Coaches

Welcome Coaches,

The Ponca City Junior Baseball Board would like to welcome you as coaches. The board would also like to thank you for volunteering your time to our youth.

We are thankful that you are willing to help teach the players the sport of baseball. We hope that you will also help us in teaching them the importance of sportsmanship.

We are including in this guide several items that you should find useful, including the specific rules that are used in Ponca City Junior baseball games for 6u and 8u, pitching rules for 10u, 12u and 15u, important contact information and information about sports medicine.

As in previous years, we ask that when your team is the “visiting” team at a game, you take the responsibility of finding a volunteer to operate the scoreboard throughout the game. Please choose someone who will pay attention and complete the job with care for the equipment. If assistance is needed with the operation of the scoreboard controls please alert a Commissioner on Duty or other Ponca City Junior Baseball official.

We as a board are here to help you and would be glad to discuss any issues that can arise during the season. We understand that coaching a baseball team has challenges as well as rewards and we hope that your season will be a success to you and your team.

Thank You,

Ponca City Junior Baseball Board

PCJB Board Members

Cody Combs	President	(918)789-2340
John Kelle	Vice President/Scheduler	(405)880-3412
Brett Beddinger	Secretary	(580)761-1214
Jayme Evans	Treasure	(580)761-3380
Billy Smith	6u Commissioner	(580)716-4153
Colby Feathers	8u Commissioner	(580)716-8521
John Kelle	10u Commissioner	(405)880-3412
Chip Meador	12u Commissioner	(580)352-2195

Covid-19

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in many locations, prohibited the congregation of groups of people. Ponca City Junior Baseball Inc. (known as the PCJB) has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, attending any program or activity at any PCJB Sports Complex (Ponca City RecPlex and Dan Moran Baseball Fields) could increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.

1 If you have been placed on quarantine or placed in isolation by your local health department, school or place of business, PCJB shall require you to follow the requirements set forth by the CDC.

2 This shall include players, parents/guardians, siblings, family and coaches.

3 In the event of a positive case that is linked to a PCJB team, that team will be subject to health department protocol.

4 If the player is not allowed to attend school he/she shall not participate in any PCJB activity, including games, practice, clinics, camps or viewing siblings games. When the player is allowed to attend school or after the quarantine or in isolation time period is up, the player may resume normal PCJB activities.

5 If a coach is not allowed to attend work or is placed in quarantine or in isolation he/she shall not participate in any PCJB activity, including games, practice, clinics, camps or viewing family member’s games. When the coach is allowed to attend work or after the quarantine or in isolation time period is up, the coach may resume normal PCJB activities.

6 When a player is placed on quarantine or placed in isolation, the player will need to notify their coach immediately.

Participation:
Batting order will have all team players and all players will bat every time through the order.

All players must play at least 1 inning and no player can sit out two innings in a row if able to play.

6u plays all players in the field on defense

8u, and 10u may play with 10 in the field on defense, or less if the coach chooses.

12u plays with 9 in the field on defense

Minimum number of players:

6u will not have to take outs regardless of number of players, but must have 7 players to play a game.

8u, 10u, 12u will take 1 out with 8 players, 2 outs with 7 players and will forfeit with less than 7.

6u Modified T-Ball Division:

· Tournament only: 60 minute game time. No new inning after 55 minutes. Games shall not exceed 60 minutes unless teams have batters that have not batted.

Season Games last as long as coaches agree to keep playing.

· Players must be 4.5 before January 1^st of the current year and no older than 6 on January 1st of the following year. If it is fall season the “current year” is actually the following year.

· Every player will play on defense in the field and will bat at least once per game some will also bat more.

· Defensive coaches shall not be allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.

· Four (4) offensive coaches shall be allowed on the field. Pitcher, 1^st base, 3^rd base, and catcher.

