Spring Rules Summary, 12u and 14u

National Federation of HS Rules Apply unless League specific (not PIAA). Updated 03/10/26.

Rule reference numbers are the league's own. Columns are 12U Section 1, 12U Section 2, 12U Section 3, 14U Section 1, 14U Section 2 and 14U Section 3.

• Game length: 6 innings at 12u, 7 innings at 14u (rule 3).
• Mercy rule: 15 runs after 4 innings, 10 runs after 5 innings (rule 6). 9 batters with a 10 run lead ends an inning (rule 7).
• Pitch counts: 12u = 85, 14u = 95 (rule 29).
• .750 rule: rule 60.
• Tiebreakers: points, head to head (calculated end of season), runs allowed, coin flip (rule 38).

The league's own numbering skips 33 and runs 50 straight to 57. Reference 62 is printed with no rule text. Those gaps are reproduced here as published.

12U (all sections): 3 1/2 innings if the home team is leading and 4 innings if the away team is leading; games called prior to a complete game will be replayed in full. If the home team ties or leads at the bottom of the inning that will be the finial score of the game.

14U (all sections): 4 1/2 innings if the home team is leading and 5 innings if the away team is leading; games called prior to a complete game will be replayed in full. If the home team ties or leads at the bottom of the inning that will be the finial score of the game.

Games can end in a tie, but extra innings should be played as long as conditions permit as determined by the Umpire-in-charge.

15 runs after 4 Innings, 10 runs after 5 innings. If the home team is losing they must be given a chance to bat. If not the score reverts to the previous innings score.

9 batters with 10 run lead.

100% Metal Bats size limitation. For 12u and below, the bats must be either 1.15 BPF (old standard) or USABAT standard (new standard). There is NO limitation on the bat diameter!

12U (all sections): Barrel size and no weight/length drop limitation (ie -11, -10, -9, etc); The penalty for use of an illegal bat is the head coach is ejected and any related fine will be at the discretion of the league. All bats must have a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less or be USABAT certified. The list of approved bats is on the web site. No limitation on 100% wood bat.

14U Sections 1 and 2: 2 5/8 barrel only, and maximum difference between length and weight of bat is -3; All non-wood bats will meet BBCORE Standard. (There must be a BBCORE stamp on the bat - no stickers). No limitation on 100% wood bat. League website will list any bats that have been decertified.

14U Section 3: Either 14U Section 1 or 2 rule or 10U & 12U rule.

Mandatory as of 2018. 2nd and 3rd base must be break away safety bases.

Mandatory 2027 Season.

Violation of rule: Head Coach ejected / fined.

Voluntary at any time; same runner cannot run for the pitcher and catcher during an inning; the runner must be a player who is not in the batting order at the time; if a team bats the entire line-up, the runner then must be the player that made the last out in the previous inning. If that last out of the previous inning is the pitcher or catcher of record*, then the next previous batter will be the courtesy runner. *If the batter has not pitched or caught in the game, they are not the pitcher or catcher of record and are not eligible to be ran for. (exception is the first inning)

9, 10, or entire line-up of hitters; must use the entire game and both teams do not have to use the same.

If a team chooses to bat the roster in a game, an out is taken anytime a batter's spot is vacated in the line-up. This applies to injury, sickness, etc. No exceptions apply.

All sections: 9 fielders to start the game and 8 to finish or forfeit.

12u = 85, 14u = 95. 1-25 pitches in a day = NO calendar day of rest, 26-35 pitches in a day = (1) calendar day of rest, 36-50 pitches in a day = (2) calendar days of rest, 51-65 pitches in a day = (3) calendar days of rest, 66+ pitches in a day = (4) calendar days of rest. Violation of Pitch count / rest; Forfeit / League fine. Once a pitcher is removed; the pitcher cannot return to pitch. *A pitcher may finish a batter but that will be the final pitch count. If there is a double header you can use the maximum daily pitch count. (Game 1 & Game 2 total pitch count for the day). A Catcher can also pitch with the same requirments as a Pitcher. Must use LCYBL pitch count log.

