Minors AA

GAME TIMES AND LOCATION:

1. Games will be played at Bertozzi field, located within Keiser Park.
2. All games times are limited to 120 minutes (2 hrs) or 6 innings, whichever occurs first.
3. No new inning may begin after 105 minutes (1 hour and 45 minutes) from the official start time of the game. Note: once begun, an inning MUST be completed even if it goes beyond the two-hour time limit.

THE VISITING TEAM:

1. Listed first on the schedule.
2. Uses the third 1st base dugout.
3. Takes infield/outfield practice twenty (20) minutes prior to game.
4. Drags field for next game, waters the infield, removes bases if last game of the day

THE HOME TEAM:

1. Listed second on the schedule.
2. Uses the first 3rd base dugout.
3. Takes infield/outfield practice ten (10) minutes prior to game time.
4. Prepares field for use (includes dragging field if first game of the day)

THOSE PERMITTED ON FIELD:

1. Only players on the official rosters of participating teams (no siblings, parents, friends)
2. Dugouts: Only rostered Manager and Asst Coaches. If any are absent, a team many not request a parent to substitute. There must be a rostered coach in the dugout at all times.  Note: Managers/Coaches may not manage or observe from stands or behind backstop during game.
3. Manager or coach may warm up pitcher at home plate
4. Defensive manager or coach may request 'time' to instruct his team prior to or after a play. The manager may confer with any player at that time.
5. Two (2) adult base coaches are permitted (managers are encouraged to use at least one player coach on the offense) prividing there is a coach in the dugout. Team player base coaches MUST wear protective helmets.

BASIC GAME RULES:
 

1. Pitching: pitchers will stand 40 feet from home plate when delivering a pitch.  A pitcher may pitch one inning or limit to 30 pitch count.
2. Base running: runner may take one step off bag but may not steal. 
3. Base runners MUST attempt to avoid collision by either sliding or going around a defensive player in possession of, or making a legitimate play on, the ball. Failure to make such an attempt WILL result in the runner being called out.
4. NO BUNTING. 
5. NO INFIELD FLY RULE..
6. No player shall play the pitcher and catcher position in the same game.
    

UMPIRE:

1. Team Manager or designated Coach will be considered official 'Umpire' for these rules.

PLAYING TIME:

1. Equal playing time for ALL players is a priority. No player may sit out more than one inning.
2. All players must play at least 2 innings each game in the infield and outfield.
3. Managers will establish a batting order for use the entire season. Late arriving players will bat in their regular position in the order.
4. Players will bat through the roster consecutively, game after game during the regular season. For example: if batter no. 6 is last up in a game, batter no. 7 will lead off the next game.
5. TBD
6. TBD
    

GUIDELINES:

1. Number of players: There must be a minimum of 8 players per team.  Defensive team shall consist of ten (10) players in the field, with a maximum of 4 outfielders. Offense shall consist of all players present for the game.
2. Inning: An inning shall consist of all players in attendance having one (1) at bat; five (5) runs or three(3) outs; whichever comes first.  
3. Coaching: Managers and coaches must be in the dugout or acting as base coaches at 1st and/or 3rd bases. Manager must request 'time' before attempting to demonstrate a technique or explain a play to the player(s) during the progress of the game.
4. Base runner: must slide or to around a defensive player in possession of the ball in an attempt to avoid collission.  Failure to make such an attempt will result in the runner being called out.
5. Playing time: Equal playing time for all players is a priority.  Suggested method: players starting in the infield will play two full innings at designated position; manager will rotate players from bench to the outfield. After two innings, infielders and outfielders switch. Bench player moves to the outfield.  Two innings later, players switch again. This should allow managers the opportunity to have every player play a different position throughout the season.
6. Base Stealing: permitted only with 2 outs and on "swinging strikes" only.  The runner may advance only to the base attempted to be stolen.  Runners will NOT be allowed to advance on an overthrow.  A bunt is considered to be a "swinging strike".
7. Stealing home is not allowed, even if a play is made on a runner attempting to steal 3rd base. Runner may advance home only on a play that begins with a batted ball (exception: runners forced home by hit batter).
8. End of Play: A play ends when the ball is in the possession of a defensive player within the "pitching area" (i.e., within ten [10] feet of the pitching rubber) and the umpire has signaled "time". The defensive player must refrain from making a "demonstration" with the ball that may normally be interpreted as an attempt to make a play. In such situations the umpire will withhold judgment until the umpire is certain that the defense is not "threatening" to make a play. Note: a runner may only advance to the next base if they are more than half-way to that base when the defensive player gained possession of the ball in the "pitching area". Unavoidably, this is a judgment call on the part of the umpire.
9. Last batter: Manager must announce the last batter in each half inning to the other team manager.  When the last batter is out, either at first base or the plate (player does not have to be tagged, it is a force-out) or has scored, the side is retired. The same player must not bat as the last batter more than once in a game. 
10. Scorekeeping:  There will be no official scorekeeping except as needed to ensure minimum play and to record outs and runs.

PARTICIPATION RULES

PENALTY:

1. Poor sportsmanship (by Manager, 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, Manager(s), etc
4. Individual team rules, which identify player and family participation and cooperation guidelines, exist for each team. For disciplinary purposes, failure to recognize or comply with the team rules may result in reduced playing time.
5. Thrown Bat: If a batter throws a bat, both teams will receive a warning from the 'umpire'.  Any subsequent batter who throws a bat will be called OUT by the umpire (as if the batter had been struck out).
6. Any player who misses more than four (4) consecutive games may be dropped from the roster. This action must be initiated by the manager to the Player Agent and approved by the Board.
7. Any player who misses four (4) consecutive practices must be benched for the next game. 

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.