ROOKIE LEAGUE 2017
Field Reservation Line: 763-494-6560 - Teams are only allowed 3 one hour time slots at a time. Once you use one, you can call and reserve another time slot.
Weather line: 763-494-5959 - The weather line will have information about games being cancelled after 4pm. If nothing is on the weather line, you must go to the field. At that time, the umpire will make the decision if the game will be cancelled. All coaches are responsible for communicating with their team about game and practice cancellations. The OMGAA website also has a Rain Status tab on the left hand side. It will be updated after 4:00 pm on game days.
We can play through light mist/intermittent rain so long as the fields are playable and the kids will be safe. If there are dangerous winds or other hazardous conditions (ex. hail, etc.) and certainly if there is lightening, the game must stop/not be played. Get the bats out of the kids' hands. The game can be stopped at any time due toweather or insufficient light. A complete game is 3 and 1/2 innings (home team ahead), 4 innings (visitors team ahead after 3 and ½).
Team Website Pages - All coaches need to email the IT Director Don Myhre at for access to website. Please send this information with the email: The league you are coaching in and your team name. He will also need your Ngin username and password to get you access to the website.
Schedules - Target is 12 games/season. If a game is rained out, we will not make it up unless it causes a team to fall below the targeted minimum and other teams are at or over the minimum.
Key Dates for the Season
May 9th - Opening Day; *must start and end games on time*; Coaches (or delegate to parents) must rake fields after the game). No switching fields to start a game early. NO EXCEPTIONS. Hard stop. Walk away from the field.
June - Pictures. Details and online signup to come.
June 16th - All Star Game/Homerun Derby
June 17 – Saturday league games
July 7-9 - End of the Season Tournament
Fields - 60’ Basepath; 42’ Pitching Distance; Fields are prepared by Maple Grove Park and Rec. They should have the fields groomed, chalked and the bases should be out for games. Practices, you are on your own. If for some reason the bases are not out, please call Maple Grove Park and Rec at 612-790-7174.
Game Day - For each regular season game, the home team will supply 1 new baseball. The visiting team will supply 1 good used ball. Both coaches should meet with the umpire at the beginning of the game. You should go over the league rules. Most of the umpires will know our league rules, however please remember that they umpire for many different leagues with different rules.
Umpires - OMGAA will supply the umpires and they use an outside umpire company. The umpires do the best job possible however they will make mistakes. Respect the umpires and understand that many calls are judgment calls. You can’t argue judgment calls, only application of the rule can be discussed with an umpire. Any complaints from umpires about coaches will be addressed. If the situation warrants, you may be dismissed from coaching. If an umpire is inconsistent with balls and strikes, or doesn’t know our league rules, both coaches should meet with the umpire to try to resolve the situation. Sometimes an umpire may be late, or a scheduling conflict will happen. Please continue with the game and call your coordinator and we will try to get an umpire out ASAP. If you are unable to reach your league coordinator, you may call Chuck Triggs at 763-286-1862. Chuck is the owner and the coordinator for the umpiring company we use. I would also recommend checking his website in advance to confirm you have an umpire scheduled. Here is the link to his website: http://nmua.net/ It can also be found on the baseball home page on the left hand side under the umpire tab.
Coaches Responsibility - Coaches are responsible for all communication to the parents. They are also responsible for all their coaches, players and parents at the games. If a parent, player or coach is acting up at a game, please address it. Ask to keep the back stop clear of fans as it will help with a lot of the complaints. Any coach that is kicked out of a game will be asked to step down. Set a good example for the kids. All coaches are required do a background check and a concussion certification. This must be done prior to your first practice. If this is not done before the first practice, the team will not be able to practice. If the matter does not get resolved, the coach will be asked to step down. This includes all head coaches and assistants.
Each coach must report pitch count, innings pitched, and jersey number for each pitcher, and score after each game; each game has an ID – you’ll need it to enter information online.
Game Rules:
· 4 outfielders will be used instead of 3.
· No stealing or taking a base on a passed ball.
· No balks
· 5 run limit per inning
· No infield fly rule
· No leading off
· No dropped third strike
· Strike zone: Knees to shoulders; one ball on either side of plate
· 4 Balls 3 Strikes
· 3 ½ or 4 innings (depending on whether home team is ahead) will be a complete game
· 6 inning games or 1 ½ hour time limit, hard stop. Do not start another inning after 1 hour 15 minutes. The inning must start by 1 hour 15 minute mark. If you are unable to finish the inning, score will revert back to prior inning.
· Rotate kids between infield and outfield – all kids should play all positions during regular season play
· Forfeit: Play with 8 players or more; less than 8 is a forfeit.
· No player should sit a second inning until everyone has sat out once. Equal playing time is expected.
· Pitching:
o This is a development league. During the regular season all players who are able to throw the ball the distance to the plate should pitch an equal number of innings over the course of the season. Exceptions must be agreed upon by coach and parents and communicated to League Director.
o End of season seeding will be based partly upon equality of innings pitched.
o Pitching is limited to the lesser of 2 innings per game or the maximum pitch count limit:
§ 50 pitches/day – finish current batter if the 50 pitch count is met
§ 21-35 pitches = 1 day rest
§ 36-50 pitches = 2 days rest
· Catching: Same pitching limits apply to catching (don’t have a kid pitch and catch in the same game, follow the lesser of 2 innings per game/ maximum pitch/day limit and rest rules for pitchers)
· Be smart about practices – don’t overuse their arms – can focus on technique without throwing balls
· The batting order should be continuous. After the 3rd game, teams must have a set line up and start the 4th game where they left off in the line-up the game before. For example, if the 9th batter was the last batter of the game, the 10th batter will be your lead-off hitter for the next game.
· No bat limit or regulations for league play.
· Bunting is permitted, but must be used as part of a sound baseball strategy, not just because it's the best chance for a particular kid to make contact with the ball.
· Overthrows: 2 bases max on anoverthrow, oneoverthrowmax per play
· Home team will take 3rd base bench for all games.
· Besides the specific rules listed, all leagues will follow the rules in the Cal Ripken/ Babe Ruth rule book.
· Additional Playoff Rules:
o Home team is determined by better seed at beginning of tournaments. No re-seeding throughout tournament
o Batting order may be changed and reset after each game.
o Pitchers innings/pitches thrown must be consecutive. Once a pitcher has been removed from a game, he may not re-enter as a pitcher.
o After each game, all coaches must give the coordinator the score, pitcher’s name, jersey number and innings and pitches pitched. If a team fails to report within one hour, that team will forfeit that game. This will help the coordinators get updated brackets and pitching updates quicker.
o The time limit is still in effect. The only games that we will play in full, regardless of time limit, is the championship game, if daylight will allow.
o If a game is tied after the time limit: The visiting team will place the last out from the prior inning on second base. The visiting team will have 2 outs. We will repeat this process for 2 innings. If we still have a tie. We will out runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, for 2 innings. If the game is still tied, we may have to flip a coin.