Rookie Rules

NNLL Rookie Division Rules

Coach Information

Managers at the Rookie level are selected at the discretion of the Rookie 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. The Rookie Division focuses on the development of these skills: game knowledge, bat grip, stance, swing, throwing, fielding, catching and running the bases. Introduction of the pitching machine will occur in this division. Score is not kept in this division.

Field Set-up/Clean-up and Game Duties

The home team is responsible for preparing the field for the game. (i.e., bases, pitching machine, batter’s box and foul lines.)
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. Please pick up all trash around field, dugouts and bleachers. Both teams should empty trash cans after each week night game or the last game on weekend days.
Both teams are responsible to make sure that their concession stand volunteers perform their duties. Concession Stand volunteers need to arrive ½ hour before the start of their game.
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.
Each team will field 8-10 players defensively during a game. 10 defensive players may only be used if a team has only 10 bench players. A team fielding 10 defensive players will place the 10th player in the outfield only. If a team has more than 10 bench players, the team should field 9 players defensively.
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.
All players must play at least 4 innings and not sit for 2 consecutive innings.

Batting

A continuous batting order will be used for all games.
Batting helmets must be used at bat, on deck and when running bases.
Bats are not to be swung outside the batter’s box including outside of the fenced-in area.
No bunting is allowed.
No bats are allowed in the dugout.
A batter will only receive a maximum of 5 pitches from the machine to put the ball in play. If a player fouls off the 5th pitch, the at bat will continue. After the 5th machine pitch or the last pitch that was not fouled, a batting tee will be used.
If the batted ball hits the pitching machine, the play is dead and a single base will be rewarded.
There are no strike outs or walks.
A manager may choose to bypass the pitching machine for a certain players and start the at bat with the batting tee.

Pitching

Fielding

Catchers must have on full gear(including a cup) every time behind the plate including practices.
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.
No infield fly rule.

Running the bases

No leading or stealing is allowed. The runner must remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit.
The runners may not advance on an infield overthrow.
A runner may continue to advance bases until a ball hit to the outfield is returned to the infield. Runners may only advance a maximum of two bases.
Players must return to the dugout when they are declared out.
Runners may slide feet first only.

Game

A regulation game is 5 innings. No new inning may begin after 2 hours of play.
A half inning is over when 3 outs are made or 4 runs are scored whichever comes first.
Rescheduling of rained out game 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.
Offensive base coaches are the base umpires and will make the final call on outs.

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.
Proper throwing technique. (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 techniques for ground balls and fly balls.

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