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GAME RULES AND REGULATIONS
BlastBall!®
(Ages 3-4)
Rules and Regulations
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Players Age
All players must be 3 years old before May 1, and cannot be older than 4
years old on May 1 of the year participating in BlastBall!®.
Beginner 5 year olds may play with permission from the Baseball/Softball
Commissioner.
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Playing Field
Playing field will consist of first base loaded with a horn, home plate
where batter will hit from a "Tee. All defensive players will line
up at least 38 feet away from home plate. The Blast Base distance
from home plate is 40 feet. Any ball hit ten feet from home plate
or past the fair ball arc will be considered a fair ball and the batter
shall advance to first base.
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Equipment
All players must wear team baseball cap and team t-shirt supplied by
JPYO. Cap and shirt must be worn during all games. Players
can wear either shorts or baseball pants.
No player shall wear a baseball/softball glove. The game ball is
foam rubber and will be safe for kids to play without gloves.
All equipment for BlastBall!®
will be furnished to the team and coach by JPYO. The coach is
responsible for the care and upkeep of the equipment. Coaches,
prior to the start of the season, will pick up and after the season
return the BlastBall!®
equipment each season. The balls, bat, batting tee, BlastBall!®
first base and two batting helmets will be provided to all teams.
Players can use their own batting helmets, if desired.
No wood or aluminum bats will be allowed. Only the provided soft
bat will be used.
No player shall wear jewelry during a game; medical alert and religious
bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry.
No cleat shall be worn. Rubber soled shoes, such as sneakers,
only.
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General Rules
Each BlastBall!®
team may have two coaches on the field of play at all times. Teams
will consist of 5-7 players.
No offensive player will be allowed on the field unless he/she is
wearing a batting helmet.
Each team will bat its entire roster of players present in each inning
one complete time, which will constitute a half inning of play.
Each turn at bat the batting order will be reversed. (Example:
if a player bats last in the first inning, he/she will bat first in the
next inning).
An official game will consist of three or four
innings, or 45 minutes, whichever
comes first.
When at bat, the object is to hit a fair ball, reach the base and sound
the horn before the defensive team fields the ball, holds it above their
head and yells "Blast!" Each batter will return to the dugout
after running to first base.
Each batter will receive a maximum of six swings in which to hit a fair
ball. A fair ball is any ball between the foul lines and past the
10 foot fair ball arc in front of home plate.
When on defense, all players will play a defensive position at least 38
feet from home plate. No player shall play catcher.
The home team will be responsible for setting up the field for the game.
Coaches will also serve as umpires while on the field.
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Conduct and Sportsmanship
The Team Manager is responsible for exemplifying and maintaining good
sportsmanship at practices and games.
The Team Manager is responsible for the conduct of his/her coaches,
his/her players and their parents.
Tee Ball
(Ages 5-6)
Rules and Regulations
- Players Age
Age requirements suggestion, for this
division, are: Players should be 5 years old before May 1 and
should not be older than 6 years old on May 1 of the year participating
in the Combo Machine Pitch/T-Ball division.
Advanced 4 year olds and beginner 7 year olds may play with permission
from the Baseball/Softball Commissioner.
- Playing Field
Playing field will consist of all three bases and home plate.
Distance from first base to home plate is 50 feet. Distance from
the back of home plate to second base is 70 feet 8 1/2 inches. All
bases should be anchored to the ground.
Batter's box, foul lines and ten foot foul arc will be marked using the
line striper and marking lime.
The pitching rubber/pitching machine location is 35 feet from home
plate.
Home team will occupy the first base bench and will supply the bases,
tee, and
pitching machine (if needed). The home team is primarily responsible for any
necessary preparation of the field (but the visiting team should
assist). This includes filling of holes, raking, lining field,
etc. as well as setting up bases.
Visiting team will occupy the third base bench and will rake the field
following the game and return the pitching machine (if needed) to the concession
stand. Please release the tension from the spring by removing the
pin when putting away the pitching machine.
Both the home team and the visiting team will each supply one new
baseball (furnished by JPYO) to the umpire/pitching coach at the start
of each game. The home team will supply any additional balls if
needed.
Both the home team and the visiting team are responsible for removing
trash or debris from their dugout area, as well as from the field of
play and surrounding areas such as the stands.
- Equipment
All players must wear team baseball cap and team t-shirt (supplied by
JPYO). Cap and shirt must be worn during all games. Players
have the option to wear either shorts or baseball pants.
No offensive player will be allowed on the field unless he/she is
wearing a batting helmet.
No metal cleats shall be worn. Rubber soled shoes, such as
sneakers, or rubber-cleated shoes will be permitted.
