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1. Program Objectives/Coaches Conduct

Our program’s #1 goal is for each participant to have a positive and fun experience playing baseball and to come back next year.  A critical factor in meeting that goal is our coaches’ conduct and coaching.  All coaches must abide by our Code of Conduct.

Our coaches should focus on effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Skills development is also a primary objective and should be grounded on positive feedback and encouragement. 

2. Basic Game/Program Information

  • Bases are 60 feet.  Pitching rubber is 40 feet from front of the rubber to back tip of home plate.   We use the Official Rules of Major League Baseball except as noted in these rules.
  • Cancellations: The County determines field playability up until 3:00 p.m.  If weather happens after that, TTREC officials may cancels activities.  Communication via Rainedout.com and/or email.  Otherwise, it is up the umpire (if a game) or coaches to decide if a diamond is playable. 
  • Starting a Game: Players should arrive on or before 5:45 p.m.  Games start at 6:00 if both teams have at least 7 players.  If a team does not have 7 players by 6:10 (or at any point during the game) that team forfeits the game for official standings purposes and an “unofficial game” should be played.  If a team with 6 players is the visiting team and bats 1st, the game can start at 6:00 with the late player batting last.  If a player leaves a game early or is injured and cannot bat, his spot in the batting order is simply skipped (not an automatic out). 
  • Bringing Up a Player: If a team will have less than 9 players for a game, the team can "bring up" a registered Clinic player. The Clinic player:
    • Cannot pitch,
    • Must bat last in the line-up,
    • Can only play the outfield or bench, and
    • Can not play more innings in the field than the normal Minors players.
  • Game Length: Games are six innings or shorter if the Ump stops play due to darkness or inclement weather.  Extra innings are played, daylight permitting.  A regular season game may end in a tie.  A game is considered official after four innings are complete or three and a half innings have been completed with the home team leading when the game is called due to inclement weather or darkness.
  • No inning may begin after 7:45 p.m. for regular season games or 8:00 p.m. for the Playoffs.  The umpire has sole discretion of when to halt play due to darkness and he/she will err on the side of caution and safety, not on the side of trying to continue play when in doubt.
  • Run Limits (Batting):  A team stops batting after scoring 5 runs (a team may only score 5 runs in an inning even if a 6th or more run scores on the final hit).
  • Home Team Leading after 5 and ½ Innings (or the likely last inning due to time or darkness): Teams are encouraged to play out the game and give the home team final at-bats so our players get as much experience as possible.
  • Pace of Game Efforts:   In an effort to complete as many games as possible, please try to go over ground rules with the umpire at 5:50 and to start the game at 6:00.  Please have your defense game plan set before each inning to get your team out on the field as quickly as possible.  Please consider posting your line-up and defensive game plan on the fence by the bench so your players know their position without a coach having to “call it out”. 

3. In-Game Rules – Line-ups/Batting

  • Batting Order: The batting order includes all players on the team (i.e. – all players bat without regard to whether the player played in the field the prior half inning). Players arriving after the 1st pitch bat last in the line-up.  If a player shows up late and his team is on defense, the player should join his team on defense ASAP.   Coaches should vary the batting order from game to game.  Coaches may exchange batting orders prior to the commencement of play. 
  • Batted Ball Hitting Branch/Leaf: Anytime a batted ball hits any part of a tree, the ball is immediately dead and is simply considered a foul ball for batting count purposes.  Even if a fielder catches the ball in the air, it is NOT an out.  Or if the ball lands in fair territory in the outfield, the hit does not count.
  • Misc.: No infield fly rule.  No bunting.  A batter is automatically out on a 3rd strike even if the catcher drops the ball.  No big barrel bats (greater than 2-1/4 inches), full composite or double walled bats.