· A batter shall receive a maximum of four (4) live pitches from their own coach to put the ball in play, if the fourth (4^th) live pitch is fouled the at bat will continue with the ball being placed on the tee. The batter will then have two (2) swings to put the ball in play. No additional swings shall be awarded on foul balls.

· Runners shall not lead off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit.

· The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.

· Bunting and Intentional Walks shall be prohibited.

· Umpires will be provided during league tournament play only.

· During 6U league play, the home team will be responsible for providing someone to umpire the game. The home team must have a designated person that is familiar with the rules.

· 6U team standings/ records are not kept.

· The home team is responsible for getting the tee out of storage and placing bases in correct location. The visiting team is responsible for pulling bases, putting bases in dugout, putting tee up, and placing plugs in the base holes.

· 60’ base paths and 47’ to the center of pitching circle.

· A maximum of 7 runs may be scored per inning or 3 recorded outs.

· Run Rule 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 innings.

· Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc from the first (1st) baseline to the third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must advance to this line to be judged as fair.

· Safety Arc: There shall be a thirty (30) foot arc drawn from (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.

· Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.

· Pitcher’s Line: There shall be a line drawn from the pitcher’s circle to the safety arc.
The pitching coach shall keep one foot on or straddle the pitcher’s line. The Coach can pitch anywhere in-between the 30’ Safety Arc and the Pitching Circle.

· The pitching coach may verbally coach while in the pitching position, once the pitch has been delivered the coach must make every effort to exit the field of play when a ball has been put in play.

· The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit.

§ Penalty: If a coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched, obstruction shall be called.

§ Additional Penalty: If a coach violates this rule before the ball is pitched.

§ First Offense: Warning;

§ Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game.

· Teams shall provide a catcher, he or she shall wear a dual earflap catcher’s helmet with mask and it is recommended that the player wear chest protector and shin guards.

· Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baselines.

· The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.

§ Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or no-pitch.

§ If it is the player’s First Offense, a warning shall be issued.

§ If it is the player’s Second Offense, the player shall be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.

· The batting order shall constitute all present, properly uniformed players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order.

· Teams may start a game with eight (8) players. The ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) positions in the batting order shall be declared an out each turn at bat.

§ Ruling: The ninth (9th) & tenth (10th) player and all subsequent late arriving players shall be added to the bottom of the batting order as soon as they become available.

· Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance. When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.

· In the event of a tie during tournament play the “International Tie‐Breaker” will be utilized. Starting at the end of regulation time, and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with [1] one recorded out and with the player who recorded the last out in the previous at bat being placed on second base. This will continue until a winner is declared.

8u Coach Pitch Division:

· Time Limit: 75 minutes no new inning after 70 minutes.

· 6-Inning max

· A team may score a maximum of seven (7) runs per inning.

· Run Rule 15 runs after 3 innings, 8 runs after 4 inning

· Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baseline.

· The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.

§ Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or no-pitch.

§ If it is the player’s First Offense, a warning shall be issued.

§ If it is the player’s Second Offense, the player shall be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.

· Defensive coaches shall not be allowed on the field of play and shall coach from the dugout.

· The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.

· The batting order shall constitute all present players on the team roster at the beginning of the game. Late arrivals shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. All players on the roster shall bat before returning to the top of the batting order.

· Teams may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order shall remain the same.

· Bunting shall not be allowed.

· The batter shall receive a maximum of five (5) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes.

· Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.

· The game is over, when the opposing team is mathematically eliminated from scoring enough runs to win or tie the game. (Run Rules still apply)

· Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as the all runners are not attempting to advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule. Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.

· When a batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the following shall apply:

o If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out and no runners shall advance.

o If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared.

· Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.

· Safety Arc: There shall be a thirty (30) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.

· Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.

· Pitcher’s Line: There shall be a line drawn from the pitcher’s circle to the safety arc.

· The pitching coach shall keep one foot on or straddle the pitcher’s line. The Coach can pitch anywhere in-between the 30’ Safety Arc and the 42’ Pitching Circle.

