Rookie League Rules
!!! Only USA Certified bats may be used!!!
1) While the score will be kept, winning and losing should not be emphasized. It is not one of the main purposes of the program.
2) Games last 6 innings, time permitting. No inning may start after 1hours 45 minutes of play when games are scheduled consecutively.
3) Home team plays the field first.
4) Parents and Junior Umpires will be used at this level. A Junior umpire will work Home Plate, and a Parent will be in charge of bases, if a second youth umpire is not available. Home team is responsible for providing a parent to umpire the bases. Coaches and parents should be reminded that the Junior Umpires are 13–15-year-old umpires and should be treated as such
5) Pitching – Pitching will be structured as follows.
Games 10 -12 & Playoffs- All six innings will be kid pitch. Innings 1-3 walks will be issued as in the rules above. In innings 4-6 walks will not be issued. Once a pitcher throws ball four a coach will come into the game and finish the at bat with whatever the count is on the batter. If a pitcher reaches ball four on three batters in an inning the remainder of the inning will be coach pitch.
Pitch counts should be strictly enforced. 7- & 8-year-olds are allowed no more than 50 pitches in a game but may finish the current batter if they reach 50 during an at bat. In addition, a pitcher must observe a number of days rest based on pitches thrown as follows:
Pitch counts should be updated in the league website after each game.
Youth pitchers must throw from the rubber (46') during the playoffs, if they can reach the plate. If they cannot reach the plate, they can pitch no closer than 42' from the plate. No youth pitchers are to pitch closer than 42' during the playoffs.
6) Managers are encouraged to let all players have an opportunity to pitch.
7) A pitcher must be removed from the game if he hits 3 batters in one inning or 4 batters in a game
8) No pitcher may wear white or light colored sleeves while pitching or any wristbands
9) Once a pitcher has been removed from the mound he may not return as a pitcher in that game
10) Any player who has thrown more than 40 pitches cannot play the position of catcher in that game. Any player who has caught 4 innings or more cannot enter the game as a pitcher.
11) During regular season play, all players can be put in the field, for playoffs there are nine defensive positions:
1st, 2nd, shortstop, 3rd, catcher, pitcher (who does not actually pitch), left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder.
12) Each player present; plays at least 3 defensive innings.
13) All players present are in the batting order. A player bats when it is his/her turn even if they did not play in the field.
14) Bunting is not allowed.
15) There will be a 5 run limit in each of the first five innings. The 6th inning is uncapped. No mercy rule
16) When the ball is thrown in from the outfield, base runners must stop when the ball reaches the infield (even if the throw is not caught). They are allowed only the base that they are already running towards at that time. Reminder this is a judgement call of the umpire.
17) When a ball is overthrown to first base, base runners cannot advance to the next base.
18) If a batter or base runner interferes with a defensive player who is fielding the ball, then he or she will be called out.
19) Leading is not allowed at this level. The runner can’t leave the base until the ball crosses the plate.
20) Runners are allowed to steal second base; there is no limit on the amount of steals in an inning. Please police this and teach this right if players leave early and the umpire does not catch it bring the player back to first so that they learn how to steal properly. Runners are not allowed to advance on an over throw of second base on steal attempts.
21) THERE ARE NO ON DECK BATTERS SWINGING BATS!!! The next batter does not pick up the bat until the previous play is completed and they have a batting helmet on. No exceptions.
22) Each team is responsible for picking up litter on their side of the field after the game. Coaches are responsible for dragging the fields after each game.
23) Players must wear long pants when playing (shorts are not permitted).
24) All catchers must wear a cup
25) If lightning is seen or thunder is heard, the game stops immediately and the players take cover!!! The game does not continue until ½ hour has passed free of lightning and/or thunder!
26) Each manager is asked to create a call-up list early in the season, which should contain 3-5 players that have the ability to play up at the next level as a fill-in if needed. This list should include only 7-year-old players and should be submitted to the league director early in the season.
27) All teams make the playoffs. Playoff format will be a double elimination tournament. Playoff games cannot end in a tie and go a complete 6 innings, if game is called due to darkness or weather, the game will resume in the exact spot where it was postponed.
28) No headfirst slides are allowed. A headfirst slide will result in an out after one team warning
29) Each team responsible for one day during the year to clean/field maintenance.