Have fun!! This is a coach pitch league designed to introduce kids to the basics of baseball, primarily focused on learning and basic skill development for all players.
There will be no score kept in this league and there is no end of season tournament.
Baseballs used will be RIF – 5 (Reduced Injury Factor).
Bases will be set at 60’.
Batting
Coach pitch; pitches are to be thrown overhanded by coaches from either a standing or kneeling position.
Each batter will get 5 pitches. A foul ball on the 5th pitch will result in an additional pitch. If after 5 pitches, the player does not put the ball in play, the player will then hit off a tee until the ball is put in play.
No strikeouts, no walks, no hit by pitch and no bunting.
A batted ball that strikes the pitching coach should be played as a live ball.
If a player throws their bat, they should be coached to drop the bat after swinging. If it happens again in the same game, the player will be ruled out.
Each team will bat through the lineup each inning.
If a player is ruled to be out by the umpire (coach) they should return to the dugout. Each team should have the goal of trying to get 3 outs. However, the team will continue to bat until all players have batted in each inning.
Coaches will use a rolling batting order from game to game (e.g., the 1st batter of the most recent game will be the last batter of the next game, and all the other batters will move up 1 spot in the order). Over the course of the season this will allow all players to have the chance to be the last batter.
Base Running
Base running is designed to be “station to station.” Players may advance only 1 base on each hit. For the last batter of each inning, the players may run until they are tagged out (coaches should ensure that base runners stay within the baselines).
No leading off and no stealing.
Base runners are allowed and encouraged to slide on close plays. There is no head first sliding.
Defense
There will be no catcher in this league.
The player “pitcher” will be positioned to the side of the pitching coach opposite the batter and even with or slightly behind the pitching rubber (e.g., 1st base side for a right-handed batter, 3rd base side for a left-handed batter).
There will be 1 player at each infield position (1B, 2B, SS, 3B) and there will be 4 outfielders (LF, LC, RC, RF).
Infielders should be positioned within 2’ in front of or behind the baseline.
Outfielders should begin each play in the outfield grass.
Players must rotate positions every inning and should not play the same position more than once per game. Each outfield position is considered unique.
Coaches should have defensive lineups set for each inning prior to the game. This allows for quick transitions between innings and less hassles for the coaches (may be easiest to have players move 1 position to their left or right each inning, remembering where you left off from game to game in attempt to give equal playing time at each position).
The goal is that by the end of the season, all the kids will be able to run to their assigned position without asking where that position is.
There is no infield fly rule.
Game Length
Game time is a hard stop at 55 minutes if not called sooner by mutual agreement between coaches. Teams are encouraged to use all 55 minutes allotted regardless of whether each team gets equal at-bats. The more opportunities to play both offense and defense, the better for this age level.
Team Responsibilities
Each team will have up to 4 coaches.
Home team has the 3rd base dugout.
Batting team coach duties:
1st base coach.
3rd base coach.
Pitcher (also serves as umpire).
Dugout coach (players should remain in the dugout and no on-deck batters).
Fielding team coach duties:
2 coaches may be positioned in the playing field to assist fielding players with situational awareness and to ensure players are paying attention.
1 coach will stand a safe distance behind home plate and throw pitched balls back to the pitching coach. This coach may also assist the batter as needed to include setting up the tee after 5 pitches.
Coaches for the first game of the night will get the tee and bases (remove base caps) out of the shed.
Coaches for the last game of the night will return the tee and bases (replace base caps) to the shed.
The coaches and the two teams will be jointly responsible for these beginning and ending tasks.
