Frequently asked questions about rules

Baseball has many, many, many rules and procedures, and all can be found in the official Baseball Quebec rulebook, available here: BASEBALL QUEBEC RULEBOOK 2024

The Ligue féminin de baseball du Québec goes by the Baseball Quebec rulebook, with some exceptions, detailed here: LFBQ RULES 2024

However, certain rules questions come up daily or weekly during a season. This page is a quick reference tool for the most common rules questions. These rules come directly from BQ and are not interpretations.

General rules

Call-ups & substitute players

Teams may call players up from any age group or skill level below their own (Ex: 11U-A may call up from 11U-B, 9U-A, or 9U-B.
They may only go down up to one age level (Ex: 13U can call up from 11U, but not 9U)
Call-ups may not pitch in regular-season play
You may call players up from other associations (Ex: If 15U-B has a game in Pierrefonds, they can get a Pierrefonds-based 13U-A or B player to substitute for them)
Minimum players required to play: (Note: If a team falls below the number due to an in-game injury, the game continues. If a team falls below the number in-game due to expulsion of a player, the game is forfeited)
- 9U-B: 5 in season play, 9 in tournaments/playoffs
- 9U-A, 11U-A&B, 13U A&B, 15U/16U-A&B, 18U/21U-A&B:: 7 in season play, 9 in tournaments/playoffs

Player hit in the head 103.24

a) 9U to 18U/21UF A, B & Grand Slam class
When a batter is hit by a pitch in the head, they are awarded first base, but must be replaced by a "courtesy runner", which is the the last player out before that batter. If they person cannot be determined, the preceding player in batting order not on base becomes the replacement runner. The courtesy runner may only advance on a ball that is hit into play off a bat and cannot steal bases.

If the ball goes off the bat and hits the player in the head, they must be replaced by the next batter, who inherits the existing count. See Rule 103.24 for more detail and for what to do when a base runner is hit in the head by a thrown ball.

Length of games

9U-A, 11U-A, 13U-A: Any inning which begins 90 minutes (1h30) after the official start of a game is declared "last inning" and this inning is open. The game is over after this inning.

Ex: For a game starting at 6:30 pm, whichever inning starts as of 8:00 pm is the last inning. It does not matter if the previous inning goes past 8:00 pm - the inning that starts at or after 8:00 pm is the last inning.

9U-B, 11U-B, 13U-B: Any inning which begins 75 minutes (1h15) after the official start of a game is declared "last inning" and this inning is open. The game is over after this inning.

Ex: For a game starting at 6:30 pm, whichever inning starts as of 7:45 pm is the last inning. It does not matter if the previous inning goes past 7:45 pm - the inning that starts at or after 7:45 pm is the last inning.

15U-A, 18U-A: Any inning which begins 105 minutes (1h45) after the official start of a game is declared "last inning" and this inning is open. The game is over after this inning.

Ex: For a game starting at 6:30 pm, whichever inning starts as of 8:15 pm is the last inning. It does not matter if the previous inning goes past 8:15 pm - the inning that starts at or after 8:15 pm is the last inning.

15U-B, 18U-B: Any inning which begins 90 minutes (1h30) after the official start of a game is declared "last inning" and this inning is open. The game is over after this inning.

Run cap (per inning)

9U-B: 6 batters

11U-B/13U-B: 3 Run Max

15U-B/18U-B: 4 Run Max

All A levels: 5 Run Max

Mercy rule (per game): Rule 40.6.d

9U to 13U division:

A 10 run “Mercy Rule” shall apply after the 4th inning or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead.
A 15 run “Mercy Rule” shall apply after the 3rd inning or 2.5 innings if the home team is ahead.
15U/16UF to Senior division:
A 10 run “Mercy Rule” shall apply after the 5th inning or 4.5 innings if the home team is ahead.
A 15 run “Mercy Rule” shall apply after the 4th inning or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead.
A game ends immediately when a team, due to the run per inning limitation, cannot win the game.

Mound & base distances

9U: Mound 44', Bases 60'

11U: Mound 44', Bases 60'

13U: Mound 48', Bases '70

15U/16U: Mound 54', Bases 80'

18U: Mound 60.6', Bases 90'

22U: Mound 60.6', Bases 90'

Uniform Code

All players and coaches have to wear a complete baseball uniform. The wearing of shorts, t-shirt and sandals is prohibited No protest is allowed on the uniform. (Rule 103.3)

Players are not allowed on a baseball field without a baseball cap on their head, day or night, for both practice and games.
Players are forbidden from wearing game jerseys for practice without exception.

Where to find age-specific rules in the Baseball Quebec 2024 Rulebook

9U: Page 51, Section 105 - Playing rules for the 9U division

11U: Page 56, Section 106 - Playing rules for the 11U division

13U: Page 58, Section 107 - Playing rules for the 13U division

15U/16UF: Page 60, Section 108 - Playing rules for the 15U/16UF division

18U/21UF: Page 61, Section 109 - Playing rules for the 18U/21UF division

Rules specific to age groups

9U

Pitch speed/setting for 9U A & B:

*Important note: The machine is placed at 44' from the point of home plate to the back of the pitching rubber.

*Important tip: If you don't have a measuring tape in your team bag, you can use the measuring app on your phone.

See Page 51, Rule 105.2.2 - Pitching machine’s speed of the Baseball Quebec 2024 Rulebook.

11U

11U-B: Hitting off the tee

There are no bases on balls in 11U-B. Rather than walking to 1st after 4 balls, batters in the 11U-B category will hit off a tee. This rule was conceived to ensure the ball is put into play more often than not, so as to avoid the parade of walks that was common prior to this rule being put into place.

Players may NOT take a practice swing. This is a frequently-debated rule and is often circumvented by coaches at the field, either by negotiating it before the game with the other coach and umpire, or by violating the rule and then arguing about it. The BQ rule is clear: There are no practice swings allowed, full stop.

More FAQ answers to come. If you would like to request a specific rule be added here, please email us.