Updated 1/2024

1. Managers will play with the ROSTER BAT/FREE SUBSTITUTION rule. ROSTER BATTING: Every age group for boys and girls must bat their entire roster. They will be allowed free substitution during the game and any players arriving late must be added in the last position of the batting order. 

a. Once a pitcher is removed from the game he can no longer pitch in the same game. Softball pitcher may re-enter. 

2. All league games for 8U-12U will be 6 innings in length. The “mercy rule” comes into play when a team has a 10 run lead after 5 innings. 

a. If the home team is winning and the mercy rule is in play then the bottom half of the inning does not need to be played. 

b. A game will be considered “complete” after 5 if the home team 

is winning. Any game that ends prior to the completion of 5 innings will be resumed from where the game was halted. 

4. Game time limit is 1 hour and forty five minutes (1:45). This means that no new inning shall start after 1:45 has expired on the clock. 

a. The clock will start at the conclusion of the plate meeting 

b. If at the end of a regulation game the score is tied, and there is time still left on the clock, then extra innings may follow. If at the end of a regulation game the score is tied and there is no time left on the time limit then said game will result in a tie. 

c. No game shall start more than 10 minutes early, unless both coaches and the umpires agree. 

5. Pitching Rule a. Pitch Count Rule, would be whichever of the following occurs first i. 9U-10U – 60 pitches in a day or maximum of 3 innings 

ii. 11U-12U – 70 pitches in a day or maximum of 4 innings 

iii. Pitch counts apply on the boys side 

a. NOTE: 1 pitch constitutes 1 inning 

b. 10U - 60 pitches > 3 days rest / 40 - 59 > 2 days rest / 20 -39 > 1 day c. 12U - 70 pitches > 3 days rest / 40 - 59 > 2 days rest / 20 - 39 > 1 day iv. Warm up pitches DO NOT count in any of the above pitch count numbers same pitcher for Team A at 60 pitches then the correct number will be 55 e. If a pitcher reaches his limit in the middle of an at bat, he can finish the at bat. f. For example, if a 10U pitcher reaches his 60th pitch with a 2-1 count on the batter, he can finish throwing to that batter until said batter is either out or reaches base. 

g. Arm health care is the responsibility of the coach as well as the player and his or her family. It is through effective communication that the coach and parents should work together to ensure a pitcher does not throw too much and end up hurting his arm. Our league suggests that all coaches and parents follow the MLB Pitch Smart program for arm health 

http://m.mlb.com/pitchsmart/pitching-guidelines/. In addition, there is also an

abundant amount of information on the SWIBL site 

http://www.swiblbaseball.org/v1/index.php/news/86-arm-care-and-injury-preventio n that should also be followed. 

h. Any and all pitching discrepancies will be settled by the assigned umpires on the field jointly (if there are 2) and their decision is final. Keep in mind we would much rather error on the side of caution in lieu of over throwing a pitcher. i. Innings will be counted by the number of outs recorded in an inning. If the pitcher of record has one out then he has pitched 1/3 of an inning. 

7. Runners are allowed to lead off and steal in baseball games. 

a. We are not limiting teams on over throws. 

8. The dropped third strike rule is in play for 11-12. We encourage 10U to practice this and if coaches agree, you may play by this rule. 

9. For each league game one umpire is required, we would encourage 2 for each game. If there is only 1 umpire, it may be easiest if they stand behind the pitcher’s mound to call the game. 10. It is the responsibility of the head coach (or acting head coach) to ensure that players and fans exhibit proper sportsmanship at all times. Ejected players, fans and coaches will be required to depart the field of play immediately. Failure to oblige will result in forfeiture of the game. 

a. If a player or coach is ejected for any reason, they are automatically suspended for their next SCC game. 

1. Any coach, manager, player who shows unsportsmanlike conduct by physical contact or verbal abuse to an umpire, coach, player, will be ejected from the game and given a two game suspension. If a second incident occurs, that Coach will be suspended for the rest of season and playoff competition along with being put on probation for the next year. If one incident should occur while on 

probation, that coach will be banned from participation in the SCC. If the incident happens in the last game of the season, including playoffs, suspension will carry on to the first two games of next season. Umpire must notify the town president within 24 hours of the incident, and then the town president is to notify SCC Commissioners. It is the responsibility of the team manager to enforce this. 

