2024 Co-Ed T-Ball RULES

BEREA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION

Only the Executive Broad of the Berea Baseball Association my change or modify these rules.

RULE 1.0   DIVISIONS & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1.01   LEAGUE DIVISIONS & PLAYER AGES

T-Ball is for boys and girls ages 4-6

1.03     Exemptions to the rules must be approved by the Executive Board

RULE 2.0  UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, AND THE PLAYING FIELD

2.01     Jersey, pants and caps are provided by the Berea Baseball Association and should be worn by each player during the game.  No shorts or modifications to the provided uniform are permitted.  Jerseys cannot be altered and should be tucked in.  Earrings or other piercings, watches, necklaces, or other loose jewelry must be removed prior to the start of a scheduled game.  Medical alert jewelry or religious emblems are permitted provided that they are taped down or otherwise secured prior to the player taking the field.

2.02     T-ball bats must meet Little League specifications and standards and have the USA Baseball certification stamp.  Softball, composite, and wood bats are not allowed.

2.03     All bats must be 2 1/4 diameter and no more than 26" and be for T-ball use

2.04     Illegal bats must be removed.  

2.05     Balls, bats, tees, and helmets are supplied by the BBA.  Coaches and players should respect this equipment.   Batting helmets w/a face guard must be worn by a player when on-deck, batting, and running bases.   All batting helmets must be SEI/NOCSAE certified and have a SEI/NOCSAE certified faceguard.  

2.06     No metal spikes are allowed

2.07     Playing Field: Bases will be a distance of sixty (60) feet and the pitcher's mound will be forty-five (45) feet from home plate. 

RULE 3.0   GAME PRELIMINARIES, GROUND RULES

3.01     Only the team head coach, assistant coaches, players in uniform, and a batboy are permitted in the dugout or playing area.  The batboy must wear a batting helmet when on the field of play.

3.02     Players, coaches, and assistants should not address, or mingle with spectators, nor sit in the stands during the game in which they are participating in, with the exception of controlling unruly behavior. 

3.03     The home team will occupy the first base dugout. 

RULE 4.0  STARTING AND PLAYING TIME

4.01     Infield practice will be determined by the time left before the start of the next game.  The umpires will have the authority in this matter.  There will be no infield/outfield practice after the first inning.

4.02     Regulation Games: Games are to be one (1) hour long with no new inning started after the first forty-five (45) minutes of play.  There are no minimum or maximum innings needed to constitute a complete game.  Play will be discontinued at the one (1) hour mark.

4.03     Games will begin at scheduled times, provided the umpires and fields are ready for play.  Rain delays and cancellations after the game begins are at the umpire's discretion.  The following rules will apply in lighting disturbances:

4.03a   A 30-second or less flash-to-bang count will result in removal of all players from the field to an appropriate shelter 

4.03b   Thirty (30) Minute Rule: Once play has been suspended, there must be at least a 30 minute wait after the last flash of lightening is witnessed, or thunder is heard, prior to resuming play.    

4.04     Run Rule: There will be no run rule.  No score is kept-Everyone is a winner in T-ball. 

4.05     Number of Defensive Players: The team will field every player in a defensive position.  T-ball is about developing the fundamentals and learning to play the game properly.  

Infield: Only one player is allowed to play in each appropriate position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, SS), with the exception of the pitcher's position.  You may place one player on each side of the mound.  There is no catcher's position in t-ball.  

Outfield: The remaining players should play in the outfield.  Place the players closer to the infield (on the grass line).  Use discretion in placement depending on the field of play.  

Rotation of Players:  No player should play the same position the entire game or year.  Rotate the players in as many positions as possible to enable them to gain experience.  

4.08 Batting Procedure:  Every player will bat in the line-up.   Each player will receive as many swings as it takes to hit the ball.  It is recommended that a coach assist players while at bat.  Outs will not be counted.  The inning  will end when the batting team reaches the bottom of the order.  The maximum number of batters per inning is equal to the number of players in attendance on the larger team that game.  Rotate the batting order each inning and each game to ensure that every player has a chance to bat first during the season.  

 

RULE 7.0  THE RUNNER

7.01     Lead Offs: There will be no lead offs permitted.

7.02     Stealing of Bases: There will be no base stealing.

7.03     Overthrows: Play will stop when there is an overthrow (dead ball) to any position.  Base runners will not advance.

7.05     Sliding headfirst into any base will not be permitted.  

7.06     Fielders may not block the base path or base unless they are fielding the ball or have possession of the ball and are making a play on the base runner.  

7.07    Runners will only advance one base at a time.  

RULE 9.0   CONDUCT OF COACHES, ASSISTANT COACHES, FANS

9.01     Only the team head coach may address the umpire or the opposing team’s head coach concerning a rules interpretation, disputed call, or questions concerning the game, etc.  Violation of this rule by an assistant coach, player, or fan will result in a verbal warning given to the head coach.  Any additional or subsequent infractions will result in the immediate ejection of the head coach and or any assistant coach, player, or fan that becomes involved in these meetings.        

9.02     If the head coach is unable to attend a game, a designated head coach must be declared to the plate umpire prior to the start of the game.  All games must begin and end with a BBA approved, adult coach on the field.

9.03     Head coaches are to keep their assistant coaches, players, and fans under control at all times.  The umpire may eject the head coach, assistant coach, player, or fan if he deems necessary, from the playing field area.  The head coach will be allowed reasonable time to control his assistant coaches, players or fans before he will be subject to possible ejection.  A second ejection for one (1) team (including players, coaches, and or fans) in any game will result in immediate and final forfeiture of the game.  Following a second ejection (coaches, players, and or fans) during the season, the head coach will be suspended.  Reinstatement is as defined in RULE 9.04.   

9.04     Ejection of a coach (head or assistant), or a violation of the rule herein, will earn the head coach a minimum suspension for that game, plus the next scheduled game.  Following an ejection, the head coach may not coach again until a committee consisting of the BBA President, The Director of Operations, and the League Director reviews him.  If any of the above is not readily available, a preapproved representative of the BBA Board of Directors will serve.  During this suspension, the coach may not have any contact with his team prior to, during, or after a game.  This also includes any team practices or team outings.

9.05     No BBA coach will be permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, or consume alcoholic beverages while practicing with or coaching a BBA team.

9.06     Profanity by any head coach, assistant coach, or player is subject to immediate ejection from the game.   

9.07     No verbal abuse, heckling, badgering, or name-calling of any player, umpire, coach, or fan will be tolerated.  There will be no organized noise or chanting prior to, or during the pitcher’s delivery (i.e.: banging bats, shaking the fence, “rally, rally”, etc.).