OakPark
Youth
Baseballand
Softball(OPYBS)
TBallManager’s
Handbook
and
League
Rules
Regulations
*** The 2014 T-Ball Rules Committee has established the following rules and regulations.These rules are binding for the 2014 Regular Season and Playoffs. ***
GENERALINFORMATION
PlayerEligibility:
Aplayer'seligibilityis determinedbytheboy'sageasof4/30/14.Ifhehasturned6 beforeoronthisdateoris 5 but currently enrolled in Kindergarten and HASNOTturned8beforeoronthisdateheiseligibleforT- ball.
CoachesBackgroundChecks:
Eachcoachandassistantcoachmusthavea backgroundcheckonfileintheOPYBSoffice. Pleasefilloneoutandtakeseveralforanyoftheassistants.Formsalsoavailableonlineat
HeadCoachCertificationandTraining
Theidentifiedheadcoachofateammustenrollandgothroughthecoachestraining
programthatwillbeprovidedbytheChicagoWhiteSox.Trainingwillbeheldpriortothe startoftheseason.
SportsmanshipRequirements
1) OPYBSmeansgoodsportsmanship.Atregistrationeachplayerandparentsigna contractdetailingwhatisexpectedofeach.
2) Anyaggressivephysicalbehavior(byaplayerorcoach)towardsanyumpire,player,fan, orcoachwillbemetwithanimmediatesuspensionfromtheteam.Thepersonmayor maynotbeallowedtoreturnafteraninvestigationoftheeventandsubsequent
hearingbeforetheboard.Untilthathearing,thepersonwillnotbeallowedtoHAVE
ANYCONTACTwiththeteamat anypracticeorgame.TheBoard'sdecisionwill determineparticipationafterthehearing.
3) Verbalabusebyanyfan,player,coach,orumpirewillnotbetoleratedandmayresultin asuspensionuponcompletionofan investigation.
4) Theheadcoachisresponsibleforthebehaviorofhisplayers,coaches,andfansduring thegame.Unrulyfansshouldbeaskedtocalmdownbytheheadcoachoftheteamif theumpirerequests.Ifsuchbehaviorpersistsafterawarning,thentheproper authoritiesshouldbecontactedimmediately.
5) ItisafelonyintheStateofIllinoistothreatenoraccostanUmpireina youthsports game.OPYBSwillprosecutetothefullestextentofthelaw.
6) It'sjustt-ball.Weallknowitgetscompetitive,butrememberitis 6,7,and8year- olds.Ifasituationseemstobeon thevergeofgettingbad,erronthesideofcaution andsuspendthegame.JUSTWALKAWAY!
FieldMaintenance:
1) Clean-UpDay:TBD
Clean-updayisachanceforustospruceup thefieldbeforetheseasonstarts.The ParkDistrictwillhopefullyhaveachancetodragthefieldsbeforethis.Wepickup trash,sweeptheareas,andpickweeds.Pleaseencourageall yourparentsandtheirson tovolunteer.Bringa metalrakeandgardeninggloveshelpout.We’llstartat9:00a.m. atHatch,Holmes and Julian.Themorepeoplehelpout,theless timeitwill take.
2) WeeklySaturdayMorningFieldMaintenance-7:30A.M.
OPYBSisnowhavingeachleaguesetupaprogramofroutinefieldmaintenancebefore
afullslateofgameson Saturdaymorning.
a) EachteamplayingonthatSaturdayisaskedtoassigna parentvolunteerto
workwithothervolunteersstartingat7:30A.M.
b) Thefieldthevolunteerwillworkonwillbethefieldtheirteam
isplayingthatday.
c) Volunteersshouldbringtheirownrakes,brooms,andshovels.
d) Fielddryandadragmatwillbeprovidedbytheleague.
e) Fieldsshouldbedragged,rutsorholesrakedout,dugoutsswept,garbage
pickedup,rocksremovedfromplayingsurface,andweeded(minimum)
f) Witha groupofatleast6volunteersperfield,thisshouldtakelessthan30
minuteseachSaturday.
g) Fieldboxesshouldbecheckedforfieldchalk,fielddry,achalkmachine,bases,
a tapemeasure,a rake,andfunctioningexteriorlock.Ifanyofthismaterialis lowor missingpleasecontacttheLPsrightaway.
