NORTH JACKSON YOUTH BASEBALL, INC.
SPECIFIC RULES FOR ALL LEAGUES
Along with General Rules for All Leagues, the following are specific local league rules. The following specific local league rules supplement the General Rules and take precedence where there is a conflict.
NOTE: These rules are “working” rules and can be amended by NJYB as needed and as the season progresses. The league Commissioners will be responsible for notifying all involved personnel of these changes. Try not to use or abuse these rules to impede the progress and temper of the game. Keep in mind the spirit in which they are written and apply them with the same spirit in mind. Often, common sense will solve all the problems that will arise.
FINAL NOTE: The ultimate rules of NJYB is to teach every kid the basic fundamentals of baseball, to participate fairly, to enjoy and love the game of baseball while instilling the true meaning of sportsmanship. Every kid is looking at each coach as a role model, and therefore, the actions of the coaches will forever be instilled in that kid’s mind regarding baseball. Act accordingly.
5U COACH PITCH/TEE BASEBALL SPECIFIC RULES
GAME PROCEDURES:
1. Field/Equipment:
a. Ball Size Rif 5 Wilson Level 1 Soft Compression or equivalent
b. Pitching Distance between safety arc and pitcher’s circle
c. Base Path Distance 50 feet
d. Half way rule is used
e. Safety arc ~20’ in front of home plate
f. Dead-ball arc ~10 feet in front of home plate
2. Fun is the first priority, but structure needs to exist to teach these kids the basics of catching, throwing, and batting. Encourage the kids to learn the fielding positions. Keep the kids from all rushing to get the ball, and encourage them to make the play at first or a force-out.
3. A regulation games consists of six innings or 1 hour and 10 minutes time limit – no inning may start after 1 hour and 10 minutes of play. Note: Most games will typically last 2-3 innings.
4. There are no umpires and score is not kept. Outs will not count – meaning that if a batter or runner is “out”, that runner will remain on the base and progress around the bases in order.
DEFENSE/FIELDING:
5. All players take the defensive field each inning. Every player shall play position(s) in both the infield and the outfield during each game.
6. The infield consists of standard positions (but no catcher) and the remaining players should all be in the outfield.
7. Outs are not recorded. However, defensive players should try to throw runners out and/or make force outs. In the event, a base runner is out, that runner will remain on the base and progress around the bases in order.
8. A chalk/paint line (safety arc) will be drawn approximately 20 feet in front of home plate from the first base line to the third base line. Infielders must start each play standing behind this line.
9. A chalk/paint line will be drawn between the infield and the outfield fence from the left field foul line to the right field foul line, 15 feet behind the infield. Outfielders must start each play either standing on or behind this line. If no line is in place, all outfielders must remain at least 15 feet behind the infield dirt prior to every pitch.
10. The player/pitcher shall be required to wear a facemask at all times. The required face protection shall be provided by NJYB.
11. The player/pitcher must keep one foot in the pitcher’s mound dirt or chalk circle until the ball is hit. Penalty – the offense may take the result of the play or have a “no pitch” called and pitch to the batter again.
OFFENSE:
12. Each team shall be responsible for furnishing its own coach/pitcher. The coach/pitcher must be an adult no younger than 18 years of age.
13. The coach/pitcher will pitch overhand (no underhand pitching) from anywhere behind the safety arc back to the pitching circle. One foot must be on or astraddle the pitching-line. The pitcher will be allowed to pitch from a knee – anything in order to allow kids to hit the ball and enjoy the game.
14. A batter will be allowed six (6) attempts at hitting the ball. The first three attempts should be pitches by the pitching coach. “Strikes” are not counted. If a batter does not get a hit after three pitches, the coach has the discretion to allow the batter to use the batting tee or continue pitching for the remaining three attempts. If the ball is not put in play after a total of 6 pitches and/or swings at the tee, the batter and all base runners should advance on the 6th swing. The offensive coach may choose not to pitch to a player that is probably unable to hit a pitched ball and allow the player to hit off the tee – however, over the course of the season, continued progress toward hitting pitched balls should be attempted.
