At this level, players now start to face Pitchers and live pitching.  They start to develop their pitching and base stealing skills (please see base stealing rules below).  They continue to hone their batting, fielding, throwing and catching skills, and their knowledge of positions, strategy and team play awareness continue to grow. 

• For players that are 10 & 11 years old.
• Season starts in May and goes to early/mid September (games are subject to weather and field conditions). 
• Playoffs start from mid/late August, ending on Championship Day Saturday in early/mid September.
• Games are played on weeknights at Smythe Park.
• Allow 2 hours for a typical game (including pre-game warmup).
• Uniforms (jersey, pants, socks & cap) will be handed out at the start of the season once team rosters have been set. 
• Players will need to supply their own baseball gloves.
• Baseball helmets are available for games, but it is recommended that players use their own helmets for health reasons.
• Baseball helmets must have chin straps.  The only exception is if the helmet has a face extender attached to it.
• Players should strongly consider buying/wearing athletic cups, especially if they wish to play the Catcher position.  Catchers MUST wear athletic cups. 
• Batting gloves and cleats (non-metal only) are allowed but not required. 
• York Baseball will supply regulation baseballs, bats, bases and Catcher equipment   
• Don't forget to bring some drinking water.
• Teams are coed.
• York Baseball is run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers.  Please consider expressing your interest in coaching or assisting a coach.
• NOTE - Like 11U players, umpires are also continuing to learn the game as well.  It is expected that the coaches support our umpires and their calls.  Players are to leave the playing field if they are called out on the bases or strike out, and are to avoid any angry confrontations with the umpires.  Any difficulties with umpires can be brought to the attention of a Convener or the Umpire Coordinator .  

 

11U House League Rules

General

• The rules of baseball apply, with the following exceptions/variations.  Games are traditionally 7 innings long, with any inning after the 5th an open inning.
• Distance between bases: 65 feet (19.8 metres).
• Distance from pitching rubber to home plate: 44 feet (13.4 metres).
• Game length:  1 hour 45 minutes (no new inning after this time) past the time of first pitch.
• For the Championship game for which light is not an issue, this will be 2 hours. 
• There will be a maximum of 4 runs scored per inning.
• The last inning will be an open inning, with an 8 run maximum.  In the Championship game, this will be open. 
• Should the umpires declare the open inning and time allows for play to continue beyond that inning, all additional innings will be open.
• Teams must field at least 7 players.  To avoid forfeit, at least 5 of these players must be from their own team.  They may call up players from the 9U division or borrow players from another team within their own age division.  House League players will be given priority over Select players as call ups.
• BORROWING PLAYERS IS NOT PERMITTED IN PLAYOFF AND CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.  A win will be granted to the team with sufficient players.
• A maximum of 9 players can play on the field during the defensive innings.
• Player positions: Catcher, Pitcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, 3rd Base, Shortstop, Left Fielder, Centre Fielder, Right Fielder.
• Any player playing the Catcher position must wear a Catcher's helmet, chest protector and shin guards.
• Catchers MUST wear an athletic cup.
• No player shall sit on the bench for 2 consecutive innings, unless in case of injury. 
• Winning teams will receive 2 points for each win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss (playoffs).
• In the event that a game becomes unplayable due to the weather, the umpire will make the decision to play, suspend or call off the game.
• In the event of thunder and lightning, York Baseball follows Baseball Ontario guidelines with respect to lightning safety. "When thunder roars, go indoors".  Games will be halted, and cannot continue until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
• The Home team will use the 3rd base dugout, the Visiting team will use the 1st base dugout.    
• The Home team is responsible for setting up the field and making sure bases and equipment are put away.
• Teams are welcome to cheer on their own players.  They are not to address or cheer against opposing players (Ex. no cheers or songs mentioning the opposing  Pitcher, batter, etc.).  

Batting

• Bunting is legal.
• There are no dropped 3rd strikes.  The batter is out.
• Base runners can steal bases in 11U.  But there are no leadoffs.  Base runners may not leave their bases until the pitch has crossed home plate (unlike Select, where base runners can steal bases as soon as the baseball is released from the Pitcher's hand).  Each team will receive 1 warning.  After that, runners leaving the base early will be called out.  
• From Baseball Canada: Contact Rule - Runners are instructed to slide or attempt to avoid making contact with a fielder.  A player who maliciously runs into another player is to be declared out (unless they have already scored prior to committing the infraction) and is to be automatically ejected (whether or not declared safe).  Contact shall be considere malicious if the contact is the result of intentional excessive force, and/or there is intent to injure.
  There are no Designated Hitters.
• In order to speed up the game, with TWO OUTS in the inning, a Catcher running the bases may be replaced with the last player to make an out, so that the Catcher may get dressed in preparation for the next inning.  
• Batters must drop the bat and not throw it (intentionally or unintentionally) upon hitting the ball.  Penalty: each team shall be entitled to one warning per game.  After the warning any further offences shall result in the batter being declared out, the ball being dead and runners returning to their bases.
• There is no Infield Fly Rule.
• Latecomers are placed at the end of the batting order.  If there is a chronic latecomer, coaches may insert them higher in the batting order to avoid a player always being the last batter.  Inform the opposing team coach of this.
• Any player who has to leave a game early is simply skipped in the batting order without penalty. 

Pitching

• A pitcher may throw a maximum of 2 innings per game.  A pitch constitutes an inning.  
• Pitchers on the active Select roster may pitch 1 inning or no more than 25 pitches IN THE 1 INNING OF WORK.  This rule no longer applies once once the Select season has ended.  This rule does not apply to 9U Select players playing 11U House League as there is no live pitching in 9U Select.
• Players may pitch and catch in the same game (unlike in the Select level).
• If a Pitcher hits more than 3 batters in a game, The Pitcher will be replaced.
• Balks are not called at this level.