RIVERSIDE MINOR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION HOUSE LEAGUE RULES
The Official Rules of Baseball and Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) Rules will apply except for the following:
1. Batting & Fielding
a. All players present to be in the batting line-up
b. All players present to play in the field for at least 3 innings. Rule is not violated due to an abbreviated game. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of the game. Coaches are encouraged to rotate fielding positions and batting order.
c. The on-deck batter should be in the circle where they can see the batter’s numbers
d. Teams with insufficient number of players may borrow players from an opposing team. Players may not be borrowed during the playoffs.
e. Home team sits on the 3rd base bench / dugout.
2. Scoring
a. In all games the home team keeps the official score. It is the responsibility of the visiting team to check the score.
b. The home team is responsible to report the final score to the convenor(s) and office on the evening of the game.
3. Equipment
a. Helmets are to be worm as per manufacturer’s intent by the batter, on-deck batter, catcher, and all runners.
b. Any coach or player warming up a pitcher must wear a mask.
c. Rookie Ball players in the pitching positions are to wear helmets with masks.
d. Athletic cups to be worn. Steel spikes are not permitted to be worn.
e. Only shatterproof glasses should be worn on the field.
4. Coaches and Players
a. Managers, coaches, and umpires are responsible for and shall promote good conduct and sportsmanship.
b. All Players and Coaches must be attired in the full uniform issued. Players are required to wear baseball pants. Coaches are responsible for their players’ compliance
c. No tobacco allowed on the field or in or around dugout. Electronics (cell phones, tablets, etc.) not permitted on the field.
d. MALICIOUS CONTACT: A runner who charges a defensive player attempting to tag, will be called out and potentially ejected from the game, per the umpire’s judgement.
e. A player or coach who swears or uses abusive language or who throws a helmet or bat will be EJECTED from the game
f. All Ejections result in a one (1) game suspension, to be served the following complete game. All ejections are subject to review by the convenor(s), umpire-in-chief and the commissioner of house league or their designates, to determine if further suspensions are warranted.
g. Players may be called up from a league below but are considered pool players and do not belong to any one team and are not permitted to pitch.
5. Curfew & Weather
a. All weekday games will start at 6pm, unless otherwise noted on the schedule (umpires to conduct ground rules 5 minutes prior to start of game)
b. Regular Season: No new inning after 7pm (Jr Rookie Ball), 8pm (Rookie Ball & Mosquito, Peewee and older) unless played on a lighted field; 11pm stop on lighted field.
c. If Lightning is seen or Thunder is heard by the umpire, the game is over.
d. Games will be cancelled by grounds crew. They must inform the umpire-in-chief and convenor(s), who will inform the coaches. Coaches are encouraged to reschedule.
Jr. Rookie Ball (7U)
6. Three (3) innings consist of a complete game.
7. All players bat each inning. Outs will be enforced (unlimited)
8. Last Batter to throw home, all runners, including the batter-runner, to try to advance to home on hit
9. Batters will get 3 swings then the Tee (unlimited attempts) will be used
a. If umpire calls “No Pitch” for a ‘bad pitch’, it will not count towards the 3 swings limit
b. Ball hit from tee must reach the pitching machine or be declared DEAD
10. Time called and no runners advanced once the ball enters the infield
11. Coaches are allowed on field (do not interfere with play)
12. Only one umpire on field
Rookie Ball (9U)
13. Complete game consists of Six (6) innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, if called by the umpire.
14. Ten (10) players in field (if only 9 players in attendance, then 9 is acceptable).
15. Defensive coaches allowed on field.
16. Each inning will play until 7 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first.
Mosquito Only (11U)
17. Drop 3rd Strike – Batter is automatically out.
18. Runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball crosses the plate. Penalty – One warning per team and all runners return to their last base. Any subsequent runners will be called out.
19. Runner may NOT advance when the ball is in the possession of the catcher and being returned to the pitcher.
20. Runners may not steal home / score on a passed ball or wild pitch.
21. Mercy Rule - Max 4 runs in any half-inning.
22. Orange 21” plate to be used.
Mosquito (11U), PeeWee (13U) & Bantam (15)
**If Playing in Interlock League, Interlock Rules shall govern
23. Complete game consists of the following
a. Mosquito - Six (6) innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, if called by the umpire.
b. PeeWee & Bantam - Seven (7) innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, if called by the umpire.
24. Mercy Rule (Peewee & Bantam) - Max 5 runs in any half-inning.
25. 2 Out Catcher Rule – if catcher is on base with 2 Outs then come in to get ready and are run for by the last out.
26. Infield Fly is in effect
27. Pitcher
c. A pitcher may pitch a max of three (3) innings (Mosquito) or four (4) innings (PeeWee & Bantam) per game. This may be exceeded by one (1) innings in an extra innings game.
d. A pitcher is considered to have pitched a complete inning if they throw one (1) pitch to a batter in that inning.
e. A pitcher must be removed from the pitching position if they hit two (2) batters in any inning. They may return to pitch in a subsequent inning, however, if they hit another batter, they cannot pitch again in that game.
f. No overage Bantam player is permitted to pitch.
28. Pitcher’s Mound & Bases Distances
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ROOKIE BALL (9U) &
MOSQUITO (11U)
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44 FEET
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65 FEET
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PEEWEE (13U)
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50 FEET
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75 FEET
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Playoffs - Jr Rookie, Rookie Ball, Mosquito, PeeWee and Bantam
1. Round Robin Format to determine two (2) teams to participate in “Day of Champions”.
2. All games to be played to completion. If halted by darkness or weather, the game will be continued from where it was halted.
a. If less than 1 inning completed, then restart game
b. If TIED after regulation innings, game will scored a TIE (except Championship Game)
3. Only the commissioner of house league or designate may postpone/reschedule a game.
4. A team with fewer than 9 players may borrow players from the league below.
5. A Forfeit will be declared if a team has insufficient players 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time.
6. If teams are tied following the round robin, the following tie-breaker will be followed.
a. If three (3) or more teams are tied:
i. Head-to-Head record among tied teams
ii. Record vs. common opponents played
iii. Team with the smallest runs against ratio (runs allowed / number of defensive innings played) in playoff games among tied teams
iv. Team with the highest runs for ratio (runs scored / number of offensive innings played) in playoff games among tied teams
v. Random Draw
b. If two (2) teams are tied:
i. Head-to-Head record among tied teams
ii. Record vs. common opponents played
iii. Team with the smallest runs against ratio (runs allowed / number of defensive innings played) in all playoff games
iv. Team with the highest runs for ratio (runs scored / number of offensive innings played) in all playoff games
c. After the winner of the 3 or more teams tie breaker is determined, the tiebreakers will continue, if necessary, as long as there are 3 or more teams tied. When only 2 teams remain, the tiebreaker will start at 6(b)
d. In all other situations, the commissoner and president shall decide the method of resolutions using the general principles state herein.
7. EXTRA INNINGS - CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ONLY
a. If a Championship game is tied after regulation innings, the following will apply for each extra inning until a winner is determined
i. The team at-bat will start the inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd base
ii. The runner at 2nd base will be the last batter of the previous inning
iii. The runner at 3rd base will be the 2nd to last batter of the previous inning
8. Protest
a. If a manager wishes to enter a protest, they must notify the umpire of their intention at the time of the infraction. The score sheet with the proper date and umpire(s)’s signature(s) along with a written report of the reasons for the protest must be presented to the commissioner of house league the same day as the game. The commissioner of house league, the umpire-in-chief, the president or their designates shall meet to rule on the protest. Note: Judgement calls cannot be protested.