Premier Sports Officials Association Rules Meeting Presented by Rob Silvers

Umpire Responsibilities Represent the association in a professional manner Abstain from alcohol and tobacco use within the vicinity of all team and playing facilities Be respectful of all players, coaches, fans and other sports officials Arrive on site 30 minutes prior to game Refrain from use of communication device(s) while working

PSOA Baseball Required Equipment PSOA Cap Protective Equipment (Face mask, Shin Guards, Chest Protector, Cup) Auxiliary Equipment (Indicator, Brush, Ball Bag) Uniform (Black Umpire Shirt, Charcoal Gray Umpire Pants, Black Belt, Black Socks, Black Shoes) Optional Suggested Equipment (Light Blue Umpire Shirt, Plate Shoes, Lineup Card Holder, Writing Utensil)

Playing Field Dimensions 8U – Bases 60’, Pitching 40’, Fence at Foul Poles 160’, Fence at Center Field 185’ 9U-10U – Bases 65’, Pitching 46’, Fence at Foul Poles 180’ Fence at CF 210’ 11U-12U – Bases 70’, Pitching 50’, Fence at Foul Poles 230’, CF 275’

Playing Field dimensions cont. 13U – Bases 80’, Pitching 54’, FP 275’, CF 300’ Three classes of 14U baseball 14U (54/80) follows same dimensions as 13U 14U (57/85) – Bases 85’, Pitching 57’, FP 275’, CF 300’ 14U (60/90) – Bases 90’, Pitching 60’ 6”, FP 320’, CF 375’ 15U – 18U – Bases 90’, Pitching 60’ 6”, FP 320, CF 375”

Bats Must have permanent labels of new USSSA Mark, BBCOR or be a wood bat. Any bats with any label, patent number or manufacturer logo worn off is not a legal bat

Illegal Bat Penalty First Offense If the umpire discovers that the bat does not conform to USSSA Rule 7.01.C before or during the at bat it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out and/or ejection from the game. If the umpire discovers that a bat has been used to put a ball in play and before the next legal pitch, the defensive team will have the choice of the result of play or the batter being called out and all runners returning to the base occupied before the pitch.

Second Offense If a team is found in violation of this rule a second time, then the manager will be ejected in addition to the First Offense penalty.

Line-ups Up to 14U teams may bat a nine (9) player line-up, ten (10) player line-up with an Extra Hitter (EH) or continuous line-up of all present, eligible, uniformed players. Line-up must be declared before the game starts and used for its entirety. In a line-up with substitutes, starters may re-enter once in the same spot in the batting order, non-starters can’t re-enter In a line-up with Extra Hitters, they various players in the EH positions may move freely in defensive positions except the pitching position. New players are added to the bottom of the batting line-up. If a player has to leave for any reason, that position in the line-up becomes an out when that at bat comes around.

Line-ups 15U – 18U if they don’t use a EH they may use the Designated Hitter as in NFHS rules. May be used for any starting player and all subsequent substitutes. Can’t be a defensive player Shall be selected prior to game and included on the line-up A player can be subbed for the DH, becoming the new DH. The DH may re-enter once. With a DH there is no double substitute to alter the order. DH can be eliminated if any player whom the Designated Hitter was used for bats or runs. DH can also be eliminated if they take a defensive position.

Less Than 9 Players Teams may play an official game with only eight (8) players in the line-up. In an eight (8) player line-up, an out shall be declared for the ninth (9th) position in the batting lineup at each turn at bad. A ninth (9th) player and substitutes may be added to the line-up as soon as they become available. Teams can continue with no fewer than eight (8) eligible players.

Plate Meeting Players Legally Equipped Time Limit Any Questions on Teams Lineups Home Coach take around for ground Rules Call time and go to calling umpire. If the crew needs to and can get together we will.

Regulation Game Length For a six (6) inning game, 4U – 12U, that is called due to rain, weather, light failure or other acts of God and cannot be resumed it will be final after three innings. If the score is tied after one (1) or more innings past three (3) have been played, the score will revert back to the last time there was a difference but not past the third inning. If the score is tied at four (4) after five innings when the game is called, but the visiting team lead 3-2 after three (3) innings, the visiting team gets the win 3-2 in three (3) innings For a seven (7) inning game, 13U – 18U, that is called due to rain, weather, light failure or other acts of God and cannot be resume it will be final after four innings. If the score is tied after one (1) or more innings past four (4) have been played, the score will revert back to the last time there was a difference but not past the third inning. If the score is tied at four (4) after five innings when the game is called, but the home team lead 4-3 after three (3) and a half innings, the visiting team gets the win 4-3 in four (4) innings

Mercy Rule Six (6) inning game Seven (7) inning game 15 at the start after the 3rd inning 8 at the start after the 4th inning Seven (7) inning game 12 at the start after the 4th inning 8 at the start after the 5th inning

Intentional Walk An Intentional Walk may be issued by announcement from either the pitcher or catcher. The four (4) pitches need not be thrown.

Courtesy Runner Courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher of record from the previous inning. The runner must be a player not presently in the line-up and still eligible to play. Re-entry status is not affected by this rule. If there are no players not presently in the line-up who are eligible than the courtesy runner shall be the player making the last batted out. If a courtesy runner is at any time determined ineligible he may be replaced if available without penalty.

Tag/Force Plays A runner must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder and/or catcher. Attempting to jump, leap or dive over the fielder and/or catcher is not interpreted as seeking to avoid contact. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties. Penalty: The runner shall be called out and may be ejected from the game at the umpire’s discretion. Comment: When enforcing this rule, the umpire should judge the runner’s intent. If the umpire feels that the contact was unintentional, then the runner should only be declared out. If the umpire feels that the contact was intentional and/or malicious, then the runner should be declared out and ejected

Pitching Mound visits are limited to one (1) per inning per pitcher. If a coach makes a second (2nd) visit to same pitcher in the same inning that pitcher must be immediately removed from the pitching position. A manager cannot make two (2) visits during the same batter, but if a pinch-hitter is substituted for the batter after the first visit the manager may make a second (2nd) trip but must immediately remove the pitcher. A starting pitcher or relief pitcher removed from pitching may not return to pitch for the remainder of the game. If this does happen and the player has legal innings remaining then they shall be replaced without penalty.

Fake pick-off It is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw. Third to first move is a balk. Pitchers may still feint a throw to second. Balk Video