CGYB Rules for 6u T-Ball Division

Scope:These rules apply to the 6u division of the Casa Grande Youth Baseball (CGYB) league for ages 4, 5 & 6. Rules for the other divisions are published separately.

Rule Book:The official rules are found in the Major League Baseball Official Baseball Rules book– unless overridden by CGYBlocal rules. The Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken rule book is used as a guideline for leagues and is not adopted by our league for regular season play. Our league will follow the Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken tournament rules during the Spring Season State, Regional, and National tournaments.

Parents:Parents are not allowed on the field at practices or during games, unless they are coaching the kids. At no time should a parent enter the field during a game. Parents are not allowed to converse or voice their opinions to anyone on the opposing team. If a parent has a concern, they are to bring it to their head coach. Parents who argue with the opposing team, enter the field during a game, or in any way distract from the enjoyment of the game, will be ejected. A team may be forced to forfeit a game because of the actions of a parent.

Field:Bases are 60’ apart. Cones designating the back of the outfield should be placed at 110’ from the back of home plate on the base lines and 150’ from the back of home plate in center field.Home team will be responsible for placing the cones at the correct distance. The visiting team may also measure to verify the distance, but may not move the cones, unless the home team representative is present and agrees with the change. Home team is also responsible for marking the 10’ foul line in front of home plate.

Time Limit:Games will be 3 innings with no new inning after 50 minutes and a drop dead time of 1 hour.

Home Team:The home team is the second team listed on the schedule. The home team will set up along the third base line and will provide an official scorekeeper and a game ball.

Scorekeeper:The scorekeeper will keep score during the game. The scorekeeper may use a written scorebook or an electronic scorebook. The scorekeeper should keep track of how many runs have been scored each inning and post the results on the team website,

Coaches:Up to three coaches may be on the field to advise the players on defense. On offense there can be a total of four coaches on the field, one coach for each base and a coach to assist the player in getting set in the batter’s box. The home plate coach should remove the tee from home plate after the batter has hit the ball, so runners do not injure themselves when they attempt to touch home plate with the T on top of it. The 3rd base coach should remind the coach at home plate to remove the T, when there is a runner on 3rd. Base coaches under 18 years old must wear a helmet.

Line-up:1.)All players present shall be in the line-up and shall bat.

2.)Any player who arrives late will be added to the bottom of the batting order.

3.) If a player gets injured or must leave the game prior to completion, he/she is removed from the line-up with no penalty. Once a player is removed, he/she will not be able to return to the same game as a player.

4.) Coaches must provide their line-up cards with each player’s number identified.

Equipment:1.) All players batting, on deck, on base, or in the coaching boxes are required to wear a helmet on the field.

2.) The catcher is also required to wear a helmet and chest protector.

3.) Bats may not be more than 2 ¼” in diameter.

4.) Metal Cleats are not allowed.

Fielding:1.) All players must change positions every inning and a player may not play the same position in more than one inning in a game.

2.) All outfielders will play the infield the next inning; unless a parent would rather their child remain in the outfield (coaches are to use their best judgment when enforcing this rule). On a team with less than 12 players, there will be 6 infielders and less than 6 outfielders, so some infielders will continue to play the infield in the next inning, but cannot play the same position in more than one inning. A player, however, may not play the infield a third inning until all other players have played the infield twice. On a team with more than 12 players, there will be more than 6 outfielders, so not every outfielder may play the infield the next inning. In this case, all outfielders would need to play the infield, before the 1st inning infielders could play the infield again.

3.) All players are out on the field in every inning, unless they are injured and can no longer participate or for any other reason have left the playing field.

4.) Only six players may play the infield and one at each infield position. All other players will play the outfield.

5.) Teams with more than nine players will have more than 3 players in the outfield.

6.) Outfielders must remain on the grass until the ball is hit. The batter will be awarded 1st base, if outfielders creep into the infield before the ball is hit.

7.) Coaches may not touch a player, once the ball is in play. The coach may show the player where the ball is, but may not touch the player to bring him/her to the ball. If a defensive coach touches a player, while the ball is in play all runners will advance to their intended base safely. If an offensive coach touches a runner or batter to get him to base, then the runner / batter will be called out.

8.) Coaches may not physically pick up a player and place them on the spot they would like them to stand. The coach may lead them to the spot, but may not pick the player up and move them.

Batting:1.) Batters are allowed six swings on the tee to hit a fair ball that travels at least 10’ from the back of home plate and stays within the foul lines. After 6 swings the batter is out.

2.) One swing will be counted any time the bat touches the T or ball and the ball falls off the T. One swing will also be counted any time the batter makes an attempt, but misses the ball and/or T.

3.) Batters are to run on any ball movement from the T, but will be called back, if the ball does not travel past the 10’ foul circle in front of home plate or crosses the foul line prior to traveling past either 1st or 3rd base.

4.) Any ball that does not travel more than 10’ will be considered a foul. A ball that travels past the 10’ foul line will be considered fair, even if the batter never hit the ball and only hit the T or any combination of Ball and T.

5.) A batter who throws the bat will be called out (after one warning per team per game).

6.) A batter batting out of order will be considered out, if caught before the end of that batter’s at bat. Batting order will be considered by who bats after whom in the line up. Subsequent batters will not be considered out of order, if they continue to bat according to the line up.

