Print18U Specific Rules - OBA (Rep)

Rep Rule Book: RP2 - Special Playing Rules (2026)

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The Official Rules of Baseball shall govern all games except as provided in the playing rules below. NOTE: Where there is a change made to The Official Rules of Baseball, the change shall not take effect until the Rep Council approves the application of the change.

RP2.1 Uniforms & Equipment

In all games in all Rep series, all team personnel, including the Head Coach, Assistant Coaches and manager, must be in complete baseball uniform. Note: A Complete baseball uniform shall consist of:
1. corresponding tops or jerseys (with proper numbers)
2. corresponding (similar) baseball caps
3. baseball pants (no shorts)
4. corresponding stirrup or baseball socks
Provided the teams are completely uniformed the uniformity as laid down by the Official Playing Rules of Baseball will be disregarded and no protest will be considered by the OBA after the game has been played.
The on-deck batter, batter, base runners, and batboy/batgirl must wear a prescribed protective helmet with flaps, covering both ears. Chinstraps and C-Flaps may be worn at the players' discretion but are not required at any age category. Senior aged players shall be permitted to wear either single ear or double ear flapped helmets in Senior OBA play.
In T‐Ball, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, and 13U and 16U Girls shoes with metal cleats are prohibited.
Beginning 2026: at 13U and below, shows with metal cleats are prohibited.
All catchers are required to wear a mask with a throat protector, a helmet, chest protector, shin guards, and protective cup.
Any team member serving as a catcher to warm up a pitcher shall wear a mask with a throat protector. Penalty: Coaches and players will be instructed to wear a mask and warned on first offense for failure to comply with this rule. Only one warning per team will be given throughout the game. After warning, any further violation of this rule by any team member will result in their immediate ejection.
A team member shall be deemed as "warming up a pitcher" the moment either:
1. The pitcher stands on the rubber (on the field or in the bullpen)
2. the team member assumes a squatting position to receive a thrown ball from the pitcher, regardless of their position on the field or bullpen; or
3. The team member assumes a position (whether standing, kneeling, or squatting) behind home plate.
Players, Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches or managers who use electronic devices on the field will be ordered by the umpire to remove them from the field immediately. Failure to do so will result in ejection. Umpires who use electronic devices on the field during the game are subject to suspension and potential loss of accreditation. Fitbits, FuelBands, and other fitness trackers are considered electronic devices for the purposes of this rule and are not permitted except where required for medical reasons (i.e.: heart rate monitor prescribed by a physician). Exception: Dedicated watches, stopwatches and electronic pitch counters/indicators are permitted.
Commercial electronic pitch communication systems (ie: PitchCom) are permitted at all Rep play. They are not considered electronic devices for the purposes of RP2.5(h).
All players, including pitchers, are permitted to wear compression sleeves on one or both arms. If only wearing one, it may be worn on either the pitching or glove arm. A compression sleeve extending only to the elbow shall have the same restrictions as a compression sleeve extending to the wrist. Pitchers must wear compression sleeves which are solid in colour and may not be white or or grey. Pitchers may not wear compression sleeves which are distracting in nature including designs and reflective material.
Except the pitcher, players may wear a playbook arm band on their arm or attache to their belt. Pitchers must remove these bands prior to taking the mound.
With the exception of piping (strings), no part of the pitcher’s glove may be white or grey. The pitcher’s glove may not, in the judgement of the umpire, be distracting in any manner. No fielder, regardless of position may use a fielding glove that, in the judgement of the umpire, mimics, or attempts to mimic the colour of a baseball.

