RYBL T-Ball 2009 Objectives, Goals & Rules of Play OBJECTIVES The performance objective for the T-Ball program is for our children to participate in Coach assisted T-Ball practices and games, that will be used to develop individual player skills in a non-competitive environment. The program should thus emphasize skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship, over winning. While the basic team objective during game play will be to score runs on the other team while preventing the opposition from scoring, there is to be no final score keeping of any kind (unless the final result of the score-keeping is a tie game (i.e., no score-keeping unless the announced result is a tie game ). GOALS The performance goals of the T-Ball program are varied, and as follows: Teamwork - Players will be familiarized with the concept of teamwork and with the responsibilities of being a teammember. (Players should know and address all teammates by name. Players will begin to call balls on which they wish to make a play, and begin to understand when it is someone else s play). Sportsmanship - Players will be familiarized with the concept of sportsmanship. (Players will not run-up the score on any team; Players will shake hands with their opponents after the game; Players will congratulate the other team, whether winning or losing (e.g., a hip hip hooray ; etc.). Knowledge of the Rules - Players will demonstrate knowledge of basic T-Ball rules. Basic Offence & Defence - Players will demonstrate knowledge of basic offensive and defensive strategies. The Baseball Diamond - Players will be able to identify parts of the baseball diamond. Positional Play - Players will be able to identify the positions played in the game. Equipment - Players will be able to identify equipment used in baseball. Batting Position - Players will be able to assume a proper batting position in the batter's box, and begin to learn proper batting technique. Strike Zone - Players will demonstrate knowledge of the strike zone (what it is, namely, width of plate, knees to chest). Hitting - Players will be able to hit a ball off the Tee when at bat. Base Running - Players will be able to run the bases and score runs. Fielding - Players will be able to assume the baseball ready position on defence, and begin to field ground or fly balls. Throwing - Players will learn the basics of proper throwing technique, and begin to make throws to the appropriate base, or cut-off man as appropriate. Coaches are expected to review each of these with the Player throughout the course of the Season, and use practice time to that result.
-2- RULES OF PLAY These Rules of Play are meant for the use of Coaches, and the edification of Parents. When conveyed to Players, they should be conveyed in simplified form. Safety Safety is always first! Please therefore strictly adhere to the following basic safety rules: No Throwing the Bat - No throwing of any bats will be allowed. Accordingly, the throwing of the bat by the batter will generally constitute an OUT. (Speak with the Player first, point out the danger that is caused by throwing the bat; if the problem continues, the Player should be called out, and if still continuing through the Season, forced to lose an "at bat turn", with such further progressive steps taken in the Coach s discretion, to further discourage the throwing of the bat). Batting Helmets & Chin Straps Required - All batters will wear a batting helmet while both at bat and on base, with chin strap affixed. No Sliding or Basestealing - No sliding or base stealing is permitted in T-Ball. No On-Deck Circle & No Batting Warm-ups - There is no on-deck circle, and the on-deck batter shall not be permitted to hold or carry the bat; they should prepare themselves (helmet, chin strap), and otherwise ready themselves, but they should not have a bat in their hands until they are at the tee. (The concern is another Player inadvertently coming within the arc of a Player warming up with a bat). Approved Footwear - Shoes with steel spikes are prohibited; shoes with plastic or rubber cleats are permitted. No Jewellery - No jewellery will be worn at any time during a practice or game. Weather Also under the general heading of safety, please strictly adhere to the following rules regarding weather: Obvious Inclement Weather - Games should be cancelled well ahead of time, during times of obvious inclement weather. Coaches should discuss cancellation no later than 1 hour prior to games at times of obvious inclement weather, and communicate decisions as to same to all Players/Parents as early as possible. (Perhaps advise Parents to check e-mail prior to attending games during inclement weather.) Note: Checking field conditions will also assist in cancellation decisions, as even if the weather is fine by game time, prior consistent rain may have left the field unplayable. Other Weather Conditions - In all other instances, Players are to attend at the designated field for play. Subject to the Coaches discretion, games may commence during periods of light rain, but must be suspended when lightning or thunder is observed in the vicinity (see below), or when light or other conditions make it too dangerous to continue. Observation of Lightning or Thunder The following rule must be strictly adhered to: where lightning or thunder is observed in the vicinity of the playing field, play or practice must be immediately suspended, and no play or practice may be resumed until a full 30 minutes has passed since the last observation of thunder or lightning. Note: Given the expected duration of T-ball game and practices, this rule is likely to result in the full cancelation of games and practices whenever lightning or thunder is observed in the vicinity of the playing field. Note: Where lightning or thunder is observed in the vicinity of the playing field, the Player should be returned to the care of his or her Parent, and in no instance should Players or Coaches remain in the vicinity of any metal dugout or fencing; care should be taken to otherwise avoid the potential of being hit by lightning.
