Beacon Hill Rookie Minors House Rules

1. Players should arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of the game for a warm up.
2. A regulation game is 4 innings long.
3. There is no “on deck” circle to warm up batters.
4. The maximum number of bases a player can advance on a hit is 2.
5. Each team will have 3 outs or a maximum of 3 runs per inning. In the last inning the visiting team may score enough runs to go ahead by 3 before 3 outs. The home team may then try to score enough runs to go ahead before 3 outs are made.
6. Must complete four innings unless it becomes unsafe to do so. The last inning is modified open as declared by the umpire. The visiting team can score 3 runs if tied or ahead OR can score as many runs as possible to go ahead by 3 if behind. The home team can score enough to win or 3 outs.

7. All players should have an opportunity to play all positions during the season.

8. There will be 9 defensive players on the field at any given time.

9. Coaches may be in the outfield coaching the defensive team.
10. Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of 2 innings and bat at least 1 time.
11. Batting – Every player bats in a continuous batting order.
12. A Reduced Injury (level 5 soft) baseball is used as opposed to a regulation hardball.
13. Stealing is not allowed in Rookie Minor games.
14. Sliding is permitted. Feet first only going into a base. (Head first sliding going back to a base is not encouraged but will not result in an out.)
15. Players may be borrowed from other Rookie Minors teams, or from the Junior Rookie division. A team may borrow only enough to bring the team up to 9 players. Borrowed players must play outfield and bat last.
16. Pitching:

1. A pitcher can only throw 1 inning per game. NO EXCEPTIONS!
2. Peer to Peer pitching is utilized but from a CLOSER pitching rubber than in Minors (38 feet).
3. After three (3) balls are pitched to a batter, the batting team’s coach will pitch to the batter. However, if the count is 3 balls and 2 strikes, 1 more pitch can be thrown by the pitcher.
4. When a batter is hit by a pitch, they will take first base.
5. There are no walks. The batter will continue to bat until a strike out occurs or the ball is put into play. The original pitcher will stand beside the coach for defensive purposes and will return to the mound for the next batter.
6. Coaches will receive one "mulligan" (re-do) for one wild pitch when they take over pitching to a batter. All other pitches thrown by the coach are strikes, regardless if it is thrown in the strike zone or not. Coaches are encouraged to work on throwing strikes.

17. Approved Bats

Only bats with the USA Baseball certification can be used for games AND practices, and only 2 ¼” or 2 5/8” (No 2 ¾” bats). This information should be reinforced with parents and players. No exceptions. One warning will be issued after which any further illegal bat use, or attempt to do so, will result in the ejection of the head coach.

https://www.littleleague.org/playing-rules/bat-rules/

18. Umpires

Coaches cannot tell an umpire what to do, they must form a review as a question. Be respectful and do not intimidate the umpires. It is easy to make a mistake – help each other make it fair for the kids.

We use youth umpires for Rookie Minors games, some are umpiring for the first time. Please be understanding and respectful of the boys/girls in blue and model this for your players both in the words you say and your body language (i.e. throwing up your hands, eye rolls, all of those actions are picked up on by your players