7.) Coaches may not physically pick up a batter and place them in the batter’s box. The coach may touch the batter to get their feet and hands positioned correctly, but at no time shall pick up the batter where the batter’s feet leave the ground.

Running:1.) A base runner may NOT advance on an over throw on any base.

2.) A base runner will only advance one base on each at bat the ball is hit fair, unless the ball hit is considered a ground rule double or home run.

3.) Lead offs are not allowed.

4.) Runners must keep a foot on the base until the ball is hit by the batter. A runner who leaves early will be called out.

6.) If a player is sick or injured a pinch runner may be used. No other pinch runners are allowed.

7.) A coach may not touch the runner, once the ball is in play. The coach may try to get the player’s attention by talking to him/her, but at no time shall the coach touch the player, once the ball is in play. If an offensive coach touches a runner, while the ball is in play, then the runner will be called out.

Sliding:1.) Players are not required to slide. However, a base runner who intentionally causes a collision during a play at any base and does not slide shall be called out.

2.) Sliding head first is not allowed.

Defensive

Interference:1.) Offensive coaches should let defensive coaches know, when defensive players are in the base line, prior to the ball being hit.

2.) When the defensive coach is notified that a defensive player is in the base line, he/she must move the player forward or backward to remove the player from the baseline.

3.) Players should not line up outside the baseline, then creep step into the base line prior to the ball being hit.

4.) If a defensive player is taking action on a ball hit to him or her and is in the base line while trying to field, will not be called for defensive interference.

5.) Any player that remains in the base line or moves into the base line after the ball is hit and is not making a play on the ball will be called for defensive interference.

6.) On a defensive interference, the runner gets the base they were trying to run to.

7.) At no time should a runner run into a defensive player. A runner is to run around the defensive player in the baseline to avoid a collision. Any coach that instructs a player to intentionally hurt another player will be removed from coaching.

8.) Coaches are to inform the president, when a team consistently has defensive players in the baseline. If a pattern develops of a team having defensive players in the base line, the president will take disciplinary action against the head coach of the offending team.

Scoring:1.) If a ball is hit beyond the cones on a fly, then the batter is awarded a home run and all runners score, even if there were already 3 runs scored in the inning. A team could score up to 7 runs in one inning on a home run.

2.) If a ball travels beyond the cones after hitting the ground and is not touched by a defensive player, then the batter is awarded a ground rule double. The batter goes to 2nd base and runners on 2nd and 3rd score, even if there were already 3 runs scored in the inning. A team could score up to 5 runs in one inning on a ground rule double.

4-Run Rule:A half-inning shall be declared over when:

1) The defensive team has recorded three outs;
2) The batting team has scored 4 runs in all but the last inning. The scorekeeper should advise the coaches when 4 runs have been scored in an inning.

3.) All runners will score on a home run that is hit beyond the cones on a fly ball. In this instance more than 4 runs will be scored in the inning. The inning is over as soon as the last runner is scored on the home run, if the home run results in 4 or more runs in an inning.

4.) Runners on 2nd and 3rd will score on a ground rule double, even if there were already 3 runs in that inning. The inning is over as soon as the Runner on 2nd scores on a ground rule double, if 4 or more runs had been scored in that inning.

5.) In the last inning, i.e. the 3rdor the inning that was started after the 50 min. mark, the 4-Run rule will be modified for the team that is behind. The team that is behind may continue batting until they surpass the other team’s score by 4 runs. If they are the home team, the game is over after they score 1 run over the other team’s score.

6.) For the end of season tournament, we will play 4 innings in the 4th inning the 4-Run Rule is removed, both teams must score three outs to end the ½ inning. Both teams may score as many runs as they are able in the 4th inning during the tournament until the opposing team scores the third out.

Code of

Conduct:Managers are to review the CGYB Code of Conduct with their assistant coaches, players and parents prior to the first game. A team’s manager will receive one warning for code of conduct violations by any member of the team or parents. If the violator continues to violate the code of conduct, the game will be halted and the violator will be asked to leave the field. If the violator refuses to leave, then his team will automatically forfeit and the game will be over. During the regular season, when a board member is not able to resolve a disagreement at the game, then the teams may decide to agree to disagree and walk away from the game without forfeiting the game. The president or the board will determine the winner at a later date. It is better to walk away rather than to argue and break the code of conduct. The president and board will always rule in favor of the team that followed the code of conduct.

Teams:1.) Teams may consist of any number of older or younger aged players that are active registered players in the 6u Division.

2.) Teams that field less than 9 players for a game are not required to forfeit and may play a normal regulation game with all CGYB 6u T-Ball Division rules applied.

Game Finish:A game is over when either three innings have been played or when the inning has ended which was in progress when fifty minutes had elapsed.

Swing

Players:Players that meet the age requirements for 6u T-Ball and have the ability to play at the 8u Machine Pitch level, may register for both divisions in the same season. The player must register and pay the registration fee for both divisions. The player also must play in at least 50% of the regular season games in both 6u T-Ball and 8u Machine Pitch to be eligible to play in each tournament.

Tournament: In order to be eligible to play in the local and state 6u T-Ball tournaments, a player must meet the age requirements for 6u T-Ball and must have played in 50% of the regular season games. Since the State Tournament only occurs once per year in the Spring, the player must have played in 50% of the regular Spring Season 6u T-Ball games to be eligible to play in the 6u T-Ball State Tournament.

Last Revised on 9/1/2015