T-Ball Objectives, Goals, & Rules
T-Ball Rules Performance Objective of the Tee Ball Program The performance objective for the Tee Ball program is for our children to participate in coach assisted Tee Ball games that will be used to develop individual player skills in a noncompetitive environment. The program emphasizes skill development, and sportsmanship over winning. There is no score keeping of any kind. The rules are simplified to accommodate young beginner players.
Rules of the Tee Ball Program Safety 1. Safety is always first. 2. Each team shall have 4 - 5 coaches. There will only be 4 Badged Coaches permitted to be on the field during games. 3. The baseball will be a regulation size (#5) soft baseball 4. All batters will wear a batting helmet while both at bat and on base. 5. Catcher must wear full protective gear; i.e.: chest pad, facemask, and leg guards. 6. No sliding. 7. No base stealing. 8. There is no on-deck circle. The on-deck batter will wear a helmet to be ready at the entrance of the dugout but will not have a bat in their hands until they are at the tee. 9. Shoes with steel spikes are prohibited. 10. Composite baseball bats are prohibited for games and practices. 11. No jewelry will be worn. 12. Throwing the bat by the batter - Speak with the player first, point out the danger that is caused by throwing the bat. Start of the Game 1. The home team is responsible for dragging the field, lining the field, setting out the bases and Tee BEFORE the game.
2. The Visiting Team will be responsible for cleaning up the dugouts and surrounding area AFTER each game. 3. A team should field a minimum of 8 players to start and to complete a game. 4. Each game will consist of 3 full innings or a 1-hour time limit., whichever comes first. The third inning may not start if there is less than 10 minutes left to play in a game. 5. All players present will be placed in a continuous batting order and will bat in the order listed. An inning will end after the entire line up has batted. 6. ***For 2017 only – If both teams coaches agree, in games 8, 9 and 10 of the season, coach pitch will be allowed to batters. Coaches will stand on the dirt in front of the mound. Batters will be limited to 3 overhand pitches. If the ball is not successfully hit after 3 pitches, the tee will be used to hit the ball. For the 2018 season and beyond, all T-ball batters will be hitting off the tee for the entire season. No coach pitch will be allowed until Single A. 7. There are no recorded outs in T-Ball. Each batter will hit a single and be safe at first, regardless of whether there is a play made on them. All other bases runners will also advance to the next base on each hit. The last batter of the inning will hit a “grand slam” and clear the bases for the next inning. Teams may elect to change the batting order each inning so different players get the chance to be the last batter in the same game. 8. All players present shall play each defensive inning. No more than seven (7) infielders are allowed. Only one pitcher is allowed. The player playing the “Pitcher” position will play at safe distance from the batter (see diagram below) and shall play to the right of the mound for a right-handed batter and to the left of the mound for a lefthanded batter. (facing home plate). The purpose is to keep the pitcher out of harm’s way. The remainder of the players on the team shall play outfield positions. 9. Coaches or assistants will be at the batting tee instructing the children while their team is at bat. 10. Batters will have no more than 4 attempts to successfully strike the ball off the T. The batter will advance to first base after 4 unsuccessful attempts to strike the ball. 11. In T-Ball the play is considered ‘over’ when the ball is returned to a player at the mound or any infielder within the infield boundary holding the ball high above their head. 12. Outs: Defensive players may make an out at a base for the purpose of building defensive baseball skills. However, outs will not be recorded and the offensive player will not be removed from the base. The offensive player will remain on the base. 13. Score is not kept. Therefore, protests and rule disagreements should never be an issue in T-Ball. 14. Each Manager shall be responsible for the conduct of his players and fans/spectators. 15. Due to field capacity issues, SMLLA is not obligated to reschedule games for T-Ball at Trinta Park.
Updated 4/17
Rules of the Tee Ball Program Safety 1. Safety is always first. 2. Each team shall have 4 - 5 coaches. There will only be 4 Badged Coaches permitted to be on the field during games. 3. The baseball will be a regulation size (#5) soft baseball 4. All batters will wear a batting helmet while both at bat and on base. 5. Catcher must wear full protective gear; i.e.: chest pad, facemask, and leg guards. 6. No sliding. 7. No base stealing. 8. There is no on-deck circle. The on-deck batter will wear a helmet to be ready at the entrance of the dugout but will not have a bat in their hands until they are at the tee. 9. Shoes with steel spikes are prohibited. 10. Composite baseball bats are prohibited for games and practices. 11. No jewelry will be worn. 12. Throwing the bat by the batter - Speak with the player first, point out the danger that is caused by throwing the bat. Start of the Game 1. The home team is responsible for dragging the field, lining the field, setting out the bases and Tee BEFORE the game.
2. The Visiting Team will be responsible for cleaning up the dugouts and surrounding area AFTER each game. 3. A team should field a minimum of 8 players to start and to complete a game. 4. Each game will consist of 3 full innings or a 1-hour time limit., whichever comes first. The third inning may not start if there is less than 10 minutes left to play in a game. 5. All players present will be placed in a continuous batting order and will bat in the order listed. An inning will end after the entire line up has batted. 6. ***For 2017 only – If both teams coaches agree, in games 8, 9 and 10 of the season, coach pitch will be allowed to batters. Coaches will stand on the dirt in front of the mound. Batters will be limited to 3 overhand pitches. If the ball is not successfully hit after 3 pitches, the tee will be used to hit the ball. For the 2018 season and beyond, all T-ball batters will be hitting off the tee for the entire season. No coach pitch will be allowed until Single A. 7. There are no recorded outs in T-Ball. Each batter will hit a single and be safe at first, regardless of whether there is a play made on them. All other bases runners will also advance to the next base on each hit. The last batter of the inning will hit a “grand slam” and clear the bases for the next inning. Teams may elect to change the batting order each inning so different players get the chance to be the last batter in the same game. 8. All players present shall play each defensive inning. No more than seven (7) infielders are allowed. Only one pitcher is allowed. The player playing the “Pitcher” position will play at safe distance from the batter (see diagram below) and shall play to the right of the mound for a right-handed batter and to the left of the mound for a lefthanded batter. (facing home plate). The purpose is to keep the pitcher out of harm’s way. The remainder of the players on the team shall play outfield positions. 9. Coaches or assistants will be at the batting tee instructing the children while their team is at bat. 10. Batters will have no more than 4 attempts to successfully strike the ball off the T. The batter will advance to first base after 4 unsuccessful attempts to strike the ball. 11. In T-Ball the play is considered ‘over’ when the ball is returned to a player at the mound or any infielder within the infield boundary holding the ball high above their head. 12. Outs: Defensive players may make an out at a base for the purpose of building defensive baseball skills. However, outs will not be recorded and the offensive player will not be removed from the base. The offensive player will remain on the base. 13. Score is not kept. Therefore, protests and rule disagreements should never be an issue in T-Ball. 14. Each Manager shall be responsible for the conduct of his players and fans/spectators. 15. Due to field capacity issues, SMLLA is not obligated to reschedule games for T-Ball at Trinta Park.
Updated 4/17
