The Attleboro Youth Baseball League Niner’s division is the final step in the AYB instructional program. Players will incorporate all aspects of the game leading to competitive play and season ending playoffs. Nine-year-old players should be instructed in all aspects of the game but fundamentals are still most important.  This is a very important time in a child’s growth and understanding of the game. 
Coaches should encourage players at all times, while making sure the game is fun for all those participating.

NINERS RULES
Revised 5/11/05

1. UNIFORM

1.1 The Attleboro Youth Baseball League will supply each player with a cap and tee shirt depicting the team name. Both items are the children's to keep at the end of the season. All players are required to wear gray baseball pants (pants are the responsibility of the players and will not be provided by the league).

2. GAME TIME

2.1 The game will last 6 innings. In the event of a tie game during the regular season, extra innings will not be played; the game will end in a tie. During the playoffs extra innings will be played to determine the winner of the game.

2.2 Under normal conditions, games will start at 5:45 PM.

2.3 Players are expected to arrive at the field at least 20 minutes before scheduled start time.

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3. SCHEDULE

3.1 The regular season will consist of a 14 to 17 game schedule based on number of teams and field availability.

3.2 There will be no standings for the regular season; it is to be played at an instructional level.

4. PLAYOFFS

4.1 There will be a double elimination tournament after the regular season is finished. Team pairings will be drawn at random. If necessary (due to inclement weather or other factors) the current playoff format may be altered at the discretion of the League Director with approval by the AYB Board of Directors.

5. DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT

5.1 Defense will consist of a maximum of ten (10) players, four (4) outfielders, four (4) infielders, a pitcher and a catcher.

5.2 Managers must rotate players between defensive position's. All players must have equal defensive playing time throughout regular season and playoffs. Players must play at least four (4) defensive innings each game (also see 5.3).

5.3 The following rule (5.3) applies to regular season games only (not applicable for playoff or championship games). All players present must play at least one inning in the infield each game. No player my play the same defensive position for more than three innings per game, with the exception of Pitcher and Catcher.

5.4 Catchers must wear a protective cup.

5.5 Every outfielder must be positioned at least 20 feet behind the outer edge of the infield dirt at the start of every pitch

6. PITCHING

6.1 Coaches will pitch 2 innings and players will pitch 4 innings for the first 5 games of the season.
(Pitching should be determined by the team that has played the most games, in the event that one team has played more games than another during the first 5 games.)

6.2 After game 5, players will pitch all 6 innings for the remainder of the season.

6.3 Pitchers will be allowed to pitch no more than three (3) innings per game with a maximum six (6) per week. The week is defined Monday through Sunday.

6.4 Pitchers must be given one (1) days rest between games for one (1) inning pitched, two (2) days rest between games for two (2) innings pitched and three (3) days rest between games for three (3) innings pitched. (Example: If a pitcher pitched 3 innings on Friday he or she cannot pitch again until Tuesday.)

6.5 Any pitcher that hits three (3) batters in a game will be removed from the mound. Once a pitcher is removed from the mound (for any reason) they may not be allowed to pitch again during that game.

6.6 During the regular season, if a pitcher is having trouble reaching the plate, it is permissible to move the player a maximum of 18 inches closer to the plate. For the safety of both the batter and the pitcher, this rule must be strictly adhered to by all coaches with out exception. If a pitcher is capable of reaching home plate from the pitchers mound, then he or she must pitch from the rubber.

6.7 During the playoffs all pitchers must pitch from the rubber. It is the coach's responsibility to comply with all pitching rules. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the game.

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7. HITTING

7.1 The manager will determine the batting order. All players will be placed in the batting order. During the regular season, managers must rotate the batting order on a game-to-game basis.

7.2 A player will have three (3) strikes, (strikeout), or four (4) balls for a walk.

7.3 Bunting is allowed in the Niners division.

7.4 The infield fly rule will not be called in the Niners division.

7.5 All batters must wear a caged helmet.

7.6 When players start pitching, the four ball rule, as well as the hit by pitch rule is in affect.

8. UMPIRE

8.1 There will be an umpire at every game from the start of the season, to call balls and strikes as well as the bases.

8.2 The umpire is in charge of the game.

9. BASE RUNNING

9.1 On an overthrow to first base, a runner may advance only one base.

9.2 On an overthrow to any other base, the runner may keep advancing.

9.3 When a base runner is running toward 2nd or 3rd base and the base fielder has the ball, he must slide or avoid contact with the base fielder. If a base runner does not slide and makes contact with the base fielder, the runner shall be declared out. If the runner does not slide and there is no contact, the runner will be declared safe.
When a base runner is rounding 3rd base and is heading for home plate, he must not barrel over the catcher in order to score. The base runner must avoid a collision with the catcher if the catcher is defending home plate with the ball. If the catcher is about to receive the ball, the base runner must slide into home plate. If the catcher is running up the 3rd base line in order to receive the ball, the base runner has the right to attempt to score standing. If the runner does not slide and there is no contact, the runner will be declared safe.

