13U Competitive (Rep) Baseball
All 13U levels (AAA, AA, A) play in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League
The following is from the Baseball Nova Scotia handbook pertaining to 13U Leagues (AAA, AA, A)
2.8. Affiliation
2.8.1 If a team within the same association is within one competition level of a team looking to affiliate, they must affiliate with that team.
2.8.2 A team is considered to be automatically affiliated to a team one competition level below them within the same association. In the case described in this clause there is no need to fill out an affiliation form online.
2.8.3 In all other scenarios (including a team within the same association more than one competition level below) an online affiliation must be filled out.
2.8.4 Any team may affiliate with one team of a higher age division or classification and one team of a lower age division or classification, by submitting a completed affiliation form and copies of the affiliates’ rosters to the BNS office no later than July 28th (should the team not fall under rule 2.8.2).
Note: Any team may affiliate with one team of a lower age division at equal or lower classification OR affiliate with 1 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. 13U level teams may affiliate with an 13U 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 – 13U AAA can affiliate with 11U AAA, AA or 13U AA, A. Example – 13U AA cannot affiliate with an 11U AAA team but can affiliate with a 13U “A” or 11U “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 with no limits on the amount of games those players are eligible to be used.
4.3. 13U Provincial Team To systematically identify and develop the province’s best athletes. This program seeks to prepare these athletes to showcase their talents at the 13U National Championships. This program is the Train to Train stage (Development level), and progresses athletes to the 15U Provincial Team programs. Note: The 13U Provincial Team will play a limited exhibition schedule (4-6 games) and attend the Baseball Canada 13U National Championships.
- 13U Distance between bases: 70’
- 13U Pitching Distance: 48’
- 13U Baseballs: 65CC
- 13U Footwear – Shoes with metal cleats are not permitted in 13U and below
5.2.6. Bat Rule
5.2.6.2 13U – The bat shall be round and made of approved material … it shall NOT be more than thirty-two (32) inches in length, nor more than 2-3/4 inches in diameter at its thickest part.
Bats may be taped to a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches from the handle. The bat may have a maximum weight-length differential of minus (-)10.
Cupped Bats. An indentation in the end of the bat up to one inch in depth is permitted and may be no wider than two inches and no less than one inch in diameter. The indentation must be curved with no foreign substance added.
5.2.10. Injured Player, Courtesy Runner
A courtesy runner may be used for a player who has, before the game, declared a health issue to the opposing coach and umpire. A batter after hitting the ball must reach at least first base on his or her own. Once play has stopped the batter who just became a runner may be replaced by the last offensive player declared out.
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).
4.3. 13U Provincial Team
To systematically identify and develop the province’s best athletes. This program seeks to prepare these athletes to showcase their talents at the 13U National Championships. This program is the Train to Train stage (Development level), and progresses athletes to the 15U Provincial Team programs.
Note: The 13U Provincial Team will play a limited exhibition schedule (4-6 games) and attend the Baseball Canada 13U National Championships.
4.7.2. Qualifications
- Head coach must be Provincial Certified at time of applying for the 13U program.
- Assistant coaches must be Provincial Trained by July 1st
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- 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
4.8. Athlete Selection Guidelines
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- To be considered for High Performance programs, athletes must be a member of Baseball Nova Scotia.
- Athletes must preregister for any Baseball Nova Scotia sanctioned evaluation camp through the head coach or manager
- Athletes will be evaluated based on a standardized player evaluation form
- All participating athletes will receive feedback in the form of an email, letter, or other means of communication
- Selection timelines may vary from team to team, and vary due to unforeseen circumstances
- High Performance coaches may consider athletes unable to attend tryouts based on previous evaluations, or participation in BNS High Performance programming. This will occur on a case-by-case basis. Reasons for absence can include (but not limited to) attending an out of Province academic institution, injuries, or commitments to completing another sport season.
5.2.12. Pitch Count 13U
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- No Rest 1-30
- 1 day rest 31-45
- 2 days rest 46-60
- 3 days rest 61-75
- 4 days rest 76-85
- Daily Max 85
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5.2.13. Pitch Count Three Day Maximum
A 13U pitcher cannot pitch in 3 consecutive days UNLESS a pitcher’s first 2 days combined does not exceed 30 pitches.
5.2.14. Pitch Count rules
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 A 13U pitcher’s combined 3-day pitch count cannot exceed 120 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 13U 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 15U, if a coach wants a pitcher to be withdrawn at 35 pitches, they will signal to the umpire prior to the throwing of the 35th pitch. “Last batter”. Once the pitcher finishes that batter, he/she would be withdrawn from the game and credited with throwing 35 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.
For example, 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
For example, 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: 13U eligible player pitching in 15U Provincials must abide by 13U pitch count rules.
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 13U, players must play a minimum of 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.
5.3. 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. 13U – AAA, AA, A
5.3.1.2 At 13U, the A divisions will be Tiered to create competitive balance.
5.3.1.5 At 13U A, all events at Tier 2 and lower will have a 3 run limit per inning. The final inning will be open.
5.3.1.6 At 13U A Tier 1, all events will have a 5 run limit per inning. The final inning will be open.
5.4.4.5 Game Time Limits
5.4.4.5.2 13U All divisions – games must be completed in 2 hour and 00 minutes (2:00). 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
13U Umpire Fees – Plate $40.00 / Base $30.00 = Total $70.00
3.1. 13U Coaching Requirements
3.1. For Provincial Championship’s, Provincial Qualifications, the following divisions require:
- 3.1.5. 13U A Requirements (Head Coach & 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
- 3.1.6. 13U AA Requirements (Head Coach & 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
- Safe Sport E-Learning
- 3.1.7. 13U AAA Requirements (Head Coach & 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
- Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
- 13U Video Package
- Safe Sport E-Learning
- 13U Core Portfolio and Practice Evaluation (Head Coach only)