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CPYL RULE ADDITIONS/REVISIONS 1993 - 2006


The safety of all participants is the basic value underlying all these rules. All coaches, players, 
parents, and other citizens of participating towns must recognize this fact and recognize that the 
Central Penobscot Youth League cannot tolerate any conditions, actions, or behavior on the part of 
anyone that mitigates against the safety of participants or spectators. Any team violating this 
principle may be ineligible to compete in the league.


1.Games will end no later than 8:00 p.m. until June 1. Thereafter games will end no later than 8:15 
except as noted under rule 33, below. The only other exception is for a game played on a lighted 
field. In this circumstance the game will continue, only if necessary, until it is a regulation game as 
defined by rule 4.10 ( c ) (pg. 23) in the 1987 Revised C.P.Y.L. rulebook). Umpire is responsible 
for keeping official time or designating official timekeeper. 


 2.Umpiring: 


    

  1. Umpires must keep the official time. 

  2. All umpires must be at least 16 years of age. 

  3. During playoffs and championship games, neutral umpires must be used.

  4. Plate umpires for playoffs and championship will be paid up to $25.00. Base umpires will 
be paid up to $10.

  5. Plate umpire will be paid up to $30 for the all star game (if any).

  6. All umpires should be provided with a rule book and must know the rules of this league. 

  7. Each umpire should understand that he/she is in charge.

  8. Umpire is responsible for the safety of the players.

  9. Umpire is responsible for reconciling score sheets.




 3.All games, including interdivisional, will count in the standings. 


4.Teams will be seeded for playoffs according to overall record. (1) If a tie exists, head-to-head 
win-loss record will determine seeding. (2) If a tie still exists, record within division will determine 
seeding. (3) If a tie still exists, head-to-head run totals will determine seeding. (4) If a tie still exists, 
record for 2nd half of season will determine 2seeding. (5) If a tie still exists, records against 1st, 
2nd, 3rd, and so on seeded teams will be compared until the tie is broken. (6) If a tie still exists, 
road record will determine seeding. (7) If a tie still exists, road record within division will 
determine seeding. (8) If a tie still exists, a coin flip or some other means satisfactory to both 
coaches will be used to break tie. We must not put ourselves in a position of using total runs against 
all teams as a tiebreaker. This procedure promotes the running up of scores on weak teams and 
discourages coaches from allowing reserves to play more in one-sided games. Total runs as a 
tiebreaker is strongly discouraged by responsible individuals and organizations and has been 
unanimously condemned by our appeals committee. 


 5.Players must plan in at least 50% of a team's games in order to be eligible to play for that team in 
the playoffs. 


6.Pitchers may pitch no more than 9 outs per day or game, the outs in a game to be consecutive, and no more than a total of 27 outs per 
week counting a week as Sunday - Saturday. 


7.All team members must have at least the same color shirts as the rest of the team to be eligible to 
play in a game. 


8.Coach of the home team is responsible for having a copy of the rules at each game. 


 9.Rosters must include child's name, date of birth, and age as of July 4 of the current year (9-year-
olds Aug. 1). 


10.Dues are $125 (changed 2002) per team unless otherwise decided by the coaches. 


11.A runner must return to base when the pitcher or catcher has control of the ball and the runner's 
forward motion has ceased: 

The runner must stay on base until the next pitch unless the ball is mishandled in returning it to 
the pitcher or another play is attempted by the defense.


12.If a runner leaves base early, the runner is out, but the ball is dead and all other runners remain 
on base where they were at the start of play. There is no first warning. 


13.Each child must be given the opportunity to try out for the team from his or her town regardless 
of gender. 


14.Playoff games will consist of six (6) innings unless more are needed to break a tie. Playoff 
games halted for any reason shall be resumed from the exact point at which the game was halted. 
The lineup and batting order of both teams shall be the same as when the game was halted, subject 
to the rules governing substitution. Rule #6 above applies to this situation.


15.Protests (Rule 4.19) 
For any protest or rules clarification the protesting (or requesting) manager/coach must notify the 
league president within 24 hours. The league president will contact two neutral manager/coaches in 
order to rule on the protest. The league president will then notify the protesting or requesting 
coach/manager and the other coach/manager involved (if any) of the decision/ruling. This decision 
is final.

If a protest is denied, upon notification the game and score stand as played. If a protest is allowed, 
the game shall be resumed from the exact point at which the infraction occurred.
If a question of player eligibility or other issue arises, the involved coach/manager or the board of 
directors shall direct the president to investigate and rule on the matter. If necessary, the president 
shall follow the above protest procedures.


16.At curfew (8 or 8:15) depending on season, if 4 innings have not been completed, but one team 
leads by 12 or more runs as of the last full inning, the game is over and the leading team is declared 
the winner. Otherwise, the trailing coach can elect to replay or concede. 


