TTA Rule Changes and Clarifications for 2016 and 2017

Transcription

1 TTA Rule Changes and Clarifications for 2016 and 2017 All TTAB (Baseball) league play will terminate as follows: The 2016 Season on July 2. The 2017 Season on July 1. All TTAS (Softball) league play will terminate as follows: The 2016 Season on June 25. The 2017 Season on June 24. Boys 6U T-Ball through Boys 15U Divisions, age cut-off date beginning with the 2016 season will be April 30th. Beginning with the 2017 season, the boys divisions, Boys 6U T-Ball through Boys 15U will be August 31st. Girls 6U T-Ball through Girls 15U Divisions, age cut-off date will remain the same, January 1st. The equalization rule will no longer be in effect. In lieu of raising team fees, beginning with the 2017 season, State Tournament hosting fee will be increased to $1, E. SELECTION OF PLAYERS 2 No team will be allowed to protect more than a maximum of 3 players. Players are protected as long as they remain on a roster in that age division unless the player returns to the draft. Then the player will lose their protected status. Returning players, that were not protected, are not considered protected players. Protected players must be named each year on a team s official Team Roster. No player can be considered a returning player when moving from one age division to another. 3. If the head coach has a son/s or daughter/s playing on the team, it is mandatory that such players must be included as protected players. The head coaches must be determined prior to player draft. 4. It is the responsibility of each affiliate to govern their leagues to prevent the stacking of teams. Any and all teams that are stacked, will not be allowed to participate in tournament play. F. PLAYER AGREEMENTS 2. Each player (parent or guardian) must provide the local league organization an official (copy thereof) vital statistics birth certificate, passport or official military dependent I.D. as documented proof of the correct date of birth COURTESY RUNNER RULE A courtesy runner for the pitcher is allowed in all games (baseball & softball), except Boys and Girls 6U T-Ball, Boys and Girls 8U Machine Pitch and Boys and Girls 8U Coach Pitch TEAM MANAGEMENT (b) All coaches must be 18 years of age or older. 10B. GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO TTAB (BOYS BASEBALL ONLY) LEAGUE PLAY IN BOYS BASEBALL DIVISIONS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL RULES, EXCEPT IN BOYS 14U, BOYS 15U AND HSE BOYS WHICH SHALL BE GOVERNED BY NFHS (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL) 1

2 10B-1. TTAB PLAYING AGE DATE: TTAB playing age is the age of the player as of April 30th for the 2016 season. The 2017 season playing age is the age of the player as of August 31st. 10B-7. EQUIPMENT RULES IN TTAB: (b) Regular standard baseball equipment, including bats, baseballs, uniforms, gloves, bases, pitcher and home plates will be used with the following exceptions: Boys 6U T-Ball, Boys 8U Machine Pitch, Boys 8U Coach Pitch, Boys 9U, Boys 10U and Boys 12U. The bat may not be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 33 inches in length. A BB- COR bat may be used. In 2016 any non-wood bat other than BB-COR used in Boys 8U Machine Pitch, Boys 8U Coach Pitch, Boys 9U, Boys 10U and Boys 12U may be BPF 1.15 or less. Beginning with the 2017 season in these age groups, any non-wood bat other than BB-COR will be required to be BPF 1.15 or less. The only bat allowed that is larger than 2 1/4 inches in diameter, is the BB-COR bat. Any equipment being used contrary to these requirements will be removed from the game by the umpire. 10B-9. PLAYING FIELD TTAB TIGHT BASE DIVISIONS (c) In Boys 9U Division, the distance between the point of home plate and the front side of pitcher s plate will be thirty-eight (38) feet. In Boys 8U Coach Pitch and Boys 10U Divisions, the distance will be forty-two (42) feet. In the Boys 12U Tight Base, the distance between the point of home plate and the front side of the pitcher s plate will be forty-six (46) feet. 20. BOYS 6U T-BALL BASEBALL DIVISION PLAYING FIELD (b) A pitcher s rubber will be placed at 42' from the point at the back of home plate to the front of the rubber and pitcher must be stationary with one foot in contact with pitcher s rubber after ball is placed on tee. PENALTY: Continued violation shall be removal of pitcher from the pitching position. 20. BOYS 6U T-BALL BASEBALL DIVISION CONTROL OF PLAYING ACTION GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO BOYS 6U T-BALL BASEBALL (c) All outfield player positions must be behind the base line until the ball is hit. If the ball is not put in play, move the players back, tell them not to move forward before the ball is hit. Give the defensive coach a warning. If violation continues after warning coach, coach is ejected. If the ball is put in play, let the play continue and once the play has stopped, let the umpire put the runners in the positions, in his opinion, they would have reached if the interference had not happened. If there was no interference, then there would be no penalty. (g) As long as the ball remains inside the playing field, the base runner may continue to run until the lead runner is stopped. (i) If the batter slings the bat, the player will receive one warning. Second offense, the batter is out, dead ball. 2

