Rules

NFHS Baseball Rules – If a rule is not specified below, we will use the NFHS rules.

League Standings Tiebreaker Rules:

  1. Winning Percentage (ties count as 1/2 win & 1/2 loss)
  2. Head to Head
  3. Runs Against
  4. Run Differential

NO METAL CLEATS ON PORTABLE MOUNDS

Balk Rule: We are following the MLB rule not allowing the 3-1 move or fake pickoff to 3B.  It will be ruled a balk if:
The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw; It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second base.

Fake Bunt / Slash: This is a legal offensive play.  Please coach your players accordingly that this may come into play, so they know the option exists for a hitter that is showing bunt.

Age Cutoff Date: May 1st. Teams must play in the appropriate age division based on the age of the oldest player on the team. (Fall season is when we move up in age and use the upcoming May 1st cutoff date.
*Grade Exception for 13U: Players in the 7th grade will be allowed to play in 13U even if they turn 14 before May 1. Any team who has a grade exception player must email a copy of the player’s birth certificate and school report card to info@idahoclubbaseball.com to receive approval before the player may play in any Idaho Club Baseball games.
Fall HS Rosters:  Varsity players should have HS eligibility remaining for upcoming spring season.  JV players should not be seniors.

Team Rosters/Waivers: Team Rosters need to be submitted prior to your team’s 1st game of the league season.

UPDATED: Borrowing Players (League play only): If borrowing players to avoid a forfeit (OK to borrow to reach 10 players max. for a game), borrowed players must bat at the bottom of the order and may not pitch in the game.  No borrowing players in tournament play.

Batting Lineup (updated 2/9/22): A Line-up must be declared and exchanged with the opposing team and umpire before the start of the game and used the entire game. An unlimited number of extra hitters (EH) will be allowed, up to and including batting the entire line-up. Free defensive substitutions with all players in the batting order. If a team is unable to maintain the batting line-up due to a player who is unable to bat for any reason other than ejection, the player is removed from the batting order and an out is taken one time only. Ejected players will be an out each time their spot comes up in the batting order. The re-entry rule applies for the EH. Once a pitcher is relieved on the mound, he cannot return to pitch even if he occupies the EH position (EH is not a defensive position).
No DH rule during league games.

Courtesy Runners: Courtesy runners will be allowed for the pitcher or catcher at any time. The courtesy runner must be a player not currently in the game (EHs are in the game) or if the team is batting all players, the last out shall run.  A courtesy runner may only run one time per inning.

Innings/Time Limit:
Varsity/JV: 7 inning games: No new inning after 1 hour 50 minutes (1:50).
13U-14U:  7 inning games: No new inning after 1 hour 50 minutes (1:50).
12U and under: 6 inning games: No new inning after 1 hour and 40 minutes (1:40).
For all ages, once an inning begins, it must be completed.  Exception is 10U, which will have a 2 hour (2:00) drop dead time limit. If reached, the score will revert back to the score at the end of the last completed inning.
However, if the home team is ahead and batting when time expires, the game is over and the inning is not completed.
Extra innings may be played if time remains starting with runners on 2B & 3B and 1 out. Runners are the last 2 batters from the previous inning.  Example: If batting 9 and batter #2 is due up, #9 batter is runner on 3B and #1 batter is on 2B.

Weather/Daylight and “Complete Games”: 4 innings (3 1/2 if home team leads) or 1 hour constitutes a “complete game” when delayed for any reason or called off due to inclement weather or daylight (per discretion of umpires and Idaho Club Baseball Staff). If a game is “called” for any reason beyond these “complete game” limits and the visitors took the lead in the last incomplete inning where the home team did not complete all 3 outs, the score will revert back to the end of the previous inning.

Dimensions: HS: 60/90, 13U:54/80, 12/11U: 50/70, 10U: 46/65 if available or 46/60 if field pegs dictate.

Game Baseballs: Each team should provide 1 new and 1 lightly used game ball to the home plate umpire before the game. Teams need to remind players to retrieve foul balls. If umpire runs out of baseballs, teams must supply additional game baseballs. Umpires shall return game baseballs to coaches at the conclusion of the game.

