Article 5 – Rules of the Game Interpretation Guide
Premium STLWEST Interpretation Guide for gameplay rules, safety requirements, roster participation, timing procedures, forfeits, and weather-related game decisions.
Purpose of This Guide
Article 5 establishes the general rules of play for STLWEST baseball and softball games. These rules help ensure games are played safely, fairly, consistently, and with clear expectations for coaches, umpires, players, and associations.
Section 5.01 – Approved Baseballs and Softballs
Official Rule:
8U-18U will use a STLWEST approved baseball or softball.
Meaning:
All STLWEST games must use approved baseballs or softballs.
Practical Implications:
Teams, umpires, and associations should verify that the correct approved ball is used for the proper sport and age division.
Simplified Wording:
Use STLWEST-approved game balls only.
Governance Purpose:
Standardizes equipment and protects fairness across all parks.
Important Note:
This applies to both baseball and softball from 8U through 18U.
Best Practice:
Keep approved game balls labeled and separated by sport and division.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Game balls must meet STLWEST approval standards.
Bottom Line:
Official STLWEST games require approved baseballs or softballs.
Section 5.02 – Home Team Determination
Official Rule:
A home team will be determined by the schedule.
Meaning:
The published schedule controls which team is the home team.
Practical Implications:
Home team responsibilities are assigned by the schedule, not by agreement at the field.
Simplified Wording:
The schedule decides the home team.
Governance Purpose:
Prevents confusion about home/visitor status, dugouts, scorekeeping, and field responsibilities.
Important Note:
Teams should verify home/away status before arriving at the field.
Best Practice:
Coaches should confirm the schedule listing before game day.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Home team status is schedule-based.
Bottom Line:
The scheduled home team is the official home team.
Section 5.03 – Official Scorekeeper
Official Rule:
The home team scorekeeper shall be the official scorekeeper. The opposing team's scorekeeper shall be immediately notified of withdrawals and additions to the batting order and all changes at the position of pitcher. A forfeit shall be recorded with a score of 7-0.
Meaning:
The home team book is the official game record.
Practical Implications:
Batting order changes, player withdrawals, additions, and pitching changes must be communicated immediately.
Simplified Wording:
Home book is official, and all changes must be shared right away.
Governance Purpose:
Provides one official record and prevents disputes about lineups, pitching, substitutions, and final score.
Important Note:
Forfeits are officially recorded as 7-0.
Best Practice:
Scorekeepers should confirm changes with both teams when they happen.
Key Operational Takeaway:
The home scorekeeper controls the official game record.
Bottom Line:
The home scorebook is the official record.
Section 5.04 – Forfeit Notification
Official Rule:
A manager who decides to forfeit prior to game time shall notify the appropriate STLWEST Commissioner, who shall in turn notify the opposing manager. All managers are cautioned to not accept a forfeit unless duly notified by the appropriate STLWEST Commissioner.
Meaning:
A forfeit must go through the proper STLWEST Commissioner before it is accepted.
Practical Implications:
Coaches should not rely on informal messages from another manager as official notice of a forfeit.
Simplified Wording:
Forfeits must be officially confirmed by STLWEST.
Governance Purpose:
Prevents miscommunication, no-shows, and disputes over whether a game was actually forfeited.
Important Note:
Managers are specifically cautioned not to accept a forfeit unless properly notified.
Best Practice:
Wait for commissioner confirmation before notifying families that a game is forfeited.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Commissioner communication controls official forfeit notice.
Bottom Line:
A forfeit is not official unless properly communicated through STLWEST.
Section 5.05 – Minimum Players to Start and Continue
Official Rule:
If a team is unable to field eight (8) players by fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time of the game they shall forfeit the game. A team may finish the game with any number of players. Please refer to Section 5.10 on how to treat vacant spots in the line-up as players leave from the game. Note: all teams MUST have a catcher behind the plate and a pitcher, regardless of the number of players. No other positions will be specified, unless otherwise noted.
Meaning:
A team needs eight players to avoid a start-time forfeit, but may continue with fewer players once the game has started.
Practical Implications:
Short-handed teams have a 15-minute grace period. Pitcher and catcher remain required regardless of player count.
Simplified Wording:
Eight players are needed to start. Pitcher and catcher are always required.
Governance Purpose:
Balances game fairness with the ability to continue play when teams become short-handed.
Important Note:
Vacant lineup spots must be handled under Section 5.10.
Best Practice:
Coaches should confirm attendance early and arrive with enough time to verify player count.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Teams must field eight players within 15 minutes to avoid forfeit.
Bottom Line:
Failure to field eight players on time results in forfeit.
