany the protest and be remitted to the site director. Only then will the official game clock will be stopped.

C.) All protest decisions are final. The Site director and Tournament Director shall comprise the protest committee for all rule challenges.

D.) Should the protest be upheld, the fee will be returned to the protesting team manager and play will resume.

E.) Only decisions involving the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule may be protested. No protests shall be allowed in situations involving the “judgement of an umpire.

***IMPORTANT NOTE***: any rule or rules not specifically outlined within shall fall under the 2021 MLB rules and guidelines.