· The pitching coach may verbally coach while in the pitching position, once the pitch has been delivered the coach must make every effort to exit the field of play when a ball has been put in play.

· The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit.

§ Penalty: If a coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched, obstruction shall be called.

§ Additional Penalty: If a coach violates this rule before the ball is pitched, First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game.

Pitching Rules & Table

ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day.

RULE EXAMPLE: In the 10U –15U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player cannot legally pitch the next day.

ONE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.

RULE EXAMPLE: In the 10U and 12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. Similarly, in the 15U age division, a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven (7) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to legally pitch the next day.

THREE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three (3) consecutive days Rule

RULE EXAMPLE: In the 10U –15U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of eight (8) innings in three (3) consecutive days. This is to be interpreted as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight (8) innings in two (2) days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than three (3) innings the first (1st) day. Similarly, as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight (8) innings in three (3) days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than three (3) innings the first (1st) or second (2nd) days.

MANDATORY DAYS OF REST:

(a)A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.

(b)A player that pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.

(c)A player that pitches three (3) consecutive days (regardless of total quantity of innings pitched) MUST rest the next day.

For all cumulative totals in this rule, one (1) out equals one-third (1/3) of an inning, two (2) outs equals two-thirds (2/3) of an inning and three (3) outs equals one (1) full inning.

A pitcher that pitches in a game and records no outs is not charged with any innings pitched.

Outs recorded during a game that ends in forfeit shall count towards the pitchers’ innings limits.

For purposes of pitching limitations rules, a pitcher is in violation of the rule if he records any out above the legal pitching limits pursuant to these rules.

AGE DIVISION	ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE NEXT DAY	ONE DAY MAXIMUM	THREE DAY MAXIMUM
10U-12U	3	6	8
15U	3	7	8

Ejection Rules

1. The umpire (when justified) has the right to remove any coach, player, parent or fan from the baseball field. If the circumstance allows, it is preferred that the coach receive warnings before being ejected. The FIRST warning, no action(s) shall be taken. SECOND warning, the coach shall be confined to the dugout. Any further disruption by the coach or if the coach leaves the dugout onto the playing field for any reason other than an ill or injured player, the said actions shall result in the coach being EJECTED.

Any act of violence, spoken or gestured obscenities, or threatening behavior will result in immediate removal and no warning shall be given

2. All warnings issued to teams, players or coaches shall be recorded by the HOME BOOK.

3. Additional penalties for ejection

A. If a coach is ejected from a game by an umpire, he/she must leave the immediate confines of the park and cannot return for the remainder of the day or until ONE(1) games suspension has been served. The ejected coach will also serve a minimum mandatory ONE(1) game suspension (team’s next played game). Depending on the circumstance, further penalties could be enforced by the league at a later time.

B. If a parent or fan is ejected from a game by an umpire, he/she must leave the park immediately and cannot return to the park for the remainder of the game. If an additional parent or fan is ejected from a game by an umpire associated with the same team during the same game, he/she must leave the park immediately as well as the head coach of the favored team and cannot return to the park for the remainder of the game. Depending on the circumstance, further penalties could be enforced by the league.

C. If a player is ejected from a game by an umpire, he/she is confined to the dugout or may leave the facility for the remainder of the game. The ejected player will also serve a minimum mandatory ONE(1) game suspension ( teams next played game). Depending on the circumstance, further penalties could be enforced by the league.

Home and Away Team Responsibilities

1. Home team will set the field for play and place the bases.

2. Visiting team will return all devices used in play and will pull bases and place bases in dugouts.

1. Home team will place the bases at the correct distance.

2. Visiting team will pull bases and place the bases in the dugouts.

10u 12u 15u

1. Home team will pull tarps off of the mound and the home plate areas and place bases. The home team will also rake the home plate area to make game ready.

2. Visiting team will place tarps back on the mound and home plate areas. The visiting team will also pull bases and place them in the dugout.

