JUNIOR LEAGUE RULES:

Junior Division: The Junior Division established for 5, and 6 year olds is characterized by the 
use of a pitching machine. Junior division is designed to prepare kids for the 
Rookie Division. The pitching machine concept has been added to demonstrate the positive playing 
effects, which will directly affect players at this younger level. Fear of actually being hit by a 
pitched ball is eliminated and makes the game safer, more fun, and improves playing confidence and 
ability of all participants. The pitching machine provides a consistent location of a 34mph 
(nominal) pitch. In local league play, the home team shall provide the pitching machine for a game. 
In tournament play, the host league provides the machines.


Coaches: Babe Ruth League, Inc. rostered managers and coaches in all divisions are required to 
complete coaching education and certification, and a league nationwide background check.


Weather: The pitching machine cannot be used in the rain. This goes for practice or game. 
Recovery requires no rain for an extended period that permits the ground to dry. The extended 
period should be at least 15 minutes.


Field Dimension: Standard youth base lengths of 60 feet. The pitching machine should be placed 
so that the front of the machine is 38feet from home plate. The speed of the machine is 34 mph.


Bats: The bat may not exceed 33” in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 ¼”in diameter. 
Only 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bats marked BFF 1.15 will be allowed. Wood 2 ¼ ”barrel bats are allowed. 
If any bat in Cal Ripken Baseball or Babe Ruth Baseball cannot be clearly identified for its make 
and model to determine the barrel composition, then the bat should be removed from the game.


Operation: Only coaches should operate the pitching machine. Each coach operating the machine 
should have league-approved certification (Contact the Director). A parent or player should never
operate the pitching machine. A pitching machine that is defective should not be used.


Equipment: Proper equipment for the player includes a protective cup. Only (NOCSAE) approved 
helmets may be used. Any offensive player not in the dugout must wear a batting helmet. On defense, 
the catcher must wear the full gear. No metal cleats are allowed.


Defense: Ten defensive players are permitted on the field, with a minimum of eight. The extra 
player should be in the outfield. Before the pitch, the player playing the pitching position should 
align next to, but not in front of, the pitching machine (either side). Helmet is optional for 
pitcher. The Catcher will catch the pitch from the pitching machine. Only rostered players may 
play.

Home team: Home team is responsible for concessions.  If home team does not have concession stand staffed, the game will be called as a forfeit and the away team will be awarded a 6-0 win. Home team is in the 1st base dugout unless specified otherwise at the plate meeting. 


Playing Rules 

• Continuous Batting Order: In local league play, continuous batting order is 
  required, which means each rostered player is in the batting order. This permits free substitution 
  on defense. In the event a player is hurt or absent, his bat can be skipped without penalty, 
  provided the minimum number of batters are present. When a batter is skipped without penalty, his 
  manager must notify the umpire (and hence the opposing team). A skipped batter must wait until his 
  next at bat to bat. The manager is required to put all rostered players on the official lineup 
  given to the umpire and may denote any absent players at that time.

• Number of players: The minimum number of players is eight. Forfeit time is 
  fifteen minutes after scheduled start time. A pitcher and catcher are MANDATORY.

• Protest: A Judgment call cannot be protested. All protests must be filed with the chief umpire (if applicable)
  immediately. Play will be stopped until a ruling is given by the protest committee. Only the 
  manager may make a protest. The decision of the protest committee is final. During local league 
  play, it is the responsibility of the coaches to exhibit good sportsmanship and umpire the game amongst themselves, there will be no official umpires.

• Batting (league play): Each batter has five attempts to put the ball into play. If the batter fouls the fifth pitch, the batter will receive more pitches as necessary as long as each is fouled. 
  Bunting is permitted off the pitching machine.  There are no walks. A player hit by pitch shall be awarded first base. There is no T-Ball Arc in the Junior Division.
  
