Coaches are expected to be aware of and abide by the national rules found in the current Babe Ruth Inc. Official Regulations and Playing Rules. The rules below are listed for emphasis and convenience, and have been approved by Windsor Baseball Board of Directors. If a rule question cannot be answered upon reviewing the following, please refer to the AAA Player Representative who will take whatever action is necessary to obtain a definitive answer. This may require consulting with the President, VP. Player Agent, Chief Umpire, or full Board, if needed.

GOAL: The primary goal of this level is one of training and preparation for advancement to the Majors. Therefore, WBL resolves that team coaches should provide for an "adequate number" of team practices during the course of a season.  

TIME LIMITS AND LOCATIONS:

1. All games will be played at Mattie 2 except for tournament play when Mattie 1 may be used.
2. Game: a regulation game shall be at least 4 innings but no more than 6, or 1-3/4 hours, whichever comes first.
3. During regular season play, no new inning may begin after 1 hour and 40 minutes (100) minutes) from the official game start time.
4. During playoff and tournament play, the game time rule can be waived if the ballgame has a tie score.  No playoff or tournament game will end in a tie.
5. If the home team is ahead immediately before or during the bottom of the sixth inning, both coaches may agree to continue to play with consent of the umpire (who may refuse if the field is needed for a subsequent game). This rule helps to provide for the minimum 3 defensive innings (non-playoff situations) for players who were scheduled to be in the outfield in the bottom of the 6th inning.

THE VISITING TEAM:

1. Listed first on the schedule.
2. Uses the 1st base dugout.
3. Takes infield/outfield for practice (10 minutes) thirty (30) minutes prior to game time.
4. Provides the field prep volunteer(s). Field prep includes prepping and chalking the field, foul lines and batter's boxes.
5. Provides one (1) of the base umpires, if needed.

THE HOME TEAM:

1. Listed second on the schedule.
2. Uses 3rd base dugout.
3. Takes infield/outfield for practice (10 minutes) twenty (20) minutes prior to game time.
4. Provides the official scorekeeper and keeps track of pitch counts.
5. Provides the field prep volunteer(s).  Field prep includes prepping and chalking the field, foul lines and batter’s boxes.
6. Provides one (1) of the base umpires, if needed.

THOSE PERMITTED ON FIELD/DUGOUT:

1. Players on the official rosters of participating teams. ALL team roster changes (e.g. player injury, illness, resignation, release, etc.) must be reported to the Player Agent IMMEDIATELY (within 24 hours of first knowledge).
2. Only one (1) manager and two (2) coaches (3 adult’s total) are allowed on the field or in the dugout, excluding the field prep volunteer(s) who is permitted on the field prior to the beginning of the game. 
3. All managers, coaches and other assisting adults must be approved by WBL.  Only those adults approved by WBL can be left alone with and providing supervision for players in the league. 
4. Umpires approved by the Board (special exception as needed for parents recruited “on the spot”).
5. Manager and coaches must remain in the dugout or coaching box until time is called AND permission is granted by an Umpire to leave the dugout or coaching box.
6. To ensure complete attention, parents and siblings, are asked to refrain from interaction with players in the dugout.
    

For the players (maximum 3) on a player roster who are not in the game defensively, one must coach either first or third base (MUST wear a batting helmet), and one must warm-up the pitcher between innings (wearing a catcher’s mask and using a mitt). If a team has only nine players during a game, one manager or coach may be used to warm up one outfielder before the inning. 

BASIC GAME RULES:

1. There is a 5-run rule per inning except the last
2. Catcher's Courtesy Runner: when there are two (2) outs and the catcher is on base, a courtesy runner is allowed. The courtesy runner must be the player who was previously put out and if that is not possible, the Catcher's Courtesy Runner provision does not apply for that inning.
3. TBD

UMPIRE:

1. Team Coach  will be considered official 'Umpire' for these rules unless a paid umpire is present
    

PLAYING TIME:

1. Equal playing time for ALL players is a priority. 
2. Minimum play: 3 defensive innings, or 9 outs
3. Each player will be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game anytime provided that he/she meets the requirements of mandatory play. Note: If a player is injured, becomes ill or must leave the game site after the start of the game, the team will skip over him/her when his/her at bat comes up in the order without penalty. If the injured, ill or absent player returns, he/she is merely re-inserted into the original spot in the batting order.

1. Number of Players: teams will consist of a minimum of 10 players but no more than 14
2. Inning: shall consist of all players in attendance having one (1) turn at bat, or three (3) outs or five (5) runs, whichever comes first.
3. Coaching: Manager and coaches must be in the dugout or acting as base coaches at 1st and/or 3rd base. A manager must request "time" before attempting to demonstrate or explain a technique during the progress of the game.
4. Scorekeeping: There will be no official score keeping except as needed to ensure minimum play and to record outs and runs.
5. Batting: continuous batting order throughout the game. Managers may change the batting order for each game. Late arriving players will be added to the bottom of the roster.
6. Stealing home:  Runner may advance home only on a play that begins with a batted ball (exception: runners forced

PARTICIPATION RULES

PENALTY:

1. Poor sportsmanship (by managers, coaches, players or spectators) can result in ejection from the game and removal from the park.
2. Examples of poor sportsmanship include throwing equipment, using illegal equipment, bad language, taunting or gesturing in an un-sportsmanlike manner to opponents, arguing with an umpire's judgment call or harassing ANYONE.
3. A player may lose his/her privilege to play in one or more future games for disciplinary reasons provided that:
   1. The Player Agent approves such action in advance, and
   2. Before any action is taken, every effort is made to resolve the problem by talking with the parents, Player Rep, Player Agent, Manager(s).

Violation of Local and/or National playing rules (with emphasis on participation rules) may ultimately result in sanctions including ejection and/or dismissal as determined by the Executive Committee or Protest Committee.  The Executive Committee or Protest Committee may impose additional sanctions.