Birmingham YMCA. Revised 5/17/2012. T-Ball Rules Pre K (Age 3 & 4)

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1 Birmingham YMCA Revised 5/17/2012 T-Ball Rules Pre K (Age 3 & 4) Dimensions of the field Bases will be 30 feet apart Game time and innings Games will be 45 minutes or 3 innings long. All players on the batting team will bat in each inning, regardless of three outs by the defensive team. At the last batter players will not advance once the ball reaches the home plate, or the lead runner. 2 coaches or volunteer parents are allowed on the playing field during the game. Additional base coaches at the first and third base line are recommended. These can be volunteer parents. Players on a team On defense all players are to play in the field. A maximum of five players in the infield, covering the normal infield positions. All remaining players take outfield positions. NO- One sits out. Players should rotate or change positions at least once per game. Field players must stay behind the pitcher s position until the ball is hit. Teams will need a minimum of 7 players to play. Defensive coaches may be in the infield when the game is in progress but may not interfere with play. Batters rules The batter hits the ball from a tee stand located on home plate. A hit ball must stay within the base paths (fair-ball). Player gets additional swings to hit a fair-ball. A fair ball is a ball hit past an arc drawn ten feet from the rear of home plate. The batter will get 5 swings to hit the ball.

2 A player who throws his/her bat will be out. Encourage your players to drop their bat and not throw bats during practice. Base runner rules Runners can not leave a base until the ball is hit. Runners are not permitted to steal a base. Runners may advance on overthrows that remain in the fair playing field. On an overthrow out of the playing field the runner will be awarded the base he/she is approaching. If a runner is tagged out, that player must return to the dugout. Official decisions Games will be played according to the YMCA t-ball rules. The decision of the official/coach is final. Misconduct or arguing by players, coaches, parents and fans is punishable by a forfeit, or ejection from a game or future games. On site decisions will be made by the game official. No scoring will be kept. In the event that official umpires are not available, volunteer(s) may assume that role. Coach Pitch K-1 st Grade Dimensions of the playing field Bases will be 50 feet apart. There will be an arc ten feet from the rear of home plate, in fair territory, extending from first base line to third base line. Fair territory will be between the baselines extending into the outfield. Game time and innings An inning is the periods during which both teams have been up to bat and the last batter has completed his/her turn at bat. The batting team will switch after three outs or after the last batter on the team has hit. A team will only bat once through the batting order if three outs have not been achieved. A regulation game consists of 6 innings or 50 min. However, a new inning will not be started after 45 minutes of playing time. No score will be kept. Players on a team All defensive players are permitted on the field. A maximum of 6 players are allowed on the infield playing regular positions (1 st base, 2 nd, 3 rd base, short stop, pitcher, catcher) All remaining players will be placed in the outfield. Every team member must play at least 3 innings in the field. A minimum of 7 players are needed to field a team at game time.

3 Only one defensive coach and the coach pitching are allowed on the field. Base coaches or volunteer parents are recommended on the first and third base lines. Batter s rules The team at bat is pitched to by their coach. The batter must make a fair hit on one of three hittable coach pitches. After three swinging misses the t will be set up. After 3 pitches the batter will get 2 swings off of a tee. If the batter does not hit a fair ball he/she will be called out. Only swinging strikes will be called. Three swinging strikes will be an out. A batter that throws the bat will be called out. Encourage players to drop the bat, and not throw the bat during practices. The batting order will consist of every player who attends the game. However this does not mean that each player will have a chance to hit each inning. Players arriving late may be placed at the bottom of the order. Pitches may be over or under handed. The coach that is pitching must stay within the pitching circle marked on the field. If a batted ball hits the coach, it is a complete re-do. Does not count towards max number of pitches. Base runner s rules A runner can not leave the base until the ball is hit. Runners are not permitted to steal a base. Runners may advance on overthrows that remain in the playing field. The play stops once the ball comes under control of any player within the pitchers circle or home plate and the umpire will call time. On an overthrow a base runner will be awarded the base he/she is approaching. If a fair, batted ball hits a base runner that is off the base, the runner is out and must return to the dugout. Official decisions Games will be played according to the YMCA coach pitch rules. Playing rules will follow the standard baseball rules. The decision of the official is final. Misconduct or arguing by players, coaches, parents and fans is punishable by a forfeit, or ejection from a game or future games. On site decisions will be made by the game official. Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch Rules 2-4 th Grade Dimensions of the playing field Bases will be 60 feet apart.

