Rookie

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Rookie League (Coach Pitch) Rules

 

Posey County Cal Ripken Baseball League

 

-Rookie League Rules- Amended after 11/25/2019 meeting (no changes)

 Game Duration and General Rules

  • Unless otherwise stated herein, Rookie Division will follow Cal Ripken Rookie rules.
  • Each game will last 6 innings or until time limit is reached.
  • Score will be kept.
  • An inning will end after 3 outs or until offense has scored 5 runs, whichever occurs first.  Scoring is unlimited in the final inning.  The final inning may be the 6th inning or any inning declared to be the final inning by the umpire prior to beginning said inning.
  • There is a 15-run rule after 4 innings (or 3.5) of play and a 10-run rule after 5 innings (or 4.5) of play.
  • Time Limits are as follows:
    • No new inning after 1 hour 30 minutes.

 

 Baseballs

  •       Cal Ripken stamped baseballs or equivalent should be used for regular season and tournament games.

Umpires

  •       The Home team will provide at least 1 umpire for regular season games and 1 umpire for post-season tournament games.   
  •       Coaches must treat the umpires with respect and conduct themselves properly.  If an issue arises involving an umpire, coaches need to contact a Board Member for further discussion.

 Coaches

  •       Each team will have a Coach pitch to his/her team from approximately 35 to 40 feet away (the pitcher must throw overhand).
  •       One Coach may be in the field with players on defense (to instruct and encourage fielders), but said Coach must be located in the outfield.
  •       Once the ball is put into play, Coach pitcher MUST move off of the playing field into foul territory to ensure that players will throw ball to player pitcher to end each play.
  •       If Coach pitcher is hit by batted ball, NO PITCH is called and no runners advance (if Coach pitcher does not attempt to get out of the way or the umpire deems that the Coach gets in the way intentionally, the batter is called out).
  •       No dropped third strike rule

Batting

  •       All players must be in the batting order.
  •       Bats must comply with USA Baseball Bat standards.
  •       All batters must wear a helmet.
  •       All players will receive 5 pitches or 3 strikes.
  •       If batter fouls off the 5th pitch or any pitch after, batter will receive another pitch.
  •       If batter fails to put 5th pitch in play, batter is out.
  •       No bunting allowed.

 Fielding

  •       Minimum of 8 players needed to constitute a team for a game.
  •       4 outfielders allowed
  •       Must field the 6 infield positions first, then rest in grass in outfield. 
  •       The player pitcher MUST start with one foot on mound or in circle and even or behind coach pitcher.
  •       Catcher MUST wear protective equipment.
  •       Play will end when the lead runner is stopped or the player pitcher has the ball with one foot on the mound or in circle.
  •       No infield fly rule
  •       All players should wear a protective cup

 Base Running

  •       Players can take more than one base after a ball is put into play.
  •       Players can advance on an overthrow until lead runner is stopped or pitcher has the ball as in rule above for fielding. 
  •       Coaches are discouraged from abusing the overthrow rule.
  •       Base runners can only slide feet first into any base or home plate; head first “diving” is allowed back to a bag.
  •       If the runner is halfway to the next base when pitcher receives ball on mound area, the runner can advance.  If less than halfway, runner must return to previous base. Umpire discretion. 
  •       No stealing or leading off base is permitted.  If a runner leaves the base prior to the ball being hit by the batter, the runner will be called out.  There are no warnings for this infraction.