Purpose

The following objectives, principles and playing rules are provided to ensure a successful season and for the development and enjoyment of the VCBS participants.  Please share these with your coaches and parents as part of the season kickoff and ask them to be prepared to support them with the players.

Overview

Generally speaking, the Rookie 7/8 league is an instructional league, not a competitive league, and therefore some standard baseball rules have been modified to support the goal of teaching the basic skills and fundamentals of baseball.  The league will not track wins and losses or keep league standings.  Game score will be kept for the purpose of tracking innings (an inning ends after 3 outs or 5 runs scored.)

The primary focus of the league will be on teaching, learning and enjoying the game of baseball.

In the 2004 season the Rookie 7/8 league began using pitching machines to improve the pace and increase the amount of action in each game.  This has proven to be successful and will continue in 2005.

League Goals & Objectives

Rookie League Goals

It is the VCBS committees desire for each player in the Rookie league to achieve the following goals:

v     Understand the basic rules and fundamentals of baseball.

v     Feel a sense of achievement through an improvement in their fundamental baseball skills.

v     Understand good sportsmanship.  Demonstrated via respect for Victor facilities, the coaches & assistants, their teammates, their opponents, their equipment and themselves.

v     Be ready for the VCBS Minor League when the time comes.

v     Have a desire to play again next year!

Coaching Principles

The following are principles specific to coaches and assistants to make the league more successful.

v     Safety:  Safety rules come first.  Enforce the league safety rules strictly.

v     Fun:  Baseball is a game.  Make sure it stays fun!

v     Sportsmanship:  Encourage players to put their best effort into improving their game regardless of the situation or score.  Encourage players to recognize and respect the fact that this is a learning environment - everyone is working to improve some aspect of their skills.

v     Development:  Review the basic skills and fundamentals of baseball.  Encourage children to practice them on their own.  Congratulate good performance to promote a sense of accomplishment.  Objectively correct mistakes by referencing back to and reinforcing fundamental skills.  Keep it simple.

v     Preparation:  Keep the games interesting and moving at a good pace by being prepared.  Examples:  Have a defensive plan ready for each game, make sure your players are ready to bat on offense, keep track of who your catcher will be and make sure they are dressed and ready for the following inning.

v     Motivation:  Motivate players through positive reinforcement.  Keep practices and games moving and active in order to maintain player′s attention.  Ask players what they are going to do in certain potential situations to keep their minds in the game.

v     Unique Talents:  Baseball is a unique sport.  It draws on a wide variety of physical and mental skills of the players.  Every player has unique talents that can be improved through instruction and individual attention.

v     Role Model:  Portray the behaviors you′re trying to develop at all times.

Playing Rules

1.    Games.  Games consist of 3-4 innings with a 1 hour 30 minute time limit.  A fifth inning can be played with mutual consent from coaches within the time limit.

2.    Game Balls and Tee.  Each team should supply 1 new game ball for usage.  The home team is responsible for supplying a bucket of balls (an additional 8-10 balls) to feed the pitching machines. Use the newer balls whenever possible.  Home team is responsible for supplying the tee.

3.    Innings.  An inning consists of each team batting until there are 3 outs recorded or a maximum of 5 runs, which ever comes first.

4.    Field.  60 foot base paths will be used in the Rookie League.

5.    Offense. 

5.1. At-Bats.  For each at-bat, the batter gets a chance to hit off of the pitching machine until a fair ball is hit or 5 swinging strikes are recorded.  After 5 swinging strikes, the player must hit from a batting tee.  Set the expectation up front with players that the 5-strike rule will be enforced.  Coaches can assist the batter with position and swing technique between pitches, but can not touch the batter or assist them to swing at a pitch.

5.2. Ball in Play.  A fair ball is a ball hit between the 1^st and 3^rd base line at least 15 feet from home plate.  A ball that does not travel 15 feet or more between the baselines is considered a foul ball, base runners return to their base, and the batter continues batting.

There is no bunting allowed in the Rookie League.

Special consideration for the pitching machine.
If the pitching machine interferes with a ground ball it will be a foul ball or a dead-ball base hit at the discretion of the coach operating the pitching machine.  The principle is to avoid infielders charging a ground ball near the pitching machine and risking injury.  Examples:  A slow ground ball toward the pitching machine should be called a foul ball right away.  A hard hit grounder or line drive bouncing off the machine should be an infield base hit, all runners advance one base only.

