# Law 5: Pre-Game Procedures (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 5: Pre-Game Procedures · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-5-pre-game-procedures/)

Who delays or calls a game for the weather, the pre-game practice and bullpens, the rundown for each World Cup, the meeting at home plate and the line-up cards, ground rules, and security on the field.

## 5.51 Field Condition and Practice

Delays for weather and lightning, the 30-minute wait, screens, bullpens and the pre-game practice times.

### Test 1: Weather, practice and the bullpens

- The home team decides on a delay before the game; in a tournament the Technical Commissioners do. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1)
- In tournament games the Technical Commissioners decide on suspending or cancelling, consulting the crew chief. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1)
- In case of lightning the Technical Commissioners and crew chief consult the lightning guidelines of the LOC or league. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1)
- A pitching screen must be provided by the LOC or the home team; a batting cage is only recommended. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.2)
- The rule recommends a first-base screen 8 feet high and 6 feet wide during batting practice. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.4)
- Each bullpen needs at least two mounds with regulation rubbers and home plates, in good condition. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.5)
- U-15: 30 minutes of batting practice for each team, then 10 minutes of infield each. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.6.2)
- Home before visitors, and batting practice before infield. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.6.3)
- The older the age group, the longer the practice: twenty, thirty, forty, then a combined fifty at the Premier12. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.6)
- Umpires may not call a game until at least 30 minutes after they suspended play; in a tournament the Commissioners decide. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1)

## 5.52 Line-ups, Ground Rules and Security

The home-plate meeting, the line-up cards in triplicate, ground rules, crowd control and a field invasion.

### Test 1: The meeting at home plate, ground rules and security

- The plate umpire holds the meeting with both teams' representatives ten minutes before the scheduled start. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.3.1)
- He checks the copies match, keeps one, gives one to the opposing manager and one to the Technical Commissioners. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.3.2)
- Once the plate umpire has the identical copies, he is officially in charge of the game and the line-ups are official. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.3.2)
- The card lists each starter's name, uniform number and position, plus the pitcher and any designated hitter. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.5.3)
- Other potential substitutes should be listed, but failing to list a player does not make him ineligible. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.5.3)
- A ground rule needs the visiting team's agreement; where the teams do not agree, the umpires set it. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.4)
- Crowd control rests with the home team or the LOC, which must provide enough police protection to keep order. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.6)
- The home manager's batting order comes first, then the visitor's; then the plate umpire covers the ground rules and questions. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.5.1, 5.5.2, 5.3.3)
- Staff leave sixty minutes before, the meeting is ten minutes before, the cards become official there, then play starts. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 4.1, 5.3, 5.5)
- If the field is not cleared in a reasonable time, approximately 15 minutes after the refusal, the crew chief may forfeit the game. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.6)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 5 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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