Below is a selection of rules from the official Baseball Alberta Rulebook. If any discrepancies are found, the rules as described in the linked document will take priority. All rounds of League Play and Provincial Championships follow Baseball Canada rules, except for specific identifications.
Before a game begins, an umpire's meeting with the two head coaches involves several important steps to ensure the game is conducted smoothly and all parties understand the rules and expectations.
The home manager or their designee gives their batting order to the umpire-in-chief, followed by the visiting manager doing the same.
Verify the starting time of the game and discuss any special arrangements, such as pregame ceremonies or delays.
The manager of the home team presents any special ground rules that might be necessary due to the field conditions. If these are acceptable to the opposing manager, they become official. If not, the head umpire will decide and enforce any necessary ground rules??.
The umpire will review any key rules or points of emphasis for the game, such as recent rule changes or specific regulations that might impact the game.
The umpire will remind both coaches about the importance of sportsmanship and the expected conduct of players, coaches, and staff throughout the game.
Ensure that all safety protocols are understood and that all equipment meets the required standards, including checking that players are wearing appropriate protective gear.
The decision to resume, postpone, or end a game in progress is always made by the head umpire.
Any umpire report which is submitted for games which include any mention of confrontation between a coach and an umpire and includes mention of a coach yelling or swearing at an umpire will result in automatic one game suspension of the coach. Any additional similar incidents involving the same coach could result in longer suspensions.
Base Lines: 60 ft.
Bases: 15 in square
Home Plate: 17 in wide
Centre Field Boundary: Minimum 200 ft / Preferred 225 ft
Foul Line Boundary: Minimum 180 ft./Preferred 200 ft
Backstop Setback: 25-40 ft
Fence Setback: 25 ft.
Coach's Box: 8 ft x 12 ft
Coach's Box Setback: 10 ft
Batter's Box: 3 ft x 6 ft
Batter's Box to Home Plate: 4 in
Pitching Distance: 44 ft.
Pitcher's Plate: 4 in x 18 in
Max Height of Pitcher's Mound: 6 in
65CC/BCAF
USSSA 1.15 and USABB bats will be both approved for play under Baseball Canada rules for the 15U and under categories. This allows for all previous & current 2 1/4”, 2 5/8” and 2 3/4” USSSA 1.15 certified bats to be used.
MaxDifferential: -10 | MaxDiameter 2-¾” | MaxLength 32”
70 Pitch Maximum in one day, and no more than 115 pitches over 4 days.
No Breaking Balls shall be permitted at the 11U age category! A Breaking Ball shall be defined as any pitch where the hand is pronated, supinated, turned or snapped in a fashion where the baseball rotates in a side to side, forward spinning or with unnatural action that is not consistent with the pitcher's natural fastball rotation. Change-Ups and off speed pitches where the baseball rotates in a similar fashion to a fastball will be permitted at all levels and should be observed by the umpire prior to an appearance during warm-up.
The scorekeeper will inform the umpire of the pitch count when a count is nearing the end of a pitcher’s daily limits.
Baseball Canada rules apply except the below.
All players who are present for a game and in uniform (unless injured and unable to play or suspended for that game by the league or team) must be listed on the batting order/line-up card, and will bat in order-- any coach who sits a player to gain a competitive advantage will be subject to discipline by Baseball Alberta.
Players are allowed to move in/out defensively without restrictions, except that if the pitcher leaves the mound to play another defensive position, that pitcher may not return to the mound or catch in the same game. Any player who becomes injured or must leave the game will be skipped in the batting line-up with no penalty.
A player may not sit more than 2 consecutive defensive innings (one pitch constitutes an inning sat)
In effect (10 run differential when the losing team has completed their 4th offensive inning/at bat).
No new inning to start after 2 hours and 15 minutes of play, unless the game is tied. The start of the game begins when the first pitch is thrown.
All games are of six innings to be completed, if time and weather permits. However, three and a half (3-1/2) innings constitute a regulation game if the home team has more runs than the visiting team.
No open inning during the final inning of a regular season game.
Once the 7th run of a half inning is scored the inning automatically stops no matter how many outs there are and that half inning is over.
Are permitted.
Is permitted once the pitched ball has crossed home plate. If there is a violation, the runner is returned to their base and the ball is dead.
If the impact of a runner breaks a base loose from its position, no play can be made on that runner
at that base if he had reached the base safely. If a base is dislodged from its position during a play, any following runner on the same play shall be considered as touching or occupying the base if, in the umpire’s judgment, he touches or occupies the point marked by the dislodged bag.
Can advance, including attempting to score at home plate.
When a team has a lead of seven or more runs, the runner(s) of this team can reach the following base only when the ball is hit or if forced to advance. If the runner advances in error, they are returned to the original base and the ball is dead. A baserunner(s) is able to advance should the defense attempt to make a defensive play to retire a base runner.
The batter cannot become a runner on a catcher's miss of a third strike. The third strike, either called or swinging does NOT have to be caught by the catcher. The batter is automatically retired. However the ball is alive and in play for runners that are on base.
A courtesy runner may be used for catchers when they are on base with 2 outs in an inning for all regular-season league games. The courtesy runner must be a player who is not already in the lineup, except during Unlimited Substitution where the player may be the “last out” of the offensive team. The courtesy runner rule is not permitted for use during any Provincial Championship.
Not permitted.
Games must be played until one team wins; ties are not allowed.
All games must be played and deemed complete to count the result. Teams may not play one game for double points or flip a coin to determine the winner.
Games not complete (due to weather/darkness) must be suspended from the point of stoppage and then re-started from that point at the next possible time.
A courtesy runner may be used for catchers when they are on base with 2 outs in an inning for all regular-season league games. The courtesy runner must be a player who is not already in the lineup, except during Unlimited Substitution where the player may be the “last out” of the offensive team.
A ball hit outside the foul lines and not caught by a fielder is considered dead, and runners must return to their bases.
If a batter or runner interferes with the play, the ball is dead, and appropriate penalties are applied.
A balk by the pitcher results in a dead ball, and runners are awarded one base.
When the pitcher is in possession of the ball and standing on the rubber, the play is dead until the pitcher initiates the pitching motion or attempts a pickoff.
Anytime the umpire calls "Time," the ball is dead.
If a batter is hit by a pitch, the ball is dead, and the batter is awarded first base.
If a ball is thrown out of play (e.g., over the fence or into the dugout), the ball is dead, and runners are awarded bases according to the rules.
If a fair ball leaves the field of play (e.g., a ground-rule double or a home run), the ball is dead, and runners are awarded the appropriate bases.
When a player is injured and the umpire calls time to address the situation, the ball is dead.
Will result in the following scores: 6-0 score with the winning team being awarded the win, 18 offensive outs, and 21 defensive outs.
Any game where fewer than 9 players are at the diamond within 15 minutes past the designated start of the game will result in a 6-0 forfeit, unless determined to be a scheduling error or the team has communicated an acceptable situation to the host/home team. If 7 or 8 players are present, the game will still be played as an exhibition, and pitch counts will still count in daily/weekly totals. The opposing coach will have the option to loan that team a player(s) to play the game, but that player(s) may not pitch.
If the game is tied at the completion of regulation (6 innings), an extra inning will be played as a regular inning, starting with the bases empty.