Baseball coach discussing strategy with team

Coach Resources & Standards for Massachusetts Youth Baseball

This page provides coaches with clear standards, procedures, and required actions for participation in the Massasoit Spring and Hockomock Summer Leagues. All coaches are responsible for understanding and following the guidelines below to ensure player safety, competitive integrity, and smooth league operations.

General Standards

Pitch Smart Guidelines

There is no aspect of youth sports more important that the safety of the players involved. SEMA Baseball adheres to the Pitch Smart USA Guidelines. Visit the link to see pitch limits and rest requirements for each age group. While it is okay for a pitcher to go beyond their smart pitch limit in order to finish a batter, the total pitches logged for the game must match the actual pitch counts and the corresponding rest must be adhered to. These rules apply from the first game of the season through the last game of the playoffs. Pitch counts do not "reset" at any point during the season and all counts carry over from the regular season into the playoffs.

Coaches MUST track both teams pitchers and validate counts between innings. This allows the league to ensure coaches are complying with pitch count requirements as well as help to resolve disputes when coaches are accused of over pitching players.

Pitch count tracking can be done manually in a book or using technology, such as Game Changer. All pitch counts must be validated between coaches from each team at the end of each inning, as well as final counts at the end of each game and entered into the SEMA Platform for tracking (See Procedures).

Heat Index Guidelines

In addition to rain and thunderstorms which can result in postponements, extreme heat can also be dangerous to players. As a result, the HSL will make league wide calls about scheduled games based on the heat index. The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body. It is a combination of the air temperature and relative humidity.

The HSL will rely on the heat index reading that is provided by the National Weather Service. The zones identified below are based on recommended guidelines published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for participation in sports activities during periods of extreme heat.

White Zone: Heat index of 65-80 degrees. In this range, players are in very little danger from heat and no special measures will be taken by the HSL.

Yellow Zone: Heat index of 81-98 degrees. In this range, coaches are encouraged to take extra steps to protect their players by making sure they keep them hydrated and by encouraging frequent substitution during games.

Orange Zone: Heat index of 99-105 degrees. In this range, the HSL requires the following at games: all measures taken in the Yellow Zone; and catchers are only allowed to catch two innings in succession.

Red Zone: Heat index of 106 to 115 degrees. In this range, the HSL will implement the following for games: all measures taken in the Yellow and Orange Zones; and the length of games will be reduced by 30 minutes. Inning minimums for a complete game are suspended in these cases. Towns are also encouraged to move start times in ways that help mitigate heat risk (towns with lights playing later, moving start times back a bit if it results in more shade, etc.).

Black Zone: Heat index above 115. In this range, the HSL will cancel all games until the heat index returns to 115 or below. Notifications will be sent to town reps who should pass the message along to coaches. The HSL will also publish guidance on the home page of the website.

Weather-Related Postponements

Notification Process:

The home team coach must work with the away coach to determine a new date to play the game. Once a date is confirmed, the home coach must submit a weather schedule change request within 24 hours of the game.
These make-up dates must fall within 10 days of the original game.
If a game cannot be scheduled at the home team's field, the visiting team's field can be offered.
Failure to submit the change within the specified time will result in forfeiture by the home team.

Pitching Rules Governing Resumption:

Pitchers who pitched and were relieved in the game before postponement are not eligible to pitch in the reschedule remainder of the game. If an in-progress game is paused due to weather, the pitch counts must still be entered.
A pitcher who was pitching when the game was paused is eligible to return; however, that pitcher must be available to do so following the MLB Pitch Smart Rules (i.e. if the game is rescheduled for the next day and they are now on rest, or they pitched in a separate game within the days leading up to the reschedule and are on rest, then they would not be eligible to pitch in the reschedule).

Extension of Season:

For any scheduled games postponed due to weather in the last 10 days of the season and cannot be rescheduled between teams, the Hockomock Executive Board retains the right to extend the season if necessary.