3) RoutineWeeklyMaintenance:
Beforeandafterweeknightgamesorpractices,teamcoachesandvolunteersshould inspectandprovideappropriatemaintenancetothefieldsanddugouts
a) Spreadfielddryifnecessaryforwetspots b) Rakeoutrutsorholescreatedfromplaying
c) PleasereporttotheLPsanyportabletoiletproblemsor excessiveuncleanliness. d) Reportall problemsor suggestionstotheLPseachweek.Ifbushesneedtobe trimmed,fielddraggedbymachine,dirtpatchesrepaired,etc.,pleaseletthe
LPsknowsothattheycancontacttheParkDistrictforassistance.
4) WinnersDragTheField:
Wewillcontinuetheroutineofthewinningteamdraggingthefieldsaftereachgame
onweeknightsandthelastgameof Saturdays.Considerationshouldbedoneto drag thefieldbetweenSaturdaygamesifnecessary.Thishelpskeepthefieldsingood conditionforplay.ThefielddraggerswillbekeptintheHatchequipmentbox.
5) ZeroWasteProgram:
OPYBSandtheParkDistrictisrequestinga zero-wasteprogramforeachleague.
Teamsareaskedtoprovidebringhomeanytrashandrecyclablescreatedbytheir teamduringpracticesandgames.
EquipmentPick-Up:
EachteamshouldhavearepresentativepickuptheequipmentbagfromtheOPYBSOffice at941GarfieldatadateandtimeTBD.Inorderfora teamtobeeligibletoreceive equipmentatpick-upday,theheadcoachmusthaveshownproofofcertificationthrough
UniformsPick-Up:
1) EachteamshouldhavearepresentativepickupthefollowingfromtheOPYBSOffice at941GarfieldatadateandtimeTBD:teamjerseys/caps/pants,scorebook,picture forms,Hole-In-The-Wallcertificates,andWhiteSoxNightorderforms.
2) Teamjerseysarenumberedfrom1to15andthesizesstartsmall (#'s1,2,3)andgo
uptolargersizes(being#’s13,14,and15).
a. Ifyouaddnamesto thejerseyskeepthemtothekidsfirstorlast names.
Namesarecompletelyuptoeachindividualteam.Donotallowkidstomakeup nicknamesproclaiminggreatness.
b. What'sbeenrecommended,andworks,istohavethekidslineupbyheightand handoutjerseysaccordingly,smallestkidsgettingthesmallestnumbers,etc. Hatsareonesize.
c. Therearethreeextrashirtsandcaps(adultsize)forcoaches.
d. Pleasemakesureyourteammatchestheuniformsyoupickup.
PictureDay:TBD
TheBoardestablishesPictureDay.TheteammeetsatitsdesignatedtimeatConcordia
(usually12:15for12:30picturesbutthistime-slotwillbeconfirmed)andentersthe buildingtogetherandgetstheirpicturetaken.Theteamcannotgoin untiltheall thekids arethere.Makesureeveryoneis ontime.Itisrelativelypainlessif everyoneis punctual. Pictureformswillbeinwithuniforms.Pleasedonotwearcleats.Cleatsarestrictly verbotenintheRidgelandCommonsfacility. Coachesgetacomplimentarypicturetaken withtheirkid.
Fundraiser-WhiteSoxNight–TBD
TheChicagoWhiteSoxgiveushalftheproceedsonwhateverticketswesellthatnight.
ThisisOPYBS’slargestfundraiserandthemorewesell,themoremoneyisraisedforour programs.TeamsmeetattheSouthEastGate(“ElephantGate”)abouttwohoursbefore thegame.Thekidsgetachancetowalktheperimeterof theplayingfieldbeforethegame (enteringatthecenterfieldutilitygate,walkingthewarningtrack,pastthehomeand visitingteamdugoutsandbacktotheentry). Uniformsarenotrequired,butkidscan
wearthegameshirtsandhats.Eachcoachandplayerwillbegivencomplimentaryand musthavea“fieldwalking”passinordertoparticipate.
