Beginners T-Ball RULES OF PLAY
Hopewell Recreation Ministry Leadership reserves the right to make any changes that they deem necessary for the betterment of the league and its play.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
No coach or player shall belittle or berate the players, coaches or fans of another team. This type of action will NOT be tolerated. First offense: Warning. Second offense: Ejection from game. PENALTY: Any coach or player ejected from a game will be suspended for a minimum of 1 game up to a maximum of the remainder of the season. Any coach ejected from a game will be required to meet in person with the Hopewell Recreation Minister before coaching another game. The coach is responsible to set up this meeting.
Coordinators & Referees may issue warnings to players, coaches or teams for team and personal unsportsmanlike conduct or safety concerns.
Harassment of officials and Hopewell Recreation Ministry Staff will not be tolerated. Questions should be asked by the HEAD COACH ONLY and done in an ORDERLY HUMANE and RESPECTFUL fashion about rule interpretations only. Judgment calls are NOT to be argued. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate ejection of the guilty party and possibly forfeiture of the game. NO WARNINGS WILL BE GIVEN!!
• Players' ages are three and four.
• There are no umpires for this age group. Coaches are the umpires. Coaches need to discuss the number of players per team before the game. (ie – if one team has 9 players and one team has 10 players then the team with 9 players will bat an extra batter each inning.)
• Every player bats and plays in the field. Maximum of 10 players on defense, in normal defensive positions. 6 infielders and 4 outfielders.
• The ball is hit off a batting tee; there is no pitching.
• Bats are 2-1/4 Diameter.
• There are no walks or strikeouts.
• A 5-foot arc will be in front of the plate to determine foul or fair balls.
• No stealing. Player stays on the base until the ball is hit.
Transitional T-Ball RULES OF PLAY
Hopewell Recreation Ministry Leadership reserves the right to make any changes that they deem necessary for the betterment of the league and its play.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
No coach or player shall belittle or berate the players, coaches or fans of another team. This type of action will NOT be tolerated. First offense: Warning. Second offense: Ejection from game. PENALTY: Any coach or player ejected from a game will be suspended for a minimum of 1 game up to a maximum of the remainder of the season. Any coach ejected from a game will be required to meet in person with the Hopewell Recreation Minister before coaching another game. The coach is responsible for setting up this meeting.
Coordinators & Referees may issue warnings to players, coaches or teams for team and personal unsportsmanlike conduct or safety concerns.
Harassment of officials and Hopewell Recreation Ministry Staff will not be tolerated. Questions should be asked by the HEAD COACH ONLY and done in an ORDERLY HUMANE and RESPECTFUL fashion about rule interpretations only. Judgment calls are NOT to be argued. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate ejection of the guilty party and possibly forfeiture of the game. NO WARNINGS WILL BE GIVEN!!
Judgment calls made by the referee shall NOT be contested.
There will be paid refs for each game.
• Players' ages are five and six.
• Every player bats and plays in the field. Teams with more than 10 players will need to rotate players in and out of the games.
• Bats are 2-1/4 Diameter Only.
• There are no walks or strikeouts.
• There is a 5-foot arc in front of the plate to determine foul or fair hits.
• Defensive Field positions are traditional baseball positions, including catcher. Catcher will stand at the fence until the ball is hit into play and must wear a batting helmet.
• No stealing. Player stays on the base until the ball is hit.
• Players will receive 3 pitches. If they foul the 3rd strike, they get additional pitches until they hit the ball or strike out. If they do not hit the ball after three strikes, they will get to hit off the tee. .
• All players will bat each inning. If the defensive team gets 3 outs, any runs scored after that will not count. Both teams will bat the number of batters equal to the team with the most players. If one team has 10 players and the other team has 11 players, both teams will bat 11. In the 1st inning the lead off batter will be the first batter and the last batter, In the 2nd inning the 2nd batter will be the first and last batter.
• Standard game is 1 hour.
• Bunting will not be allowed. Shoes with metal cleats or spikes are not permitted by any player.
