DOVER BASEBALL
CAL RIPKEN MINOR DIVISION GUIDELINES
Revised: February 2023
The Dover Baseball Association is affiliated with Babe Ruth League, Inc., which includes the Cal Ripken Baseball League. These organizations have adopted the Official Baseball Rules, published by the Commissioner of Baseball, as their primary playing rules. These rules allow for local league modifications to suite best suit the needs of its players.
The following modifications to the existing national Cal Ripken rules have been generated, and Board approved, with the intent of helping every player reach their full potential in a safe and competitive environment.
I. Player Eligibility
Players participating in the Minor Division must be 9 or 10 years of age by the Babe Ruth designated cut-off date of April 30th.
II. Game Day Rules and Expectations
a) Defining Inning and Game Length
i) Games will be played at Beckwith Field (and possibly Sullivan ball field). There will be 1 weekday game and 1 game on Saturday.
ii) A game is considered complete if any of the following occurs:
(1) The completion of six innings or two hours of play (no time limit in playoffs), whichever comes first; or
(a) If the home team is in the lead after the top of the sixth inning; or
(b) If at the end of the 5th inning either team is ahead by 8 or more runs, 4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead by 8 runs or more; or
(c) If at the end of the 4th inning either team is ahead by 10 or more runs, 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead by 10 runs or more; or
(d) If at the end of the 3rd inning either team is ahead by 15 or more runs, 2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead by 15 runs or more.
iii) No full inning will start later than two hours past the official start of the game for regular season games. Coaches and umpires shall agree on the official start time prior to the beginning of the game. Playoff games have no time limit and will be played in full unless the umpire determines it is not safe to continue due to darkness.
iv) A half-inning is complete once 3 outs have been made.
v) Any game that is suspended by weather or other reason prior to being a complete game, should be picked up where the game was left off. Attempt should be made to suspend a game at the end of a half or full inning. Pitch counts thrown will count towards pitch count restrictions.
b) Umpiring and Rules of Play
i) The league will employ one umpire for each game.
(1) The umpire will make all calls from behind home plate. The umpire can make calls from behind the mound if they would prefer to.
ii) Rules of Play
(1) There is no leading until after the ball has passed home plate
(2) Stealing is allowed;
(a) A base runner is allowed to attempt a steal once the ball has passed home plate. Once a batting team is ahead by 5 or more runs. The runner on third is frozen and cannot steal home. They can only score on bases loaded walk, bases loaded hit by pitch or batted ball.
iii) There are no balks.
c) Batting
i) Coaches will bat all available players in their roster.
If a player is unable to bat for any reason he/she will not be counted as an out.
ii) A player hit by a pitch will automatically be awarded 1st base. The decision will not be put on the player.
d) Fielding
i) Teams will field the traditional 9 defensive players.
ii) Defensive players, with the exception of pitcher, may not be moved during an inning except for an injury or other emergency.
iii) No player may field a given position for more than 3 innings in a game.
iv) All players must play at least two innings in the infield unless otherwise approved due to safety concerns. The Division Director needs to be aware of these concerns and will give his/her approval.
v) Sharing Players – From time to time a team may need to share a player from the opposing team. The player selected in a given inning will be the player to make the last out in the previous inning. This player will play an outfield position but will continue to bat for their own team.
e) Pitching
i) The BABE RUTH PITCH SMART GUIDELINES shall be followed and shall apply to pitches thrown outside Dover Baseball as well. All pitchers shall be subject to the following pitch count/rest schedule:
Maximum Pitches
Per Day 0 Day Rest 1 Day Rest 2 Days Rest 3 Days Rest 4 Days Rest
75 Pitches 1-20 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+
(1) Regardless of what league or division the pitches were thrown in, pitchers MUST receive the complete full day(s) of rest required in order to be eligible to pitch in Dover Baseball. For example, if a pitcher throws 50 pitches in either an AAU game or a Dover Baseball game on a Sunday, then he or she must receive two (2) full days rest and is NOT eligible to pitch in Dover Baseball until Wednesday. Coaches are encouraged to communicate with parents of AAU or club team players who pitch to make sure these rules are followed.
(2) Managers shall reach a consensus on the number of pitches thrown by each pitcher at the end of each inning and at an individual pitcher’s removal from the game. Any disputes shall be resolved with the umpire before leaving the field.
