Cohasset Youth Baseball and Softball Association - CYBSA

American League

  1. Every coach will know and adhere to the CYBSA “Code of Conduct”.
  2. Protests:  All managers must carry a copy of the Little League Rulebook, the CYBSA Local Rules and the Code of Conduct at all games and practices.  If a situation should arise where a manager believes an umpire has made an incorrect call on a rule interpretation, the manager must prove that the Umpire has made the call incorrectly by referring to the specific rule in “black and white” within 5 minutes of the initial call.  If the Umpire is proven to be incorrect, the umpire must reverse the call to accurately reflect the published rule.  If the rule cannot be found or is not specific enough, the Umpire’s interpretation of the rule will stand.  Umpires have the right to rule on anything not specifically covered in the rulebook.  Any team that cannot show an Umpire a rule because no rulebook is available CANNOT file a protest.  There may be NO PROTESTS on judgment calls whatsoever.  For any other protest to be “official” it must be filed by calling the American League Coordinator within 2 HOURS of completion of the game.
  3. Schedule:  Each regular season game can be no more than six innings, i.e. no extra innings, except for playoffs.  All weekday evening games should promptly start at 5:30 PM in order to complete as many innings up to six as possible.  No inning in a regular season game will start after 7:30 PM, except on or after the Friday evening of the annual Memorial Day Holiday weekend, when said time is extended for regular season games until 8:00 PM.
  4. The last day of the regular season is reflected in the ‘official’ schedule unless otherwise modified by the League Coordinator with acknowledgment and concurrence of the CYBSA Board.  No make-up games can be scheduled after the last day of the regular season.
  5. Postponements/Make-up Games:  Any weather postponement must be immediately reported to the League Coordinator and to the League Scheduling Administrator for rescheduling.  The two coaches should confer with each other and the League Scheduling Administrator to re-schedule the game within one week, or as soon thereafter as is possible.  If a game is started but stopped before completion on account of weather, the game is considered complete and “official” if the teams have played 3.5 innings and the home team is leading, or 4 innings and the visiting team is ahead.  The score of the last completed inning will determine the final score.  If a game is stopped prior to being an “official” game, then the game will be considered suspended and should be continued from that exact point/situation, and played at the earliest possible date to a 6 inning completion, in accordance will all appropriate and applicable Little League rules.  Teams that fail to make up postponed games prior to the last official day of the season shall each receive 0 points for that game.
  6. Playoffs:  The playoff calendar will be set prior to the end of the regular season by the League Coordinator in consultation with the Player Agent and league scheduling administrator.  The first round of playoffs shall be single elimination with the 2nd place team hosting the 7th, the 3rd place team hosting the 6th, the 4th place team hosting the 5th, and the 1st place team receiving a bye.  Teams shall be re-seeded for each of the second and final rounds, with the lowest ranked remaining team in that round playing the highest ranked remaining team, etc..  The second round shall be single elimination.  The final round shall be best of three game series with the higher ranked team in each game hosting the first game and, if necessary, third game and the lower ranked team hosting the second game.  Team standings will be determined by total points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie).  In the case of a two-way tie, the first tie-breaker shall be head-to-head record; the second tie-breaker shall be entire regular season run differential.  In the case of a tie among three or more teams, the first tie breaker shall be record in games only involving tied teams; the second tie-breaker shall be entire regular season run differential.  In both cases, the third tie-breaker is a game of “rock, paper, scissors” between the coaches or their designees.
  7. Rosters:  Rosters are determined by a supervised draft or allocation at the outset of the season from the pool of eligible and registered players.  No changes may be made to the roster after the draft except in extraordinary circumstances at the direction of the American League Coordinator with the consent of the CYBSA Player Agent.  Coaches must inform the American League Coordinator in the event any player leaves the team. The League Coordinator, with the consent of the CYBSA Player Agent, will determine the manner in which open roster spots may be filled, if at all.
