RULES GENERAL TO ALL DIVISIONS

Teams will bat their entire roster present at each game.

A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher and pitcher at any time, and is mandatory for the catcher with 2 outs. The courtesy runner will be the last batted out.

Players removed from a game due to injury cannot be re-inserted, however no automatic outs will be recorded for their at-bats unless the order drops below 10 in 6U or 8U, or 9 in 10U through 14U.

A thrown bat is an automatic out at all levels of play, this serves as the warning, there will be no verbal warning. The umpire shall call "Time" the moment the bat is thrown. The ball is dead and no runners may advance.

The run rule will be 15 after 3, 10 after 4. In 10U, 12U, & 14U the game will be called anytime there is a team up by 20 runs when time expires.

For the purposes of advancement in the event of inclement weather, a game will be considered complete at 3 innings or at 2 1/2 innings with the home team ahead.

Game lengths: 6U - 1 hour, 8U - 1:15 hours, 10U &12U - 1:30 hours, 14U - 1:45 hours. No new inning will begin after that time, however the current inning will complete.

Whether coaches other than offensive base coaches are allowed outside the dugout during games is at the discretion of the umpire.

Umpires have latitude in keeping games moving in a timely fashion by, for example, limiting warm-up pitches or imposing time limits on gearing up catchers.

6U Rules

Each team must have a minimum of 8 players to start a game. The 9^th and 10^th spots in the batting order will be automatic outs. If a team has 9 players to start a game, the 10^th spot in the batting order will be an automatic out. Any players arriving late must be added to the end of the batting order.

A maximum of four outfielders can be used.

The umpire will adjust the tee height and remove the tee from the plate during plays. Coaches may verbally instruct the batter for position but cannot touch or assist the player in any other way.

The tee will be provided by OHYSA.

The batter may have 3 swings to put the ball into play. However, a foul ball or foul tip on the 3^rd swing will NOT be an out. The batter will be allowed additional swings to either put the ball into play or strike out. 

Measuring up to the tee will be considered a strike.

A runner leaving the base too soon in the umpire's judgment is automatically out.

Head first slides into any bag will be illegal. The runner will be declared out.

Ball is dead when returned to the infield and, in the umpire's judgment, play has stopped. The defense must stop the lead runner. Baiting by runners to induce a throw from the infielder is not permitted.

The umpire will determine the position of the runners when the ball becomes dead.

A team is restricted to scoring 5 runs per at bat.

8U Rules

Each team must have a minimum of 8 players to start a game. The 9^th and 10^th spots in the batting order will be automatic outs. If a team has 9 players to start a game, the 10^th spot in the batting order will be an automatic out. Any players arriving late must be added to the end of the batting order.

A maximum of four outfielders can be used.

The batter may have 4 pitches to put the ball into play. The batter is out on 3 swinging strikes. A foul or foul tip on the 3^rd swinging strike, with pitches remaining, or on the 4^th pitch will NOT be an out. The batter will be allowed additional pitches to either put the ball into play or strike out. 

A runner leaving the base too soon in the umpire's judgment is automatically out.

Head first slides into any bag will be illegal. The runner will be declared out.

Ball is dead when returned to the infield and, in the umpire's judgment, play has stopped. The defense must stop the lead runner. Baiting by runners to induce a throw from the infielder is not permitted.

The umpire will determine the position of the runners when the ball becomes dead.

A team is restricted to scoring 5 runs per at bat.

The pitching coach may not communicate with the batter.

A batted ball hitting a pitching coach on the field is a foul ball. The pitch is counted, batter returns to the plate, no runners may advance.

10U, 12U & 14U Rules

Open bases in 10U & above.

Each team must have a minimum of 8 players to start a game. The 9^th  spot in the batting order will be an automatic out. Any players arriving late must be added to the end of the batting order.

Suicide squeeze plays, and outright stealing of home on a pitch without pause or break before the ball crosses home plate, will be illegal. The runner will be declared out. A safety squeeze or delayed steal is a legal play.

Balks will be enforced. The "Yo-yo" (fake to third and throw to first) shall be considered a LEGAL pitching motion and will not be considered a balk.

Head first slides into any bag will be illegal. The runner will be declared out. A dive back to the base on a pick-off move or throw down is allowed.

Slash bunting will be illegal.

When a play at the plate is evident, the runner should make every attempt to avoid a collision with the catcher or fielder. Failure to slide is not an automatic out. The runner will be declared safe or out by the umpire based on the play. However, if in the umpire's opinion the runner exhibited malicious intent, then the runner will be called out and may further be ejected from the game at the umpire's discretion.