Rookie

House Rules

FIELD DUTIES:

Home Team:   

• Field prep - should be started 30 to 45 minutes before the game
• Put bases and equipment out
• Rake around bases
• Rake and tamp pitcher’s mound and batter’s box
• Bases to be placed 55 feet apart (unless marked)
• Mark the 1st and 3rd baselines on the field
• Pitching machine, when used, to be at 43 feet from home plate and set at a speed that is determined by the league (approx 30-35mph).

Visiting Team:   

• Field clean up
• Put bases and equipment away
• Rake around bases
• Rake and tamp pitcher’s mound and batter’s box
• Clean dugouts

Scorekeeper (one per team)

• Should arrive 30 minutes before the game
• All score sheets must have the date of game
• Use first and last names of players
• Ensure games are scored correctly, as each player must have the required number of games in the official scorebooks in order to compete in postseason play

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Players: 

• Rubber cleats encouraged
• Athletic supports are mandatory for all games and practices (jock and jill straps).
• Batting helmet 
• Baseball glove
• Players must not wear shorts
• Uniforms for games only

Coaches and Managers are encouraged to wear pants, not necessarily baseball pant, just long pants. Shorts are allowed, but no cutoff jeans etc. Coquitlam Little League apparel (eg, shorts, golf or t-shirts are encouraged. No muscle shirts, jeans or inappropriate attire allowed. 

Note: Baseball bats will be provided. If you wish to use your own bat, then it must have the USA Baseball stamp.

UMPIRES

Prior to the start of each game, the Managers and coaches should introduce themselves to each other and to the umpires. Please keep in mind that if you show respect for the umpire, your team will follow your example.  Abuse of umpires will not be tolerated.  The umpires are volunteers.  If abused, they will likely not volunteer again. IT IS UP TO EACH TEAM TO SUPPLY AN UMPIRE FOR EACH GAME. 

Home plate umpire:

• shall be positioned at the pitcher’s mound and operate the pitching machine
• when there is live pitching, shall be positioned behind home plate
• has the discretion to call balls and strikes (there are no balls when the slinger is in use. The batter gets 4 hittable pitches.)
• makes the calls at home plate and 3rd base and in general keeps the flow of the game going

1st base umpire:

• responsible for calls at 1st and 2nd base.

(If the ball and the runner arrive at the base at the same time, or if there is any doubt, the tie goes to the runner. Umpires to be aware of the "no lead off" rule.)

GAME AND FIELD RULES

• Coaches shall conduct pre-game drills 30-45 mins before the game start time. 

• The home team shall occupy the 3rd base dugout.

• When on defense up to two coaches can be on the field to help instruct the players. Coaches are not to physically interfere with the play of the game at any time. 

• When on offence coaches can be positioned at first and third base.

• Players bat in listed order. An inning will end only after each player has batted regardless of the number of outs. Scorekeepers are to stop keeping score after the third out or 5th run occurs each inning. The lead-off batter of the second inning should be the first player due up after the scorekeeper stopped keeping score the previous inning. This continues throughout the game, this is to help with having a different lead-off hitter each inning. 

• Coaches must change the lead-off batter EACH game until ALL PLAYERS have led off (in the first inning), at which point the rotation starts over. 

• Each team should have a scorekeeper for each game (responsibility of the team parent).  Scorekeepers are to stop keeping score after the third out occurs each inning or 5 runs have been scored, whichever comes first.  

• During the season, a copy of the team line-up must be exchanged prior to the start of each game with the other coaches. Players must bat in listed order.  Coaches are to establish a lineup for the season. Ensure that all players are fairly rotated.

• A game will consist of a maximum of 4 innings with no new inning to start after 1 hour 30 mins from game start.

• Innings shall end after each player has batted regardless of the number of outs.  There is no open inning.

• When a pitching machine is being used, the batter shall be allowed 4 hittable pitches as judged by the umpire and cannot be struck out on a foul ball.  There shall be no walks.  If the pitching machine fails to work for any reason, the coach or a parent of the team at bat will pitch (soft toss)

• Coaches are encouraged to have batters swing away. We want the players to be aggressively selective at the plate. If it's close - swing. Far too many kids develop the habit of only swinging at perfect pitches. As they get older, it becomes extremely difficult to break this habit. Encourage them to swing the bat and make something happen. The game will be more fun for everyone, and they will become better hitters.

• There shall be no stealing of any bases. A player on 3rd base may not steal home on a passed ball. A delayed steal on a ball intended to be thrown by the catcher to the pitcher is not allowed (play is dead).  Runner on 3rd base must be hit home.  A player may advance one base on a ball thrown out of play.
  

• On an overthrow that stays in play, the runner may attempt to advance one base. There can be only one overthrow.

• A ball that hits or stops within 10 feet from the center of the pitching     machine or hits the machine operator will be called a dead ball. (The umpire will stop play immediately.) The batter will be allowed to go to 1st base. Base runners will be allowed to advance one base only.

• When a ball is hit into the outfield, play is live until the ball is returned to the infield (umpire's discretion). No base runners shall advance beyond the base to which they are running after the ball is returned to the infield.

• Bat throwing is dangerous.  If a bat is thrown hard enough to reach the backstop the player will be given a warning by the umpire and informed of the danger.

• A Team shall play with 9 players on the field at one time.  The remaining players shall perform instructional drills. These drills shall be done at a safe distance from the field of play and shall be organized by a qualified manager or coach.

• In order to develop players at all positions, players must be rotated each inning through the field positions; infield and outfield. At the end of the season all players on the team must have had equal play in all fielding positions.

• Catcher position. This is the only semi-optional position for players. We always have a shortage of catchers in the older divisions, so please encourage as many players as possible to try and play as a catcher! You should aim for at least 6 players in this position, so that they can be rotated through the other fielding positions equally.

• The Official Little League rules will apply unless amended by these house rules.