All-StarGame:TBD
Inmid-May,theOPYBSandLPswillsendoutanemailto thecoachesfortwo(2)namesto representtheirteamintheAll-Stargameandanotherseparateindividualfromtheirteam fortheSportsmanshipAward.OPYBShasdeemedthattherewillbeonlytwo(2)All-Star gamestobeplayedperleague.Asinpastyears,therewillbeanAgameandaBgame. Pleaseconsiderageandperformanceonthefieldwhenselectingall-stars,asthesegames areplayedatahigherlevelofcompetition.
1) ThefourheadcoachesfortheAll-Stargamewillbethecoacheswiththe2best regularseasonrecordsineachdivisionpriortothestartoftheplayoffs
2) SportsmanshipAward:Oneplayerfromeachteamwillberecognizedforhischaracter
asateammate.PriortotheAll-StarGame,theSportsmanshipAwardswinnersfrom eachteamwillbeannounced.Theywillreceiveaplaquewithplayer’snameonit.The coachorteamrepresentativeshouldbeatthegametohandouttheaward.
Bathrooms
All fieldswillhaveaport-a-pottyavailableforallgames.Thekeywillbelocatedin the
equipmentbox.Homecoachesareresponsibletoputequipmentintheboxaftertheir gamesandtolocktheport-a-potty.
TournamentTeams/Travel“Eagle”Baseball
LeaguePresidentswillpassalonganyinformationasitbecomesavailable.Thisisa pitch ballleagueandtheseteamspracticeandplayshortlyaftertheendoftheseasonandinto July.Towardstheendoftheseason,tryoutsarescheduledwheretheplayers’abilities are evaluated.ThekidsarethenplacedontheAorBlist.Coachesthenbreakoutthe playerstoteamsattheAorBlevel.TypicallytherearetwoteamsateachtheAandB level. Moreinformationwillbepassedonduringtheseasonasitbecomesavailable. Coachesareencouragedtorecommendtoanyoftheir8year–oldswhowillbemovingonto pitchballtotryout(attheminimumgettheirskillsassessed).
TEAMS ANDSCHEDULES
TeamRosters
Playersareplacedonteamsperthefollowingcriteria:
1) Returningplayersshallbeplacedontheteamtheyplayedontheyearbeforeunless
specificallyrequestednottobeplacedon thatteamorthereis extenuating circumstances(liketheadditionofanotherteam)
2) Remainingplayersareplacedasbestaspossibleaccordingtoanyrequestsbytheir families
3) Theleaguepresidentsseektobalanceeachrosterbyage,sothatthereisafair
distributionoffive, sixseven year olds.
4) Theleaguepresidents’primaryroleistocreateafairandfunexperienceforALLthe
teamsplaying.Asa result,playerrequestscannotalwaysbeaccommodated.
Scheduling/Rescheduling/PostponementCancellationofGames:
GamescheduleswillbepostedontheOPYBSwebsiteusingtheQuickScoressystem
( currentscheduleinformation.If possible,gameswillnotbescheduledduringanother communityeventinvolvingamajorityofplayersfromaparticularteam,suchastheFirst Communionorbread-bakingdayat Ascension.Teamcoachesshouldcoordinatewiththeir teammembersto identifymajorconflictswithpostedscheduleso thatreviseddatescan bepromptlycoordinatedwithotherteams.
Decisionsregardingcancellinggameswillrestwiththeumpireandcoachesatgametime basedonweatherandfieldconditions.Nogameshallbeplayedorcontinuetobeplayedif theon-fieldtemperaturefallsbelow45degreesFahrenheit.
Ifagameiscancelledoriftheumpirepostponesagameduetoweather,thecoachesareresponsibleforworkingoutadateandthencontactingthepresidentwiththeagreedupon dateandtime.Theleaguepresidentswillschedulethedate,thenconfirmthedate, locationandtimewithbothcoachesandanumpire.
Intheeventofpostponedgames,thegamewillberesumedfromthepointwhereitwas postponedunlessthegameisconsideredcomplete,meaning4inningshavebeenplayedor3
1/2ifthehometeamiswinning.
