Rules 3

RC Durr YMCA

T–Ball Rules

3 Year Old Divisions

 

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Mission Statement:

 

To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Seven Pillars of YMCA Youth Sports: 

 

  1. Everyone plays.   We do not use tryouts to select the best players, nor do we cut kids from YMCA Youth Sports. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team.  During the season everyone receives equal practice time and plays at least half of every game.
  2. Safety first.  Although some children may get hurt playing sports, we do all we can to prevent injuries. We’ve modified each sport to make it safer and more enjoyable to play. We ask you to make sure the equipment and facilities are safe and to teach the sport as we’ve prescribed, so that the skills taught are appropriate for children’s developmental level. We ask you to develop your players’ fitness levels gradually so they are conditioned for the sport. And we ask you to constantly supervise your young players so that you can stop any unsafe activities.
  3. Fair play.  Fair play is about more than playing by the rules. It’s about you and your players showing respect for all who are involved in YMCA Youth Sports.  It’s about your being a role model of good sportsmanship and guiding your players to do the same.  Remember, we’re more interested in developing children’s character through sport than in developing a few highly skilled players.
  4. Positive competition.  We believe competition is a positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept in the right perspective.  The “right perspective” means adults make decisions that put the best interests of the children above winning the contest.  Learning to compete is important for children, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world is an essential lesson of life.  These are the lessons we want to teach through YMCA Youth Sports.
  5. Family involvement. YMCA Youth Sports encourages parents to be involved appropriately along with their child’s participation in our sport programs. In addition to parents being helpful as volunteer coaches, officials and timekeepers, we encourage them to be at practices and games to support their child’s participation.  To help parents get involved appropriately, YMCA Youth Sports offers parent-orientation programs.
  6. Sport for all.  YMCA Youth Sports is an inclusive sport program.  That means that children who differ in various characteristics are to be included rather than excluded from participation.  We offer sport programs for children who differ in physical abilities by matching them with children of similar abilities and modifying their sport. We offer programs to all children regardless of race, gender, religion or ability.  We ask our adult leaders to support and appreciate the diversity of children in our society and to encourage the children and their parents to do the same.
  7. Sport for fun. Sport is naturally fun for most children.  They love the challenge of mastering the skills of the game, of playing with their friends, and of competing with their peers.  Sometimes when adults become involved in children’s sport, they over-organize and dominate the activity to the point of spoiling children’s enjoyment of the sport. If we take the fun out of sport, we are in danger of our children taking themselves out of sport.  Remember, that these sports are for the kids; let them have fun.

 

Object of the Game

Members of two teams take turns hitting a ball off a tee set on home plate.  Batters try to hit the ball in fair territory and get to first base, eventually advancing to home plate.  Fielders will try to make outs and work on fundamentals.  Score will not be kept, there are no winners and losers in this league.

General

The game will follow the general rules of baseball/softball, with the following modifications:

  1. No standings or scores will be kept.
  2. No outs are recorded.
  3. The ball is hit off of a tee instead of being pitched.
  4. All participants advance to first base from the batting position and then subsequent bases in rotation.
  5. Unlimited substitutions are permitted for defensive teams
  6. Coaches and parents may be on the field during the game to help instruct.
  7. All games will end with teams and coaches shaking hands.

 

Field of Play

  1. The bases in Tee Ball and will be 50 feet apart.
  2. The distance from home plate to the pitching rubber is 35 feet in a direct line between second base and home plate, measured from the front edge of the pitching rubber to the tip of home plate where the bases converge.
  3. An arc of 10 feet will be drawn on the field, centered on the tip of home plate where the baselines converge.

 

Batting

  1. The batter and all base runners must wear a helmet.
  2. When batting, only one person is allowed in the batting area.  All others must remain sitting in the designated waiting area.
  3. The T-stand is placed on home plate.  Play begins once the coach calls “play ball.” (The coach is responsible for placing the ball on the tee and preparing everyone for play.)
  4. The batter may swing as many times as necessary.  No strikeouts!
  5. The ball must fall in fair territory and travel at least 10 feet (past the 10 ft. arc) for play to continue.
  6. The batter must drop the bat once the ball is hit.  Any player throwing his/her bat or helmet may be called out.
  7. The teams switch once the batting team has gone through the entire order.

 

Base Running

  1. Base runners must stay in contact with the bag until the ball is hit.  Not steals or lead-offs.
  2. Headfirst sliding is prohibited.
  3. Runners may advance as many bases as possible before the ball is picked up by the opposing team. Runners will not advance on throws.
  4. The last batter of the line-up will clear the bases with a “grand-slam homerun”.

 

Fielding

  1. Each team will field all players on defense:  6 infielders, including the pitcher, and the rest in the outfield (infielders and outfielders).
  2. The pitcher acts as an infielder, and stands with both feet on pitchers rubber until ball is hit.
  3. The remaining infielders must play in their positions and shall not cross the playing line until the ball is hit.
  4. Should a player move prematurely, a “dead ball” call will be made and play will cease.
  5. After each inning, defensive players must rotate to a different position.
  6. Players must avoid blocking the base lines.
  7. A “playing line”, extending between 1st and 2nd and between 2nd and 3rd bases, will be drawn to separate the infield from the outfield from which no defensive player shall pass until the ball is hit.
  8. Play will stop when the first baseman has the ball.

 

Duration of Games

 

3 Year Olds – Practices begin promptly at assigned times with the game following not more than 20 minutes later.  Each game shall last no more than 40 minutes or 3 innings.

4/5 Year Olds – Each game should last no more than 50 min or 4 innings.

 

Recommendations

 

In these divisions, we encourage parent volunteers to help keep players on the field and in proper position.

Copyright © 2009 RC Durr YMCA