Section 5.06 – Official Start Time
Official Rule:
The official start time of every STLWEST league game will be established by the Umpire upon the completion of ground rules. Associations are encouraged to use on field timers. If no official field timer is available, coaches and umpire should synchronize their time pieces and agree upon the official start time. This will be the governing time by which the game’s time limit, hereinafter outlined, will be applied. Note: game will not be allowed to begin prior to the scheduled start time unless agreed upon by both teams’ manager.
Meaning:
The umpire establishes the official start time after ground rules, and that time controls the game clock.
Practical Implications:
Time limits, inning cutoffs, and completion decisions depend on the official start time.
Simplified Wording:
Umpire sets the official game clock after ground rules.
Governance Purpose:
Prevents arguments about when time started and when time expires.
Important Note:
A game may not begin before the scheduled start time unless both managers agree.
Best Practice:
Umpire should announce the official start time clearly to both managers.
Key Operational Takeaway:
The official start time controls all time-limit enforcement.
Bottom Line:
The official game clock must be clearly established before play begins.
Section 5.07 – Field Curfews and Darkness
Official Rule:
Those Member Associations that have a field curfew must make that curfew known to both managers prior to the start of the game. Tie games stopped by a field curfew shall be considered the same as the game being called due to rain or other acts of God. Games called because of darkness shall also be considered the same as the game being called due to rain or other acts of God. (Please see Section 5.21 and 5.22 to determine if the game is complete.)
Meaning:
Field curfews and darkness stoppages are handled like rain or other acts of God when deciding whether a game is complete.
Practical Implications:
Managers must be told about curfews before the game starts, and completion rules apply if the game is stopped.
Simplified Wording:
Curfew and darkness are treated like weather stoppages.
Governance Purpose:
Creates a consistent method for handling games that cannot continue due to facility limits or safety.
Important Note:
Sections 5.21 and 5.22 determine whether the game is complete.
Best Practice:
Umpires should review curfew rules during ground rules when applicable.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Curfew and darkness stoppages follow completed-game rules.
Bottom Line:
Field curfew and darkness are handled the same as rain or acts of God.
Section 5.08 – Helmets, Earflaps, and Facemasks
Official Rule:
All offensive players eighteen (18) years old and under on the field of play MUST wear helmets with earflaps while the ball is LIVE and in play. If a player purposefully discards or removes their helmet during play there will be a DELAYED DEADBALL, the player will be called out as soon as all play stops. If a player accidentally loses their helmet while running the bases, they need not retrieve it until the play is complete. Facemasks MUST be worn by ALL players who warm up the active pitcher.
Meaning:
Helmet and facemask rules are mandatory safety rules.
Practical Implications:
Umpires must distinguish between intentionally removing a helmet and accidentally losing one.
Simplified Wording:
Helmets stay on during live play. Facemasks are required when warming up pitchers.
Governance Purpose:
Protects players from head and facial injuries.
Important Note:
Purposefully removing a helmet creates a delayed dead ball and the player is called out when play stops.
Best Practice:
Coaches should check helmet fit and facemask availability before the game.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Safety equipment rules are mandatory and enforceable.
Bottom Line:
Helmets and facemasks must be used according to STLWEST safety rules.
Section 5.09 – Minimum Defensive Play Requirement
Official Rule:
Each player MUST be permitted to play a minimum of TWO (2) defensive innings in a five (5) inning game, or THREE (3) defensive innings in a seven (7) inning game in every scheduled regular season and tournament game. Penalty for violation is FORFEIT.
Meaning:
Every eligible player must receive the required minimum defensive playing time.
Practical Implications:
Coaches must track defensive innings and cannot leave players below the required minimum.
Simplified Wording:
Every player must play the required minimum defensive innings.
Governance Purpose:
Promotes participation, development, and fair treatment of players.
Important Note:
The penalty for violation is forfeit.
Best Practice:
Coaches should use a written defensive rotation before the game starts.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Minimum play requirements apply to regular season and tournament games.
Bottom Line:
Failure to meet minimum play requirements can result in forfeit.
Section 5.10 – Batting Entire Roster
Official Rule:
Teams in all divisions shall be required to bat their entire roster of eligible players. The batting order shall not be changed during the game, except that an injured player shall be removed without penalty and no out shall be recorded when their turn at bat would have come up. All players listed on the batting order must be present at the start of the game. Any player arriving after the start of the game shall automatically be placed at the bottom of the batting order, regardless of where the team is in the batting rotation. The player will be allowed to bat and field.
*Player leaving early must be announced at ground rules. Any player leaving the game early and not announced before the game will result in that players spot being an out.
(a) If a player is ejected from the game his spot in the line-up will be an out.
