GENERAL: This is the first league in what will hopefully be a long and rewarding involvement with organized sports for each of these children. The goal for this league is to introduce the youngsters to the most basic concepts of baseball, doing so in a low-stress atmosphere conducive to learning while downplaying the most competitive aspects of the sport.

Special rules have been designed which allow for all of the basic skills (i.e., hitting, catching, throwing and running) to be utilized under real-game situations, but including provisions which guarantee equal playing time for everyone, provide experience by continuously putting the ball in play and reward the kids for trying their best by minimizing the risks and penalties possible on any play. These rules are structured in such a way so as to be flexible enough to allow all the kids to participate at their own pace: the most advanced will be able to hit a pitched ball and make putouts in the field, while others less experienced or physically mature can hit off the tee and still attempt to make fielding plays without severe penalties or potential for embarrassing errors.

FIELD: The field dimensions for T-Ball consist of bases 50 feet apart, a foul arc 15 feet in front of home plate, a pitcher's line 45 feet from home, an infield line 5 feet inside all the bases, an outfield line 20 feet beyond the bases, and halfway lines between the bases. The home team is responsible for preparing the field for each game. This includes setting the bases and tee, lining and raking the field, doing any general tidying up the field needs and making all decisions on field conditions due to the weather.

EQUIPMENT: Uniform shirts are provided by the league, with the kids able to keep their caps. Standard all-black pants must be provided by the parents. Bats, bases and tees are kept in the boxes at the fields. Balls will be provided to the managers by the league. The kids must bring their own gloves and baseball shoes, and may bring bats if they wish, but everything should be prominently marked as equipment has a tendency to get misplaced at this age. STEEL-SPIKED SHOES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

PLAYERS: There will be 6 infielders: First Base, Second Base, Shortstop, Third Base, Pitcher and a Rover, who plays directly behind second base. The outfield will consist of all the remaining players available, as all children are guaranteed equal playing time.

A related matter is the rotation of players to different positions. Each child must play in the infield for a minimum of two innings up to a maximum of four. No child may play more than 1 inning per game at pitcher or first base or more than two innings at any of the other infield positions.

GAME: The games will be four innings in duration. Each inning will end after three outs or five runs have scored. After the fifth run, play is stopped, regardless of what continues on the play. Games should run no longer than an hour and a half. All games will be scheduled in two hour blocks to allow for 15 minutes warmup at the start and 15 minutes grace period at the end. NO game can run into the next time period, and any game reaching that point must be stopped immediately. Scores and standings are not kept and incomplete games are not made up. Rained out games may be rescheduled with the agreement of both managers.

BATTING: With the batting team's coach pitching, each batter will have the opportunity to swing at up to three pitches, with NO strikeouts. If the ball has not been put into play after three pitches, the batter will hit from the tee until a playable ball is hit. In addition to the standard foul lines, any ball not hit past the 15 foot foul arc will be ruled foul. Any time the batter loudly strikes the tee, the play will be ruled dead, and the swing will be played over. Full swings must be taken at all times, as there is no bunting. A batter may not throw the bat. If this occurs, play is ruled dead and the offending batter is warned. If the batter throws the bat again during the SAME at bat, the batter will be called out. If a team bats out of order, and it is noticed during the inning, the team will rebat from the point of the last "legal" batter, with the game situation duplicated from that point. If it is not noticed at that point, the game will proceed with the original lineup from the last batter in the inning. No out is recorded for batting out of order.

BASERUNNING: With no leads or stealing, the runner must wait until the batter makes contact with the ball. Once the ball is in play, runners can advance until play is stopped, at which point, runners are awarded the base they are entitled by the halfway line (lead runners take precedence over trailing runners). The baserunner should stay within the baseline. The only exceptions to this are to avoid a batted ball and interference. The runner has the the right of way, except when the fielder is making a play. If a runner interferes with a fielder while playing the ball, the runner is out and play is stopped. If a runner runs out of the baseline to avoid a tag, he is out. The runner may round first base to the right or left providing there is no deliberate move toward second. To encourage infield throws, runners will NOT be awarded an extra base when the ball goes out of bounds. Runners may advance only one base on infield hits. Base coaches may not physically interfere with any runner.

FIELDING: At the start of each play, the infielders must be in the traditional defensive positions, between the infield and outfield lines, outfielders must be evenly spaced behind the outfield line and the pitcher must be stationary behind the pitcher's line. After a fair ball is hit, play continues until: an outfielder or infielder throws the ball in a forward motion toward home plate, an infielder holds the ball after a throw to him or her, the ball is overthrown on the infield, or the umpire stops play to prevent an unsafe situation. At this point, the halfway lines are used. We strongly stress that the players should defend the area around their own position and not try to play the whole field. Players should throw the ball when trying to make a play at a base if there is a fielder at that position. NOTE: If it appears that a team has a set play to continuously run the ball to a base rather than risk a throw, then the umpire will warn the manager and all subsequent runners will be ruled safe. Fielders not in the act of fielding cannot obstruct baserunners - bases "lost" will be awarded by the umpire. There is no infield fly rule. If a throw crosses home plate anywhere inside the batting cage prior to a runner attempting to score touching home, the runner will be ruled out. Traditional outs may also be made by any infielder at home. Umpires or coaches in the field of play may not interfere with the ball in play, other than the umpire returning the ball to the pitcher. The outfield consists of all players remaining after the 6 player infield is established. No outfielder can make a play at a base. As soon as the outfielder throws the ball in a forward motion toward home plate, play is stopped. The only out an outfielder can record is by catching a fly ball.

COACHES: The league can use as many parents as possible to coach at this age level. Besides the manager, the usual base coaches are utilized, one coach serves as pitcher to the team when batting, a batter coach is used to help adjust the stance and instruct the batter and an unlimited number of infield and outfield coaches are allowed to keep outfielders alert and organized.

UMPIRING: The batting team for each game is required to provide the catcher/home plate umpire. Before each batter steps in and before each tee placement, the umpire will check on fielder awareness and say "Play Ball". The umpire will call "Time" when appropriate to the game situation, stop play immediately when a bat is thrown or loudly hits the tee, remove the tee and bat immediately after the batter leaves the home, serve as catcher, but not interfere with a ball in play, and enforce safe practices on the field of play. No disagreements with the decisions of the umpire are permitted. Managers, coaches and parents should strive at all times to set an excellent on-field example for the kids.