Any player, manager, coach, fan, who is ejected from a game by an umpire will be penalized $50 and suspended for the next game (not allowed at game) on the 1st occurrence (players not fined); Penalties increase for additional occurrences; Fines are paid by the Organization of which the person ejected is a member; Organizations can decide whether to be reimbursed for the fine from the member who was penalized.

Away team is provided the field for infield / outfield practice 15 minutes prior to the start of the game; Home team has the field prior to use by the away team.

If the umpire arrives at the game and the game is cancelled before starting, the umpire is entitled to 1/2 the umpire fee; the umpire has the discretion to return all or a portion of that 1/2 fee; once the game starts and two complete innings have been played the umpire is entitled to full fee. 12u and below fee is $65, 14u fee is $70. (At 14u Section 1 & 2 and 12u Section 1) the Home team pays the Plate Umpire and the Away team pays the Field Umpire. If only one paid umpire the Home team must provide base Umpire! There must be two umpires.

1 division if there are odd number of teams. 2 divisions if there are even teams.

12U Section 1: Top 10 teams qualify. Seeds 7 ~ 10 will play a one game play in. Seed #7 vs. #10, #8 vs. #9. The two winners will be seeds 7 & 8 and will participate in the three game series. Seed #1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, and #4 vs. #5. The four teams that win the series will play in the LNP Tournament.

12U Section 2: 14 or more teams; 8 team playoffs, below 14 teams; 6 team playoff.

12U Section 3: No, but end of season weekend tournament for all teams.

14U Section 1: Top 10 teams qualify. Seeds 7 ~ 10 will play a one game play in. Seed #7 vs. #10, #8 vs. #9. The two winners will be seeds 7 & 8 and will participate in the three game series. Seed #1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, and #4 vs. #5. The four teams that win the series will play in the LPN Tournament.

14U Section 2: 14 or more teams; 8 team playoffs, below 14 teams; 6 team playoff.

14U Section 3: No, but end of season weekend tournament for all teams.

Seed 1 &/or 2 are the division winners. The rest of the seeding will be determined in the following order; points, H2H (Calulated End of Season), runs allowed, coin flip. The rest of the teams will be treated as being in one division and will use the normal point system.

12U (all sections): Wilson A1074 or Rawlings RLLB1; 2 NEW balls provided by the home team at the start of each game.

14U (all sections): For 2025 any manufacturer can be used as long as the ball has both the NFHS & NOCSAE marking. Since this is short notice for 2025 as long as the ball has either the NFHS or NOCSAE marking. For 2026 both markings will be required.

On the 2nd visit to the same Pitcher in the same inning by a coach or non-playing team representative, Pitcher must be replaced.

Game results must be entered into the league website (under scores) by the winning team or in the event of a tie the home team. The website will update both the league and the LNP newspaper. Standings are kept on the league website. A win is worth three (3) points, loss is worth zero (0) points, and tie is worth one (1) point in determining your standings. Do not use the league scoring site to ask questions.

You can bring up players from lower age / divisions or your own in-house leagues only if you dip below 9 (10 for 10u2).

Bringing up Pitchers 2+ rule. Example. 14u2 can not bring up a 14u3 player. Must be lower.

If you have two teams in the same division, you cannot share them in the same division! (no lateral moves) A player carried on the official League roster of any 10u Section 1 team may not pitch for any 12u Section 3 or 14u Section 3 team.

Once a substitution bats or runs for a player, the sub(s) and the original starter are locked into that batting position and either one may bat or run in that position ONLY.

The catcher or any fielder can not block access by the runner to a base without possession of the ball. If this rule is violated, the umpire has the right to award the appropriate bases to the runner.

Each offensive team is granted 1 charged conference per inning to permit the coach or team's personnel to confer with base runners, the batter, on deck batter or other offensive team personnel; any requests more than 1 per inning will be denied by the umpire.

An intentional base on balls may be granted by the defensive team coach or catcher upon request to the umpire to award the base without throwing four balls; it can be requested upon any count on the batter.

When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, suspend play and take shelter immediately. Thirty-minute rule: Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.

