SubscribeHome team is responsible for field prep and concessions (see concessions procedures)
Field warm ups for each team will be for 10 minutes. Visitors warm up begins 20 minutes prior to the game time and the home team warms up begins 10 minutes prior.
Home team provides 2 new game balls.
Home team is responsible for controlling the scoreboard and maintaining the official scorebook. Please assign adults only for scoreboard duty or have an adult overseeing any children operating the scoreboard
Pitch count rules apply (see rules and procedures). We will be using Option # 1 (same as last year).
Bat the entire roster
Each player shall play a minimum of two consecutive defensive innings (six outs)
4 runs per inning maximum per team
Last inning is open
Ten run rule will be used in accordance with little league rules
Free substitutions
Coaches on field limited to 2 (first base and third base)
No on-deck players (for safety and insurance reasons)
Games will be a maximum of six innings (unless game is tied), subject to the immediately succeeding rule.
Do not allow your kids to square around to bunt and then swing away. This is a safety issue. Batters can square to bunt with the intention of pulling the bat back to rattle the pitcher or catcher or to improve your chances of a successful steal but don’t allow the batter to then swing away.
Regular season games are intended to take two hours or less. Coaches are to note when 1 hour and 20 minutes of a game has elapsed. If 4 innings have not been fully completed, the 5th inning will be the open inning. If 4 innings have been fully completed, the 6th inning will be the open inning. Do not start a new inning after 2 hours unless the game is tied. If the game is tied you can continue after 2 hours but there is a 10:00 pm curfew. No baseball at all after 10:00.
Latest rules Updates:
Player-pitchers will throw from the rubber which is closest to home plate.
A pitcher cannot pitch more than 2 innings per game (6 outs). Pitch count rules will also apply (see handouts). We will be using Option #1.
Umpires will be provided.
No stealing of bases. No bunting
SUBJECT TO THE RULE THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS, when a defensive player intends to return the ball to the infield or the pitcher but is not attempting to throw to a base to make a play on an advancing runner, the play stops once the ball reaches the infield area. At this moment, if the base runner has not crossed the “half-way” chalk mark, the runner must return to the previous base. An apparent tie sends the runner back. (The intention is to stop play once the ball crosses the vertical plane (IN THE AIR OR ON THE GROUND) created by the grass-to-clay border between the outfield and the infield.) Determining if the runner should advance is the decision of the Umpire. During field prep the home team should lay chalk at the halfway point between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and home plate
If a base runner is intending to advance to another base AND a fielder is throwing to a base to attempt to make an out on the advancing base runner, the play is not dead when the ball crosses the plane of the infield.
A runner may advance one base on an overthrow. However, only one base may be taken on an overthrow per “play.” For example, if there is an overthrow at first base, the runner may run to second. If the fielding team attempts to make a play at second and they overthrow 2nd base, the runner may NOT advance to third. An overthrow can occur from either the outfield or the infield and at any base.
If a runner overruns 1st or 2nd base on a ball that was hit to the outfield and the runner cannot advance to the next base because a teammate is already on that base, the runner gets to freely go back to the overrun base and may not be tagged out.
If a runner gets in a run-down or “pickle” between the bases and there is an overthrow at either base, the runner may advance at his own risk to the base to which he was originally trying to advance when he got caught in the run-down but is not allowed to advance any further. For example, a player is caught between 2nd and 3rd and the ball is overthrown (at either 3rd base or 2nd base), the player may advance to 3rd but not home. He can of course also return to 2nd at his own risk.
Bat the entire roster
Ten players in the field – 4 outfielders, no rover around 2nd base. We want to encourage development of the SS and 2nd basemen in covering 2nd base
Four runs per inning maximum per side. No ten run rule. Last inning is open. See rule that follows
Games are intended to take two hours or less. Coaches are to note when 1 hour and 20 minutes of a game has elapsed. If 4 innings have not been fully completed, the 5th inning will be the open inning. If 4 innings have been fully completed, the 6th inning will be the open inning. If a game is tied at the end of 6 innings, coaches will decide whether an extra inning will be played or if the game shall end in a tie. Be mindful of whether teams are waiting to play the next game.
Each player shall play two defensive innings per game (six outs) minimum
Free substitutions
No on-deck players (for safety and insurance reasons)
Home team is responsible for field prep and concessions (see concessions procedures)
Home team provides 2 game balls
Home team is responsible for controlling the scoreboard. No official scorebook will be kept although each team is encouraged to maintain a scorebook throughout the season. Please assign adults only for scoreboard duty or have an adult overseeing any children operating the scoreboard
For the first four games of the season (subject to extension), we will have kid pitch and coach pitch. 1, 3 and 5 innings will be kid pitch and innings 2, 4 and 6 will be coach pitch. No walks by coaches. When the coach is pitching, there will be only 6 pitches per batter with the exception that foul balls at the 6th pitch and thereafter are allowed and continue the at bat (just like the Minor C rules on this point). If the batter does not swing at the 6th pitch he is out
If you are playing in the last game of the day or evening, please make sure to put the scoreboard controls and the speaker equipment (if you are announcing your game) in the concession stand. If it is not open, put everything in the supply room with the roll up door. Also, make sure the scoreboard switch is turned off in the concession stand and turn out the field lights. This is ultimately the Home team’s responsibility but everyone should be looking out for these items. If you have the last practice of the evening, please make sure the lights are off.
