Rubber City Coach Pitch
- Field preparation is the responsibility of the home team. Coaches should clearly mark the pitching circle and the foul lines in at least the portion of the diamond.
- The pitching circle center shall be 40 feet from the rearmost point of home plate with a diameter of 12 feet (6 foot radius).
- The bases shall be 60 feet apart (55 feet when the field will not accommodate 60 feet).
- Make up games shall be scheduled within 7 days and played within 14 days of the original game day. Exception to this is the last week of games in which the games should be made up within 6 days. If an agreement can not be reached then the game will be counted as a forfeit for both teams.
- The umpire will call the ball dead if, in his opinion, there is just cause due to an injured player. The umpire will then award the bases that he feels the batter would have reached if an injury did not occur.
- No metal spikes will be allowed.
- Catchers must wear a facemask and protective cup
- Batters and base runners will wear helmets
- Games will be called for weather and school functions only. If a game is called for a school function there should be a 48 hour notification then rule #4 should be used to reschedule the game.
- The minimum number of players required to play a game is 7 (seven) two of which must be a pitcher and catcher. If for any reason a team has fewer than 7 (seven) players or if during a game the minimum is breached due to injury, prior to the completion of 4 innings or 3.5 if the home team is ahead, the game should be reschedule, to be completed from the point of injury.
- Games will begin at 6:00 pm and no new innings will be started after 8:00 pm prior to June 1st. No new innings should be started after 8:30 pm after June 1st. All games shall be (6) six innings. When called for rain, darkness, etc. a game shall be considered complete after 4 complete innings (3.5 innings if the home team is ahead at that point). If after 4 innings (3.5 for the home team), a team is ahead by 15 runs, the game will be declared over with the score final. If the game is tied after (6) six innings, and weather and time permitting 1 extra inning will be played to break the tie. If at the completion of the extra inning the score is stilled tied the game will be considered a tie.
- Coaches (no pitching machine may be used) must pitch overhand to their players with at least one foot within the lines of the pitching circle when they start their delivery. If a pitching coach on the field touches the ball or, interferes with the fielder, the ball becomes dead and ruled no pitch. All runners will return to their respective bases.
- A batter cannot advance to first base for being hit by a pitch
- There will be no balls called at any time
- A dropped third strike is not applicable
- Bunting is not permitted. A strike will be called on any bunt attempt
- The umpire will issue only one warning per team for throwing the bat. For any subsequent infractions, the umpire will call the batter out.
- Each batter will be given a total of (7) seven pitches or (3) three strikes, whichever comes first. A swing and a miss or a foul ball is a strike. On the (7th) pitch and after, a batter continues to bat until a swing and a miss or a non-swing.
- Base stealing is not permitted. Base runners may not lead off or leave the base they posses until the pitch contacts the bat.
- There is no infield fly rule.
- Dead Ball Rule: After the ball is hit, the batter and base runner(s) may advance as many bases as possible as long as the ball remains in the outfield. Once the ball is controlled in the infield the runner can only advance to the base they were advancing to. The infield is equal to the cut of the grass.
- Any ball fielded in the infield will result in the runners only being able to advance one base (even if there is an overthrow at any base).
- When bases are empty and infielder must throw to 1st base on an infield hit.
- When runners are on base an attempt should be made on the runner. ie: if a man is on first and the ball is hit to the infield then there should be a throw to second (no extra bases for overthrows into the outfield since the ball originated in the infield) to attempt to get the lead runner.
- Only (5) five infielders are permitted inside the base lines prior to the ball being hit. Outfield players (maximum of 4) must be positioned at least (15) fifteen feet behind the base path. No outfielder can accept a throw to initiate a play at any base and no outfielder may make an unassisted out unless they catch a batted ball before it hits the ground. An example of this is that an outfielder may not get a ball that is hit into the outfield and run in and touch second base for an out. The outfielders must throw the ball into an infielder.
- The fielder playing the pitcher position must have one foot inside the circle one either side of the coach.
- No more than (2) two coaches of the defensive team will be allowed on the field during play. The coach must be positioned in the outfield behind the defensive players. If the coach interferes with the ball or a player in any way the umpire will award the batter and base runners the bases that in their opinion would have been reached if the interference had not occurred
- Late arrivals shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order
- There will be no sliding head first into home plate
- If there is a play at any base the runner must slide to avoid contact. If the runner does not slide they will be given a verbal warning. If a second offense occurs then the runner will be called out. If in the opinion of the umpire the runner intended to cause harm the player will then be ejected from the game.
- All teams are required to play no more than ten (10) players defensively. All available team members will bat. No player may sit out defensively for more than twelve (12) consecutive outs (2 innings).
- Each batter, on deck batter and base runners must wear a helmet at all times when they are on the field. If the helmet is taken off then play will not resume until it is put back on and failure to do this will result in the player being called out. This also applies to a youth acting as the bat boy or base coach.
- An inning will consists of three (3) outs or seven (7) runs scored whichever comes first. If during an at bat the seventh run crosses the plate any run scored after will not count. There is no run limit in the last (final) inning.
- No player may turn nine (9) prior to May 1st.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
