4th-5th Grade Baseball Rules

Modified Player Pitch

Kidsports Baseball games follow National Federation Rules with modifications listed below. 

1. UNIFORMS  

1. All uniforms and equipment issued by Kidsports shall be legal for all Kidsports PP Ballgames. Catchers are required to use protective head gear and encouraged to wear an athletic supporter with a cup and are allowed to use any type of glove or mitt. 

2. The Field  

1. Base Distance  
   60′ bases are 84’10” from home plate to second base. 

2. Pitching Distance  
   45 ft. pitching rubber – measured from the front edge of the pitching plate to the rear tip of home plate. 

3. Equipment  

1. The Ball  
   A regulation baseball will be used for all games and practice sessions. 

2. The Bat  
   Both wood and metal bats with safety grips are legal. Bats that have been finished with enamel paint are not legal. (Exception: approved bats with factory enamel finish are legal. There are no weight-to-length restrictions. 

3. Batting Helmets  
   Each team is required to have a minimum of four regulation protective batting helmets on its bench prior to starting a game or practice session. Batting and running helmets must be worn while on the playing field. If the ball is live, players may not remove their helmets while on the playing field. 

4. Shoes  
   Type of shoe is optional as far as rubber cleats are concerned. Steel cleats are not allowed. 

4. Player Requirements  

1. Starting Line-Up  
   All PP games are played with 9 players on the field at one time. Teams may start a game with seven players. 

2. Short Line-Ups  
   Teams may start and finish the game with seven players. If an eighth or ninth player shows up after the line-up card is turned in they must be placed in the eighth and ninth spot in the line-up. He/she can enter the game only at the beginning of a half-inning. 
    
   Any team reduced to less than seven players due to injury, illness, ejection, etc, will be required to forfeit. A team with seven or fewer players may choose to forfeit the game and then borrow players from the opposing team for a practice game. This game will not be rescheduled. 

5. The Game  

1. Regulation Game  
   Consists of five innings unless shortened because of time limit, curfew, bad weather, or extended due to a tie game. In Kidsports there is no minimum number of completed innings to constitute a regulation game. If play is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team in its half of the incomplete inning scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent’s score the final score shall be as recorded when the game is called. 

2. Tie Games  
   If the score is tied at the end of a completed game and the time limit has not been reached, extra innings may be played. 

3. Called Games  
   Only games completely cancelled by Kidsports due to weather will be rescheduled. 

4. Scoring  
   Follow regular NFHS high school rules. 

5. Scorebook 
   The home book is the official book. Kidsports recommends that both teams keep a score book and confer with each other between innings to make sure everyone, including the umpire, is on the same page 

6. Forfeited Game  
   Teams may start and finish the game with seven (7) players. Failure to have seven (7) players at the scheduled starting time will result in a win by forfeit to the team ready to play. If both teams are in violation the game will be declared “no contest” and each team will be charged with a loss. A team with six or fewer players will forfeit the game but may borrow players from the opposing team for a practice game. This game will not be rescheduled. 

7. Protests  
   All officials’ decisions are final. Kidsports does not recognize protests. Any dispute must be handled on the field. 

8. Time Limit  
   Kidsports games shall be governed by a time limit in which no new inning may begin after one hour and thirty minutes (1hr 30 min) have elapsed. 

9. Ten Run Rule  
   Whenever a team leads an opponent by ten or more runs at the end of any completed inning, provided a minimum of four innings have been played, the game will be considered a complete game and the game will be terminated. 

10. Inning Termination  
    An inning shall be terminated after three outs are made by the defensive team, or 5 runs have been made.  

11. Base Stealing 
    Leading off is NOT allowed. Stealing is NOT allowed.  No runner may advance until a ball has been hit.

6. Player Regulations  

1. Minimum Playing Time  
   Every eligible player must play a minimum of six(6) defensive outs in all games. The bottom half of the un-played final inning does not count towards this requirement. 

2. Substitutions  
   There will be free defensive substitutions, including pitchers; a player arriving after the game has started will be inserted at the end of the batting lineup. 

3. Injuries  
   If a defensive player is injured, removed from the game and misses a turn at bat, the player cannot return to the lineup in the game. The injured players name is removed from batting order and the field. If a player is injured while running the bases, they must be replaced by the player furthest from batting that is not on base. This substitute runner returns to their place in the batting order ceasing the pinch running duties. 

7. Pitching Regulations  

1. Player Pitch- 3 walks and/or hit batter (Scattered or consecutive) shall require the hitting team’s coach to enter and coach-pitch until 3 outs are made or 5 runs have been scored. Player-pitcher may return to start the next inning. 

2. Umpires call balls/strikes for player-pitch 

3. 5- run rule per inning or 3 outs per inning 

4. Coach Pitch Rules  

1. Coaches are allowed 3 pitches per batter when coming in to relieve the player-pitcher. If the 3^rd pitch is a foul then (only) one more pitch will be granted. 

2. Coaches are not required to stand on the pitcher’s rubber and may move as close as 25 feet from home plate. While pitching, coaches are only allowed to instruct the batter. 

3. Coaches will pitch to their own team and will pitch a maximum of 3 pitches per batter unless 3^rd pitch is a foul ball. In which case, one extra pitch will be granted. However, if after the extra (4^th) pitch the batter fails to hit a fair ball – the batter is ruled out. 

4. If the batted ball in any way touches the coach pitching or interferes with a defensive player trying to field a batted ball, the play becomes dead, the pitch is considered a “no pitch”, and all base runners return to their base. 

5. Warm-up Pitches: When a pitcher takes their position at the beginning of the game or when he replaces another pitcher, he shall be permitted up to 5 preparatory pitches or use a 60-second time limit. Following the initial warm-up, she shall be allowed 60 seconds to warm-up between innings. 

6. Removing the Pitcher: Whenever a pitcher is removed from the mound, he is allowed to return to the mound only once per inning. 

7. Third Strike: A batter is declared automatically out after 3 strikes even if the catcher fails to legally hold the ball after the 3rd strike. Runners may advance at own risk (when player-pitch rule is in effect). 

8. Pitching Violations: A report of all suspected violations of the pitching requirements must be filed at the KIDSPORTS office the following business day after the scheduled game. If a violation is substantiated, a forfeit may result. 

9. Pitching Violations 
   A report of all suspected violations of the pitching requirements must be filed at the Kidsports office the following business day after the scheduled game. If a violation is substantiated, a forfeit may result.