T-BALL RULES – PLAYING FIELD & CONDITIONS
1) Thedistancefrombasetoanotherbaseis60feet.Basedimensionslayoutasis
standard.
2) Thepitcher’srubberwillbelocated45feetfromhomeplate.
3) Adoublesafetybasewillbeusedatfirstbase.
4) Anarcwitharadiusof25feetfromthetipofhomeplatewillbemarked.Anypartofa battedballthatcrossesthislinewillbeconsidered“inplay.”Iftheballcrossestheline andretreatswithinthearcpriortobeingfielded,orwhilebeingfielded,theballis“in play.”
5) Therewillbehashmarkshalfwaybetweenallbases(besideshometofirst) perpendiculartothebaseline.A playermustbepastthislinewhenplayisstoppedto begiventhenextbase.Otherwise,theplayerwillreturntothepreviousbase.
6) Thehometeambatslastandoccupiesthethirdbasedugout.Dugoutandbattingorder isnotthehometeam’schoice.
7) Theonlycoachesallowedonthefieldarethefirstandthirdbasecoachesofthe battingteamand,ifthedefensiveteamchooses,a coachorcoachesinfoulterritory alongtheleftfieldandrightfieldlines.Allothercoachesshouldremaininthedugout oritsimmediatevicinity.
8) LightningGuidelines:
a. Safetyisthenumberonepriority.Nolightningsafetyguidelinescanguarantee
absolutesafety.Allcoaches,umpiresandparentsmustbeawareof weather conditions,andusecommonsenseandgoodjudgment.Theumpirehasabsolute authoritytocallagameduetolightning.
b. TheNationalLightningSafetyInstitute’soverallrecommendationis: “IFYOU
CANSEEIT,FLEEIT;IFYOUCANHEARIT,CLEARIT!”
c. Iflightningisseen,allmustwaitinasafeareafor30minutesafterthelast
lightningflashorsoundofthunderbeforeresumingagame.Safewaitingareas includefullyenclosedvehicleswithwindowsrolledup.Umpiresmustseek
shelterinavehiclewithaheadcoachorplayer’sfamilyiftheydonothavetheir ownvehicletowaitin.
d. Allmuststayawayfrommetalobjectslikefences,equipmentboxesand bleachers.Avoidtreesandopenfields.Ifsomeoneisstruckbylightning,call 9-
1-1immediately.
e. Ifthelightninghasnotpassedafter30minutesfromthefirstlightningflash, theumpirewillcallthegame,ifithasnotbeencalledalreadybyagreement betweenteamcoaches.
f. Atalaterdate,thegamewillberesumedfromthepointwhereitwas
postponedunlessthegameisconsideredcomplete(fourinningshavebeen playedorthree-and-a-halfifthehometeamiswinning.)
Field Dimensions Diagram:
60feet 60feet
12 foot radius
30 foot hash marks
45feet
60feet
60feet
25 foot arc fromhomeplate
Batter’sBoxLayout:
6feet
3feet
3feet
T-BALL RULES –UNIFORMS &EQUIPMENT
1) Uniforms:
a. Allplayersarerequiredtoweartheleague-issuedshirt,pants,andhatduring games.
b. Incaseofinclementweather,aplayercanwearajacketorsweatshirtoverhis shirt.Ifpossible,thejacketorsweatshirtshouldbecolor-coordinated,soan offensiveplayercanbeidentifiedonbase.
c. Allplayersmustwearathletic-typeshoes.Theumpirewilldetermineifany othertypeoffootwearisacceptablebasedonaconcernforsafety.Playersare
notpermittedtowearshoeswithmetalspikesorcleats.
2) Equipment:
a. Coachesandplayersmusttreatleagueequipmentwithcareandrespect.Players
mustnotthrowbatsor helmets.Anumpiremayejectaplayerforthrowing equipment.
b. Alldefensiveplayersmusttakeamittintothefield.Leathermittsarestrongly encouraged.
c. Thecatchermustwearahelmetatall times,whileondefense. d. Allplayersintheon-deckareamustwearhelmets.
e. Battersandbaserunnersmustalwaysbeginanoffensiveplaywearingahelmet. f. BatsmustbePony/T-Ballapproved,nolargebarrelbatsallowed(2¼
diameter).
g. Theleagueandteamwillprovidenecessaryhelmets,bats,andballs.Playersmay
bringtheirownbatbuttheumpiremaywithholdpermissiontouseaprivately ownedbatifthereissafetyconcernorifit doesnotcomplywithPony regulations.
h. Thehometeamprovidesthegameballandthegametee.Thevisitingteam
providestheon-decktee.
