Huntingburg Youth Baseball League, Inc.
Rookie League Rules
Est. 2002
Mission Statement - To provide a safe, fun, and competitive league for 7 & 8 year old boys and girls to learn the game of baseball, including hitting off a pitching machine, aggressive base running, and sportsmanship.
1. 10 - 13 players per team.
2. Field six players on the infield (dirt), including pitcher, catcher, 1st baseman, 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, and shortstop. All other players in the outfield (they must be in the grass).
3. Teams must have eight players to start a game. Ninth batting position will be an automatic out. Teams can finish with less than eight players (because of injury, etc.) but absentee players’ batting position becomes an out.
4. Games will last for one hour. The number of remaining minutes on the clock at the time of the third out that finishes an inning will determine if another inning should be started. If the time reflects “10" minutes or more, another inning should be started and finished. If the time reflects “9" minutes or less, the game is over. Coaches may choose to play out remaining minutes even though game is considered over.
5. Three outs per team, per inning.
6. Score will be kept; games can end in a tie.
7. Batters will get five pitches (no walks) and one swing off the tee. They can have 5 strikes and still get 1 swing off the tee.
*8. If batter swings and misses off the tee batter is out. If ball goes foul, batter is out. There will be a line approximately 8 feet in front of home plate, from base line to base line. If the ball does not pass the line when hit off of the tee, the batter is out. If the ball travels beyond the line, the ball is playable. Example: Batter hits ball off of tee and ball goes beyond line but tee falls over. This is a PLAYABLE ball. As long as the ball goes beyond the line and does not go foul, the ball is playable. Ball’s stopping on the line or touching the line in any way are not playable and the batter will be out. The ball has to pass the line completely. If ball is touched while moving by any defensive player but not yet crossed the line, it is a playable ball. When using a tee, batter only gets 1st base and other runners may advance 1 base, only if forced to advance. Even on an overthrow, batter only gets 1st base and the most other runners can advance is one base if forced. Any ball hit off of the machine is a playable ball if it is in fair territory, regardless of the line in front of home plate. The line is only used for determining what is playable when hitting off of the tee.
9. If a ball hits the pitching machine it is considered a dead ball and the batter gets 1st base. Runners advance only if forced.
10. Teams will put a player in catcher’s equipment behind the plate. THIS PLAYER MUST WEAR A CUP. For safety reasons, the HYBL strongly urges ALL male players to wear a cup.
11. There will be two chalked lines at the pitcher’s mound. Lines will be parallel with the front line being even with the front legs of the pitching machine and the back line being 10 feet behind front line. Lines will be approximately 15 feet in length. Player in pitching position must be between these two lines when pitch is thrown. For safety reasons, player MAY NOT have any part of his body in front of the pitching machine.
12. Play is stopped when any infielder has the ball and calls time. The following rules apply:
a. Player calling time must be an infielder.
b. Player calling time must have control of the ball.
c. Player calling time must be on the dirt and in fair territory.
Note: Calling time was established to impede the “merry-go-round” effect, however if a player overthrows 1st base, the runner is allowed only ONE BASE, UNLESS the defensive team attempts to make a play on the runner. In this case, the runner would have the option to advance one base per overthrow. Possibly resulting in a “home run” on overthrows.
13. There will be a line midway between the bases, when time is called if runner is past the line he/she advances to the next base. If not past the line, they go back to previous base. (Over the line means their foot has made contact with the ground.)
14. Five run rule per inning
15. Offensive teams should have a coach/parent at 1st base, 3rd base, and at the pitching machine.
16. The person feeding the pitching machine should have five balls to keep the game moving. If batter foul tips the fifth pitch, they get a sixth pitch, and so on.
17. Defensive teams should have a coach/parent behind the catcher and one in the outfield.
18. The catcher should give the ball to the coach/parent behind the plate. Coach/Parent will throw the balls back to the person feeding the pitching machine.
19. Teams cannot have a player “on deck” on the field. For safety reasons, “on deck” player must stay in the dugout.
20. For safety reasons, players SHOULD NOT swing bats outside the fenced areas of the field and batting cage.
21. Coaches are not to touch the ball while it is in play.
22. Coaches will umpire their own games. PLEASE NO ARGUING! 1ST base coach umpires 1st base, person feeding machine umpires 2nd base and home plate, 3rd base coach umpires 3rd base.
23. An official score book will not be kept, but winning team will be recorded for the year-end tournament.
24. All players should wear baseball pants. Color can be decided by team coach.
25. All rainouts will be rescheduled by the league. Coaches will be notified of the make up date within 48 hours of game cancellation. Standard procedure will be one week from the Saturday following canceled game. Rainouts not made up will be considered a loss.
26. In the event that a game is called due to rain, the game is considered a “complete game” if three full innings have been played.
27. Centerfield fence rule: If a ball reaches or rolls underneath the fence, the batter will receive a ground rule double. All runners on base will receive two bases as well. The defensive player must signal that the ball is out of play by throwing both hands up before touching the ball. If a defensive player touches the ball before decision of dead ball is made, the play is live and runners may continue to advance passed the two base rule.
28. Bases will be set at 55 feet.