Pinto Rules

PINTO (Ages 7-8)

LEGAL PLAYERS: 7 & 8 year old boys or girls born before Aug. 1 of the current playing year.

 No player may register to play in the current season after that division's draft. Exceptions will be made for players who move into the area after the second registration. No roster changes or additions will be made after a team's fourth game of the season.

 PURPOSE:  Pinto ball is to provide positive experiences over the spring and summer which involve learning the fundamentals of baseball, learning the benefits of team work, learning that good sportsmanship is everything and learning that doing your best is always all we can ask.

 EQUIPMENT:  No metal tipped spikes are permitted. Rubber or molded plastic cleats are acceptable.

All players will wear helmets while at bat and while running bases. No player will be allowed to purposely take helmet off while running. The runner will be called out if the coaches feel there was an infraction of the rule.

The throwing or misuse of baseball equipment at practice or games will not be tolerated.

All JBBL coaches and managers should strictly enforce this.

Base paths will be 50 feet and the pitching rubber will be 38 feet.

PLAYING RULES: The league will be governed by the following rules:

*High School Rule Book

*JBBL Rules and Regulations supersede the High School Rule Book.

Players can move in and out of the field, playing any position at any time. Players must play at least two (2) positions each game, consisting of 1 infield and 1 outfield.

Regulation play will consist of six (6) innings.  All players must play six innings.  The only exception may be for injury or disciplinary reasons.  A game will not be canceled for lack of players.  The short-handed team may borrow players from the opposing team for that game only.  No substitutes may be used from other league teams.

An official book will be kept tracking score, outs, player at bats, and time of play. No other official statistics are to be recorded. The home team is responsible for recording in the official book. No standings will be kept for regular season games. A game may result in a tie.

All innings are ended when three players are put out or five runs are scored. Games played during the school year should begin at 5:45pm with no new inning to begin after 7:30. Once school is out of session, games should start at 6:00 pm with no new inning starting after 7:45.

The batting order will be continuous - One through the number of players who arrive for the game.  Players who show up after the batting order has been given to the opposing team must be inserted at the bottom of the order.  The batting order may not be altered.

Batters will receive five (5) pitches to attempt to hit.  Additional pitches will be thrown if the batter fouls the fifth or successive pitches.  Batter shall be called out after failing to hit the ball.  There are no balls, strikes, or walks.  If a pitch hits a batter the batter will receive six pitches to hit instead of five.

A batted ball hit less than three feet from the front center of home plate into the field of play is foul.

Catcher is encouraged to assume the catcher's position behind the plate, although this is not mandatory.  When the catcher is not positioned in the catcher’s position, he/she will be positioned at the backstop approximately five feet to the right of the plate for right-handed hitters and five feet to the left of the plate for left-handed hitters.  The catcher retrieves the balls after all pitches have been thrown to the batter.

During the first half of the season, the coach or an adult will be the only one to pitch to his or her own team.  During the first half of the season the pitcher may pitch from a position closer than the rubber and may pitch underhand to certain players.  After the first half of the season all pitches must be from the rubber and must be thrown overhand.  Additionally, at the beginning of the second half of the season, kids from the opposing team will pitch to batters every other inning.  Due to time factors, the kids will pitch every other inning. The innings to be pitched by the kids will be the 1^st inning, 3^rd inning and 5^th inning.  During those innings the kids will pitch 3 pitches to the batter.  If the ball is not put into play after the 3^rd pitch, a coach or adult may throw up to an additional 3 pitches.  In the event a pitched ball from a kid hits a batter, first base in not awarded.  If a child pitcher hits 2 batters in an inning, he must be replaced.  A child may not pitch more than 1 inning per game.  

On defense at least one and no more than two players are pitchers to field the ball.  These pitchers will take a position either side of the adult pitcher and must wear a helmet. A helmet must also be worn when the child is pitching.

A batted ball that directly hits the coach-pitcher is dead.  The batter is awarded first base and base runners that would have been forced may also advance.

There will be no protests of Pinto games.

Runners must avoid hard contact when there is a possible tag play at any base or home plate.    Runners will be called out for causing hard contact.  This rule is to encourage sliding and discourage any runner from trying to bowl over a fielder.

When a hit ball is returned to the infield, base runners must do one of two things: 1) return to the last base touched if not half way to the next base, or 2) continue to the next base if more than half way there. This rule is VOIDED if the infielder makes a play on a runner instead of returning the ball to the pitcher.

There is no advancing of bases on overthrows.  There is no lead off or stealing. Runners must remain in contact with the base until the batter hits the ball.

The offensive team may have three coaches in the field.  One coach pitching and two coaches in the coaches box at first and third. The defensive team may have two coaches in the field assisting the fielders.

Both team managers are responsible for preparing the field for play (putting out bases, lining the field). For the game the home team manager provides two game balls. After the game the home team manager returns bases and equipment to the proper storage location. 

The team manager is responsible for the conduct of his/her players at all times.  The team manager will have the right to bench any player on the team who disrupts the play of the game, or does not act in an orderly manner.  Repeated occurrences should be reported to the League Coordinator for further review.

The team manager is also responsible for the condition and return of all equipment and uniforms.

Any team that has a girl player on its roster must have a female adult present at any practice or game in which the girl on the team participates.

If coaches, managers, or officers violate league rules, the JBBL Board of Directors shall sit in judgment.  The minimum penalty for a violator is suspension from JBBL activities for one year.  No director involved in the violation shall be on the review panel.  A simple majority vote of the panel members present is needed to finalize a decision.

In the month of April the team managers, through the league coordinator, are required to schedule practice times and practice games. Regular season games begin in the month of May. Interruption of play for instructional purposes is encouraged throughout the regular season.

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