Parentsareencouragedtobringwatertoall games,regardlessoftemperature,tokeep playerswellhydrated.Duringsunnyweather,parentsareencouragedtousesunscreenon theirplayersandbringtarpstoshadethedugoutsasneeded.
T-BALL RULES – GENERALGAME
1) Rule#1:Havefun!
2) 2014PonyRulesapplyexceptwheremodifiedinthisdocument.
3) Eachteamshouldfieldaminimumofnineplayersforeveryinning.
4) Failuretofieldaminimumofnineplayerswill resultinautomaticforfeit.
a. Ateamshallforfeitthegameiftheyarenotpreparedtofieldateamofnine ormoreplayersbytenminutespastthescheduledtime.
b. Gamescanstillbeplayedbutascoreof 1-0willbereportedforthewinning team.
c. Ifa teamstartsa gamewithnineplayersbutoneplayersustainsaninjuryand cannotcontinue,theteamcancontinuetoplaybutmusttakeanautomaticoutin thebattingorderwhentheplayersplaceintheordercomesup.
5) Allplayersplayingmustbefromassignedleaguerosters.Playersfromotherteams maynotbeutilizedasstand-insforagame.
6) Regulationgamesaresix(6)inningsinlength.Ifa gameistiedattheendofsix innings,atiewillbedeclared.Duringplayoffs,extrainningswillbeplayeduntila winnerisdetermined.We played extra innings in hardball…
7) A½inningiscompletewhenfiverunsarescoredor threedefensiveoutshavebeen made.Anewinningmaynotbeginafter8:00P.M.onweeknightgames.
8) Iftheumpirepostponesagameduetoweather,fieldconditionsordarkness,thegame willberesumedfromthepointwhereitwaspostponedunlessthegameisconsidered complete(fourinningshavebeenplayedorthree-and-a-halfinningsifthehometeamis winning.)
9) Battingordersareexchangedbycoachesbeforethegamestarts.
10)Allplayersmustbatin acontinuousbattingorderaslistedintheexchangeofbatting order.
a. Anyplayerwhoshowsupafterthegamestarts(ortheirspotintheorder)will beplacedattheendoftheorderandbatinthatpositionfortheremainderof thegame.
b. Pleasenotifytheopposingcoachofchanges.
11)Eachplayermustplayaminimumof two(2)defensivepositionseachgamebutno more thanfour(4)inningspergameat anyonegivenposition.
12)Eachplayermustplayaminimumof three(3)defensiveinningseachgame.
a. Theonlyexceptionisif thegameisterminateddueto mathematicalelimination ofoneteam.
b. However,OPYBSencouragesall coachestoattempttoplayasmanyinningsof T- Ballaspossibleto maximizeplayerdevelopment,regardlessofthescore.
13)Failuretoplaythree(3)defensiveinningsandaminimumoftwodifferentdefensive positionsmayresultin forfeit;theRulesandCompetitionCommitteewillreviewsuch circumstancesuponappeal.
14)Oncethefirstbatterhasswungthebatineachinning,nodefensivesubstitutionsmay bemadeexceptforinjuryorillness.
15)Restroomsubstitutionsarepermittedbuttherestroom-breakingplayermustreturnto hispositionimmediatelyuponreturningfromtherestroom.Coachesareencouragedto remindplayersto“useit”beforeeachgame.
16)Eachteam’sscorekeepershouldcompareandconfirmthescorewiththeopposing team’sscorekeeperat theendof each½inning.
17)Winningcoachshouldenterthefinalscoreinat directionsprovidedtothempriortotheseason.
