Gate City Sports Rules:

1. Run Rules:
   1. 8u-12U 
      1. 20 Runs after 2
      2. 15 Runs after 3
      3. 8 Runs after 4
   2. 13u-15U
      1. 15 Runs after 3
      2. 12 Runs after 4
      3. 8 Runs after 5 
2. Pitching Rules (Molded on Temp Mounds)
   1. 9u-12u No More than 8 innings in a weekend 6 innings max in one day and no more than 3 innings Saturday to pitch Sunday (pitching recorded in outs)
   2. 13u-15u No More than 8 innings in a weekend 7 innings max in one day and no more than 3 innings Saturday to pitch Sunday (pitching recorded in outs)
   3. Pitch Count is Determined by Coaches (Please be smart)!
   4. If the Pitcher maximizes innings he must be removed at the time it is determined
   5. One trip to the mound an inning, the second trip, the pitcher must be removed! 
3. Lineup Rules
   1. 9u-15u Bat 9,10,11 or all (Use can use DH for Pitcher and XH and EH)
   2. If you batting roster and a player is injured he will become an automatic out every plate appearance 
4. Ejections
   1. If a player is ejected from the game he must sit one game unless director grants him the right to play
   2. If a coach is ejected he must leave the field, there is no dugout restrictions, but he can coach the next game unless the director decides to make the coach sit another game. Every situation can be different.
5. Age Requirements
   1. Ages 8-13 a kid must play the Age he is on May 1^st
   2. Ages 14-15 a kid can play his graduation year
6. Bat Requirements
   1. Ages 8-12 can use (-10,-8,-5)
   2. Ages 13 can use (-5)
   3. Ages 14 can use (-3)   
7. Protest (100.00 Must be cash)
   1. All players must be on the roster that is given to the Director before 1^st Pitch
      2. 100.00 Cash must be presented immediately  
8. Balk Rule
   1. All Balks are Live!
9. Catchers 
   1. No Skull Masks (8u-12U)
   2. Skull Mask allowed (13u-15U
10. Sliding
    1. Player must avoid contact (leaping or jumping is not avoiding contact and is declared an out)
11. Rosters
    1. All players must be added to the roster
    2. Teams are allowed 2 grade exemptions 
12. Tie Breaker
    1. Head to Head
    2. Runs Allowed
    3. Runs Scored
    4. Run Differential (max 8)

8u Coach Pitch Rules
1. The Adult Pitcher must pitch from 40-feet.
2. There is a 16 feet round circle that is eight (8) feet from the pitcher rubber.
3. The player/athlete playing the position of pitcher must have one foot inside the pitching circle, and be positioned behind the Adult Pitcher. 2.
4. The player/athlete playing the position of pitcher is not allowed to come out of the circle until the ball is batted. If the batter is bunting, all players may charge at the time the batter shows bunt.
5. The pitcher must throw overhand. 
6. The adult pitcher can only instruct the batter. The adult pitcher cannot instruct the base runners.
7. Base runners may only be instructed by the base coaches
Violation of this rule results in a restriction to the dugout for the coach (meaning he can no longer pitch).
8. The same adult must pitch to the players for the entire inning. Teams may switch adult pitchers only at the start of a new inning. 
9. There are no Base-on-Balls.
Batting Order 
1.  All players present in uniform and in the dugout will be in the batting order. b. Teams are to bat the entire roster. 
2.  All players present at the game and dress to play must bat. ii. Coaches may not delete players from the playing roster to gain a competitive advantage. 
3. Courtesy runners are only allowed for the catcher of record.
Defense 
1.  All players must play every other inning in the field. 
2.  An “inning” means three consecutive outs. 
3.  A team uses only 10 defensive players at a time. 
4.  Only six (6) infielders can be played. 
5.  Four (4) outfielders will be used.
6. Outfielders may not cover second base for a put-out on the first throw. 
7.  Outfielders must play behind the 90’ mark on each field.
8. Teams that start with less than 10 players must play a full infield.
9. There is “free” substitution on defense. 
10.  To allow teams to comply with this rule, a substitute does not have to sub for the same player each inning.
Equipment 
1. A player who “slings” a bat will receive a warning. 
2. A second incident by any batter on the same team will be an “out” and the ball will be dead and no runner may advance.
3. Each batter is allowed 5 pitches or 3 strikes.
4. If a batter hits a foul ball on the fifth pitch, he or she is allowed to continue batting until he or she does not make contact with the ball OR (s)he puts the ball in play.
Coaching
1. Four (4) Coaches may be rostered in the 8u division. 
2.  Defensive Coaching 
3.  A defensive coach may be positioned on each foul line in the outfield.
4. The coach may only coach the outfielders, he may not coach the infielders.
5 .Violation of this rule results in a restriction to the dugout.
 Game Play
1. Only one batter may be on deck, and they must be in the on-deck circle. 
2.  Once the ball is batted, the adult pitcher (coach pitch or machine operator) must avoid interference by moving to the nearest sideline until all play is dead. 
3. On a bunt, the adult must take a knee in the pitcher circle.
4. Interference/Obstruction may be called for violation of these two rules.
5. Continued violations will result in the coach being restricted to the dugout. 
6.  A batted ball that hits the adult is “dead” and the umpires shall rule a “no pitch”. All runners return to their time-of-pitch base. 
7.  NOTE: Anytime a pitch is to be declared a “no pitch” by rule, it is still a “no pitch” even if the batter swung and/or hit the pitch.  A fair batted ball that hits the pitching machine is a dead ball.
8. The batter is awarded first base. 
9.  All other runners are awarded one base. 
10.  7 runs per inning
11. In the 6th inning you may have unlimited runs
12. A batted ball (unless foul) is a live ball and in play until the defense stops the progress of all runners.
13.The umpires can call “time” after every play and declare the ball dead
14. Umpires should call time when all three of the following occur: 
15.  The defensive team has stopped the progress of all runners attempting to advance.
16. It is umpire judgment as to whether the lead runner has stopped attempting to advance
17. If a coach is trying to have their runner “dance” around the base to draw a throw…this is NOT to be considered trying to advance.
18. The ball is in the possession of a fielder in the infield that has stopped the lead runner. 
19. No defensive play is imminent.
20. Runners may not leave their bases until the pitched ball crosses the front edge of home plate.
21. A runner who leaves early is declared “out” and the pitch is called a “no pitch”. The ball is immediately dead.
22. If the bases are loaded with no outs and a runner leaves the base early, but the batter hits a single (or better) the runner who left early is “out”, the pitch is a “no pitch”, all other runners return, and no runs score. This is an immediate dead ball.
Bunting
1. Bunting is allowed.
2. Fake bunts (followed by a swing) are not allowed. 
3. Player is out and the ball is dead.
4. If a batter shows bunt, all defensive players may “charge”

All Rules that are not covered above will revert back to High School Federation