17.Starting in the 1999 season, 13-year-olds will no longer be eligible to participate in the Central 
Penobscot Youth League. This change (accepted by a 7-0 vote of the towns/teams present) has been 
under consideration for several years. To be eligible to play, the 9th birthday of a child must occur 
before August 1 and the 13th birthday of the child must not occur before July 4 of the current year 
in order for the child to be eligible to play. In other words, the child must turn 9 before August of 
the current year, but not turn 13 before July 4 of the current year in order to be eligible. 



2000 additions



18.If a pitcher hits a batter two times in one inning or three times in one game that player must be 
removed as pitcher, but may remain in the game in another position. 


(The following refer to sections in the 1987 Revised Rule Book)


19.Sec. 1.06 - Bases designed to disengage from their anchor systems for safety purposes are 
permitted. 



20.Sec. 1.10 - Bat: Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited. 


21.Sec. 1.10 - The traditional batting donut is prohibited. 


22.Sec. 1.11 (g) - Exception: Jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition is 
permissible. 


23.Sec. 1.16 - All protective helmets must meet NOCSAE specifications and standards. 


24.Sec. 1.17 - All catcher's helmets must meet NOCSAE specifications and standards. 


25.Sec. 2.00 (Obstruction) - A fake tag is considered obstruction. 
(Note: If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and 
near enough to the fielder so he/she must occupy his/her position to receive the ball, the fielder may 
be considered "in the act of fielding a ball". It is entirely up to the judgement of the umpire as to 
whether a fielder is in the "act of fielding a ball". After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball 
and missed, the fielder can no longer be in the "act of fielding a ball". (Example: If an infielder 
dives at a ground ball and the ball passes the fielder, and he/she continues to lie on the ground and 
delays the progress of the runner, the fielder has very likely obstructed the runner.)


26.Sec. 6.08 (b) (2) - If the batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by a pitched ball and it 
is outside the strike zone, but hits the batter; then it shall be called a ball. 


27.Sec. 7.06 (b) - (Note 1: When the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner 
advances beyond the base which, in the umpire's judgement, the runner would have been awarded 
because of being obstructed, the runner does so at his/her own risk and may be tagged out. This is a 
judgement call.) 


(Note 2: A defensive player (including the catcher) without the ball in his/her possession, has no 
right to impede the progress of any runner or block the pathway of the runner attempting to get to a 
base or score. The base line belongs to the runner and the defensive player (including the catcher) 
should be there only in the "act of fielding a ball" (see sec. 2.00 "Note") or with the ball already in 
his/her possession.)


28.Sec. 7.08 (a) (3) - The runner is out if he slides headfirst while advancing. 


29.Sec 1.06 (DOUBLE FIRST BASE) - A double first base shall be used. This base shall be one 
piece (two bases placed beside each other is prohibited), half white and half colored. The white 
section will be in fair territory and the colored section will be in foul territory. (This rule is optional 
for the 2000 season and mandatory for the 2001 season.) 



DOUBLE FIRST BASE RULES:



30.The batter-runner should use the colored base on the initial play at first base and the fielder 
should use the white base. (The batter-runner is not out if the fielder touches the colored base rather 
than the white base). 


31.A batter-runner is not out for touching the white base rather than the colored base unless there is 
interference by the batter-runner. (See sec. 6.05 (k)). 


32.Once the batter-runner reaches first base, only the white base shall be used. 



2001 Additions



33.Playoff games will start at 5:30 unless otherwise arranged and end at 8:30 except that they may 
end earlier at the discretion of the umpire. Umpire must take extreme precautions to protect 
children from playing under conditions of dangerous darkness. 

 


34.In cases of a dangerously thrown bat, the team of the player throwing the bat shall receive a 
warning in the first instance. In the second instance and in all subsequent instances for that team, 
the player throwing the bat shall be declared out. In this event, the ball shall be declared dead and 
all runners must return to the base they occupied before the last pitch. 


 35.The balk rule shall be discontinued for the Central Penobscot Youth League. Illegal pitch rules 
remain in effect. 


 36.A team may not play with fewer than 8 players. If a team plays with 8 players, the ninth 
position is an automatic out when that position would come to bat. If another player for that team 
arrives at the game after the start of the game, that player shall be inserted into the lineup 
immediately in the vacant or ninth batting position. 



Later Additions



37. All current year and past dues must be in the hands of the treasurer  by the second Monday of 
June or all games played that year will be forfeited as will all games to be played until dues are 
paid.


38.  Preliminary rosters are due (sent to president) by the start of play.  Final rosters are due by the 
second Monday of June.


39. Batter is out on third strike and may not advance to first even if ball is dropped by catcher.




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