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Age Group - 5, 6 and 7 year old boys and girls as of July 1,
2003.
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The ball is hit from a pole called a "T."
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Only official T-Ball bats may be used. Bat must have
T-Ball insignia on it.
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Maximum of sixteen (16) players per team.
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There will be twenty-four (24) teams in the league.
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Regularly scheduled games will start at 6:30 PM sharp.
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Each team will use a maximum of twelve (12) players on defense, which
will consist of six (6) infielders and six (6) outfielders. A minimum of
nine (9) players
is needed to start a game. No catcher will be used.
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If a manager has less than nine (9) players at the scheduled start
of a game, one fifteen (15) minute extension will be given to that manager. If
the manager is still unable to field a team, a forfeit will be declared.
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All players must bat.
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Each player must play a minimum of two (2) innings per game on
defense.
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No player may play more than two (2) innings as the
pitcher or First Baseman.
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The pitcher is not permitted to record an unassisted out
at first base. The ball must be thrown.
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The length of a game will be five (5) innings.
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An inning shall consist of three (3) outs or until a team
has scored seven (7) runs. In the fifth inning only, the inning will
end after three (3) outs or until every player has batted once. If
every player bats in the fifth inning, the inning is over regardless of the
situation at the time.
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After five (5) innings are complete, the game is over
regardless of the score. Tie games will be recorded accordingly.
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If after 4-1/2 innings, and the HOME TEAM is leading, the
game is over and the home team will not bat.
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Bases will be forty-five (45) feet apart.
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At a distance of ten (10) feet from the back edge of the
bases, an arc will be drawn to separate the infield from the outfield.
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Each player must play his/her position. No shifts of
any kind will be permitted.
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A ten (10) foot circle will be drawn around the pitcher's
mound.
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Infielders cannot play more than four (4) feet in front of
the baselines and must also be positioned so they do not interfere with the
runner. Outfielders must play behind the arc mentioned in Rule 18. All players must play their designated positions, until the ball
is hit.
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The following will apply on a ball that is hit to the
outfield and thrown into the infield. As soon as the ball crosses the
infield arc (fair or foul), play will stop and the ball will be declared
dead. The ball does not have to be caught by a fielder. Base
runners less than half way to the next base will return to the previous base
occupied. Base runners more than half way will be awarded that base
unless runners are forced to advance. The lead runner will be the
determining factor.
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A hash mark will be drawn on the field half way between the
bases.
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The following will apply on a ball that is not hit out of
the infield. Each base runner may advance only one base; however,
he/she must earn that base. Base runners are allowed to overrun any
base once they earned (touched) that base.
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If an umpire determines a base runner misses a base, he/she
will be called back to the base after the play is stopped. There will
not be an out called. No appeals can be made to the umpires.
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There is not an infield fly rule in T-Ball.
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No bunting. Each batter must take a full swing at the
ball.
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There will be a ten (10) foot arc from home plate
outwards. Any ball that does not travel outside of this arc will be
ruled a foul ball. A ball touching the arc is foul.
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There will be NO STRIKEOUTS! Each batter must hit the
ball off of the "T" into the field of play (Fair Territory).
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There will be none of the following:
A. Advances on overthrows
B. Stealing
C. Lead Offs - Each player must hold the base.
D. Sliding
E. Throwing of the bat (Player will be called "Out" on
second offense)
F. No steel spike shoes (rubber baseball spikes will be allowed)
ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RULES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UMPIRES.
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Umpires - Two per game to be stationed in foul territory
along the first and third base line. One umpire from each team.
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Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the playing field
during the game. They will be stationed behind the outfield players.
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All teams must use the equipment supplied by the
League. No personal bats, balls, etc. will be allowed.
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The managers will be required to exchange line up cards five
(5) minutes prior to the start of each game. This card will include
his/her entire batting order with the player's name and number. If a
player arrives after the line up is turned in, they will be placed at the
bottom of the order. Batting out of turn will result in one out for
every player skipped (maximum of three (3) outs per inning). All plays after
the skipped batter(s) count and play continues. This discrepancy must
be brought to the attention of the umpire by the manager during the inning
it takes place or this rule will not apply. The umpire cannot uncover
this rule.
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All discrepancies will be between the managers and umpires
only. This includes time outs. The only exception is an injury.
If a player is injured on a play, play will stop and the umpire will award
one base from the point of injury.
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Each manager must designate an official scorer prior to each
game.
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RAIN OUTS - if after a game is started, it begins to rain,
the two opposing managers and the two umpires will decide if the game should
be called. If three (3) or more innings (two and one half (2 ½) if the home team
is winning) have been played, this will be considered a completed
game. If not, the game will be rescheduled and played as a new game
starting from the first inning. The Parks & Recreation Department
will reschedule all games. It is the responsibility of the manager to
be prepared to field a team on the rescheduled day so as to avoid a forfeit.
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FIRST BASE will be placed on the first base line, white to
the field of play - orange to the foul ground. The base runner is safe
when touching the white or orange part of first base. Outs will be
made only when the infielders touch the white part of the base.
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Any rule not covered above will be governed by the Executive
Board.
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The Executive Board will consist of the Parks &
Recreation Department Director and the T-Ball Commissioner.
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Garfield Park Reservation - THERE IS NO PARKING ON THE
GRASS! All cars must be parked in the designated parking
lots. Park Rangers will ticket cars parked illegally along the road
and excessive violations of this rule could result in suspension of our
PERMIT to use the playing area.
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The manager of the winning team is responsible for calling
in his/her score into either the League Commissioner or the Garfield Heights
Parks & Recreation Department on the night of the game. If no one
answers, Voice Mail will be employed at each number. State your team
name and score, and your opponent's name and score. Any score not
called in before 11:00 PM of the game day will not be recorded as a win.
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In the event that a game gets rained out, both managers
should call the hotline numbers.
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Standings will be kept and distributed periodically to all
managers.
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NO SMOKING WILL BE PERMITTED ON OR NEAR THE FIELDS DURING
GAMES AND PRACTICES.
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Batter's Box - A batter's box will be in place on all
fields. A batter must position him/herself within that batter's box
(both feet) while approaching home plate. Additionally, both feet must
be in batter's box at the time contact is made with the ball. Penalty
for violating this rule will result in the batter being called out.
Note: The lines are considered to be a part of the batter's box.