Each runner is awarded one base, if less than two outs a batter hits a fair or foul ball which is caught by a fielder, who then leaves the field of play unintentionally with both feet or by falling into a bench, dugout, stand, bleacher, or over any boundary or barrier such as a chalk line, fence, rope, or pre-game determined imaginary boundary line.

As of the 2023 season jewelry is now allowed to be worn by Players & Coaches. Umpire does have discretion to have the player remove jewelry if deemed unsafe or distracting.

Federation rule book allows the 3rd to 1st pickoff move.

If a playoff game is stopped due to weather and before it becomes official it will be continued the next work day (Monday ~ Friday). There are no regular or playoff games on the Friday / Monday of a holiday weekend unless both Coaches agree. Exception would be the LNP (series and tournament games).

No tape allowed on the helmet. Helmet cannot be distracting.

Any club that does not enter a team in Section one will be ineligible to participate in the playoffs, year end tournament, or any division winner awards if those teams have a winning percentage of .750 or above. Only the team that is below .750 would be eligible.

New pitcher or relief pitcher may have up to 8 warm-up pitches. Returning pitcher may have up to 5 pitches. For the relief pitcher, coach must be off the field before the 8th pitch is thrown. Penalty - 1st time warning, 2nd, charged mound visit.

12U Sections 1 and 2: Yes, 1 warning per pitcher before June 1st; ball dead at time of balk.

12U Section 3: No. If a batter shows a bunt and the pitcher stops his wind up a BALL will be recorded for that "non" pitch.

14U (all sections): Yes, no warning; ball dead at time of balk.

The catcher's helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. Any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have full ear protection (dual ear flaps). A throat protector, which is either a part of or attached to the catcher's mask, is mandatory. A throat protector shall adequately cover the throat. The commercially manufactured catcher's head, face and throat protection may be a one-piece or multi-piece design. While in a crouch position, any non-adult warming up a pitcher at any location shall wear a head protector, a mask with a throat protector and a protective cup (male only).

Only manufacturer face shield is allowed and can only be clear. No aftermarket eye shields are allowed. No tinted face shields are allowed.

Effective for the LCYBL 2021 season, chest protectors used in LCYBL games be NOCSAE certified. The 2020 NOCSAE catcher's gear rule change will see that all high school and college level baseball players will be required to wear a chest protector that is NOCSAE certified for protection against Commotio Cordis. Every catcher's chest protector made prior to 2019 does not have the certification, so you will most likely need to get a new catcher's chest protector for the 2020 season. All NOCSAE certified chest protectors will have a stamp that shows it is certified by SEI and NOCSAE for protection against Commotio Cordis.

• Only from the dugout by one Coach to the catcher while on defense
• Coach cannot be outside the dugout/bench area
• PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach
• The interpretation of this rule is that the head coach and the offender in the dugout is ejected, not the player
• If one teams One-way communications fails the other team is still allowed to use theirs
• If a One-way communication fails and the catcher goes into the dugout to get it repaired is this considered a defensive visit, NO
• If a One-way communication fails and the coach comes out to visit the catcher to fix the device, is this considered a defensive visit, YES

• Only to be worn on the wrist (not on the belt)
• Single solid color
• Pitchers; no white, gray or distracting.
• Must have a flap to cover the white card
• Does not have to match the uniform.
• If used must be on non-pitching hand
• PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender(s) of that team will be ejected along with the head coach

If Eye Black is used it must be black and can not be wider than 1 1/2 inches and the thickness is not more than a finger width. It must be a straight line with no words or symbols. Penalty: Player must remove any Eye Black that does not follow the above proper use. There is no ejection. The player can not play untl the Eye Black is worn properly.

It is discovered that Player A (a) prior to entering the batter's box; (b) after entering the box; (c) after a base hit, is using a bat that has pine tar at 18 inches from the base of the knob. RULING: In (a), the illegal bat is removed from the game. In (b), the batter is declared out and the illegal bat is removed from the game and the coach is restricted to the dugout. In (c), the batter is declared out; the illegal bat is removed from the game and all base runners return to previous occupied base and the coach is restricted to the dugout.