Run Rules: 15 run lead after 3 innings, 10 run lead after 4 innings. 8 run lead after 5 innings. Game ends immediately when these are reached by the home team.

Bat Rules – 12U and under must be USSSA, USA or wood bat. 13U Spring no bats greater drop than (-5 or -3). 13U Fall season (-8, -5 or -3) is acceptable. 14U, JV & Varsity HS is -3 BBCOR or wood stamped BBCOR. Withdrawn and/or Non-Compliant Baseball Bat Models

Updated Pitching Rules: Pitch Count Limits and Required Rest Rules

For simplicity, we will use the 2023 IHSAA Pitch Count Rules
For fall, Varsity and JV divisions will use the Varsity-After 30 Days Limits and 14U and below will use the Sub-Varsity-After 30 Days Limits. 

Penalties: Any game where an ineligible pitcher is used will be a forfeit and the manager will sit out a 1 game suspension (1st offense). Consequences will increase for repeat offenders.

Note: Pitchers may not return to the mound in the same game after being removed from the mound for a relief pitcher. Pitchers may throw up to the maximum number of pitches in a day when split between both games of a DH.

Dugouts: The Home team will occupy the 3B dugout (unless in 1B dugout from a DH) and be the official scorekeeper in conjunction with the umpire. All teams should have a GameChanger scorekeeper to score games electronically, so we can quickly update scores/standings on the league website.

Coaches: No more than three (3) coaches should be in the dugout.

Protests: No official “protests”. You may discuss umpire rulings after time is called (don’t argue judgement calls – balls/strikes/safe/out). The umpires may choose to get together on a call but once the ruling is final, there are no “protest” in league games.

Other: Mechanical noise makers are not allowed.

Conduct: BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL AT ALL TIMES. This includes coaches, teammates, opposing players, fans, umpires and the facilities we are using. NOTE: Only the manager is allowed to discuss rules/interpretation rulings after granted time. Do not argue judgement calls. Remember that your character and reputation are more important than winning.  Abusive or obscene language will not be tolerated. Nor will any verbal or physical threats or abuse directed toward any coach, parent, player, umpire, ICB staff or any other attendee. No drugs, alcohol or tobacco at parks and schools. Idaho Club Baseball and the umpires in charge reserve the right to eject anyone from the park/school and/or to suspend the offender from additional ICB games.

Further conduct expectations regarding Umpires: PLEASE RESPECT THE DECISIONS OF THE UMPIRES AND MANAGE/GUIDE YOUR PARENTS TO DO THE SAME. All conversations with an umpire should be conducted after a time-out has been called and be handled in a calm and professional manner by the head (or designated) coach. Verbal abuse of the umpire will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game. Any manager or coach ejected from the game will be suspended one (1) additional game at a minimum and is subject to additional discipline at the league’s discretion.  After being ejected, a manager or coach must vacate the premises of the current game and may not participate in any way (cell phone, etc.). Any player ejected from a game is subject to additional discipline at the league’s discretion and at the time of ejection must leave the dugout and may watch with a parent/guardian from the stands. Managers are responsible for the conduct of his players and fans at all times. Managers are subject to ejection if their players or fans or other guests are deemed to be out of control.

10U and Under Special Rules:

  1. 8 runs max. per half inning. After 8 runs score, teams exchange offense and defense.  Only on an over the fence Home Run can more than 8 runs be scored.  In the last inning the trailing team can score unlimited runs. The last inning is either the 6th inning or last inning to be played due to time limit. This is the umpire’s discretion.
  2. For Spring 2024, coaches agreed to No Lead Offs for the Spring Season.
  3. 10U and under will have a 2 hour (2:00) drop dead time limit in addition to the no new inning after 1:45. If 2:00 is reached, the score will revert back to the score at the end of the last completed inning. Please do not abuse this revert back rule. Just play the inning out and let the result be determined on the field.
  4. Dropped 3rd Strike and Infield Fly rules will be in affect.