4 There will be an arc ten feet from the rear of home plate, in fair territory, extending from first base line to third base line. Fair territory will be between the baselines extending into the outfield. Game time and innings An inning is the periods during which both teams have been up to bat and the last batter has completed his/her turn at bat. The batting team will switch after three outs or after the last batter on the team has hit. A team will only bat once through the batting order if three outs have not been achieved. If one team has more players then another team then the team down players may bat up to the maximum number players on the other team s batting order if three outs are not achieved. A regulation game consists of 6 innings or 1 hour. However, a new inning will not be started after 50 minutes of playing time. No extra innings will be played if the game ends in a tie. A volunteer parent or coach will keep score. Players on a team A maximum of 9 players are permitted on the field. Every team member must play at least 3 innings or 30 minutes on defense. A minimum of 7 players are needed to field a team at game time. All coaches are required to stay off the playing field while play is in progress. This is in exception to the pitching coach who must remain within the pitcher s circle. Base coaches or volunteer parents on the third and first base lines are recommended. The player within the pitchers circle must stand behind the coach and pitching machine. Batter s rules The batter must make a fair hit on one of five hittable pitches or the batter is out. Only swinging strikes will be called. Three swinging strikes or five hittable pitches without a fair hit will be an out. A batter that throws the bat will be called out. Coach Pitches are recommended to be thrown like a dart, but can be thrown over or underhanded for baseball and underhanded only for softball. The coach can stand or kneel anywhere within the circle. Coaches will also have the option to use the pitching machine if available during games for players that choose to hit from the machine. In the instance where the pitching machine is not being used, the machine must be turned off and left inside the pitching circle. The batting order will consist of every player who attends the game. However each player may not have a chance to bat each inning. The entire order will be followed regardless if player was playing on the field or on the bench. Players arriving late may be placed at the bottom of the order. If a fair, batted ball hits a base runner that is off the base, the runner is out and must return to the dugout. If a batted ball hits the coach or pitching machine, it is a complete re-do. Does not count towards max number of pitches. There will be a maximum number of 10 runs per inning.

5 Base runner s rules A runner can not leave the base until the ball is hit. Runners are not permitted to steal a base. Runners may advance on overthrows that remain in the playing field. The play stops once the ball comes under control of any player within the pitchers circle or home plate and the umpire will call time. On an overthrow a base runner will be awarded the base he/she is approaching. Official decisions Games will be played according to the YMCA coach pitch rules. Playing rules will follow the standard baseball and softball rules. The decision of the official is final. Misconduct or arguing by players, coaches, parents and fans is punishable by a forfeit, or ejection from a game or future games. On site decisions will be made by the game official. Kid Pitch Rules 5-7 th Grade Dimensions of the playing field Bases will be 60 feet apart. Fair territory will be between the baselines extending into the outfield. There will be a pitcher s mound/rubber approximately 46 feet from the back of the batter s box. Game time and innings An inning is the period during which both teams have been up to bat and have retired after three outs. Or when the (entire roster) has completed his/her turn at bat. A regulation game consists of 6 innings or 75 minutes of play. However, a new inning will not be started after 65 minutes of playing time. No extra innings will be played if the game ends in a tie. Players on a team A maximum of 9 players are permitted on the field using the following positions (pitcher, 1st baseman, 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, catcher, shortstop, left field, right field, & center field). A pitcher can only pitch 3 innings per game. All Pitches must be over hand. A maximum of 3 consecutive walks will be allowed per inning. If a player pitches 3 consecutive walks then player pitch will be suspended for the rest of the inning and the at bat coach will pitch the duration of the inning. The relived pitcher will remain on the field behind or beside the coach to make defensive plays. The same balls and strikes will be counted for the coach pitching. The relieved player pitching may resume pitching in the following inning.

6 If a batted ball hits the coach, it is a complete re-do. Does not count towards number of pitches. Every team member must play at least 3 innings or 30 minutes on defense. A minimum of 7 players is needed to field a team at game time. All coaches are required to stay off the playing field while play is in progress except for pitching coach if needed who must remain on the pitchers mound. First and third base coaches or volunteer parents are recommended. Batter s rules Three strikes and four ball count. Three strikes without a fair hit will be an out. Four balls will result in a walk. A batter that throws the bat will be called out. Encourage players to drop the bat and not throw the bat during practices. There will be a maximum number of 10 runs per inning, after the 10 th run, players will switch sides. The batting order will consist of every player who attends the game. The entire order will be followed regardless if player was playing on the field or on the bench. However each player may not have a chance to bat during each inning. Players arriving late may be placed at the bottom of the order. Base runner s rules A runner can not leave the base until the ball is hit. Runners are not permitted to steal a base. Runners may advance on overthrows that remain in the playing field. The play stops once the ball comes under control of any player within the pitchers circle or home plate and the umpire will call time. On an overthrow a base runner will be awarded the base he/she is approaching. Official Decisions Games will be played according to the YMCA kid pitch rules. Any rule not covered above will be referred to baseball rules or the Rules of Baseball. Misconduct or arguing by players, coaches, parents and fans is punishable by a forfeit, penalty, or ejection from a game or future games. On site decisions will be made by the game official. Equipment Needed By Age Group Pre K 3-4 Year Olds Baseball or T-Ball Bat Soft T-Balls: Each team, both home and away, must provide 1 game ball per game Ball Glove Rubber Cleats or Athletic Shoes Batting Tee: Provided by the YMCA

7 Batting Helmet K-1 st Grade Baseball or T-Ball Bat Soft T-Balls: Each team, both home and away, must provide 1 game ball per game Ball Glove Rubber Cleats or Athletic Shoes Batting Tee: Provided by the YMCA Batting Helmet: with face shield 2-4 th Grade Baseball or Softball Hard baseballs for boys and 11 softballs for girls: Each team, both home and away, must provide 1 game ball per game Ball Glove Rubber Cleats or Athletic Shoes Batting Helmet: with face shield Catchers Gear: Mask, Chest, and Leg Guards provided by the YMCA for games 5-7 th Grade Baseball Hard Baseballs: Each team, both home and away, must provide 1 game ball per game Ball Glove Rubber Cleats or Athletic Shoes Batting Helmet: with face shield Catchers Gear: Mask, Chest, and Leg Guards provided by the YMCA for games League Standings There will be no team standings or tournament for our Youth Baseball T-Ball and Softball Program.

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