RP2.2 Game Length

All games in a Rep Play‐off or National Qualifier Tournament shall be 7 complete innings (6 1/2 complete innings if the home team is ahead), or until a winner is declared.
A 7-inning game will be considered an official game after 4 innings of play or 3-1/2 innings if the the home team is ahead. Exception: Rep Provincial Championship or National Qualifier Tournaments must be played to completion; see RP2.2(a).
In tournament play if a game is delayed due to curfew, darkness, light failure, or weather-related conditions at any point prior to completion, the game shall be resumed from the point of delay.
In the case of bad weather or other emergency situations, the schedule may be revised at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
In home and home style Rep Play‐off games called due to curfew, darkness, light failure, or weather-related conditions after becoming an official game shall be declared a complete and official game even if less than 7 innings were If the game is called prior to becoming an official game, then it is resumed from the point of delay.
Except at 10U/11U, time limits are not permitted in any Rep Play‐off or National Qualifier games.
In Rep Open or Invitational Tournaments when a time limit or curfew is in effect in the tournament rules, it shall be interpreted as follows: No new inning may be started after the time limit or curfew. An inning shall be deemed to have started immediately after the last out in the bottom of the previous inning has occurred.
In all OBA Rep games, the following mercy rule will apply:
1. 18 runs after 3 innings
2. 15 runs after 4 innings
3. 10 runs after 5 innings or any subsequent inning thereafter.
  NOTE: If the home team leads after the top half of any such inning, the game shall be considered a mercy and the home team will not bat.
Where the home team scores to take the lead in the 7th inning, any extra inning or any inning that will be the last inning because of a time limit, the game ends immediately. Similarly, if the home team scores a run that results in a mercy pursuant to g), the game ends immediately with that run.

RP2.3 Line-Up Rules

Each Head Coach will see that the umpire‐in‐chief is provided with a batting order card listing the batting order of his/her players for the commencement of the game. This card shall list (i.e., print legibly) each player’s first and last name, their uniform number and position. It shall also list the substitute players, Head Coaches, Assistant coaches and manager including their uniform number. Bona fide players of either team, who arrive after the commencement of the game, may have their names added to the list upon reporting to the umpire‐in‐chief.
In 8U, 9U, 10U and 11U games, all players present at the game shall be listed on the team’s batting line‐up in the order desired by the Head Coach and bat in that late arrivals shall be added to the bottom of this batting order.
In 10U and 11U games, if a player is removed from the game due to injury, illness or official ejection, the player’s spot in the batting order shall be deleted. In the event a batter must be removed due to injury, official ejection, or has to leave for any reason during the time at bat, the next batter in the batting order shall come to bat assuming the balls and strikes count at the time the batter is removed. If the batter becomes an out, such batter shall then take their regular turn at bat.
Extra Player Rule: In 12U, 13U, 14U and 15U, teams may opt to utilize 10 batters in the starting line‐up. The additional batter shall be deemed as the Extra Player (EP). The following rules for the EP shall apply:
1. The option to use the EP must be declared when handing in the line‐up card prior to the start of the game.
2. The EP may bat in any place in the batting order.
3. The EP will be considered a defensive position and eligible for re‐entry.
4. If a team using the EP has any players ejected or injured and it results in the team having less than 10 players in the line‐up the game shall continue with 9 players. The batting order will be shifted up to fill the void but otherwise remains the same.
  Note: If the player starting in the EP is moved into a defensive position his place in the batting order does not change. The new EP will bat in the place of the player they replaced.
At 16U and 18U, a team may use either an EP or a designated hitter, but the team may not use both an EP and a designated hitter in the same game. For clarity, a team may also choose not to use either an EP or a designated hitter.
A designated hitter may be used for a pitcher from 16U to Senior as per the Official Rules of Baseball.
For tournament play the Tournament Convenor shall appoint an official scorer for each game (who may be the scorer of one of the teams playing). For all home and home style OBA Play‐off games the home team score keeper shall be the official score keeper.
Senior AAA teams are permitted to mutually affiliate themselves with any one 22U team within their Affiliated Association as long as their Local Association does not have a 22U team.
If the Baseball Canada 22U Nationals are hosted by an Ontario team – the players on the 22U host team are only permitted to be called up to a Senior team during National Qualifiers as long as they are a member of the same local association.
Senior AAA teams are permitted a maximum of 5 22U‐aged call‐ups for National Qualifiers.
At 16U and above, in the event the starting pitcher will bat for themselves as the DH, the player will be considered two separate people for the purposes of OBR 5.11(a). In such cases, the Head Coach should list 10 players on the line-up card and this player should be listed twice – once as the starting pitcher and once as the Designated Hitter. Thus, if the starting pitcher is replaced, they can continue as the DH (but can no longer pitch in the game), and if the DH is replaced, they can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for themselves). If the player is simultaneously replaced both as the starting pitcher and the DH, they cannot be replaced by another two-way player filling both roles; they must be replaced by two separate players.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in OBR 5.11(a), if the starting pitcher/DH is switched to a position on defense instead of DH, such move will terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game.
At Senior AAA, all teams are required to use Game Changer to score all regular season, tournament and National Qualifier Tournament games.

