MCP RULES

1. Official Game – a minimum of eight (8) players will be required to start and continue a game.  If one team has less than eight players, they must forfeit the game; or attempt a reschedule if their opposing team is willing, and fields are available.  Each team will have ten (10) minutes after the scheduled start time of a game, to see if they can get the minimum of eight players to start the game.
 

GAME TIME LIMITS

5 innings with 1 hour 45 mins drop-dead limit. NO new innings to begin after 1 hour 30 mins.

 

 

2. Length of Game – a game will consist of five (5) innings or one (1) hour and forty-five (45) minutes (less time if schedule dictates), whichever comes first.  No new inning may start after one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes from the time the game began, nor ten (10) minutes before a scheduled start of a following game, unless a delay is encountered due to weather.  Games rained out prior to four (4) complete innings will be rescheduled, starting over.

3. Baseballs – each team is to provide at least one new game ball per game.

4. Baselines – no player may be positioned on a baseline. Defensive infield players shall not stay on a base nor stand in the path of runners.  Defensive infield players shall play in front of or behind the base so as not to cause a collision between offensive and defensive players.

5. Baseline Collisions – all base runners must attempt to avoid a collision with defensive players.  If a defensive player is standing in the baseline, the offensive player must go around.  Base runners may not intentionally collide with defensive players, when taking a base.  Runners must avoid contact and slide into a base to do so.  Base runners that intentionally collide with a defensive player will be called out. 

6. Throwing the Bat – any batter who throws the bat will be issued one warning from the plate umpire.  If the same batter throws the bat a second time, he shall be called out for the second and each additional occurrence of throwing the bat.

7. Closed Bases – runners cannot leave the base until the batter has hit the ball.  Any runner leaving the base before the ball is hit will be called “out” by the umpire having authority over the particular base.   No stealing, no advancing on a passed ball or on a ball returned to the “pitcher/coach”.  

8. Ball Hitting Pitcher/Coach – if a ball comes into contact with the pitcher/coach, the ball is dead, and replayed.  All runners will return to their bases.  A pitcher/coach is responsible for getting out of the defensive players way, after the making of his pitch.

9. Base Coaches – each team should have a base coach at first and third base.  The coaches shall not physically touch the base runners (push or direct to the next base) while the ball is in play.  Base coaches should not allow runners to advance after play is complete.

10. Continuous Batting Order – a continuous batting order will be used and all players attending a game must take their regular turn at bat during the game. The batting order will remain fixed during the game with defensive fielding assignments having no effect on the batting order. Late arrivals will enter the batting order at the bottom of the lineup card. Should a player leave the game (e.g., due to injury), all players below that player in the batting order will move up one slot and maintain their same batting order. If the player who left the game returns and is re-inserted into the game, he/she must enter the same batting position as he/she originally occupied, with the players below him/her in the batting order moving down one slot into their original positions in the batting order. If a batter leaves the game due to injury, the next batter in the lineup starts with a 0-0 count.  No player may change positions in the batting order during a game.  Any player who bats out of turn (receives one pitch) is automatically out and all base runners must return to the bases they occupied before the offending batter came to the plate, provided a defensive coach or player calls time out and appeals the player batting out of turn prior to the next batter receiving one pitch. Without such appeal, the result of the out of turn at bat stands.

11.  Defense – the defensive alignment will include 10 players, 6 in the infield (pitcher, catcher, third base, shortstop, second base and first base), and 4 in the outfield (left field, left center field, right center field, right field).  Each team is to make defensive substitutions and changes each inning.  The other team does not need to be notified of these changes.

12. Protests – no protests will be allowed.  Questions regarding rule interpretations and calls should be discussed between innings and settled on the spot.

13. Catchers – catchers will occupy the usual catching position, wearing full gear (mask and helmet, chest protector, and shin guards, cup). It is strongly suggested that you teach your catcher proper techniques:  set up behind the plate, crouching on both feet, provide a target, bare hand behind the back.

