First Baptist Youth Baseball

2006 Instructional League Rules

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

Performance Objective of the Instructional League

The performance objective for the Instructional League is so that our boys may participate in coach assisted ball games that will be used to develop individual player skills. The team objective is to score runs on the other team while preventing the opposition from scoring. The dimensions of the Instructional League diamond are smaller than regulation baseball. The rules are simplified to accommodate young beginning players. The program emphasizes skill development, and sportsmanship over winning. The focus of the league is instruction.

1.0 Performance Goals of the Instructional League

1.1 Familiarize players with the concept of teamwork and with the responsibilities of a team-member. Players will know and address all teammates by name.

1.2. Familiarize players with the concept of sportsmanship. At all times, coaches and players will be under control and show proper decorum. A coach that gets ejected from a game will also receive a one game suspension from the next game. We will shake hands with the opponent after the game. Etc..

1.3 Players will demonstrate knowledge of baseball rules.

1.4 Players will demonstrate knowledge of basic offensive and defensive strategies.

1.5 Players will be able to identify parts of the baseball diamond.

1.6 Players will be able to identify the positions played in the game.

1.7 Players will be able to identify equipment used in baseball.

1.8 Players will be able to assume a proper batting position in the batter's box.

1.9 Players will demonstrate knowledge of the strike zone.

1.10 Players will be able to hit a ball off the Tee when at bat.

1.11 Players will be able to run the bases and score runs.

1.12 Players will be able to assume the baseball ready position on defense.

1.13 Players will be able to field a ground or fly ball.

1.14 Players will be able to make a throw to the appropriate base or cut-off man.

2.0 Rules of the Instructional League Program

2.1 Safety

2.11 Safety is always first.

2.12 Batters may not throw their bats. The batter will be warned once and then called out if he does it again. Umpires will speak with the player first, point out the danger that is caused by throwing the bat, but if the problem continues the player will be forced to lose an Aat bat turn@.

2.13 All batters will wear a batting helmet while both at bat and on base.

2.14 Runners must avoid contact with defensive players. The runner will be called out if he does not avoid contact. If the offensive player is guilty of interference a substitute runner may be put on base to replace the runner that was called out. This is a judgement call with no appeal.

2.15 Base stealing is not allowed.

2.16 There is no on-deck circle. However, the on-deck batter will wear a helmet to be ready, but will not have a bat in his hands until he is at the tee.

2.16 Shoes with steel spikes are prohibited.

2.17 No jewelry will be worn.

2.2 Start of the Game

2.21 Boys in K5 and 1^st grade may play in the Instructional league. Boys may be held back one grade level and still play in this league. Boys who are home schooled and are age 5 before December 1 of the current year may play in the Instructional League.

2.22 A team should field a minimum of 7 players to complete a game. The missing eighth player will be called out.

2.23 Teams should appear on the field, ready for play, 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game. Players must be in full uniform 30 minutes prior to a ballgame.

2.24 Coaches must teach their players how to stand during the national anthem.

2.25 Each game will consist of 5 innings

2.26 All players present will be placed in the batting line-up and will bat in the order listed. All players must play at least 2 innings.

2.27 Each coach shall be responsible for the conduct of his players and fans/spectators.

2.28 Both Teams are responsible for cleaning up the area after each game. This includes under the bleachers. Each team will clean one set of bleachers.

2.29 No animals/pets of any kind are permitted on the fields during practices or games there is NO exception to this rule.

2.3 Players and Positions

2.31 A team should field a minimum of 7 players to complete a game. Six or fewer players at 6:30 P.M. will result in a forfeit.

2.32 All players must play at least half the game

2.33 If a player is hurt, he may be removed from the game and at a later time return to the game. Players may return only to the batting position that he held prior to being injured.

2.34 A fielding team will consist of 9 players.

2.35 On defense, the players will be positioned at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and 1 pitcher. All other players will be positioned evenly in the outfield area.

2.4 Coaches and Assistants

2.41 The head coach is responsible for all of his assistant coaches.

2.42 A Coach or assistant will be at the batting tee instructing the children while their team is at bat.

2.43 The 1st and 3rd base coaches are restricted to the area of the coach's boxes. Coaches are not allowed to physically assist base runners; e.g. pushing the runner or helping the runner off the ground, while the ball is in play. Only two offensive coaches on the field at one time. They must wear a shirt that is of the same color as the team and a team hat.

2.44 A maximum of 3 coaches from the defensive (fielding) team are allowed on the playing field. These coaches should be situated behind 1st 2nd and 3rd bases. These coaches are on the field for instructional purposes only, such as re-positioning the fielders and relaying information. They may not give instructions during play. Penalty: Warning on first offense, removal from the field on second offense. They may point to a ball or to a base to throw the ball.

