7U (Coach Pitch) Division Rules

2012 WESTERN "FALL BALL"-

Coach Pitch Rules

The Official 2012 Little League Rule Book shall govern play except as modified below

Coach Pitch Games are being played for the benefit of all players!!

These players are 7-years old and under ... Please remember this at all times!

Each team will have one manager and the manager may choose to have as many coaches as he/she wishes to … keep in mind the manager is charged with the conduct of the entire coaching staff. There will be one pitching coach on the field and each team may have a defensive assistant coach outside the foul line in the outfield grass on the same side of the field as his/her team’s dugout.

“NEW RULE • NEW RULE” – DEFENSIVE LINEUP REGULATIONS:

This rule was added last season for FALL BALL ONLY and will not necessarily carry over to the spring season. There will be a limit of no more than 11 defensive players on the field for any inning. Should a team, for example, have 13 kids in uniform, then they would be required to have 2 players sit out a defensive inning and rotate those kids in on an inning-by-inning basis. This will allow all teams to have the regular infield alignment, plus 5 outfielders.

The batting order shall be the entire roster of players. The batting order will follow exactly the lineup presented at the beginning of the game for the entire game. The batting order would only change if a player was not able to take his/her turn, for instances due to an injury or sickness. An out will not be recorded for this. If a player arrives after the coaches exchange the rosters then his or her name would be added at the bottom of the roster/batting order.

Pitchers:

The pitcher must begin play with one foot inside the Pitchers Circle (10’ circle), infielders must be on the infield dirt in their regular positions and outfielders must be on the outfield grass when the batter is in the batters box and the ball is put into play. Penalty: If batter hits the ball and advances along with any base runner safely, play stands; if not the ball becomes dead and all runners and batter advance one base.

A batted ball that hits the Pitching Coach is a dead ball; batter is awarded 1st base and all runners advance 1 base. A thrown ball that hits the Pitching Coach is a live ball, unless the umpires rule there was no attempt by the pitching coach to avoid the thrown ball - in that case umpires are asked to make the ball "dead" and award bases according to their judgement based on what would have happened had the ball remained alive. (Note: In this situation the pitching coach will immediately be removed from the game and a replacement coach inserted - the coach removed will not be allowed back in the pitcher's role for the rest of that particular game.

Pitching:

The Pitching Coach, who will deliver the ball to the batter standing or kneeling with at least one foot/knee behind the 5-foot restraining line in front of the pitcher’s circle, will do all pitching. Pitching coaches may pitch underhand or overhand, but once the first pitch is made to the batter in whichever manner that pitch was thrown all other pitches to that batter must be pitched in the same style for the batter. The next time the batter is up the other style may be used. Pitching Coaches can be changed during the game but this change is only permitted at the beginning of an inning.

(NOTE: Pitching Coach should make every effort to be off the field and into foul territory as quickly as he/she can following the ball being put in play by the batter)

Each batter will be allowed a maximum of 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes. A batter cannot be called out swinging on a foul ball.

No bunting will be allowed in Coach Pitch games.

A batter hit by a pitched ball will not be awarded 1st base... pitch will only count towards his/her 5 maximum pitches allowed.

Base Runners:

On a ball hit by the batter, the ball is “live” and stays so until ALL runners cease being aggressive on

the base paths in the judgment of the umpire. The pitcher having the ball in the “circle” does not automatically “kill” the play if a runner at any base is being aggressive in an attempt to advance. The umpire must call “time” in order for play to be halted. (NOTE: ONCE AN UMPIRE CALLS “TIME” ALL RUNNERS RETURN TO THE LAST BASE THEY HAVE TOUCHED - AN UMPIRE ERROR DOES NOT ALLOW A RUNNER TO ADVANCE) A stolen base may not occur unless the exchange is misplayed between catcher and pitcher (or if they violate the restrictive zones … (see

below).

ABSOLUTELY NO LEADOFFS– if a player steps off the base after a pitch is thrown and before the catcher/pitcher exchange then that base runner is deemed to have “taken a lead” … in this instance if there is a bad exchange between catcher and pitcher, then the runner may run at his/her own risk … if said runner is out by a defensive play, then the play will stand … if the runner reaches base safely they will be returned to the previous base as they were in violation of the “no leadoff rule”.

A force play at home or any player touching home plate does not stop play. The ball must be returned to the pitchers circle or any advance by base runners abandoned for play to be stopped (as described in rule above).

When a pitched ball is being returned to the pitcher by the catcher, the catcher may come out to the 5’ mark (5’ in front of home plate) to the throw the ball and the pitcher may come out to the 5’ mark (5’ in front of the 10’ circle) to catch the ball.

Infield Fly:

There is no “infield fly” rule in the coach pitch division.

Safety:

All catchers must wear complete catchers gear (male catchers must wear protective cup). Catchers mask must have a “dangling” type throat protector.
Pitchers must wear full batters helmet – face shield/mask is optional, but recommended.

All batters and base runners must wear full protective helmets.

BIG BARREL BATS ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL AGE DIVISIONS!!!

Time Limit:

A new inning shall not start after 1 hour and 30 minutes (90 minutes) from the start of the game. For further run rule and timing rules for Fall Ball, please read the "General Rules" that are available to all teams. 

Coaches must have the umpire’s permission to be on the field at any time during play. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action, except in case of injury to a player and then time must still be called.  No coach will charge out of the dugout when questioning an umpire’s decision. An act of this nature will result in immediate dismissal from the game and ballpark.

Harassing of umpires, opposing players or opposing coaches will not be permitted for any reason. Coaches will be responsible for the acts of their parents. This will also include the harassment of their own sons/daughters or his/her teammates. Dismissal from the game and ballpark will be the penalty of violations to this rule.

Please make a point to read your 2012 Little League Rule book.