East Taylor – Jackson Boosters
etjbaseball.com

1. Draft:
   1. Player roster cannot exceed thirteen (13) players. Any player signing after the draft will be placed on a team according to which team is in need of players in order to even the number of players on all teams. If two or more teams are in need of players, assignment of players will be according to the order of the draft. When all teams have an even number of players and new players sign after the draft, players will be assigned to teams according to which team has the next draft pick in that age group. When all teams have thirteen players and a new player signs up after the draft this child will go on a waiting list. As an opening comes up, the player on the waiting list will be called. It will be a first come first serve process. No contract fee will be charged to player until an opening comes up and is appointed to a team.
   2. Teams to draft according to league standings of prior season. Example: Team finishing last drafts first, etc.
   3. The draft will be conducted by age groups. Teams will attempt to be balanced by the number of players in each age group in the draft and returning players. Teams maybe skipped in certain rounds of the draft if other teams need to catch up (balance rosters). In all situations balancing of the number of players on each team, in each age group, in the DRAFT ONLY will begin with the last place team from the preceding season. Draft picks for each age group will immediately begin with the least number of players in that age group regardless of prior season finish. Once equaled out the normal draft order will begin.
   4. If a player is an automatic draft pick, i.e. coach’s son/daughter or sibling, that player will be rated by an independent group to determine what round in the draft the player would have been picked if they were not an automatic. The team would use that rounds pick on the automatic.
   5. ETJ Boosters will accept any players for assignment to teams until May 31 of the regular season. After May 31, any players requesting to join the league will only be assigned to teams after the Commissioner and two other league officials determine eligibility and specific reasons as to why the player is currently interested in joining the league. This regulation is specifically part of the ETJ bylaws to insure no team is taking advantage of introducing a new player that would automatically be assigned to their team which would immediately impact that team in a positive way.
   6. During the draft any questions dealing with any draft issues will be discussed with the league commissioner. The commissioner will rule on the issue and his decision will be final. If the issue would directly benefit the team that the commissioner is associated with the highest ranking league officer present will make the ruling.
2. Playing Rules:
   1. Official Little League Playing Rules will be used if not included in these rules.
   2. Only seven, eight and nine year olds may play in the ETJ minor League. They must be seven by August 1, and cannot attain the age of ten before August 1.
   3. Game times will start according to the published schedule. A 15-minute grace period will be allowed.
   4. Everyone on the roster that is present will have a place in the batting order. There will be no batting through the order (one time through the batting order). Unless the opposing team has more players present. If that occurs the team with the least players can bat a number equal to the other team.
   5. No more than ten players will be on the field at a time. The rover must play on the outfield grass until the ball is hit.
   6. Everyone must play two consecutive innings in the field by the end of a regulation game.
   7. Protective helmets with straps snapped must be worn while batting and running the bases.
   8. Home team will occupy first base dugout.
   9. The game may start with a team fielding only eight players. Player showing up late must still play unless more than three innings have been played. Players showing up late will go in the last place in the batting order.
   10. 1. Home teams are responsible for setting up score pad and PA system for each game.
       2. If the groundskeepers are not available, the Home team is responsible for lining the field and putting the bases on the field. The Home team is also responsible for preparing the field for play after inclement weather. On Thursdays, both teams should empty the garbage to the dumpster.
   11. Game balls are to be supplies by the Home team.
   12. Only Official Little League bats are to be used.
   13. Bunting is allowed.
   14. Only 1 inning is completed when there has been a combination of 3 outs by one team and/or all players have batted once that are on the batting order. See number 4 above.
   15. Each regulations game will be five (5) innings long. Three and one-half (3 ˝) innings will be a complete game. If the home team is ahead by 12 runs after 3 innings or 10 runs after 4 innings, the umpire will declare the game complete. If the visiting team is ahead, the inning must be completed.
   16. 1. There will be stealing (except home), but no leading off base. Runners cannot leave base until the ball is past the front of the plate. Runner can advance on a wild pitch or passed ball (except home). The runner may advance to home during the course of a player other than a wild pitch or passed ball. If a pitched ball hits a batter, the batter goes to first.
       2. If 3 batters are hit by the same pitcher in single game the pitcher must be replaced.
   17. Home team is the official scorebook.
   18. The umpire on the first offense will warn a batter that throws a bat. For the second offense and subsequent offenses during the same game, the batter will be called out.
   19. The pitching rubber will be placed four (4) feet from the regulation distance of 46 feet, or 42 feet for the ETJ Minor League. The point of home place toward the catcher, is the place of reference for measuring the 42 feet.
   20. Seven (7), eight (8) and nine (9) year olds will be pitched to by a player from the opposing team.
   21. A walk will be awarded for four (4) balls that miss the strike zone for nine (9) year olds.
   22. Effective for the 2002 season, the use of the batting tee is eliminated. Coaches will pitch to 7 & 8 year olds after ball 4. The count will stand (ball and strike) and the player gets as many swings as the strike count allows. (Count 3 and 1, player gets two swings). Strikes not swung at will be called by the home plate umpire. A batted ball hitting the coach pitching will be considered a dead ball (replay). All other plays involving the coach will be considered interference. Coach must pitch from the rubber. Pitcher must stay in the circle of the mound.
   23. There is no infield fly rule for the ETJ Minor League.
   24. Game times for doubleheaders will begin at 5:00 p.m. for a designated field. The second game for that same field will begin at 6:45 p.m. When only one game is scheduled to be played, that game will start according to the published schedule. Rainouts can force a scheduling change to make up lost games. If only one game is scheduled, its starting time may be changed to accommodate a rainout make-up.
   25. For the 5:00 p.m. game, no new half innings will start after 6:30 p.m. or 6:45 p.m. after June 1. The decision to delay or call a game to weather conditions or darkness will be up to the umpire in consultation with the coaches. If an agreement cannot be reached, a league official will make the decision.
   26. Seven (7), eight (8) and nine (9) year olds may pitch no more than five (5) innings per day with no more than six (6) innings a week. One ball pitched designates an inning pitched and requires one day’s rest. If a player pitches more than 3 innings in a game, three (3) days’ rest is required. Once a pitcher has been removed from the game, they cannot return to that position.
   27. It is mandatory for all catchers to wear genital protection.
   28. League standings as of June 13, will determine All-Star Coaches. The coach in first place will have first selection of which age group they would like to coach. The second place coach would have the next choice, etc.
   29. An instructional league player can be called up to play in a minor league game when the teams roster is down to eight players, but only up to nine players can be on the roster for that day.
   30. A game may be played with only eight (8) players on a team, but the ninth (9th) batting position will be an automatic out.
   31. During the minor league playoffs, a player must play at least 6 consecutive outs and have at least one at bat in a game.
   32. All instructional players are only required to play 2 years instructional ball starting with season 2007.
   33. No base runner can steal a base when a batter is walked. It will be considered a dead ball.
   34. When a 9-year-old walks he cannot advance to second base prior to the next pitch being thrown to the next batter.
3. Rainout Games:
   1. Managers will decide if the field is playable. If the Manager’s cannot agree, the Head Umpire or League official will decide.
   2. The Managers will coordinate with the Commissioner about times and dates for rainout make-ups. The next available open date will be used.
   3. The games will be called off at the field; players must show up, unless the coaches agree in advance.
4. Score:
   1. Scores at the end of the game are to be reported to Al Pagano by the winning manager.
5. Field:
   1. Both fields should be dragged after each game by the team having the concession stand that week.