No player shall wear jewelry. Medical alert and religious
bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry.
All players shall wear a baseball/softball glove. The game ball
will be a safety R.I.F. Level 5 ball.
A pitching machine, for
Combo Machine Pitch/T-Ball, will be furnished by JPYO. Coaches are
responsible for the care and upkeep of the equipment. Only
coaches/parents are permitted to operate the pitching machine and/or
place the ball on the tee.
Equipment furnished by JPYO will include:
R.I.F. Level 5 balls, bats,
batting tee, bases, and 4-6 batting helmets with facemasks.
Players are permitted to use their own batting helmets and bats if
desired.
Players should not use T-ball bats when the pitching machine is in use.
- General Rules
Combo
Machine-Pitch/T-ball teams may have two to four coaches on the field of
play at all times.
Team roster will consist of 10 to 13 players. Actual team
composition will be determined each season by the total number of
applicants and number of available managers.
This is an instructional league and coaches can be in the field to help
tell players where to throw. Likewise, they can help the players
at bat.
All games will consist of six innings or a 1-1/2 hour time limit,
whichever comes first.
Three outs, five runs, or batting through
the entire roster, which ever comes first, will constitute a half
inning of play.
This league is non-competitive; game scores and league standings are not
kept.
In an effort to encourage defensive skill development and teamwork, the
manager is encouraged to keep track of the number of outs recorded and
runs scored each inning by his own team. This tracking need not be
overemphasized with players, but should be used as an incentive to
promote teamwork, and as a tracking tool for development throughout the
season.
- Offense
The pitching coach and base coaches advise runners on the offensive team.
Coaches pitch for their own team. No player will catch.
An adult will catch and assist setting up batter/tee.
Each batter shall receive up to
three hittable pitches from the pitching
machine or an adult coach/parent pitcher. If third pitch is not in
fair play, a tee will be placed for the next pitch.
At batters option, the ball may be immediately placed on the tee to
start an at bat.
Any ball hit 10 feet from home plate or past the fair ball arc will be
considered a fair ball and the batter shall advance to first base.
There are no strike outs or walks.
Bunting or easy swings are not permitted.
When a ball is hit to the infield, the batter gets a single to first
base. All runners may advance one base only. No extra bases
on overthrows.
When a ball is hit to the outfield grass, runners may
advance as many bases as possible until the ball is returned to the
infield. The ball must be thrown to the infield to make a play at
a base. To stop base runners' advancements, without making a play,
the ball must be held above the head of an infielder and call "Dead
Ball" to stop the play. Players should be encouraged to make a
play at a base. Players who have advanced towards a base more than
halfway, when the ball returns to the field and called "Dead Ball," are
awarded that base. No extra bases on overthrows.
Base runners may not advance on caught fly balls.
Players are not permitted to slide at any base.
Stealing bases and leading off base are not permitted.
No infield fly rule. Base runners must advance as forced.
Batting team supplies the pitching machine operator. If machine
breaks down during the game, each coach will pitch to his batters.
Pitching machine speed should be set at a speed agreeable by both
managers before the game begins. Any changes to the speed must be
done at the top of an inning. League suggests 20 MPH for the first
half of the season, gradually increasing the speed to 25 MPH by the end
of the season. The intent is to ensure that the majority of the
children are comfortably hitting the ball from the machine before
increasing the speed.
Any batted ball striking the adult pitcher or pitching machine is a
single with all runners advancing one base. The ball is then
considered dead.
Each team will bat its entire roster of players present. A player
arriving after the start of a game will be placed at the end of the
batting order.
If a team ends up batting the entire roster, "Last Batter" should be
announced to opposing team.
- Defense
Two coaches are permitted in the outfield area to help
tell players where to throw.
Players will take regular baseball positions,
except catcher position, with
extra players filling the outfield. There are no bench-warmers in
this division.
Each team may have up to two players/pitchers, one on each side of the
pitching machine, as long as there are enough players left to fill all
of the remaining defensive positions. Players will not pitch nor
touch the pitching machine.
Players on defense shall not be allowed inside the base lines until ball
is in play, except for player at pitcher position.
The child pitcher(s) must stay even or behind
the coach pitcher/pitching machine, no
further than five feet away from the coach pitcher/pitching machine.
The child pitcher does not pitch.
After a ball is hit into the field of play, a play is made by the
defense. The play ends when: A fly ball is caught; A base
runner or batter is tagged or forced out at any base and "Dead Ball" is
called (double and triple
plays are allowed; An infield defensive player maintains control of the ball
inside the four base paths, holds ball above his/her
head and calls "Dead Ball" When "Dead Ball" is called, runners on base may not advance further. Players who have
advanced toward a base more than halfway, when the ball returns to the
infield and called "Dead Ball," are awarded that base.
