League Rules

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LEAGUE RULES

The following information is the same for all divisions of the Miracle League of the Northern Ohio Valley Panhandle
Have fun!!!!!
All games are played on the Miracle Field at the Margherita Lotti Miracle Park in Steubenville.
The Miracle League Field has a rubberized, all weather surface that is wheelchair accessible.
The Miracle League season consists of a spring session and fall session.
The spring session consists of 8 weeks from mid-May to early-July.
The fall session consists of 6 weeks from mid-September to late-October.
Every effort will be made to makeup cancelled games due to weather.

All players and volunteers must register to participate.
Every effort will be made to meet requests by players and volunteers.
All equipment (bats, balls, tee, etc.) are provided by the Miracle League.
Players are encouraged to bring their own glove.
Each team’s coaching staff will have a Manager, Coach(es), Buddy Team Leader(s), and Team Parent(s).
Players receive a team uniform shirt and hat for the year to be used for the spring and fall sessions.
Managers and Coaches receive a team uniform shirt and hat for the season.
Buddy Team Leaders and Buddies receive a Buddy T-shirt.
Players receive a trophy at the end of e session.
Players and volunteers have the option to participate in Photo Day during the spring session.
Buddies are involved in the game for these three reasons:
Protect the players.
Assist the player, but only as needed allowing the player the opportunity to play as much as possible.
Encouragement and friendship.

Players must be 5 years old before May 1st for the spring session and September 1st for the fall session.
Teams are divided between adults and youth with adult teams having players 18 years of age and older.
This is a non-competitive division.
Each player has an assigned Buddy for all games.
Three innings per game.
All players bat each inning.
Batting helmets are required.
Batters may hit off of a tee or from a pitcher. There are no strikeouts or walks.
All players get to circle the bases to score a run each inning.
Players are never called “Out”.
Game time is between 60 to 75 minutes.
Teams consist of no more than 14 players.
An umpire covers each game to call players safe on 1st base and Home.
The score is tied after each inning no matter how many players are on each team.
See the rules that are the same for all Miracle League Divisions.

The following rules are for the Competitive Youth Division:
Players must be 5 years old before May 1st for the spring session and September 1st for the fall session.
This is a competitive division. Players can be called out and a team can lose a game.
Buddies are optional for a player. This is a Parent/Guardian decision.
An umpire covers each game to call balls/strike, fair/foul, out/safe and has the final call on all plays.
The score will be kept. A team can win, lose, or tie.
Teams consist of no more than 13 players.
See the rules that are the same for all Miracle League Divisions

GAME AND INNING LENGTH

All rules apply as in Little League unless otherwise listed.
Game is played for 5 innings.
A half inning is completed when either 3 outs are reached, or 5 runs cross the plate.
Only 5 runs may be scored in a half inning, with the exception of the final (5th) inning
In the final inning, each team will be permitted to have every player bat one time permitted 3 outs have not occurred
If a home run or extra base hit results in more than 5 runs:
Play will continue until its end
Only up to 5 runs will count

FIELDING RULES

Fielding gloves are optional for fielders, though highly advised
The following positions will be filled in the infield:
Pitcher (must be in the pitcher’s circle as the ball is pitched)
1st, 2nd, 3rd, SS
Rover (directly on 2nd base)
The remaining players will be spread throughout the outfield
Fielders are not permitted to block the bases.
If the umpire deems that the base has been blocked, the runner will be awarded the base.
Fielders may use a Buddy.
A coach or other designated person will pitch to their team.
A fielder may not advance towards home past the pitcher’s mound until the ball is hit.
If the umpire determines a violation, the batter is awarded the base.
Outfielders may not encroach to the infield.
Fielders must tag a runner, not their Buddy, to tag them out.

BATTING RULES

A batter may choose to be pitched to, or use a tee
A batter may choose either option at each at bat
A batter may not change their choice in the middle of an at-bat
A batter being pitched to will have 5 swings. After 5 swings, a tee will be used.
A tipped ball foul follows foul rules.
A ball must be hit off of the tee to be considered in play.
A batter cannot foul out.
Batters must wear helmets.
A Buddy may not hit for a batter.

BASE RUNNING RULES

Runners may not steal bases.
Runners may not advance a base on overthrown balls.
Runners may not lead off.
Runners cannot be picked off.
Runners must wear helmets.
Runners may use a Buddy to help them run the bases.
Buddies must make every effort to avoid balls hit into play.
If the Buddy is deemed to have purposefully interfered, the runner is out, and a warning is given.
A hit ball that hits a runner is considered a dead ball.
On a dead ball, the batter is given first, and every forced runner is given one base.
Since the bases are not raised (flat), if a base runner is close to the bag while running the bases, the umpire may accept that as a “touched” base. The same argument can be made about the fielders.