Reisterstown Baseball Rules – Clinic (Age 7 & 8) 

Goals of Clinic Baseball

The primary goals of Clinic baseball are for each child to have fun, develop an interest in baseball, and learn the basic skills needed to advance to the next age group of Rec Baseball. This is an instructional league with the main focus on teaching the basics of the game of baseball in preparation to move into competitive play. Coaches will work together in a learning environment with emphasis on continued skill development and game knowledge with sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun as the focal points.

Field Notes

Base Path Length – 60 Feet

Pitching Length – 40 Feet

Only the Recreation Field Leader will decide prior to game time if the playing field is playable.

Equipment

Metal Spikes are NOT allowed in Clinic.

All Clinic players must wear a helmet with face-mask when at bat and running the bases.

Maximum Barrel Diameter – 2 5/8”

Game Length

No new inning may start after 8:15pm on school nights (Sunday thru Thursday) during the school year. A new inning is considered started once the last out of the previous inning is recorded. A new inning should not be started unless it is believed that a complete inning could be played.

A complete game consists of 5 innings or 2 hours for Clinic. Managers, by mutual agreement, may declare “This will be the last inning” at the start of a new inning.

Player Substitution and Minimum Playing Rules

1. Free Substitution will be used to give each player present for the game the opportunity to play at least 3 defensive innings (half of a regulation game).

2. Players should not sit consecutive defensive innings unless injured or sick.

3. A player who did not start defensively the previous game must start defensively in the next game.

4. All players present for the game will bat in the batting order.

5. Players arriving after the start of the game will be added to the end of the batting order.

6. A maximum of 9 players may play in the field. Games may be played with less than 9 players.

7. Injured or sick players may reenter at any time.

8. Re-entry of a player is not permitted after removal of a player for unsportsmanlike conduct.

9. If either team gets through the entire batting order, the last batter will hit a base clearing home run to end the inning.

Scoring Rules

1. Scores will not be kept.

2. Wins and Losses will not be tracked by the league

Base Running - Player Contact Rules

Any runner is considered to be out when the runner does not attempt to avoid contact with a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a play. IT IS THE RUNNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A FIELDER DURING ANY PLAY. Coaches should be teaching Clinic players the proper way to run the bases and avoid contact with the team in the field.

Sliding

All players must slide feet-first in the Clinic at all times. Coaches are expected to start teaching players how to slide properly in Clinic. Sliding should only be used in appropriate circumstances and in a manner designed to avoid contact with defensive players.

Playing Rules

1. Balks – No balks in Clinic

2. Bunting – No bunting during game play in Clinic, but coaches should teach players how to bunt in practice.

3. Infield fly rule – No infield fly run in Clinic

4. Stealing – No stealing in Clinic.

5. Leading – No leading in Clinic.

6. Dropped 3rd Strike – No dropped 3rd strike in Clinic.

7. Catcher’s interference – No catcher’s interference in Clinic.

8. Courtesy runners are allowed for the catcher with 2 outs. The courtesy runner must be the last player out.

9. No phantom, decoy or deceptive plays are allowed in the Clinic.

10. Each head coach umpires for their own team when at bat to call balls and strikes.

11. Each head coach umpires for their own team when in the field to make safe/out calls.

12. Each hit shall be a single, but coaches may agree to allow balls hit into the outfield to be a double.

Pitching Rules

1. Pitching Rules will be communicated and confirmed throughout the season by the Commissioner.

2. We utilize coaches pitching, while teaching the players the skills they need to learn how to pitch in the next age group.

End of Season

Every player will receive a participation certificate for completing the season and a certificate for The Cow (this is anticipated; a substitution may be required).

Behavior Rules

1. Coaches are responsible for their own actions as well as the actions of their players and the parents. The behavior code of conduct has been agreed to at registration by all players and parents.

2. Parents’ behavior must reflect the goals of the Clinic age group. Over-competitive and poor behavior by parents will not be tolerated.

3. Good sportsmanship by all players is mandatory for participation in the Clinic level.

Lightning Rule

Any observed lightning mandates that the fields be cleared, all persons take shelter in their cars. Any lighting will require a 30 minute delay. The 30 minute delay starts from the most recent lightning observed. For our purposes, thunder shall be considered lightning.

Tobacco Products

The use of tobacco products on all County and State property is prohibited by law. No coach, player or other individual is permitted to use any tobacco product. Failure to comply shall result in removal from the property.

Final Comment

The purpose of the in-house (recreation league) baseball program is provide an opportunity for all players to have a positive experience with the sport. This requires cooperation from all of the people involved with Reisterstown Baseball Program. This means that each player should have the opportunity to play, regardless of playing ability and to experience full games. Each manager is therefore encouraged to coordinate his or her own system to track the playing time of players on the team. Our objective is to build self-esteem with positive reinforcement throughout the program while fostering education in our younger age brackets which turns into more competitive baseball at the older age brackets