Homestead Mod T- Ball League Rules

HOMESTEAD MOD T- BALL LEAGUE RULES

(REVISED MARCH 2014)

Mod T-ball is the first level of learning for the basic concepts of the softball and baseball. It is meant to be the foundation for young player’s understanding and future participation in the game, hopefully for many years to come. While participating in this fun summer sport, players are taught basic concepts, various field positions and good sportsmanship. We expect all players, coaches and parents and fans to exhibit good sportsmanship. Absolutely no profanity or exhibition of temper, on or off the playing field, will be permitted. Fans are not allowed in the dug-out or on the playing field during the game.

Games

Games are played on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Games consist up to 6 innings and are limited to approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. A new inning cannot begin after 1 hour and 15 minutes of play. First aid must be available at each game site.

Coaches and players are expected to arrive at the playing field 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the game to warm up. The visiting team will take the infield practice first, with the home team finishing their infield practice by game time.

If a rain -out occurs or the ball field is not playable, the home team’s coach is responsible for contacting the visiting teams coach to re-schedule the game at a mutually agreed-upon date and time. Games should be re-scheduled far enough in advance that the traveling coach can contact the team’s players in due time.

Age/Eligibility

The Homestead Mod T-Ball League is geared for boys and girls coming out of kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. However, a child who is at least 5 years of age by JULY 31, 2015 of the current playing season and will be starting kindergarten in the coming school year may be eligible to play at the coach’s discretion. Players cannot be 9 years or older after January 1st of the current season’s year.

**The coach will pitch 3 balls to the batter if the batter is unable to hit the ball the tee is brought out and the batter will have 3 trys to hit the ball. If batter does not hit the ball the player is out and will return to the dug-out. Coaches have the right to decide if the player if able to have the coach throw to them or not, if the batter is new to the sport the coach can have the tee come out right away and the batter has 3 trys to put the ball in play. If batter is unable to put the ball in play that player is out. Each team may have up to six (6) runs or three (3) outs per inning whichever comes first.**

Equipment / Uniform

1. Helmets with face masks and chin-straps are mandatory. Batters, on-deck batters and base runners

must wear helmets at all times outside the dug-out.

2. Players must wear tennis or turf shoes. No metal spikes are allowed.

3. Players must wear the Team T-shirt during games. Team T-shirt should include player’s number.

4. The catcher must wear appropriate protective equipment.

5. Players are not allowed to wear watches or any jewelry (exception: Medical Alerts)

6. No cast / braces are allowed.

Bat Specifications

1. All bats must be official T-ball bats, not exceeding 26 inches in length.

2. Little League bats are not allowed.

Field of Play

The home team is responsible for properly marking the playing field as follows:

1. Bases are set 55 feet apart.

2. The pitcher’s rubber is placed 40 feet from home plate. There is a feet radius circle (10 feet in

Diameter) around the pitcher’s rubber.

3. There is a 15 feet radius arch in front of home plate.

4. Lines indication the batter’s box are clearly chalked.

5. Short lines are chalked at the half-way point between 1st and 2nd base, 2nd and 3rd base and home plate.

Number of Players

1. Each team should have 6 infielders and 4 outfielders -equaling 10 players uses defensively.

2. If a team has less than 10 player present for a game, both team’s coaches will reach an agreement on

How to play the game, whether it is to play with less players or use of the other team’s players.

Batting Team

1. The visiting team bats first, followed by the home team.

2. Each team may have up to six (6) runs or three (3) outs per inning or whichever comes first. If a player is called out they must return to dug-out and resume play.

3. All players bat in rotation.

4. There are no strike-outs in mod t-ball.

5. Coaches should have the next batter ready to speed up play.

6. All batters, on-deck batters and base runners must wear helmets at all times outside the dug-out.

7. Only the batter and on-deck batters within the designated circle may practice swinging the bat.

8. The batter must be within the batter’s box when batting.

9. The ball must be hit past the 15 feet mark to be called fair.

10. The home plate umpire will remove the tee-stand after each hit.

11. If the batter throws the bat, there will be one (1) team warning given. If the batter throws the bat

again, he or she will be called out. No base runner will advance. Coaches should teach player to lay

the bat down in the safety zone.

12. The batting team must pick up the bat after each batter.

Base-Running

1. Runners may not lead off a base until the ball is hit.

2. Runners should tag each base. If, due to excitement, a runner misses a base, the player will not be

called out. The player should go back to the missed base and re-tag the base. If play allows, the

runner may continue to advance after re-tagging the base. Coaches and umpires are asked to use their

Discretion.

3. If a player overruns a base and is not attempting to advance, he or she will not be called out.

4. The play is dead when the ball passes the plane of the of the pitcher’s circle. If the a runner is

between bases and past the half-way mark, he or she can advance to the next base without being out.

If the runner is not past the half-way mark, he or she must return to the previous base.

5. One base is allowed on an overthrow at all bases. No more then 1 base advancement allowed per at bat, regardless of the

number of overthrows.

6. If a runner slides into a base, there will be one (1) team warning given. If that runner slides again,

He or she will be called out.

Pitcher

1. The pitcher will stand on the pitching rubber until the ball is hit.

2. If the ball is thrown to the pitcher or the attempt to throw the ball lands within the circle, the

play is stopped. This is not considered on overthrow. Examples: Ball stops with in the circle,

the ball contacts the pitcher, or an infielder throws the ball to the pitcher’s mound.

Catcher

1. The catcher will stand behind the umpire until the ball is hit.

2. At the end of play, the catcher will give the ball to the umpire to place on the tee-stand for the next

Batter.

Fielders

1. Infielders should stay within 5 feet of the base line until the ball is hit.

2. The 4 players placed in the outfield may be spread equally or a roving fielder may be used.

Coaches

1. The team at bat may have a coach at 1st base and a coach at 3rd base.

2. Each team has the option of placing one coach in the outfield on defense for verbal assistance only.

3. Coaches should encourage their batters to use a proper stance and swing. Coaches may go up and assist

their players with this.

4. Coaches should give verbal encouragement from the sideline to players.

Umpires

1. The home team is responsible for providing the home plate umpire. The visiting team is responsible for

providing the base umpire.

2. The umpire has jurisdiction from the beginning until the end of the game. The umpire’s decision is final.

3. The umpire acts as the official timekeeper and may stop the game, if necessary.

4. The umpire will stop play by calling “time” when the play is dead or for time-outs.