Congerville, Eureka, Goodfield Community Youth Recreation Association

Boy’s Mustang In-House Rules

Ages 9 & 10

Goals: 

1. Teach fundamental skills such as hitting, throwing, catching, fielding, and running.
2. Introduce kid pitching, stealing, and bunting. 
3. Ensure the kids have fun.

 Game Length

1. There will be a 1 ½ hour time limit on all Mustang games.  No inning will begin after the 1 hour and 20 minute mark.  Any game called after 4 (four) innings due to rain or darkness will be an official game.  Regulation game shall be 6 (six) innings.  Tie games are allowed, no extra innings.
2. The program director or baseball director will decide if games will be cancelled due to heat or poor field conditions.
3. The visiting team will have the field for warm-ups from ½ hour before game time to 15 minutes before game time, and then the home team will have the field until game time.  NOTE:  The home team is listed first on the schedule.

 Offense

1. IESA rules and regulations will be used but the following exceptions shall supersede the official rulebook.  Some rules listed are the same as IESA and some are local rules.    These rules are intended to be simple.  Games should provide an opportunity for players to master the basic fundamentals of baseball.  They are not a contest for coaches to demonstrate their rules knowledge.
2. Eight (8) team members must be present by ten minutes after the scheduled start time or the game will be declared a forfeit.  There will be no borrowing of players from another league team or another league.
3. Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game with no inning limit per week.  Once the starting pitcher is taken from the mound he may return to the mound in the same game if he has pitched less than 3 (three) innings.  The starting pitcher is the only pitcher that may leave the mound and re-enter as pitcher.  As soon as a pitcher delivers 1 pitch, he shall be declared to have pitched 1 (one) inning.  Relief pitchers get 10 warm up pitches.
4. There will be free substitution of players.  A player cannot sit out more than one consecutive inning.
5. Helmets can only be removed on the playing field during a dead ball situation.  If the helmet falls off while running or sliding he shall not be called out.  If the umpire determines the helmet was deliberately taken off or knocked off by the runner, he shall be warned for the first offense.  The team shall be warned and the next runner to deliberately remove their helmet from the same team will be called out immediately
6. All players present will bat in a continuous batting order.  Any player arriving after the first pitch has been thrown shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order.   If a player is injured, becomes ill or has to leave for any reason, his place shall be skipped in the batting order with no penalty.  This must be reported to both scorekeepers at the time the boy is removed from the lineup or it will result in an automatic out.
7. A base runner is entitled to one base on an overthrow if the ball goes out of bounds (beyond the fence or in the dugouts).  This does not apply if the ball is in foul territory within the boundaries (this is a live ball).
8. No designated hitters or runners will be allowed.  However, if a player is injured or has to go to the restroom, a courtesy runner may be used.
9. No protest are allowed, the umpires decisions are final.  However, if you feel that you have a complaint about anything (umpires, opposing coaches, field conditions, etc.), please file a complaint to the program director in writing stating the date, nature of the problem, opposing coaches, umpire names and any other pertinent information.  You will receive a response within 14 calendar days.  The complaint will not change the outcome of the game, but will ensure the board is informed of any internal problems.  Nothing will be held against you for voicing your opinion.  Complaints will be taken only from coaches or umpires, not parents.
10. If the defensive player has control of the ball before the base runner reaches the base, the base runner must avoid contact - either by sliding or running to either side of the defensive player (remaining in the base path - 3 feet to either side of the base line) and leaping a player to avoid a tag will result in an out. If the base runner makes forceful contact with the defensive player or runs outside of the base path, the base runner will be called out. If the contact is deemed excessive, the base runner will be ejected from the game.  At any base other than home, it is the umpire’s decision as to whether a slide is necessary.  Each team will receive one team warning if the umpire feels a player should have slid on the play but did not.  Any other infractions after the team warning shall result in an automatic out.  The umpire’s decision will be final.
11. Runners must slide on any play at home plate.  After one warning to each team, any other occurrences will be an automatic out.  This is intended so that we may prevent major collisions and hopefully prevent injuries.
12. No appeals are necessary on runners leaving the base too soon or missing a base while running.  This is a judgment call the umpire must see and make.
13. The six (6) run limit per inning.  When a team scores six runs, the inning is over.
14. Base stealing is allowed in the Mustang league; however, the base runner may not leave the base until the pitched ball has reached the plate.
15. Base runners may steal only 2nd and/or 3rd bases.  If a base runner attempts to steal 3rd base and it results in an overthrow, he may not advance to home. 
16. The only way a runner on 3rd may score is if he is walked in, forced in by a hit batsman with the bases loaded, or he is batted in.  As long as the ball is still within the boundaries of the field and is a live ball after being hit, the runners may still advance.  No runner on 3rd may score due to a dead ball infraction or pick-off overthrow.
17. There is no delayed stealing of home or any other base. A delayed steal is considered to be a steal where the runner does not begin stealing until after the catcher has thrown the ball back to the pitcher.
18. Balks are not called.
19. Intentional walks are not allowed.
20. Runners won’t advance on routine throws from catcher to pitcher between pitches.

Defense

1. The in-field fly rule will not be enforced at this level of play.
2. All players must wear gloves. The catcher may wear a fielder’s glove.
3. No hidden ball tricks.
4. A dropped third strike is considered an out.
5. A defensive player may not block a base or home plate without control of the ball or make a fake tag. If the player does, they will be called for obstruction.

 Sportsmanship

1. At the conclusion of the game, all players will line up along the first and third base lines, then proceed to shake hands.
2. Bad language and the abuse of equipment will not be tolerated.  The first infraction shall result in a team warning by the umpire, and the second infraction shall result in the automatic ejection of the player or coach.  If ejected, the player or coach must leave the premises within 5 minutes or the game shall be declared a forfeit.

 Equipment and Field

1. All players must wear protective cups.
2. All catchers must wear protective headgear during all warm-ups.  If a catcher is in the squatting position he must have protective headgear on.  It is the coach’s responsibility to check their catchers for these equipment requirements.  The umpires will also check for equipment and if they are not wearing a protective cup, they will not be allowed to catch.
3. All batters and base runners must wear protective headgear.  Only the next batter will be allowed out of the dugout and he/she must also be wearing protective headgear.
4. Headgear is optional for adult coaches.
5. Base distance shall be 60 feet.
6. Pitching distance is 46 feet.
7. Metal spikes are not allowed.
8. No smoking or chewing of tobacco by coaches either in the dugout or on the playing field from the time your team takes its warm ups until the umpires declare the game over.
9. There are no bat limitations regarding length, weight, or barrel diameter.