Rookie Rules
Rookie Rules
Guiding Principles The HAC wants coaches to understand that Rookie league is not a competitive league and is to be a positive learning environment that is meant to be fun. In an effort to make it fun and safe
We ask that coaches refrain from even talking or thinking about winning We ask that coaches and parents work together to provide positive feedback for both teams We ask that the coaches and parents lead by example and show the players good sportsmanship We ask that coaches and parents do not communicate score to the players, the score is only kept to keep the teams rotating on and off the field. The coach running the pitching machine will also serve as the umpire; we need coaches to go from coach to umpire once they are on the pitcher’s mound. We ask that the other coaches to support the umpire and show the players good sportsmanship The rules are biased in favor of the offence, we want to get the ball in play If the defense makes a great play that is close please call it an out to reward the defense We ask that coaches build water breaks in to their practice plan
Rules Each game will be scheduled for 5 innings. Each timeslot will be scheduled for one hour and fifteen minutes. Do not start a new inning after one hour. Teams need to be out of their dugouts no later than 1:20 after their start time. A new inning starts immediately following the 3rd out of the previous inning not when the first pitch is thrown in the new inning. The home team always bats at the bottom of the 5th inning The coach for the batting team will run the machine. Do not change the machine speed. Zooka power should be set to 42%. The only strikes that will count are swinging strikes No ‘bases on balls’ are to be awarded to batters There is no on-deck circle per Little League rules Three outs will complete the half inning, strike outs will count as an out Coach should use a bucket of balls to feed pitching machine
Hamel Baseball
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Catcher will attempt to catch balls and place in second bucket; a backstop coach will help round up balls to keep game moving. The only balls to be used in the pitching machines are genuine, officially licensed leather balls. Keep those balls separate in the buckets and do not comingle with your practice balls. If a hit ball strikes the pitching machine it will be considered a live ball Batters should not get more than a certain number of pitches to keep the game moving. Additional pitches to be granted if the machine is making obvious bad pitches. The number of pitches each batter should get needs to be discussed by the coaches before the game starts. A player that has used up all of their pitches will be called out; coaches should warn batters when they are low on the number of pitches to encourage them to swing the bat. Batting order is set at the begging of the season and is continuous all season long, the player “on-deck” when the last out is recorded in a game is the first batter in the next game. Base runners are to be awarded one base on over throws All base running stops once a player has control of the ball in the in-field There will be no bunting, stealing, or leading off We will be using a 5 run rule per inning, once the fifth run of an inning has crossed home plate that half inning is over Coaches may be in the outfield to direct defensive play No official score will be kept, nor will wins or losses There will be no HAC provided umpire There is no infield fly rule If a ball is so close to the foul line that it is not an easy call, call it fair, move the game along A player can play a maximum of three innings in the infield, catching is classified as an out field position Only players that want to catch should be allowed to play catcher or first base The Home team is to prepare the field, setup pitching machine, place bases, and rake around the mound and home plate area if necessary.
Hamel Youth Baseball
Page 2
The visitors will clean up the field after the game, put away pitching machine, remove bases if no other games are set for the night. Teams should plan on using four out fielders to keep the number of players on the bench to a minimum Outfielders must be in the outfield grass when a ball is hit Players can only sit on the bench one inning per game The schedule will be set to have one practice and one game per week
Hamel Youth Baseball
Page 3
Guiding Principles The HAC wants coaches to understand that Rookie league is not a competitive league and is to be a positive learning environment that is meant to be fun. In an effort to make it fun and safe
We ask that coaches refrain from even talking or thinking about winning We ask that coaches and parents work together to provide positive feedback for both teams We ask that the coaches and parents lead by example and show the players good sportsmanship We ask that coaches and parents do not communicate score to the players, the score is only kept to keep the teams rotating on and off the field. The coach running the pitching machine will also serve as the umpire; we need coaches to go from coach to umpire once they are on the pitcher’s mound. We ask that the other coaches to support the umpire and show the players good sportsmanship The rules are biased in favor of the offence, we want to get the ball in play If the defense makes a great play that is close please call it an out to reward the defense We ask that coaches build water breaks in to their practice plan
Rules Each game will be scheduled for 5 innings. Each timeslot will be scheduled for one hour and fifteen minutes. Do not start a new inning after one hour. Teams need to be out of their dugouts no later than 1:20 after their start time. A new inning starts immediately following the 3rd out of the previous inning not when the first pitch is thrown in the new inning. The home team always bats at the bottom of the 5th inning The coach for the batting team will run the machine. Do not change the machine speed. Zooka power should be set to 42%. The only strikes that will count are swinging strikes No ‘bases on balls’ are to be awarded to batters There is no on-deck circle per Little League rules Three outs will complete the half inning, strike outs will count as an out Coach should use a bucket of balls to feed pitching machine
Hamel Baseball
Page 1 of 3
Catcher will attempt to catch balls and place in second bucket; a backstop coach will help round up balls to keep game moving. The only balls to be used in the pitching machines are genuine, officially licensed leather balls. Keep those balls separate in the buckets and do not comingle with your practice balls. If a hit ball strikes the pitching machine it will be considered a live ball Batters should not get more than a certain number of pitches to keep the game moving. Additional pitches to be granted if the machine is making obvious bad pitches. The number of pitches each batter should get needs to be discussed by the coaches before the game starts. A player that has used up all of their pitches will be called out; coaches should warn batters when they are low on the number of pitches to encourage them to swing the bat. Batting order is set at the begging of the season and is continuous all season long, the player “on-deck” when the last out is recorded in a game is the first batter in the next game. Base runners are to be awarded one base on over throws All base running stops once a player has control of the ball in the in-field There will be no bunting, stealing, or leading off We will be using a 5 run rule per inning, once the fifth run of an inning has crossed home plate that half inning is over Coaches may be in the outfield to direct defensive play No official score will be kept, nor will wins or losses There will be no HAC provided umpire There is no infield fly rule If a ball is so close to the foul line that it is not an easy call, call it fair, move the game along A player can play a maximum of three innings in the infield, catching is classified as an out field position Only players that want to catch should be allowed to play catcher or first base The Home team is to prepare the field, setup pitching machine, place bases, and rake around the mound and home plate area if necessary.
Hamel Youth Baseball
Page 2
The visitors will clean up the field after the game, put away pitching machine, remove bases if no other games are set for the night. Teams should plan on using four out fielders to keep the number of players on the bench to a minimum Outfielders must be in the outfield grass when a ball is hit Players can only sit on the bench one inning per game The schedule will be set to have one practice and one game per week
Hamel Youth Baseball
Page 3
