Age Group: 8 - 9
Session Length: 2 Hours
Registration Fee: $130
At the Rookie level, the basic fundamentals continue to be the focus. Kids learn to hit a thrown ball, however they do not pitch or catch (these positions are covered by either the coaches, or the student workers). A soft baseball is still used. The basics of catching, throwing, fielding, batting, and base running continue to be reinforced. Our focus continues on outdoor fun and exercise.
Teams in Rookie have a roster of approximately 12 players.
* Baseball hats and jerseys should be worn to each practice or game.
Duration: 120 Minutes
Duration
Rules of Play
Playing Field
There will be two coaches per team (1 Head Coach, 1 Assistant) if the number of parent volunteers allow. There will also be two student workers present to facilitate game play and run the practice drill.
Session Length: 2 Hours
Registration Fee: $130
Summary
At the Rookie level, the basic fundamentals continue to be the focus. Kids learn to hit a thrown ball, however they do not pitch or catch (these positions are covered by either the coaches, or the student workers). A soft baseball is still used. The basics of catching, throwing, fielding, batting, and base running continue to be reinforced. Our focus continues on outdoor fun and exercise.
Teams in Rookie have a roster of approximately 12 players.
Equipment
- Required: Glove, Batting Helmet, Hat, Jersey
- Recommended: Athletic Support (i.e. jock or jill), Long Pants
- Optional: Cleats, Baseball Pants, Batting Gloves
* Baseball hats and jerseys should be worn to each practice or game.
Session Structure
Duration: 120 Minutes
Warm-Up (15 Minutes)
- Stretching: ~5 minutes
- Sprints: ~3 minutes
- Warm-up Catch: ~7 minutes
Skill Drill (15 Minutes)
- New skill or drill each week: Catching and Receiving, Throwing Mechanics, Ground Balls, Fly Balls, Hitting, Base Running, Positioning, Sliding, Bunting, Pitching
Game (90 Minutes)
Duration
- 5 innings or 90 minutes in duration (whichever comes first).
- Innings 1-4: 3 outs or 5 runs (whichever comes first).
- Inning 5: 3 outs or once through the batting order (whichever comes first).
- No new inning will start after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Rules of Play
- Student workers pitch, catch and umpire.
- NO bunting, strikeouts or walks.
- NO lead-offs or stealing.
- A batter shall receive a maximum of 6 good pitches. After 6 pitches, the ball shall be placed on a tee and hit until the ball is in fair play.
- All hits within the infield are SINGLES ONLY. If a batted ball reaches the outfield grass (either on the ground or in the air) they can receive a double, however, they can still be thrown out at 2nd base per normal rules.
- All players are in the batting line-up and the order will continue after the last batter from previous inning.
- All batters MUST wear helmets when on deck, at bat, or on base.
- Regular fielding positions should be attempted (except for catcher).
- Coaches must rotate players throughout the defensive line-up to ensure fair play.
- Score shall be kept by the coaches and confirmed with the home plate umpire at the end of each inning.
- Players must wear full uniform (jersey and hat).
- Players must run on and off the field between innings
Playing Field
- The distance between the bases shall be 60 feet.
- The distance from the point of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber shall be determined by the student worker pitcher and will allow for a soft over or under hand toss.
Coaching
There will be two coaches per team (1 Head Coach, 1 Assistant) if the number of parent volunteers allow. There will also be two student workers present to facilitate game play and run the practice drill.
Head Coach
- Make batting and fielding line-ups.
- Coach a base when hitting.
- Keep score.
- Provide basic hitting and fielding instruction to players.
- Assist student worker during warm ups and practice drills.
Assistant Coach
- Coach base closest to bench when hitting.
- Keep kids safe on bench.
- Call out batting order.
- Can assist head coach with hitting and fielding instruction, if comfortable.
Student Worker #1
- Pitch, facilitate game play and umpire bases.
- Provide fielding instruction to players.
- Anything to keep the game moving.
- Facilitate and provide instruction during warm-up and practice drills.
Student Worker #2
- Catch and provide batting instruction to hitters.
- Umpire home plate and keep score with coaches.
- Facilitate and provide instruction during warm-up and practice drills.
