Oak Park Youth T-Ball Information & Rule Book
Spring 2008
The 2008 T-Ball Rules Committee has established the following rules. These rules are binding for the 2008 Regular Season and Playoffs.
2008 Presidents
Name League Phone E-mail
Jim Dealba North
Brian Shinners South 383-2610 (h)
The 2008 South Standings-keeper is:
Brian Shinners
Background Checks:
Each coach and assistant coach must have a background check on file in the OPYB office. Please fill one out and take several for any of the assistants. Copies available at the coaches meeting.
Sportsmanship Contracts
OPYB means good sportsmanship. At registration each player and parent sign a contract detailing what is expected of each.
Clean-up Day: 8:30-11:00 Date TBA
Clean-up day is a chance for us to spruce up the field before the season starts. We pick up trash, sweep the areas and pick weeds. The park district will drag the fields. Bring a rake and broom and help out. We’ll start at 8:30 a.m. at Maple and Julian. All Teams names A-O at Maple and the rest report to Julian. Please encourage parents to volunteer.
Uniforms / Pick-Up: TBA
Uniforms are numbered, no names. Some teams take them to a t-shirt shop and get the kid's names or nicknames on them. The jerseys are numbered from 1-15 and the sizes start small (#'s 1,2,3) and go up to larger sizes (being #’s 13,14 and15). What's been recommended, and works,is to have the kid's line up by heightand hand out jerseys accordingly, smallest kids getting the smallest numbers, etc. Hats are one size. There are three extra Shirts and Caps (adult size) for Coaches. Scorebook, Picture forms and extras (Hole in The Wall Certificates, Sox Fundraiser) are usually included with the uniforms. Please make sure your team matches the uniforms you pick up.
Picture Day: TBA
The Board establishes picture Day. The team meets at its designated time at Ridgeland Commons and enters the building together and gets their picture taken. The team cannot go in until the all the kids are there. Make sure everyone is on time this day. It is relatively painless if everyone is punctual. Picture forms will be in with uniforms. Please do not bring cleats. Coaches get a complimentary picture taken with their kid.
Fundraiser - Sox Outing: June 18, 2008 (forms due by June 1st)
The Chicago White Sox give us half the proceeds on whatever tickets we sell that night. This is OPYB/S’s largest fundraiser and the more we sell, the raised for our programs. Teams meet at the South East Gate (elephant gate) about two hours before the game. The kids get a chance to walk the perimeter of the playing field before the game (entering at the centerfield utility gate walking the warning track, past the home and visiting team dugouts and back to the entry). Uniforms are not required, but kids can wear the game tops and hats.
All-Star Games: Saturday June 28, 2008
Occurs the Saturday prior to July 4th. In mid May, I will send out an email to the coaches looking for names to represent teams in the All-Star games and Sportsmanship Award. There are typically 3 games played. The A game versus north side A team @ Ridgeland, B game vs. north side team@ Ridgeland and an Intra-League East/West Game played at Maple. Please pick All-Stars on ability and age. The games are competitive.
When submitting names use the following format.
League Name: South T-Ball
Team Name:
Coach Name:
Coach Email:
Coach Phone Number:
Sportsmanship Award:
All Star A Name & phone:
All Star B Name & phone:
East-West All-Star 1 & phone:
East-West All Star 2 & phone:
1. Sportsmanship Award
a. One player from each team will be recognized for his character as a teammate.
b. After 3rd Inning in the A-All Star game, play stops to hand out Sportsmanship Award
c. The Sportsmanship Award is a plaque with players name on it.
d. The coach or team representative should be at the game to hand out the award.
2. East-West All Star Game
a. Two Players from each team (non A/B All Star Players)
b. Players play in team uniforms.
c. Need 3 coaches per team. (Encourage parents to help out).
d. Played at Maple South Date and Time TBA.
e. Need to bring Equipment, Scorebook and a Game ball.
f. Teams are paired based on Final League Standings.
i. East 1,3,5,7,10,12,14 and West 2,4,6,8,9,11,13
g. After the game, each player receives a pin for participation.
3. A and B All-Star Games
a. Need two players from each team (one for A game and one for B game)
b. Need 3 Coaches per team (encourage parents to help out).
c. Need to bring Equipment, Scorebook and Game ball.
d. Information sheet for each All-Star announcer. Sample copy at end of this document.
e. A and B players show up in uniform but will get game t-shirts to play in.
Bathrooms
Maple’s bathroom is located north of the field. Julian will have a Porta-Pottie (visiting coach is responsible for locking it after games).
Tournament Teams/Travel Baseball
League President will pass along any information as it becomes available. Primarily there are several clinics over the course of the spring/early summer and the more competitive kids (8 year olds only) are encouraged to come and participate. After the clinics are completed, tryouts are scheduled where the players’ abilities are evaluated. The kids are then placed on the A or B list. Coaches then break out the players to teams at the A or B level. Typically there are two teams at each the A and B level. More information will be passed on during the season as it becomes available.
Team Structure / Player Eligibility:
The number of players registered on the OPYB registration dates will determine the South & North Divisions of OPYB. Competitive balance is a goal of OPYB, therefore teams will be selected by attempting to balance age groupings as best as possible. The number of players per team will not exceed 15. A player’s league age is determined by boy’s age on April 30th of the current year. A player is eligible for T-Ball if his 9th birthday has not occurred by May 1 of the current season’s year.