T-BALL RULES – “THEPLAYIS OVER” & THE PITCHER
ThePlayIsOverWhen…
1) Theballis underthecontrolofthepitcherin the12’diameterpitcher’scircleandthe pitcherisnolongerattemptingtomakea playona baserunner.
a. Advancingrunnersmustreturnto thepriorbaseifless thanhalfwaytothe nextbase.
b. Inadvertentlyrunningthroughthecirclewiththeballto makeaplaywillnot stoptheplay.
c. Iftheinitialplayisthebattedballhitbacktothepitcher,thepitchercan catchtheballandquicklythrowtoabaseifheiswithinthecircle.
d. Ifthebattedballisnothitbacktothepitcher,isinplay,andisthrownbackto thepitcher(whoiswithinthecircle)inordertohave“playover”,thepitcher CANNOTquicklycatchtheballandmakeathrowatabaseunlessheis OUTSIDEthecircletocatchtheball.
2) Theballhasbeenthrownoutofplaybytheumpirewhohascalled“DEADBALL”and
runnershaveadvancedtheirmaximumallowablenumberofbases.
3) Theleadrunnerhasbeenstoppedonabasebythedefendingteamandplayiscalled deadbytheumpire.
4) Three(3)outshavebeenmade
5) Five(5)runshavebeenscoredinahalfinning.
ThePitcher:
1) Oncetheballisplacedontheteebythecatcher,andtheumpireannounces,“Ballup,”
orsimilar;thepitchershouldannouncethestartofaplaybyshouting“Allset?”or similar,tothedefensiveplayersbeforethestartofeach“pitch.”
2) Thepitchermustthenstartthe“pitch”withonefootonthepitcher’srubberandmake anobviouspitchingmotion.
3) Thepitchermaynotleavethepitcher’scircle(12’diameter)withanypartofhisbody priortotheballbeingstruck.
4) Anyunorthodoxmotionbythepitcher,inanattemptto confusethebatter,orthe pitcherleavingthepitchingrubberbeforethehit,isanillegalpitchandtheumpirewill callplaydead.
•(Exception-ifaknown“bighitter”isup,thepitchermaymovetotheback ofthecircledirectlybehindtherubberforsafety)
5) Iftheballisstruckpriorto“thepitch”theumpirewillcall“nopitch”andstartthe playover.
T-BALL Rules - Fielders& Overthrows
TheFielders:
1) Outfieldersmustbegintheplaywiththeirfeetintheoutfieldgrass.
2) Allinfieldersmustnotpositionthemselvesinthebaseline.
a. Theshortstopand2ndbasemanareallowedtobeginaplayascloseasonestep
behindthebaselineconnectingfirstandsecondbasesor secondandthird
bases.Theymaynotbreakthatplaneuntiltheballisbatted.
b. The3rdbasemanand1stbasemancanplayupto3feetinfrontofthebase.
Theycannotbeinthebaselineifarunneris onbase.
3) Thecatchermustwearahelmetatall times.Thecatcherwillbeinstructedby the umpiretoplacetheballontheteeandmovetothebackstopfacingthebatter,atthat timetheumpirewillcall“ballup”orsimilar.
TheOverthrow:
1) BecauseT-Ballisaninstructionalleague,thenumberof basesawardedtobaserunners
duetoanoverthrowis limited.See“TheBaseRunner.”
2) Aballisconsideredoutofplaywhenitgoesintofoulterritorybeyondthebackstop extendedordugoutfences.
3) Anoverthrowis definedasathrownball, whichisnotcaughtandcontrolledby the receivingdefensiveplayer.Anoverthrowiswhenthethrownballpassesbeyondthe imaginary,extendedlineofthefrontdugoutfencebeyondthefirstbaselineorthird basefenceline.
T-BALLRULES –THE BATTER
TheBatter:
1) Thebattermustwearahelmet.
2) Onlyoneplayerintheon-deckareaatatime.Pleasehaveacoachmonitortheondeck area.
3) AfterMay 15th,coachesshouldminimizeplayerpositioninginthebatter’sbox. a. Youngerplayersorplayerswithspecialneedsmayneedhelpall season,but
coachesshouldrememberthepointistodevelopgoodbaseballfundamentals.
b. Teachplayerstopositionthemselvestohitasifapitchis coming(sonot standingbehindtheplatepointedtothirdbase).