4. In-Game Rules – Defense

  • Our goal is to have players play infield and outfield positions.  At the coach’s discretion:
    • if a player can’t catch or at least block a hard thrown ball, the player should not play 1st base.
    • if a player can’t adequately focus enough to protect himself from a hard batted ball, the player should not play pitcher.
    • These situations should be continually monitored throughout the year.    
  • A maximum of ten players plays in the field, nine regular positions and an extra outfielder.  Outfielders must start each play in the outfield grass.  Infielders should start in the normal area for that position (e.g. - pitchers should play near the rubber when a coach is pitching).
  • Players should play approximately the same number of innings in the field (i.e. - evenly rotate bench innings).  Additionally,
    • Each player must play at least 1 of the 1st 4 innings in the infield and outfield/bench (assuming at least 8 players playing). Pitcher and catcher are considered infield positions. 
    • Please instruct and ensure that fielders are slightly in front of or behind the base paths.  This is especially important for 1st baseman.
  • Catchers Helpers – To keep up the pace of our games, please have a coach positioned near the backstop to retrieve and throw back pitched balls missed by the catchers. 

5. In-Game Rules – Pitching

  • Player Pitching: A coach has the option of using a player pitcher in each inning.  A player pitcher can only start an inning (i.e. he can’t come in in the middle of an inning).  A coach may remove a player pitcher after any completed at-bat, but the player pitcher must be removed if/after:
    • They walk and/or hitsthe 1st 2 batters;
    • 2 HBP’s;
    • or after a total of 3 walks +HBP’s.
  • A player may pitch a maximum of one inning per game.  One pitch in an inning is considered an inning pitched.  No balks although pitchers must pitch from the rubber.  No intentional walks.
  • For games/scrimmages in April, player pitchers must start at least the 1st inning.
  • For games/scrimmages in May, player pitchers must start at least the first 2 innings.
  • For games in June and playoff games, player pitchers must start at least the first 1st3 innings.
  • With coach pitching, there are no walks but strikes are called.  The coach pitcher should pitch within 5 feet of the rubber.
  • This will be most players’ first experience with pitching.  With that in mind, you should only use players that have the ability to get the ball to the plate with some level of control.  A player with little chance of getting the ball over the plate does not provide a meaningful experience for the pitcher, his teammates, or the other team.  Consider using players with prior pitching experience in April while developing the younger or less experienced players in practice. 
  • Coaches are allowed one visit to the mound per inning.  On the second visit in that inning, the pitcher must be removed.  An injury visit does not count as a pitching visit.

6. In-Game Rules – Base Running

  • No leading or stealing: Base runners must stay on their bases until the ball is hit.  If a player is not on a base, he may be tagged out (except as noted in the overthrow section).
  • Plays at a Base: Runners advancing to a base must slide or avoid contact if not sliding.  Head first slides are strongly discouraged.  Defensive players (including a catcher) cannot significantly block a base or base path.  In the judgment of the ump, if a runner is “out” because a runner was unable to reasonably slide and reach the base due to the defensive player blocking the base or base path, defensive interference should be called by the ump and the runner is safe.  Please coach your players (including catcher) to straddle the base or to stand in front of it when receiving a throw.
  • Defensive interference should also be called by the ump and a runner awarded an appropriate base if a runner is significantly impeded by a defensive player (not catching a batted ball) standing in the base line which prevents the runner from advancing to the next base (e.g. if the 1st baseman is standing on the base or directly next to it and a runner must slowdown or veer out of the 1st baseman’s way, etc.).
  • Play Control Rule:  The games will be conducted in an appropriate manner that reflects the spirit of youth baseball, fair play and the skill level and knowledge of the players.  Our objective is for our players to learn appropriate base running and for our defenders to learn where to throw the ball.  To meet these objectives we will use the following play control rule:
  • Batted ball not leaving the infield.   If the ball does not leave the infield, runners (including the batter) can advance only 1 base, except if there is an overthrow (see separate overthrow rule below).
  • Batted ball reaching the outfield grass.  Once an infielder (including catcher) has clear control of the ball on the infield, runners are precluded from advancing beyond the base to which they are headed, except if there is an overthrow (see separate overthrow rule below).
  • Note that outfielder must start each play in the outfield grass, but may run in to the infield to field a ball after contact.  In this case, the ball has not reached the outfield.
  • Note that an outfielder may not run to the infield to stop base runners from advancing.  The outfielder must throw to an infielder.
  • The position of the runner is determined at the time the infielder gains control (e.g. - if the batter has not reached 1st base by the time an infielder gains control, he may not advance to 2nd base).
  • Overthrows – During a play, runners may advance at their own risk only 1 base after the 1st overthrow to any base (including home plate).  An overthrow is based on the judgment of the umpire but should generally be at least 5 feet past a base even if it is still in the field of play (an overthrow is more than just a dropped ball).  This rule is intended to encourage defensive players to make appropriate baseball plays on batted balls.  A ball out of play is dead and each runner automatically advances 1 base.
  • Example: Runner on 1st base and the batter hits the ball to the short stop who throws to 2nd base.  The ball is missed by the 2nd baseman and goes into the outfield.  Each runner may advance 1 base at his own risk.  If the outfielder throws to 3rd base and the 3rd baseman misses again, the runners may not advance since they have already advanced 1 base on an overthrow during the play (even if the ball goes out of play).  If a runner mistakenly attempts to advance a 2nd time, he is allowed free return to the prior base. However, if in the judgment of the ump, the runner over slides or simply runs past the base, he may be tagged out.  After the initial over throw, the ball is dead after the runner(s) have reached the next base, safe or not.

