A controlled
scrimmage may be scheduled between two IHSAA member schools. A player must have participated in five days
of organized practice under the direct supervision of the high school coaching
staff to be eligible for a scrimmage.
The scrimmage may not held after the second calendar day prior to the
first scheduled contest.
Schools who choose to
participate in a scrimmage must schedule another
There shall be a
contract between the two schools, which will include the location, time and any
financial arrangement between schools.
Spectator admission into the scrimmage would be an option of the
participating schools. Both schools must
be in agreement with the financial arrangements prior to the scrimmage.
Any player
participating in the controlled scrimmage must have participated in five (5)
days of organized practice under the direct supervision of the high school
coaching staff in order to be eligible.
Varsity, junior varsity and freshman players may be utilized, provided
that they have been included in the practices prior to the scrimmage.
IV.
Umpires
Two umpires shall be
contracted by the home team. In addition
to making the appropriate calls, it is the responsibility of the umpires to see
that the scrimmage format is followed.
Umpires should not allow themselves to be coerced into deviating from
the guidelines for the controlled scrimmage.
No one has the authority to supersede the umpires’ decision on any
aspect of the scrimmage.
V.
Format
This scrimmage shall
consist of four innings. Each team will
send ten batters to the plate in each half inning regardless of the number of
outs that have been made. This allows
for each defensive player plus a designated hitter to bat each inning. As in any game, the batting order shall be
established by the coach. A scoreboard
may only be used to show balls and strikes; no team score shall be kept.
During each inning
the team at bat should attempt to create as much offense as possible and the
defensive team shall attempt to retire all ten hitters. No
pitcher may pitch to more than fifteen batters during the entire
scrimmage. It is recommended that
any player entering the scrimmage be allowed to play one complete inning.
In order for this
scrimmage to be a worthwhile event, benefiting both teams, every effort should
be made to utilize pitchers who have the ability to throw strikes. Walks do not serve the needs of either
squad. Since no score is being kept and
the goal is for this to be a winning experience for both teams, coaches should
emphasize to their pitchers the importance of throwing strikes.
Coaches Option: By
mutual agreement of the two head coaches, the fourth inning could be a
situation inning whereby:
1.
Every batter
would start with a count of 1 ball and 1 strike. This would minimize the number of pitches for
a pitcher and maximize the importance of throwing strikes.
2.
There would be
two runners placed on base by the offensive coach to work on baserunning
situations; bunting situations; etc. If
someone scores or makes an out on the bases, the coach could replace the base
runner so that each hitter in this inning would be batting with two runners on
base. The coaches should confide in each
other what they are attempting to accomplish.
VI.
Coaches
Coaches (up to four
per team) will not be restricted to the dugout.
They may position themselves to instruct their players so long as they
are not in fair territory. They may stop
play for brief instructional
conferences so long as, in the judgement of the umpires, these conferences are
not excessive nor being used as a delaying tactic.
Coaches from the two
schools should communicate with each other prior to the scrimmage. This should be done to assure that everyone
is in agreement on the format of the scrimmage and to assure that opposing
players are competing against players of the same comparable talent level. Everyone should make a concerted effort to
keep things moving. It is to no ones
advantage for this event to drag on for hours.
A brisk flow could be good training for the regular season.
One person from each
school will be permitted to videotape/film the scrimmage. Scouting shall not be allowed at the
scrimmage. The scrimmage videotapes
shall not be exchanged with other coaches for the purpose of scouting. The purpose of the scrimmage is evaluating
your own squad.