RP2.4 Substitutions

Except as required in RP2.10(c), in 10U and 11U games, unlimited substitutions defensively are allowed (including for injury or official ejection).
From 12U to 18U and Senior Women, any starting player may be substituted for and returned to the game one time only. They must return to their original place in the batting order. Any further substitutions do not jeopardize the right of re‐entry for the original/starting player. Any starting player returned to the game may pitch as long as they have not previously assumed the pitching position. A pinch runner or pinch hitter may be inserted for a pitcher, who was listed in the starting batting order, and the pitcher may return to pitch under this re‐entry rule only if the player is re‐entered immediately as a pitcher when his/her team takes the field defensively.
At all levels, courtesy runners for the catcher or any other players are prohibited. Pinch runners may be substituted in accordance with the Official Rules of Baseball except where contravened herein.
From 12U to 18U and Senior Women, in the event that all players have entered the game and an injury(s) occurs, the opposing Head Coach shall have the right of selecting any remaining player(s) as the replacement. Note: This rule does not apply to ejections from a game.
If a player re‐enters or enters the game illegally: offensively, this shall be considered as a batter hitting out of order; defensively, the proper player shall replace them.

RP2.5 Pitching Rules

See also: Arm Care Rules in the OBA Playing Rules.

In 10U and 11U, the number of trips to the mound by the Head Coach shall be limited to 3 trips per inning except when, in the judgement of the umpire, the purpose of the trip is to delay the game.
In 12U and 13U, a third trip by the Head Coach to the same pitcher in the same inning shall result in the pitcher’s automatic removal from the pitching position.
Except at Senior, a pitcher once removed from the pitching position, regardless of the number of trips to the mound by the Head Coach, may continue in the game at another position but shall not be permitted to return to pitch in that game. Exception: Where re-entry rules apply, pitchers who are substituted for offensively by either a pinch runner or pinch hitter may return to pitch in the next defensive inning so long as no other player has pitched for that team.
From 14U to Senior, a second trip by a Head Coach to the same pitcher in the same inning shall result in the pitcher’s automatic removal from the pitching position. The pitcher, once removed after the second trip in an inning may continue to play at another position but shall not be permitted to return to pitch in that game.
When a pitcher takes their position at the beginning of each inning, or when they relieve another pitcher, they shall be permitted to pitch up to eight preparatory pitches to the catcher, during which play shall be suspended. The plate umpire may reduce this number if, in their judgement, there has been unnecessary delay by the pitcher and/or catcher. If a sudden emergency causes a pitcher to be summoned into the game without sufficient opportunity to warm up, the plate umpire shall allow them as many pitches as the plate umpire deems necessary.

Arm Care Rules

.UPDATED. Unless otherwise stated, all Arm Care rules listed in RP2.11 shall be in force throughout the baseball season and shall apply to all league play and tournament play as sanctioned by Baseball Ontario or any Affiliated Association. This includes games played outside Ontario and outside Canada, regardless of the tournament's pitch count rules or lack thereof.
Unless otherwise stated, all Arm Care rules listed in RP2.11 shall be enforced at all series 22U and below.

Pitchers shall be limited to the number of pitches thrown in a single day as outlined below. Pitchers are required to rest in accordance with the chart below as determined by the total number of pitches thrown on any one calendar day.

