PINELLAS PARK PONY BASEBALL

2007 PRE-TEE RULES

 

 

A.   SELECTION OF PLAYERS

1.     Teams will consist of boys and girls who are league age 3 and 4.

2.     The Board will be responsible for choosing coaches and assigning players to teams.

a.      Family members will be on the same team.

b.     Requests should be taken at registration so that friends and relatives can be assigned to the same team if desired.

 

B.   THE GAME

1.     Games will be three innings or 45 minutes long, whichever comes first.

2.     When the time limit is reached, the current inning will be completed, and the game will be called.

3.     Pre-tee is non-competitive – no score will be kept.

4.     A soft baseball should be used.

 

C.   THE BATTER/RUNNER

1.     Each team will bat all players each inning.

a.      The batting order should be rotated each inning and each game.

2.     The ball will be placed on the tee, and the batter will swing until the ball is hit fair.

a.      There are no strikeouts.

3.     Each batter or runner will advance one base each time the ball is hit.

a.      Runners should be taught to leave their base as soon as the batter hits the ball.

b.     The batter should be taught to overrun 1st base.

c.     Runners should be taught to stop on 2nd and 3rd base.

4.     The defense may attempt to make an out, but all runners will be left on base.

a.      No outs will be called.

b.     Caught fly balls will not be an out.

5.     When the final batter for the inning hits the ball, all runners will advance all the way to home, including the batter.

a.      Rotating the batting order gives each child a chance to hit a “homerun” during the season.

6.     The teams switch offense and defense when the each child has had a turn to bat.

 

D.   THE DEFENSE

1.     All players play in the field each inning.

a.      Players should rotate the area they play in each defensive inning.

b.     Attempt to assigning true baseball positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, SS, P, outfield) to allow the players to learn to get the ball in their area.

1.     Children should be discouraged from running after every ball regardless of where it is hit.

2.     Fielders should be taught to throw the ball to first when the ball is stopped in the infield.

3.     Fielders should be taught to throw the ball to second when the ball is hit past the infield.

4.     Defenders may make a play on the runners and batter, but no outs will be called and runners will remain on base.

5.     The ball is dead and the play is over once the fielder has made a throw, and the batter/runners have reached their base.

 

E.   THE COACH AND PARENTS

1.     The coach and parents for the batting team should position themselves so that instruction may be given to the batter and runners.

a.      Coaches and parents should not touch base runners; verbal instruction should be used.

b.     Some children may require that their parent run with them after they hit the ball.  This is permitted but not encouraged.

2.     Coaches and parents for the defensive team may stand where desired.

a.      The coaches should not physically help the players, but they should give verbal instruction.

b.     Parents are permitted to stand with their children in the field.

 

F.    INJURIES

1.     Please report any injuries to a Board Member as soon as possible.

2.     In the case of any injury, all play will cease immediately.

 

G.  CONDITION OF THE FIELD

1.     It is the responsibility of both teams to make sure the field/dugouts are free of any trash or debris after each game.

2.     It will be up to the Coaches and the Board to determine when a game will be called due to inclement weather.

3.     Both teams’ coaches and managers should arrive at the field early if it has been raining to help prepare the field of play.

 

H.   GENERAL

1.     The home team must supply one adult (over age 16) to run the concession stand during the game.  The team mom should assign games to the parent volunteers so there is no confusion when game time arrives.

2.     The home team is responsible for laying out the bases prior to the game, and locking up the bases after the game, unless there is a game immediately following their game.

3.     No tobacco or alcohol will be allowed on the field or in the dugouts at any time.

 

I.      THE LEAGUE WILL NOT TOLERATE UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY THE COACHES, PLAYERS, OR PARENTS/FANS.  CONDUCT SUCH AS THROWING EQUIPMENT, USING FOUL LANGUAGE, OR ANY OTHER UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE BOARD.

 

J.     PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL.  FOCUS SHOULD BE PLACED ON TEACHING FUNDAMENTALS WHILE MAKING THE BASEBALL EXPERIENCE PLEASURABLE FOR EACH CHILD.