2. Coaches, it is 100% up to you to make sure your fans are acting appropriately and at NO point saying anything negative toward our 

umpires. 

Scheduling Games 

A. One of the league commissioners will work to schedule games 

1. We will try not to schedule more than 3 games in any given week 

B. Make up policy 

a. Games that are canceled due to weather or a school event are to be handled as follows: 

i. The home team has one week to contact the opposing coach with alternative dates. 

ii. The opposing coach is required to respond within the same week. 

iii. If the home team does not have any open home dates then they should ask the opposing team if they have any open dates on their field.

b. If you are having trouble with a coach not communicating regarding a re-schedule, please check in with your town representative 

15. The format of the league tournament will be determined at a later date and is dependent upon the total number of teams in each age group playing in the tournament. In addition, there will be tournament-specific rules. 

16. Rosters 

a. Teams will not have a max number of players on their roster. Teams should have a minimum of 9 players making up a roster. 

b. Players can only play for 1 team in the SCC League and only 1 team in any age group, regardless of division. 

i. A player who is on a 9-10 yr old team may not play on another 9-10 yr old team. If you want to add a player for a game you must add a player from a younger SCC team. 

ii. We encourage all teams to have a pool of younger players they can pull from if they will be short players. Please ONLY pull players if you do NOT have enough. iii. Games will not result in forfeit due to lack of players 

c. When submitting a lineup card to the opposing team, coaches must use the players last name. 

17. It is the responsibility of the home team to ensure that all applicable rules affiliated with their “home field” of play get reviewed with the visiting coach and umpires prior to the start of the game. Upon completion of the “home field” rules review it is the responsibility of both teams to ensure that no violations occur. 

18. Players that depart the game for any other reason besides injury will have their spot in the lineup considered as an out each time that the missing players spot in the batting order comes up. 

a. If a player leaves the game due to injury he will not be allowed to re-enter the same game. When his turn in the lineup comes up, he will simply be skipped over. 21. A courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher is allowed at any time. 

a. If your team is batting their entire roster, the player in which recorded the last batted out must be used first and can only be used one time per inning. In the event that the player recorded the last batted out has already been used, the previous batter that recorded a batted out is to be used next. 

22. There will be one balk warning per pitcher in age groups 8U and 12U boys. 23. The hosting team will be required to supply 2 newer baseballs / softballs and have 2 other used balls on hand for each game. 

26. In the event of inclement weather it is the home team's responsibility to make a decision on playing the game no later than 4:00pm on the day of game. It is the home team responsibility to notify the visiting team and umpires about the cancellation. 

27. Bats must meet SCC League rules: 

A. PM / 8-10 / 10-12 Bat Rules will be the same. 12-14 Boys will follow IESA Bat Rules. 1. Barrel may not exceed 2 ⅝, no drop limit

2. If a player uses an illegal bat and gets a hit with such bat, then that player will be declared as being out and any runners will return to the base they were occupying at the time of the pitch. 

3. The out is only specific to the time the illegal bat was discovered 

3. For a second violation in the same game the head coach will be ejected 28. Base and pitching distances will be established by the league. 

a. 8-10 Boys 44’ - 60’ / 10-12 Boys 50’ - 70’ 

b. 8-10 Girls 35’ - 60’ / 10-12 Girls 40’ - 60’ 

29. We WILL enforce the INF Fly rule for 10-12 baseball. 

● Additional Rules / Notes 

○ 10U Softball will start with a 1-1 Count 

○ All girls softball teams must require infielders to wear a facemask 

○ 8-10 Girls use 11” Softball / 10-12 & 12-14 Softball will use 12” Softball ○ 8-10 Boys & Girls - Max of 8 runs scored per inning / 12-14 No Max Runs

​

SCC Rules

Summer League

Pitching Machine

 

1. Field Markings 

a. There shall be a white line which is three feet in length marked at the 30’ distance between 1st base and second base, second base and third base, and third base and home.We will NOT be chalking these lines, umpires will just use the ½ way point as a reference for runners. 

i. The purpose of this line is to serve as a GUIDELINE for the field umpire to determine if a runner is awarded the base he was going to at the time of the dead ball or if he needs to go back to the base he came from 

ii. This line should be painted across the base path 

iii. While this line is intended to be used as a GUIDELINE, in the end it is the judgment of the Umpire who will make the final determination of where the runner needs to go. iv. As this is a JUDGEMENT call on the part of the umpire, coaches may not dispute the umpire’s call. . 

