Game Length

• Saturday Games - No new inning may begin after 1 hr 50 min.
• Weekdays (M - F) Games - No new inning may begin after 1 hr 15 mins, hard stop at 1 hr 30 mins and use the last full innings score for official game score.  
• If a game ends in a tie after 6 complete innings and there is time on the clock to begin a new inning, that inning should be started and completed. If there is no time on the clock then the game shall be recorded as a tie game.
• There is a 5 run maximum per team/per inning, once the 5th run has crossed the plate, that half of the inning is over.

Playing Time

•  “Free substitution” with a continuous batting order. Every player must bat in the order.
• Each player must play at least 6 defensive outs (2 innings) in the first 4 innings and bat when their turn comes around
• Players are NOT allowed to sit out consecutive innings.

Scoring

• The home team is the official score keeper of the baseball game. If agreed by the game’s managers, the visiting team can officially score the game. Only one official score keeper per game.  Scorekeeping Apps via smartphones/tablets are allowed as official score keeping.
• Managers (only) will discuss and resolve scoring/game disputes with the Head umpire. Resolution will be communicated to the score keeper before play resumes.  
• After each game the Commissioner will receive the final score as confirmed by both Managers. 

Standings and Playoffs *Spring Season Only*

• Standings will be kept during the regular Spring season.
• Playoffs will be single-elimination and seeds will be based on standings.  Tie breaker is assessed in order:  1. Head-to-head results, 2. Total regular season runs against, 3. Total regular season runs scored.
• Playoff Game Duration: No new inning after 1hr 30min. Inning must be completed at time expiration. No Hard Stop for Playoff Game - i.e. If the Visiting team is at-bat and the 1 hr and 30 min expires, the Visiting team will complete at-bat (3 outs or 5 runs) and the Home team will complete it's at-bat (3 outs or 5 runs) of that same inning.  
• Championship Game (Spring season only), a full six (6) innings will be played. There is NO TIME LIMIT.
  

Pitching  
All Cal Ripken Pitching Limitations outlined in rule 0.06 apply with the addition of the pitch limitations noted below:

• Max 2 innings per game and no more than 6 innings per week total.
• No RE-ENTRY. A pitcher may not re-enter as a pitcher after they are removed.
• The Manager or an Assistant Coach should record the pitcher’s total number of pitches per outing (not to exceed 65 pitches in a game/day). If the pitcher reaches the maximum pitch count limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until the batter reaches base safely or is put out.
• Recreational Baseball and Advanced Baseball (AB) managers shall regularly communicate an AB player’s pitch counts and/or number of innings pitched that week.

Recreational Baseball – Recommended Calendar Days Rest/Pitch Count

*Example: If a pitcher throws 44 pitches on Tuesday, then that pitcher cannot pitch again until Friday (2 full days of rest)*

Baserunners

1. Defensive players shall not block an offensive player’s running lane, base, or home plate.
2. Defensive players must not obstruct the progress of baserunners. The umpires will interpret and reward bases as deemed appropriate.
3. Defensive players shall not obstruct a base runner from touching/sliding safely into home plate (e.g., catchers shall not block home plate with their shin guards). The umpires will interpret and reward home plate as deemed appropriate.
4. Call Ripken rules (page 19) state, "If a runner attempting to reach home plate intentionally and maliciously runs into a defensive player in the area of home plate, he will be called out on the play and ejected from the game.  The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner for the obvious purpose of crashing the defensive player, rather than trying to reach home plate.  Obviously this is an umpire's judgement call."  JCB further adds, “If an offensive player is clearly going to be out at home, he must give himself up or slide.”
5. Stealing- Runners may steal only after the ball has crossed the plate. If not , runner must return to base. No lead offs.

Cal Ripken Rules Reminders

1. Infield Fly Rule is NOT in effect
2. If a player in the line-up is injured or becomes ill, during the course of the game and he can no longer continue, he/she will be taken out of the game, and his/her spot in the batting order will be “skipped” without penalty.
3. If a player arrives after the game begins- said player will placed at the bottom of the line up and remain in the continuous batting order. This must be communicated to scorekeepers. 

Other 

1. Pitch is Live Ball
2. Defense will consist of 3 outfielders (Coaches are not permitted in the Outfield). 
3. BUNTING is allowed by all batters. However, swinging freely after showing bunt after the pitcher begins his delivery (i.e., slash-bunting) is NOT allowed.
4. The catcher can request the umpire grant an intentional walk to a batter without the pitcher throwing 4 balls. An intentional walk can be requested at anytime during the at-bat.

• Coaching staff will consist of 1 Manager and no more than 3 assistant coaches during gameplay. All Managers and Coaches must be badged and have processed a St. Johns County background check for the protection of players. Managers and coaches must be in Uniform as designated by JCB. 
• Dugouts – The Home team occupies the 1st base side dugout. The Away team occupies the 3rd base side dugout.
• Batting practice before games – The Home team warms up in the batting cage of the associated field number (i.e., Cage #3 is for teams playing games on Field #3) starting 1 hour before game time, for a duration of 30 minutes. The Away team warms up in the batting cage of the associated field number 30 minutes prior to game time.
• Game balls – the Home team will supply two game balls per game and the Away team will supply one game ball per game. Game balls will be returned to their respective teams at the end of each game.

*Managers are responsible for adhering to above rules. Violation of JCB rules could result in disciplinary action including game suspension and forfeiture of game*

Revised date: Spring 2019