  8. NOTE:  Some American League roster players may be “called-up” to the Major League.  (see MAJOR LEAGUE LOCAL RULES: ROSTERS.)  If call-ups occur after the pre-season American League draft but before the first game of the American League season, the American League coaches, American League Coordinator and CYBSA Player Agent will discuss the possible reallocation of players in the case of severe competitive imbalance, with a determination to be made by the American League Coordinator and consented to by the Player Agent.  If a call-up occurs during the season, the same process may occur but the presumption is that the American League roster spot will not be filled.  (Of course any player may decline a call-up.)
  9. All injuries should be reported to the American League Coordinator.  Managers should also inform the American League Coordinator if any player is missing multiple games.
  10. Every player must play one entire game without substitution at some point during the regular season.
  11. Umpires:  Umpires should be at least 14 years of age and / or have entered the eighth grade.  In an emergency, if a younger, but qualified person is needed, the head coaches of both teams should confer and agree prior to the start of the game.
  12. Field Conditions:  Notwithstanding other provisions, Umpires must call the game when conditions become potentially dangerous for the players.  The safety of the players is paramount and must be the first consideration of the game officials and coaches.  Note:  Both teams will assume responsibility for maintaining safe playing conditions at the field at all times.
  13. It is the responsibility of the home team manager and assistant coaches to make sure  the field is lined and ready prior to game time, and to arrive at the field with sufficient time to do so.  It is the responsibility of the visiting team manager and assistant coaches to rake the infield, mound and plate areas after each game.
  14. Both teams’ coaches are responsible or should make it their players’ responsibilities to clean and clear their respective dugout areas of all water/Gatorade bottles, gum wrappers and other debris after each game.
  15. Equipment:  All equipment must be kept at all times in the ‘on deck’ cage, in the dugout or in a secure location away from the playing field.
  16. All helmets must be equipped with approved facemasks / cages and worn by all batters / baserunners.
  17. All catchers must wear a protective cup at all times.
  18. Each home team will supply 3 game balls per game.  In the case of inclement weather conditions additional balls over the stated 3 must be divided between each team.
  19. In Game Conduct:  No player or coach may visit the concession stand during the game.  No food is allowed in the dugout at any time.  Water, Gatorade, juice or equivalent is permitted in the dugout as needed.
  20. A coach must bench any player on his team who throws equipment in anger for the remainder of the game or to some degree in their next game if the ‘incident’ happens in the last inning.
  21. Only three (3) coaches are allowed per team.  Only two (2) coaches may be outside the dugout for the ‘at bat’ team.  All three (3) ‘in the field’ coaches must remain in the dugout.
  22. Four (4) Run Rule: No team can score more than four (4) runs in a half inning.  When the fourth run is scored, the half inning is concluded regardless of the number of outs and the next half inning commences, except for the sixth inning, where no limit will apply for either team.
  23. Pitching:  All players, regardless of age, are eligible to pitch.  (Note: As of 2007, pitching eligibility rules based on innings pitched in a game or week and the rule against pitching on consecutive days are no longer in force.)  Eligibility to pitch in a given game, or to continue to pitch during a game, is to be determined by the Williamsport Little League pitch count rules – see the separate CYBSA PITCH COUNT RULES AND PROCEDURES for a summary and the additional Local Rules that apply.  All coaches should be familiar with the pitch count rules.  THE PITCH COUNT RULES AND PROCEDURES ARE TO BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED AND ENFORCED.      
  24. The procedures for designating the official pitch count recorder, confirmation of pitch counts, reporting of pitch counts, and maintenance of pitching logs are contained in and governed by the CYBSA PITCH COUNT RULES AND PROCEDURES. 
  25. Once removed, a player cannot pitch in that game again.  He / she can play any other position.
  26. Any pitcher who hits three (3) batters in any one game must be removed from that position.  When removing a pitcher always discuss in appropriate language why he / she is being changed.
