12U Northeast Premier Baseball League Rules

Updated: 2.18.25

AGE REQUIREMENTS (Spring/Summer 2025):

ROSTERS:

Rosters are required to be uploaded to your team admin or coach’s account no later than 24 hours prior to the start of your first game. Teams can make changes to their roster during the season as necessary. Rosters will become locked at the conclusion of the regular season, and remain as so until the conclusion of the playoffs. In order to be eligible for the playoffs, players must play in at least 25% of all divisional games. A waiver can be requested for players in unique circumstances, such as injuries, etc.

START TIME/FORFEITS:

Only a 15 minute grace period is allowed for a team who cannot field 9 players at the start of a game. Once the grace period expires, a forfeit will be issued. (The score will be determined as 1 run allowed per inning for a full game played, for example 6-0 for 6 innings).

TIME LIMIT:

There is no time limit for the Firecracker Sports Northeast Premier Baseball League games.

EXTRA INNING RULE:

For extra innings, please reference the rules below.

• 7th Inning: Runner on 2nd with no outs (Runner on 2nd was last batter of previous inning).
• 8th Inning: Runner on 1st and 2nd with no outs (Runners on 1st & 2nd were last 2 batters of previous innings, placed accordingly i.e. last batter on 1st base and previous batter on 2nd base).
• 9th Inning: Runners on 1st, 2nd and 3rd with no outs (Runner on 1st, 2nd & 3rd were last 3 batters of previous inning, placed accordingly i.e. last batter on 1st, previous batter on 2nd base, etc)

LENGTH OF GAMES:

Each game will be 6 innings in length unless dictated by the runs ahead rule or “Act of God” outside forces.

DEFINITION OF AN OFFICIAL GAME:

League games can be impacted by weather and field conditions from time to time. Any game that has played more than 4.5 innings (if home team is winning, if not 5 full innings) will be determined official and final. No games will be suspended, made up or rescheduled if deemed official. Any game that is suspended before 4.5 innings (if home team is winning, if not 5 full innings), should be ATTEMPTED to be rescheduled and picked up from point of delay by both teams. If a game is determined official and the inning is NOT complete, we will revert back to the last complete inning played for score, stats and determination of winner/loser or a tie. This decision is finalized with Firecracker Sports administration to maintain safe and proper field conditions plus league schedules.

STARTING LINEUPS:

• Teams may bat anywhere from 9 player to their entire roster, if they wish. Those in the lineup without a defensive position or DH, will be listed as EH “Extra Hitter” on the lineup card.
• Once the game starts, the team is locked into that number of offensive players.
• If a player becomes injured or is ejected, and there is no substitute, there would be an automatic out for that offensive player each time they come up to bat.

PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS:

Mound will be 50 feet; bases will be 70 feet and they are open.

BAT RULES:

• Metal bats Only (this includes all composite bats). All bats must have a branding, label, or a stamp indicating one of the following:
  • USA stamp
  • USSSA stamp
  • BPF 1.15 stamp

PLAYING RULES:

• If not explicitly conveyed otherwise in these rules, Major League rules will be the standard throughout.
  
  • We do not follow the MLB’s pace of play rules. This includes disengagement rules, and the three batter minimum.
  • Please note that as of MLB rule changes in 2024, balks will be played as a dead ball situation.
• Open substitution is allowed in all NPBL games.
  • The starting lineup submitted prior to the game is locked based on the number of offensive players listed.
  • If you have available substitutes not in the starting lineup, they can enter for one offensive player per game. For example, they are “married” to another player in that offensive spot of the lineup. If you enter substitute “Player X” into the 3rd spot of the lineup, that is the only spot they can hit in for that game. Those two players can re-enter as much as the coach would like with open substitution.
  • All players in the lineup can be moved around defensively at any point, except for the pitcher.
• Pitchers when removed from the game as a pitcher, can NOT return as a pitcher in that game.
• Pitchers are not allowed to start two games in one day.
• The designated hitter can bat for anyone in the lineup.
• Mound visits are limited to 1 per inning. After the 1st visit, each time the coach visits the mound in that same inning, the pitcher needs to be replaced.
• Leading, stealing and dropped strike rules are allowed.
• Pitchers do NOT have to throw 4 pitches to have an intentional walk.
• There are no pitching limits in our events.

RUNS AHEAD RULES:

There is a runs ahead rule for Northeast Premier Baseball League games.

• • 12 runs after 3 innings
  • 10 runs after 4 innings
  • 8 runs after 5 innings

In the event the home team reaches the runs ahead rule, this will be treated as a walk-off situation. The play will be considered dead when the run rule is reached, regardless of additional runners on base.

EJECTIONS:

Any coach, player or parent that is ejected from a game is automatically suspended for the next league game.

Coaches, players or parents can email operations@firecrackersports.com or contact your Firecracker Sports official to request a waiver to participate in the next game. Firecracker Sports has the final authority to grant that waiver or uphold the suspension.