9U*	11U	13U	15U	18U	22U	REST REQUIRED
1‐20	1‐25	1‐30	1‐35	1‐40	1‐45	None
20‐35	26‐40	31‐45	36‐50	41‐55	46‐60	1 Day
36‐50	41‐55	46‐60	51‐65	56‐70	61‐75	2 Days
N/A	56‐65	61‐75	66‐80	71‐85	76‐90	3 Days
N/A	66‐75	76‐85	81‐95	86‐105	91‐115	4 Days
50	75	85	95	105	115	Daily Max

*Please see RP2.11(m) for 9U player pitching requirements.
Note: Please see RP2.11(h) for multiple games in any two consecutive days.

For the purposes calculating days of rest required, the day after game day is considered Day 1 of the rest period. (ie: If an 11U pitcher throws 27 pitches on Friday, he will be next eligible to pitch again on Sunday).
If a game extends beyond midnight into the next calendar day, any pitches thrown thereafter shall be counted toward the pitch count of the day the game started. If, however, the game is suspended for any reason after midnight, when it resumes, any pitches thrown by any pitcher shall be counted toward the new day.
Intentional walks and balks shall count toward the pitcher’s pitch count total if a pitch has been thrown.
Players are permitted to pitch in 2 separate games in the same day as long as they do not exceed the maximum number of pitches that requires no rest for their age category in the first game of the day. (ie: If an 11U pitcher throws fewer than 25 pitches in the first game, the player may pitch in a second game.) No player is permitted to pitch in more than 2 games in any two-day period regardless of the number of pitches thrown.
No player may exceed the Daily Maximum for their age category in any two‐day period. If a player pitches in two games in a day or on two consecutive days, days rest required shall be calculated using the combined total of the number of pitches thrown.
Ex1: 22U player throws 45 pitches on Friday in a tournament (no rest required). That pitcher is permitted to pitch again on Saturday to a maximum of 70 pitches so as not to exceed 115.