3 (l) If a fly ball is caught by any fielder, all runners must tag up. Any runner that did not tag up must return to the base. If runners have tagged up properly, they may advance. If the lead runner did not tag up, and trailing runners did tag up, the lead runner determines if runners return to their bases SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO BOYS 8U MACHINE PITCH (o) No bunting is allowed. Full swing must be taken. PENALTY: Batter attempting to bunt, ball is dead, batter is out, no runner/s may advance SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO BOYS 8U COACH PITCH (a) A maximum of 7 runs per inning or 3 outs in all innings. half-way marks will be used. If trail runner/s have advanced past the halfway mark in the base line, they may continue to the next base; otherwise, runner must return to the previous base. (c) There is no intentional walk. (d) No bunting is allowed. Full swing must be taken. PENALTY: Batter attempting to bunt, ball is dead, batter is out, no runner/s may advance. (e) The Infield Fly Rule does not apply in Boys 8U Coach Pitch. (f) A batter will receive a maximum of five pitches or three swinging strikes, whichever occurs first. If the fifth pitch or subsequent pitch is hit foul, the batter will remain at bat as long as they continue to foul the pitch. (g) No stealing. (h) The distance of the pitching rubber is 42 from the point of home plate to the front edge of the pitcher s rubber. (i) Pitching must be an overhand motion. (j) The Pitching Coach must keep one foot on or straddle the pitching rubber. (k) The Pitching Coach will not coach while in the pitching position, either verbally or physically. The Pitching Coach cannot coach while his team is on offense. (PENALTY: Removal of the Pitching Coach) Once the ball has been hit, the Pitching Coach must position himself/herself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any play at all. 33 (l) If the batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the umpire will judge if the Pitching Coach made a legitimate attempt to get out of the way, the ball becomes dead. All runners advance one base. If the umpire rules the Pitching Coach did not make the attempt to get out of the way, then the batter is declared out. No runner shall advance. (m) The defensive player listed as pitcher must remain behind the pitching rubber until the ball has been hit. (n) A 15 run lead shall be considered a complete game after four innings of play or 8 run lead after 5 innings of play. (o) There is no time limit restriction in Boys 8U Coach Pitch. 60. BOYS 14U DIVISION ALL LEAGUE PLAY IN BOYS 14U DIVISION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE NFHS (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL) RULES WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: 3

