Particular areas that should be emphasized are:

Batting

• Be sure that all players hit in different spots in the order throughout the year.
• For those that are having trouble hitting, encourage good swings and at-bats, not just hits. Work on being selective and making contact – stress swinging at balls in or near the strike zone and lay off pitches that cannot be hit.
• Batters may not throw bats under any circumstances. A player’s coach should warn any player for unintentionally throwing a bat that they will be called out if they continue to do so. Players who are called out for throwing a bat learn to stop the habit with surprising quickness.

Base Running

• Emphasis should be placed on the development of proper base running habits, not scoring runs. This includes:
• Knowing the situation – outs and lead runners
• Leaving base in fly ball/ground ball situations
• Making the base turns properly
• Using the base-coaches instead of looking for the ball.
• Causing confusion by sending runners while the ball is being fielded is not productive or instrumental and should not be encouraged or tolerated.

Fielding

• Every player should have a chance to play every position and players should be rotated frequently – preferably every inning. However, in the interest of safety coaches should consider the risk of injury when placing players.
• Emphasize anticipation of the play and being in ready position when the ball is delivered to the plate.
• Stress knowing the situation and making the right play – force plays, # or outs, fly ball/ground ball situations.
• Teach your outfielders to get the ball into the infield as quickly as possible. Base runners cannot advance once the ball is in the infield.
• Avoid unnecessary throws – stop runners by getting the ball to infield quickly.

1. The visiting team is responsible for setting up the pitching machine and putting it away.
2. Visiting team gets the field one half hour before the start of the game for 15 minutes.
3. Home team gets the field 15 minutes before the start of the game for 15 minutes.
4. The team with players in the field must supply a coach/parent to back up the catcher in an attempt to keep the game moving. This individual is also responsible for making sure the pitcher is positioned correctly.
5. The Visiting team is responsible for supplying two new balls for each game.
6. Although a scorebook is supplied to each team, it is for keeping track of the batting order only. No score is to be kept and no winner or loser declared.
7. All players present will bat.
8. The side batting is retired after 3 outs or 9 batters.
9. There are no walks except as described in the Kid Pitch section of these rules
10. There are no free bases for being hit by a pitch except as described in the Kid Pitch section of these rules
11. 3 strikes and you are out -- coaches should strongly encourage the batters to swing at balls that are around the plate and not wait for the “Perfect Pitch”. During games, latitude is granted to managers to mutually agree that some or all hitters are allowed an extra strike, particularly early in the season. A batter is out even if the catcher drops the 3rd strike.
12. There is no bunting, stealing, or infield fly rule
13. There are no head first slides. Players should be discouraged from sliding headfirst and should be called “out” by their own coach.
14. Runner must attempt to slide to avoid a collision ands should be call “out” if they do not.
15. The base runner is not allowed to leave the base until the ball is hit. Players that leave the base before the ball is hit should be warned and be required to return to the original base. The runner should be called out if he continues to leave early.
16. 16. Base runners may advance until the ball is the infield. The infield is from the area where the infield dirt meets the outfield grass to the backstop and includes any foul ground along the third and first base lines
17. 17. 9 players are allowed at one time on defense. Three outfielders, four infielders, a pitcher, and a catcher.
18. Dead balls.
    1. A batted ball hitting the pitching machine or machine operator is a dead ball. The batter is awarded first base and existing base runners advance only if “forced”.
    2. A ball overthrown past 1st or 3rd base that goes out of bounds is a dead ball. Players may continue to the base they were approaching prior to the ball going out of bounds.
    3. A thrown ball hitting the pitching machine or machine operator is a dead ball. Players may continue to the base they were approaching prior to the ball hitting any of the above.
    4. A batted ball that comes to rest inside the pitching circle is a dead ball. The batter is awarded first base and existing base runners advance only if “forced”.
    5. A thrown ball that comes to rest inside the pitching circle. Players may continue to the base they were approaching prior to the ball coming to rest.
19. All batters and pitchers must wear a helmet.
20. There is no on-deck area.
    • The only batter with a bat in his hands should be the one up at the plate.
    • The next batter up should get prepared to bat by getting a helmet on, putting on batting gloves, and deciding on a bat.
    • Practice swings are NOT ALLOWED for safety concerns

All coaches and managers must thoroughly understand the operation of the pitching machine. The Player Representative will schedule demonstrations to allow coaches to become comfortable with the proper usage and operation of the machine. Lack of training and misunderstanding of operation will result in ineffective and counter-productive use of the machine.

