Special Playing Rules - Rookie Division

The Rookie Division Includes Ages 6, 7, & 8

ROOKIE DIVISION GAMES shall be played according to the Official Baseball Rules 1.00 through 8.06, with the following exceptions: In case of any conflict between the rules of the OYBI and the Official Baseball Rules, the OYBI rules shall have precedence.

THIS DIVISION WILL HAVE SEPARATE LEAGUES FOR 6, 7 AND 8 YEAR OLDS.

PITCHING LIMITATIONS (6 & 7 YEAR OLDS)

A. Adults will pitch. Each team will provide a coach who will pitch to players on his own team. Adult pitcher must limit coaching to the batter only while on the field.
B. A maximum of eight (8) pitches will be allowed per batter. If after eight (8) pitches, the batter has not hit the ball into fair play, he will be called out. Home team scorekeeper will be responsible for count of the pitches.
C. No balls or strikes will be called.
D. A pitcher's circle, 10 feet in diameter, will be drawn around the mound. The defensive pitcher (rookie player) must stand inside the circle, but not in front of the adult pitcher (coach), until the ball is hit. If the adult pitcher interferes with a live ball, it will result in the batter being out, and all base runner(s) must return to their base(s).
E. Pitcher-coach must maintain contact with the pitchers plate on delivery of the pitch.

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PITCHING LIMITATIONS (8 YEAR OLDS)

A. Player-pitcher will pitch to each batter until the batter has completed a regulation at bat. If the batter receives a base on balls, he will remain at the plate and the adult coach-pitcher will pitch up to an additional three pitches. At this point, if the batter has not reached base, he will be out. If batter is hit by a pitch thrown by the player-pitcher, unless he is unable to continue to play due to being hit by the pitch, the adult coach-pitcher will become the pitcher at this time and will pitch up to an additional three pitches. If the batter is unable to continue to play, he will return to the dug-out, and the next batter in the order will come to the plate. The injured player may return to the game at any time and will hit in his original batting order.
B. Adult pitcher will pitch to players on his own team, and must limit coaching to the batter only, while on the field.
C. Balls and strikes will be called only while the player-pitcher is pitching. The strike zone shall be that area over home plate, to include the black beveled edge on the outside, and the black beveled edge plus a ball's width on the inside, which is from under the nose to the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batter's natural stance when the batter swings at the pitch.
D. (Same as in 6 & 7 year old rule above).
E. (Same as in 6 & 7 year old rule above).
F. Player-pitcher may pitch a maximum of two innings per game. There will be no limit on innings per week, nor any rest period between games.
G. Any player-pitcher who hits three batters by pitches, will be removed from the game as a pitcher, but may play any other defensive position.

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RULE 3.19 - MANDATORY PLAYING RULE

All substitutes must be inserted in the defensive line-up prior to a team taking their defensive positions in the fourth inning. All players will be required to play a minimum of three (3) complete innings on defense, at least one of which will be in the infield. In the event a base runner is removed from the game due to injury or illness, any eligible player may be inserted as a substitute runner. The substitute runner shall retain his original position in the batting sequence.(Managers must use sound judgment in this situation so as to insure that the substitute runner's turn at bat does not occur while on base).

PENALTY - A manager's misuse or violation of this rule will subject the manager to possible dismissal as a manager, and/or forfeiture of the game. The first violation will result in the player(s) offended being played for the entire following game. The second violation will result in the player(s) offended being played for the entire following game, and the manager placed on a one game suspension. The third violation will result in the player(s) offended being played for the entire following game, and the manager will be suspended for the remainder of the season and lose eligibility to participate in the program the following season.

As a matter of normal participation, players are expected to attend practices as well as games. In the event a manager feels a player is not practicing enough to warrant playing in games, the following course of action is recommended:

1. When it becomes apparent that there is an attendance problem, the manager should discuss the matter with the player and parents to see if the situation can be resolved. It should be mentioned at this time that continued absenteeism could affect his game playing status.
2. If the problem continues, and the manager determines that he must withhold the player from a game, the player and parents should be notified prior to that game. In addition, the Player Agent and the opposing team manager should be notified prior to the game. This action having been taken, the provisions of the mandatory playing rule will not apply to this player.

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RULE 5.08 - A THROW

If a throw is made to or in the infield, including the pitcher, whether the infielder catches it or not, the runner shall be allowed to advance no further than the base he/she is attempting, but at his/her own risk. The ball will be called dead, and will be returned to the pitcher.

EXAMPLE: If there is a runner at 2nd base, and the ball is hit to shortstop, the shortstop fields the ball, runner at second tries to advance to third, shortstop throws the ball to third, the baseman misses the ball, the runner cannot advance any further than third base. The batter may advance no further than first base, since a throw occurred.

EXAMPLE: Any ball thrown from the outfield toward the infield will be considered a throw.

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RULE 6.01(a) - BATTING ORDER

Every player of the offensive team shall be in the batting order and shall bat in the order that his name appears. If for any reason, a player must be removed from the game while in the field or at bat, his batting position becomes vacant and the next batter in the order, and all behind him, advance one position. If a player is at bat and is injured, and has to be removed from the game, the next player in the batting order will assume the count of the removed player. Player(s) arriving after a team's first batter has been to bat are added to the bottom of the order.

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