Divisions & Rules
Subscribe to our NewsletterRookie Boys Baseball Division Responsibilities & Rules 2011
Responsibilities:
1. The visiting team is responsible for setting up the field (pitching machine, bases, and batting tee) before the game, and the home team is responsible for breaking down the field after the game. Both teams are responsible for ensuring that the field is properly raked after the game. Spare bases are used to cover the pitching machines electric cord crossing the third base line. Balls will be kept in the shed.
2. Home Team will have the 3rd Base side bench and the visiting team will have the 1st base side bench.
3. Weeknight games are scheduled to start promptly at 6:00 pm and Saturday games are scheduled to start promptly at 10:30 am and 1:30pm. Each team is allowed 15 minutes of pre-game, on-the-field practice. The visiting team pre-game practice period begins 30 minutes before game time (5:30 pm on weeknights, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays). The home team’s pre-game practice period begins 15 minutes before game time (5:45 pm on weeknights, 10:15 am and 1:15 pm on Saturdays).
4. Each team will be issued a bag with a complete set of catcher’s gear (Mask, helmet, chest protector, shin pads and glove), Helmets and Bats. Each manager is responsible for this bag. It is the manager’s responsibility to keep up with his equipment and the shared equipment in the shed. Should anything be broken, lost or otherwise unusable, please notify the commissioner so that it can be replaced as soon as possible. Please do not take items from other team bags. Replacement items will be supplied promptly.
5. It is the managers and coaches responsibility to collect and return equipment from and to the shed. Please do not send the players to the shed to do this. All players must be with a manager or a coach if they are helping with the equipment or are in the shed.
Rules:
1. Game will consist of six (6) innings (subject to available daylight). No inning shall start after 7:30pm on weeknights, and all games will end after two (2) hours of play.
2. The batting order consists of all available players for the entire game and must remain consistent throughout the game.
3. Teams will play with nine (9) defensive players unless there are only ten (10) players available for the game. In this situation, four (4) outfielders will be permitted. Never have one player on the bench.
4. To start the season, pitching will be done by a pitching machine. The dial on the pitching machine will be set at forty-five (45), unless approved by the Baseball Commissioner. One of the offensive team coaches will operate the pitching machine. That coach will also act as the umpire. There are no strikeouts or walks.
5. Each batter will receive five (5) hittable pitches (a hittable pitch is from the batter’s chin to his mid-shin and slightly wider than home plate) from the machine. If a player fouls off the fifth hittable pitch, he will receive one (1) additional hittable pitch (final pitch). If a batter is not successful in hitting the ball into play after five (5) pitches, then the batter must use the batting tee. When a batting tee is used, one of the offensive team’s coaches is responsible for setting up and removing the tee in case there is a play at the plate.
6. Midway through the season the first three (3) innings will be machine pitch, and all remaining innings will be player pitch. A coach from the team on offense will call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher. After four (4) balls the batter will use the tee to hit. Three (3) strikes will be a strikeout. Pitchers are limited to one (1) inning per game, three (3) innings per week, cannot pitch on consecutive days, are limited to 40 pitches in any one inning, and cannot play catcher in a game they pitch. One pitch will be considered an inning pitched.
7. When a ball is hit to the infield or an infielder has a legitimate chance to make a play, all runners advance one base. When a ball is hit into the outfield (fly ball or true base hit into the outfield), all runners can advance until the defense has control of the ball in the infield.
8. Batted balls that hit the pitching machine will be dead balls with the batter awarded first base and any runners advancing one base.
9. Batters must take full swings. No bunting is allowed.
10. Base runners may not take a lead. The runner cannot leave the base until the ball has crossed home plate.
11. Runners can advance on overthrows until the defense has control of the ball in the infield, but can not advance on overthrows to first base.
12. Sliding is allowed under a coach’s guidance. Head first slides and aggressive slides, intended to disrupt a defensive player are not permitted.
13. The Batter and all runners on base MUST wear a batting helmet at all times.
14. Outs are to be counted. When the batter or a runner on base is put out, he must return to the bench.
15. Each team will continue to bat until three (3) outs are made or four (4) runs are scored. Players are to finish the play, but no more than four (4) runs are scored.
