• TIME LIMIT – Games capped at 1 hour (No New Inning should start 10 Minutes before the Hour)

• All Players Play the Field (Regular Infield, Extra Players Play Outfield)

• Bat Half the Line Up Each Inning - no matter how many outs there are.

• NO LEAD OFFS or STEALING ALLOWED

• Players Begin Season Hitting Off Tee - Starting Week 3 Coaches Can Pitch To Kids (3 Pitches)

• Coaches can pitch underhand or overhand whichever provides the player with the best opportunity to hit the ball. 

• Offensive coach pitches to their own players.

• After 3 missed pitches batter will hit off a tee. 

• Defensive coaches can be in the field to help provide guidance to his team on defense.

• All bats must bear the T-Ball USA stamp.

• There are no official umpires so coaches on both teams call the game together. Remember this is an instructional league games!

• 10 players play in the field at a time (6 infielders and 4 outfielders).  Outfielders must be positioned on the grass on defense.  Players may not sit for two innings straight.

• 1.5 Hour Game Time Max (No New Inning After 1hr 20 min)

• 6 Inning Max

• Offensive team bats until either 3 outs are recorded or 5 runs are scored regardless of the result of the play. 

• Offensive team coach feeds the balls to his own team.  Regular baseballs are used for machine pitch. 

• The pitching machine should be setup on the pitching mound.

• 5 pitches max per batter or 3 swinging strikes whichever comes first (if a player fouls the 5th pitch then the at bat continues).

• There are no called balls or strikes. A batter cannot walk.

• The catcher must assume the catcher’s position and field the position defensively.

• Catchers must wear a protective cup.

• No leadoffs or steals. Players may leave the base once the ball is put into play by the batter.

• Defensive coach can be in the outfield to help provide guidance to his team on defense.

• The defensive “pitcher” shall take a position to the left or right side of the the Pitching Machine* on mound. 

• All bats must bear the USA stamp. No BBCOR or USSSA bats. (See Bat Requirements Rules)

• There will be no official umpires so coaches on both teams call the game together. Remember this is an instructional league game!

*Rookie League uses a Pitching Machine to allow the players to develop the basic fundamentals of baseball in a safe, low pressure environment. 

• No Leading Off. Player MAY leave base and/or Steal once pitch crosses the front of home plate (3 Max Per Inning). Overthrows/Errors Do Not Count As Steals - Players can not advance once Pitcher has ball on Infield Grass/Mound.

• TIME LIMIT – 2 hour Game Time Max or six (6) innings, whichever comes first. No new innings after 1:45. If the drop dead time is reached, the score will revert back to the last full completed inning. Regular Season games WILL end in a TIE.

• 46’ pitching Distance and 60’ Base paths. 

• No Player may sit out 2 defensive innings until every other Player has sat out at least 1 inning.

• Plays at Home – Players are not required to slide, but they must avoid contact (they cannot leap). If they make contact with a catcher making a play, it must be with a slide.

• Base paths -  if in the path of a throw they must slide immediately or peel out of the baseline.

• Mercy game rule 10 runs after 4 complete or 3 and a half innings if the home team is ahead.

• Catchers must wear a protective cup.

• Time between innings should be no more than 2 minutes or 5 warm up pitches whichever comes first. 

• Use two-out runner for pitcher & catcher. The runner will be the last recorded player out, whether that was a strike out or put-out. 

• All bats must bear the USA stamp. No BBCOR or USSSA bats. (See bat regulations rules)

• Home team to be the official scorekeeper and record of Pitch count.

• Coach Pitch/4 Ball Rule – No Walks! A Coach Will Come Into Pitch At Ball 4 - (Example) If a Player has a 3-2 count and ball 4 is thrown, then the coach will come into pitch to that player. That player keeps his or her current strikes (Could be 0, 1 or 2). In this example, If they swing and miss it’s a strikeout. If coach pitches a strike and the batter doesn’t swing, the umpire can call strike 3.

• Tournament games will continue until there is a winner. Championship Games there is No Time Limit, 6 innings will be played.

Pitch Count* (Days rest based on # of pitches thrown during game)

*Pitch Count numbers are based on pitch smart guidelines.  

• End of season tournament will use the Cal Ripken Tournament pitch counts which allows more pitches on less rest.  This is approved as the players will have extended rest as the season ends.  Those are provided before the tournament, but can be found in the Babe Ruth Rule book.

• LEAD OFFS/STEALS ALLOWED AND DROPPED THIRD STRIKE RULE APPLY. 

• TIME LIMIT – 2 hour Game Time Max or six (6) innings, whichever comes first. No new innings after 1 hour 45min. Games can go into extra innings if the inning can start at or under the 1 hour 45 min. mark. Regular Season games WILL end in a TIE.

• 50’ pitching Distance and 70’ Base paths. 

• Every Player Needs To Play 2 Innings In The Field and Bat At Least Once.

• Catchers must wear a protective cup.

• Plays at Home – Players are not required to slide, but they must avoid contact (they cannot leap).  If they make contact with a catcher making a play, it must be with a slide.

• Base paths -  if in the path of a throw they must slide immediately or peel out of the baseline.

• Time between innings should be no more than 2 minutes or 5 warm up pitches whichever comes first. 

• Mercy rule 10 runs after 4 complete innings, or 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead.

• All bats must bear the USA stamp. No BBCOR or USSSA bats. (See Bat Regulation Rules)

• All players are in the batting lineup regardless of whether they played in the field during the defensive inning.

• Home team to be the official scorekeeper and record Pitch count for both teams.

• Tournament games will continue until there is a winner. Championship Games there is No Time Limit, 6 innings will be played.

Pitch Count* (Days rest based on # of pitches thrown during game)

*Pitch Count numbers are based on pitch smart guidelines.  

• End of season tournament will use the Cal Ripken Tournament pitch counts which allows more pitches on less rest. This is approved as the players will have extended rest as the season ends. Those are provided before the tournament, but can be found in the Babe Ruth Rule book.