The purpose of using machines is deliver pitches that are consistently in or near the strike zone at a speed that is more than just a “lob toss”.

It is preferred that all games are played using the pitching machine. However the exceptions are allowed:

1. See Kid Pitch Section of these Rules
2. In the event of the machine is inoperable or not functioning properly, a coach may elect to pitch to his/her team. Both teams are not required make this election – one team may elect to use the machine, while other may not. In such case, the machine is removed at the end of each half inning and replaced at the start of the following.
3. The pitching machine may be adjusted at any time if both coaches agree.
   • Be sure the batter steps out of the batter box and at least two test pitches are thrown after making any adjustment to the machine.
   • Be sure an adult is behind the plate to catch any practice pitches that are thrown.
   • The machine should not be adjusted for each batter. We are not looking to put the ball right at the belt of every batter. Due to their height some players may have to hit a high strike while others may have to a low strike.

For games played after May 10, managers may elect to use players as pitchers (“Kid Pitch”) for part of the game. When Kid Pitch is elected, all of the rules listed under GAME RULES are in effect except for the following exceptions:

1. Pitchers will pitch from approximately 43 feet from home plate (3 feet short of the Little League regulation 46 ft).
2. Pitchers are limited to 2 innings or a total of 50 pitches, whichever occurs first.
3. Players cannot pitch a total of more than 3 innings in any week (Sunday through Saturday).
4. Players cannot pitch on consecutive calendar days.
5. Once removed from a game as pitcher, the player cannot return as pitcher for the remainder of that game.
6. Balls and strikes will be called on each pitch. A coach from the batting team must be positioned near the pitcher and acts as an umpire.
7. Walks are awarded after four balls but only after the batter has two strikes. Walks are awarded so that the pitchers understand the importance of throwing strikes. However, we do not want batters coming to the plate looking to walk.
8. Pitchers are limited to three walks in an inning. Any pitcher who walks three batters in an inning must be removed from pitcher immediately.
9. A batter hit by a pitch is awarded first base. Any pitcher who hits more than one batter in any game must be removed as pitcher immediately.
10. Keep warm-ups to a minimum, especially if changing pitchers in the middle of an inning. Coaches should try to anticipate pitching changes and have players appropriately warmed-up. Three or four warm-up pitches should be sufficient.

• Give as many players a chance to pitch as possible throughout the season.
• Make sure you have seen players pitch in practice before using them in a game – while we want as many kids to pitch as possible, we also need to evaluate the wildness of each pitcher before games because of safety concerns
• Start Slow – after May 10 gradually begin to introduce players to pitching. It is best to continue using the machine during the early part of the game and finish the game kid pitch. As the season continues, use the machine less and less and kid pitch more and more
• Although the rules limit the amount of pitching, coaches should still be aware of pitch counts and over usage of young arms.
• Emphasize the effort – not the results. The players, coaches and families should realize that pitching is a skill that requires dedication over a long time. Results will frequently be below the expectation of players. However, players should feel encouraged because of their effort – not discouraged because of the results.

Good efforts over time will yield good results.

• Throwing over the plate and good pitching mechanics must be taught. Velocity should not be emphasized. Velocity will come with sound control and mechanics
• CHEER THE PITCHER!! Both teams. Coaches and parents should be encouraged to cheer for all pitchers. This is especially true when a pitcher is removed in the middle of an inning. This can, potentially, be embarrassing for the player (although it should not). However, a strong cheer for that player usually erases the bad feeling right away.