5.3. Base running.  Runners can advance 1 base on a hit to the infield.  On a clean hit into the outfield, runners can and should be encouraged to advance additional bases, but must stop advancing once the ball is brought back into the infield.  A ball that enters the outfield as the result of a fielding or throwing error should not be considered an outfield hit, and the runners should be held to one base. NOTE: We want kids to learn to run the bases aggressively (i.e. not base-to-base), but at the same time we don′t want them to be crazy.  We should be teaching them to pick up the ball in the outfield and making decisions and/or listening to the base coaches.

There is no leading off or stealing bases in the Rookie league.  Base runners must stay in contact with the base they occupy until a pitched ball is hit.

Base runners should be coached to recognize different base running situations.  For example: double play possibilities, how to react differently to ground balls vs. fly balls with less than 2 outs to avoid getting "doubled-up".

6.    Defense

6.1. Recording outs.  The fielding team′s coaches will act as umpires and declare runners out or safe.  When a runner is out he will be removed from the bases.  Multiple outs on a single play are allowed.  Players should be coached on recognizing double play opportunities, what base to throw to, and when there are force-outs vs. tag outs.  Coaches should talk to infielders prior to pitches about "where the play is" if it′s hit to them.  Once the ball is hit, we want the kids to make the decisions, although coaches can help by giving verbal assistance (please don′t yell across the field).

6.2. Infield Positions.  The infield will consist of the 6 basic positions: Pitcher, Catcher, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS.  There will be only 1 pitcher and he will stand behind the pitching machine on either side.  Players must rotate defensively to give each player equal time in outfield and infield positions.  No player should play the same position more than 2 innings per game.

The catcher must wear the VCBS issued protective gear including helmet, face-mask, chest protectors and shin pads.  Players catching must wear a cup.

Players should be coached to play the correct fielding positions (no standing on or right next to the bases) and move to the bag to get outs once the ball is in play.

Players should be coached to make a throw to get an out.  A runner will be called safe if a player makes an unnecessary unassisted out. This is a discretionary call and generally we have used a 5 step rule (i.e. more than 5 steps should be thrown).  Examples:

·        If the short stop fields the ball and the third baseman is in position to take the throw for a force out at 3^rd, but the short stop runs to third to make the out – the runner will be called safe. 

·        An unassisted out is ok if made by a player who fields a ball in the direction of the base (i.e. ball hit up the middle is fielded by 2^nd baseman or shortstop and the continue momentum to the base).

·        Outfielders should not ordinarily be making throwing outs at bases.  A perimeter will be burned into the grass for the outfielders to remain behind.  If an outfielder sneaks into the infield and makes a throwing out, it will not be counted…we want to also reward batters who hit balls into holes in the infield.

6.3. Outfield Positions.  The outfielders must stay beyond the edge of the infield grass on Fields 19-22 and 24 and behind the line in the outfield on Fields 23 and 25.  Outfielders should be coached to primarily back up the infield and chase well hit balls.  A runner will be called safe if an outfielder makes an out by taking away the play from an infielder.

7.    Managing the Game

7.1. Coaches.  Head coaches should discuss ground rules prior to any games and mutually agree on how any special situations will be handled (e.g. ground balls toward the pitching machine, standing water in the field, players arriving late, 5 step rule around 2^nd base, reminder of infielder and outfielder placement, etc.)

The offensive team may have 2-3 adult base coaches – a 1^st base coach, a coach behind second, and a 3^rd base coach.  The defensive team may have 2 coaches in the field to assist with positioning and reinforcing fundamentals.  A coach from either team will be required to operate the pitching machine.  Typically the batting team′s coach will operate the machine for his players.  Both team coaches are responsible for making sure that players are paying attention to the game to avoid injury.  An additional coach needs to oversee the home plate area (batter safety as well as catcher).

Coaches should be encouraging players from both teams and helping out if the other team is short on coaches.

7.2. Equipment & Safety.  Equipment must be stored in an area out of play, preferably behind the fence, during the game. 

During games, bench players must stay in the designated bench area while waiting for their turn to bat.  No one should be practicing hitting, climbing the fence or leaving the field area.  Adult supervision is required in the bench area (a coach, team mom/dad, or other parent).

An area for the on-deck batter should be designated away from the bench, with only the on-deck batter allowed.

The batter, on-deck batter, and pitcher must all wear helmets during the game.  Protective gear must be worn by catchers.

Throwing equipment is not allowed.  A player throwing any piece of equipment should be informed that it is against VCBS rules.  If the action is repeated by the same player, he can be removed from the game.  At this age it′s common for batters to inadvertently throw a bat after swinging at a ball.  Regardless of intent, this rule needs to be reinforced for safety.