LA COSTA YOUTH BASEBALL
T-BALL DIVISION
2004 RULES
The T-Ball Division will follow the rules set forth by PONY Baseball with the following exceptions:
1. All players available at the beginning of a game must be in the regular batting lineup. A player arriving late will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
2. All players will play defensively in every inning, even if one team has more players than the other. There may be a fifth infielder set between the shortstop/2nd base positions, or between the 2nd base/1st base positions. The extra infielder may not play any closer to home plate than any other infielder (see Rule #14). There shall be only one pitcher at all times (see Rule #13 for positioning).
3. Each player must play an infield position at least one inning per game and an outfield position at least one inning per game. Pitcher is considered an infield position, but catcher is not.
4. Base coaches, 1st and 3rd shall be adults. Each team will provide one adult umpire (may be a coach) to call outs at 1st/2nd base and 3rd base/home.
5. Throwing the bat is a safety issue. The first time a player throws a bat in a reckless manner, a warning is given. If a player throws the bat a second time, that player will not bat the remainder of the game.
6. Any player who throws a helmet and/or bat in an obvious display of anger (or commits any other obvious act of poor sportsmanship) is subject to immediate ejection from the game by the team manager.
7. Each 1/2 inning will end after all players have had one (1) at bat, regardless of how many outs are made or runs scored. Under no circumstances will score be kept by managers, coaches, parents, or players, or announced to the players either during or after a game.
8. When at bat, a team shall have an adult coach at home plate. When runners are in scoring position, the coach at home plate will be responsible for removing the batting tee from the plate area after each hit ball in case there is a play at home.
9. Batters must come to the “ready” position before swinging at the ball. Batters must take a full swing. Bunts or half swings are not allowed. The tee must be symmetrically placed on home plate when the batter is up.
10. An arc line, 15 feet from home plate, will be chalked or approximated on the field between the first and third base lines. A batted ball will be called foul if it does not cross the arc line either on the ground or in the air. Any batted ball which does cross the arc line, on the ground or in the air, will be fair and in play regardless of whether it was a “clean” hit or some of the tee was hit by the bat.
11. There will be no strikeouts. Each batter will take as many swings as necessary to hit a fair ball.
12. Runners may not lead off base and cannot leave the base until the ball is hit. If a runner does lead off, the team will be given a warning by the umpire/coach. The second offense in the game may result in the runner being called out.
13. The defensive pitcher must have both feet within 5’ of the pitcher’s rubber when the batter hits the ball.
14. In the interest of safety and fair play, no infielders may be positioned closer to the batter than 5 feet from the 1st/2nd or 2nd/3rd base lines (inside of the bases).
15. All outfielders must be at least 20 feet into the outfield from the baselines when the batter hits the ball.
16. All throws must be overhand, except when an underhanded toss would be a normal play (e.g. a shortstop/2nd exchange within a few feet of the base). Runners are automatically safe when the ball is rolled or thrown underhand (except when normal play) to the base, even if the ball beats the runner. If a ground ball is hit to the pitcher, the pitcher is required to throw to first, second, third or home as in normal baseball. The pitcher is not allowed to race the batter to the base or plate. If the pitcher does race the batter, the runner is automatically safe, even if the pitcher beats the runner to the base or plate. On grounders hit up the first or third base line, the pitcher is allowed to tag the runner.
17. Outfielders cannot make force or tag plays. If done, the runner is safe. Outfielders must throw the ball to the infielder to record a force or tag play.
18. Up to three coaches may be on the field with their team assisting and coaching defensive play.
19. If a throw goes over or gets by 1st or 3rd base and leaves the field of play, the ball is dead. Runners are safe at the base they are advancing to, but do not advance an extra base. When second base or home plate are overthrown, the ball is still in play, unless it leaves the field of play (the lines extended from the backstop).
20. Balls are dead and play is stopped when the ball is controlled by the catcher, pitcher, any infielder in the infield or at home plate and that player elects not to make a throw. Runners will go to the nearest base, which may be forward or back, at the umpire’s discretion. An uncontrolled ball is a live ball and runners may continue to run the bases.
21. Regulation games are to be three (3) complete innings.
22. The batting order may be altered each inning to prevent the same player from batting last the entire game, but all players must bat every inning.
23. Teams will share responsibility for setting up the field before a game, and breaking it down after the game. Duties shall be as follows:
Before Game:
Home Team: Drag and water Infield, Bring Out Equipment (Helmets, Bats, Tee)
Away Team: Set up Bases (50 ft apart), Chalk 1st/3rd base lines and 15’ arc
After Game:
Away Team: Bring in Bases
Home Team: Bring in Equipment, Verify Bases/Equipment in Locker, Lock Up
24. Infield practice before the game will be evenly divided as follows: The Away team may take infield for 10 minutes, starting 20 minutes before the game. The Home team may take infield for 10 minutes, starting 10 minutes before the game. If preceding games do not allow 20 minutes of infield practice the remaining time will be evenly divided amongst the Away and Home team.