***Regular baseball rules will be followed with the exception of the below MinnDak League rules.***
- The MinnDak will follow the SD VFW rule in regards to bats:
* All metal bats must have a USA Baseball stamp.
* Wood bats are also allowed.
- 10U cannot be 11 before January 1, 2024
- Games will be 6 innings, unless game is tied. Extra innings will be played until a winner is determined UNLESS the game needs to end due to darkness or weather, at which point the game can end in a tie.
- No New inning will start after 1 hour and 45 minutes. HOWEVER, if both coaches agree and there are no games playing on the same field after the 10U game, the teams can continue playing to a finish.
- A game will be made official after 3 innings if a game must be stopped due to weather. The two coaches should have discussions about any weather delays/game stoppage, but ultimately the decision is at the discretion of the home team due to the interest of players and home team facilities.
- Must have at least 7 players to start game.
NOTE: If a team has only 8 players, no outs will be taken for the the 9th spot in the batting order. If you have 7 players, 1 out will be taken in the 8th spot of the batting order. - A player can only play on one team and be on one roster. If a team has fewer than 9 players for a game, the team can be filled with players from a lower division (Example: 8U to 10U) to get the team to 9 players. Taking a player within the same division from the same town that may have a bye that night will not be allowed. The opposing coach must be alerted to the situation for approval.
- 5-run limit per inning for the first 5 innings. No run limit in the 6th inning or extra innings. If a 10U game is agreed to be ended early due to time limit (see rule 1), the final inning becomes the “no run limit” inning.
- A game shall be called after 4 innings if one team has a 15 run lead.
A game shall be called after 5 innings if one team has a 10 run lead. - 10U base length will be 60 feet.
- The pitching distance is 46 feet 6 inches for 10U.
- 10U cannot run on a dropped third strike.
- Stealing Bases Rules:
- No leading off.
- 10U will not be allowed to steal/advance on passed ball during the month of May in order to find/develop catchers. After May 31st, stealing is allowed for 10U.
- 10U can steal when the ball crosses home plate. If a runner is deemed to have left early by an umpire, that runner will be called out.
- A runner must be committed halfway to the next base by the time the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher to continue with the steal attempt. If a runner has not committed to at least halfway, the runner needs to return back to the base that they are currently occupying. In other words, no “dancing” between bases while the pitcher has the ball to entice a throw.
- A runner may not advance to the next base in either if the ball is overthrown by the catcher to the pitcher.
- If a thrown pitch results in ball 4 giving a walk to the batter, and the catcher catches the ball cleanly, the runner will need to stop at 1st base if the pitcher possesses the ball. Since the runners are only allowed to steal after the ball crosses the plate or released from the pitcher’s hand (see above), the batter turned runner will not be allowed to continue to 2nd base without waiting for the next pitch. An exception to this rule is if ball 4 occurs on a wild pitch or passed ball. The batter could then gain 2nd base if the catcher has not returned the ball back to the pitcher prior to the batter committing halfway to second base as the wild pitch/passed ball is a live ball. This rule coordinates with rules 10.3 and 10.4 above.
- “Home Plate Closed Rule”: 10U may NOT score by stealing home on a passed ball, a wild pitch by the pitcher, or return throw to any position, other than pitcher, on the field from the catcher (steal attempt). Anytime a 10U steals a base, the furthest he can advance is 3rd base on steal attempt/steal play – example: a player stealing 2nd may advance to 3rd on an overthrow, but cannot advance further than 3rd base on such a play.
- The only way 10U can score a run is a bases loaded walk or hit batsmen, or following the action after a hit ball of an offensive player. If the ball is batted in play, 10U can advance as far as they would like per regular baseball rules until the infield/pitcher has complete control of the ball. Example: If a batted ball results in an overthrow of a base, the runner(s) can advance as far as they can, including home, until the umpire deems the pitcher/infield has control of the ball and stops play. Keep in mind that these are teenage umpires, and they could forget to call time. If a coach sees the infield/pitcher has control of the ball, the ask is to not send the runners and allow the players to learn situational baseball.
- Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag.
- 10U will not have an Infield Fly rule.
- 10U will not be allowed to throw breaking pitches. If a pitcher is caught throwing a breaking pitch by the UMPIRE, it will be called a ball.
- 10U will not be allowed to intentionally square to bunt a pitch.
- The pitching limitation will be either 3 innings max or 75 pitches, whichever occurs first, per game.
- The tournament pitching rules will change slightly to 3 innings per game, six innings per day, 9 innings per tournament with no daily max pitch count limit.
- No automatic intentional walks. A batter must receive four pitches to walk.
- Team members must bat, bat in order and must play a minimum of 2 innings in the field (tournament games included).
NOTE: If a game ends because of run rule or time limit, the innings played rule will not be considered violated. - If a player is injured within the course of the game and cannot take their turn to bat, that player will be skipped in the lineup with NO OUT taken, unless it brings the roster to seven players. An out would then be taken as noted in rule #3. It is understood that if the player is too injured to take their at bat, they are too injured to play the remainder of the game.
- If a player is able and only wants to play defense in the game and not bat, an out will be recorded for that player.
- A player must appear in 7 regular season games to be eligible for the tournament. Appeals can be made for extenuating circumstances. Appeals first need to go to the local town rep. If the town rep is unsure of decision, town rep will discuss with league commissioner. Decisions of the town rep and/or commissioner will be communicated to other town reps/coaches.
- The home team will provide the umpires and the baseballs for the regular season.
- Each game must be recorded in Game Changer. If there is a discrepancy of final score or pitch counts, league commissioner can be contacted. League commissioner will then contact both coaches to settle discrepancy and update if necessary.