PLEASE NOTE: This document will be periodically revised. The League Announcement which is sent out at the beginning of each season also contains information which may clarify or expand on the following rules. The two documents are intended to be used together. Please refer to the New Providence Green League web site for the most current league rules.

Point System for Determining Division Winners:

Point System for Determining Division Winners:

This year, the NPGL uses a “point system” for determining the regular season division winners for all age groups. Teams will be awarded points as follows:

Played win: 2 points
Played tie: 1 point
Played loss: ½ point (.5)
Forfeit/non-played game: Commissioner’s discretion

The team with the most points at the end of the season will be named the regular season champions for their division. The commissioner reserves the right to award forfeit points. “Round Robin” games, where applicable, will be counted as regular season games.

General Rules - All age levels:

1.      Unless otherwise scheduled, game time is 6:00 p.m. Home team shall have the use of the field from 40 minutes before game time until 20 minutes before game time. Visiting team shall have the use of the field from 20 minutes before game time until game time. Forfeit time shall be ½ hour after game time. If a field has a limit on the length of the game, the home team coach must notify the visiting coach of the time limit before the day of the game. 

2.       Teams may start games with a minimum of eight players. If players arrive late, they may be added at the end of the batting order. If a team’s batting order contains only eight players, an out shall be recorded each time the ninth place in the order comes to bat. 

3.       Batting Line-up & Extra hitters: All uniformed players in attendance of the game are required to be placed in the batting order (Roster Bat). A uniformed injured player in attendance of a game will not be required to bat, only unless the injured player enters the game into any position on the field. If a player is required to leave the game, his place in the order shall be skipped and no out shall be recorded so long as at least nine batters remain in the team’s batting order. Roster batting requirement is limited to the number of players the opponent has. For example, team A has 11 players, team B has 13 players. Team A is required to bat all 11. Team B is required to bat at least 11 but is encouraged to bat all 13. 

4.       Re-entry rule. All players, including substitutes, may only bat in their original position in the batting order. Starters and substitutes shall have an unlimited right of re-entry and may freely replace one another so long as they remain in the same position in the batting order. Thus, starters and substitutes may alternate in any combination any time their position in the batting order comes to bat. 

5.       Free defensive substitution. Teams may make unlimited defensive substitutions (from their entire roster, not just the players in the batting order) except at pitcher. Once a pitcher is removed, he may not return as a pitcher (though he may play any other position). 

6.       Courtesy Runners. To speed the play of game a courtesy runner can be used for the Pitcher and/or Catcher of record in a game, when there are 2 outs in the inning. The player having made the last batted out will be used for this courtesy. Should the last batted out player already be used, then the player in the order prior to the last batted out will be used. A courtesy runner can be used for a player injured during the at-bat in which they were injured. The player making the last batted out will be used for this courtesy as well. 

7.        Mercy rule. The league uses a 12 run mercy rule after the losing team has at least completed its turn at bat in the 4^th  inning of a 6 inning game, or the 5^th inning of a 7 inning game, or in any later inning in a regulation game. 

8.        The infield fly rule is in effect at all age levels. 

9.       For determining pitchers’ inning limitations, the calendar week shall run from Sunday to Saturday and one pitch in an inning shall constitute an inning pitched. Also, in the case of a player “playing up” in age, coaches should follow innings limitations based on the player’s actual age and not based on the age of the division – for example, for a 10 year old playing with an 11 year old team, innings limitations are based on the rule for a 10 year old player. 

10.   The New Providence Green League employs inning limitations for pitchers. These are found in the Age Specific Rules following within this document.  However provided is the Williamsport Rules pitch count limit guidelines which we encourage you to observe to ensure the safety and health of the young ball players. These are the following: 

11   Rest of Pitchers. The New Providence Green League does not have an explicit rule governing mandatory pitcher rest. However it is strongly suggested that any pitcher that pitches their full game inning limit or reach their game pitch count limit should have at least 3 calendar day’s rest prior to their next pitching appearance. Any pitcher that pitches in a game and does not reach their full game inning limit or reach their game pitch count limit should have at least 1 calendar day’s rest prior to their next pitching appearance. The New Providence Green League commissioners strongly suggest adherence to these to ensure the safety and health of the young ball players.

12.   Pitcher –Catching /Catcher-Pitching restrictions. The New Providence Green League does not have any restrictions or explicit rules governing the use of a Pitcher as a Catcher, and/or a Catcher as a Pitcher during play of its league games. Should a team have a local rule governing this, that local rule shall only apply to that team, should they desire or are required by their local baseball organization.

