T-Ball Rules

NNLL T – Ball Division Rules

Coach Information

Managers at the T – Ball level are selected at the discretion of the T – Ball Vice President and NNLL each year.
Managers and coaches must successfully pass the required background check in order to coach.
Managers and coaches who have a child on their team must play their child as they would any other team member, with no preference given for position or playing time.
Coaches must become familiar with coaching techniques, drills and expectations of the skills player should possess upon leaving this division.
Coaches will be given a team roster and a schedule by the Division Vice president. Coaches must contact the players/families in a timely manner.
Coaches will schedule a parent meeting. Coaching philosophy, plans, goals, rules and expectations should be discussed.
The Division Vice President and Coaching Coordinator must be cc’d on all emails and correspondence from the coach to the team for the first month of the season. This is to ensure that communication is done in a formal and timely fashion.
Coaches should have formal practice plans for scheduled practices. These plans should be based on their goals for the season.
Coaches should arrive at practice at least 15 minutes early to prepare field. At the end of practice, coaches are responsible to drag or rake the field, trash picked up, trash emptied, bases and equipment stored, and the complex secured.

Division Concept

The basic concept of this division is to introduce young players to baseball and to promote an instructional environment emphasizing sportsmanship, team play, the basics of baseball, safety and having fun. T –Ball focuses on the development of these skills: game knowledge, bat grip, stance, swing, throwing, fielding, catching and running the bases. Score is not kept in this division.

Field Layout

The home team is responsible for preparing the field for the game
The visiting team is responsible for dragging/raking the field after the game
Both teams are responsible for securing the equipment, bases and the complex after a game
Both teams are responsible for to ensure that the field and complex is left in a presentable fashion.
Both teams are responsible to make sure that their concession stand volunteers perform their duties.
Both teams are responsible to make sure concession stand is secure and that no concession stand volunteer is left alone at the complex.

Player Roster

The roster and roster size will be determined by the Division Vice President.
Player’s may be borrowed from the opponent’s bench if a team cannot field a defensive team for a game.
Extra players may be placed in the outfield as needed.
Coaches must rotate field positions to allow players to experience different positions and learn different skills. Player ability should be taken into account when players are assigned certain positions, as safety is a primary concern. Coaches have final say on position assignments.

Batting

Fielding

Pitchers and 1st Base players must wear helmets with face masks.
Player should be rotated in the field so that they may learn different positions.
Coaches are allowed on the field to provide instruction during play.
Base coaches are required. They are there to instruct players when and where to run.

Running the bases

No leading or stealing is allowed. The runner must remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit.
Runners may not advance on an infield overthrow.
A runner may only advance a maximum of 2 bases on a hit.
The inning is over when all players have batted through the order. This applies to all innings.
The last batter in the order will continue to circle the bases until he/she reaches home plate.
Runners may slide feet first only.

Game

A regulation game is 4 innings. No new inning may begin after 1 hours of play. More innings may be played as long as the game does not go over the 1 hour mark.
Rescheduling of rained out games is the responsibility of the team managers.
Coaches should contact all parents of players is a game is cancelled. If a parent cannot be reached, a coach/manager should go to the field in the event the parent/player arrives for a game/practice.

Sportsmanship

Players and coaches will act in a sportsmanlike manner during practices and games. Taunting or belittling an opposing team in any situation is not to be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in a warning or expulsion of the player(s) and/or coach(s).
No score is kept at this level of play. Coaches are encouraged to focus on all players having successful at-bats and making plays in the field.
Coaches are responsible for conduct of his/her team’s parents. Unsportsmanlike behavior by parents will not be tolerated. Coaches should handle the situation in a timely manner.

Goals

Goals for the season should include at a minimum the following:

Knowledge of how the game is played and where/when to run.
Teaching the proper grip, stance and swing when at bat.
Teaching players to always keep their eye on where they are throwing, attention to the batter and the ball once in play.
Teaching the way to stand when throwing a ball. (stance, step and follow through)
Understanding of at least 3 positions in the field.
Proper stance in the field. (ready position)
Development of proper fielding (using 2 hands, body in front of ball, glove in proper position)

Resources

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