League Philosophy  -  To foster the true spirit of the game, where managers, coaches and parents encourage and support the social fabric of the game, the fun and enjoyment in playing the game of baseball, teaching the kids sportsmanship, to be team players, to be schooled in the fundamentals and to be enthusiastic and confident.

Player Eligibility:

Every team can have a roster consisting of players only from participating towns of Emerson, River Edge, Oradell, Hillsdale, Park Ridge, New Milford, River Vale, Montvale and Wash. Twp/Westwood. Players will be of the ages 13 and 14 and will not be eligible if they turn 15 by May 1^st.

Exceptions:

High school freshman, age 14, can participate but cannot pitch.

Allowances will be afforded to a player who has a unique circumstance or hardship. Out of town residents attending an in town private or parochial school.

Team coaches should notify the town administrator if any of the above exceptions exist.

Rules:

1.       High School Federation rules apply in all aspects unless mentioned specifically in the league rules. (Important: when asked by umpires whether the Kinderkamack League follows the High School rule, respond by saying

“No.” Because the high school rule does NOT allow -5 bats nor balk warning. Say instead we follow our OWN RULE)

2.       Bat Requirements:

(1)     For big barrel bats, up to -5 are allowed as long as it is all one-piece metal (called “non-composite”) (2) For COMPOSITE big-barrel bats, only BBCOR (-3) are allowed (3) On-piece wood bats are allowed (4) Composite wood- bats must be BBCOR certified. (5) The bat barrel size may not exceed 2 5/8" (2 ¾" barrels strictly prohibited)

Certified Little League bats (2 1/4 inch diameter) are NOT allowed to be used under any circumstance.

Game and Field Rules:

1.       Batting Order: All players must bat.

2.        Call up players can be used from other teams in the same participating town to fill a roster to 10 players. Call up players must bat last and allowed to play any position EXCEPT pitcher. Towns should use their best effort to replace missing players with players of equal ability of the missing player(s).

3.        Season; consists of the months of April, May

4.        Roster minimum size – 10 players.

5.        Roster maximum size – discretion of manager

6.        Game day minimum field roster – 8 (to have a game)

7.        Player participation – every player on each team’s roster must play a minimum of 4 innings per game in the field if the game is at least 6 innings long for a complete game, No Less!!

8.        Free Substitution – is allowed for all players excluding pitchers. Once a pitcher is removed from his position he cannot return as a pitcher.

9.       Mercy rule – 10 runs after 5 complete innings.

10.     Time limit per game – no inning is to start after 2 hrs and 15 mins of game play. Inning must be completed if already started. Exception in River Edge, no inning can start after 2 hrs during a weekday game.

11.     MAKEUP GAMES- Make every effort to promptly schedule makeup

games the same week your game was cancelled. Any postponed game must be made up within 7 days of the cancelled game. The home team will offer the visiting team 3 dates to makeup the game within 48 hours of the cancelled game. Your respective Director should also be emailed with these same dates. These days should be a weekday other than a day when that level will be playing. If no agreement can me made then the both teams should try to play on a Saturday or Sunday. If the visiting Team refuses to play within the rescheduling game rules, results will be a forfeit and a win for the team that abides by the rules.

12.     SCORES - .

Reporting a Score- - THE WINNING TEAM'S COACH SHOULD FOLLOW THE BELOW GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING SCORES:

A typical report to the website will ask for the following information:

Date:                  June 15th game played on June 21^st

Score:                  Emerson #1     4

RE Blue            6

Pitchers:     Emerson # 1 - Smith 3 innings, 42 pitches

Jones 3 innings, 47 pitches

Doe 1 inning, 15 pitches RE Blue -   Green 3 innings, 50 pitches

White 3 innings, 60 pitches

Hayes 1 inning, 20 pitches

PITCHING:

1. Pitchers can pitch a maximum of 4 innings per game, 8 innings per week. (The week runs for any 7 consecutive days and does NOT have a specific day (such as Monday) as a starting day.) The maximum number of pitches for a league age 13 or 14 is 95 pitches.