Playoffs
All teams compete for their Division Championship in a single elimination tournament at the end of the regular season. The two finalists from their respective divisions will meet in a Best of Three Series to determine who will represent their Division in the Village Championship. The two Division Champions will meet for a best of three Village Championship Series, which will conclude before the Village All Star games, which take place annually on or around the July 4th weekend. The Village Championship will be hosted by the North in even years and the South in odd.
Scheduling / Rescheduling / Postponement & Cancellation of Games:
Game Schedules are published and distributed by the League President shortly after Team Rosters are issued each year. If possible, games will not be scheduled during another community event involving a majority of players, such as the First Communion or bread-baking day at Ascension.
Decisions regarding canceling games will rest with the umpire and coaches at game time based on weather and field conditions. No game shall be played or continue to be played if the on-field temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Each Umpire will have a thermometer to determine the on-field temperature. If a game is cancelled or if the Umpire postpones a game due to weather, Coaches should contact the league president to assign another date, time and location for the game to be completed. The president will contact both coaches with available dates. The coaches are responsible for working out a date and then contacting the president with the agreed upon date. The president will schedule the date, then confirm the date, location and time with both coaches and an umpire. In the event of postponed games, the game will be resumed from the point where it was postponed unless the game is considered complete, meaning 4 innings have been played or 3 1/2 if the home team is winning.
Lightning Guidelines:
Safety is the number one priority. No lightning safety guidelines can guarantee absolute safety. All Coaches, Umpires and Parents must be aware of weather conditions, and use common sense and good judgment. The Umpire has absolute authority to call a game due to lightning.
The National Lightning Safety Institute’s overall recommendation is:
“IF YOU CAN SEE IT, FLEE IT; IF YOU CAN HEAR IT, CLEAR IT!”
The National Severe Storm Laboratory recommends terminating play and seeking shelter when lightning is 6 miles away or flash-to-bang time is 30 seconds or less. To use the flash-to-bang method, count the seconds from the time lightning is sighted to when the clap of thunder is heard. Divide this number by 5 to obtain how many miles away the lightning is occurring.
If lightning is seen, all must wait in a safe area for 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or sound of thunder before resuming a game. Safe waiting areas include fully enclosed vehicles with windows rolled up. Umpires must seek shelter in a vehicle with a Head Coach or Player’s family if they do not have their own vehicle to wait in.
All must stay away from metal objects like fences, equipment boxes and bleachers. Avoid trees and open fields. If someone is struck by lightning, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Each time lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the 30-minute waiting period should start over. If the lightning has not passed after 45 minutes from the first lightning flash, the Umpire will call the game.
At a later date, the game will be resumed from the point where it was postponed unless the game is considered complete - 4 innings have been played or 3 1/2 if the home team is winning.
The Playing Field:
The distance from the back of one base to the front of another base is 60 feet.
The Pitcher’s Rubber will be located 45 feet from the front of Home Plate.
A double safety base will be used at First Base.
An arc with a radius of 25 feet from the tip of Home Plate will be marked. A batted ball must cross this line to be considered “in play.” If the ball crosses the line and retreats within the arc prior to being fielded, or while being fielded, the ball is “in play.”
There will be “hash marks” halfway between all four bases perpendicular to the baseline.
The pitcher must hold his position until the ball has been struck.
The Home Team bats last and always occupies the Third Base dugout.
Dugout and batting order is not the Home Team’s choice.
The only Coaches allowed on the field are the 1st and 3rd base coaches, all other coaches must remain in the dugout.
Equipment:
Coaches and players must treat league equipment with care and respect. Players must not throw bats or helmets. An Umpire may eject a player for throwing equipment.
All defensive players must take a mitt into the field. Leather mitts are strongly encouraged.
The Catcher must wear a helmet at all times, while on defense.
All Players in the “on-deck area” must wear helmets.
Batters and Base Runners must always begin an offensive play wearing a helmet.
Bats must be Pony/T-Ball approved, no large barrel bats allowed ( 2 ¼ circumference).
The league and team will provide necessary helmets, bats and balls. Players may bring their own bat, but must present it for Umpire review before the game starts. The Umpire will not withhold permission to use a privately owned bat unless there is safety concern or if it does not comply with Pony regulations.
The Home Team provides the Game Ball and the Game Tee. The “visiting team” provides the On-Deck Tee.
Parents are encouraged to bring water to all games, regardless of temperature, to keep players well hydrated. During sunny weather, parents are encouraged to use sunscreen on their players and bring tarps to shade the dugouts as needed.
Uniforms:
All players are required to wear the league-issued shirt, pants and hat during games.
In case of inclement weather, a player can wear a jacket or sweatshirt over his shirt. If possible, the jacket or sweatshirt should be color-coordinated, so an offensive player can be identified on base.
All players must wear athletic-type shoes. The Umpire will determine if any other type of footwear is acceptable based on a concern for safety. Players are not permitted to wear shoes with metal spikes or cleats.
The Game:
Rule #1: Have fun!
2008 Pony Rules apply except where modified in this document.
Each team must field a minimum of 9 players for every inning. Failure to field 9 players, for any reason, results in an automatic forfeit.
A team shall forfeit the game if they are not prepared to field a team (of 9 or more players) by 10 minutes past the scheduled game time.
Regulation games are six (6) innings in length. If a game is tied at the end of 6 innings, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined. During playoffs, extra innings will be played until a winner is determined.
A ½ inning is complete when 6 runs are scored or 3 defensive outs have been made.