Rules specified in this document apply to games within our Recreational Baseball leagues only. Rules for Select Baseball teams and leagues are specified elsewhere.

Conduct & Behavior:

• Do not argue with or make disparaging remarks to the umpires, league officials/staff, or other FMYSA members (i.e. opposing teams). This only delays the game and presents a bad image to the young players that are there to enjoy playing baseball. The umpires have been instructed to warn any argumentative coach, player, or parent one time. After that, the umpire has the authority to remove said person(s) from the game and facility. Umpires are required to notify the league of all ejections.
• NO WARNINGS will be provided for use of profanity or threatening statements. FMYSA has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for such behavior.
• Head Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their assistant coaches, players and parents/fans on their team. Umpires may remove a coach if that coach doesn't control the behavior of their assistant coaches, players and parents/fans. Umpires will first issue a warning to the Head Coach regarding inappropriate behavior/actions from players, parents/fans.
• Each FMYSA coach, parent (and fan) should remember that we are here for the enjoyment of the children. This is a developmental / recreational league. Please communicate with the players, umpires, and league officials/staff in a positive, supportive manner.
• Discipline problems should be handled by removing the child from the activity or drill for an appropriate amount of time. The Time Out principle works well.
• If a child is injured during a game and the coach/umpire believes the injury serious enough to stop play, he/she will do so. Coaches should attend to their players immediately. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit available. If the nature of the injury is serious enough, call 911. Contact the Field Director as soon as possible and document the injury.
• A player's intentional contact with an opposing player will result in the immediate ejection of the offending player. Serious infractions may result in suspension from the league.
• For 7U and above: If any team forfeits more than 1 game for any reason, that team will not be allowed to participate in the Town Championship tournament.
• If you need league assistance with a matter, please contact your age group director first. If they cannot resolve the matter, contact the V.P. of Baseball.

Equipment & Uniforms:

• Under no circumstances can the official FMYSA furnished baseball jersey be modified (i.e., no personalized names on the back or removal of sleeves). Any infraction will require the player or coach to purchase at his/her expense a new uniform; any game played with illegal uniforms will be forfeited.
• The official ball for the 5U and 6U age groups will be a reduced injury baseball. 7U and above will use regulation leather baseballs.
• As stated earlier in 2011, FMYSA will follow the direction of USSSA with regards to bat regulations. With the recent release of the USSSA bat policy for 2012 and beyond, FMYSA has released its own guidelines that are effective 1/1/2012.
  
  All bats MUST be manufactured by an approved USSSA bat licensee.
  
  14U and under
  
  
• All aluminum (big or small barrel) bats MUST have the USSSA mark on it's taper (BPF 1.15).
• or MUST be NHSF approved with the appropriate BBCOR certification mark.
• A Big Barrel bat that is made by USSSA approved bat license has a BBCOR mark permanently attached to the bat and is recognized by NHSF as a legal bat for NHSF sanctioned play and has no more than a minus 3 ounce difference from the length for the bat Minimum bat length is 29 inches.
• Please note that for divisions where interlock play exists with neighboring communities, certain "big barrel" bats may not be allowed in the other communities. Please discuss with your coach or age-group director for more information.
• Please note 13/14U Recreational Players: The maximum length / weight differential for all players is -5 (for the 1.15 BPF standard; USA bats do not list length / weight differential) for interlock play.
• Wood bats are allowed
• Players may also wear metal cleats at 13/14U
  
  15U and above
  
  
• MUST be NHSF approved with the appropriate BBCOR certification mark.
• A Big Barrel bat that is made by USSSA approved bat license has a BBCOR mark permanently attached to the bat and is recognized by NHSF as a legal bat for NHSF sanctioned play and has no more than a minus 3 ounce difference from the length for the bat Minimum bat length is 29 inches.
• Please note that for divisions where interlock play exists with neighboring communities, certain "big barrel" bats may not be allowed in the other communities. Please discuss with your coach or age-group director for more information

• Catcher position is required to wear full protective headgear, mask, shin guards, and a chest protector. Ages 7U and above must wear a hard protective cup at the catcher position.
• For 8U and below, the offensive team provides balls for when their team is batting. For 9U and above, each team provides one new and one good used ball for each game.
• Bunting is not allowed for age groups 8U and under.
• Metal Spikes are only allowed for 13U and up age groups. Age groups 12U and below are not allowed to use metal spikes.

General Rules:

• FMYSA rules are in addition to current NFHS rules. FMYSA rules always take precedent over NFHS rules.
• ALL teams will bat the entire roster in league and post-season Town Championship tournament. Coaches are entitled to free defensive substitution; the players' spots in the batting order do not change.
• For t-Ball through 5U, teams shall bat their entire line-up in each inning. Beginning at age 6U, an offensive team will be allowed to score a maximum of five runs per inning. An inning is over when the batting team reaches 5 runs or three outs. Beginning at 15U teams may score unlimited runs per inning.
• Players should be rotated through various positions in the field. In an effort to speed the game, it is recommended that coaches not change players' defensive positions each inning (but every 2 innings at the younger ages).
• For ages 7U and above, no player shall remain on the bench for more than two consecutive defensive innings. Under 7U, all defensive players take the field. Outfielders must remain on the out field grass.
• Coaches shall not touch runners during live play. Pushing or physically assisting a runner is prohibited. Penalty: 1st time is a warning, 2nd time is an out.
• For 9U and above, a courtesy runner shall be allowed to enter the game for the catcher ONLY when there are 2 outs in any inning. The courtesy runner must be the player who made the last out in that same inning. This applies to the catcher of record, who is the one playing during the last out of the prior inning (except in the top of the first inning, in which case it must be the catcher who starts the bottom of the inning). This is an optional rule but is emphasized to keep the pace of play.
• Pre-game warm up on the infield is not permitted on any game fields. Use the outfield or warm-up areas outside of the fence. Stay off the infield area.
• Dugouts are assigned on a first come first serve basis.
• Home team keeps official scorebook. Visiting team is responsible for working the scoreboard. It is recommended the visiting team keep a scorebook.
• Guest Player rule: a team can have a maximum of 2 guest players in any individual game. A team can only use the guest player(s) to get to 9 players for that game. The guest player(s) must bat last in the lineup and must only play in the outfield. Guest players cannot pitch. Only players registered in FMYSA, in the same age group or one age below, may serve as guest players. Players from the Premier program are allowed to guest play under the rules stated above. No select players may guest play in the Recreation Baseball program.
• No player on an FMYSA Recreation roster may also be on any Select team roster during the scheduled recreation season. FMYSA recreation players are permitted to guest play on a select team, with permission of the recreation coach and the VP of Baseball. If violations are found, the player will be removed from the recreation team with no refund and the team may be required to forfeit games played with the ineligible player. (Added 6/2009)
  Updated 4/2019: Recreational players may only guest play in select games a maximum of 3 times per recreational season. Each guest appearance for select play MUST be documented with the players FMYSA Recreational Coach and approved by the VP of Baseball prior to participation in a select game.
• All games that are not called due to weather or darkness should be played to completion. Any such game shall continue until the maximum innings have been played, the time limit has been reached, or the mercy rule has been enacted. No team, including the home team in the last inning of a game, shall have the option of declaring an early end to a game.