The Official HRL Rule Book
With amendments from the January 24th Winter Meetings.
Section I: Equipment & Regulations
Equipment
1.
Only baseball size Wiffle Ball brand balls are
to be used.
2.
There will be four (4) bases as First Base,
Second Base, Third Base, and Home Plate.
3.
There will be an object strike zone, placed
3 feet behind the tip of Home Plate and measuring 20 Inches wide, 30 Inches high and 12 Inches above the ground.
4.
For glove and bat rules, see the Fielding and
Batting sections below.
Regulations
1.
Each individual chooses a “Team”
at the beginning of the season (i.e., Fred’s team is the Tigers.)
2.
Teams are done pick-up style, whoever shows
up plays.
3.
Captains are chosen, and
those captains will be the pitcher of record for their own team.
4.
A Coin Toss will determine choice of first pick. The winner of the coin toss may waive his right to first pick and take the next two
picks. Picking is done one at a time after that.
A. At least 5 players must be present to play a legal HRL Game. If this situation occurs, the Automatic Fielder rule must be invoked.
This rule states that there must be 3 defensive players on the field at all times.
The designated Automatic Fielder will play defense for both teams and is awarded two defensive games in the stats.
B. Teams may not have more than 6 players per team.
C. Teams may not have more than 3 players playing defense. That is the pitcher and 2 outfielders.
5.
Players play for the pitcher’s team, even
though they have their own team. (i.e., Fred is pitching, so the team is the “Tigers” even though he has two other
players on his team, who each have THEIR own teams, such as Ed, who is the “Reds” and John, who is the “Giants”.)
6.
The captain
acts as “Manager” of his team. Players will play positions and bat
in the order as determined by the pitcher for that game. Without exception.
7.
The Loser of the Coin Toss gets choice of home
or visiting team.
8.
Games are 6 Innings, using extra innings if
necessary, 3 outs per team.
9.
A 10 Run Mercy rule will be in effect after
4 complete innings.
10. In the case of a rain delay or any other circumstances, a game is legal
after 4 complete innings.
11. Official HRL Game Sheets will be used to record all stats, including the
batting order for that game. If no game sheets are available use whatever is
at hand.
Section II: Rules
Pitching
1.
Pitchers must keep a reasonable speed. ( 55 MPH as calabrated on the radar
gun ) Its 40 Mph as an actual Speed. A slightly faster speed is acceptable
if both pitchers agree to it.
2. Pitchers must pitch from the Pitchers Mound area (From or near the rubber in the ground).
3.
Any type of pitching grip is allowed.
4.
No loading balls (i.e., putting rocks inside
the ball.) A light scuffing is allowed.
5.
Pickoffs are allowed.
6.
Balks are not called
7. Any ball with a crack longer than one quarter
inch will be deemed as unuseable.
8. A save can be obtained
when the starting pitcher removes himself from the game. This can occur
only in the 6th inning
and only if that pitcher is leading the game by 5 runs or less.
9. If the save is blown then
the loss or win goes on the record of the reliever.
10. Players with the least amount of decisions have first choice to pitch.
Batting
1. Plastic and Aluminum bats are allowed. No “Captain Caveman” bats allowed.
2.
No stopping potential strikes by leaning into
them or stopping them with the hand or body. Failure to abide will result in
a strike on the batter.
3.
Bats may be taped to your liking.
4.
No bunting.
5.
Throwing bats deliberately to distract fielders
will result in an automatic out.
6.
Teams may bat more than 3, but must use extras
as designated hitters.
7.
Batting out of order results in an automatic
out.
8. Bats cannot exceed 2 3/4' in width or 36' in length.
9. No wood bats or wood handled bats are allowed.
Baserunning
1.
No stealing is allowed but a runner may take
a lead off a base and get a head start on a pitch at his own risk.
2.
Ghost runners can be forced out by tagging its
destination base before the runner gets to first. (i.e., the ghost is as fast as the batter.) Ghost runners
may only advance if they are forced to the next base.
3.
Tagging on flies and liners is allowed; Runners
may leave at first contact..
4.
Runners are allowed to “get in the way”
of a ground ball for distraction as long as the runner remains in the base line.
5.
Runners are awarded the base they were headed
to plus one on an errant throw that goes past the Out of Play lines. Except in a pick-off attempt. If ball goes out of play
in this case, runners may only advance 1 base.
6. Runners can not advance unless the ball leaves the pitchers hand.
7.
On an errant throw that stays in fair territory,
runners may advance at will.
Fielding
1.
No more than 3 fielders at one time on defense. Players may substitute freely on defense.
2.
Fielders may not go behind the fence to catch
a ball.
3.
If a fielder catches a flyball and falls over
the fence and retains possession of the ball, the batter is out. However, all
base runners advance one base.
4.
Fielders may throw balls at runners for outs.
