Youth Coach Pitch Rules

Games will be 4-5 innings in length. However, no new inning will be started after 50 min. In order to keep the game moving, coaches should pre-organize players into their batting order.

There are 10 positions in the field, including pitcher and catcher (4 outfielders). Attempts should be made to allow players to have the opportunity to play both infield and outfield positions during the game.

All batters and base runners must wear helmets on offense at all times in the field of play.

Inning length is three outs or once around the batting order.

The coach or a parent of the team that is batting will be the pitcher. Coaches please pitch underhand to the players. If the batter is unsuccessful after four swinging strikes, the ball will be placed on a batting tee for the batter to hit. The batter will continue to be at bat until the ball is playable. A playable ball is any ball hit in fair territory. When used, the batting tee will be placed approximately one foot behind home plate.

Thowing of a bat, as a completion of a swing, will result in one warning for each player per game. The second violation will result in the ball being ruled dead and the batter being ruled out. Coaches PLEASE stress the importance of not throwing bats while completing the swing.

This league is meant to be a teaching tool to improve player’s general baseball/softball skills.

There is no stealing and only one base may be taken on an overthrow.

Focus on teaching the following skills:

Hold on to the bat after swinging

Proper base running techniques including knowing which base to go to after a ball has been hit

Fielding correctly and knowing who to throw the ball to

To end a live play, the ball must be returned to the youth pitcher on the pitcher’s mound. Balls hit to the pitching area should be fielded by a youth pitcher, not the adult pitcher. The youth pitcher should be in a stationed area approximately within an arm’s reach of the adult pitcher.

If a team bats around their line up in a given inning the last batter should be announced to the opposing team as the last batter of the inning. In order to end the innng once the ball is in play it must be returned to home plate. The inning will not end until a player with the ball touches home plate.

The base length for this program is 60 feet.

Fielders must change defensive positions every two (2) innings and they should not play a position more than once in a game. Coaches should play all the participants at every position throughout the season.

Suggestions for the beginner coach

1. Stress the basics and fundamentals of baseball.

2. Nothing is too small to overlook.

3. Look for little inadequacies: which hand is glove hand, which way to run.

4. Enlist the help of as many parents as are willing–there is never enough positive role models for children.

5. Assign a child for treats each week.

6. Shake hands with the other team when completed.

7. Stay positive and have fun!

Practice Plan

8. Group stretching - be sure to stretch all vital muscle areas

9. Players play catch - (large group) warm up arms. Coaches play catch with smaller group.

10. Batting practice - make sure all kids get a chance to hit!

- # of swings depends on how many kids.

- each coach takes a group (eliminates standing around)

- coaches pitch, or set up T

- stress: level swing, watch ball, stance, position to plate

11. Infield/Outfield work

- coach infield/ coach outfield

- stress: Infield - positioning, stay low, glove out, stay in front of the ball,

Don’t wait, use both hands, good throws

Outfield - positioning - watch the ball, catch ball with both hands, and above the head, get underneath the ball, good low throws.

12. Base running - Run thru 1^st base (don’t let up), rounding the bases.

Coaching tips

1. Throwing and catching

a. Throwing

1. proper baseball grip

2. Throw overhand

3. Throw off the back foot

4. Front foot should be pointed toward target during follow through

b. Catching

1. Wrist and glove bent upward for throws above the waist

2. Backhand catch should be used when ball is below the waist or off to the side

3. Student should look the ball all the way into the glove

4. Student should use “two hands” whenever possible

5. Student should use glove, not body, to catch the ball

DRILL: “PLAY CATCH DRILL”

Line up your group into a spread semi-circle and simply play catch with each student emphasizing the points mentioned above along the way. Make five throws and returns, and then rotate to the next student, and so on. Instructor should be positioned ten feet into the semi-circle.

2. Fielding

a. Ground balls

1. Proper fielding stance

(Body low, head up, weight on toes, glove down)

2. Get body in front of the ball

3. Never retreat, but rather, one should hold his/her ground on a direct hard hit ball

4. Always charge a slow hit ball

(Don’t let the ball come to you, you should come to the ball)

DRILL: “SHUFFLE DRILL”

Student shuffles from side to side, while the instructor rolls the ball to the side they shuffle to. Make sure to “lead” the ball far enough away from the students in order to make them work to get in position to field the ball.

DRILL: “CHARGE DRILL”

Roll the ball slowly in front of the student in order to force him/her to charge the ball. Check to make sure their return throws are good!

DRILL: “INFIELD/OUTFIELD DRILL”

Use the diamond available, and have the instructors set up their teams in the field. Have the instructors hit ground balls to the infield and flyballs/ground balls to the outfield. Have the infielders throw to the pitcher and the outfielders to second base.

a. Flyballs

1. Student should try to position his/her body slightly in front of the fly or pop-up

2. Let the ball come in to the glove, do not stab at the ball

3. Try to use two hands whenever possible

4. Glove should be in an upward position, head high

5. Be paying attention, watch the ball come off the bat

DRILL: “TOSS-UP DRILL”

Student should be placed in a spread semi-circle. Instructor should toss the ball straight up into the air and follow the student’s progress in attempting to catch the ball (4-5 tosses and go on to the next student)

3. Hitting

a. Check for correct grip (hands together, not crossed)

b. Shoulder length spread of feet for batting stance

c. Weight on back foot (keep back foot planted)

d. Step into the pitch (don’t step out)

e. Level swing ( no chopping or uppercutting)

f. Back elbow up (don’t rest bat on shoulder)

g. Suggest choking up on the bat if needed

h. Keep eyes on the ball

i. Make sure student does not throw his/her bat

DRILL: “SOFT TOSS”

Line up group off to the side of the backstop. Take one student at a time and toss the ball from the hitter’s side so that the hitter would be able to hit the ball directly into the backstop. Hitter should be 4 feet in front of the backstop, while the instructor tosses the ball flat in front of the batter, 4 feet of to his/her side. Use 2 balls at a time, and toss each batter three sets of two and then rotate.

DRILL: “BATTING PRACTICE”

Position students on the playing field. Take one student at a time and pitch flat underhand pitches to him/her. Correct mistakes along the way. (Ten pitches -then rotate)