Baseball rules for age groups. Note: Some rules change for Provincial playoffs!

General Rules for all Rookie Tiers

• Game start time 6:30pm

• Home team has last bat. (Visitors bat first)

• Dimensions: base paths 60 feet, home plate to pitching machine 42 feet, home to 2^nd base 84 feet 9 inches (same as 1^st base to 3^rd base)

• Pitching machine is mandatory. Speed is agreed to by both coaches and set with no changes. Any changes required will happen after a complete inning.

• Length of game is a maximum of 90 minutes (complete the inning in progress), to a maximum of 6 innings.

• Pitching machine operator is the umpire. This adult is from the defensive team. (allows for coaching your team defensively)

• Back-stop adult is from the offensive team. (allows for coaching your batters)

• All players put in batting line-up

• Maximum 11 defensive players on the field. (4 outfield, 3B, SS, 2B, 1B, C, 2 pitchers)

• No player sits more than one defensive inning in a row

• No base on balls

• No out on foul ball (unless caught). Extra ball to be pitched

• No bunting or stealing

• Batter/runner allowed one base on an overthrow (if they can make it). Runners cannot advance on a passed ball by the catcher.

• Ball is declared dead if it hits pitching machine and hitter gets a single.

• Ties go to the runners

OilDome Rookie ball (U9) is set up in a tier system:  A, B, C.

Tier Specific Rules

Tier A

A Tier – recommended for 3^rd year Rookie players who will be moving up to Mosquito (U11) next year. Focus is on continued skill development and knowledge that will prepare them for Mosquito.

• Recommended 9-11players per team

• 5 balls from pitching machine; if no hit, batter returns to bench and is considered an out (strikeout)

• In-field fly: if ball is hit as a pop fly to the in-field with runners on any base and less than 2 out, the batter is declared out.

• 6 run limit per inning or 3 outs (fielded and/or strikeouts)

• All Minor Ball Manitoba baseball rules apply and are enforced (if an umpire/coach is unsure or unaware of a rule, the other team’s coach is encouraged to help them)

 Tier B

B Tier – recommended for 2^nd year Rookie players. Focus is on continuing development of basic ball skills and knowledge.ecommended 9-11 players per team

• 6 balls from pitching machine; if no hit, batter returns to bench and is considered an out (strikeout)

• In-field fly: if ball is hit as a pop fly to the in-field with runners on any base with less than 2 outs, AND if a defensive player catches the ball, the batter is considered an out and runners on base automatically return to their respective bases. If defensive player does not successfully catch the ball, play continues as normal.

• 6 run limit per inning or 3 outs (fielded and/or strikeouts)

Tier C

C Tier – recommended for 1^st year Rookie players. Focus on basic skill development and knowledge of basic rules. It is preferred that these players have at least 1 year of Rally Caps experience.

• Recommended 7-9 players per team

• 5 balls from pitching machine; if no hit a coach will deliver 3 soft pitches*. If the player does not hit after the 8 pitches, they are considered an out. (strikeout)

  • *soft pitches are delivered from the baseline; right-handed batter from the 1^st baseline, left-handed batter from 3^rd baseline, at a distance of 3-4 feet, by their coach. Recommended from one knee.

• In-field fly: if ball is hit as a pop fly to the in-field with runners on any base with less than 2 outs, AND if a defensive player catches the ball, the batter is considered an out and runners on base automatically return to their respective bases. If defensive player does not successfully catch the ball, play continues as normal.

• No sliding

• 6 run limit per inning or 3 outs (fielded and/or strikeouts)

• A second defensive coach is permitted in the outfield, but shall have no contact with the ball

• There is always time to teach! There are many rules to teach and sometimes it’s easier to see it to teach it. (Base running, tagging unforced plays, overrunning bases, caught pop flies…)

  Example: if a base runner runs off the baseline (within 3 feet), the first time in the game, do not automatically count him/her as out. Give the coach the opportunity to teach the rule. Any subsequent offenses of the same nature in that game are to be enforced. Defensively, maybe the players are standing on the baseline preventing the runner a straight passage, and they need to be reminded of how to play their position.

Mosquito.  11 U

9 players in field, everyone bats.

Pitch count in effect.  Once a player has pitched, they cannot go in to catch that day.

6 innings, no time limit.  Bat until 3 outs are made, or 5 runs are scored.  Last inning has no run limit (open).

No lead off.  Runners can leave base only when ball has reached the plate.   Runner leaving early may be put out, but is to be sent back to original base if not put out during play.  Runners may advance on pass ball, but cannot score on pass balls, must be hit home or forced home (ie walk) or come home on play from batted ball.

Pitching distance 44 feet, bases 70 feet.  No balks called.  No infield fly rule.

Once a team has a lead of 5 or more runs, base runners advance only on batted balls or when forced to advance by walks or hit by pitch.  (Rule 7.00 g)

Pee Wee. 13 U

7 innings, 5 run limit except last inning (open).  Pitch count in effect, pitcher cannot go in to catch that day.  Everyone bats.

Leading off allowed.  Pitching distance 48 feet, bases 70 feet.  Balks may be called.

Bantam. 15 U

Pitching distance 54 feet.  Bases 80 feet. Pitch count in effect, can’t pitch then catch.   Everyone bats.

6 run limit per inning, except last inning, which is open.  Bats must be -3 or heavier (bat length in inches, subtract weight in ounces).

Midget 18 U

Pitching distance 60 feet, 6 inches, bases 90 feet.  Pitch count and no catching after pitching.  Everyone bats.