18U Competitive (Rep) Baseball
All 18U levels (AAA, AA, A) play in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League
The following is from the Baseball Nova Scotia handbook pertaining to 18U Leagues (AAA, AA, A)
2.8. Affiliation
Any team may affiliate with one team of a lower age division at equal or lower classification OR affiliate with one team at the same age division at a lower classification, by submitting a completed affiliation form and copies of the affiliate’s rosters to the BNS office no later than July 28th. 18U level teams may affiliate with a 18U house league team within their association provided that a list of all house team players is submitted. You must affiliate with a team within your association if a team is available. Approval of affiliation forms are dealt with by the BNS office on a case-by-case basis.
Example – 18U AAA can affiliate with 15U AAA, AA or 18U AA, A. Example – 18U AA cannot affiliate with an 15U AAA team but can affiliate with a 18U “A” or 15U “AA”,”A”.
Following affiliation, a player registered with a lower age division team may play with a higher age division team from the lower age division team. Teams can call up from their affiliated team for Bluenose League, Provincial Championships, Qualification Tournaments or National Eliminations
2.9. 18U Roster Policy
2.9.2 Players turning 18 in the calendar year (or younger) require a release from their current association to transfer to a new association or team.
2.9.3 Players turning 18 in the calendar year are eligible to tryout for 22U (within their association or the closest 22U program in their region) with permission from their current association.
2.9.4 Players turning 17 or younger in the calendar year must play in the 18U division, unless they are granted Exceptional status (outlined in rule 2.9.9 to 2.9.12).
2.9.5 Players turning 16 in the calendar year must play in the 18U division (cannot apply for Exceptional status).
2.9.6 Players turning 17 in the calendar year must obtain approval from their current association and Exceptional status to play in the 22U division. The player would only be eligible to tryout for the 22U team in their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region. their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region.
2.9.7 Players turning 18 in the calendar year must obtain approval from their current association to play in the 22U division. Should this request be denied, the player will be eligible to request Exceptional status. The player would only be eligible to tryout for the 22U team in their association, or the closest 22U team in their Region.
2.9.8 Players unsuccessful in trying out for a 22U team must return to their 18U team.
2.9.9 Players wishing to apply for Exceptional status must provide the BNS office with an official letter for review and a $300 non-refundable fee. The letter must include rationale for the request based on skill level, playing experience, references (if available), and overall reasoning for playing in the 22U division.
2.9.10 The letter will be reviewed by committee consisting of the BNS Technical Director, High Performance Committee members and/or Provincial team coaches (minimum of three).
2.9.11 An official decision will be communicated to the requesting player within seven (7) days of receipt.
2.9.12 Should the request be successful, $200 will be returned to the applicant.
2.9.13 All rosters for 18U AAA and 22U AAA teams must be submitted by June 1st.
2.9.14 All 18U aged players on a 22U roster as of June 1st are ineligible to participate in 18U National Eliminations and Provincials.
2.9.15 Players on an 18U AAA roster as of June 1st, are eligible to be called up for a maximum of 5 games (exhibition, league or in-province tournaments) to their 22U AAA affiliate after the June 1st date. Any out of province competitions would not count towards the 5-game cap, as long as the team receives writing permission from the athlete 18U team to attend the event. This written permission must be submitted to Baseball Nova Scotia. Failure to do so will result in all out of province games counting towards the 5-game cap.
2.9.16 Players on an 18U AAA roster as of June 1st, can play in a maximum of 1 (one) game with their 22U AAA affiliate at the National Elimination Tournament, and 1 (one) game at Provincial Championships.
