TLLL Senior Rookies House League Rules

Posted on by troutlake

Official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball shall apply with the following modifications.

Tenets of TL Sr. Rookies

  1. Development
  2. Fun
  3. Experience all facets of the game
  4. Collaboration as we are all “on the same team”

Fun and development is the focus for the Sr. Rookie division. It is a developmental division that allows for all to experience a pitching machine, three out innings, run maximums and all infield positions in order to better understand the interactions necessary to defend in the field and begin to develop higher levels of understandings. It is through this lens that the Trout Lake Sr. Rookie Rules have been created for our House Teams.

Sr. Rookies House Fair-Play Regular Season Rules:

  • Warm-up: Teams are to share the outfield for warm-up. There is to be no warm-up on the infield except outside the baselines if the field preparation has been complete.
  • Team Minimums: A team minimum to play is eight players, there will be no penalty (out) in the 9th batting spot. If there are only seven players the game is forfeit however the other team can lend players and an exhibition game can be played.
  • Coaches Meeting: The Head Coaches (and any of the coaches who wish to attend) will be asked to a “plate” meeting by the umpires. A copy of the Line-up forms are to be given to the umpires, scorekeepers and opposition at this time. The umpires will then go over the ground rules and it is at this time any clarifications are to be made. If there are players who are coming to the game, however they are late, please include them on the line-up sheet and if they come-up in the order they will be skipped without penalty.   
    1. Coaches: There are only four official coaches for each game. Other parents/coaches can warm-up the team, however for the offensive game portion there will be only one pitching machine coach, one dugout coach and two base coaches (who stand within the coaches box beside 1b & 3b). All defensive coaches must be in the dugout OR on the teams dugout-side on the grass and off the infield. No coaches are allowed onto the field of play without asking the umpire for time.
  • Defensive Line-up: There is a maximum of seven infielders with only one pitcher and including a catcher. Teams can not have two pitchers – this means that the player between 1st and 2nd and the player between 2nd and 3rd cannot play more than 1m in front of the baseline. The rest of the players on the team can be arranged in the outfield (RF, RCF, CF, Rover, LCF, LF). All the outfield players must be on the grass when the ball crosses the plate.
  • Batting Order: All players that are present or enroute to the game are placed in the batting order and the line-up is submitted to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposition. There will be no penalty if a player leaves or does not arrive in time for their spot in the batting order – that spot will just be skipped.
  • Run Limits: Inning 1 & 2 will be 3 runs or three outs while all the remaining innings will be a run limit of five.
  • Mercy Rule: 10 run mercy rule after four innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead).
  • Game Time Length: No inning shall start after one hour and 50 minutes of play. Please note that the time limit starts from the schedules start time and not the first pitch.
  • Player Rotation: Players are expected to be rotated through ALL positions on the field fairly. With a player playing a MAXIMUM of twice in the same position and a maximum of three inning in the infield. There are several positions that potentially could result in injury, for example,  catcher, pitcher and first base. It is recommended that the coach prepare players, especially new players to be able to protect themselves properly when playing these positions and it will be up to the coaches discretion to determine if a player is being put under too much risk by playing one of these positions.  
  • Ball: The ball for Sr. Rookies is the Level 5 ball which is a softer version than a real hardball.
  • Pitching Machine:  The machine will be positioned at a distance of 40 feet from home plate. The speed will be set at level 5 for the entirety of the season (for Sr. Rookie All-stars the speed of the pitching machine is set to level 6). The operator may adjust the machine for pitch height. The machine operator is the manager or coach of the team  at bat and can instruct a batter but is not allowed to coach baserunner. A batted ball that hits the machine or operator will be live and in play. Note: If the operator intentionally interferes with a batted ball, the batter shall be declared out, and all runners returned to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch. A thrown ball which hits the machine or operator is alive and in play. Machine operators should not catch balls thrown to them unless dead ball has been declared. Note: If the operator purposely touches a live thrown ball, the ball will be called dead and runners will be returned to their last bases.
  • No-Pitch: Each batter will be allowed one instance of a pitch not swung at to be called a “no pitch”, regardless of when the pitch comes (i.e., it does not have to be the first pitch, but instead is the first pitch that the batter does not swing at). After the first “no pitch” is called, all following pitches will be called strikes, regardless of the where the pitch is in relation to the strike zone, and regardless of whether the batter swings. (Exception: foul balls on the third strike)  Note: There are no warnings or walks.
  • No bunting, stealing or infield fly rule: A caught foul tip on the third strike will not count as a strike and will not put the batter out, but will be considered a foul ball. Runners are not allowed to leave their bases until the ball crosses the plate (a.k.a. “lead-off”) or is hit.
  • Bat Safety: Batters must drop their bats in a manner which does not endanger the catcher or umpire. Batters who throw their bats in a dangerous manner (umpires judgment) will be subject to the following consequences:
  • First occurrence: The batter is issued a warning in the presence of a coach and play resumes.
  • Second occurrence:  Ball is dead, batter is out, runners return to their bases; batter receives a second warning.
  •  Third occurrence: Same as above, except player may continue on defense, but not bat again until next game.
  1.          Dead Balls (We wish to encourage “baseball plays” and not taking advantage of lack of skill and knowledge – thus baserunning is expected to be less offensively minded)

(A)  Lead Runner not Advancing: When the defense has possession of the ball in the infield, the lead runner is not advancing, and the defense is not making a play on any runner, the plate umpire shall call the ball “dead.” Note: We do not encourage a “track meet” this means that baserunners objective is not to take as many bases as possible – play conservative when it comes to baserunning. This means if a single is hit – run to first base and round first base thus causing a overthrow at second base allowing the runner to go to third base on a single….  

(B)  Overthrow by an Infielder: (Note: An Overthrow is defined as going any distance past the fielder and base)

  •  All runners may attempt (at their own risk) to advance one additional base on the overthrow. Note: If no runner attempts to advance within two seconds of the overthrow, the ball will be called “dead”, whether in the possession of the defense or not.
  •  After the overthrow, a play may be made on any runner at any base. If the runner over-slides or overruns the base they are subject to being put  out. Under no circumstances will any runner be allowed more than one extra base on the original overthrow, e.g., on a second overthrow or a ball being thrown out of play.

(C)  Ball returned from outfield: When the ball is returned from the outfield to an infielder (regardless of the infielder’s position) and held by the infielder for two seconds, the ball will be called “dead” and the play is complete.

  •  If the outfielder throws the ball to a base in an attempt to make a play on a runner, the ball is live and the play continues.
  •  If there is an overthrow, it is treated as a normal overthrow; the ball is live and the runners may attempt to gain a maximum of one base.
  •  If the infielder receives the ball from the outfield and immediately throws the ball to attempt a play, the ball is live and the play continues.
  •  The ball is dead only when the outfielder, in the opinion of the umpire, throws the ball to the infield as a means to conclude the play, and the infielder holds the ball for two seconds.