4) Thebattermaynotshifthisfeetaftertheballisontheteeandtheumpirehascalled “ballup,”orsimilar.Adeadballwillbecalled.Iftheplayershiftshisfeetafterthe “ballup”call, theteamwillbewarnedandonsubsequentoccurrencesthebatterwillbe calledout.
5) Aplayermustbeinthebatter’sboxwhenhehitstheball(sonodropsteppingoutof thebatter’sbox).Batter’swhostepoutoftheboxtohittheballwillbegivenone
warningandthenwillbecalledoutiftheysubsequentlystepoutoftheboxagaininthe sameatbat.
6) Thebattermaynotswinguntilthepitcherhasmadeapitchingmotion.Anyballhit afterbeingplacedontheteeandpriortothepitchingmotionwillbecalled“deadball”.
7) Thebattermustmakeafullswingwhenhittingtheball.Nochoppingorhalf-swings.
8) As of May 15th , thebatterwill have 5 swings to put the ball in play. If he does not, he will be called out onstrikes.
9) Ifthebattermakescontactwithafairlybattedballonhiswaytofirstbase,hewill becalled“out.”
10)Thebattermustnotthrowthebat.
a. Ifthebatisthrown,ateamwarningwillbegivenandon subsequentoccurrences inthegamethebatterwillbecalled“out.”
b. Oneteamwarningforeachteamonly.Warningisnotforindividualplayers.
11)Thebattermustbeeitherforcedoutatfirstbaseortaggedoutby adefensive player.
a. Ifthebatterroundsfirstbase,hewillbeconsideredinplayandeligibletobe taggedout.
b. Thebattermustrunthroughfirstbase,stopatfirstbase,orturnrightafter passingfirstbasetobeconsideredoutofplay.
c. Theumpirewillmakethedeterminationifarunnerismakinganattempttorun tosecondorsimplydoesnotknowhisleftfromhisright.
T-BALLRULES –THE BASERUNNERS &OVERTHROWS
1) Thebaserunnermustbegineachplaywearingahelmet.
2) Thebaserunnercannotsteala base.
3) Therunnermustbeincontactwiththebasewhentheballishit. a. Alead-offisnotpermitted.
b. Ateamwarningwillbegivenandsubsequentoccurrenceswillresultinthe runnerbeingcalled“out”ifalead-offistaken.
4) AbasecoachmayNOTtouchaplayeratanytimeduringaplay.
a. Ifacoachtouchesabaserunner,therunnerwillbecalled“out”duetocoach’s interference.
b. Giving“five”toa playerover-runningfirstbasedoesnotconstitutetouchinga runner.
c. Thisruleis tokeepcoachesfromholdingaplayeronabaseorpushingaplayer towardthenextbase.
5) Ifathrownballstrikesarunner,theumpirewillcall theplay“dead”andtherunneris safelyawardedthebasetowhichheisadvancingorretreating.
6) Abattedballisinfairterritoryandanyforcedrunneris “forced”torunifitis hit withinthefoullinesandtouchesthe25’arcfromhomeplate.
7) Ifa baserunneristouchedbya battedballinfairterritorybeforetheballwas touchedbyadefensiveplayer,thebaserunnerisoutandtheballisdeclareddead. Otherbaserunnersmustreturntotheirpreviouslyoccupiedbaseunlesstheyare forcedtoadvancebecausethebatterwouldbeawardedfirstbase.
8) Nobaserunnermaypassanotherbaserunneratanytime.Ifonedoespasstheother, the“trailing”runnerwillbecalledout.Baserunnersmaylegallyhavecontactwithone anotherbutmaynotpass.
9) Onanoverthrow,outofplay,tothirdbase,therunner(s)advanceonebasebeyondthe basetheyarerunningtoward.Also,ifthereisanoverthrowfromanattempttoget out arunnerwhohasalreadyreachedfirstbase(ex.tryingtodoubleuprunnerafter caughtpopup),therunner(s)willadvanceonebase.
