Rules

New USSSA Baseball Bat Marks & Grandfathering Rules
Effective January 1, 2012
Big Barrel Bat Rules (2⅝” or 2¾”) – 14U & Below
Effective January 1, 2012
 Have the new USSSA Mark on its taper OR
 Be a Qualified BBCOR bat1 OR
 Be a Wood Bat
ALL of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
This applies to ALL Big Barrel Bats, including Coach Pitch bats.
Big Barrel Bat Rules (2⅝” or 2¾”) – 15U & Above
 Must be NHSF approved with the appropriate BBCOR certification mark OR
 Be a Wood Bat
Both of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
Small Barrel Baseball Bat Rules (2¼” or less)
For 2012 and 2013
 Have the new USSSA mark on its taper OR
 Have the old USSSA mark OR
 Be a Wood Bat
ALL of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee
This applies to tee ball bats longer than 23”.
For 2014:
 Have the new USSSA mark on its taper OR
 Be a Wood Bat

Both of the above must be manufactured by an approved USSSA Bat Licensee

1

mark permanently attached to the bat that is recognized by NHSF as a legal bat for NHSF sanctioned play

and has no more than a minus 3 ounces difference from the length of the bat. Minimum bat length is 29

inches.Qualified BBCOR bat – A Big Barrel bat that is made by a USSSA approved bat licensee, has a BBCOR


9 U Rules

A manager, coach, player, spectator, or other bench personnel shall not:

(a) Deliberately / maliciously throw a bat, ball or any other equipment.

(b) Call "time" or use any command or commit any act for the purpose of trying to cause the opposing pitcher to balk.

(c) Or deliberately/maliciously run into a fielder who has the ball.

(d) Use words or acts to incite or try to incite spectators to demonstrate, use profanity, or make remarks that reflect upon opposing players, umpires, or other spectators.

Actions described in (a), (b), (c), (d), shall at the umpire-in-chief's discretion, be cause for ejection from the game and/or the field of play.  Failure to comply with the decision shall result in forfeiture of the game by the team in question.

(e) Enter the area behind the catcher while the opposing pitcher and catcher are in fielding positions.

(f) Use amplifiers or bullhorns on the bench or on the playing field during the course of the game.

(g) Have any object in his/her possession while in the coach’s box, other than a scorebook that shall be used for score keeping purposes only.

(h) Be outside the vicinity of the designated dugout (bench) or bullpen area unless: he/she is a batter, runner, on deck batter, in the coach’s box, or one of the players on defense.

(i) As a baseman or defensive player, fake a tag upon a base runner without having possession of the baseball. This will result in ejection from the game for the guilty player. A 2^nd team incident in the same game will result in ejection of Manager.

The action described in (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) is judged by the umpire-in-chief to be of a minor nature, the offender may be issued a verbal warning.  If the offense is repeated, ejection from the game and/or playing field will be enforced.  Failure to comply with the decision shall result in forfeiture of the game by the team in question. This action shall be interpreted as obstruction and shall be enforced.  Repeated violations may result in the ejection of the offender from the game.

A new pitcher will be allowed eight (8) warm up pitches from the pitching rubber the first inning they pitch. 

Five (5) warm up pitches will be allowed each additional inning, or an allotted maximum time of 2 minutes between innings whichever comes first. The intent of this rule is to have coaches hustling their players off and onto the field.

No jewelry such as, but not limited to, rings, necklaces, ankle bracelets, wrist bracelets, earrings, shall be allowed on any player participating in a game.  Any jewelry that may not be removed must be covered by tape or a Band-Aid.  If a player plays with visible jewelry, the opposing coach shall wait for a stoppage in play and bring the infraction to the attention of the umpire in chief for the game. If proven true, then the player shall be removed from the game for the completion of the inning. If this would be the pitcher he/she would be removed for the reminder of the game as per our rule governing pitchers of record. If the batter is shown to be wearing visible jewelry, he shall be declared out if the opposing coach challenges the player after he has achieved an official at bat. 

During the progress of any league game the umpire shall terminate the game if:

       (a) The home team is leading by 20 after 2 and one-half or more innings.

(b) The home team, after four and one-half (4 1/2) or more innings have been played, is leading by ten (10) or more runs;

(c) The visiting team after five (5) or more innings have been played is leading by ten (10) or more runs at the end of any complete inning;  

(d) The home team, after three and one-half (3 1/2) or more innings have been played, is leading by fifteen (15) or more runs; or

(e) The visiting team after four (4) or more innings have been played is leading by fifteen (15) or more runs at the end of any complete inning;

(f) Either team is up by 15 runs after the time limit is up.

(g) The game is called because of inclement weather or darkness, any game shall be official, providing that;

A team in any division must start a game if eight (8) players are present.  If a player must be removed from the lineup after the start of the game, the game shall continue unless the team has less than eight (8) players, in which case the team must forfeit the game.