2.9.17 Once an affiliate player has played their (one) game, they will not be permitted on the bench for subsequent games. A player must enter the game in some capacity (pitching, hitting, base running, fielding) to be considered to have played their 1 (one game)
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- 18U Distance between bases: 90’
- 18U Pitching distance: 60’ 6”
- 18U Baseballs: ROML
- 18U Pitcher’s Mound to be elevated
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5.2.6.4. Bat Rule
5.2.6.4 18U – In all levels (AAA, AA, A) Only wood bats, bamboo bats and wood composite bats will be allowed. Wood composite bats include wood bats with fiberglass sheathing and wood barreled bats with composite handles. Wood composite bats do not include any bat that has any metallic component. Note: Females playing on all boys’ teams at this level must adhere to rule
5.1.6.4. If the team consists of all female player’s, they will be permitted to use an aluminum bat with a maximum weight-length differential of minus (-) 5. There are no restrictions on wood bats.
5.2.6.5 Colored Bats – BNS permits the use of colored bats, but does prohibit any bat that, in the opinion of the umpires, discolors the ball. Any such bat shall be removed from the game.
5.2.11. Mercy Rule
The mercy rule shall be applied in the following situations: a team is ahead; 20 runs after 3 innings (2.5 innings with the home team ahead), 15 runs after 4 innings (3.5 innings with the home team ahead) and 10 runs after 5 innings (4.5 innings with the home team ahead).
5.2.12. Pitch Count 18U
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- No Rest 1-40
- 1 day rest 41-55
- 2 days rest 56-70
- 3 days rest 71-85
- 4 days rest 86-105
- Daily Max 105
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5.2.13. Pitch Count Three Day Maximum A pitcher cannot pitch in 3 consecutive days UNLESS a pitcher’s first 2 days combined does not exceed: 18U – 40 pitches
5.2.14.1 Pitchers will not be permitted to exceed the maximum daily allowable number of pitches in any two-day period.
5.2.14.2 An 18U pitcher’s combined 3-day pitch count cannot exceed: 105 pitches
5.2.14.3 Pitch Counts will be used for all BNS sanctioned tournaments (Qualifications, Provincial, Atlantic’s, Bluenose league play & National Eliminations).
5.2.14.4 Pitch Counts will be used in 18U at the A, AA & AAA levels.
5.2.14.7 In all Baseball Nova Scotia sanctioned competitions, once a pitcher is about to throw the pitch which would lead him/her to reach any one of the pitch count thresholds and the coach wishes not to throw this pitcher past this threshold, the coach will call time and indicate to the umpire this would be the last batter. Once that at-bat is completed, the pitcher must be withdrawn and be credited with only throwing the limit of pitches for that particular threshold.
For example, in 18U, if a coach wants a pitcher to be withdrawn at 40 pitches, they will signal to the umpire prior to the throwing of the 40th pitch. “Last batter”. Once the pitcher finishes that batter, he/she would be withdrawn from the game and credited with throwing 40 pitches even if they threw any additional pitches to retire the batter.
5.2.14.8 When the pitcher reaches their daily max, they may finish the batter.
5.2.14.9 Should a pitcher throw under the daily threshold in their first game of the day, and pitches a second time that day, they must announce the last batter before the two-game total reaches the daily threshold. For example, in 15U, a pitcher throws 20 pitches Saturday morning, and returns to pitch again in another game Saturday afternoon. If the coach wants to have the pitcher available for Sunday, the coach must announce the last batter before the pitcher throw pitch number 15 in game two (which would be 35 pitches on the day).
5.2.14.10 Calling last batter is only applicable to the daily pitch thresholds as defined in the Pitch Count chart. It cannot be called to stay under limits as it relates to two and three day thresholds. (I.E an 11U pitcher throws 25 pitches on day 1. Last batter can be called prior to the 26th pitch. If the pitcher throws on day 2, last batter CANNOT be called prior to pitch 15 on the day to stay under the two day threshold. Once the pitcher has thrown the 16th pitch to pass 40 pitches for the two days, the two day threshold has been passed and the pitcher would not be eligible to pitch again in the tournament).
