1. Program Objectives/Coaches Conduct:

• Our program’s #1 goal is for each participant to have a positive experience playing baseball and to come back next year.  A critical factor in meeting that goal is our coaches’ conduct.  All coaches must abide by our Code of Conduct.
• Our coaches should focus on effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Skills development is also a primary objective and should be grounded on positive feedback and encouragement.
• Our rules are developed to ensure a fun, competitive and rewarding experience for all players and coaches.

2. Differences between Majors 9-11 and Minors 7-8:

• The pitching distance is 46 feet for 9-10 year olds and 50 feet for 11 year olds.
• Runners may steal bases, except home.
• Runner may advance at their own risk, until timeout is granted by the ump.

3. Basic Game/Program Information:

• Bases are 60 feet.  Pitching rubber from front of the rubber to back tip of home plate is 46 feet for 9-10 year olds and 50 feet for 11 year olds.   We use the Official Rules of Major League Baseball except as noted in these rules.
• The home team is listed 2nd on the schedule and gets the 1st base bench and has the option to warm-up on the diamond from 5:30-5:50.
• Cancellations: The County determines field playability up until 3:00 p.m.  If weather happens after that, TTREC officials may cancels activities.  Communication via Rainedout.com and/or email.  Otherwise, it is up the umpire (if a game) or coaches to decide if a diamond is playable. 
• Starting a Game: Players should arrive on or before 5:45 p.m.  Games start at 6:00 if both teams have at least 7 players.  If a team does not have 7 players by 6:10 (or at any point during the game) that team forfeits the game for official standings purposes and an “unofficial game” should be played.  If a team with 6 players is the visiting team and bats 1st, the game can start at 6:00 with the late player batting last.  If a player leaves a game early or is injured and cannot bat, his spot in the batting order is simply skipped (not an automatic out). 
• Bringing Up a Player: If a team will have less than 10 players for a game, the team can "bring up" registered Minors players. The Minors players:
• • Can not pitch,
  • Must bat at the end of the line-up,
  • Can only play the outfield or bench, and
  • Can not play more innings in the field than the normal Majors players.

• Game Length: Games are six innings or shorter if the Ump stops play due to darkness or inclement weather.  Extra innings are played, daylight permitting.  A regular season game may end in a tie.  A game is considered official after four innings are complete or three and a half innings have been completed with the home team leading when the game is called due to inclement weather or darkness.
• No inning may begin after 7:45 p.m. for regular season games or 8:00 p.m. for the Playoffs.  The umpire has sole discretion of when to halt play due to darkness.
• Scrimmages:  Scrimmages are played before the regular season and in the playoff's after a team has been eliminated.  Same rules apply except:  1. Five run max every inning.  2. One defensive coach may be in the field.
• Max Runs in 1st 3 innings:  During the first three innings of any game, each team may score a maximum of FIVE runs.   
• Home Team Leading after 5 and ½ Innings (or the likely last inning due to time or darkness): Teams are encouraged to play out the game and give the home team final at-bats with 5 run max in effect (we want the kids to get as much experience as possible).
• Pace of Game Efforts:   In an effort to complete as many games as possible, please try to go over ground rules with the umpire at 5:50-5:55 and to start the game at 6:00.  Please have your defense game plan set before each inning to get your team out on the field as quickly as possible.  A best practice is to post your line-up and defensive game plan on the fence by the bench so your players know their position without a coach having to “call it out”. 

4. In-Game Rules – Line-ups/Batting:

• Batting Order: The batting order includes all players on the team (i.e. – all players bat without regard to whether the player played in the field the prior half inning).  Players arriving after the 1st pitch bat last in the line-up.  If a player shows up late and his team is on defense, the player should join his team on defense ASAP.   Coaches must vary the batting order from game to game. Coaches may exchange batting orders prior to the commencement of play. 
• Batted Ball Hitting Branch/Leaf: Anytime a batted ball hits any part of a tree, the ball is immediately dead and is simply considered a foul ball for batting count purposes.  Even if a fielder catches the ball in the air, it is NOT an out.  Or if the ball lands in fair territory in the outfield, the hit does not count.
• Misc.: No infield fly rule.  Bunting is permitted.  A batter is automatically out on a 3rd strike even if the catcher drops the ball.  No big barrel bats (greater than 2-1/4 inches), full composite or double walled bats.

5. In-Game Rules – Defense:

• Our goal is to have players play infield and outfield positions.  At the coach’s discretion:
  • When a player can’t catch or at least block a hard thrown ball, the player should not play 1st base.
  • When a player can’t adequately focus enough to protect himself from a hard batted ball, the player should not play pitcher. 
• These situations should be continually monitored throughout the year.   
• Ten field players are used (nine regular positions and an extra outfielder).  Outfielders must start each play in the outfield grass. Infielders should start in the normal area for that position.
• Over a game and over the season, players should play approximately the same number of innings in the field (i.e. - evenly rotate bench innings).  In other words, no player should be on the bench twice before every player has been on the bench once. Additionally,
• Each player must play at least 1 of the 1st 4 innings in the infield and outfield/bench (assuming at least 8 players playing).  Pitcher and catcher are considered infield positions. 
• Please instruct and ensure that fielders are slightly in front of or behind the base paths.  This is especially important for 1st baseman.

