The following rules apply to the Rookie Division of Saratoga Wilton Youth Baseball. Interpretation of these rules and any changes to these rules are subject to review by the Board of Directors..

Under no circumstances will managers agree to change the rules to play a game.

The following rules apply to the Rookie Division of Saratoga-Wilton Youth Baseball. Interpretation of these rules and any changes to these rules are subject to review by the Board of Directors.

1. Game Preliminaries
   1. Pregame Warmup
      1. The visiting team gets the field for practice 30 minutes prior to the start of the game for a total of 10 minutes. The home team must leave the playing field entirely and standby in their dugout
      2. The home team gets the field for practice 15 minutes prior to the start of the game for a total of 10 minutes. The visiting team must leave the playing field entirely and standby in their dugout
   2. Game Timing 
      1. The official weekday game start time is no later than 5:30 pm. 
      2. Game times for Saturday and rescheduled games will be determined by the official scheduler. 
      3. Time limit for all games is 1 hour and 30 minutes. A new inning may not be started after that point. Games exceeding the time limit will be considered official regardless of the number of innings played.
      4. The start time, for timing purposes, will be the first pitch of the game.
      5. If another game is scheduled to start, then no inning shall be allowed to start beyond the scheduled starting time of the later game, providing the first game is an official game. 
      6. For 5:30pm start times, No inning shall start after 7:00 pm, with the following exception: Playoff games that are tied in an inning that would start after 7:00 pm.

2. Game Rules
   1. Game Format
      1. Score will not be officially kept except to note the number of runs scored in an inning (limit 5).
      2. All games are limited to 5 innings.
         • NOTE: Time permitting each team will get 5 turns at bat.
      3. An inning ends when the offensive team makes 3 outs, scores 5 runs, or bats around.
      4. When a team is up to bat a member of their coaching staff will pitch, and two base coaches are allowed on field.
         • NOTE: The defensive team should provide a coach behind the catcher to collect passed balls and speed up the game.
      5. The coach who is pitching makes all calls in the field and has the final say on all calls, but can request the assistance of fielding coaches as needed.
      6. Late arriving players will be placed at the bottom of the batting order. The batting order can be changed, as required.
      7. A minimum of 7 players are required to play a game
      8. A maximum of 10 players are allowed on the field for defense (4 outfielders).
      9. Players are not allowed to leave bases before the pitch crosses the plate.
      10. Base stealing is not permitted, and runners may not advance on passed balls.
      11. Runners may only advance 1 base after an overthrow.
      12. All play ends when the ball is in the possession of a defensive player within the defined pitching area (within 10 feet of the pitcher’s mound).
      13. Bunting is not allowed.
      14. Coach Pitch Only
   2. Managers & Coaches
      1. A maximum of 3 adults are allowed on the field and in the dugout during the game. 
      2. At least one adult must be a base coach. Any base coach under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
      3. All coaches are responsible for cleaning out the dugouts after the game is over.
   3. Player Equipment
      1. All players should be wearing a protective cup. No player is allowed to play the catcher’s position without wearing one.
      2. All on-deck batters must wear a helmet. No one else is allowed in the on-deck circle.
   4. Player Participation
      1. No player should sit more than 1 inning per game. A player can only sit more than one inning during a game once everyone on the team has sat at least one inning.
      2. The batting order will be continuous; meaning that all players must bat.
      3. Any player called up (or filling in from another Rookie division team) must bat at the end of the batting lineup.
   5. Defense
      1. The defensive alignment will rotate each inning as follows: 1B > LC > P > RC > 2B > LF > SS > RF > 3B > C > Bench
         • NOTE: If there is a legitimate safety concern by placing a player at a given position, please share this information with the division coordinator and the opposing coach before each game. 
      2. A player can only be re-inserted as a pitcher one time during a game.
      3. No infield fly rule is used
   6. Offense
      1. 5 Run Rule Per Inning – A maximum of 5 runs can be scored in any inning except the last inning.
         • NOTE: If a home run is hit with runners on base which would otherwise exceed the 5 run limit, only the 5th run will count. All other runs will not be counted to adhere to the 5 run limit.
      2. Runners cannot leave the base until the ball crosses home plate.

3. Sportsmanship
   1. Poor sportsmanship displayed by a participant, as defined in the Player and Coach Codes of Conduct, will not be tolerated. Participants may forfeit the privilege to play in future games if they become a disciplinary problem.
   2. By participating in a SWYB Rookie game, all participants acknowledge having read and understood the Code of Conduct Policy.
   3. In the event poor sportsmanship rises to a level beyond the scope of the player’s coaching staff, the Division Coordinator and/or the Executive Board should be notified and will administer appropriate sanctions.