(3) Pitch Counts shall be recorded and verified by both Managers after each game and then forwarded to the Division Director.
ii) Pitcher Re-entry: Once a pitcher has been removed from the mound, they may not re-enter the mound within the same game.
iii) Intentional Walks: At any point during a pitch count, a Manager may allow an opposing batter to take first base via intentional walk simply by signaling the umpire. Upon receiving the intentional walk instructions, the umpire shall rule the ball dead and instruct the batter to take first base. No further pitches will be required to be thrown to that batter.
iv) No pitcher shall appear as a pitcher in three consecutive games, regardless of their pitch counts.
v) Violation(s): Any violation of the pitching rules may result in game forfeiture and/or other sanctions.
vii) The CAL RIPKEN TOURNAMENT PITCH COUNT RULE shall be in effect for the playoffs and shall apply to pitches thrown outside Dover Baseball as well. All pitchers shall be subject to the following pitch count/rest schedule:
Maximum Pitches
Per Day 0 Day Rest 1 Day Rest 2 Days Rest
75 Pitches 1-40 41-65 66+
(1) Regardless of what league or division the pitches were thrown in, pitchers MUST receive the complete full day(s) of rest required in order to be eligible to pitch in Dover Baseball. For example, if a pitcher throws 70 pitches in either an AAU game or a Dover Baseball game on a Sunday, then he or she must receive two (2) full days rest and is NOT eligible to pitch in Dover Baseball until Wednesday. Coaches are encouraged to communicate with parents of AAU or club team players who pitch to make sure these rules are followed.
(2) Managers shall reach a consensus on the number of pitches thrown by each pitcher at the end of each inning and at an individual pitcher’s removal from the game. Any disputes shall be resolved with the umpire before leaving the field.
(3) Pitch Counts shall be recorded and verified by both Managers after each game and then forwarded to the Division Director.
f) Player Safety
i) Only the player at bat and the player on deck will have a bat in their hands.
ii) All batters and base runners will wear a safety helmet.
iii) Batters will keep their helmets on from the time they enter the designated on-deck area until the time they return to the dugout after the play is over.
iv.) All players will be clear of the dugout entrances during games
iv) All male players will wear a protective cup during all games and practices.
III. Day of Game Responsibilities
a) Home Team
The home Team is:
i) Listed first on the schedule and will use the 1st base dugout;
ii) Responsible for preparing the field for play; including putting out bases and chalking lines;
iii) scheduled to use the batting cage from 60 minutes before the scheduled start of a game and will last for 20 minutes, and will have infield practice scheduled 30 minutes before the scheduled start of a game and will last for 10 minutes;
iv) Responsible for furnishing two brand new league approved game balls; (1) Balls will be provided by Dover Baseball;
v) Responsible for reporting the final score of the game to the division director and/or entering the score directly on the Dover Baseball website/mobile app;
(1) It is the responsibility of the two head coaches to confer both during the game and at the end of the game to verify the game score.
(a) All scoring disputes will be directed to the umpire and settled before leaving the field.
vi) Responsible for picking up trash in the home dugout and the right field bleachers. This includes emptying trash cans in the home dugout and up the right field line if they need emptying.
b) Visiting Team
i) The visiting Team is:
(1) listed second on the schedule and will use the 3rd base dugout;
ii) scheduled to use the batting cage from 40 minutes before the scheduled start of a game and will last for 20 minutes, and will have infield practice scheduled 15 minutes before the scheduled start of a game and will last for 10 minutes;
(1) Responsible for maintaining the field after play; including raking the infield, putting away bases, makes sure equipment shed is locked.
iii) Responsible for providing a volunteer to operate the scoreboard;
iv) Responsible for picking up trash in the visitor dugout and the left field bleachers. This includes emptying trash cans in the visitor dugout and up the left field line if they need emptying.
IV. All Star and Tournament Teams
a) Player Eligibility
i) Player must be eligible for this league based upon players age;
ii) Player must play at least ½ of the regular season games; and
iii) Must be on a team roster by June 1st.
iv) If a player cannot fulfill the 2nd requirement for any reason then he or she will need a Waiver from the Division Director and League President on their Eligibility Status. Will be approved or disapproved by the League President.
b) Manager and Coach Eligibility
i) All Star and tournament team coaches must be a Manager, Coach or Assistant Coach during the regular season; and
ii) Must be on a regular season team roster by June 1st.
V. Division Director Responsibilities
a) Communication
i) The Division Director is responsible for maintaining contact with coaches and parents regarding issues pertaining to the division.
ii) Should anyone need any equipment before or during the season please contact the division director.
iii) The Division Director will have the ability to change the breakdown of games and practices at the beginning of the season. They will have the option of turning the weekday games into practices or scrimmage games.
b) League Standings
The Division Director is responsible for making sure that the website is kept up to date with game results.