Last batter play: when the teams "Last Batter" hits the ball to
the outfield, and does not fly out, the defense must make an assisted
play to home plate for the last out. The defensive player
designated as the "pitcher" shall move to home plate to catch a
throw-in, and must tag home plate to end the inning. Runners may
continue to advance around the bases and score until home plate is
tagged. If ball is hit to infield, an unassisted play may be made
at home.
The coach or parent operating the pitching machine/pitching will serve
as umpire for close calls.
- Conduct and Sportsmanship
The team manager is responsible for exemplifying and maintaining good
sportsmanship at practices and games.
The team manager is responsible for the conduct of his/her coaches,
his/her players and their parents.
Coach-Pitch
(Ages 7-8)
Rules and Regulations
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Players Age
Age requirements suggestion, for this
division, are: Players should be 7 years old before May 1 and
should not be older than 8years old on May 1 of the year participating
in the Machine Pitch Division.
Advanced 6 year olds and beginner 9 year olds may play with permission
from the Baseball/Softball Commissioner.
- Playing Field
Playing field will consist of all three bases and home plate.
Distance from first base to home plate is 50 feet. Distance from
the back of home plate to second base is 70 feet 8 1/2 inches. All
bases should be anchored to the ground.
Batter's box, foul lines and ten foot foul arc will be marked using the
line striper and marking line.
The pitching rubber/pitching machine location is 35 feet from home
plate.
Home team will occupy the first base bench and will supply the bases and
pitching machine. The home team is primarily responsible for any
necessary preparation of the field (but the visiting team should
assist). This includes filling of holes, raking, lining field,
etc. as well as setting up bases.
Visiting team will occupy the third base bench and will rake the field
following the game and return the pitching machine to the concession
stand. Please release the tension from the spring by removing the
pin when putting away the pitching machine.
Both the home team and the visiting team will each supply one new
baseball (furnished by JPYO) to the umpire/pitching coach at the start
of each game. The home team will supply any additional balls if
needed.
Both the home team and the visiting team are responsible for removing
trashing or debris from their dugout area, as well as from the field of
play and surrounding areas such as the stands.
- Equipment
All players must wear team baseball cap and team t-shirt (supplied by
JPYO). Cap and shirt must be worn during all games. Players
have the option to wear either shorts or baseball pants.
No offensive player will be allowed on the field unless he/she is
wearing a batting helmet.
No metal cleans shall be worn. Rubber soled shoes, such as
sneakers, or rubber cleat shoes will be permitted.
No player shall wear jewelry. Medical alert and religious
bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry.
All players shall wear a baseball/softball glove. The game ball
will be a hardball.
A pitching machine will be furnished by JPYO. Coaches are
responsible for the care and upkeep of the equipment. Only
coaches/parents are permitted to operate the pitching machine.
Equipment furnished by JPYO will include: hard baseballs, bats,
catcher safety gear, catcher's mitt, bases and 4-6 batting helmets with
facemasks.
Players are permitted to use their own batting helmets and bats if
desired.
It is recommended that all players wear an athletic supporter with a
protective cup/pelvic protector.
Catchers are required to wear a mask with throat guard, chest protector
and athletic supporter with a protective cup/pelvic protector, shin guards and protective
headgear when catching behind the plate for games and practices.
- General Rules
Machine pitch teams may have two coaches on the field of play at all
times. This is an instructional league and coaches can be in the
field to help tell players where to throw.
Team roster will consist of 10 to 13 players. Actual team
composition will be determined each season by the total number of
applicants and number of available managers.
All games will consist of six innings or a 1-1/2 hour time limit,
whichever comes first.
Three outs or five runs, which ever comes first, will constitute a half
inning of play.
This league is non-competitive; game scores and league standings are not
kept officially, scores are merely kept as a way to evaluate progress
throughout the season.
In an effort to encourage defensive skill development and teamwork, the
manager is encouraged to keep track of the number of outs recorded and
runs scored each inning by his own team. This tracking need not be
overemphasized with players, but should be used as an incentive to
promote teamwork, and as a tracking tool for development throughout the
season.
- Offense
The base coaches advise runners on the offensive team.
Coaches pitches for their own team.
Each batter shall receive up to five hittable pitches from the pitching
machine. If fifth pitch is fouled, the batter will awarded one
additional pitch. Player is out if ball is not put into play.