16. All outfielders must remain beyond the dirt infield at all times and/or at least fifteen (15) feet behind the infield and must all be at the same depth. If an outfielder carries the ball into the infield or enters the infield to make a play, all runners safely advance.
17. The defensive team must field a catcher unless there are fewer than nine (9) defensive players available. One of the batting team’s coaches will handle the catching duties when the defensive team is unable to field a catcher. Under these circumstances, another defensive player from the field must make the plays at the plate.
18. The catcher must wear all of the protective equipment (mask, helmet, chest protector, shin pads, and catchers glove). Players are strongly advised to wear a protective cup. Catchers should make every effort to catch the ball and return it to the pitcher. If a pitch is not caught when the pitching machine is in use, another ball will be put into play to maintain the speed of the game. When a player is pitching, the catcher must retrieve any missed pitches.
19. A player should not be out of the game for more than one (1) inning in a row. All players should play about the same amount of time during a game.
20. No player is to play an outfield position for more than two (2) innings in a game, unless that game goes to six (6) innings, at which point during the sixth inning any player may be placed in an outfield position for a total of three (3) innings in any outfield position in one game. All players should be rotated through all of the various field positions throughout the course of the season.
21. On-field instruction should be given throughout the game. As many as three (3) coaches from the defensive team are permitted on the field to instruct the fielders. Defensive coaches in the outfield are optional. As noted above, one of the offensive coaches will operate the pitching machine. The batting team should have two (2) base coaches to assist the runners and one (1) batting coach to assist the batter.
22. Managers and coaches should guide all activities to ensure that they are safe, informative and fun for all players. The primary goal of this division is to instruct the boys and to prepare them for the next level of play. Always be positive in your remarks and encourage good play and sportsmanship.
23. A winner can be declared as long as a game does not end in a tie. However, there will be no win/loss records of standings kept and at no time should there be any emphasis placed on winning the game. Understanding the difference between winning and losing, especially encouraging good sportsmanship, is a part of the instructional process that should not be overlooked.
Responsibilities:
1. The visiting team is responsible for setting up the field (pitching machine, bases, and batting tee) before the game, and the home team is responsible for breaking down the field after the game. Both teams are responsible for ensuring that the field is properly raked after the game. Spare bases are used to cover the pitching machines electric cord crossing the third base line. Balls will be kept in the shed.
2. Home Team will have the 3rd Base side bench and the visiting team will have the 1st base side bench.
3. Weeknight games are scheduled to start promptly at 6:00 pm and Saturday games are scheduled to start promptly at 10:30 am and 1:30pm. Each team is allowed 15 minutes of pre-game, on-the-field practice. The visiting team pre-game practice period begins 30 minutes before game time (5:30 pm on weeknights, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays). The home team’s pre-game practice period begins 15 minutes before game time (5:45 pm on weeknights, 10:15 am and 1:15 pm on Saturdays).
4. Each team will be issued a bag with a complete set of catcher’s gear (Mask, helmet, chest protector, shin pads and glove), Helmets and Bats. Each manager is responsible for this bag. It is the manager’s responsibility to keep up with his equipment and the shared equipment in the shed. Should anything be broken, lost or otherwise unusable, please notify the commissioner so that it can be replaced as soon as possible. Please do not take items from other team bags. Replacement items will be supplied promptly.
5. It is the managers and coaches responsibility to collect and return equipment from and to the shed. Please do not send the players to the shed to do this. All players must be with a manager or a coach if they are helping with the equipment or are in the shed.
Rules:
1. Game will consist of six (6) innings (subject to available daylight). No inning shall start after 7:30pm on weeknights, and all games will end after two (2) hours of play.
2. The batting order consists of all available players for the entire game and must remain consistent throughout the game.
3. Teams will play with nine (9) defensive players unless there are only ten (10) players available for the game. In this situation, four (4) outfielders will be permitted. Never have one player on the bench.