  27. The pitching distance for the American League is 45 feet.
  28. All players should be given the opportunity to pitch during the regular season.
  29. Five balls for a walk, three strikes for a strikeout. 
  30. Absolutely no curve balls, sliders, sinkers, splitters, or other direction-altering pitches are permitted.  Knuckle balls and ‘change-up’ pitches are permitted.
  31. No “intentional walks” are to be issued in the American League.
  32. Offense:  Bat the entire roster in each game.  Players must bat in the sequential order for the entire game.
  33. No stealing, advancing on wild pitches or passed balls.  Runner must hold the base until the ball is hit.
  34. Only the ‘at bat’ player will have / swing a bat.  No ‘on-deck’ swinging.  (Exception: Barnes Complex).
  35. No Slash Rule: Any player feinting a bunt by squaring to bunt to draw in the infielders and in turn pulling back and swinging at the pitch in an effort to drive it by the charging infielders will be immediately called out.  The ball will be immediately declared dead with players returning to the bases from which they originally advanced. 
  36. Reporting Results and Pitch Counts:  The winning team’s manager/coach (or in the case of a tie game the home team’s manager/coach) is responsible for reporting both the final score of the game and the player Pitch Counts (as explained in the CYBSA Pitch Count Rules and Procedures) to the list of all league managers and the League Coordinator by email before 11:00 a.m. on the following day.
  37. Forfeited games: Both teams must have at least 9 players at the field no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled ‘start time’ a/k/a ‘Deadline’.  If one or both teams do not fulfill this minimum-manning requirement by the Deadline, the game will be deemed ‘forfeited’.  Notwithstanding the forfeit, coaches are encouraged to use the scheduled time to scrimmage or practice.  Games for which at least one team will not have at least 9 players due to a known, scheduled and published conflict with another Cohasset youth sport, postponement is allowable.  This is provided that two managers and the CYBSA Scheduler agree upon a new date and team at least 3 days prior to the date of the original game.
  38. Two Hour Game Rule: All games played on a multi-game day must be completed within 120 minutes (2 hours) of the published/scheduled start time.  THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.  (Teams should not start a new inning minutes before this deadline.)  This rule applies even if the situation involves different league levels or different youth sport programs.  The score of the last completed inning of a Little League official game within the two hours will determine the final score.  If the game is forced to conclude prior to being an “official” game (3.5 innings with the home team ahead and 4 innings with the visiting team ahead), then the game will be suspended and continued from that exact point and played at the earliest possible date to a 6 inning completion, in accordance will all appropriate and applicable Little League rules.  All games should start on the published start time unless one or both teams do not have 9 players, in which case, the game must start no later than 15 minutes after the published start time (see Local Rule regarding Forfeited Games).  In all games, coaches must make every effort to move the game along as quickly as possible, i.e., make sure the catcher has his / her equipment on when your team finishes its at-bat, be sure players run on and off the field, limit pitchers to 8 warm-up pitches or 1 minute at the start of each ½ inning.  Umpires will be instructed to end the game at the exact time that the next game is scheduled to start.  It is up to the coaches to manage their time accordingly.  Baseball is obviously not a game governed by a clock but this rule is implemented due to limited field availability and out of fairness to all teams.  Any coach or player who attempts to take advantage of these time constraints by purposefully delaying play through any means will be sanctioned by the CYBSA Board of Directors, possibly including but not limited to forfeiture of said contest. 
  39. Rules:  All other situations, unless specifically addressed herein or by some other/ future CYBSA memo, are governed by the Williamsport Little League Rulebook.  Each team will be provided this handbook and it is the responsibility of each team’s coaching staff to be familiar with its contents and provisions as well as all local rules (these rules and the Pitch Count Rules and Procedures).  All the Local Rules and all CYBSA policies and procedures are subject to CYBSA Board interpretation, modification and/or amendment in its mandate to look after the best interests of the players and nothing herein is meant to limit that discretion. 
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