GENERAL RULES

• Age Bracket: 6-8 year olds (Click Here for league age requirements & guidelines)
• Recommended Max Team Size: 10 Players
• Field Size: NA/60
• Pre-Game Warm-Up: Both teams shall share infield and outfield space prior to the game for the purpose of warm-up. No batting practice should occur at home plate.
• Game Length: 4-5 Innings, 90 Minute Limit. No new inning to start after 75 minutes of play.
• Ball Requirements: Rawlings Cal Ripken Level 5. Each team will supply their own balls.
• Bat Requirements: USA Baseball Marking, 2 5/8" Barrel Maximum. T-Ball Stamped Bats are also permitted at the coach pitch level. (Click Here for bat rules)
• Helmet Requirements: All batters and base runners are required to wear proper batting helmets that are in acceptable condition (no cracks, missing padding, etc.).
• Scoring: No Score Kept, No league Standings
• Umpires: Coaches are umpires with the coach closest to the play having the call at that base.
• Time-Outs: Managers and coaches cannot freeze plays, but can call a time-out any time after a play is over to instruct a player.

OFFENSIVE RULES

Coaching

• The offensive team should have coaches at first and third base, a coach pitcher, and a coach or parent to manage the bench and on-deck circle (if available). Any “coach” under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while on the field.
• The coach pitcher shall attempt to remove themselves from fair territory after a ball has been hit in play. If a batted ball hits the pitching coach on the field of play, the ball will be played as a live ball.

Batting

• When a team is at bat, only one player is allowed to be in the fenced on-deck area. There must be a coach monitoring the on-deck area or it is not allowed to be used. The player must wear a batting helmet while in the on deck area. The remaining players not on-deck, batting, or on the bases should be on the bench. Only the batter and the batter on-deck should be holding a bat.
• All players will be placed in the active lineup. (ie., if a team has 11 players, all 11 players will be in the lineup and bat). Batters will bat, in order, until either 3 outs are made by the fielding team or 4 runs are scored by the batting team. Batters will remain in a set line up order for the duration of the game. The next inning will start with the next batter in the lineup. There is no guarantee every player will bat each inning, and it is possible that players may bat more than once in an inning. Coaches are encouraged to rotate their lineup from game to game.
• A coach will pitch to their own team and should be from a distance of approximately 25-30 feet
  from home plate. The coach must pitch overhand and may not tell the batter to swing or not
  swing.
• Batters will get 7 coach pitches and then 3 chances off the tee.
  • There are unlimited 7th pitch fouls.
  • A bad 7th pitch (“ball”) can be re-pitched at the pitching coach’s discretion.
  • If a batter does not hit off the tee in three swings, they are called out, but the out does not count as an inning out.
• There are no walks for either balls or hit by pitch. It is permissible for a hit batter to take a break then return as the next batter with his/her previous pitch count.
• Managers or coaches should draw a five foot arc within the foul lines from the rear of home plate. A batted ball within the arc is considered a foul ball. This includes both pitched and teed balls. All balls put into play that do not go past this five foot arc must be identified immediately by the Home Plate coach by shouting “FOUL BALL.” Therefore, bunting is not permitted.
• A batted ball that lands or rolls foul should be called a “FOUL BALL” according to official baseball rules.
• Only 1 base may be advanced at a time unless the batted ball reaches the outfield on a fly. The batter may advance to 2nd base on a fly ball to the outfield.
• Throwing the bat after the ball is hit is not allowed. After the first infraction the player shall receive a verbal warning. After the second occurrence, the player should be called out. Players should be encouraged to drop their bat and run when any ball is batted or when a ball is put into play by a coach. Players should be strongly discouraged from throwing their bat or any other equipment.

Base Running

• A base runner who is called out counts as an inning out and must leave the field.
• Leading and stealing are not permitted. Base runners must wait until the ball is hit into play to leave the base. One warning will be given. After the warning, he/she will be out on the second occurrence.
• A ball batted to the outfield on a fly will result in all base runners advancing 2 basses. Base runners may not advance extra bases on overthrows, pass balls, or errors.
• If a runner misses a base, they will be returned to the base they missed. If that base is occupied, and that runner can not return a base due to it being occupied, the player who missed the base will be coached on touching each base, but be allowed to stay on the base they reached.
• A pinch runner is allowed for a player who will be catching in the following ½ inning.
• Sliding is not taught at this level and players are to be discouraged from sliding.

DEFENSIVE RULES

Coaching

• Up to three coaches/managers are permitted on the field with the defensive team. They must remain behind the players. They are NOT permitted to touch the ball or the players in the field to assist them. If a batted ball can not be avoided, and hits a coach, the ball shall be played as a live ball.

Fielding

• Fielding positions should be rotated evenly throughout the game and from game to game. A player should not play the same position more than two innings in any given game. The catcher position is allowed but is optional.
• The catcher position is voluntary at the coach pitch level. Coaches should ask players and parents who would like to try the position. If team attendance is less than 6, the catcher position should be eliminated. A catcher must wear full gear (including cup), but may use their normal fielding glove.
• All players in attendance will play the field every inning, regardless of numbers. (ie if there is a team with 11 players in attendance, all 11 players will play the field). Infielders are limited to the 6 official infield positions, all other players will be considered outfielders.
• Outfields should be no closer to home than the grass line of the outfield.
• Infield Fly Rule is not in effect.