Quick Reference - Majors
Updated 3.15.24
Major League Game Rules
A game can be played with 7 or more players.
Games must start promptly at 5:45pm
The home team is assigned the third base dugout. The away/visiting team has the first base dugout.
There is NO time limit on games
The winning coach is responsible for updating the win and score on SportsEngine.
If a coach touches their player while running, that player is automatically out.
ONLY the coach should speak to the player in the batters box. Please do not coach other teams' players in the batting box, even if you mean well.
Batting/Offense
There is NO dropped third strike play.
If a player swings at a pitch and is hit by the pitch, this is not a free base. It counts as a strike. If a player is hit by a pitch by a player without swinging, it will be a base reward for the hit batter.
If a batted ball hits that player’s teammate that is running, the runner is out, unless the runner is hit while on an actual base, then they may stay.
If the team on defense throws the ball and hits the runner, the ball is dead and the runner is safe.
We have no headfirst sliding, unless it is a return to the base.
There is NO MUST SLIDE rule. It is a slide to avoid contact during the play and it is at the umpire's discretion whether not sliding affected the play.
There is NO on-deck place for batters, neither on the field or outside the dugouts. This is a safety hazard.
Throwing the bat after a hit ball may result in a warning and the next time the loss at bat for the hitter as this is very dangerous for the catcher.
Throwing equipment out of anger and arguing umpire calls will result in a warning and may result in ejection from the game depending on severity. Subject to umpire and president’s discretion.
The ball is live at all times unless it is a foul ball or until an umpire calls time out.
A batter must move out of the batter's box every time there is a runner on base. If they do not and the base runner steals, the umpire will return the base runner to the the location they were at before the pitch was made.
PITCHING
Coach is allowed one trip per inning, if there is a second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed from that position. The umpire will tell you which number trip you are on.
After every inning the pitch count keepers should exchange pitching information so that players do not go over pitch limit or pitch limit for the next game.
Pitch Count
Link
Please note, pitch counts also affect a catcher, here is a cheat sheet for that
If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.
Defense
Every player must be in the field for 2 consecutive complete innings. It is a guaranteed right to a player on the roster, but more than 2 defense innings is not guaranteed.
Substitutions
A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any position in the batting order, provided:
1. their substitute has completed one time at bat and;
2. has played defensively for a minimum six (6) consecutive outs;
3. a pitcher may not re-enter the game as a pitcher;
4. only a player in the starting line-up may re-enter the game;
5. a starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter (S2) must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game.
Major League Game Rules
A game can be played with 7 or more players.
Games must start promptly at 5:45pm
The home team is assigned the third base dugout. The away/visiting team has the first base dugout.
There is NO time limit on games
The winning coach is responsible for updating the win and score on SportsEngine.
If a coach touches their player while running, that player is automatically out.
ONLY the coach should speak to the player in the batters box. Please do not coach other teams' players in the batting box, even if you mean well.
Batting/Offense
There is NO dropped third strike play.
If a player swings at a pitch and is hit by the pitch, this is not a free base. It counts as a strike. If a player is hit by a pitch by a player without swinging, it will be a base reward for the hit batter.
If a batted ball hits that player’s teammate that is running, the runner is out, unless the runner is hit while on an actual base, then they may stay.
If the team on defense throws the ball and hits the runner, the ball is dead and the runner is safe.
We have no headfirst sliding, unless it is a return to the base.
There is NO MUST SLIDE rule. It is a slide to avoid contact during the play and it is at the umpire's discretion whether not sliding affected the play.
There is NO on-deck place for batters, neither on the field or outside the dugouts. This is a safety hazard.
Throwing the bat after a hit ball may result in a warning and the next time the loss at bat for the hitter as this is very dangerous for the catcher.
Throwing equipment out of anger and arguing umpire calls will result in a warning and may result in ejection from the game depending on severity. Subject to umpire and president’s discretion.
The ball is live at all times unless it is a foul ball or until an umpire calls time out.
A batter must move out of the batter's box every time there is a runner on base. If they do not and the base runner steals, the umpire will return the base runner to the the location they were at before the pitch was made.
PITCHING
Coach is allowed one trip per inning, if there is a second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed from that position. The umpire will tell you which number trip you are on.
After every inning the pitch count keepers should exchange pitching information so that players do not go over pitch limit or pitch limit for the next game.
Pitch Count
Link
Please note, pitch counts also affect a catcher, here is a cheat sheet for that
If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.
Defense
Every player must be in the field for 2 consecutive complete innings. It is a guaranteed right to a player on the roster, but more than 2 defense innings is not guaranteed.
Substitutions
- Every player dressed for each game MUST play a minimum 2 consecutive (12 outs) complete innings including, a minimum, one time at bat. Complete means that players who have not played in the first four innings MUST be entered into the opposing coaches and/or official scorer’s scorebook before the first pitch of the fifth inning and play the entire fifth and sixth innings. The substitute must be inserted in the next six batting positions. Opposing coaches and/or the official scorer must be notified prior to making any substitution. No substitution can be made until the top of the third inning.
A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any position in the batting order, provided:
1. their substitute has completed one time at bat and;
2. has played defensively for a minimum six (6) consecutive outs;
3. a pitcher may not re-enter the game as a pitcher;
4. only a player in the starting line-up may re-enter the game;
5. a starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter (S2) must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game.