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INSTRUCTIONAL T-BALL RULES

PLAYING FIELDS

  1. The home team will be on the first base side. 
  1. Each team is responsible for cleaning its dugout and spectator areas of all trash.

EQUIPMENT  

  1. All players must wear regulation uniform.  Shirt, cap and socks issued by Fairfield Sports.   
  1. Sneakers or cleats must be worn, no exceptions. 
  1. Gloves must be used while in the field. 
  1. No jewelry. 
  1. All batters, on deck batters, catchers and base runners must wear helmets. 

 LEAGUE  INSTRUCTIONAL T-BALL RULES 

  1. A complete game consists of four (4) innings.  A new inning may not be started after an elapsed game time of one hour.  Any inning started shall be played to completion regardless of time
  1. Each half inning will consist of the team on offense batting its entire lineup. All batters who strike out will be placed on first base.  Regardless of the number of outs recorded each half inning, a team will bat its entire lineup. 
  1. Every player will play defense every inning.  Coaches should try to rotate positions each inning in order to give all players a chance to field the ball.  
  1. A team must have eight (8) players to start a game.  If only eight (8) players are present at game time, the late players will be added to the bottom of the roster as they arrive.  If eight (8) players are not available, the coaches will borrow players from the other team. 
  1. The playing field will have fifty (50) foot baselines.  The pitcher's circle will be centered thirty-five (35) feet from home plate and will have a ten (10) foot diameter.  Halfway markers will be drawn between all bases, except between home and first base.  An arc will be drawn ten (10) feet from home plate, extending from the first base line to the third base line. 
  1. The ball will be hit off of a Fairfield Sports approved batting tee, to which no alterations may be made.  The tee will be set on home plate and the coach will place the ball on the tee.  The coach of the team that is batting may adjust the tee to suit the batter, but may not touch the ball after it is placed on the tee.  This coach must also remove the tee from the home plate area before a runner rounding third base is half way to home plate.  
  1. The pitcher must be in the pitching circle when the ball is hit or a defensive penalty will be called (i.e., the play starts over with no penalty to the batter unless he gets a hit, in which case the hit will stand. 
  1. A fair ball must be hit at least as far as the arc within three (3) swings or the batter is out, even if his last ball is a foul ball.  If the tee is knocked down when a batter swings, the ball is a foul ball (not a dead ball).  If a fair ball travels to or beyond the ten (10) foot arc, it is in play, even if the batter hits the tee instead of the ball.  The batter must take a full swing.  If the batter takes a half swing or bunts, the ball is dead and that swing will count as a foul strike. 
  1. All runners must stay in contact with the base from the time the ball is placed on the tee until the ball is hit.  A base runner leaving the base early is out. After the ball is hit, the base runners may advance one (1) base per batter.  The last batter of every inning hits a home run.  Base stealing will not be allowed. 
  1. Teams may have a first, second, and third base coach and a coach at home plate when their team is at bat.  On defense, each team may have three (3) coaches in the field (one at the pitcher’s mound, one between first and second base, and one between second and third base, behind the defensive players).  All other coaches must remain in the dugout area or outside the playing field. 
  1. When a ball is hit in the infield, the defensive players will throw the ball to the first base (no rolling the ball).  When a ball is hit to the outfield, the ball will be thrown back to the pitcher who must return to the pitching circle.  Upon entering the circle, the pitcher will throw the ball to the catcher. 
  1. No score will be kept. 
  1. Remember this is INSTRUCTIONAL T-BALL not T-Ball!  If a player does not want to participate in the game, he can stay out without penalty. 
  1. A team is permitted to have a maximum of two (2) activities per week.  An activity is defined as a game, practice, scrimmage, or any other activity at which player attendance is expected.

COACHES 

  1. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, their parents, friends of the team, and their own conduct, both on and off the field at practices and games.
  1. Good sportsmanship is required at all times.  Foul language and inappropriate behavior is not permitted.
  1. Unless coaching one of the bases, all coaches must be in the dugout area or outside the playing field.
  1. All reasonable efforts should be made to start games at the scheduled starting time
  1. Players must stay in the vicinity of the bench unless excused by the coach.  Coaches are ultimately responsible for player location.
  1. An adult (preferably a coach) must be in the dugout with the players at all times.
  1. Coaches must not leave the playing area after games or practices until all players have departed with a parent.

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