9.4 Each base runner is allowed to steal one base per their at-bat. There will be no advancement allowed on an overthrow by the catcher to second or third base. If a player advances one base on a passed ball by the catcher it shall be considered a stolen base. No double steals shall be allowed. There shall be no stealing of home plate.

9.5 Sliding headfirst is not allowed, runners will be declared out. Players are allowed to slide headfirst if returning to base.

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10. SCORING

10.1 A score will be kept.

10.2 The manager or coach should inform the team of the score at the end of each game.

11. COACHING

11.1 No coaches will be allowed on the field while their team is on defense.

11.2 The team batting should provide 1st and 3rd base coaches.

12. RETIRING THE SIDE

12.1 The side will be retired when a team makes three (3) outs or scores four (4) times, with the exception of the 6th inning or the last inning to be played as determined by both coaches and umpire, when run scoring shall be unlimited.

13. END OF GAME

13.1 At the end of the game, each team, including coaches, will line up and shake hands with the opposing team.

14. PLAYOFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIP

14.1 At the end of the regular season there will be a double elimination playoff tournament culminating with a championship game. All teams will qualify for the playoffs with the pairs selected at random. The championship game must be played in its entirety. If the game is suspended for any reason, it will be resumed from the exact point of suspension.
14.2 A protest committee must be present at the championship game to address any and all legal protests that may arise during the game. The protest committee will immediately rule on any protests, and all decisions will be final. The protest committee shall consist of three non-partisan current board members. The Umpire in Chief as well as the Niners Division Director cannot be part of the protest committee due to any potential conflict.

15 SUSPENSIONS

15.1 COACHES

Any Coach that is ejected from a game shall be suspended for the next scheduled game. A second ejection will result in suspension until a meeting is scheduled with the Executive Board of Directors, the Division Director and the suspended Coach. This meeting will be scheduled by the President of Attleboro Youth Baseball. The results of this meeting may include more games, up to permanent suspension of privileges to coach in Attleboro Youth Baseball. A Coach on suspension is not allowed in complex where games are being played.

15.2 PLAYERS

Any Player that is ejected from a game shall be suspended for the next scheduled game. A second ejection will result in suspension until a meeting is scheduled with the Executive Board of Directors, the Division Director and/ or the suspended players Coach. This meeting will be scheduled by the President of Attleboro Youth Baseball. The results of this meeting may include more games, up to permanent suspension of playing privileges in Attleboro Youth Baseball. A Player on suspension is not allowed in complex where games are being played

No smoking or alcoholic beverages are allowed on any playing field during games or practice.

It is the coach's responsibility to teach and encourage all players.

Show sportsmanship and fairness to all involved. The example you set as a coach will be an important one for the players to follow.

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ALL STAR SELECTIONS

Traveling All Stars will be selected using the following procedure:

1. Each manager nominates players from their team whom they feel are all-star caliber (no limit to the number). These selections are to be given to the league director prior to selection process. Players must have been registered in the AYB regular spring league to be eligible to play on a traveling all-star team.

2. Nominations will be pooled by director.

3. Selection committee to be made up of all managers (or their representative) in the nine year old division.

4. First ballot:
Each manager selects a full team from the pool. All players selected on 12 of 13 ballots are placed on the team. All players selected on three or fewer ballots will be cut. This may be modified depending on the number of teams in the division at the time of selection.

5. Second ballot:
Each manager selects players to fill out the team. All players on 11 of 13 ballots are placed on the team. All players selected on three or less ballots will be cut.

6. Third and succeeding ballots:
Continue as above reducing required ballots by one each round. (e.g. 10 of 13, 9 of 13 etc.)

7. Continue balloting until roster is complete. Players selected for the traveling All - Star Team are not allowed to participate in City Summer League.

8. If fine-tuning is required on the final ballot a straight vote based on points (vs. position) will be taken.

9. There must be a minimum of 13 players selected and a maximum of 15, at the head coach's discretion. If the decision is to have 15 players on the team the head coach has the option to pick the last 2 players himself (players 14 & 15). He still has the option of using the above format to fill out a 15-player roster. If the head coach decides to carry 14 players, he may pick one player (#14) himself. The first 13 players must be selected as described above.

The Attleboro Youth Baseball League thanks you for your continued efforts and support of the baseball program.

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The Attleboro Youth Baseball League thanks you for your continued efforts and support of the baseball program.