Mite Rules

  1. Uniforms must be worn by all players in order to play.
  2. Home team is the first team named on the schedule and must provide an umpire and put out the bases.
  3. The game is 5 innings long.
  4. First at bat is decided by a coin toss.
  5. Each half inning is over when 3 outs are made or 6 runners have scored. In the last inning there is no limit on the number of runs.
  6. Base distances: 45 feet
  7. Pitching distance: 28 feet
  8. Players on the field: Minimum of 8 and maximum of 11
  9. All players at the game will be included in the regular batting order.
  10. Pitching
    1. Pitchers must start with both feet on the rubber (e.g. heel of one foot and toe of another and can take one step forward before releasing the ball.
    2. Pitchers must pitch with an underhand motion only.
  11. Batting:
    1. 3 strikes to be put out -4 balls to walk
    2. Foul balls are considered strikes up to the second strike.
    3. If a foul ball is caught the batter is out unless it is a foul tip -a foul tip is a ball which goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batters head, to the catcher. A caught foul tip is a strike.
    4. The batter gets an automatic walk if hit by a pitch (batter must make an attempt to get out of the way).
    5. No Bunting
    6. No third strike rule- three strikes the batter is out. (Batter cannot advance to 1st on dropped third strike)
    7. Fair territory is between or on 1st and 3rd base lines.
    8. If a fly ball is caught in fair or foul territory the batter is out.
    9. If a batted ball first hits home plate and bounces or rolls into fair territory it is a fair ball.
    10. If it bounces or rolls foul before 1st or 3rd base, it is a foul ball. If it touches fair (person or ground) and rolls foul behind 1st or 3rd, the ball is considered fair.
    11. If a ball bounces up and touches the batter it is a dead ball – foul ball.
    12. The strike zone is between the knees and shoulders of the batter and over home plate.
    13. Every attempt should be made to bat in the correct order and a batter batting out of order will not be called out but can be replaced by the correct batter if found out before the incorrect batter either strikes out or makes it to a base. Otherwise, the correct batter will then follow the incorrect batter.
    14. A batter who is injured can be taken out of a line-up and then returned for their following bat if they have recuperated.
  12. Runner:
    1. Runners must run around the bases in order.
    2. Only one runner at a time on a base.
    3. First base is the only base that can be overrun without being tagged out.
    4. If a runner rounds first base and starts toward 2nd, then they can be tagged out.
    5. Runners cannot steal -they must be hit or walked from base to base to advance.
    6. In case of an overthrow into foul territory – foul territory being an area outside the diameter of the playing field (e.g. in our case the brush, ditch) – then the runners automatically get to advance one base. On an over-throw to 1st, the runner would get to advance to 2nd.
    7. If the ball stays between the 1st and 3rd base lines on the playing field the ball is still in play and runners may advance at their discretion.
    8. Runners must stay tagged up until a fly ball is caught (first touched) – then they can advance.
    9. If a runner advances before a fly is caught they can be put out by touching the base the runner left. The runner can remain safe if they beat the ball back to the base they vacated.
    10. A lead runner can be put out by force by touching the base they are advancing to (i.e. runners on 1st and 2nd and the ball is batted to 3rd base – the runner advancing to 3rd is out on a forced play).
    11. Runners must stay within 3 feet of the base line when running unless they are running around players to avoid colliding with them – they cannot go more than 3 feet off the base line to avoid a tag.
    12. Fielders cannot interfere with the base runners – the base path must be clear or a charge of interference can be called – if a runner is deemed to have been interfered with causing them to be put out, they would be awarded the base.
    13. If there are 2 runners on a base at the same time, the first runner can stay on the base but the second runner can be put out if they are touched by the ball before they return to the preceding base.
    14. A runner is not out if hit by a batted ball when running the bases or standing on a base A runner is out if they deliberately interfere with either a fielder or the ball (e.g. by running into a fielder or kicking a ball. ·
    15. When the pitcher receives the ball on the mound the runner must return to a base.
    16. If a runner slides right past the base they can be tagged out.
    17. If a player is not being forced to run to a base they must be tagged to be put out.
    18. If a player is being forced to run to a base only the base needs to be touched by the fielder to put the runner out.
    19. Tie plays go to the runner.
    20. If a base runner is touched by a ball not held securely by a fielder, they are not out. If a player puts his glove over top of the ball on the ground “trapping” it the runner is safe.
    21. If a base runner deliberately runs into a defensive player who is waiting for him with the ball, he/she is out.
    22. Appeal Plays: A defensive team may appeal a play before the next batter comes up (i.e. if you believe a runner missed a base, or left early when tagging up on a fly ball, illegal equipment was used, or someone batted out of order). These specific plays are appeal plays, meaning the umpire makes a decision only after an appeal. An appeal may not be made after the next legal or illegal pitch is made.
  13. Scoring of runs: 1 run scored for each player who legally touches all the bases in order before the third out. A run is not scored if the third out is the result of the batter being forced out before touching first base or any runner on base being forced out. Should the third out be the result of a tag and occur prior to a runner touching home plate, the run shall not count.
  14. While a team is up to bat the opposing team is to use the rules of sportsmanship, both players and coaches, and refrain from interfering with the players up to bat or running the bases. The same rules apply to the team up to bat – to refrain from using any remarks of a demeaning nature to the opposition. A coach can ask an umpire at any time to ask the opposing coach to reprimand their player(s). If a player or players continue to show poor sportsmanship the umpire can eject a player or players from the game. The same holds true for the coach. If a coach is ejected from a game and refuses to leave, then the game will be deemed to be forfeited in the other teams favor as a win.
  15. The decision to play or not due to rain will be made by the umpire and the coaches of both teams at the field. The game can be cancelled beforehand if a decision is made between both coaches and then all members notified.
  16. A game will be ruled as a regulation game if 4 innings have been played. If the game is called out in the 4th inning while the second team to bat is up, and the 2nd team has scored more runs than the first team up to bat, then the team which was second to bat will be awarded the game even if the 4th inning isn´t complete. If the game is called in the 5th inning, then the score of the last complete inning will count. Scheduled league games take precedence over make-up games.
  17. Missed games – games cancelled must be made up or no points will be awarded to either team. If a coach has problems rescheduling a missed game, then they must let their division manager know. The manager will then set up a game time. If one team does not come then they will have forfeited the game and 2 points will be awarded to the team who shows. If neither team shows, no points will be awarded. If a team is short players they may pick up players from a division below them. Remember all kids must be registered before they can practice or play!