Futures League Playing Rules

PLAYING RULES

The Kino Futures Fall League games will be played in accordance with the National Federation High Schools (NFHS) rules with the following inclusions:

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. The Futures League is a High School graduating player eligibility base. For 2023 Fall season player is required to be from:  Class 2027-28-29.   Players that is high school graduating class 2026 and older is not eligible to play in this league.
2. Player that leaves a team for whatever reason is not eligible to be picked up by another team in the league.

TEAM ROSTER

1. Maximum 20 players
2. Roster is frozen effective on Friday, October 7. No further players may be added.

BAT STANDARD

• Barrel size may be either 2 ¼”, 2 5/8” or 2 ¾” in diameter.
• The maximum length is 34 inches.
• Bat must be stamped either USABat, USSSA 1.5 or BBCOR .5
• The minimum drop for USABat and USSA Bat is -8 or heavier.
• Any bat that does not have any of these stamps is considered illegal for use.
• Solid one-piece wood bat (ash, birch, maple) or composite wood (BBCOR stamp) is permitted for use.
• Illegal Bat Penalty: NFHS illegal bat penalty will be invoked.

PITCHING

1. The pitcher, when removed from the mound may play any other defensive position except for catcher.
2. Pitchers are not permitted to pitch in multiple games in a day.
3. Pitcher that remains in the game to play another defensive position is permitted to return to pitch in the same game only one time.
4. The maximum number of innings permitted to pitch in a game is 7.
5. Pitching week calendar is Saturday through Friday. A Pitcher may only pitch 7 innings maximum in a calendar week.
6. Number of trips to the mound: Pitcher is removed from the game as a pitcher on the second trip in the same inning.  The pitcher is permitted to play any other defensive position except catcher.
7. Balks will be called, and they are “dead ball” situation.

STARTING ENDING/GAME

1. A team may start and finish a game with 8 players.
2. Team that does not have 8 players at game time will forfeit that game to the opposing team.
3. In the event during a game a team has no further eligible players and has less than 8 players to play the game, the game is forfeited at the point to the opposing team.

BATTING ORDER

1. Starting with eight (8), the 9^th spot in the order is an automatic out. A Player may be added to the 9^th spot in the order at any time without penalty.
2. Bat nine (9) OR
3. Bat ten (10) with EH OR
4. Bat eleven (11) with two EH’s.
5. Player leaves game or gets injured and there are no eligible substitutes, then the lineup is condensed.
6. Player that gets ejected and there are no eligible substitutes, the line up is NOT condensed and that spot in the order becomes an automatic out.
7. Extra Hitters (EH) can play on defense.
8. NO DH permitted.
9. NO Continuous batting order permitted.

SUBSTITUTION (High School rule)

1. The starter may be removed from the game and re-enter at any time but must return to the same spot in the batting order. If the starter is removed the second time the game, the starter has no further eligibility for that game.
2. When a substitute is removed from the game, the player has no further eligibility for that game.
3. No mandatory play is required.

COURTESY RUNNER

1. For the catcher ONLY.
2. Mandatory with two (2) outs.
3. Courtesy runner must be a player currently not in the game.
4. If the offensive team bats around and the catcher reaches base again, the same courtesy runner that was used earlier must be used again.

GAME LENGTH

1. Time Limit: 2:00
2. Inning starts it must be completed. There is no “Drop Dead” scenario.
3. Umpires are the official score keeper.
4. Seven (7) innings maximum regular season games.
5. Tie Games during regular season no extra innings are played.
6. PLAYOFFS:
   1. Tie Game: Extra inning is played with the last batted out put at second base for both teams until a winner is determined.

OFFICIAL GAME

1. An official Futures Fall League game is 2 ½-3 full innings. If weather is an issue that causes a game to be called, the team that is ahead at 2 ½-3 full innings is the winner.  If both teams are tied, the game is officially a tie game.
2. Game that does not reach regulation will be re-scheduled to start from the beginning.

RUN RULE

1. 18 or more runs after 3 innings.
2. 15 or more runs after 4 innings.
3. 10 or more runs after 4 ½-5 innings.
4. 8 or more runs after 6 innings.

LINE UP CARD

1. Batting order line up cards are required and are to be submitted to the home plate umpire at the pre-game meeting.
2. Starters listed must have uniform number, player name and defensive position.
3. List substitutes. If a substitute is left off by error by the coach and the player is on the official team roster, that player is still eligible to play in the game.

HOME TEAM

1. First come first serve basis.
2. Home Team is required to provide the game’s official scorer. At the pre-game plate meeting the coach representing the Home Team is to advise the umpires and the opposing team coach who and where the official scorer will be located.

DUGOUTS

1. Only ONE (1) coach is permitted to be outside the dugout when the team is on defense. All other coaches are to be inside the dugout.
2. NO chairs, buckets, etc., are permitted outside the dugout.
3. Players are not permitted to be outside the dugout except to be the on-deck batter.

UNIFORMS

1. Players are required to have a number on the back of their jersey.
2. Duplicate uniform jersey numbers are permitted—coach is to identify on the line up with a letter to differentiate from each player with the duplicate number. Example: 24A Jones; 24 B Smith.
3. Players are required to be in full baseball uniform that includes pants and cap.
4. Coaches are to dress neatly and appropriately.

BASEBALLS

1. Two (2) new game baseballs are to be given to the umpire at the pre-game plate meeting.
2. Teams are responsible for chasing down balls hit out of play on their side of the field.
3. If the umpire requires additional baseballs, then each team is to provide good used baseballs.

CONDUCT

1. COACH EJECTION:
   1. Must leave the field immediately and go directly to the parking lot and remain there for the remainder of the game. Ejected individual is required to be “out of sight,” “out of mind.”
   2. Ejected coach receives a one (1) game suspension. The suspended coach is not permitted to be on the field or in the park (stay home).
   3. If a team plays a doubleheader and the coach gets ejected in the first game, they are suspended for the second game of the doubleheader.
   4. Depending on the umpire report and the behavior of the coach during the ejection will determine if additional suspended games are to be determined by the league.
2. PLAYER EJECTION:
   1. Players may remain in the dugout, but are not permitted to participate in the game in any capacity, i.e., warming players, coaching on the base lines, etc. If the player’s parent or legal guardian wishes to remove the ejected player from the dugout they are permitted to do so.
   2. The ejected player will serve a one (1) game suspension.

  POST-GAME

1. Dugouts are to be cleaned up before the team leaves the park.
2. Winning coach is text final score to 520-730-2506