TEE BALL BASICS Tee Ball is played on a 45 foot square field (NOTE: 1 st -4 th Grade divisions play on 60 foot square fields). The number of defensive players on the field at any one time often exceeds the traditional 9 in baseball and softball. The field is divided into fair and foul territory. Foul territory includes the area outside the foul lines, and a 10-foot arc out from the batting tee. On-deck circles provide the next batter defined space to warm up as they wait their turn. The Playing Line is a painted line from 1 st base to 3 rd base. No fielder can cross this line until the ball is hit. Here is a field diagram: 45 feet 28
TEE BALL RULES: 4K 5K DIVISION 1. This is to be a Christ-centered, athletic experience. This is rule #1 and every rule in its stated meaning and application must reflect this characteristic of our league. 2. All batters use the Tee. There is no pitching. 3. There are no walks and no strikes. 4. Batter continues to swing until they hit a fair ball. No bunting is allowed. 5. A batted ball must travel 10 feet or it is a foul ball. An arc is painted on the field. 6. Each batter is awarded one base per hit. 7. All players will bat in continuous order until each player has batted once, then their at-bat half of the inning is over. This is the bat-around rule. 8. Base runners must remain on base until the ball is hit. There is no stealing of bases. 9. No fielder can cross the Playing Line (line painted from 1 st Base to 3 rd Base - refer to diagram) until the ball is hit. 10. All batters sit in the dugout area or on the bench in their batting order. 11. A safety helmet must be worn when a player is on-deck, at bat, or on base. 12. All batters get on base and remain on base. No one is called out. There is no accumulation of outs and no clearing of bases. Once a player gets to base, they return to the dugout area or bench by running the bases. 13. Pinch runners will only be used when there is an in-game injury that prevents the batter from running. 14. Rotate the defensive players positions each inning of every game (NOTE: No player can play in the outfield more than one inning per game). Using the Batting Order & Position Rotation guide can help you with this. 15. Coaches are the umpires for their own games. 16. Last batter rule: When the last batter comes to the plate, the offensive team notifies the defensive team that their last batter is at the plate. The last batter s fair ball is played like a home run clearing all bases to prepare for the next team s at-bat. 17. Keeping score or winning have no place in Tee Ball. 29
COACH PITCH RULES: 1 ST 2 ND GRADE DIVISION 1. This is to be a Christ-centered, athletic experience. This is rule #1 and every rule in its stated meaning and application must reflect this characteristic of our league. 2. The batting team s coach will pitch. There is a 3 pitch limit, after that a tee is used. Batter continues to swing until they hit a fair ball. There are no strikes and no walks. 3. A batted ball must travel 10 feet or it is a foul ball. An arc is painted on the field. 4. No bunting is allowed. 5. All players will bat in continuous order until each player has batted once, then their at-bat half of the inning is over. This is the bat-around rule. If a game is played where one team has 11 players and their opponent has 10 players, then the team with 10 players will have one batter per inning bat twice. The goal is an equal number of at-bats for both teams, while at the same time allowing every player to bat in every inning. 6. Base runners must remain on base until the ball is hit no stealing bases. 7. All batters sit in the dugout or on the bench in their batting order. 8. If a batter throws a bat, the TEAM is given a warning. If another batter on the same team throws their bat, the BATTER is out. Each team will have 1 warning per game. 9. A safety helmet must be worn when a player is on-deck, at-bat, or on base. 10. A base runner is out when: a. A hit ball is caught by a fielder before it hits the ground. b. A fielder with the ball tags the runner or touches the base before the runner arrives (a force-out). c. A fielder tags the runner when they are not safely standing on a base. d. Passing another runner or arriving at a base already occupied with a runner. e. Running more than 3 feet outside the baseline to avoid being tagged. f. Interfering with a defensive player fielding a ball. g. Being contacted by a hit ball when not safely standing on a base. h. Sliding headfirst. i. Not touching a base and a fielder tags the base while holding the ball. j. Throwing a bat, after the first warning (refer to #8 above). 11. Batters or runners that are called out must return to the dugout and cannot remain on base. 12. When the offense has accumulated 3 outs, they must clear the bases and return the players to the dugout or bench. Reset the number of outs and count again to three. Play continues until the end of the inning. 13. Pinch runners will only be used when there is an in-game injury that prevents the batter from running. 14. The Coach will not interfere with hit balls, only as a safety precaution for a player. In the event of a safety stop, base runners must retreat and the ball will be re-pitched. 30
