ROOKIE BALL RULES

The following rules apply specifically to the Rookie Ball Division in addition to the Little League rulebook. 

1.1. A circle; eight feet in diameter with its centre at 44 feet from home plate, will surround the pitching machine. (Hereafter referred to as "machine")

1.2 The machine speed will be set at 35 mph. A regulation baseball will be used.

1.3 A Bucket of balls will be placed at the pitching machine for the pitching coach. Balls will be collected by the catcher and thrown back to the pitcher at the end of each batter’s turn.

1.4 If a batted ball hits the machine, or rolls to a stop in the circle, the ball is dead; the batter is awarded first base and any base runner is moved who is forced to advance by the batter being awarded first base. If the ball directly hits the machine only forced runners advance. If the ball is impeded in the circle (i.e. pitcher touches and stops the ball) all runners advance.
Note 1: If the ball goes through the circle without touching, the legs, coach, cord or bucket, than it is a live ball, and is played normally.
Note 2: The circle includes the chalk that creates the circle.  If a fielder plays the ball on the chalk line than the ball shall be deemed a dead ball and the batter is awarded first base.

1.5 The pitcher must stand beside or behind the machine or in line with the wheel of the machine. The pitcher must not enter the circle surrounding the machine. The coach using the pitching machine is considered a part of the Pitching Machine.

1.6 Each batter will receive a maximum of 5 pitches. If the batter does not hit a fair ball within five pitches, he will be declared out. If the final pitch is a FOUL ball, then the batter gets one more pitch until he either strikes out or hits the ball fair.  A Pitch is a ball that falls within the strikezone and is a hittable ball.  A strike counts towards the 5 pitches, but is only when the batter swings and misses, or fouls the ball back.

1.7 A pitch which is over the batter's head or bounces in the dirt will be ruled a no pitch unless the batter swings at the pitch.

1.8 Batter's cannot obtain a base on balls or by getting hit by the pitch.

Rookie Ball Play:

2.1 All players present shall be listed on the team's batting line-up and shall bat in that order. Any late arrivals shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order.

Since every player is listed in the batting order, if a player cannot continue due to unavoidable circumstances that player will be removed from the batting order and the team will continue to the next batter. If a player is removed from the game but is then able to return he/she will go back into the batting order in the position they were originally placed.  After the game begins, changes or additions to this line-up must be made before the umpire calls "Play" for the first batter at the beginning of an inning, except in the case of injury or sickness. All line-up changes must be reported to the plate umpire, the scorekeeper and the opposing manager.

2.2 Bunting is not permitted (Penalty - batter is out).

2.3 Stealing is not permitted.

2.4 We are going to refer to the Little League Rule Book Rule 7.13:
The runner may not lead off until the ball has reached the batter.  The violation by one base runner shall affect all other base runners-
a) when a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter does not hit the ball, the runner is permitted to continue.  If a play is made on the runner and the runner is out, the out stands.  If said runner reaches safely the base to which the runner is advancing, that runner must be returned to the base occupied before the pitch was made and no outs results;
b) when a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter hits the ball, the base runner or runners are permitted to continue.  If a play is made and the runner or runners are put out, the out or outs will stand.  If not put out, the runner or runners must return to the original base, or bases or to the unoccupied base nearest the ones that was left;
In no event shall the batter advance beyond first base on a single or error, second base on a double or third base on a triple.  The umpire in chief shall determine the base value of the base hit.
c) when any base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter bunts or hits a ball within the infield, no run shall be allowed to score.  If three runners were on the bases and the batter reaches first base safely, each runner shall advance to the base beyond the one they occupied at the start of the play except the runner who occupied third base, that runner shall be removed from the base without a run being scored.
Exception: If at the conclusion of the play there is an open base, paragraphs a and b will apply.

2.5 Base runners may only advance on a ball which is hit in fair territory. Base runners may not advance on a passed ball or a pitched ball returned to the pitcher by the catcher.

In the event a throw to any base or home plate results in an overthrow the runners will be permitted to advance at their own risk, but not more than one base. Runners will advance a single base on an overthrow. (For example: the ball is hit and while the runner is advancing to 1^st the ball is overthrown at 1^st base the runner may continue to try to get to 2^nd.  While the runner is approaching 2^nd base, the defending team then overthrows 2^nd base the umpire will call time and the runner will be awarded 2^nd base. Any other runners that happen to be on base will also be awarded the base they were advancing to). *this rule was developed to teach the proper plays in baseball while taking skill level into consideration. This will avoid children “throwing the ball around” and coaches being overly aggressive on the bases.

2.6 A dead ball is declared when:

a) The Pitcher has possession of the ball on the infield grass.

b) The umpire rules that there was a natural conclusion to the play.

2.7 A maximum of 4 runs per team per inning is allowed except the 5^th inning which is an “open” inning. In the open inning each team can score as many runs as possible.

2.8 An inning will end when three outs are made.

2.9 The infield fly rule does not apply.

2.10 All catchers are required to wear full catcher's equipment during the game and during warm-ups. Use of a catcher's mitt is mandatory. (Refer to Rule 1.12 for Little League)

2.11 All Catchers must be in the proper catcher’s position as per SOBA rule changes in 2007.

2.12 The pitcher MUST wear a pitcher’s helmet that has a face shield on it.

2.13 Regulation game is 5 innings in length. If the score is tied after five innings then it will declared a tie. If time permits (1 hr 45 min curfew), an extra inning is permitted.

During playoffs, the game will be played until there is a winner.