Law 5: Pre-Game Procedures

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 · recall

In tournament games the Technical Commissioners decide on suspending or cancelling, consulting the crew chief.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.1 · recall

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 · applied

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · recall

Home before visitors, and batting practice before infield.

Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 5.2.6.3 · recall

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 · recall

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 · applied

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · applied

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 · applied

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · recall

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 · applied