15U Northeast Premier Baseball League Rules

Updated: 11.15.24

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 be come locked come playoffs and remain as so until the conclusion of the season.

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 7-0 for 7 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.

• 8th Inning: Runner on 2nd with no outs (Runner on 2nd was last batter of previous inning).
• 9th 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).
• 10th 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 7 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 batters, to their roster. 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 batters.
• There are no automatic outs unless only 8 players remain, or player(s) are ejected.

PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS:

Mound will be 60’6 feet; bases will be 90 feet and they are open.

BAT RULES:

• Bat of Choice: Metal or Wood.
• Maximum drop ratio of -3 is allowed in this divisions.
• Please note, all metal bats must have a branding, label, or stamp indicating it is a BBCOR bat. All Wood bats are allowed.

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.
• 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.
• 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.