Scores and standings will be kept solely for the purpose of determining a playoff order. There is recognition of a regular season and playoff champion in this division.
c) Cancellations and Makeups
i) The Division Director, the VP of Baseball Operations, and/or the umpire will be responsible for any and all game cancellations. Coaches may not cancel games.
ii) An attempt should be made to make up all games cancelled.
iii) All make-up games must be rescheduled with the Division VP.
iv) League games shall not be canceled due to roster shortages for AAU or club team games. . When teams are formed, AAU and club players should be spread out evenly amongst teams.
d) Player Call-Ups and Roster Shortages
i) The Division Director will maintain a Call-Up list comprised of players from both the Rookie Division who are deemed capable of playing up in the Minor Division, and players in the Minor Division who wish to play additional baseball on other team(s).
ii) When a coach becomes aware that he/she will not have enough players to field a team for a given game they must contact the Cal Ripken Minor Division Director. The Division Director will determine if substitute players will be obtained from other teams within the division or from a lower division. Coaches may not find their own substitute players.
iii) Substitute player from within the division can play any position on the field expect pitcher. Coaches should use discretion to not play the substitute player in the infield positions if there are players on the team capable of playing those infield positions. This player will bat last in the order. Coaches may not find their own fill in player.
iv) For substitute players from the lower division, the Cal Ripken Rookie Division Director will maintain a Call-Up list of the names of players from the Cal Ripken Rookie Division who are deemed capable of playing up in the Cal Ripken Minor Division.
(a) Players will be placed on the list by the Cal Ripken Rookie Division Director.
(b) The Cal Ripken Minor Division Director will contact the Cal Ripken Rookie Division Director for a Call-up player. The Cal Ripken Rookie Division Director will contact players from the Call-Up list to fill the vacant roster spots. Coaches may not find their own players.
(c) Cal Ripken Rookie Division players who have a scheduled game or practice at the same time are not eligible to play up to the Cal Ripken Minor Division.
(d) The Cal Ripken Rookie Division Director will inform the Cal Ripken Minor Division Director of who the player is. It will be the responsibility of the Cal Ripken Minor Division Director to inform both teams’ coaches with the names of the players that will be playing up.
(e) If a player is called-up they become eligible for the game and will play under the following conditions:
(i) They must not sit out for more than 2 defensive innings in the game;
(ii) They will bat last in the order; and
(iii)They may field any position except pitcher or catcher.
V. Parent Responsibility
a) Communication
i) It is the parent's responsibility to communicate with Managers and Coaches the number of pitches their child has thrown in another league, so as to not put the child or the team at risk of either injury or of violating the pitching rules within Dover Baseball.
ii) It is the parent’s responsibility to appropriately communicate with coaches any concerns they have.
d) It is the parent’s responsibility to make the coach aware of games or practices that their child will not be able to attend.
e) It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that they adhere to the Dover Baseball Code of Conduct policy. Parents please make sure to go over the code of conduct with your player as well.
VI. Coaching and Player Development
a) Weekly Field Time
i) Weekly field time should include one practice and two games each week. Games and practices will be played on Beckwith field and Sullivan Ballfield. Practices will be on Beckwith, Sullivan, and could also be held at Maglaras Back Field.
b) Player Development Expectations
By the end of the Minor League season players should be consistently demonstrating knowledge of:
i) Field set-up and base-running concepts
(1) The different bases and fielding positions;
(2) Running through 1st base and Home plate vs. stopping at 2nd and 3rd base.
(3) Learning about a secondary lead
ii) Basic fielding concepts
(1) The Ready Position;
(2) The fielding responsibilities of the positions; ie. The 2nd baseman covers second on balls hit to the left side or center field, and cuts off the throws from the right fielder.
(3) An awareness of base runners when fielding and throwing a ball.
(4) Players should be developing an understanding of game time situations.
iii) Basic hitting concepts and hitting safety
(1) Stance and swing;
(2) Proper holding of the bat;
(3) Players should be developing a level swing vs. an exaggerated upper-cut swing;
(4) Swinging when others are a safe distance away;
(5) No throwing of the bat.
(6) Swinging at good pitches
iv) Basic Individual Catching and Throwing Technique
(1) Using two hands to catch the ball;
(2) Catching out in front of the body;
(3) Throwing from a side-ways direction;
(4) Using the front foot and glove to direct the ball;
(5) Throwing with an overhand motion.
**FINAL NOTE**
The game of baseball is just that, A GAME! Mistakes will be made. There will be fielding mistakes; there will be coaching mistakes; and there will be umpiring mistakes. But there should not be mistakes in behavior.
It is the objective of the Dover Baseball Association to teach the game of baseball and to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage, and respect for authority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger, and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy, and trustworthy citizens.
This objective can only be reached with the help of all; players, coaches and spectators alike!
Dover Baseball has developed a Code of Conduct Policy that is intended to serve as a means of helping us meet this objective.
The policy can be found on the association website, http://www.dovernhbaseball.org/
