First half of season (Preseason)
| Means nothing. | Means nothing. | Means nothing. | Means nothing. |
Innings
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Time Limit - No inning started after
| 90 Minutes | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | 2 Hours before DST. 2.5 Hours after DST. |
Half inning is over when: | 3 outs, 5 runs, or all (12) batters have batted. No Run Limit in the 5th inning (that means the 5 run and "all batters bat" rules do not apply to the 5th inning.)
| 3 outs or 5 runs.) No run limit in the 6th inning (that means the 5 run rule does not apply to the 6th inning. | 3 outs. | 3 outs. |
Player playing time
| No player can sit out two consecutive innings. | Each player must play at least 9 defensive outs. | Each player must play at least 9 defensive outs. | A minimum of 2 innings for first 4 innings of the game. |
Batting
| Bat through entire team not just defensive players playing at that time. | Bat through entire team not just defensive players playing at that time. | Bat through entire team not just defensive players playing at that time. | Bat through entire team not just defensive players playing at that time. |
Pitching Rules | | | | |
Curve Balls
| Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | Allowed |
Hit two batters during one inning
| Pitcher must be replaced | Pitcher must be replaced | Pitcher must be replaced | No Rule. |
10 Run Slaughter Rule
| No | No | No | Yes- after 5th inning. |
Anyone who can't pitch?
| Any player who is called up from the lower division for that game. | Any player who is called up from the lower division for that game or who is 12 years old. | Any player who is called up from the lower division for that game. | No |
Dugouts
| Home has 3rd base dugout. | Home has 3rd base dugout. | Home has 3rd base dugout. | Home has 3rd base dugout. |
Innings required to constitute a full game
| 3 innings | 4 innings | 4 innings | 5 innings |
# of parents allowed in dugout
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Home team to provide balls
| 3 per game | 3 per game | 3 per game | 3 per game |
Limit on bases for overthrows on steals
| Limited to base they are advancing to. Want to encourage throws by players. | No limits. | No limits. | No limits. |
Base Coaches
| Adults or players may be base coaches. If players, they must wear a helmet.
| Adults or players may be base coaches. If players, they must wear a helmet. | Adults or players may be base coaches. If players, they must wear a helmet. | Adults or players may be base coaches. If players, they must wear a helmet. |
Balks
| None | None | None | Yes |
Responsible for official scorekeeping
| Home Team | Home Team | Home Team | Home Team |
Report Score and Write-up to VP
| Winning team. | Winning team. | Winning team. | Winning team. |
Infield practice before game | Visting team takes infield 25 min. before game time for 10 min, then home team takes infield for 10 min. so 5 minutes remain for manager/umpire meeting.
| Visting team takes infield 25 min. before game time for 10 min, then home team takes infield for 10 min. so 5 minutes remain for manager/umpire meeting. | Visting team takes infield 25 min. before game time for 10 min, then home team takes infield for 10 min. so 5 minutes remain for manager/umpire meeting. | Visting team takes infield 25 min. before game time for 10 min, then home team takes infield for 10 min. so 5 minutes remain for manager/umpire meeting. |
Post game field care | Shared by both Home and Visiting teams. Field care per the Post Game Field Care Plan.
| Shared by both Home and Visiting teams. Field care per the Post Game Field Care Plan. | Shared by both Home and Visiting teams. Field care per the Post Game Field Care Plan. | Shared by both Home and Visiting teams. Field care per the Post Game Field Care Plan. |
Headfirst slides
| Not allowed unless returning to base. | Not allowed unless returning to base. | Not allowed unless returning to base. | Not allowed unless returning to base. |
Sliding into first | Not allowed unless returning to first base.
| Not allowed unless returning to first base. | Not allowed unless returning to first base. | Not allowed unless returning to first base. |