Rules - Coaches Pitch

1. Coaches Pitch, like T-Ball, is an instructional league. Therefore there are not too many rules. As in T-Ball, but on a higher scale, the effort here is to try to develop some basic throwing (always overhand!), fielding (get in front of the ball!) and bat-­ swinging techniques.

2. The field is smaller than it will be later in the competitive leagues - 55 feet down the base paths and 36 feet to the mound. This makes it easier for kids to throw to first base.

3. Coaches do all the pitching. Try to avoid pitching underhand. If necessary, pitch overhand on one knee so that the ball has a flat trajectory. The objective is to get the kids to hit - so try to get them swinging.

4. In coaches pitch, it is customary to let a batter stay in the box until they get a hit. Experience has shown that if a youngster is having trouble hitting the ball, you can bring in the tee. Ultimately, this is at the coach’s discretion. As a rough guideline, a tee should be considered after say 12 or 15 pitches have been thrown without a hit. On most occasions, the youngster is actually relieved at being able to get a hit using the tee. One way to take the edge off any embarrassment is to remind youngsters that even the pros practices their swings using tees. But just to be clear, the use of a tee is at the discretion of the coach based on their observation of the youngster.

5. If you have more than nine players, put each one in the batting order and run the batting in that order irrespective of who is playing in the field. You can substitute fielders to make sure that you have only nine on the field at one time - but make sure that all kids have equal playing time in the field.

6. An inning (a half-inning actually) ends when the team up to bat has batted around (all of the players have had a turn at the plate). You should have time for about 4 innings in the hour you have to play a game.

7. On overthrows into foul territory, allow the kids to advance only to one base beyond the one in front of them. Play stops when the ball gets back to the pitcher. Overthrows into fair territory do not stop play - the kids can keep running. No running on balls that get by the catcher, "passed balls", these are just ignored.

8. Since the coaches are pitching, the "kid pitcher" should stand behind and to the side of the adult pitcher, and he/she participates as a fielder after the pitch is made.

9. No fancy stuff in Coaches Pitch: no leading off base, no stealing, no enforcement of the infield fly rule. Just basic beginning baseball.

10. Safety first: a) helmets on all players batting, in the on-deck circle, or on base, b) instruct the kids to drop the bat after hitting the ball and not to throw the bat. Players may only hold a bat in their hands if they are approaching or leaving home plate or in a designated on-deck position. No metal spikes, though rubber ones are fine. Keep the kids well back - foul tips will hit somebody in the face. Be vigilant: the kids tend to crowd around the plate.