Age Divisions
- 5U T-Ball, 6U, 7U and 8U Coach Pitch, 9U Modified, 10U, 11U, 12U and 13U.
- May 1st age cut-off determines a player's league age.
South Miami Youth Baseball
League Rules
Rosters & Registration
- Complete rosters are due before the first game — maximum 13 players.
- All players must complete the medical release / waiver.
- Coaches must keep a copy of each player's birth certificate.
- Players must play in 50% of regular-season games to be playoff eligible.
- Managers and assistant coaches must register, sign the coaches agreement and pass a background check.
Field Dimensions
- Bases — 5U: 55 ft · 6U–10U: 60 ft · 11U: 65 ft · 12U: 70 ft · 13U: 80 ft.
- Pitching — 5U: 36 ft · 6U–8U: 30 ft · 9U–11U: 46 ft · 12U: 48 ft · 13U: 54 ft.
Tee Ball (5U)
- Five innings or 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Six batters or three outs, whichever comes first.
- All batters hit off the tee — no strikeouts, softer ball.
- Runners stop on overthrows and once the ball reaches the infield clay.
- Over the cones is a home run; through the cones is a double.
- We keep score — but we're here for the kids.
6U Coach Pitch
- Six innings, 1 hour 30 minute time limit, max 5 runs per inning (last inning open).
- Run rule: 15 after 4 or 10 after 5 complete innings.
- 11 players in the field (6 infield, 5 outfield); can start with 8.
- Batter gets 5 pitches; after 3 misses, hits off the tee.
- No bunting, no head-first slides at home; players must slide on plays at the plate.
- Only the manager discusses issues with the umpire.
7U & 8U Coach Pitch
- Six innings, 1 hour 30 minute time limit, max 5 runs per inning (last inning open).
- 10 players in the field (6 infield, 4 outfield); can start with 8.
- Batter receives 5 pitches or 3 strikes; a fouled fifth pitch keeps the batter up.
- No bunting, no head-first slides at home.
- With 10 players a team must field a catcher; otherwise the coach catches.
9U / 10U Modified Kid Pitch
- Six innings, 1 hour 30 minute time limit, official after 3.
- Runners may steal 2B or 3B only after the ball crosses the plate.
- Score from 3B only on a hit or bases-loaded walk.
- No infield fly, no dropped third strike, no slashing, no metal cleats.
- Run rule: 12 after 3 or 10 after 4 innings.
- Pitchers max 3 innings; two mound visits removes the pitcher.
10U, 11U & 12U
- Six innings; leads and steals of 2nd and 3rd allowed.
- Balks called; dropped third strike in effect.
- Run rule: 15 after 3 or 10 after 4 innings.
- 9 players in the field; can start with 8.
- No suicide squeeze, no slashing, no metal cleats.
Pitching
- 9U–12U: 3 innings per game · 13U: 5 innings per game.
- One pitch in an inning counts as a full inning.
- Pitchers over the limit sit out the next game.
- A removed pitcher cannot return to the mound.
- 10U pitchers receive one balk warning.
General
- Suspended unofficial games resume from the point of suspension.
- Catchers must wear mask, helmet and throat guard at all times.
- All players must wear a protective cup and full uniform.
- No metal cleats.
- One defensive coach may stand in the coaches box at the dugout gate.
- Catchers may not block the plate without the ball.
- Intentional walks must be pitched.
Pre & Post Game
- No live batting or infield practice on game fields — soft-ball hit-downs only.
- Home team uses the 1st-base dugout.
- Umpires hold a pre-game conference and check coaching IDs.
Playoffs & Awards
- Every division except T-Ball has playoffs.
- Higher seed is home team throughout.
- 1st and 2nd place players receive trophies / rings (up to 12 per team).
Time Limits
- 5U: 1 hour · 6U–8U: 1 hour 30 minutes · 9U–13U: 1 hour 30 minutes.
- No new inning with less than 15 minutes remaining (9U+).
- Clock starts with the first pitch.
Protests
- Protests on rule infractions only — not judgment calls.
- $100 cash protest fee, refunded if upheld.
- Must be made before the next pitch; eligibility protests before the game.
Forfeits
- Forfeit time is 15 minutes after scheduled start.
- Teams with 8+ players at game time must start.
- Using an ineligible player results in a forfeit.
Conduct
- Only manager, coaches and rostered players in the dugout — max 3 coaches, in team attire.
- Only the manager may discuss plays with umpires.
- No noise makers, smoking, alcohol or illegal substances anywhere in the park.
- Ejections carry a minimum one-game suspension.
- Physical altercations result in suspension of at least one year.
- Unruly fans will be asked to leave. One team cooler per dugout only.
- Please clean your dugout after every game.