-3- Timing & Duration 1. Each game will consist of 6 innings (i.e., six batters, per top and bottom of each inning), or approximately 60 to 75 minutes of playing time. No new inning shall start after 1 hour and 10 minutes of playing time. Absolute curfew is one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes after game start time. 2. Weekday practices/games shall commence at 6:30 pm, and shall conclude no later than 8:00 pm. Designated practices may be terminated earlier than 8:00 pm, at the discretion of the Coaches. Games scheduled during the weekdays shall have a 15 to 20 minute warm-up / practice session before hand. 3. Weekend games shall commence at 9:00 am or 11:00 am, depending on the schedule. Games scheduled on the weekends should have a short warm-up beforehand. 4. During games, warm-ups should not be permitted between innings. The Field Home and Visitor s Dugouts - The home team will sit on the first base side. The visiting team will sit on the third base side. Preparation & Clean-Up of the Field - The home team is responsible for lining the field and for setting out the bases and the Tee, for marking the 15 Foot Arc Line (see below), and the Home Plate Line (see below). Both Teams are responsible for cleaning up the area after each game. Make-Up of the T-Ball Diamond -- A regulation T-Ball diamond will have the following approximate dimensions: Distances to first and third base - The approximate base distance for T-Ball will be fifty-five (55) feet, with the pitcher's mound in line with first and third base known as the playing line. Batting Box - These are two squares on each side of home plate from which the Player must stand to hit the ball. Foul Lines - Lines extending from home to first base and home to third base and beyond to the outfield. The area between the foul lines is considered fair territory, while any ball outside the lines is in foul territory. Infield - The area generally covered in sand rather than grass, or an area extending just behind first, second and third bases. Outfield - The area behind the bases that is generally grass is called the outfield.
-4- Pitching Mound & Rubber A mound and rubber strip in the middle of the infield, the T-Ball pitcher shall position himself on, immediately in front of, or beside the pitching mound, but not behind the pitching mound. 15 Foot Arc - A 15 foot arc (as measured in approximate terms from home plate, to a point on each of the first and third base lines), and arcing toward the pitcher s mound, shall be marked between the first base line and the third base line. Interference in the Field - No animals/pets of any kind shall be permitted on the fields during practices or games, and no persons other than Players and authorized Coaches and Umpires shall be permitted on the field during practices or games. Play must be suspended where incursions occur, for the safety reasons. Start of the Game A team should appear at the field, ready for play, 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game or practice. A team should field a minimum of 7 Players to commence a game. If a team has less than 7 Players, and the opposing team has more than 7 Players, the Coaches should agree to select sufficient Players to play for the team which is short. (Their Baseball Shirts can be turned inside out to assist in that designation.) Where minimums are not met, play or practice may commence at the discretion of the Coaches. The home team shall supply a new (or otherwise appropriate) ball for the game. Players & Positions Batting Prior to the commencement of a game, all Players present will be placed in a batting line-up, and will bat in the order listed. Players arriving late shall be added to the bottom of the order. Defensive Positions - A fielding team will consist of all available Players. The Players will be positioned at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and 1 Pitcher. All other Players will be positioned evenly in the outfield area. Efforts should be made to rotate defensive Players through the available defensive positions each inning. No Player will play the same position for more than two innings in any game.
