Games WILL start promptly at the designated starting time. There is no "grace period". Any team showing less than 7 players at the designated starting time shall forfeit the game. Coaches should, however, play an unofficial game anyway, in which, for example, players from one team help make up the deficit of players from the other team. The forfeit still holds, though, no matter the outcome of this unofficial contest, even if a suitable number of players eventually do show up.

In order to keep the game flowing, coaches are expected to have their defensive rotation scripted prior to game time, and to have their catcher and players ready for the defensive half of the inning promptly after the third out of the inning is recorded. Coaches are allowed to catch for the pitcher's 8 warm-up tosses between innings ONLY IF the catcher was the batter or a base runner at the time the third out was recorded.

A regulation game is 6 innings. On Saturdays only, no inning will begin after 90 minutes of playing time has elapsed, unless you are the final game of the day on that field. If for any reason a game is not started at the designated starting time, coaches & umpires should note the time of the first pitch delivered to the Visiting team, and this will serve as the start of the 90 minute time limit. For weeknight games through May 29th, no inning may begin after 8:00 PM. For weeknight games played after May 29th, the full 6 innings will be played.  A new inning begins at the time the third out is registered for the Home team in any inning. In the event of a tie game during regular season, regardless of 6-inning limit, 90 minute time limit, or 8:00 PM curfew, the tie stands.

All players on the roster will bat "through the line~up" and the order of batting in an individual game may not be changed once established. A side is retired at the conclusion of 3 outs, scoring 5 runs, or by batting through the entire roster, whichever comes first. A team with fewer players in attendance shall bat the number of times equal to that of its opponent's roster size. EXAMPLE: Team A has 10 players and Team B has 9. Team B would bat once through its roster plus one more batter to equal 10 in the inning.

The distance between bases shall be 60 feet and the distance from the mound to the plate shall be 46 feet. REMINDER: All players SHOULD wear an athletic supporter and a supporter plus protective cup is MANDATORY for all catchers. Any offensive player on the field of play MUST wear a protective helmet, and no offensive player should have a bat in hand unless he is batting or on his way to/from home plate -no exceptions!

Adult coaches can be stationed at 1st AND 3rd bases while their team are at bat. No defensive coaches are allowed on the field of play.

If a batter simply runs through 1st base and mistakenly turns left WITHOUT making an obvious attempt to advance, he is not "fair game" and subject to being tagged out. If the batter DOES make an obvious move toward second, he is fair game for a tag out. NOTE: Coaches Should teach and drill on this in their practices.

A batter who hits the ball into the outfield may continue to advance until the ball is controlled in the infield by a defensive player.

Nine players take the field on defense and all 3 outfielders must be positioned on the outfield grass prior to each pitch. Further, no outfielder can step on a base to execute a force out -the ball must be thrown to an infielder covering the base. All defensive players must rotate positions at least every two innings and defensive substitutes must not sit out for more than two consecutive innings.

PROGRESSIVE PLAY for the SEASON
For Games played prior to May 11th, there will be no stealing of bases, even on balls that elude the catcher. There will be no advance on overthrows at any base.

For games played from May 12th to May 24th steals of all EXCEPT home plate (not even on a passed ball) will be allowed. There will continue to be no advance on overthrows at any base. NOTE: These are Catcher development opportunities - encourage your catchers to throw to the base being stolen regardless of the runner's position as there is no penalty for an overthrow.

For Games played from May 25th through the end of the season, everything but delayed steals of home is allowed (attempting to score on a passed ball is now allowed). Runners may attempt to advance one base for each overthrow.