ROOKIES LEAGUE RULES
Revised 3/13/10
1. Have Fun!
2. All games are scheduled to begin at 5:00PM or 6:30 PM. All games will end with completion of the inning underway at the end of one hour and 15 minutes of play, with a minimum of 3 innings to be played at each contest.
3. All players, including substitutes, will bat in order and will bat each half inning. Innings shall be based on all players batting and not the number of outs.
4. All players will play a minimum of one infield inning per game. In field positions will be defined as 1B, 2B, 3B, SS and P. No player will play catcher during the game. Rather the pitch will be fielded by a coach or the coach’s adult designee.
5. The offensive coach shall be responsible for determining which players hit from the tee and which players hit from the machine.
6. The offensive coach shall be responsible for placing the tee at the plate and managing the batter during the “at-bat”. The offensive coach shall insure that all defensive players are aware that the ball is on the tee and shall announce to all players “ball on tee” in a voice so that all players can hear prior to allowing the batter to swing. The ball must go five feet in front of home plate in the “Fair” field of play to be considered a “live” hit.
7. An offensive player shall have six attempts to hit the ball off the tee and put the ball “in play”. After six swings that batter shall return to the player’s bench area off the field.
8. Any offensive player making an out in any fashion shall return that players bench. No outs will be recorded against the offensive team but said player shall not be permitted to remain on the active base paths.
9. In the event of using a pitching machine, 5 pitches will be allowed before the batter must hit from a tee. No batter will strike out or walk.
10. The pitching machine will be set at a distance equal to that of the rubber on the fields pitching mound and a suggested target speed of 32mph or within a reasonable speed that allows for consistent, accurate pitches for all batters to hit. The machine will not be adjusted to accommodate individual batters.
11. Prior to the “first pitch” coaches from both teams must agree on the speed of the pitching machine and will only be allowed to adjust it during the game if the machine has been altered by player contact or a hit baseball / softball or has changed in it’s delivered pitch location in a way that significantly reduces the probability of batter’s making contact.
12. The speed of the pitching machine shall be determined by the coaches prior to the game and the speed may not be altered once the game starts.
13. All “pitchers” must play at a spot to the side of the machine and equal to the 35 foot distance and may not encroach on this distance until the ball has reached the plate or the batter has hit the ball.
14. Any ball that hits any part of the machine shall immediately be called “Dead” by the pitching machine Coach and runners will be allowed to advance safely only to the base they were heading.
15. Both teams will provide a new or near new ball for each game. Soft care baseballs are to be used.
16. Base runners may not lead off or steal bases and may only begin to advance on contact of the baseball from the batter.
17. Bases shall be set at 50 feet.
18. There shall be no infield fly rule.
19. There shall be no bunting.
20. All players will wear hats and have their shirts tucked in their pants.
21. The defensive team may use all of its players in the field. However, all outfield players must start beyond the Orange painted line in the outfield prior to the “ball on tee” call and may move in past the starting line to field live balls after hit off tee. Positions should be rotated.
22. Coaches shall be allowed to coach on the field, but must place themselves beyond the infield base paths in an outfield position prior to the “ball on tee” announcement. No Coach shall be allowed to coach or assist players from inside the base paths of the infield during a live ball or batter situation. This coaching should be limited to encouragement and discussion of the play in the actual game situation. Coaching of fundamentals should be done in practice sessions and only done on the field in individual cases between pitches. Any coaching should be done as briefly as possible so the other children do not lose interest in the game.
23. Teaching the basic rules and skills of the game shall be emphasized. Competition and winning shall be downplayed.
24. No score will be kept!