Exception: Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed above for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:

1.    That batter reaches base;

2.    That batter is put out;

3.    The third out is made to complete the half-inning.

Rest Rules:

Pitchers league ages 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

*   If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

*   If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest is required.

*   If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest is required.

*   If a player pitches 51-65 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest is required.

*   If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest is required.

Exception: Exception: If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:

1.    That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning.

The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during that that provided the pitcher is removed or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to get another batter.

Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. A catcher who catches 3 innings or more cannot pitch for the remainder of the day.

2.        The status of each pitcher for a given game should be part of the pre-game review with the umpires.

3.        A manager/coach shall be allowed 2 visits per pitcher per game; on the 3rd visit in a game that pitcher must be removed. An injury timeout shall not constitute a visit. The umpire will deem whether an injury timeout is allowed.

4.        During regular season play, there will be 2 balk warnings per pitcher. A balk will be called on the 3rd violation. During playoffs, 1 balk warning per pitcher, a balk will be called on the 2^nd violation

ADDITIONAL GAME RULES

1.      Sliding – Head first sliding is not permitted except when returning to a base. All base runners advancing shall slide feet first at all bases. Any other slide is an automatic out. No hurdling over a player on a tag play to avoid tag. This will result in an automatic out. A baserunner should avoid collisions at all time by either sliding or avoiding collision with the defensive player. To clarify a baserunner must slide or avoid. In the judgment of the umpire, any runner is OUT when the runner does not slide OR attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. It is the responsibility of the runner to slide in order to reduce potentially injurious contact on all plays at all bases. NOTE: A player is not out if he doesn't slide, he's out only when he creates a collision with a defensive player. No contact, no out. Also a defensive player cannot block a base unless there is a play at that base and the defensive player is in possession of the ball or is in the process of receiving the ball. IF A DEFENSIVE PLAYER IS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL OR IS IN THE ACT OF FIELDING or RECEIVING THE BALL AND THERE IS A COLLISION then the umpire shall wait until a dead ball situation and award the runner the base by reason of obstruction. Any defensive player may not block any base with or without the baseball.

2.      Regulation game – if weather, darkness or time limitation interferes with play so that the game is called (ended) by the umpire prior to completion, the following rules apply:

It’s an official regulation game, after (4) four innings, unless the Home Team is leading after 3 1/2 innings. (IMPORTANT – this applies for game shortened by rain, lightening, or time-limit. It is an official game after 4 innings).

After four innings, you revert back to the previous completed inning to determine a winner if the game is called due to weather or darkness.

If a game is called before it’s a regulation game or it’s a tie game, you resume play from the exact point that the play was halted until it becomes a regulation game.

A tie game will be counted as a tie for both teams

3.      If there is a tie after 7 innings extra innings will be allowed if under time limit otherwise game will end in a tie.

4.      During the regular season a tie will stand as the final score.

5.      All playoff games must be played until a winner is determined, upon weather or darkness game will follow continuation rule. The time limit restriction will not apply to playoff games.

6.      Continuation Rule – Game will be resumed exactly where it left off. All records including pitching shall be counted.

7.      Players leaving a game early - There is no penalty for players leaving the games early. The spot in the lineup will be skipped

8.      Speed Up Rule – If a team chooses to use a courtesy runner for a catcher with two outs, the catcher is defined as the player who caught the inning prior to the time on base. The courtesy runner must be the last batted out.

9.      Infield Fly Rule – applies to all games.

10.  Warm Up – Prior to games, the visiting team shall have a 15 minute window to warm up and practice on the opposing team’s field. (Weekday games; 5:40pm – 5:55pm, Saturday 11:40am – 11:55am, etc.)

11.   Home Teams – are responsible to supply 6 game balls (Babe Ruth LL2)

12.  Umpire payment: Both teams will provide and pay. Umpire fee is determined by the home team. For games that continue, the fee is split by both teams. Playoff Umpire fees will be split by both teams.

