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B A S E B A L L    C O A C H    P I T C H Expectations of Coach Pitch Coaches Printable Version of Coach Pitch Guidelines & Rules In Adobe Acrobat Format The coach pitch level is where players should begin to understand "WHY" they are making certain plays. As with the Tee-Ball level, the primary objective at this level is to ensure that each player has had a "positive experience" with baseball, desires to play again the following year and has been taught the fundamentals as listed below. Managers and Coaches should introduce and complete by the end of the season, instruction in the concepts that will be applied at the Minor League level of play. Throughout the season, players should be taught the following fundamentals with an emphasis on "WHY" they are doing the following: Coach Pitch - Specific Stages of Desired Development Mental 1. Understanding the basics of how the game is played Names of each of the positions and the roles of each What is an out and the how are they made. Strike Out, Force Out, Fly Out, and Tag Out What is a run and how is it scored How to get on base Hit, Error, Fielder's Choice, Walk or Hit by a Pitch - Even though not used at this level The basic Rules of Play Physical Aspects 1. Hitting Proper stance Proper grip Balance during swing Eagerness to hit Consistent contact 2. Base Running Know to run through first base. Aware of other runners Ability to see and hear base coaches 3. Fielding Ability to play catch from at least 40 feet Field easy ground balls Consistently use proper glove position when catching above the waist (fingers up) Often turn glove to backhand to field balls on throwing arm side React to balls hit to either side of player 4. Throwing Consistently turn glove side to target Make accurate throws from at least 40 feet. 5. Catching Catch most balls thrown in the strike zone Catch the ball without turning head or body to the side Throw ball back all the way to the pitcher Coach Pitch Rules Game Length Games length is the regulation six innings, subject to time limits (below). Time Limit Last Inning One-Hour-Forty-Five Minute/Full Game Two-Hour-Ten-Minute Time. For regular season games, no full inning will begin after one hour and forty-five minutes (1:45) have elapsed from the scheduled start time of the game unless both managers agree that a delay in the start of the game is unavoidable. In the case of a delay in the start of the game, this time limit is extended to two hours (2:00) from the official "START TIME." A new inning begins immediately after the third out in the bottom of an inning occurs. Any inning starting prior to the one hour and forty-five minute (1:45) limit will be played in full subject to darkness or weather. Once the game reaches two hours and ten minutes (2:10), the game will be halted and considered completed at that time. If the teams have not completed the current inning, the final score reverts back to the last full inning completed. Player Roster Each player shall play every inning in the field. Field positions will be as follows: A player is placed beside the coach or pitching machine assuming the defensive position of the pitcher. The catcher takes his normal position. The catcher must wear protective equipment provided by the league. Four normally positioned infielders (3rd, Short, 2nd, 1st) plus an additional infielder stationed behind second base. All other roster players will play in the outfield and be stationed at least 10 feet beyond the edge of the infield. No player may repeat at any position during a game until all other players have played that position. Each player shall play an infield position at least one inning per game. No more than two defensive coaches are permitted on the playing field. These coaches are for instructional purposes. Base Stealing and Sliding Leading off base, stealing bases and intentionally bunting are not permitted. Head first sliding is not permitted. Overthrows No extra bases on overthrows at first base. One base on an overthrow at any other base. Play will stop when the ball is under control by any infielder in the infield. Any runner past half way will continue to the next base. Three outs/Five Runs Each half inning will end after the third recorded out, or after five runs have scored, which ever occurs first. Batting Order Each manager will establish a batting order at the beginning of the season. That batting order will be rotated one position every game. Players absent will be skipped. Players arriving late will bat the next time their position comes up. At the half way point of the season the manager may revise the batting order. That revised batting order will continue through the rest of the regular season. It will also rotate one position each game. Seven Pitch Maximum The offensive team's manager/coach will be responsible for pitching a maximum of seven pitches to each batter. The batter is out if he/she does not hit one of the seven pitches into fair territory. There is no minimum distance a ball needs to travel in fair ground to be considered in play. There are no walks. Face Protection All Batting helmets (including personal helmets) MUST bear the NOCSAE stamp and be equipped with face protection of the cage type, and worn at all times while batting, on the base paths and by players coaching bases. The NOCSAE requirements of Rule 1.16 are explicitly associated with helmets provided by the league while this rule, for sound safety reasons, also includes and applies to "personal" helmets. On-field Coaches The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time at bat, one occupying the first base coach’s box and one occupying the third base coach’s box. One or both coaches may be roster team members, or they may be the manager and/or roster coaches – as long as one roster adult is in the dugout at all times. The defensive team may station two roster adults in the field as long as one roster adult is in the dugout at all times. Defensive team coaches stationed on the field must be in the outfield. No one will stand behind the catcher. Defensive team managers and coaches stationed in the dugout must remain in the dugout at all times unless time is out. On-Deck Batters Between Innings, the offensive team is allowed only ONE Batter with a Bat to be outside the dugout preparing to Bat. © 2006 Great Falls Little League, All Rights Reserved