-5- Pitcher - The Pitcher shall be required to wear a protective helmet with face mask, which is part of each Team s regular Equipment Bag there are no exceptions to this rule. The Pitcher shall be the only infielder entitled to receive a ball at home plate. Injured Players - If a Player is hurt, they may be removed from the game and at a later time return to the game. If batting, they may return only to the batting position that they held prior to being injured. Coaches Coaches are permitted and encouraged to actively participate in games, to assist in the development and understanding of the Players. All Coaches are also encouraged to wear their RYBL Coaching Shirt. Offensive Coaches - When a team is batting, a Batting Coach shall stand at the batting Tee instructing the Players while their team is at bat, and First and Third Base Coaches are encouraged. The Batting Coach shall be charged with assisting the batter in setting up in a proper batting position, and in positioning the Tee for the batter. When a ball is hit off the Tee into play, the Batting Coach should remove the Tee from the home plate area. The First and Third Base Coaches shall be restricted to the area of their respective coach's boxes, and should refrain from physically assisting base runners (e.g. pushing the runner or helping the runner off the ground, while the ball is in play). Defensive Coaches - A maximum of three (3) Coaches from the defensive (fielding) team are allowed on the playing field at any time. These Coaches should be situated behind the infield, and are on the field for instructional purposes only, such as re-positioning the fielders and relaying information. Umpires Each team should provide an adult to be an umpire (e.g., two Umpires in total), which can be a Coach or another Parent willing to assist. One Umpire shall be responsible for calls at first base and second base; the other Umpire shall be responsible for calls at third base and home plate. Note: In practice, one may find it useful to appoint the Batting Coach to be the Umpire for third Base and home plate, and to appoint a defensive Coach to be the Umpire for first base and second base.
-6- Play of the Game Batting Procedure - The batter will not approach the plate until called by the Batting Coach or Umpire. The Umpire will place the ball on the Tee and verify that the Tee is adjusted within the strike zone (between the knees and the chest of the batter). The Batting Coach may adjust and reposition the batter at any time as long as the ball is not in play, and the batter is not swinging. The Umpire shall call "Ball in Play", after which the Player shall be entitled to swing. Batters will have no more than 6 attempts to successfully strike the ball. The batting coach will remove the tee from the playing field after the ball is hit. Note: All batters will hit off the Tee. No pitching to more advanced Players shall be permitted. Note: Batting Coaches with a stronger batter up, should notify the other Coach, so that the fielding team is properly positioned, and aware. (This is a safety rule ). Fair Balls A fair ball shall be a ball that is not a foul ball, and will be assumed to be fair unless called foul by one of the Umpires. Foul Balls - A foul ball shall be (1) a ball that is hit inside the 15 foot arc line (see below), or (2) a ball that leaves the Tee without having been struck by the bat (see below), or (2) is a foul ball under the regular rules of baseball (e.g., lands foul past first or third base, or lands before first or third base, but is either first fielded in foul territory, or crossing first or third base in foul territory). 15 Foot Arc Rule A ball that is hit beyond the 15 Foot Arc Line shall be a fair ball and in play. A ball that is hit but which does not cross the 15 Foot Arc Line, or which is fielded inside the 15 Foot Arc Line, shall be called foul by the Umpire. Tee Struck, Not Ball Rule - If a ball leaves the tee as a result of the tee being struck (rather than the ball being struck), then the ball shall be declared foul, and another attempt shall be made to hit the ball. If part of the ball is struck, the ball shall not be a foul ball under this specific rule.