Note: The spirit of this rule is to speed the game along while allowing the fielders to continue to have an opportunity to make a play on the ball. To be clear, no player will strike out.
15. The coach/pitcher is not considered a part of the fair playing surface of the field.
If a batted ball hits the coach/pitcher, the ball is dead and counts as no pitch. The batter will return to the batter’s box, and the play will be replayed. Base runners may not advance. The pitch count will remain the same as before the last pitch. The coach/pitcher must make every effort to avoid being hit by the ball.
16. The coach/pitcher must leave the field when the ball is in play and make every effort not to be a part of the play (he should attempt to remove the bat and/or tee if possible while observing). If in the judgment of the umpire, the coach-pitcher interfered with the play, the batter will be called out and all runners will return to their original positions.
17. When the ball is put in play by a batter, the play will continue and base runner(s) may continue advancing until that batter reaches home plate, an infielder has control of the ball on the infield and is not attempting to make a play or has thrown the ball to the coach/pitcher, or a throw from an outfielder comes into the infield (see “Halfway Rule” below). The coaches should then call “time” and stop the play.
18. A ball hit to the outfield is considered dead once the ball touches or crosses the white line positioned 15 feet past the infield (or if no line, the ball touches or crosses into the infield), except any runners on base must safely reach the next base on a force play or will be called out on a proper play at the base from the outfield.
19. All plays from the outfield shall be governed by the “Halfway-To-The-Next-Base Rule”. The “Halfway-To-The-Next-Base Rule” will be in effect to determine the advancement of a runner when the ball is ruled dead. If a player is beyond halfway to the next base when the ball is ruled dead (in possession of infielder not attempting a play or crosses white line between infield and outfield), he is awarded the next base. If a player is not halfway to the next base when the ball is ruled dead, he must return to the prior base.
20. Bunting of the ball is not allowed. A chalk line (dead-ball arc) will be placed in an arc approximately 10 feet from the front of home plate. Any batted ball which does not go farther than the 10-foot line shall be a foul ball. If no chalk line is put in place, the umpire’s judgment shall control the determination of whether the ball went at least 10 feet in front of home plate.
21. No stealing or leading off base. A base runner must remain in contact with the base that he occupies and may not advance until a ball is put in play by a batter. There may be 1 team warning per game for runner leaving the base early. On the 1st occurrence, the defense may take the result of the play and issue the warning, or have “no pitch” called, runners return and issue the warning. On the 2nd and subsequent occurrences – dead ball, runner is out, other runners return and no pitch.
22. There are no pinch runners allowed, except in the case of injury. In the event of injury, the player committing the last out (in the field or at the plate) shall be the pinch runner.
23. No “big barrel” bats are allowed. A “big barrel” bat is one that is larger than 2¼ inches in diameter. No bat may be longer than 33 inches in length.
OVERTHROWS:
24. Runner(s) will not advance on any overthrow by an infielder. For example, batter hits a ground ball, the infielder overthrows the first baseman – the batter stays at first base. Further example, runner on first base, batter hits a ground ball, the infielder overthrows second base – the runner stays at second base and the batter stays at first base.
SCORING:
25. Score is not kept.
COACHES:
26. All on-field coaches shall have attended and been certified at the coaches clinic. Failure to do so will result in the coach not being allowed to coach as he would not being covered under the League’s liability insurance policy.
27. There should be no more than four coaches, including the head coach and adult helper(s) in the dugout, within the confines of the ball field.
28. Two defensive coaches will be allowed within the boundaries of the outfield. These coaches may offer advice to the defensive players as long as they do not interfere with the ball or make contact with the players. Intentional interference will result in the awarding of an extra base for each base runner. If a coach in the outfield is unintentionally struck by the ball, he is considered a part of the “Fair Playing Field” if he is within the confines of the foul lines.
29. The team at bat may have three adult coaches on the “Field of Play” – coach/pitcher, first base coach in the coach’s box, and third base coach in the coach’s box.
OTHER:
30. Snacks/Tickets – It has been league standard for parents to buy tickets for kids after each game. This benefits our concessions and makes it easier on parents. Kids love it.