Minor League Rules & Policies 2008

 

A.                  Parents and fans

1.                  Must refrain from coaching during the practices and games.  They should just be giving positive support.

2.                  Must be positive in support of son or daughter, as well as other players, and use encouraging, non-abusive language at practices and games.

 

B.                 Game rules and policies

1.                  The game will end after 7 innings or 1 hour, which ever comes first.  If there is not enough time to complete an entire inning before the time limit, the inning will not be played.

2.                  Ten players may play in the field.  All players will be listed in the batting order.

3.                  The field will have an imaginary line drawn from third base through the pitchers mound to first base.  All infielders must remain behind this line until the ball is hit.  The pitcher must occupy the regular position on the pitchers mound.

4.                  Fielders must change defensive positions every 2 innings.  They may not play a position more than once in a game.            

5.                  Once a base runner has been stopped at a base, the base runner may not advance.  Once the ball is in control at any base or with the pitcher at the pitcher’s mound, the play is over, runners may not advance.

6.                  Runners may advance only one base on an overthrow, which goes beyond the foul lines.

7.                  All batters & runners must wear helmets.  The catcher must wear catcher’s equipment and must occupy the normal defensive position for a catcher–directly behind home plate.

8.                  A maximum of TEN (10) players will bat per 1/2 inning.

A.                 It will be announced that the 10th batter is at bat.

B.                 The inning will end if the 3rd out is made or the ball is in control in the infield.

C.                 After the 10th batter has put the ball in play, the inning will end when the play is over with control in the infield.  The base runners can advance at their own risk.  If the base runners continue to advance the defense must make a play on them.  

9.                  Bunting is not allowed!

10.              A player who throws a bat intentionally or unintentionally is automatically out.

11.              Boys - Lead-offs are not allowed.  Runners are only allowed to leave the base when the batter makes contact with the ball.

12.              Stealing is not allowed!  If a runner breaks for the next base, he/she will be out.

13.              If a base runner collides with a fielder attempting to field a ball, the runner is out.

14.              Coaches should act as the umpires and are encouraged to work together.

15.              All games must be canceled if there is lightning and thunder in the area.  Coaches should use your best judgment, safety first. 

16.              The pitching machine is to be placed no closer than 35 feet – IF being used.

In order to set pitcher’s mound accurately at 35', measure from the back of home plate to the front of the pitcher’s rubber.  Pitching machine should be set between 30 - 40 mph.

17.              The batting team’s coach will pitch OR feed the pitching machine.

18.              Boys - A batter hitting from the pitching machine, will get 5 pitches. The batter is out if he gets 3 swings and misses 3 times (hence 3 strikes and you’re out).  There are no called balls/strikes.  This rule must be enforced.  We do not want kids getting 10-15 pitches.  It is humiliating to the batter and takes away from the rest of the kids.

19.                           Batters will receive the normal pitches, 3 strikes and 4 balls.  Coaches will call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher’s mound.  Limit 2 walks per inning.  After the 3rd walk, that batter is not awarded 1st base as the coach will come in to pitch to that batter (and finish the inning following the coach pitch rules).  That batter will receive 3 pitches to hit or they are out. 

 

 

Suggestions for the beginner coach

3.                                          Stress the basics and fundamentals of baseball.

4.                                          Nothing is too small to overlook.

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

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

7.                                          Assign a child for treats each week.

8.                                          Shake hands with the other team when completed.

9.                                          Stay positive and have fun!

 

Practice Plan

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

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

12.                                      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

13.                                      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.

14.                                      Base running - Run thru 1st 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)