14. Pitchers – the pitcher should stand within the white circle near the pitching rubber or adjacent to the coach/pitcher inside the circle.  Pitcher may leave the white circle, to make a play on a hit ball.  The pitcher should be placed near the back of the circle when a stronger hitter is at the plate.

15. Infielders – infielders should play in the standard positions for their infield spot.  No infielder may stand directly in the baseline.  Teach your infielders to stand in front of or behind the baseline.  All infielders should be taught to not block the base runner’s path, either at the base, or in the baseline, when not in the action of receiving the ball.  Intentionally interfering with a base runner, will result in the umpire awarding the runner the base.

16. Outfielders – outfields should be positioned 4 across in the outfield, evenly spaced. No outfielder may throw to first base on a ground ball in an attempt to retire the hitter. Throws should go to the cutoff man, or to defenders occupying other bases. An outfielder MAY throw to first base, after catching a fly ball, in an effort to double up a runner who left first base without tagging. This is the ONLY exception.

17.  Minimum Playing Time – if a team has 12 or more players in attendance at a game, all players are required to “sit out” a minimum of one inning (i.e., no player can be in the field every inning) and all players shall be in the field at least four (4) innings during the game, as well as take his or her regular turn at bat.

18. Maximum Defensive Time – no player shall occupy a defensive position for more than two (2) innings per game and no player shall “sit out” for two (2) consecutive innings.  In addition, all players shall occupy both infield and outfield positions in each game.

19. INFIELD Playing Time – each player must play in the Infield within the first three innings.

20. 5-Run Rule – each team’s turn at-bat will end at the earlier of three (3) defensive putouts or five (5) offensive runs scored.

21. MCP/Coach Pitch – A coach will either pitch the ball to players on his team or adjust the batting tee for each player on his team.  Pitching will occur from a minimum distance of 20 feet from the plate.  For more advanced hitters, the coach may choose to pitch from further back. Each batter will be allowed eight (8) pitches from a coach or have the ball placed on the batting tee to get the ball into play.  There are no called strikes or swinging strikes.  A foul ball on the last pitch will result in an additional pitch.  The umpire behind the plate will count the pitches.  After the seventh (7th) pitch, he will advise the batter and pitcher that the following pitch is the last pitch.  If the batter cannot hit a pitched ball, then coaches should use the batting tee.

22. 12-Foot Arc – the field shall include a 12-foot arc in front of home plate.  Any ball hit into fair territory is in play as long as it is hit out of the initial 12-foot arc.  Any ball that does not get out of the 12-foot arc area will be considered a dead ball and replayed at no penalty to the batter.

23. No Walks

24. Bunting – (Allowed during Machine Pitch)

25. No Infield Fly Rule

26. Equal Opportunity – Coaches are encouraged to provide each player equal time at each defensive position and as an equal number of at-bats as possible.

27. Additional Field Coaches – two (2) fielding/defensive coaches can stand in outfield to help keep players focused.  Coach cannot touch his players and shall not interfere with any live ball. If a live ball comes in contact with the fielding coach, the ball is considered dead. The batter will be given second base.

28. Umpires – one umpire is provided by each team (from among parents or other spectators).  Generally, the home team is responsible for the home plate umpire, and the visiting team is responsible for the base umpire.  Coaches should ensure that the

umpires are familiar with the rules of play, prior to the start of the game.  An on field defensive coach, pitcher, or base coach shall not serve as an umpire for the game.

29. Overthrows – No Advancing on Overthrows. 

30. Base Running – On Balls hit to the outfield runners can move up bases until the ball is in possession of an infielder that is in the infield dirt.  An infielder must be in possession of the ball.

31. Stopping Play – when no additional defensive play is being attempted, the field or plate umpire will call time and the play will cease.  The umpire will raise his hands at this time and direct runners to the appropriate base. If the runner is more than halfway to the next base, he/she shall be awarded that base. If the runner is less than halfway to the next base, he/she shall return to the base he/she came from.  In the event of non-agreement between umpires on the runner's position (half-way or not), the home plate umpire’s call will have priority.