Double Header Games:

Example: During a double header, Team A is home team of the first game and will pull tarps and place bases prior to the game. During the second game Team B is home and place tarps and pull bases at the completion of the game.

Ponca City Junior Baseball (PCJB)

Fall Team Rules and Guidelines

· A coach from each team must be present.

If a coach in not present he/she will have their team picked at random by the age group’s commissioner.

· Each coach/team is allowed to have seven freezes.

If the coach/team does not have seven freezes, the coach will be allowed to have the first pick out of the eligible players not frozen on a team at random (hat pick) to fill their freeze list to seven.

· All coaches will be using the list of eligible players handed out at coaches meeting.

· Numbers will be assigned to each coach and will be drawn at random to determine hat pick order.

· Each team makes its first-round hat pick based on the predetermined order.

When the first round is over, the team that picked last in the first round picks first in the second round — in other words, the draft snakes back on itself until all players are picked.

· When all teams have completed picking teams the age groups commissioner will then schedule practice times.

· Once a team is completed and approved by the age group’s commissioner, the coach will fill out a team roster form and turn this form into the fundraising commissioner. The fundraising commissioner will then hand out fundraising packets and approve team for play.

Ponca City Junior Baseball (PCJB)

Spring Draft Rules and Guidelines

· A coach from each team must be present.

If a coach in not present he/she will have their team picked at random by the age group’s commissioner.

· Each coach/team is allowed to have three freezes.

If the coach/team does not have three freezes, the coach will be allowed to have the first pick of the eligible players list to fill their freeze list to three.

· All coaches will be using the list of eligible players handed out at exhibition.

· Numbers will be assigned to each coach and will be drawn at random to determine draft pick order.

· Coaches will only be able to draft players that participated in the exhibition.

Players that did not participate in the exhibition will be placed into a hat drawing. These players will be drawn by each coach once the players that participated in the exhibition have all been chosen.

· Each team makes its first-round pick based on the predetermined order.

When the first round is over, the team that picked last in the first round picks first in the second round — in other words, the draft snakes back on itself until all players are drafted.

· Once all coaches have drafted their team, the hat pick players will be drawn in the same order as with all other picks.

Coaches,

As you know, many children are gearing up for an exciting season of baseball. However, with the number of adolescents treated for sports injuries growing each year, the importance of proper safety precautions should not be overlooked.

One of the most important steps in preventing injuries is to properly use the safety equipment designated for baseball, such as batting helmets, quality shoes, chest protectors, protective cups with an athletic supporter and face masks when necessary. To be effective, this equipment must fit properly and be worn correctly.

Even with precautions, sports related injuries are not avoidable. There are two general types of injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur as a result of a specific instance such as a fall or collision with another player. These injuries include sprains, lacerations, strains, fractures and bruises. Medical treatment of these injuries should begin immediately. Chronic injuries happen over time and typically occur as a result of repetitive training, such as running or overhand throwing. Stress fractures, tendonitis, or growth plate overload injuries are examples of chronic injuries. If left untreated, chronic injuries will likely worsen so prompt treatment is important.

To have a safe baseball season, remember these tips:

· See a doctor: Recommend that your players consult a physician for a complete physical exam before season begins.

· Drink plenty of water: Youth are at a higher risk for dehydration than adults and can become dehydrated even in cool weather.

· Wear safety gear: Use safety gear that is appropriate for baseball and make sure the equipment is in good quality condition and is quality equipment.

· Treat injuries immediately: Young athletes should receive medical attention immediately following an injury. If he or she experiences sports related pain that continues and intensifies for more than a week, consult a doctor.

· Let injuries heal: Although young athletes may be resistant to the idea of sitting on the bench, leaving an injury untreated can have dangerous long term consequences that affect growth and bone density.

By taking appropriate safety measures before the beginning of season and by properly treating sports related injuries, young athletes can enjoy a fun and safe baseball season. If you have further questions regarding safety precautions contact your physician.

----------Information Courtesy Of Ponca City Medical Center----------