Procedures

How to Enter Pitch Counts & Scores

All scores and pitch counts for players on both teams are entered into the system by the home coach. For more information on how to enter data, please see our training video. The home team must enter all pitch counts for both teams and the final score using the mobile app.

While the visiting team should never enter pitch counts or scores, the visiting coach should validate all of the information after it's posted. As changes cannot be made once entered, any mistakes or discrepancies should be sent to the HSL board immediately for correction. Any individual found to be repeatedly entering false information will be subject to disciplinary action, including suspensions and fines for their town program.

IMPORTANT: Pitch counts must be entered and saved in the app before submitting your final score. Use this as a guide only. Always spot-check the tracker and refer to MLB Pitch Smart Guidelines for youth and adolescent pitchers. Statistics from pitching can be found on each league's "Statistics" page and will also indicate availability based on pitches thrown and Smart Pitch Rest Guidelines.

Pitch counts and scores MUST be entered the same day of play. Towns will be fined for each day that passes without data being entered.

Roster Input

Only players officially rostered into the SEMA Baseball platform are eligible to participate in league games.

Prior to the start of play, ALL players must be registered in the system with the following information:

First name
Last name
Date of Birth
Jersey Number
Town of Residence

Junior Division (8 - 12-year-olds): Player roster shall be a maximum of 15 players
Senior Division (13 - 14-year-olds): Player roster shall be a maximum of 18 players
Diamond Division (15 - 18-year-olds): Player roster shall be a maximum of 20 players

Players should never be "double rostered" into the SEMA platform for call-up purposes. If a player is only available as a call-up because they are primarily playing in a different league should they be rostered to a team (i.e. an 8U Friendship league player as a call-up to a Hockomock 8U team).

Rescheduling / Forfeitures

Use the in-season schedule change request to submit reschedule requests based on weather. Reschedules are not permitted because one team does not have enough players or cannot gather enough call-ups to play. The schedule change window prior to the start of the season is used for this purpose.

Make-Up Dates:

All make-up dates should ideally be played at the originally scheduled site.
If the home team cannot provide a field, the game may be played at the visiting team’s field or a neutral site. The scheduled home team still retains home field advantage.

Game Days:

The Hockomock League schedules games Monday through Friday.
Weekend dates may be used for rescheduling, but this is not required.
Both coaches must agree on any final game rescheduling before it is implemented.

Forfeitures:

Division 1 and Division 2: ITeams in these divisions that have forfeited two on more games are not eligible for the playoffs .

Failure to follow rescheduling procedures may result in forfeitures, fines, or additional disciplinary action. Coaches must adhere to the guidelines below based on timing within the season.

How to Request a Reschedule Prior to Season Start

Before the season begins, coaches may request schedule changes under the following conditions:

Coaches have the opportunity to validate team availability during this period and move games as appropriate to ensure they have enough available players
An unlimited number of games may be moved with approval from the opposing coach(s)
Games should not be backloaded later in the season as late season weather could prevent games from being made-up

All changes must be submitted through the official request process and confirmed by the league.

How to Request a Reschedule After Season Start

Once the season has begun, reschedule requests are only permitted for weather-related events. Tournament conflicts, roster availability, or travel decisions are not valid reasons for in-season rescheduling requests.

Hockomock/Tournament Policy

If two Hockomock Summer League towns play each other in a tournament, the game may be counted as their regular season Hockomock Summer League game under the following conditions:

Mutual Agreement:

Both managers must agree prior to the game that it will also count as their Hockomock Summer League game.
Once the umpire initiates play, the above agreement is final and cannot be changed.
The designated "Home Team" coach must submit a reschedule request to the league so that the HSL game can be realigned to the tournament game date.

Player Eligibility:

Both teams must field only players from their Hockomock roster for that game.
Opposing managers must verify player eligibility before the game begins.

Rule Adherence:

Teams will follow Hockomock Summer League rules during the game; tournament rules will not apply. Smart Pitch Rules specifically are in effect and scores/pitch counts should be entered following the game using the standard process.