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Baseball Rules

 

Under 9 Tee Ball

Tee ball is played under modified baseball rules as set out in the Greater Western Junior Baseball League Competition rules.

 

Number of players

·        Nine (9) players may take the field at any one time

·        The team must have a minimum of seven (7) players to take the field

·        A maximum of twelve (12) players may play in any one game.

·        Players may be interchanged at the end of an innings and may return to the game.

 

Game Length

·        The match duration is one hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) or six (6) completed innings, whichever occurs first.

·        If an innings is completed within ten (10) minutes of the schedule finish time, ‘Time’ is called and the game is ended.

 

Innings

·        An innings is completed when both teams have had a turn at bat.  The away team will bat first (‘top of innings’) and the home team will bat second (‘bottom of innings’)

·        The batting innings will end if three batters are called ‘out’, or after five runs are scored.  Any additional runs scored on the play where the fifth run is scored are counted.  If there are four runs scored in the innings, the innings will end at the end of the next scoring play and all runs completed in that play will be counted (i.e. maximum of eight runs can be scored).

·        In the sixth inning, teams bat until three batters are out or ‘Time’ is called.  There is no limit on runs scored in the sixth inning.

 

Batting

·        Batters bat in order from 1 to 12 on the team sheet (regardless of whether or not they have fielded in the innings)

·        The batter must wear a helmet

·        The batter must hit the ball off the tee in order to run to first base

·        ‘Strike’ will be called if the batter swings the bat without hitting the ball, or if the batter attempts a swing while standing outside the batter’s box

·        ‘Foul’ will be called if the batter hits the ball and it does not go out of the 10ft (3m) ‘Fair Hit’ circle in front of home plate, or if the ball goes over the base line without passing first or third base.

·        A foul will also be called a strike on strike one or two.  If the batter has two strikes, additional fouls are not counted toward the strike count.

·        The batter will be given out after three strikes.

·        The batter will be first warned then subsequently called ‘out’ if they throw the bat in a dangerous manner after swinging at the ball.

 

Running

·        After hitting the ball, the batter attempts to run to 1st base. 

·        A run is scored when the batter safely runs to home plate having touched 1st, 2nd and 3rd base

·        If the batter hits the ball to the home run boundary they are entitled to run two bases safely.  All other runners on base may run up to two bases as well.

·        If the batter hits the ball beyond home run boundary on the full, they are entitled to run all four bases (a home run).  All other runners may run to home plate, touching all bases along the way.

·        Runners must stop at the next base if the ball is thrown to an infield player and no further play is likely to take place. 

·        Runners may be directed by the umpire to move to the next base if the ball is thrown out of the diamond (beyond the 1st or 3rd base line) while being fielded (i.e. ‘pass ball’ is called).  The ball must pass a predetermined point beyond the base line before ‘pass ball’ is awarded.

·        Runners cannot ‘steal’ bases – runners may not move from their base until the ball is hit by the batter.

·        Runners must return to their base if ‘foul’ is called.

 

Out

·        A batter is out if

o       Three strikes are called while at bat. 

o       The ball is caught on the full by a fielder

o       The bat is thrown in a dangerous manner, after having first been warned by the umpire

o       The batter does not bat in the order on the team sheet

 

·        A runner is out if

o       The runner is forced to run to a base and the fielder touches the base while in control of the ball before the runner does

o       The runner is tagged by the fielder by the hand holding the ball before touching a base

o       The runner deliberately runs away from a fielder to avoid a tag

 

·        A runner is forced to run to a base if

o       the batter or another runner must run to the base on the next play (that is, the bases the runner has already touched are ‘loaded’)

o       if the runner has left the base and the batter is out caught, forcing the runner to return to their starting base (or ‘tag up’) before running toward the next base.

 

Fielding

·        A maximum of nine fielders may take the field – there must be a minimum of seven.

·        The pitcher must stand with both feet on the rubber and may not move until the ball is hit from the tee

·        The catcher must remain fully within the catcher’s box behind the batter and must wear a helmet.

·        Coaches are not allowed on the diamond or in the outfield at any time.

 

 

Field Dimensions

·        Bases are 50ft (15m) apart.

·        The ‘Fair Hit’ radius is 10ft (3m) from the home plate

·        Home run boundaries are 150 ft / 45 m along the base paths (from home plate through 1st and through 3rd base) and 200 ft / 60 m from home plate through Centre Field.

 

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