3. Pitching machine: 

a. No manual powered pitching apparatus shall be used 

b. The front legs shall be set at a distance of forty (40) feet from the back point of the home plate for baseball, girls should be 35 feet.

c. Pitching machine will be set at 34-35 MPH 

4. Ten (10) defensive players will play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder may not assume an infield position. All outfielders must stay behind the baselines. 

5. A base runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate. Stealing is not allowed.  An umpire may give a verbal warning if warranted. 

6. Each team is allowed to score a maximum of 5 runs per inning, with the exception of the last inning in which if the game reaches that point then teams will be allowed to score unlimited runs, but only bat the maximum roster for the highest rostered team. 

a. Roster of 10 vs 16, all 16 kids may bat on the team of 16 / Roster of 10 would be able to bat 6 additional kids 

7. Teams are required to bat their entire roster and may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order must remain the same. 

a. Roster for the purposes of this rule includes the players present for the game and in uniform. 

8. No Bunting 

9. Defense coaches are allowed on the field.  They should be positioned behind the outfielders

10. After the ball is secured by an Infielder inside the infield (which would be the area approximate to where the infielder normally plays) the play is considered a Delayed Dead Ball, and that call is made by the umpire.

a. If a defensive player makes a play on the runner, then the ball becomes live and that runner can advance at his own risk or be tagged out. If the runner is more than half-way to the next base at the time of the delayed dead ball, he will be awarded that base. If not, the runner goes to the last attained base. 

b. Umpire’s call is final 

c. Players can score from 3rd on an overthrow at 1st / 2nd / 3rd / etc, however not on a pass ball from machine to catcher. 

i. Rule still is in play they must be past the line before the ball is back in the Infield 

11. No intentional walks 

12. The infield fly rule is NOT in effect 

13. The batter shall receive a maximum of (5) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes. 

a. If at any time the umpire determines that a pitch was not hittable then the umpire may award the batter an extra pitch. However, if the batter swings at the ball then that pitch does count as one of his 5. 

b. If on the 5th pitch the batter hits the ball foul, then he will get another pitch to hit. This will continue until either the batter swings and misses, puts the ball into play or in the umpire’s judgment looks at too many strikes without swinging 

14. The defensive player listed as the pitcher must have one foot in the pitching circle, no closer than parallel to the pitching machine and cannot leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit. 

a. Pitcher must wear a helmet 

15. Courtesy runner for the catcher of record only from the previous inning. 

a. The courtesy runner must be the player that made the last batted out. 

b. If no outs have been recorded, the courtesy runner will be the last batter from the previous inning. 

c. PLEASE USE courtesy runners so catchers can get equipment on and we can keep games moving along 

16. When a batted ball hits the pitching machine (including the electrical cord that is hanging off the machine, then the ball is dead, the batter is awarded first (1st) base and all runners on base will be allowed to advance one base. 

a. If the ball hits the electrical cord that is on the ground, it shall still be a live ball. 

17. Home team needs to supply one umpire 

18. Bases will be set at 60 feet 

19. Runners can only take one base on an overthrow and no more than 2 overthrows per play.  Batters may get as many bases as they can.  

20. Games will be 6 innings in length or time limit. Any game that is shortened due to time, weather, darkness, etc.. 

a. The new inning begins when the third out in the bottom half of the previous inning is made. 

21. Rosters 

a. A player cannot be rostered (or play) on multiple teams within an age group regardless of the division(s).

 i. Exception: If your team will have less than 6 players, we will allow 2 players to be pulled from another team - Any added players must bat last and play the OF. 

22.  All girls softball infielders are required to wear a mask

​

​