Any ball hit 10 feet from home plate or past the fair ball arc will be
considered a fair ball and the batter shall advance to first base.
There are no strikes or balls called. Therefore, no walks will be
awarded to the batter.
Bunting or easy swings are not permitted.
When a ball is hit to the infield, the batter gets a single to first
base. All runners may advance one base only. No extra bases
on overthrows.
Base runners may not advance on caught fly balls.
Players are not permitted to slide at any base.
Stealing bases and leading off base are not permitted.
No infield fly rule. Base runners must advance as forced.
Batting team supplies the pitching machine operator. If machine
breaks down during the game, each coach will pitch to his batters.
Pitching machine speed should be set at a speed agreeable by both
managers before the game begins. Any changes to the speed must be
done at the top of an inning. League suggests 35 MPH for the first
half of the season, gradually increasing the speed to 40 MPH by the end
of the season. The intent is to ensure that the majority of the
children are comfortably hitting the ball from the machine before
increasing the speed.
Any batted ball striking the adult pitcher or pitching machine is a
single with all runners advancing one base. The ball is then
considered dead.
Each team will bat its entire roster of players present. A player
arriving after the start of a game will be placed at the end of the
batting order.
- Defense
Two coaches are permitted in the outfield's foul territory area to help
tell players where to throw.
Players will take regular baseball positions, including catcher, with
extra players filling the outfield.
Each team may have up to two player/pitches, one on each side of the
pitching machine, as long as there are enough players left to fill all
of the remaining defensive positions. Players will not pitch nor
touch the pitching machine.
Players on defense shall not be allowed inside the base lines until ball
is in play, except for child at pitcher position.
The child pitcher(s) must stay even or behind pitching machine, no
further than five feet away from the coach pitching machine.
After a ball is hit into the field of play, a play is made by the
defense. The play ends when: A fly ball is caught; A base
runner or batter is tagged or forced out at any base (double and triple
plays are allowed; The player/pitcher maintains control of the ball at
least five feet from the pitching machine, holds ball above his/her
head, runners on base may not advance further. Players who have
advanced toward a base more than halfway, when the ball returns to the
pitcher, are awarded that base.
The coach or parent operating the pitching machine/pitching will serve
as umpire for close calls.
- Conduct and Sportsmanship
The team manager is responsible for exemplifying and maintaining good
sportsmanship at practices and games.
The team manager is responsible for the conduct of his/her coaches,
his/her players and their parents.
Player Pitch
(Ages 8-10)
Rules and Regulations
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Base Path
Sixty (60) feet base paths.
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Pitching Distance
Forty-Six (46) feet pitching distance.
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Game Length
Six (6) inning games - three and one-half (3-1/2) innings equal a
complete game if home team is ahead.
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Batting Lineup
Lineup will consist of all members of the respective team. Batting
lineup may not be altered after the game has started. A player
will be allowed if he/she enters the game before the start of the third
inning. If a player is injured or sick, he/she will merely drop
out of the lineup. All players must play a minimum of three
complete innings and come to bat at least one time in a six inning game.
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Player Injury
If a player is injured so that he stops play on the ball - all play
is stopped and it is ruled a ground rule double.
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Scoring
A maximum of four (4) runs per inning or three (3) outs, whichever
comes first, for the first five innings. The sixth and subsequent
innings, three outs with no run limitations.
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Runners may not leave
the base until the ball has passed the batter - NO LEADING. Each
team will receive one warning before a runner is declared out. Any
pitch on which a runner is called out or a warning given shall be
declared a NO PITCH. Runners on third base cannot steal home
unless an attempt is made against them or any other runner, on passed
balls by the catcher. An overthrow back to the pitcher is not
considered as a "ball in play." All base runners must return to
their bases as soon as the pitcher has the ball and is within six (6)
feet of the pitching rubber. Runners are allowed one base on
throwing errors which go out of play (i.e., dugout or over a fence).
An overthrown ball, except from catcher to pitcher, remaining in play is
live and runners advance at their own risk.
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Balks and the infield
fly rule do not apply.
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No dropped third strike
rule, ball is alive for all base runners.
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Game time limit:
a. No new inning shall start after one (1) hour and forty-five
(45) minutes from the start of game.
b. Tied games stopped because of time limits shall remain a tie.
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Teams shall provide
their written defensive and batting order line-ups to each other/umpire
before the start of the game.
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A courtesy runner can
be used for the pitcher or catcher at any time. The courtesy
runner should be the player last put out.
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Teams may substitute
for defensive positions (except pitcher) as many times as they wish, as
long as the batting order remains the same. A player does not have
to play the field in order to bat. Once a player has been placed
in a slot of
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