-7- (It could still be foul under the 15 Foot Arc requirement, or under regular baseball rules above). Scoring Runs A line shall be marked adjacent to (but reasonably far away from) home plate (so as to avoid collisions between baserunners and the covering Pitcher. Players shall be awarded a run if crossing that line prior to the return of the ball to home plate. Players running across home plate shall be called out, and shall be reminded that the touching of home plate is not permitted in T-Ball. Innings & Last Batter Rule A top or bottom of an inning (i.e., the half inning) will end after six (6) batters have batted, notwithstanding the number of outs made by the defensive team. After the fifth (5 th ) batter has batted, the sixth (6 th ) batter shall be loudly announced as the last batter, and if successfully putting the ball in play, shall attempt to run the bases back to home, before return of the ball to the home plate. Failure to announce last batter will result in a replay. The procedure for making an out on the last batter shall be as follows. The out may only occur by returning the ball to home plate (i.e., not first base, or any other base, or by tagging the last batter between bases). The only Player entitled to receive the ball at home plate shall be the Pitcher for the particular inning, who shall be required to run to home plate to receive the ball. Players should be encouraged to throw the ball to the Pitcher at home plate, but shall be permitted to run the ball in and hand it to the Pitcher. Note: All Players with last batter status, including all runners on base when the last batter is up, may only be forced out at home plate. No play may be made on the base paths or the bases in respect of the last batter, or any base runners. Upon completion of the 6th batter, the order will continue during the next inning. Defensive Positioning - In setting up defensive positions, the pitcher shall position him or herself in the vicinity of the pitcher s mound, but no closer than the front of the pitcher s mound. Other infielders may not position themselves on the infield grass; where the field does not have infield grass, other infielders may not position themselves any closer than three steps in from the applicable base line.
-8- Once the ball is hit, the entire field is then in play, and any Player may then attempt to field the ball at any place on the field. Note: Coaches are encouraged to assist Players in their understanding of what is legitimately their play, and what is the play of other Players (the latter of whom should be entitled to attempt to make that play without the interference of the former). Outs Out s may be made according to regular baseball rules. Lead Offs & Base Stealing - The runner may not leave the base until the ball is struck by the batter. Leading off is thus not permitted. Base stealing is also not permitted. Advancing on Over-Throws - Runners may advance to the next base on an overthrow, or a throw out-of-bounds but to a maximum of one base. Runners on third base may not take home on an over-throw, and must be batted safely home. Runners may not advance on any foul ball, whether or not caught in the air and tagging up. Runners Overrunning a Base - First base is the only base that may be over-run. Players overrunning first base are to be encouraged to make a right turn after over-running the base, but shall not be tagged or called out if turning into the field of play, unless tagged out in the process of running to second base. The running by of home plate is dealt with above. Player s overrunning second or third base may be tagged out by an alert fielder who is in possession of the ball. Fielders shall not be permitted to push or force a runner off the base that the runner has gained in an attempt to tag him or her out. There shall be no blocking of any bases or plates by Fielders. Tagging-Up - A base runner will be required to tag-up after a fly ball out (base runner leaves base after fly ball is caught). There will be no infield fly rule in effect. Player Behaviour when Not in Play During the game, all Players must remain in the designated team areas and on benches/dugout, except the batter at the plate. (Please police this rule vigilantly, as part of the game of baseball is the patience required between one s at bat, during which time the Player should be encouraged to watch and observe the game, and cheer for his or her teammates.)
-9- Overriding Rule Despite these rules, make the game fun! ( although not at the expense of safety). Conflict Situations Protest will not be allowed. All rule disagreements will be settled on the field between Coaches from each team. Judgment calls by the Umpire (whether or not a Coach of a particular team) are not to be protested. Unresolved conflicts, or patterns of conflict, shall be referred to the Convener for resolution. Each coach shall be responsible for the conduct of his or her Players, and the Parents of his or her Players, and related fans and spectators. Neither Players nor Parents shall not be permitted to heckle opposing Players or Coaches, or otherwise disrupt a game. Coaches, Players and Parents are reminded of their respective RYBL Code of Conduct.