4. To start the season, pitching will be done by a pitching machine. The dial on the pitching machine will be set at forty-five (45), unless approved by the Baseball Commissioner. One of the offensive team coaches will operate the pitching machine. That coach will also act as the umpire. There are no strikeouts or walks.
5. Each batter will receive five (5) hittable pitches (a hittable pitch is from the batter’s chin to his mid-shin and slightly wider than home plate) from the machine. If a player fouls off the fifth hittable pitch, he will receive one (1) additional hittable pitch (final pitch). If a batter is not successful in hitting the ball into play after five (5) pitches, then the batter must use the batting tee. When a batting tee is used, one of the offensive team’s coaches is responsible for setting up and removing the tee in case there is a play at the plate.
6. Midway through the season the first three (3) innings will be machine pitch, and all remaining innings will be player pitch. A coach from the team on offense will call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher. After four (4) balls the batter will use the tee to hit. Three (3) strikes will be a strikeout. Pitchers are limited to one (1) inning per game, three (3) innings per week, cannot pitch on consecutive days, are limited to 40 pitches in any one inning, and cannot play catcher in a game they pitch. One pitch will be considered an inning pitched.
7. When a ball is hit to the infield or an infielder has a legitimate chance to make a play, all runners advance one base. When a ball is hit into the outfield (fly ball or true base hit into the outfield), all runners can advance until the defense has control of the ball in the infield.
8. Batted balls that hit the pitching machine will be dead balls with the batter awarded first base and any runners advancing one base.
9. Batters must take full swings. No bunting is allowed.
10. Base runners may not take a lead. The runner cannot leave the base until the ball has crossed home plate.
11. Runners can advance on overthrows until the defense has control of the ball in the infield, but can not advance on overthrows to first base.
12. Sliding is allowed under a coach’s guidance. Head first slides and aggressive slides, intended to disrupt a defensive player are not permitted.
13. The Batter and all runners on base MUST wear a batting helmet at all times.
14. Outs are to be counted. When the batter or a runner on base is put out, he must return to the bench.
15. Each team will continue to bat until three (3) outs are made or four (4) runs are scored. Players are to finish the play, but no more than four (4) runs are scored.
16. All outfielders must remain beyond the dirt infield at all times and/or at least fifteen (15) feet behind the infield and must all be at the same depth. If an outfielder carries the ball into the infield or enters the infield to make a play, all runners safely advance.
17. The defensive team must field a catcher unless there are fewer than nine (9) defensive players available. One of the batting team’s coaches will handle the catching duties when the defensive team is unable to field a catcher. Under these circumstances, another defensive player from the field must make the plays at the plate.
18. The catcher must wear all of the protective equipment (mask, helmet, chest protector, shin pads, and catchers glove). Players are strongly advised to wear a protective cup. Catchers should make every effort to catch the ball and return it to the pitcher. If a pitch is not caught when the pitching machine is in use, another ball will be put into play to maintain the speed of the game. When a player is pitching, the catcher must retrieve any missed pitches.
19. A player should not be out of the game for more than one (1) inning in a row. All players should play about the same amount of time during a game.
20. No player is to play an outfield position for more than two (2) innings in a game, unless that game goes to six (6) innings, at which point during the sixth inning any player may be placed in an outfield position for a total of three (3) innings in any outfield position in one game. All players should be rotated through all of the various field positions throughout the course of the season.
21. On-field instruction should be given throughout the game. As many as three (3) coaches from the defensive team are permitted on the field to instruct the fielders. Defensive coaches in the outfield are optional. As noted above, one of the offensive coaches will operate the pitching machine. The batting team should have two (2) base coaches to assist the runners and one (1) batting coach to assist the batter.
22. Managers and coaches should guide all activities to ensure that they are safe, informative and fun for all players. The primary goal of this division is to instruct the boys and to prepare them for the next level of play. Always be positive in your remarks and encourage good play and sportsmanship.
23. A winner can be declared as long as a game does not end in a tie. However, there will be no win/loss records of standings kept and at no time should there be any emphasis placed on winning the game. Understanding the difference between winning and losing, especially encouraging good sportsmanship, is a part of the instructional process that should not be overlooked.