Ex2: In the same scenario as Ex1, the total number of pitches thrown are added together to determine days rest. If the player threw 45 pitches on Friday and 70 pitches on Saturday, the pitcher must rest for 4 days and is next eligible to pitch on Thursday.
Pitchers will be permitted to complete the at‐bat of the batter they are facing when their Daily Maximum pitch limit has been reached but must be removed immediately after (i) the batter is retired, or (ii) the batter becomes a runner, or (iii) the third out of the inning is made.
The total number of pitches thrown by an ambidextrous pitcher shall be charged toward their pitch count regardless of which arm(s), or combination thereof, the pitcher uses to throw.
No player may pitch on three consecutive days unless their total pitch count for the three days does not exceed the number of pitches where no rest is required for that age category. A pitcher may not pitch on 4 consecutive days regardless of pitch count.
.UPDATED. Once a player assumes the pitching position, they are no longer eligible to catch for the remainder of the day. Once a player assumes the catching position, they are no longer eligible to pitch for the remainder of the day.
Any player who is playing in a series higher than their age-appropriate series shall be restricted to the pitch count limitations and required rest periods applicable to the age of the player, provided the following:
1. Players aged 8 and under and not permitted to pitch in any circumstance.
2. 9-year-old players who are called‐up to play on a 10U or 11U team are not permitted to pitch.
3. 9-year-old players who are rostered to a 10U or 11U team shall be permitted to pitch with the following limitations:
  - 0 Days Rest: 1‐20 Pitches
  - 1 Day Rest: 20‐35 Pitches
  - 2 Days Rest: 36‐50 Pitches
  - Daily Maximum: 50 Pitches
Penalty: For violation of any Arm Care rules as prescribed in RP2.11(c) to (m),
1. the Manager the Manager is ejected, and the game is immediately forfeited. The Manager shall receive a one game automatic suspension. If however, the Official Pitch Counter does not make the Manager & umpire aware of the violation, the game shall not be forfeited but the Manager will still be ejected and suspended.
2. If a pitcher throws during their mandatory days rest period in violation of RP2.11(c), the pitcher’s maximum days rest period will reset to the maximum rest period of 4 days from the date of the appearance constituting the violation.
3. In the event that a player pitches on a required rest day and the violation is not caught until after the game, the player shall be required to rest 4 complete days from the day they last pitched, and the Manager will receive an automatic two-game suspension to be served at the next scheduled game of consequence.
4. In any case, if the arm care violation is not caught until after the game, the game will not be retroactively forfeited.
Any player who is playing in a series higher than their age must be identified on the lineup card. Any underage player not identified on the lineup card is ineligible to pitch. Should any such unidentified underage player pitch, the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position and the Manager ejected.
When a player reaches their Daily Maximum pitch count, the manager or coach may remove the pitcher from the pitching position immediately without penalty, regardless of the number of trips already charged to the pitcher during the inning or at‐bat.
For all games except tournament play, the home team shall designate an official pitch counter for their team who shall be responsible for tracking the pitches of both teams.
UPDATED. For all Rep sanctioned tournament play, (including Provincial Championships, and Elimination Tournaments), the Home team is responsible for capturing the pitch count in the pitch count app in real-time (either pitch by pitch or at the end of each inning) during the game. Failure to complete this in real-time will result in the game being forfeited to the Away team. Should the game not be captured in real-time as a result of negligence and it is not realized until after the game, the game will not be forfeited but will result in a one-game suspension for the Head Coach. Exception: where cell service is weak or down and the tournament convener gives permission, games may be entered post-game within 20 minutes following the end of the game.
UPDATED. Notwithstanding RP2.11(r), in all Rep Tournament play, the tournament host may choose to appoint an official pitch counter for the game at their discretion. If a host chooses this option, and the pitch count is not entered in real-time during the game, the home team will not be penalized. A $1000 fine will apply to the host.
The official pitch counter must provide the current pitch count upon request by either manager or the umpire.
The official pitch counter shall inform the plate umpire when a pitcher has delivered their Daily Maximum pitch count. The plate umpire shall inform the manager that the pitcher must be removed, (i) immediately if the Daily Maximum threshold has been reached at the end of an at‐bat, or (ii) following the completion of the at‐bat or inning, subject to RP2.11(h).
Note: Failure by the Official Pitch Counter to inform the plate umpire of a pitcher reaching their Daily Maximum pitch count does not relieve the Manager of their responsibility to know the pitch count and remove the pitcher.
Penalty: Failure to remove the pitcher with no notification by the Official Pitch Counter will result in the manager’s immediate ejection and the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position immediately and will not be permitted to complete the at‐bat. This will be treated as an emergency situation and the incoming pitcher shall receive as many warm‐up pitches as the plate umpire deems necessary.
For all games except tournament play, the Manager (or designate) of the home team shall record the number of pitches thrown for all of both teams' players within 24 hours (or before the start of the next game, whichever is earlier) of the game’s start time using the OBA Pitch Count Tracker.
The Manager of the opposing team will receive notification of the pitch count entry into the system and will have 24 hours from that time to verify or challenge the pitch count from that game.
1. Any challenge of an official pitch count will be forwarded to the Series Chair for resolution.
2. The decision of the Series Chair with regard to Pitch Counts shall be final.
Penalty:
1. Failure to enter pitch count results within the specified timelines, as set forth in RP2.11(u), will result in the following penalties:
  1. On a team’s first offense of the season, immediate suspension of the Manager until the pitch count is entered.
  2. On a team’s second (or any subsequent offense), the Manager will receive an automatic 5 game suspension.
2. Failure by team to adopt these pitch count rules will result in the team forfeiting their right to classify for an OBA Championship and participate in OBA sanctioned tournaments.
Any coach or manager whose actions cause a player’s pitch counts to be exceeded or not counted as required by these rules, and that action is not identified until after the game is completed, shall be subject to a suspension of not less than 2 games which may be extended at the discretion of the Series Chair.
UPDATED. If a team has no pitchers eligible to pitch in that game, the game is over and the team forfeits. A final score of 7-0 and 7 defensive innings will be recorded for the winning team.