Players Code of Conduct:

1.                 Umpires have the sole authority and discretion to warn, discharge and suspend a player whose conduct on the field is contrary to the spirit of “fair play” and to league philosophy.

2.                 These infractions involve but are not limited to:

3.                 Profanity or abusive language

4.                 Throwing of equipment in the dugout or on the field

5.                 Act of violence or intent to injure a player

6.                 Arguing with umpires or players

7.                 Willful acts or behavior in delaying a game

8.                 Childish behaviors in the dugout or on the field so as to taunt, bait, discredit and make fun of a player (race, religion and origin)

9.                 Purposely obstruct or hinder a player from making a play, running bases or any routine play

10.            Personal actions to incite spectators or demonstrations

11.            Entering the area behind the catcher while the pitcher and catcher are in their respective position

12.            Be outside the designated dugout or bullpen area if not a batter.

Any player ejected in a game is subject to their town’s ejection rules for the following game.

Players Dress Code:

1.      All players should be in the same color matching uniforms all inclusive from hat, shirt, pants and socks with the exception of call ups

2.      All player’s uniform shirt’s should be tucked in their pants at all times during the game.

3.      Baseball shoes with rubber or metal spikes are the only acceptable footwear to be worn by the players in the game. No metal spikes will be allowed on turf fields. Sneakers or rubber cleats are absolutely required for games played at DPAC in Oradell.

4.      No player is allowed to wear jewelry, earrings or any ornamental body piece during the game.

Managers and Coaches Rules:

“Special Code of Conduct”

1.        No smoking, tobacco chewing, spitting are allowed in the dugout or on the field.

2.        Profanity, abusive language or continuous yelling and harassment should not be directed toward any player on either team in the dugout or on the field.

3.        A manager or coach who deems winning the game the only reason for his or her involvement, should stay out of our league program and watch the game outside the field boundaries along with the rest of the spectators.

4.        Arguing with umpires is prohibited; accept the umpire’s call and play. The umpire is incidental to the game, not a major symbol for debate.

5.        No coach shall physically assist a runner during play.

6.        Coaches shall stay within the boundaries of the coaching boxes.

7.        Ejections from any game will be that game plus the next. This rule applies to all coaches. A second ejection in the season of any coach will be handled on an individual basis by the 6 administrators from each participating town.

Playoffs:

ALL TEAMS QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS:

The playoffs will be single elimination. Seeding for the playoffs will be determined by a point system. Higher seeded team will be the home team unless there are field availability issues. Teams must play a minimum required play of 10 games. Each team will be awarded points as follows:

3 – Win 2- Tie 1 – Loss 0 - forfeit

If any team has played less than 10 games, a forfeit loss will be applied to bring the teams total to 10 games.

Tie breakers will be as follows:

A)    Head to Head

B)    Record against common opponents

C)    Coin Flip with the team you are tied with.

All 20 teams will participate in the playoffs. There will be 1 bracket for the top 10 teams, and another bracket for the bottom 10.

The higher seed is the home team. There will be NO RE-SEEDING for each round. See the 2018 Master Schedule distributed to town administers and on website.

Only Roster players are permitted to play for each team in the playoffs. Teams will be disqualified for players who play in playoff games and have not been listed on their teams on the website.

Playoff Lineups: Players will not be eligible to play in any playoff game if they are not in the lineup by start of the 3^rd inning. (When the first pitch is thrown in the top of the 3^rd inning)

League Safety Code:

1.        Responsibility for safety procedures should be that of an adult member of the league.

2.        Arrangements should be made in advance of all games and practices for emergency medical services.

3.        Managers, coaches and umpires should have some training in first aid. First aid kits should be available at the field.

4.        No games or practice should be held when weather or field conditions are not playable, particularly when lighting is inadequate.

5.        Play area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, stones, glass and other foreign objects.

6.        Dugouts on-deck circles and bat racks should be positioned behind the screens and/or fences.

7.        Only players, managers, coaches and umpires are permitted on the playing field during play and practice sessions.

8.        Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of a regular player assigned for this purpose.

9.        Procedure should be established for retrieving foul balls hit out of the playing area.