4. Scheduling & Weather
   1. Game and playoff schedules are determined by the official scheduler and approved by the Board of Directors. All games must be played according to the schedule.
   2. In the event of inclement weather or unplayable field conditions prior to the start of the game, the coaches will be notified of postponement by the Executive Board.
   3. In the event of inclement weather after the games have begun, it will be at the discretion of the Patch Umpire on Rookie field or a presiding SWYB Board Member (in the absence of a Patch Umpire) whether or not to continue playing.
   4. Make up games due to inclement weather or any other circumstance will be rescheduled by the official scheduler.
      • Coaches are forbidden to cancel, delay, postpone, or otherwise change the official schedule. If a change is absolutely necessary, a request must be made in writing to the Executive Board with at least 2-days notice.

The following rules apply to the Rookie Division of Saratoga Wilton Youth Baseball. Interpretation of these rules and any changes to these rules are subject to review by the Board of Directors.

Ground Rules

• Visiting team gets field for practice 30 minutes prior to the start of the game for a total of 15 minutes.
• Home team gets the field for practice 15 minutes prior to the game.
• Home Team uses the First Base dugouts.
• Maximum of 3 adults allowed in the dugout.
• Only players on official rosters of participating teams, or fill in players from SWYB T-Ball Division (only!).
• All on-deck batters must wear a helmet. No one else is allowed in the on-deck circle. No bat swinging in the on-deck circle.
• All coaches are responsible for cleaning out the dugouts.
• All complaints or protests shall be discussed with the league coordinator. If they cannot be resolved, then they will be referred to the League’s Competition Committee.

Time Rules

• The official weekday game start time is no later than 5:30 pm. Game times for Saturday and Sunday, and rescheduled games will be determined by the coordinator. If another game is scheduled to start, then no inning shall be allowed to start beyond the scheduled starting time of the later game, providing the first game is an official game.
• No inning shall start after 8:00 pm, with the following exception: Playoff games that are tied in an inning that would start after 8:00 pm.
• All games are limited to 90 minutes.
• All games are limited to 5 innings; a game may end in a tie.
• Time permitting each team will get 5 turns at bat
• Late starting games must end no later than 90 minutes from the scheduled start time on Saturdays. Coaches can use their discretion on weekday games, but the games will not go longer than 5 innings under any circumstances.
• Visiting team Coach is the official timekeeper.

Game Setup

• When team is batting one pitching coach, one catching coach, two base coaches allowed on field and one coach allowed in dugout.
• Coaches pitch to their own team.
• The fielding team should set up a coach behind their catcher to keep the game moving.
• Coach who is pitching makes all calls in the field and has the final say on all calls, but can request the assistance of fielding coaches as needed.
• No player should sit more than 1 inning per game. A player can only sit more than one inning during a game once everyone on the team has sat at least one innig.
• Players will bat through the entire roster consecutively, game after game.
• Late arriving players will be placed at the bottom of the batting order. The batting order can be changed, as required.

Game Rules

• A minimum of 7 players are required to play a game
• There will be a maximum of ten players on the field for defense (4 outfielders).
• 5 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first, constitutes one-half inning. A maximum of 5 runs will be scored in any half inning except the last inning. Unlimited runs allowed during 5th inning.
• Players are not allowed to leave bases early.
• Base stealing is not permitted.
• Runners may only advance 1 base after an “overthrow”.
• All play ends when the ball is in the possession of a defensive player within the defined pitching area (within 10 feet of the pitchers mound).
• Bunting is not allowed.
• Coach Pitch Only

Sportsmanship

• Poor sportsmanship (arguing with umpire, throwing equipment, bad language, harassing players, etc.) will not be tolerated. Players may forfeit the privilege to play in future games if they become a disciplinary problem.
• Poor behavior by players, coaches, parents, or spectators will not be tolerated and can result in ejection from the game / removal from the park at the discretion of the team coaches.
• In the event poor sportsmanship rises to a level beyond the scope of the player’s coaching staff, the Rookie Division Coordinator and/or the SWYB Board Member on duty that day should be notified and will administer appropriate sanctions.

Scheduling / Weather

• Game and playoff schedules are determined by the Division Coordinator and approved by the Board of Directors. All games must be played according to the schedule.
• In the event of inclement weather or unplayable field conditions, the coaches will be notified of postponement by the League.
• In the event of inclement weather after the games have begun, it will be at the discretion of the Patch Umpire on Majors field or a presiding SWYB Board Member (in the absence of a Patch Umpire) whether or not to continue playing.
• Make up games due to inclement weather or any other circumstance must be played the next day the field is available.

Saratoga Wilton Youth Baseball, Inc
PO Box 2269
Wilton, NY 12831

About SWYB
Saratoga Wilton Youth Baseball is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) based in Saratoga Springs / Town of Wilton, NY operating exclusively as a non-profit educational organization providing a supervised program of recreational and competitive baseball.