• Runners are allowed one base per overthrow. If the overthrow happens at first base the runner may advance to 2nd. If there is an additional overthrow at 2nd base, time will be called and the runner will stay at 2nd. A ball hit to the pitcher and overthrown at 1st base will not turn into a track meet and allow the runner to have a home run off of a ball hit back to the pitcher.
• Players will bat in rotation. Batters are permitted 3 strikes. Balls struck beyond the 5-ft. arc are considered in play.
• The ball is considered dead when in the possession of the pitcher, or player within the pitching circle, or when a fielder intentionally throws the ball to the pitcher (regardless of if the pitcher catches the ball). The umpire will call a dead ball. If a runner is more than halfway to a base before time is called, then the runner can finish running to the base.
• 1 defensive field coach is permitted in the outfield to assist fielders on where to throw the ball. However, the coach may not at any time touch the ball or the fielder while play is going on.
• If a base runner is called out the runner must return to the dugout and is not allowed to run the bases.
• There will be no infield fly rule.
• Batters, base runners, and on deck batters must wear protective helmets.
• If the batter throws the bat he/she will receive one warning and will be called out if it happens a second time. If the bat is thrown and hits a defensive player, the batter will automatically be called out. • Regular season games can end in a tie. Tournament games cannot end in a tie. The game will be decided using international rules with the last out from the previous inning starting on 2nd base. The defensive team will also start the inning with 2 outs and only have to get one out to end that half of the inning.
• Exterior jewelry is not permitted on players.
• Players must have a number on uniforms for easy identification.
• Teams are required to exhibit sportsman-like conduct after each game by shaking hands. A prayer is required at the beginning and end of each game.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. If a coach, player, or fan is ejected from a game he or she must leave the park immediately. If the same person is ejected from another game he or she will be suspended indefinitely from the field and may not return pending a meeting with the Recreation Supervisor
• The Minister of Recreation or Hopewell Representative reserves the right to make final determination on any rules or interpretations that may arise throughout the season.
• All players will receive trophies at the completion of a terrific season!
Coaches, please maintain integrity, be the adult and set a Christlike example for your players, parents and spectators
• An inning is over when all the players have batted once.
• No Score is kept. There is no tournament at the end of the season. This age group is all about fundamentals and fun for the kids.
• Standard game is one hour.
• Bunting will not be allowed.
• Shoes with metal cleats or spikes are not permitted by any player.
• Runners are allowed one base per overthrow.
• Players will bat in rotation until all players have batted. Balls struck beyond the 5-ft. arc are considered in play.
• The ball is considered dead when in the possession of the pitcher, or player within the pitching circle, or when a fielder intentionally throws the ball to the pitcher (regardless of if the pitcher catches the ball), or if the runners have stopped running. If a runner is more than half way to a base before the ball enters the circle, then the runner can finish running to the base.
• 1 defensive field coach is permitted in the outfield to assist fielders on where to throw the ball. However, the coach may not at any time touch the ball or the fielder while play is going on.
• If a base runner is called out the runner must return to the dugout and is not allowed to run the bases.
• There will be no infield fly rule.
• Batters, baserunners, and on deck batters must wear protective helmets.
• If the batter throws the bat he/she will receive one warning and will be called out if it happens a second time. If the bat is thrown and hits a defensive player, the batter will automatically be called out.
• Exterior jewelry is not permitted on players.
• Players must have a number on uniforms for easy identification.
• Teams are required to exhibit sportsman-like conduct after each game by shaking hands. A prayer is required at the beginning and end of each game. Devotions will be lead by coaches or Hopewell Recreation Staff at the start of the 2nd inning at home plate with both teams together at home plate.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. If a coach, player, or fan is ejected from a game he or she must leave the park immediately. If the same person is ejected from another game he or she will be suspended indefinitely from the HBC Recreation programs pending a meeting with the Minister of Recreation
• The Minister of Recreation or Hopewell Representative reserves the right to make final determination on any rules or interpretations that may arise throughout the season.
• All players will receive Plaques or plates at the completion of a terrific season!
• Coaches, please maintain integrity, be the adult, and set a Christlike example for your players, parents and spectators!