MINOR B GENERAL THOUGHTS
The principal goals at the Minor B level are to teach the kids some baseball fundamentals and to make the experience enjoyable for ALL of the kids, not just the advanced players. While all of us have a competitive streak, please allow kids of all skill levels to play a variety of positions. This doesn’t mean that you must play kids who can’t catch at first base or kids that have no idea what they are doing at pitcher or shortstop — we have to be mindful of safety concerns as well. It does mean, however, that all kids (including the least talented) should get some opportunities during the season to play in the infield. Additionally, every kid that expresses a desire to pitch should get an opportunity to pitch during the year. All of this is especially important for the Fall season which is intended to be developmental
REMEMBER – THESE ARE MOSTLY 8 AND 9 YEAR OLD KIDS. WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY BASEBALL AND TO CONTINUE PLAYING THROUGHOUT THEIR CHILDHOODS. MAKE IT FUN AND INSTRUCTIVE. BE INCLUSIVE. BE CONTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE. TONE DOWN THE COMPETITION A BIT. BE COLLEGIAL WITH THE OTHER COACHES. BE RESPECTFUL OF THE UMPIRE. SET GREAT EXAMPLES. AND, AGAIN – MAKE IT FUN!
The Umpire is the Coach-Pitcher on the mound. Base coaches at first and third should be actively involved in plays at first and third but the ultimate call rests with the Coach Pitcher on the mound
Three strikes is an out. For the first four games of the season (one each against the other teams), if a batter strikes out he or she will get one swing off of the tee. If the batter then misses the teed ball or hits the tee, he or she has struck out. NO TEE IN THE FINAL, OPEN INNING. Tee to be supplied by the home team. After the first four games of the season, no tee.
Three outs to an inning
Six coach pitches per batter. If the batter does not hit the sixth pitch the batter is out (subject to the tee rule for the first four games of the season explained above). A foul ball on the sixth or subsequent pitches does continue the at bat
All pitching shall be from one generous step in front of the rubber closest to the plate. During field prep the home team should lay chalk at this spot
Pitcher may be positioned on either side of the Coach but the pitcher may not be closer to the plate than the Coach. Pitcher may be positioned behind the Coach Pitcher. Pitcher must have at least one foot within the mound at the time the ball is pitched.
When a defensive player intends to return the ball to the infield or the pitcher, the play stops once the ball reaches the infield area. At this moment, if the base runner has not crossed the “half-way” chalk mark, the runner must return to the previous base. An apparent tie sends the runner back. (The intention is to stop play once the ball crosses the vertical plane (IN THE AIR OR ON THE GROUND) created by the grass-to-clay border between the outfield and the infield.) Determining if the runner should advance is ultimately the decision of the Umpire. During field prep the home team should lay chalk at the halfway point between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and home plate
A batted ball that does not get to the grass portion of the infield is a foul ball
Bat the entire roster
Ten players in the field – either 4 outfielders or a rover around 2nd base
Four runs per inning maximum per side, last inning is open. No ten run rule
Each player shall play two defensive innings per game (six outs) minimum
Free substitutions
A Coach should stand behind the catcher as “backup” (i.e., return the ball to the Coach Pitcher if the ball gets by the catcher) – teams should alternate providing the Coach each half inning
No on-deck players (for safety and insurance reasons)
Games are intended to take two hours or less. Coaches are to note when 1 hour and 20 minutes of a game has elapsed. If 4 innings have not been fully completed, the 5th inning will be the open inning. If 4 innings have been fully completed, the 6th inning will be the open inning
Home team is responsible for field prep, concessions (see concession procedures) and provides the game ball
Home team is responsible for controlling the scoreboard. No official scorebook will be kept. Please assign an adult only or have an adult supervise any child operating the scoreboard
No bunting
Fielder interference will not be enforced unless a particular player repeatedly violates the rule after explanation. Please apply this rule in a reasonable manner
The infielders should never be positioned more than three feet in front of the baseline (ie, 3rd baseman and SS shouldn’t be more than three feet in front of the baseline between 3rd base and 2nd base and the 2nd baseman and the 1st baseman shouldn’t be more than three feet in front of the baseline between 2nd base and 1st base). Of course, they may play back as far as they like.
If you are playing in the last game of the day or evening, please make sure to put the scoreboard controls and the speaker equipment (if you are announcing your game) in the concession stand. If it is not open, put everything in the supply room with the roll up door. Also, make sure the scoreboard switch is turned off in the concession stand and turn out the field lights. This is ultimately the Home team’s responsibility but everyone should be looking out for these items. If you have the last practice of the evening, please make sure the lights are off.
MINOR C GENERAL THOUGHTS
The principal goals at the Minor C level are to teach the kids some baseball fundamentals and to make the experience enjoyable for ALL of the kids, not just the advanced players. While all of us have some competitive streaks (some more than others) the fall season should be time to allow kids of all skill levels to play a variety of positions. This doesn’t mean that you must play kids who can’t catch at first base or kids that have no idea what they are doing at pitcher or shortstop – we have to be mindful of safety concerns as well. It does mean, however, that all kids (including the least talented) should get some opportunities during the season to play in the infield. Similarly, all kids (including the most talented) should get some opportunities to play in the outfield. What we don’t want are the 3 most talented kids on a team playing pitcher, first base and shortstop nearly every inning of every game.
REMEMBER – THESE ARE 6, 7 AND 8 YEAR OLD KIDS. WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY BASEBALL AND TO CONTINUE PLAYING THROUGHOUT THEIR CHILDHOODS. MAKE IT FUN AND INSTRUCTIVE. BE INCLUSIVE. BE CONTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE. TONE DOWN THE COMPETITION A BIT. BE COLLEGIAL WITH THE OTHER COACHES. SET GREAT EXAMPLES. AND, AGAIN – MAKE IT FUN!