5.
Gloves are optional.
Pinch Run Rule
1. No pinch running of any kind before the 4th inning.
2. A player may be used as a
pinch runner only once per game.
3. A player may be pinch run
for more than once per game.
4. Players who switch bases
for strategic advantage will be considered pinch runners
and cannot pinch run again for the
remainder of that game.
5. In the event of a ghost runner,
players may cover any open base can not switch with any base runner already in the field of play. They can only take
whatever base is open.
6. Exceptions may be made on
a case by case basis in the event of an injured player.
Section
III: Situations
A
hit ball is a base hit if…
1.
It hits the fence in any way and the runner
gets to at least first safely.
2. The
ball lands past the Hit line. ( Hit line is at 55 feet on the field of play.) and the runner gets to at least first safely.
3.
A SHARPLY hit ball is bobbled. ( Bobble's are
allowed, But the fielder must not let it touch the ground and have control before the batter reaches first.) if it does hit
the fielder then the ground an "E"rror will be called. This case the batter is safe.
4.
If the batter gets to first safley before the
play is made by the fielder. Wheather it stops or not.
5. A ball that is hit foul but comes back into the field of play before
1st or 3rd it is considered a live ball and fair and must fielded before the batter reches 1st for it to be an out.
Ground Rule Double
1.
Ball rolls through or under the fence in any
way.
2.
Ball rolls past any “Home Run Lines”
where there is no fence. (i.e., a grounder down the third base line that is a fair ball but rolls past the fence.)
3.
A ball bounces off the ground and over the fence.
4. If a ball bounces off the ground then goes off a fielder and over the fence.
Home Runs
1.
Ball goes over the fence in the air, or hits
a foul pole in the air.
2.
Batter legs out all four bases without a defensive
error.
3.
The HRL Massachusetts sign is NOT a HR it is still in play.
Dud
1.
The “Dud Zone” is an area which
is a 10 foot radius from the tip of homeplate.
2.
Balls that die in the “Dud Zone”
are ruled as a “Foul ball”.
Automatic Fielder Rule
If necessary, an automatic fielder may be used to ensure
that there will be three defensive players at all times. One player will play
in the field for both sides for that game. The AF will be awarded two games counting
toward defensive stats. Note: Every
effort will be made to get 6 players before invoking the AF Rule. This is intended
as a last resort only.
The Gay K Rule
A fouled third strike that hits the Strikezone board will result in a strikeout.
As of the 2008 the Gay K rule now has immunity and can not be voted out.
The Mercy Rule
After 4 innings if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the game is over.
Out of Play
Any ball that hits the bench or anything in the bench
area is OUT OF PLAY. If the ball crosses the out of play lines, the play is dead
and the base runners advance one base each.
A grounder is an out if…
1.
It’s fielded cleanly (can be bobbled,
as long as it doesn’t touch the ground) before the runner reaches first base.
2.
Any baserunner is touched by the ball.
a.
If a runner is hit by a batted ball…
1.
The runner is out and play is dead.
2.
The hitter is credited with a hit and takes
first base.
3.
All other runners advance one base.
It’s a strike if…
1. It’s swung at and missed.
2. It’s fouled off.
3. It hits the Strikezone board
4. The batter messes with a good pitch.
There is no first warning.
A baserunner is out if…
1. The ball touches any baserunner and he’s not on a base.
2. He’s forced out when a fielder tags the base he’s headed for.
3. He’s tagged out or hit with a thrown ball.
A
word on Umpiring…
Calls (safe/out) will be made only by players in the game only. If the call cannot be resolved by the players involved in
the game, then a “do-over” will occur.
Disciplinary Policy
Failure to follow the instructions
of the team captain or not following the un-written rules of conduct subjects a player to the following measures
There will be no Suspension's. Collectively we will decide if any 1 person is spoiling it for
others what will be done about that person. If they can stay or not. There is no exception. You dont need to like
one another just have fun and respect eachother and the game.
Playoff's
The 2009 season will bring another playoff format. This year we will be going back to the old NL and Al teams
of the past. Divisions are now gone. We will now be taking the top 8 teams with 8 or more decisions to the playoff's.
The first round will be 1 Vs 8, 2 Vs 7, 3 Vs 6 and 4 Vs 5, they will be a one game playoff. The Semi's and Finals
will be a best of 3.
In the event of an injury every attempt will be made to play other series to give the injured player
a chance to recover.
If the injured player cannot continue, his opponent will receive a bye.
If a player is unable to show up for the playoffs due to prior commitments or other reasons
every
attempt will be made to give the player a chance to reschedule.
If the player is not reasonably
cooperating to schedule his games, his opponent will receive a bye.
The leagues governing body
will make the “bye” decisions on a case by case basis.
If a member of the governing
body is involved in the series they will not be a part of the decision making process
