Junior College Baseball Rules

Baseball's extensive history dates back to the mid-19th century, where it has since grown into a national past-time, becoming one of the most popular sports within America. Baseball is played on all levels, including at the collegiate levels. Many junior colleges also have baseball teams---that are governed by the NJCAA, or the National Junior College Association of America---and although they do not compete on levels equivalent to those of major universities, they are still governed by rules as dictated by the NCAA.

  1. Delivery Timing

    • Timing devices have been integrated within the rulebook of the NCAA, effecting how the sport is played. The rules now require pitchers to deliver the ball within a mandated amount of time when runners are not on any of the bases. This rule will encourage quicker play to avoid situations where pitchers become slow, or where pitchers are purposely trying to mess with the mental psyche of the batter.

      The enforcing entity for the rule will be the umpire who is responsible for ensuring that the delivery starts in fewer than 20 seconds after a batter steps into the box.

    Between Inning Timing

    • For competitively played junior college games, umpires will also enforce a "between innings" timing. This rule will help to ensure that pace of play, which serves to avoid changing or altering any team's momentum and pace during the game. As of 2010, there are potential discussions of designating a back-up umpire to be in charge of a clock that is dedicated to these timings.

    Fence Lines

    • Outfield fences determine the distance a runner must hit the ball prior to it being considered a home run. The NCAA and NJCAA generally have guidelines that recommend fences to be at least 330 from home plate to the foul poles, extending to 375 feet in both right and left fields, and ultimately leading to the middle of the field where the distance is 400 feet. The permanent fence in the outfield should be a minimum of 6-feet high; however, 8 feet is recommended.