  
• Live ball hits pitching machine: In the case a live ball hits the pitching machine, the 
  pitching machine should be considered to be an umpire. The baseball rules govern how this should be 
  handled. According to (Official Baseball Rules 5.09(f) and 6.08(d).) if a fair ball touches an 
  umpire working in the infield after it has bounded past, or over, the pitcher, it is a dead ball. 
  If a batted ball is deflected by a fielder in fair territory and hits a runner or an umpire while 
  still in flight and then caught by an infielder it shall not be a catch, but the ball shall remain 
  in play.

• Pitching machine adjustment: The pitching machine should only be adjusted between half innings. 
  Fine adjustments up or down, i.e. in the vertical direction only can be made between pitches, 
  provided that "check pitches" are not required. (A "check pitch" is one where the batter is taken 
  out of the batter's box.) The speed at which the pitching machine delivers the ball shall be 
  constant and unchanged throughout the game. If both coaches agree, then the machine speed can be 
  adjusted however (especially for a player that is having trouble hitting the ball). Coaches need to work together on 
  this to make it a better experience for everyone (hitters making contact, fielders getting chances 
  to make plays, etc.).
  
  
• Game Length: The game shall last six innings (5 and one-half if the home team is ahead) or 
  90minutes, whichever comes first. The official time is taken when the previous inning ends, not 
  when the next inning starts. So, for example, if the fifth inning ends at 89 minutes, the sixth is 
  played and completed. At the first call to "Play", the umpire shall note and announce the start 
  time of the game according to his watch, in accordance with Official Baseball Rule 9.04(a)(7). This 
  shall be recorded by the official scorekeeper. If teams are tied through six innings, then no game 
  should go beyond six innings during league play and will result in a tie.

• Scoring: When the Sixth run of a half inning occurs, the half inning shall be considered over, 
  even if the batting team has no outs. The game shall be considered over if one team is ahead by ten 
  runs after four innings (3-1/2 for home team) or eight after five innings. Ties stand in league 
  play.
  
  
• Stealing: Each runner must stay in contact with his base until the ball is hit. Stealing is not 
  permitted.
  
  
• Infield fly rule: There is no infield fly rule.

• Umpire: There are no umpires for the Junior Division during the regular season. The offensive 
  coach feeding the pitching machine will be the designated umpire. The other coaches from either 
  team are respectfully requested to refrain from making calls during the course of play, which may 
  adversely affect play. The umpire should use best effort to quickly call and definitively call out 
  loud fair and foul balls. Umpires will be assigned during tournament play
   
• Timeout request: In accordance with the rules of baseball, a timeout request by a coach or a 
  player is granted only by the umpire at the umpire's discretion. Before a timeout shall be granted 
  to the defensive team in a live ball situation, the defensive team must cause the offense to cease 
  play. This means the defense must force the base runner(s) into a non-advancing position. This is 
  considered to be an important component of baseball, particularly in post-season tournament play, 
  that defensive players learn the importance of stopping advancement of base runners. As such, the 
  use of an offensive coach as umpire in local play is considered appropriate. The acting umpire 
  should always call timeout in a definitive manner to end play when he is satisfied that play has 
  actually ended. At such time, the ball should be returned to the pitcher. In this case, runners are 
  not permitted to advance if there is an overthrow back to the pitcher.
  
  
• Defensive Coaches: Two defensive coaches are permitted in foul territory, 15 feet beyond 1st 
  and 3rd base. A third defensive coach is permitted to help the catcher with passed balls, but he 
  must avoid distracting the batter as the pitch is being delivered. For example, the third defensive 
  coach could be distracting if he yells defensive moves as the ball is being delivered.
  
  
• Scorebooks: Please keep an accurate scorebook using the last name of the players, as these are 
  required to be turned in as proof of eligibility for all-stars.
  
  
• Runner: A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher (keeping game pace 
  up); runner must be whoever made the last out if coach chooses to use a runner.
  
  
• Contact rule: If a runner attempting to reach home plate intentionally and maliciously runs 
  into a defensive player in the area of home plate, he will be called out on the play and ejected 
  from the game. The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for crashing the 
  defensive player, rather than trying to reach home plate. Obviously, this is an umpire’s judgment call.