5.2.14.11 Players who hit their two day limit in the first game of the day are not eligible to pitch for the rest of the day (I.E an 11U pitcher throws 20 pitches on Friday. They throw 25 pitches in game 1 on Saturday. Since they’ve passed the 40 pitch threshold that requires two days rest, they are not eligible to pitch again that day)
5.2.14.12 For the purposes of recording pitch count in situations where a pitcher was removed in the first game of a day after the last batter is announced, the pitches thrown will reflect the threshold (not the exact number of pitches thrown). For example, in 15U, the last batter is announced as a pitcher reaches their daily 35 pitch threshold. The pitcher throws 37 pitches to complete the batter. The pitches shall be recorded as 35, and the pitcher would be eligible to pitch 60 pitches in game 2 that day.
5.2.14.13 Players playing in an older age division must abide by the Pitch Count rules for the age division they belong in. Example: 15U eligible player pitching in 18U Provincials must abide by 15U pitch count rules.
5.3. Provincial Championships
5.3.1. Organization and Rules The Baseball Nova Scotia Championships are offered to all teams registered prior to the Provincial Championship registration deadline. Provincials Championships for the following divisions and classifications will be offered. 18U – AAA, AA, A
5.3.1.2 At 18U, the A divisions will be Tiered to create competitive balance.
5.4. Bluenose League Handbook
5.4.1. Objectives
5.4.1.1 To provide a competitive baseball league for all areas of the province which fosters fun, learning and supports the spirit of good sportsmanship.
5.4.1.2 The Bluenose League is a FAIR PLAY LEAGUE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYERS.
5.4.1.3 All Bluenose League games for 18U AA and lower divisions; all players must bat in the batting order.
5.4.1.4 In 18U, players must play at least three (3) innings in the field (unless game is shortened by mercy rule, rain, etc.).
5.4.1.5 An exemption of this rule may be used by a coach for “disciplinary” reasons. The coach of the other team is to be advised prior to the game.
5.4.4.4 Run Limits
5.4.5.4.4.3 18U A – Teams cannot score more than 5 runs per inning with the exception of the last inning being an open inning.
5.4.4.5 Game Time Limits
5.4.4.5.3 18U All divisions – games must be completed in 2 hour and 15 minutes (2:15). Should a game reach the end of the time limit the current inning is to be completed (top and bottom).
APPENDIX B – BNSUD Umpires Rates & Fees
The following information will be used for all Baseball Nova Scotia sanctioned tournaments including National Eliminations, Provincial Qualifications and Provincial Championships
Game Fees 18U – Plate $65.00 / Base $55.00 = $120.00 Total
3.0 Coaching
3.1. Coaching Requirements For Provincial Championship’s, Provincial Qualifications, and National Eliminations (22U and 18U) the following divisions require:
3.1.13. 18U A Requirements (Head & Assistant Coaches)
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- Online Initiation in Sport Module
- Online Initiation in Baseball Module
- Initiation Module
- Teaching and Learning Module
- Pitching and Catching Module
- Safe Sport E-Learning
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3.1.14. 18U AA Requirements (Head & Assistant Coaches)
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- Online Initiation in Sport Module
- Online Initiation in Baseball Module
- Initiation Module
- Teaching and Learning Module
- Absolutes Module
- Planning Module
- Pitching and Catching Module (Head Coach only)
- Strategies Module (Head Coach only)
- Safe Sport E-Learning
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3.1.15. 18U AAA Requirements (Head & Assistant Coaches)
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- Online Initiation in Sport Module
- Online Initiation in Baseball Module
- Initiation Module
- Teaching and Learning Module
- Absolutes Module
- Planning Module
- Pitching & Catching Module
- Strategies Module
- Skills Module
- Safe Sport E-Learning
- Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
- 16+ Portfolio, Game Evaluation, and Practice Evaluation (Head Coach only)
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4.7.2. Qualifications • Head coach must be Provincial Certified at time of applying for the 18U program.
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- Assistant coaches must be Provincial Trained by July 1st .
- Baseball Resume
- References
- Strategic Plan (Head Coach only)
- Proposed Calendar of Events (Head Coach only)
- Typical Practice Plan (3-hr session) (Head coach only)
- Coaching Philosophy (Approach, role delegation, etc.) (Head Coach only)
- Criminal Record check and Child Abuse Registry check will be required from all successful applicants for both head and assistant coach roles
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