NATIONAL FEDERATION of HIGH SCHOOLS APPLY 
DPL RULES SUPERSEDE

JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL:
Grades 5 & 6 only

BASE DISTANCES:
82-90 Feet Varsity*
65-75 Feet Junior Varsity*
*Base Distance must be within the prescribed limits at discretion of home field

PITCHING DISTANCES:
46 Feet Junior Varsity
55-60'6" Feet Varsity**
**See pitching section of rules for interpretation

GAMES:

       JV: 7 Innings OR 1 hour & 30 minutes (90 minutes)
Varsity: 7 Innings OR 1 hour & 45 minutes (105 minutes)

In good weather, all games are official once an inning has completed and the time limit has expired. If the time limit has expired, the inning in progress will be announced as the last
unless the game ends in a tie.

In case of a bad weather cancellation, the game will be ruled official after the bottom half of the 4th inning or after 3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning.

A maximum of 6 runs is allowed (regardless of the inning) per inning. This rule is removed in the play-offs.

If the game is tied after 7 innings or any other inning that the time has expired, then extra innings will be played until the tie is broken. In extra innings, each batter will enter the batter's box with a 3 & 2 count. 

All games will begin with a coin toss. The winner of the coin toss can elect to be home or visitor. This applies regardless of location. In cases of a doubleheader, the home team reverses automatically.

If a team has less than 8 players at game time, the non-offending team will receive a forfeit win AND play a practice game. Should a team only have 8 players, they will be assessed an automatic out each time the vacancy occurs in the batting order. These vacancies are to be placed at the end of the line-up and announced by the umpire as such. Any time a team can field only seven players or less, due to absentee, departure, or injury…a forfeit will result.

RUN RULE:

15 run lead after 4 innings or 10 run lead after 5 innings. (3 ½ & 4 ½ innings respectively if home team is leading)

INFIELD FLY RULE:

The Infield Fly Rule is in effect in both leagues

EQUIPMENT:

*Batting Helmets must be worn at all times by batters, base runners, & on-deck batters.
*Metal cleats are not allowed. Refusal to remove them will result in ejection of the player.
*Catchers MUST wear (1) Mask with helmet, (2) Throat Guard, (3) Shin Guards,  
(4) Chest Protector, & (5) Protective Cup.
*All uniforms must have a number on them.
*Bats must be deemed official baseball bats by the umpires with a differential of no greater than 11 between length & weight.
*Each team is responsible for providing 2 NEW baseballs for each game ( 4 for a doubleheader).

BATTING:

Junior Varsity:
Continuous batting order. Continuous batting order. All players bat regardless of who is fielding. The nine starters in the field do not have to occupy the first nine positions in the batting order. However, if a player has to leave the game pre-maturely due to injury or any other reason, then that spot in the order will be considered an automatic out for the remainder of the game.

Varsity:
Traditional batting order Traditional batting order of nine players, consisting of those that are playing the field at the time. Starters may re-enter the game once, in their same position in the batting order. The use of a Designated Hitter is allowed to begin the game. Should the DH enter the game in the field, the team loses its' DH for the remainder of the game.

DROPPED 3rd STRIKE:

Varsity:
The batter may advance on a "dropped 3rd strike" if there are two outs or 1st base is unoccupied.

Junior Varsity:
The batter may not advance on any 3rd strike.

FIELDING:

(Junior Varsity only) All players must play at least one full inning in the field.
At the Varsity level, regulation rules will apply.

BASE STEALING:

*At the Junior Varsity Level, players may not leave the base until a pitched ball has
crossed home plate. At that point they may advance at their own risk. Violators will be
called out. A.K.A. "Tight Bases" 
*At the Varsity level, regulation rules will apply.

PITCHING:

*A pitcher must be removed from the game after the coach's 2nd visit to the mound in the same inning. This pitcher cannot return as a pitcher in the same inning.
**Distance of the rubber to home plate is to be no less than 55 feet and no more than
60 feet 6 inches. This will strictly depend on the location.

DISCIPLINE:

Any coach, player, or spectator that is ejected from a game will be suspended for the next game. The DPL Athletic Director reserves the right to modify this suspension in either direction after a thorough review.

RAINOUT INFORMATION:

It is the responsibility of the Athletic directors & head coaches to provide rainout information. Please call 972-772-8296 regarding possible cancellations due to inclement conditions.

PRE-GAME RESPONSIBILITIES:

Each team must submit a roster & line-up to the home plate umpire 10 minutes before game time.
*GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME.
*PRE-GAME PRAYER: to be led by the home team
*OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER: to be provided by the home team & results called in by 9:00 a.m. the next day to 972-772-8296.

STANDINGS, POST-SEASON & AWARDS:

Standings will be updated every Monday & faxed to Athletic directors promptly as well as posted on the web site.

A Post-Season format will be determined after registration is completed based on the total numbers of teams entered. This information will be made available to all Athletic Directors.

A rotating Championship Trophy will be awarded to the 1st place team in the post-season tournament, and all players & coaches on both the 1st & 2nd place teams will receive medals.