RP2.6 Base Running Rules

Malicious Contact: Malicious contact is to be penalized whether committed by an offensive or defensive player.
1. Contact shall be considered malicious if:
  1. the contact is the result of intentional excessive force, and/or
  2. there is an intent to injure.
2. The umpire shall determine whether contact was avoidable or if the fielder blocks the base path, the runner may make contact, slide into or collide with the fielder as long as the runner is making a legitimate attempt to reach the base/plate.
3. Runners are instructed to slide or attempt to avoid making contact with a fielder. A player who maliciously runs into another player is to be declared out (unless he/she has scored prior to committing the infraction) and is to be automatically ejected (whether or not declared out).
If the defensive player blocked the base path clearly without possession of the ball, obstruction shall be called. The runner is safe, and a delayed dead ball is called.

RP2.7 Fielding Rules

A fielder may not enter the dugout or bench area to make a legal catch. Any such ball shall be declared dead.
Where a fielder carries a live ball into dead ball area, the ball shall be declared dead, and all runners shall be awarded 1 base without liability of being put out.

RP2.8 EXTRA-INNING RULES

At 22U and below, the following extra inning procedure will be followed when the game is tied at the end of regulation play for all Baseball Ontario Rep sanctioned tournaments, Rep Provincial Championships, and Rep National Qualifier Tournaments:

Each team will begin the extra inning (and any subsequent necessary extra innings) with a player on second base only, no outs.
The batter with the last full plate appearance in the previous inning will be placed at second base.
The traditional system of the visiting team hitting in the top of the inning and the home team hitting in the bottom of the inning will remain in effect until a winner is determined.
All other Official Baseball Rules and OBA rules remain in effect during extra innings.

Example: If the last inning ends with the #6 batter having the last plate appearance, then the extra inning begins with the #7 batter at bat, and the #6 batter at second base. If however, the #6 batter was still at-bat when the inning ended, that batter would remain at bat in the extra inning and the #5 batter would be placed at second base to start the extra inning.

RP2.9 Protests

Protests based on umpires’ judgment decisions will not be permitted. A protest based on an umpire’s interpretation of the rules must be lodged with the umpire before the game resumes, and the opposing team must also be advised by the umpire before the game resumes.
No protests will be entertained regarding coaches or managers being listed on a team roster. A coach or manager signed with one team in an organization may act as coach or manager for any other team in that organization.
Tournament Style Rep Provincial Championships:
1. A Protest Committee shall be established by the host Local Association.
2. The Protest Committee has the right to rule whether a protest will be heard.
3. All protests must be ruled on at the time of their occurrence by the Protest Committee.
4. If the protest is heard and denied, the team will be billed $50.
Home and Home Style Rep Provincial Championships:
1. Protests are to be emailed to the Rep Protest Chair postmarked within 24 hours of the end of the game under protest. A protest fee of $50.00 must be electronically transferred.
2. The Protest Chair will obtain a copy of the Umpire's report regarding the incident.
3. The Protest Chair will obtain written reports from each Head Coach regarding the incident.
4. The Protest Chair, in consultation with the Rep Commissioner, will determine if there is reason for holding a protest meeting.
5. Should a protest meeting be deemed necessary, the Panel shall include the Series Chair, the Rep Commissioner, and the Protest Chair (Competition Chair).
6. Results of the Protest Meeting will be delivered by the Protest Chair to the Rep Commissioner, both teams, the OBA Office, the Rep Series Chair, and the Rep Overall Series Chair.
Once a protest has been dealt with by the OBA or a committee delegated to act in such matters by the OBA, any ruling handed down must be considered as final by the OBA. No further action will be taken.
The Rep Protest Chair has the power in a home and home style OBA Play‐off to appoint a committee to handle all protests which must be disposed of 5 days from the time the Rep Protest Chair receives the complete protest, etc.
All correspondence regarding protests and defense of appeals must be forwarded by email.
Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the Rep Protest Chair the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game.
Teams or players which knowingly play against ineligible players and do willfully conceal this knowledge from the OBA until it shall suit their convenience to use it in any protest which may arise shall be considered equally guilty with the offending team or players and shall be dealt with accordingly.
Emergency Situations:
In an emergency situation the protest will be dealt with by the Rep Series Chair in consultation with the Rep Protest Chair and the Rep Commissioner.

18U Specific Rules - OBA (Rep) (Lucan-Ilderton Baseball)