4 70. BOYS 15U DIVISION ALL LEAGUE PLAY IN BOYS 15U DIVISION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE NFHS (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL) RULES WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: 80. HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBLE BOYS ALL LEAGUE PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBLE DIVISION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE NFHS (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL) RULES WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: PITCHING RULES (a) All High School Eligible pitching rules will be according to the latest pitching rules of the NFHS (National Federation of State High School). 10S. GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO TTAS (GIRLS SOFTBALL ONLY) ALL LEAGUE PLAY IN GIRLS SOFTBALL DIVISIONS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE OFFICIAL FAST PITCH SOFTBALL RULES OF THE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: (Exception is High School Eligible Girls playing NFHS (National Federation of State High School rules) 10S-2. GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN TTAB Any girl playing in a TTAB program must abide by TTAB rules including the league age birthday cutoff date. The TTAB playing age is the age of the player as of April 30th for the 2016 season. The 2017 season playing age is the age of the player as of August 31st GIRLS 6U T-BALL DIVISION PLAYING FIELD (b) A pitcher s rubber will be placed at 42' from the point at the back of home plate to the front of the rubber and pitcher must be stationary with one foot in contact with pitcher s rubber after ball is placed on tee. PENALTY: Continued violation shall be removal of pitcher from the pitching position CONTROL OF PLAYING ACTION GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO GIRLS 6U T-BALL SOFTBALL (c) All outfield player positions must be behind the base line until the ball is hit. If the ball is not put in play, move the players back, tell them not to move forward before the ball is hit. Give the defensive coach a warning. If violation continues after warning coach, coach is ejected. If the ball is put in play, let the play continue and once the play has stopped, let the umpire put the runners in the positions, in his opinion, they would have reached if the interference had not happened. If there was no interference, then there would be no penalty. (f) As long as the ball remains inside the playing field, the base runner may continue to run until the lead runner is stopped. (g) Bunting is not permitted. Full swing must be taken, or shall be called out and ball is dead. If the batter slings the bat, the player will receive one warning. Second offense, the batter is out, dead ball. 4

5 (k) If a fly ball is caught by any fielder, all runners must tag up. Any runner that did not tag up must return to the base. If runners have tagged up properly, they may advance. If the lead runner did not tag up, and trailing runners did tag up, the lead runner determines if runners return to their bases SPECIAL RULES APPLICABLE TO GIRLS 8U COACH PITCH DIVISION (d) No bunting is allowed. Full swing must be taken. PENALTY: Batter attempting to bunt, ball is dead, batter is out, no runner/s may advance (e) Umpires will call time after every play and declare a ball dead. Time shall be called as soon (g) The distance of the pitching rubber is 35 feet from the point of home plate to the front edge of the pitcher s rubber. (h) The defensive player listed as pitcher must remain behind the pitching rubber until the ball has been hit. (l) Pitching must be an underhand motion SPECIAL RULES APPLICABLE TO GIRLS 8U MACHINE PITCH DIVISION (c) Umpires will call time after every play and declare a ball dead. Time shall be called as soon (e) No bunting is allowed. Full swing must be taken. PENALTY: Batter attempting to bunt, ball is dead, batter is out, no runner/s may advance. (m) The defensive player listed as pitcher must be no closer to the batter, than the front legs of the pitching machine until the ball leaves the machine.. (q) Base runners may leave once the ball leaves the machine. PENALTY: If player leaves early, player will be out, dead ball HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBLE GIRLS DIVISION ALL LEAGUE PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBLE DIVISIONS SHALL BE GOVERENED BY THE NFHS (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL) RULES WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: TEXAS TEENAGE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT RULES TOURNAMENT TEAM ROSTER (d) All protests over the legality of a tournament roster must be made at the first tournament meeting CERTIFICATION OF TEAM (d) All managers participating in District and/or State Tournament play must present to the Tournament Director a copy of the medical insurance declaration page, a birth certificate, military dependent I.D., or passport (a Photostat copy thereof) of each player on their respective teams, including up to three (3) extra pick-up players. Players age sixteen (16) or older may be required to show a valid (picture) driver s license. Tournament Directors must check each certificate TOURNAMENT ALLOCATION (a) The TTA Board will allocate District Tournaments in a May Tournament Allocation Meeting each year. State Tournaments will be allocated after the Annual State Meeting. 5

6 **May 25, 2016** In Boys 8U Coach Pitch and Girls 8U Coach Pitch, the defensive player listed as pitcher shall be at a distance, no further than four (4) feet, beside or behind the pitching rubber until the ball has been hit. In Boys 8U Machine Pitch and Girls 8U Machine Pitch, the defensive player listed as pitcher shall be at a distance, no further than four (4) feet, beside or behind the pitching rubber until the ball leaves the machine. 6