13.   As stated in the league announcement, in order for a player to be eligible to play in the Green League he or she must not be a member of a town's “All-Star”,” “A" or “tournament” team. For 14 and 15 year olds, American Legion is considered to be an “A” team. Independent teams based in a town are not considered to be an “A” team for purposes of determining eligibility for the Green league. A team can use such a player in a game in the event that the team has only 7 or 8 players from its own roster available. In this case, the "A" players can not pitch and the team's coach must identify the players to the opponent before the start of the game.  In the case of a town with only 1 travelling baseball team in the summer, this rule will be considered to have been waived at the time of their entry into the league.

14. Williamsport Little League rules (and the Official Baseball Rules published by the National Baseball Congress for the         13/14/15 year old league) apply except as follows:

a.       A number of fields used by teams in the league do not conform to Little League specifications. For example, fields may be unlined, may have short fences or no fences, may have no mound or a mound of incorrect height, etc. All teams shall play on the field provided by the home team even if irregular field conditions exist, as long as the conditions do not create an unsafe playing field.

b.      A double first base bag (white in fair territory, orange in foul territory) is permitted but not required. If a double bag is used on the field, then the entire base, white and orange, is considered “safe” for base runners.

c.       On deck batters may be permitted to prepare for their at bat in an enclosed on deck circle or designated other areas. PLEASE NOTE: Local rules will apply for facilities and safety.  For example, if at a particular field in a town does not allow an on-deck hitter to swing the bat for safety reasons, and then no on-deck swinging is allowed. Coaches are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for all players and spectators when allowing an on deck batter to swing a bat.

 d.    Numbered uniforms identical in color are strongly encouraged but not required. Players who are not in uniform may nonetheless play in the game.

e.        Catchers may wear regular fielder’s gloves.

f.         Adults may coach both first and third base. The use of a protective helmet for adult coaches is optional.

      g.       Players or under 18 YO base coaches are required to wear a protective batting or coach helmet while on the field.

      h.       The league does not limit the number of coaches on a team.

i.         Coaches may warm up pitchers and players between innings. Any player warming up a pitcher must wear a catcher’s mask or batting helmet.

j.         Coaches may cross the foul line and go to the mound when visiting the pitcher and may meet with players other than the pitcher and catcher during such visit. A pitcher must be replaced after any coach’s second visit in the same inning. 

15.   Player Eligibility: For a player to be eligible to play in the New Providence Green League he or she must not be a member of a town's "A" or tournament team. A team can use one such player in a game in the event that the team has only 7 or 8 regular players available. In this case, the "A" player can not pitch and the team's coach must identify the player to the opponent before the start of the game. 

16.   In many cases, participating towns have “local” rules which must be respected. An example of this is a time limit on the length of a game. This is common at fields with lights where the town is trying to play multiple games on a field and/or have a lights out curfew. It is imperative that the home coach notify the opposing coach of any such local rules.  

17.  While the league follows Williamsport rules for purposes of minimum playing time, it is strongly recommended for all age groups that  all players present be placed in the batting order.

Age specific rules:

Nine and ten year old leagues: 

1.        Metal Baseball spikes are prohibited. 

2.        No stealing of home. 

3.        In the nine-year-old league, base runners may not take extra base when stealing. In the ten-year-old league, base runners may take an extra base when stealing second but not third (rule #2). 

4.        Pitchers may pitch 7 innings in a 3 game week, 9 innings in a 4 game week, with no more than 3 innings in a game. 

5.        No balks. 

Eleven and twelve year old (46/60) leagues:
 

1.        Metal Baseball spikes are prohibited. 

2.        Balks: After 1 warning per pitcher, balk will be called if pitcher stops delivery in mid-motion. 

3.        Pitchers may pitch 10 innings in a 3 game week, 12 innings in a 4 game week, with no more than 4 innings in a game. 

Eleven and Twelve year old (50/70) leagues:
 

1.        Metal Baseball spikes are prohibited. 

2.        Big Barrel Bats are strictly prohibited. A Big Barrel bat is a bat which exceeds 2 ¼ inch diameter and/or is not Little League approved.  

3.        Balks: For league games played through July 4, 2010, warnings to pitchers with no balk penalty. For all league games played post July 4, 2010, 1 warning per pitcher, per game. After 1 warning, balk penalty will be awarded. 

4.        Pitchers may pitch 10 innings in a 3 game week, 12 innings in a 4 game week, with no more than 4 innings in a game.
 

Thirteen, fourteen year old, and older leagues:
 

1.        Games will be seven innings in length. A game will be official once the losing team has batted five times. 

2.        Metal spikes are allowed in this league. 

3.        Balks: 13 YO age group; 1 warning per pitcher, per game. After 1 warning, balk penalty will be awarded. 14 YO and older age groups; balk penalties are enforced without warning. 

4.        Pitchers are limited to 5 innings in a game for 13 YO. There are no pitching limits/restrictions for age groups 14 and older. 

5.        Bat size differential is a maximum of -9 for 13 year olds, -8 for 14, and -3 for 15/16 year olds.  

6.        High School baseball rules will apply were not explicitly modified by New Providence Green League Rules.