GENERAL INFORMATION

1. It is the Head Coach´s responsibility to inform your base coaches of these rules
2. The Head Coach is responsible for the behavior of his players, coaches and parents
3. A coach or parent for the batting team will umpire balls and strikes
4. Limit of 2 defensive coaches on the field at a time
5. All kids should play on defense in every inning, unless the coach chooses to field the normal 9 positions. If a coach chooses to field the 9 normal positions, then the coach shall make sure that all players play an equal amount during the season
6. No player shall sit out 2 innings consecutively. There will be a one-for-one mandatory sit and play rule
7. All normal infield positions will be filled and the remaining players dispersed in the outfield on the grass, or at least 20 feet behind the base paths
8. Rotate your players (from infield to outfield, and in different positions)!
9. Get the kids on and off the fields rapidly to stay within the time schedule. If an inning starts prior to the time limit, finish the inning
10. Machine Pitch: To keep the game moving, the home plate umpire (coach or parent) should retrieve passed balls and throw them directly back to the pitching coach/pitcher
11. No score will be kept
12. Each team will supply one game ball per game
13. Don´t do the “Windmill”. Coaches, save your rotator cuffs and teach the kids how to listen to the base coaches

GAME RULES

1. National League Baseball rules and common sense shall govern play
2. Minor League games are 75 minutes or five innings
3. Major League games are 1 hour and 30 minutes or six innings
4. Kid Pitch games are 1 hour and 45 minutes or six innings
5. Bases shall be set at 60 feet
6. The pitching rubber / machine are set 43 feet from the back of home plate
7. The dial settings on the machine for Minors are 42 - 46. A dial setting of 40 equates to 35 mph
8. The dial settings on the machine for Majors are 46 - 50. A dial setting of 50 equates to 39 mph
9. Coaches can, and are encouraged to position their batters in the box and help them during their at bat
10. Minor League: Each batter gets 10 pitches in each at bat and they may swing 10 times before being ruled out. A batter can keep fouling off balls until he strikes out or puts the ball in play
11. Major League: Each batter gets 7 pitches in each at bat. For the first four (4) games of the season they may swing 7 times before being ruled out. For the last four (4) games of the season 3 strikes will constitute an out (subject to further evaluation). If a batter has two strikes, he can keep fouling off balls until he strikes out or puts the ball in play
12. Kid Pitch: Each batter will be pitched up to 7 pitches by the opposing pitcher. 3 strikes constitute an out. If after 7 pitches, the player has less than 3 strikes, the coach for the batting team will pitch the remaining pitches until the player strikes out, or puts the ball in play. If a batter has two strikes, he can keep fouling off balls until he strikes out or puts the ball in play
13. Offense will bat 9 batters or 3 outs per inning; whichever comes first. All players will bat in the lineup. The coach will announce “ninth batter” when he/she comes up. The inning is over if a third out is made or the ball is controlled within the infield, or inside foul territory within the infield
14. Control in the infield is made when an infielder has control of the ball within the infield or in foul territory within the infield. Any runner, who is not at least halfway to the next base at the time of control, shall be sent back to the previous base
15. If a player is hit by a pitch, the coach should choose whether the player takes first base or not
16. A hit ball that strikes the pitching machine is a dead ball and the player is awarded a single
17. There will be no bunting, leading off, or stealing
18. No player is allowed inside a marked or imaginary 6-foot radius circle around the pitching machine
19. A ground ball to the infield does not constitute a home run, no matter how many times the ball is thrown around. Award one base on an overthrow
20. Kid Pitch: Coaches shall develop multiple pitchers on each team. In no case shall a pitcher pitch more than 2 innings in a single game