2.5 Batters

2.51 Coaches should make the game fun. Pressure should not be placed on a boy to perform. This is an instructional league not the big leagues.

2.52 During the game, all players must remain in the designated team areas and on benches, except the batter at the plate.

They should sit on the bench in their respective batting order.

2.53 The next batter will not approach the plate until called by the batting coach or umpire.

2.54 The coach will place the ball on the tee and verify that the tee is adjusted within the strike zone (between the knees and the armpits of the batter). The batting coach may adjust and reposition the batter at any time as long as the ball is not in play.

2.55 At the discretion of the batting coach, the batter then hits the ball off the tee after the umpire calls "ball in play" and thereafter.

2.56 Batters will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully strike the ball.

2.57 All batters will hit off the Tee during the first three games.

2.58 After the third game the coach may elect to pitch to the batter. This may be done only if both teams have played three games. The defensive team must be notified that the coach is pitching.

2.6 Ball in Play

2.61 The batting coach will remove the tee from the playing field after the ball is hit. Interference with a runner or fielder and the batting tee will result in the runner being called out.

2.62 A foul ball arc will be drawn from the 1st base foul line to the 3rd base foul line. A hit ball must go outside the line. A foul ball is one hit inside the line. Official baseball rules apply to a ball that stops on the line, i.e., foul ball rule.

2.63 If a ball leaves the tee as a result of the tee being struck rather than the ball, then the ball shall be declared DEAD and the batter awarded a strike.

2.64 In Instructional League, the play is considered 'over' when the ball is returned to a player at the mound or any base that prevents the runner from advancing..

2.65 The pitcher must have control of the ball within the pitching circle for play to stop.

2.66 At the time the ball is declared DEAD, the umpire shall award a runner the next base only if the runner is on the next base. If the runner is not to the next base, he shall be returned to the base he had safely reached.

2.67 When the umpire calls the ball dead, it stays dead until the umpire calls the ball in play again.

2.7 Runners

2.71 If an overthrow is still in play, runners may advance to the next base at their own risk. They cannot advance more than one base. An out of play overthrow will become a dead ball and the runners will be awarded one base.

2.72 Compound overthrows to any base shall not occur. Overthrows to the defensive pitcher are considered to be compound.

2.73 The runner may not leave the base until the ball is struck by the batter.

2.74 Leading off is not permitted.

2.75 Base stealing is not permitted.

2.76 When three outs occur, the bases will be emptied of runners. An inning is not three outs. An inning will end after all 9 batters have batted.

2.77 Tagging-Up is not allowed.

2.8 Defensive Players

2.81 In setting up defensive positions, the pitcher shall not play outside of the pitcher's circle.

2.82 The infielders may not play on the infield grass until the ball is hit. Once the ball is hit, the entire field is then in play, and any player may then attempt to field the ball.

2.83 Force-out: A legal force-out is made when a base runner must advance to allow the batter to achieve 1st base and the ball reaches the next base in the possession of a fielder, and the fielder while in possession of the ball, touches that base before the runner touches it.

2.84 Runners Overrunning a Base: First base and home plate are the only bases a runner may touch and run past. If a runner should overrun 2nd and 3rd base, and an alert fielder who is in possession of the ball touches the runner while off the base, the runner shall be declared out. A fielder may not push or force a runner off the base that a runner has gained in an attempt to tag him out. First base is treated like second and third bases when a runner makes a turn toward second base after touching 1st base. Should a runner make a turn around 1st base toward 2nd base and then tagged by the fielder, while in possession of the ball, prior to returning to 1st base, the runner shall be declared out.

3.0 The Instructional League Diamond

3.1 A regulation diamond has the following dimensions:

3.11 Batting Box: These are two squares on each side of home plate from which the player must stand to hit the ball. The pitcher may not throw the ball until the player is 'ready' in the batting box.

3.12 Foul Lines: Lines extending from home to first base and home to third base and beyond to the outfield. The area between the foul lines is considered fair territory, while any ball outside the lines is in foul territory.

3.13 Infield: The base paths perimeter separates the infield from the outfield.

3.14 Outfield: The area behind the bases that is generally grass is called the outfield.

3.15 Pitching Rubber: A rubber strip in the middle of the pitching mound from which the pitcher releases the ball.

3.16 A arc will be drawn from the 1st base foul line to the 3rd base foul line. A hit ball must go outside the line.

3.17 The bases shall be 45 feet.

3.18 The pitching rubber shall be 26 feet