Pac Coast Rules

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE RULES AND GUIDELINES

Below is a summary of rules presented by Hazel Dell Little League.  In addition to the stated rules below,regulations from the Little League Manual and Little League Rules andRegulations apply.

Pac Coast is a non-competitive, instructional level of baseball.  Standings will not be kept, however home and visiting teams will keep score during the season for experience in scorekeeping and confirmation of minimum play.  Divisions will be organized into teams with primarily 7 year-olds (Pac 7 division) and teams with primarily 8year-olds (Pac 8 division).  Unless specified below, rules in Little League Rule Book apply.

1.    Ideal roster size is 9 to11 players.  Smaller roster sizes create a better teaching/learning environment and more playing time.

2.    Level 5 safety ball is used.

3.    Ten defensive players on the field at one time, regular infield and four outfielders.

4.    Pac Coast will use a continuous batting order, such that all players in attendance shall be in the batting order.

5.    If a batted ball hits the coach, the ball is dead and the batter and other runners shall advance one base only.

6.    No stealing or bunting

7. Sliding is not allowed, except at home plate.

8. If a batter is hit with a pitch, he has the option of taking 1st base or continuing to bat with current balls and strikes count.

9.    Half inning is over when the fielding team completes three outs, or offensive team scores five runs.

10.    Games last five innings,but no new inning can be started after one and a half hours of play (the start of an inning officially begins when the third out of the previous inning is recorded).

11.    Defensive playing time should be equal.  Defensive players should rotate between infield and outfield every inning and unless an extreme safety risk, all players should get equal play at all infield positions.  Players shall not be on the bench for more than one inning per game.

12.   Pac Coast managers MAY NOT reduce playing time below the minimum requirement for disciplinary or any otherreasons without approval of the League Commissioner.  Abuse of player rotation and/or minimum playing time will be subject to review and could result in the manager being suspended.

13.     First rainout will not be made up.  All others will be attempted to be re-scheduled based on field and time availability.

14.  Pac 7 (7 year-old league):  Pac 7 is coach pitch League

(1)  Batter gets seven pitches. If batter fails to hit the ball in fair territory in seven pitches from the coach player is allowed one swing with the ball on the tee. If the ball isnot put in play in 1 swing off the tee the batter is out.  (batter remains at bat if last pitch, from coach, continues to be fouled off) Only exception to maximum of 7 pitches.

(2)  Batters and runners are allowed to advance only one base on a hit ball off tee.

(3)  Player pitchers must be within 3 ft of the coach pitching, even with, or behind the mound, not any closer to the plate.

 

15.          Pac 8 (8 year-old league): Pac 8 is an introduction to player pitch.

a)    Balls and strikes are called. Three strikes batter is out.

b)    After four called balls are thrown by the pitcher, the coach comes into pitch.  The coach inherits the count or gets a maximum of 3 pitches.

c)      If the batter fails to hit ball in fair territory after three pitches from the coach, the batter is out.  The batter remains at bat if final coach pitch continues to be fouled off (only exception to maximum 3 pitches).

d)    When the coach comes in to pitch, player pitchers must be within 3 ft.of the coach pitching, even with, or behind the mound, not any closer to the plate.

e)    Coaches should pitch from the pitching rubber.

f)        Coaches have the option to stand in the field to instruct defensive players, especially if there is a safety issue.

g)    Home team is required to provide the home plate umpire or an umpire behind the mound.  All umpires behind the plate must wear proper umpire gear.

h)      Each team manager is responsible for recording the pitch count of all pitchers in the official league Pitch CountBook.

 

16.          Pac Coast pitch count limits and rest requirements are as follows:

a)    7-8 year-olds are limited to 50 pitches per day. HDLL applies the 8year-old pitch count rules to any 9 year-old pitchers playing Pac Coast.  Little League rules state that 6year-olds cannot be pitched to by a player pitcher in Pac Coast division (Pac 7or Pac 8). They must be pitched to by a coach only.

b)    Rest requirements for 7, 8 & 9 year-old Pac Coast pitchers:

(1)   If a player pitches 36 – 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.

(2)   If a player pitches 21 – 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.

(3)   If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar days of rest are required before pitching again.

(4)   A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

 

17.          Pac 7 andPac 8 players may have the opportunity to participate in a season ending tournament.  If held, the tournament format and details are up to the coaches and League Commissioner as well as the availability of time and fields.

 

18.          TeamSelection and Rosters

a)    Each team can protect 3 players in addition to their own children playing on the team.

b)    If more than one coach attempts to protect the same player, the parent will decide what team the player will play on.

c)      The remainder of the team will be filled by a draft.  Each team will consist of 12 players.

d)    Each player will participate in a tryout.  If the player is attempting to play up they will also participate in a safety evaluation.

e)    The draft order will be set by a random draw and be conducted by the league commissioner and will be conducted in a serpentine.