Friday Night Lights

Eligibility

Cannot turn 12 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 5th-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Standard NFHS/SWAT baserunning rules apply unless modified elsewhere in the handbook.
• Balks are strictly enforced without warning.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• No designated hitter in 11U.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.

Eligibility

Cannot turn 10 before May 1 of the current season. Grade-exception players must meet the handbook’s 3rd-grade criteria.

Bats

No bat size restriction under the 12U-and-below rule; banned/altered bats remain illegal. Wood bats are approved.

Pitching

6 innings max in one day · 8 innings max over 3 consecutive days. More than 3 innings Saturday means no pitching Sunday.

Base Running

• Dropped third strike is an out.
• 10-foot modified lead/steal line at first, second, and third.
• Runner must be stationary at the pitch and may steal only after the pitch crosses home plate.
• First early-leave violation is a team warning; later violations are outs.

Lineup + Special Rules

• Standard SWAT lineup, substitution, courtesy-runner, and roster-batting options apply.
• 9U uses the handbook’s modified stealing provisions.

Mercy Rule

• 20 runs after 2 innings (1½ if home team is ahead)
• 15 runs after 3 innings (2½ if home team is ahead)
• 8 runs after 4 innings (3½ if home team is ahead)

Game Rules

• Pool-play home/visitor is determined by coin toss; higher seed is home in bracket play.
• No fake bunt-and-swing (slashing).
• Legal courtesy runners may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record under the handbook rules.
• Pool games may end tied. Bracket games use the SWAT California tiebreaker after regulation.