LBL Fall Rules

Coaches please read the rules carefully.

All divisions 9U-14U will follow USSSA rules with very few modifications.

The HS division will follow NFHS rules with a few modifications. Please e-mail with rule clarifications not listed.

LBL Fall Rule printable Document

2024 USSSA Rules

NFHS rules

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

• 10U-14 League: ALL CATCHERS HELMETS MUST HAVE FULL EAR PROTECTION (DUAL EAR FLAPS).

• HS Division - 2 piece NOCASE approved catcher's mask/skull cap combinations are allowed

METAL CLEATS:

• Metal cleats are allowed in the 13 and above age groups only.

• NO METAL CLEATS ON PORTABLE MOUNDS. 

  • Dirt mounds metal is permitted. 

  • Draper field will use a portable mound and possibly fields at Garden Acres.

FIELD DIMENSIONS: Pitching/Bases

• 9U-10U division 

  • 46 ft./65 ft.

• 11 & 12's division 

  • 50ft 6 in./70ft

• 13's division: 

  • 54 ft./80 ft.

• 14 and HS Leauge:

  • 60 ft./90 ft.

BAT RESTRICTIONS:

9U-12U Divisions Wood Bat optional: All aluminum bats must be USSSA 1.15 stamped or be a wood bat

• 9U-12U: No drop restrictions 

• 13U: Wood Bat or -8 aluminum

• 14U: Wood Bat or -5 aluminum

• HS :Wood Bat or BBCOR
  *composite wood bats are legal

GAME LENGTH:

• 9U-12U divisions: 

  • 6 innings or one hour and forty five minutes

• 13U-14U & HS division:  

  • 7 innings or one hour and forty five minutes

• No new inning after the time limit. When time expires the home team may have the opportunity to bat if they are losing. 

• If the home team is winning they will not bat.

• Regular season games may end in a tie. Tournament will use California rule. Last out of the inning before starts on 2nd base and there is 1 out, to start the extra innings.

COURTESY RUNNERS:

At any time the offensive team may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher. The courtesy runner must be a player not presently in the line-up. If no players not presently in the line-up are available, the courtesy runner shall be the player who made the last batted out.

PLAYER BASE COACH:

A player base coach (18 and under) is required to wear a batting helmet.

MERCY RULES:

• 9U-12U

  • League & tournament play . - 15 after 3;  8 after 4.

• 13U & 14U

  • League & tournament play  - 15 after 3;  12 after 4;  8 after 5

• HS

  • League & tournament play- 10 runs after 5

BATTERS:

9U- 14U: Teams may bat a 9 player line-up, 10 player line-up using an Extra Hitter (EH) or continuous line up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Line-up's must be declared before the start of the game and used the entire game.

• If a team uses a line-up that contains substitute players: all starting players may be removed and re-enter the game once, but must re-enter in their original position in the batting order. Non-starters are not allowed to re-enter. When a starter re-enters, the player in the starter's batting position in the batting order must be removed from the game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game.

• If a team uses a line-up that contains 10 players, the players in the (EH) position has free defensive substitution.

• If a team uses a continuous line-up, all players have free defensive substitutions 

  • When using a continuous line-up and a player has to leave the game for due to injury that position in the line-up will not be recorded as an out. See injured player.

  • Leaving to go to the bathroom or to go to water world for the day, etc.... that position in the order will be an out.

HS Division

• When using a continuous line-up and a player has to leave the game for due to injury that position in the line-up will not be recorded as an out. See injured player. Teams may bat a 9 player line-up or 10 player line-up using an Extra Hitter (EH). If the EH is not utilized then the DH may be utilized in accordance with the NFHS Rules. DH can hit for anyone. 

PLAYERS:

A team may play an official game with an 8 player line-up. 

• An automatic out will be charged for the missing ninth player. See Expection(Injured Player)

• A 9th player and all subsequent players may be added to the bottom of the batting line-up as soon as they become available. 

• ONLY PLAYERS LISTED ON THE OFFICIAL LBL ROSTER ARE ELIGIABLE TO PLAY.

INJURED PLAYER:

• Injury Removal: If a player is forced to leave the game due to injury or illness, an automatic out will not be charged in the batting order. 

• If a player is removed from the game due to injury while the team is on offense, the player who made the last out shall be inserted as a courtesy runner. 

• With any injury that requires the removal of a player from a game, the player must have written permission from a parent (or legal guardian) to resume play.

PITCHING RESTRICTIONS:

• 9U - 12U.

  • Each pitcher may pitch a maximum of 6 innings per day.

  • Innings are counted by outs: 1 out= ⅓, 2 outs ⅔ & 3 outs 1 inning. 

• 13U-14U & HS

  • Each pitcher may pitch a maximum of 7 innings per day.

  • Innings are counted by outs: 1 out= ⅓, 2 outs ⅔ & 3 outs 1 inning. 

• A pitcher- once removed may not re-enter as a pitcher

• Balk Warnings:

  • 9U-10U

    • 2 Balk Warnings per pitcher.

  • 11U-12U 

    • 1 balk warning per pitcher.

  • 13U-14U & HS. 

    • No balk warnings

INTENTIONAL WALK:

• An intentional base on balls may be given by the defensive team by having its catcher or coach request the umpire to award the batter first base. This may be done before pitching to the batter or on any ball and strike count. The ball shall be declared dead before making the award. The pitcher is not required to throw four called balls.

BASEBALLS:

• LBL will supply 2 baseballs for each game.

• All divisions will use an official baseball, no safety baseballs will be used

MAKE UPS

• Games not able to be played on Saturday or Sunday not due to weather will be made up during the week. 

• Games canceld due to weather may be rescheduled during the week and if time allows… at the discretion of the director.

AVOID CONTACT:

• Players will be encouraged to slide on close plays.

• If there is, in the umpire's judgment, more than incidental physical contact on a play at a base, the runner will be declared out. 

• This is an "avoid contact rule", not a "must slide rule". If a runner elects not to slide, he/she may not initiate contact with a defensive player, including the catcher.

PRE-GAME WARM-UPS:

• No warm-ups will be allowed on the infield.

ALCOHOL/TOBACCO:

• The use of ALCOHOL is NOT permitted at any of the City of Longmont facilities. 

• Tobacco or tobacco-like products within 250 feet of the dugout is prohibited for all players, coaches, spectators and team personnel (scorekeepers, attendants, etc.)

SUSPENSION/EJECTION POLICY:

• The following league ejection and suspension policies will be in effect for all League games and Tournaments, including the End-of-Season Playoff:

• Definition of terms:  

  • Ejection: A penalty for un-sportsmanlike conduct or other violation penalized by ejection by an umpire or league official. An ejection is served during the game in which the ejection occurred.  

  • Suspension: A penalty for un-sportsmanlike or other inappropriate conduct. The Longmont Baseball League governs suspensions. A suspension is additional punishment to an ejection. Refer to LBL General Rules (Sportsmanship/Misconduct/Ejections

• A player, coach, or other person associated with a team may be suspended even if they haven’t been previously ejected.