7. Miscellaneous

  • On-Deck Circle – For safety purposes, please use the cones provided to form an "on-deck circle" in an appropriate area (e.g. near the backstop) and to strongly communicate a team rule that ONLY a player "at bat" or "on-deck" can have a bat in their hands.  
  • Equipment:  Catchers must wear a protective cup. Batters and base runners must wear a batting helmet. 
  • Umpires: Umpires do their best to make correct judgments but they will make “bad calls” in every game.  Coaches should show proper respect for the umpire since our players will follow their example.  The Umpire’s decision is final.  If a coach has a question concerning an umpire’s decision, the coach should request time at the end of the play and discuss the decision in an appropriate manner.
  • Coaches, spectators, and players should not argue with/yell at the Umpire.  Coaches are responsible for their parents/spectators behavior towards umpires and your opponents.  The Umpire may eject a player, spectator, or coach from the game.  The Age Group Coordinator and League Commissioner will review all ejections for possible further action.  The Age Group Coordinator (or League Commissioner, if appropriate,) will decide any formal protest. 
  • Scrimmages:  We will utilize scrimmages at the beginning of the season to allow for our players to experience game type situations with a view towards more “action”.
  • Scrimmage Rule Differences
    • We will not utilize “real” umpires. 
    • If a player is pitching, a coach from the batting team will call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher and make all other umpire calls.  
    • If a coach is pitching, the coach will call strikes and make all other umpire calls.
    • If a player strikes out (player or coach pitch), the out does NOT count and the batter will simply hit off a tee.  All outs must occur on the bases.
    • If a player pitcher throws 4 balls, a coach pitcher will finish the at bat.  The strike count restarts so the batter will get 3 strikes from the coach pitcher.
    • If a player pitcher strikes out 3 batters, the player pitcher should be replaced by another player pitcher or a coach will come in to finish the inning.
    • The strike zone for scrimmages is top of shoulders to bottom of the knees.  Note that a ball that hits the dirt after the plate can be a strike depending on the arc of the pitch and the height of the batter.  We want a large strike zone (top to bottom) to encourage our players to swing the bat.  We don’t want a wide strike zone, since our young players don’t have long arms and don’t use long bats and may not be able to hit a wide pitch.
  • Practice Plan/Best Practices:
    • Communicate with parents regarding how long each practice will last and stick to the end time as closely as possible. 
    • Try to have a plan of the drills and/or areas you want to focus on for each practice.  Try to keep players active throughout practice.  Practically, you need at least 2 coaches/parents and likely 3 to keep the kids active.
    • Coaches should focus on skills development early in the season and game situations as the season progresses. 
    • Coaches should work on developing less experienced pitchers during practices.  Please monitor practice pitch counts (keep under 30 or so).  A regular travel pitcher should not pitch on Saturday practices.
    • Try to incorporate games/fun activities as much as possible especially at the end of practice.