HL Playing Rules (North London Baseball)

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Bermuda (House League) Rules
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9U (Rookie Ball) Rules
11U (Mosquito) Rules
13U (Peewee) Rules
15U/18U Rules

9U (Rookie Ball) Rules

  1. Full Game  – 5 Innings

  2. Max Inning – Maximum 5 runs per inning. No unlimited inning. including the final inning!

  3. Start Time – Start time for weekday games is 6:00pm

  4. Last Inning – No new inning to start after 7:45pm. Hard cap on game time is 2 hours from scheduled start time. Teams play out final inning. If the final inning is not completed before 2-hour time limit teams will record score from the last completed inning as the final score. Playoffs- No New inning after 1 Hour 30 Min – No Hard Cap

  5. No Bunting, No Stealing, No leading off, no running for the catcher with 2 outs.

  6. Infield Fly rule does not apply.

  7. Infield Hit – Runner gets 1 base, Can’t advance on overthrow.

  8. Outfield Hit – Runners must stop when infielder has control of the ball. Umpires discretion whether to return runners to previous base (Not debatable by coaches).

  9. Mercy Rule – 15 after 4 innings.

  10. Machine speed will be set at 35 MPH!

  11. Coach running machine must wear a helmet (Doesn’t have to have double ear flap).

  12. Eight players needed to field a team (15 min grace time given). No automatic out for missing player.

  13. Rainouts - Home coach makes decision on rainouts before the game starts and must notify umpires, visiting team coach and conveners. Umpires will make the decision to cancel after the game has started. Rainouts to be rescheduled between coaches and conveners. Game is considered complete after 7:00pm in the case of cancellation due to Rain or Lighting

  14. Outfielder Rule – Outfielders must be 15 feet beyond the baseline. (4 outfielders at all times when you have 10 fielders).

  15. Extra Innings – No extra innings, games can end in a tie.

Golden Rule – These are kids, HAVE FUN!
11U (Mosquito) Rules

  1. Leading Off – No leading off until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. If a player leaves early, he will be called out. (Teams will receive 1 warning).

  2. Stealing bases is not allowed.

  3. Pass Balls/Wild Pitch – Runners can’t advance on pass balls or wild pitches.

  4. No Bunting allowed

  5. Pass ball on 3rd strike – The batter is out and may not run on a third strike missed by the catcher.

  6. Infield fly rule applies

  7. No Balks

  8. Pitch & Catch – Players can’t pitch & catch in the same game.

  9. No runner for the catcher with 2 outs!

  10. Pitch Count Limitations – Any 9U player (Call-up or regular can Not Pitch)!

    A pitcher may not pitch more than 70 pitches in a calendar day. If the limit is reached while facing a batter, the pitcher may pitch to the earlier of:

    (i) the completion of that batter or (ii) the end of the inning 

    If a pitcher throws more than 45 pitches in a calendar day, he/she cannot pitch the next day – the player must have 2 nights rest.

  11. Coach Pitch – Coaches may pitch every other inning starting in the 2nd inning from the start of the season until June 9th. This will allow batters to learn to swing the bat and give time for coaches to develop more pitchers. Coaches will act like a pitching machine. Players can strike out, but no walks will be granted. Umpires will still call balls and strikes while coach is pitching.

  12. Call-Up’s – If 9U players are used as call-up’s they are not allowed to pitch.

  13. Last Inning – No new inning to start after 7:45pm. With a hard cap on games at 2 hours from scheduled start time. Last completed inning will be used for final score. Playoffs- No New inning to start after 1 Hour 30 Min – No Hard Cap

  14. Run Max – 5 run max/inning. Last inning is not unlimited. Final inning will be played regardless of score.

  15. Mosquito – 6 inning game. Mercy rule – 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 after 5.

  16. Game is considered complete after 7pm in the case of cancellation due to Rain/Lightning.

  17. Wood bats are Legal.

  18. If new larger home plate is available, it will be used.


13U (Peewee) Rules
  1. Leading Off – Leading off is permitted
  1. Stealing – Stealing is permitted. Player may only advance 1 base at a time.
  2. Stealing Home – Stealing Home is not permitted on a pitched ball or a throw from the catcher back to the pitcher immediately following a pitch. A runner may advance home on any other play.
  3. Dropped 3rd Strike – Batters may advance to 1st on a 3rd strike missed by the catcher. (If 1st base is occupied and there are less than two outs the batter is out, by official rules of baseball).
  4. Balks – Balks will be called. Each pitcher will be given 1 warning and a coach or umpire should explain the situation to the pitcher.
  5. Bunting is allowed
  6. Infield Fly rule applies
  7. Pitch & Catch – Players can’t pitch and catch in the same game.
  8. No Runner for the catcher with 2 outs!
  9. Pitch Count Limitations – Mosquito aged players must use mosquito pitch counts (This goes for both AP’s and regular players playing up a level). 

     A pitcher may not pitch more than 80 pitches in a calendar day. If the limit is reached while facing a batter, the pitcher may pitch to the earlier of: (i) the completion of that batter or (ii) the end of the inning

  10.  If a pitcher throws more than 55 pitches in a calendar day, he/she cannot pitch the next day – the player must have 2 nights rest. 

  11.  Call-Up’s – Mosquito Call ups must follow the Mosquito pitching limits.

  12. Last Inning – No new inning to start after 7:45pm with a hard cap on games at 2 hours from scheduled start time. If final inning is not completed coaches will use the score from last completed inning. Game is considered complete after 7pm in the case of cancellation due to Rain or Lighting. Playoffs will use a different format.

  13.  Run max – 5 run max/inning. Last inning is not unlimited. Final inning will be played regardless of score.

  14. Peewee – 7 Inning game. Mercy Rule is 15 after 4 innings or 10 after 5 innings.

  15. Bats – Must be no greater than drop 10.

  16. League will use new larger home plate if available.


15U/18U Rules
  1. Leading Off – Is permitted
  2. Stealing bases – Is allowed, player may only advance 1 base at a time.
  3. Pass Balls/Wild Pitch – Runners can advance on pass balls or wild pitches (1 base at a time)
  4. Dropped 3rd Strike – Batters may advance to 1st on a 3rd strike missed by the catcher. (If 1st base is occupied and there are less than two outs the batter is out, by official rules of baseball).
  5.  Infield fly rule applies
  6. Balks – Balks will be called. Each pitcher will be given 1 warning and a coach or umpire should explain the situation to the pitcher.
  7. Pitch & Catch – Players can’t pitch & catch in the same game.
  8. No runner for the catcher with 2 outs!
  9. Call-Up’s – Must use pitch count limits from the level they are being called up from.
  10. Last Inning – No new inning to start 2hours from scheduled start time. With a hard cap on games at 2.15 hours  from scheduled start time. Last completed inning will be used for final score. Playoffs- No New inning to start after 1 Hour 45 Min – No Hard Cap
  11. Run Max – 5 run max/inning. Last inning is not unlimited. Final inning will be played regardless of score.
  12. Game Length - 7 inning game. Mercy rule – 15 runs after 4 innings or 10 after 5. Game is considered complete after 7pm in the case of cancellation due to Rain/Lightning.
  13. Bats - wood or wood composite. No Metal Bats.  
  14. Pitch Count Limitations

A pitcher may not pitch more than 90 pitches (15U) or 100 pitches (18U) in a calendar day. If the limit is reached while facing a batter, the pitcher may pitch to the earlier of:

(i) the completion of that batter or (ii) the end of the inning

If a pitcher throws more than 65 pitches (15U) or 75 pitches (18U) in a calendar day, he/she cannot pitch the next day – the player must have 2 nights rest.