Fall 2012 Rules

CAL RIPKEN 11-12 FALL BASEBALL PARK RULES - WINTHROP PARK

The Cal Ripken 11-12 Fall Baseball Park Rules are to be followed, for the most part, in conjunction with official Cal Ripken rules so please read and familiarize yourself with them. Winthrop has a copy of the Cal Ripken rulebook available at all games and the Winthrop rules will be posted online and/or at the park. The Cal Ripken 11-12 year old competitive division (including summer and fall leagues) plays a 50/70' format with leadoffs and balks.

Game Info

Before each game, the umpire will be provided with two new and however many used game balls needed. Umpires and coaches are responsible for the return of the balls at the end of the game. Please return the balls to the Winthrop concession stand.
Single games will be scheduled Mondays through Fridays at 6:00 pm (except no game on Halloween night, October 31). One double-header is scheduled for Friday, November 2, with game times of 6:00 pm and 7:45 pm.
The Winthrop fall league also includes two teams from Tom Brown Park - four of the five Winthrop teams will play two games at Tom Brown, with one Winthrop team playing three games at Tom Brown.
Games at Tom Brown Park will be held only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, also with a 6:00 pm start time.

Time Limit

No new inning will begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes (single game) or 1 hour and 30 minutes (double-header) after the game start time, as determined by the umpire.
If an inning has started, it must be completed. There will be NO immediate stop of the game due to time. The inning will be completed based on which team is in the lead.
For games with a tie score at the end of the home team's half-inning when/after the time limit occurs, one full extra inning will be played - IF both coaches and umpires agree. Otherwise, the game is considered a tie. In addition, should the extra inning be played and the score remains tied, the game will conclude and be considered a tie.

Rain-outs/Weather

Weather decisions will be made as soon as possible but not more than one hour before game time. The Park President has sole responsibility for determining if a game is cancelled. If he/she is not present at the field, he can relay the final decision to the Board member(s) on duty that evening.
Summary of City of Tallahassee Lightning Policy: the City implemented a new weather notification system in 2011. Park officials will be notified in real time about weather issues and delays. Information will be shared as it is received and every effort will be made to notify coaches (who in turn will notify parents and players) of weather delays and cancellations. The Park President and/or Board member(s) on duty are required to respond to the weather notifications received by the City, regardless of the weather conditions present at the time, for safety and liability reasons.
We will attempt to make up any game that is completely rained out (i.e., never begins) during the fall season, but will need the full cooperation from both head coaches. There is no guarantee, however, that rained out games will be made up.
Games that begin and then are postponed by weather may be resumed at the mutual consent of both coaches and the Park President and/or Board member(s) on duty.

Mercy Rule

Winthrop will apply a 10-run rule after four innings during the fall season. If after four complete innings the team with the lead is ahead by 10 or more runs (3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead by 10 or more runs), the game will be called.

Batting Cages/Warm-ups

Once Winthrop's new batting cages are ready for use, teams will be allowed BP for 20 minutes.
Suggested start time for BP will be 30-40 minutes before game time.
With side-by-side cages, each team will take one cage.
Please remember to be courteous and SAFE with teams engaged in BP next to each other.
The visiting team will take infield practice for 5 minutes, starting 15 minutes prior to game time; the home team will then follow with infield practice for 5 minutes.

Player Participation/Game Rules/Equipment

Teams will bat through their entire rosters.
No player will sit for more than one defensive inning in a row.
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 bat comes up in the order without penalty. If the injured, ill or absent player returns, he/she is merely reinserted into their original spot in the batting order.
A team must have 8 players to play. Should a team be short the required 8 players to start a game, there will not be an automatic forfeit (if the game is to be a forfeit, it must be agreed upon prior to game time by both coaches, as we strongly prefer to play the game). The needed players may be sought from the opposing team’s roster. Pool players may also be used but all pool players must be borrowed from other Winthrop fall ball teams. NO UNREGISTERED PLAYERS MAY BE USED FOR POOL PLAY. In addition, the pool players will be required to be placed at the bottom of the “borrowing” team’s roster and must play in the outfield. Teams may use a maximum of two pool players per game. If the opposing team does not have additional players or chooses not to “loan” players, then the game will have to be called a forfeit.
If there are two outs and your catcher is on base, you can call time out and replace him/her with a base runner. The replacement runner must be your last recorded out.
A single pitcher may pitch no more than two innings per game. One pitch in any given inning counts as a full inning.
In the event that rainout games are rescheduled resulting in a team playing more than two games in a week, pitchers will be required to adhere to the Cal Ripken rule which states that they may not pitch more than six innings per week.
There will be no intentional walks.
Bats must be 2 ¼”, may not exceed 32 inches in length and must be approved for use in the Cal Ripken league by Babe Ruth.
No metal cleats may be worn by players or coaches.
There is no “must slide rule” in effect for play; however, if there is a play at the plate it is highly encouraged that the player slide for the protection of all players.
Head first slides are permitted in all situations, but coaches are advised to teach players how to do so safely.
There will be NO slash bunts or the player will be declared out.
Any player that is called for slinging a bat after a warning will be declared out.
Any player warming up a pitcher in the bullpen needs to have full head protection, including a mask, when catching in a squatting position.

Sportsmanship/behavior

Winthrop Park has upheld a proud tradition of competitive, but fair and enjoyable baseball. To that end, we ask that coaches, players and fans observe the following criteria.

Cheering that is positive in nature is welcome; however, the parks will not condone chanting or singing, specifically when it is directed at a pitcher or the players of the opposing team.
The head coach will be the only coach allowed to discuss calls, questions, etc. with the umpires.
No more than three coaches are allowed in the dugout at any given time.
Only one coach will be allowed on the field during your team’s defensive play.
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players and the parents/fans of their players. Anyone using objectionable language, excessively arguing umpire calls or otherwise interrupting the enjoyment of others at the park will be asked to leave. If a coach or player is ejected from a game, they will be asked to sit out the next scheduled game and will be unable to participate in the dugout.
The umpire or Board member(s) on duty will step in to 'mediate' a given situation when necessary.
Coaches need to fill out roster cards for each game providing their player’s names and numbers in the order that they will be batting. A copy should be provided to the opposing team and the announcer at least 10 minutes prior to game start. Please list any pool players last and identify them as such.
It is the responsibility of each coach to make sure that their players stay hydrated. Water will be provided in each dugout during games.

Home/Visitor Team Responsibilities

The home team will be responsible for providing at least one parent volunteer to work in the concession stand and one parent volunteer to perform grill duty. Older children (teens) may also help with concession duties.
The visiting team will be responsible for providing one parent volunteer to announce.
Games will NOT start if concession stand/grill duty is not occupied by the home team.
Parents must report for duty at least 20 minutes prior to your player’s “scheduled” game time.
When teams from Tom Brown Park visit Winthrop, they will be our honored guests and all concession/announce duties will be the responsibility of the Winthrop home team.