10)Interference/Obstruction-iftheumpiredecidesinterference(runnerinterfering withthefielder)takesplaceorobstruction(fielderobstructingarunner'spath)the ballwillbedead.
a. If"interference"iscalled,theproperrunnerswillbecalledout. b. If"obstruction"iscalled,theproperbaseswillberewarded.
c. Pleaseunderstandthefielderalwayshastherighttofieldthebattedballand therunnermustmakeeveryattempttoavoidthefielderonthisinitialplay.
1stBaseOverthrowRule
1) Since2010,therehasnotbeenan automaticadditionalbase(forbatterorexisting
runners)on anoverthrowballthatgoesoutofplayatfirstbaseonaplayonthebatterrunningtofirstbaseafterheimmediatelyhitstheball.
a. Theballwillberuled“deadball”onceitisdeemedanoverthrowandoutofplay. b. Thebatterrunningtofirstbaseisruledsafeandall otherrunnersadvanceto
thenextbaseonly(i.e.runneronfirstmovesonlytosecond,etc).
2) Liveoverthrowsoffirstbasewillstillbeliveoverthrows(soballsthatdon’tbreakthe
planeofthedugoutfencearestillliveballs).
a. Defensiveplayersneedtomakeaplayontheballuntilaplayballisruled“dead ball”bytheumpire.
b. Allbaserunnerscanadvanceattheirownrisk.
c. Additionally,ifthereis acaughtpop-upandsomeonemakesa playfora runner
goingbacktofirstbase,anoverthrowcanoccurandanautomaticbasewillbe awardedto thatrunner.
3) Liveoverthrowsonallotherbasesremainthesameasdescribedabove.
4) Thewholepointoftheruleis toencouragekidstotryto makethethrowtofirstbase onthebatterrunningtofirstonabattedballandtokeepmoreforceplaysinplayso thatkidscanpickupthestrategyofthatpartofthegamemoreoften.
5) Samplescenarios:
a. Basesemptyandbatterhitsballtopitcherwhothrowspastfirstbaseman,out ofplay.Ballisdead,playisover,andbatterremainsatfirstbase.
b. Runneronfirstandbatterhitsballthatresultsinanoverthrow,outofplay.
Ballis dead,playisover,andbatterremainsat firstbasewithrunneronfirst
baseadvancestosecondbase.
c. Runneronsecondbaseandbatterhitsaballthatresultsinanoverthrowat
firstbaseoutofplay.Runneradvancestothirdbase(nothome)andbatter wouldbeawardfirstbase.Noextrabaseforeither.
6) Also,pleaseteachkidstoturncorrectwaywhenrunningthroughfirstbase.Ifballis liveandtheyturnthewrongdirection(intothefield)whenrunningthroughthebase, theycanbetaggedout.Coachesarenotallowedtotouch,restrain….etcrunnersatany time.
T-BALLRULES –THE UMPIRE
1) TheumpireisanemployeeofOPYBSandisthereforetheultimateauthorityonthe
field.Alldecisionsby theumpirearefinal.
2) Theumpire’sprimaryobjectiveis toensurethesafetyofall players,coaches,and spectators.
3) Theumpire’ssecondaryobjectiveistoensureafairandevenlycalledgame.
4) Oneumpirewillbeateachregularseasongame.
5) Twoumpireswillbeat all playoffgamesafterthefirstround.Thehomeplateumpire’s decisionis finalexceptwherethehomeplateumpiredefersto thesecondumpire.
6) Onlytheheadcoachshouldapproachtheumpirewithquestions,clarifications,or comments.
7) Allcomplaintsfromtheheadcoachesaboutan umpireshouldbehandledafterthe game iscomplete.Theheadcoachshouldcontacthisrespectiveleaguepresidentsto lodgeacomplaint.HESHOULDNOTBADGERTHEUMPIREWITHTHECOMPLAINT.
8) Verbalorphysicalabuseoftheumpireswillnotbetoleratedanylevel.Anysuch behaviorwillresultin,atminimum,animmediatesuspensionfromtheteamduringan investigationintothecomplaints.Untilsaidinvestigationiscomplete,nocontactcan be madewiththeteamatall. TheBoard'sdecisionwilldictatethetermsafterithas beenrendered.
9) ItisafelonyintheStateofIllinoistothreatenoraccostanumpireinayouthsports game.OPYBSwillprosecutetothefullestextentofthelaw.