6. In-Game Rules – Pitching:

• Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game and 4 innings per week (Monday – Sunday).  One pitch in an inning is considered an inning pitched. A pitcher can only pitch in consecutive innings (e.g. he can't pitch the 1st and last innings).
• A Pitcher must be removed if he has 2 official HBP’s in an inning or 3 overall.
• No balks although pitchers must pitch from the rubber (or behind the rubber if another rubber is installed in front of the pitcher and his landing foot is impacted).
• No intentional walks.  No pick off plays except by the catcher. 
• If a pitcher is listed as a protected travel pitcher at the draft, based on recommendations from USA Baseball , he is limited to 1 inning per game and should not pitch in Sat practices.
• A pitching rubber is placed at 50 feet for 11 year old. A chalk line is made at 46 feet for 9-10 year olds.
• To the extent possible, only use players that have the ability to get the ball to the plate and have some level of control.  A player with little chance of getting the ball over the plate does not provide a meaningful experience for the pitcher, his teammates, or the other team.   Consider using players with prior pitching experience in April while developing the younger or less experienced players in practice.  It is generally better to pitch the less experienced pitchers in the innings with a run cap (1st 3 innings).
• Coaches are allowed one visit to the mound per pitcher, per inning.  On the second visit in that inning, the pitcher must be replaced.  An injury visit does not count as a pitching visit.

7. In-Game Rules – Baserunning:

• No leading: Base runners must stay on their bases until the pitched ball has been batted or reaches the batter/plate (i.e. no leading).  If a runner leaves a base early and:
• There is no batted ball, the Umpire shall send the runner(s) back.
• There is a batted ball, the runner may only advance 1 base further than the batter.  If in the Umpire’s judgment, the runner would have been out had he not left early, the Umpire may call the runner out. 
• Stealing:
  • Base runners may steal 2nd base or 3rd base. 
  • Base runners may not steal home even if the ball goes out of play, even if the catcher throws to 2nd base in a 1st and 3rd situation and the 1st base runner steals.  In other words, all runs must be scored on batted balls (except if a catcher attempts a pick-off play).
  • Runners stealing a base may not advance (or be tagged out if he mistakenly attempts to advance) on overthrows from the catcher to a base. If a runner over runs a base, he may be tagged out.
  • Base runners may not advance (or be tagged out if he mistakenly attempts to advance) on an overthrown from the catcher back to the pitcher after a pitch.
  • Base runners may advance at their own risk to any number of base(s) (including home) if a catcher attempts a pick-off play.
  • Runners should be on the base when the pitcher is on the rubber ready to pitch. 
• Plays at a Base:
  • Runners advancing to a base must slide or avoid contact if not sliding. 
  • Head first slides are strongly discouraged. 
  • Defensive players (including a catcher) cannot significantly block a base or base path. 
  • In the judgment of the ump, if a runner is “out” because a runner was unable to reasonably slide and reach the base due to the defensive player blocking the base or base path, defensive interference should be called by the ump and the runner is safe. 
  • Please coach your players (including catcher) to straddle the base or to stand in front of it when receiving a throw.
• Defensive interference should also be called by the ump and a runner awarded an appropriate base if a runner is significantly impeded by a defensive player (not catching a batted ball) standing in the base line which prevents the runner from advancing to the next base (e.g. if the 1st baseman is standing on the base or directly next to it and a runner must slowdown/stop/veer out of the 1st baseman’s way, etc.).
• Play Control Rule: 
  • Runners may advance until the ball is dead (through the granting of time or otherwise). 
  • The umpire will grant time and halt play when in his judgment:

• • • A fielder on the infield has clear control of the ball and no runners are advancing, or
    • The ball is out of play.

8. Miscellaneous:

• On-Deck Circle– For safety purposes, please use the cones provided to form an "on-deck circle" in an appropriate area (e.g. near the backstop) and to strongly communicate a team rule that ONLY a player "at bat" or "on-deck" can have a bat in their hands.
• Equipment:  Pitchers may not wear batting gloves on their pitching hand.  Players may not wear watches, necklaces, or loose jewelry.  Catchers must wear a protective cup.  Players may not wear metal spikes and are encouraged to wear baseball cleats.  Batters and base runners must wear a batting helmet. 
• Player Safety; Rulings and Protest:  Players not in field, at bat or on base are to stay in their team’s bench area, except when serving as base coaches. Players serving as base coaches must wear a helmet.
• Umpires: Umpires do their best to make correct judgments but they will make “bad calls” in every game.  Coaches should show proper respect for the umpire since our players will follow their example.  The Umpire’s decision is final.  If a coach has a question concerning an umpire’s decision, the coach should request time at the end of the play and discuss the decision in an appropriate manner.
• Coaches, spectators, and players should not argue with/yell at the Umpire.  Coaches are responsible for their parents/spectators behavior towards umpires and your opponents.  The Umpire may eject a player, spectator, or coach from the game.  The Age Group Coordinator and League Commissioner will review all ejections for possible further action.  The Age Group Coordinator (or League Commissioner, if appropriate,) will decide any formal protest.
• Practice Plan/Best Practices:

• • Try to have a plan of the drills and/or areas you want to focus on for each practice.  Try to keep players active throughout practice.  Practically, you need at least 2 coaches/parents and likely 3 to keep the kids active.
  • Coaches should focus on skills development early in the season and game situations as the season progresses. 
  • Coaches should work on developing less experienced pitchers during practices.  Please monitor practice pitch counts (keep under 30 or so).
  • Try to incorporate games/fun activities as much as possible especially at the end of practice.