15. If a fielded ball is overthrown at FIRST BASE or THIRD BASE, to the point it goes out of bounds a. The Umpire stops the play; b. The runner (only the runner at the point of the error) is either awarded the base or is allowed to take one additional base; c. In the event that the runner s base advancement requires advancement of other players around the bases, so be it; d. The ball immediately returns to the pitcher. Example: if a runner from 1 st Base has already rounded 2 nd Base when the error occurs, then they get awarded 3 rd Base. However, if they have not reached 2 nd Base at the time of the error, they are awarded 2 nd Base. This will always be a judgment call by the Umpire. 16. Coaches will not challenge an Umpire s call. The only communication between a Coach and an Umpire are words of encouragement. 17. Protective catcher gear is provided and must be worn at all times. 18. Once the ball is raised into the air by the pitcher inside the pitcher s circle, Time! can be called and base runners must return to their base. The pitcher then hands the ball to the coach to pitch to the next batter. NOTE: The pitching coach is not to be involved in the play. 19. Rotate the defensive players positions each inning of every game (NOTE: No player can play in the outfield more than one inning per game). Using the Batting Order & Position Rotation guide can help you with this. 20. Last batter rule: When the last batter comes to the plate, the offensive team notifies the defensive team that their last batter is at the plate. Play is complete when the last batter is out at first or the ball is in the hands of a defender on home plate. 21. Your team can keep score. 31
COACH PITCH RULES: 3 RD 4 TH GRADE DIVISION 1. This is to be a Christ-centered, athletic experience. This is rule #1 and every rule in its stated meaning and application must reflect this characteristic of our league. 2. The batting team s coach will pitch. There are no walks, balls are not called. There is a 6 pitch limit, after which the batter is out. 3. Bunting is allowed. 4. All players will bat in continuous order until each player has batted once, then their at-bat half of the inning is over. This is the bat-around rule. There are unlimited outs per inning. If a game is played where one team has 11 players and their opponent has 10 players, then the team with 10 players will have one batter per inning bat twice. The goal is an equal number of at-bats for both teams, while at the same time allowing every player to bat in every inning. 5. All batters sit in the dugout in their batting order. 6. A safety helmet must be worn when a player is on-deck, at-bat, or on base. 7. If a batter throws a bat, the TEAM is given a warning. If another batter on the same team throws their bat, the BATTER is out. Each team will have 1 warning per game. 8. Base runners must remain on base until the ball is hit no stealing bases. 9. A base runner is out when: a. A hit ball is caught by a fielder before it hits the ground. b. A fielder with the ball tags the runner or touches the base before the runner arrives (a force-out). c. A fielder tags the runner when not safely standing on a base. d. Passing another runner or arriving at a base already occupied with a runner. e. Running more than 3 feet outside the baseline to avoid being tagged. f. Interfering with a defensive player fielding a ball. g. Being contacted by a hit ball when not safely standing on a base. h. Sliding headfirst. i. Striking out at bat, regardless if the catcher misses the 3 rd strike pitch. j. 6 coach pitches without hitting a fair ball (refer to #2 above). k. Throwing a bat, after the first warning (refer to #7 above). 10. Batters or runners that are called out must return to the dugout and cannot remain on base. 11. When the offense has accumulated 3 outs, they must clear the bases and return the players to the dugout. Reset the number of outs and count again to three. Play continues until the end of the inning. 12. Pinch runners will only be used when there is an in-game injury that prevents the batter from running. 13. Coach will not interfere with hit balls, only as a safety precaution for a player. In the event of a safety stop, base runners must retreat and the ball will be re-pitched. 32
14. Coaches will not challenge an Umpire s call. The only communication between a Coach and an Umpire are words of encouragement. 15. Once the ball is raised into the air by the pitcher inside the pitcher s circle, Time! can be called and base runners must return to their base. The pitcher then hands the ball to the coach to pitch to the next batter. NOTE: The pitching coach is not to be involved in the play. 16. Rotate the defensive players positions each inning of every game (NOTE: No player can play in the outfield more than one inning per game). Using the Batting Order & Position Rotation guide can help you with this. 17. Protective catcher gear is provided and must be worn at all times. 18. Last batter rule: When the last batter comes to the plate, the offensive team notifies the defensive team that their last batter is at the plate. Play is complete when the last batter is out at first or the ball is in the hands of a defender on home plate. 19. Your team can keep score. 33