(b) If a player is injured or becomes ill during the play of the game and cannot continue his spot in the line-up will not be counted as an out.
Meaning:
STLWEST requires continuous batting order for all eligible players.
Practical Implications:
Coaches must keep the batting order consistent and communicate planned early departures during ground rules.
Simplified Wording:
Everyone bats. The order stays the same. Late players go last.
Governance Purpose:
Ensures participation and prevents lineup manipulation.
Important Note:
Injury or illness is handled differently than ejection or unannounced early departure.
Best Practice:
Coaches should announce planned early departures during ground rules and record them on the lineup.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Batting order management must follow STLWEST continuous lineup rules.
Bottom Line:
Continuous batting order is required and must be managed carefully.
Section 5.11 – Offensive and Defensive Coaches on the Field
Official Rule:
There are to be only two (2) offensive coaches on the field (first and third base Coaches). There are to be ZERO (0) defensive coaches on the field (No standing or sitting on buckets) outside of the dugout.
Meaning:
Offensive teams may have base coaches, but defensive coaches must stay off the field.
Practical Implications:
Defensive coaches cannot stand, sit on buckets, or position themselves outside the dugout during defensive play.
Simplified Wording:
Two offensive base coaches allowed. No defensive coaches on the field.
Governance Purpose:
Keeps gameplay fair, safe, and uncluttered.
Important Note:
The rule specifically prohibits standing or sitting on buckets outside the dugout.
Best Practice:
Review coach positioning expectations during ground rules.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Defensive coaching must occur from the dugout.
Bottom Line:
No defensive coaches are allowed on the field outside the dugout.
Section 5.12 – Hit By Pitch Avoidance
Official Rule:
If no attempt is made to avoid being hit by a pitch, the batter will not be awarded first base unless it is ball four.
Meaning:
A batter must attempt to avoid being hit when possible.
Practical Implications:
The umpire must judge whether the batter made an effort to avoid the pitch.
Simplified Wording:
You cannot intentionally take a pitch to get first base unless it is ball four.
Governance Purpose:
Prevents unsafe or unfair behavior by batters.
Important Note:
Hit by pitch does not automatically award first base if the batter made no attempt to avoid the pitch.
Best Practice:
Coaches should teach players to protect themselves and attempt to avoid pitches.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Avoidance is part of the hit-by-pitch judgment.
Bottom Line:
No attempt to avoid means no first base unless the pitch is ball four.
Section 5.13 – Sliding, Avoiding Contact, and Malicious Intent
Official Rule:
Whenever a tag play is evident, runners must slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties.
Clarification:
Runner must: a. Slide or b. Seek to avoid contact with fielder
Penalty: a. No slide to avoid – runner is out
b. Malicious intent – runner is out and ejected
MALICIOUS INTENT OF ANY TYPE ON ANY PLAYER WILL RESULT IN AN EJECTION
Meaning:
When a tag play is happening, the runner must either slide or avoid contact.
Practical Implications:
Runners are not always required to slide, but they must avoid unnecessary contact. Malicious contact results in ejection.
Simplified Wording:
Slide or avoid contact. Malicious contact means out and ejected.
Governance Purpose:
Protects player safety and discourages dangerous collisions.
Important Note:
Malicious contact supersedes obstruction penalties.
Best Practice:
Coaches should teach players to slide early, avoid contact, and never initiate contact with intent.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Safety controls the ruling on tag plays involving contact.
Bottom Line:
Runners must slide or avoid contact when a tag play is evident.
Section 5.14 – Courtesy Runner for Pitcher and Catcher
Official Rule:
At any time, the team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher of record from the previous time on defense. The courtesy runner must be the player who made the last out. If the player who made the last out was a pitcher or catcher, you can revert to the next non-pitcher or catcher who made an out to act as courtesy runner.
Meaning:
Courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher to help speed up the game.
Practical Implications:
The courtesy runner is not chosen randomly. The last-out rule must be followed.
Simplified Wording:
Pitchers and catchers may get courtesy runners, usually the last out.
Governance Purpose:
Keeps games moving and allows pitchers and catchers to prepare defensively.
Important Note:
If the last out was the pitcher or catcher, use the next non-pitcher or catcher who made an out.
Best Practice:
Scorekeepers should track the last out clearly to avoid confusion.
Key Operational Takeaway:
Courtesy runner eligibility follows a specific order.
Bottom Line:
Courtesy runners are allowed, but they must follow the STLWEST last-out procedure.
Important Note: This is Part 1 of Article 5. The official STLWEST rulebook remains the controlling authority for all gameplay, safety, participation, timing, forfeit, and game-management decisions.