A (Coach Pitch) Instructional Division Guide

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Bolton Youth Baseball

A (Coach Pitch) Instructional Division Guide

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League ID Number 79054

2011Revision

2011 Revision

BYB A (Coach Pitch) Instructional Division Overview

BYB A (Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Safety Rules

BYB A (Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Conduct Rules

BYB General Game Preliminaries

BYB A (Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Game Rules

Practice Planning Guide

Practice

BYB A (Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Fundamentals

Base running

Fielding & Positions

Hitting

Catcher Drills (Older Players)

Basic Throwing & Catching

Pitcher Drills (Older Players)

BYB A (Coach Pitch)Instructional Miscellaneous

Player Equipment and Uniforms (if asked)

Games

Team Parents

Observations

General

Coaching Resources

Books

Videos

Handouts

Websites

League

Equipment

Uniforms

BYB A(Coach Pitch) Instructional Division Overview

The A (Coach Pitch) Instructional Divisionis designed for players (girls and boys) slightly older and more skilled than T-Ball and as the last level before organized, competitive play. Players will continue to work on the fundamentals of throwing, fielding, and hitting while learning team concepts. Adults pitch to the players using RIF (Reduce Injury Factor) baseballs. During the game, coaches are permitted on the field to pitch to their own players and to reinforce defensive positions in the field. Players are also eligible to pitch and catch per the Coach Pitch Rules document. Teams may also travel for an away game every few weeks. Games are generally four innings or 85 minutes.

BYB A(Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Safety Rules

No jewelry, metal cleats or casts.
Male players MUST wear an athletic support cup.
Catchers must wear full protective league approved equipment during games.
All batters and base runners must wear a league-approved helmet at all times.
No “on-deck” batters are allowed.
Only the batter should have a bat. No other player can touch a bat until the player who is up has completed his “at-bat.”
Players are not allowed to play catch during the game.
Runners should slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. Runners should never slide headfirst while advancing.
Players without the ball may not impede the runner’s progress
The home team manager is responsible for calling a game due to weather/field conditions.
Only league-approved managers and/or coaches who have had background checks done (CORI forms approved by the league) are allowed to lead a team practice.
Only league-approved managers and/or coaches who have had background checks done are allowed on the field during games.
Managers/coaches will never leave a child unattended at a practice or game.

BYB A(Coach Pitch) Instructional Division Conduct Rules

Good sportsmanship and behavior is expected from players, coaches and parents.
No throwing of equipment.
No playing with equipment in the dugout/bench area.
No climbing the fences or field apparatuses. No roughhousing.
No throwing rocks or dirt.
No playing with baseballs in the dugout/bench area
Post games sportsman-like handshakes by players and coaches.
Full uniforms must be worn (including hat).
Help pick up the equipment after practices and games
Arrive 10-15 minutes early to games and practices to stretch, warm-up, & get ready to play.
Enforce league rules as described

BYB General Game Preliminaries

Coaches are expected to know and abide by all rules.
Teams should be ready to play at the scheduled time.
No batting practice before the game
Home team supplies game balls.
A game may start and continue with any number of players. Players arriving late are placed at bottom of the batting order.
Coaches are encouraged to take the field with the team.

BYB A(Coach Pitch)Instructional Division Game Rules

If playing an opposing town, confer with the opposing manager on any rules.
Every player will bat in the line-up (continuous batting order)
No on-field batting practice before the game.
Runners may NOT advance on an overthrow.
Runners may NOT lead off the base or steal any base.
Games are 1 hour and 25 minutes long or typically 4 innings. You may play extra innings if time permits. If another game is scheduled after your game, please finish before their scheduled time.
Managers/Coaches pitch to their own teams.
Managers/Coaches may have a player at any position (including a pitcher who fields for the coach and a catcher wearing the appropriate equipment and catching for their team). If you have a tenth player team you may play a fourth outfielder. No extra infielders.
Each team bats once around the order in the first, second, and third innings.
Manger should announce “last batter” when the final batter of the inning is up. All base runners may run all the way home after the ball is hit. Fielders should try to make a play, but once all runners have advanced 1 base, fielders should get out of their way and let them run. (Managers can encourage this by telling their defensive team to come in to their bench (without interfering with runners) as the hitter runs toward 2nd base).
If a batter makes an out, they may go back to the bench. At the manager’s discretion, you may allow the player to remain at first and become a base runner. As the season progresses, players should be encouraged to return to the bench when they are out.
Fourth and any additional innings are played either three outs or once around the order, whichever occurs first. In the event of three outs, the order is resumed from the last player to make an out and NOT restarted at the top.
A batter may take a maximum of one base on an infield hit and a maximum of two bases on a hit to the outfield.
No walks
No intentional bunting
Eight pitches per batter; if batter does not get a hit the batter is out. The batter gets an extra pitch if the 8th pitch is fouled, or all subsequent pitches that are fouled. You may allow the batter to go to first base as if they had a walk if they do not hit the ball..
A player may pitch to a player on the opposing team ONLY during the third, fourth and any additional innings under the supervision of a coach or manager.
Fielding (kid) pitcher must be within 6 feet of pitching rubber (one foot within pitching mound dirt circle)
Player pitchers may pitch from anywhere in front of the pitcher rubber up to infield grass.
Player pitchers who throw 5 “poor” pitches to a single batter or hit a batter must be replaced with an adult pitcher.
No player may play the same infield position for more than two innings in one game.
Pitching is allowed for 7 and 8 year old kids ONLY.
Pitch limit is 1 inning or 5 batters (8 pitches x 5 batters = 40 pitches) MAX.
Teams should exchange handshakes at the conclusion of the game.
Practice Planning Guide

Practice plans should be designed to build fun into the drills, activities and mini competitions. Your goal should be to make sure each practice is fun, efficient and improvement is focused on all season long.

90 minute plan (for guideline purposes only)

Dynamic warm-up / Stretching/ Jog(5-10 minutes)
Baserunning Drills(5-10 minutes)
Throwing/ Catching (15 minutes)
Stations(30-40 minutes)
Controlled Game / Fun Drills / Teamwork Drills (15-25 minutes)
Post Practice Team Get Together (5 minutes)

Practice

Stress the importance of practice to the kids and parents. Remind parents that the best way for the kids to achieve playing well and possibly having more fun in a game is by practicing and being prepared. We learn and prepare for the game by practicing.

One of the most important things to remember when running practice is to keep the kids busy or moving. Make the most of your time by breaking up into two or three groups, depending on the number of coaches, space, and equipment you have available.

Coaches must be prepared. Have your practice planned before arriving at the field. Jot some things on a piece of paper to help get your thoughts together.

Practice the way you play in a real game with proper techniques. During batting practice have fielders field the ball as they would in a game situation. Runners run hard and hitters take good cuts. Practice is the time to work out the mistakes and build confidence resulting in better play during games.

Start a routine. Get the kids to arrive at least 15 minutes before the game or practice to warm up by throwing, catching, and stretching together as a team. Practice scheduled at 9am means that the kids are warmed up and ready to go at 9am.

Take a team jog and stop to do some stretching. This is a great time to talk to the players – maybe give a little pep talk before a game. This is how we create a team concept.

Explain why, as well as how, when teaching. For example, base runners are much more likely to make the little turn before each base if they’re aware that if they don’t their momentum will carry them to the outfield grass and they’ll not stay tightly in the base paths.

Stress fundamentals!

BYB A(Coach Pitch)Instructional DivisionFundamentals