15U Competitive (Rep) Baseball
All 15U levels (AAA, AA, A) play in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League
The following is from the Baseball Nova Scotia handbook pertaining to 15U Leagues (AAA, AA, A)
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. 15U level teams may affiliate with a 15U 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 – 15U AAA can affiliate with 13U AAA, AA or 15U AA, A. Example – 15U AA cannot affiliate with an 15U AAA team but can affiliate with a 15U “A” or 13U “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.
2.7. Rosters
2.7.1 All participating teams must have a copy of their roster submitted online and hard copy on hand at all BNS sanctioned events.
2.7.2 No player shall be permitted to register on more than one roster. However, a player may appear on one roster plus 15U Boys team without penalty.
- 15U Distance between bases 80’
- 15U Pitching distance 54’
- 15U Baseballs 80CC / ROML
- 15U Pitcher’s Mound to be elevated
5.2.6. Bat Rule
5.2.6.3 15U – 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.
5.1.6.3. If the team consists of all female players, they will be permitted to use an aluminum bat with a maximum weight-length differential of -5. There are no restrictions on wood bats.
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).
5.2.12. Pitch Count 15U
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- No Rest 1-35
- 1 day rest 36-50
- 2 days rest 51-65
- 3 days rest 66-80
- 4 days rest 81-95
- Daily Max 95
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: 15U – 35 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 A pitcher’s combined 3-day pitch count cannot exceed: 15U – 135 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 15U 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 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. (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: 13U eligible player pitching in 15U Provincials must abide by 13U 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 will be offered in 15U AAA, AA, A levels.
5.3.1.2 At 15U, 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 15U, 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 15U A & AA – 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 All 15U 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 15U – Plate $55.00 / Base $45.00 = $100.00 Total
3. Coaching
3.1. Coaching Requirements For Provincial Championship’s, Provincial Qualifications, the following divisions require:
3.1.9. 15U 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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3.1.10. 15U 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
- Safe Sport E-Learning
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3.1.11. 15U AAA Requirements (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
- Skills Module
- Safe Sport E-Learning
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3.1.12. 15U AAA Requirements (Head Coach)
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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
- Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
- Safe Sport E-Learning
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4.2. 15U 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 15U National Championships. This program is the Train to Train stage (Development level), and progresses athletes to the 17U Provincial Team programs. Note: The 15U Provincial Team will play a limited schedule in the 18U AAA league and attend the Baseball Canada 15U National Championships.
4.7.2. Qualifications
Head coach must be Provincial Certified at time of applying for 15U 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.