Rookie Baseball Rules
Rookie League Baseball (7 – 8 yr. olds)
-Each game shall be six (6)innings in length.
-There shall be a one hour and thirty minutes (1:30) time limit for all regular season games. Once an inning has started, it must be completed.
-Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) Level 5 baseball shall be used for Rookie League.
-A maximum of five (5) runs per team may be scored per inning until the end of the 4th inning. There will be no run limit from the 5th inning on.
-A maximum of 11 players allowed on defense (6 infield and 5 outfield). Outfielders must play in the grass area. With each new inning the team coach MUST rotate the extra player (s) in the field and a new player sits the bench for the next half inning.
-Maximum number of players per roster is 15.
-Games can be played with as few as 8 players.
-All players listed on the roster must be placed in the batting order.
-Line up must be turned into the official scorekeeper 15 minutes prior to game.
-A batter gets five pitches to either hit safely or be put out, but will not be called out on a foul ball on the 5th or subsequent pitch.
-Runners may not lead off or steal and may not leave the base until the ball is put in play. Runners leaving early may be called out.
-No bunting or “easy swings” are allowed.
-The batter must hit the ball past a ten (10) foot reference point in front of home plate and between the foul lines for it to be considered a fair and in play ball.
-Defensive player in the pitcher position must have at least one foot inside of the designated circle until the ball is put into play.
-The coach pitching to the batter must have at least one foot inside the designated circle.
-A maximum of 1 manager and 2 coaches per team are allowed to participate in the game. A team on defense may have 1 coach on the outside of each foul line (not in fair territory).
-No “big barrel” bats and no bats over 29 inches.
-A 10 run mercy rule will be in effect after 4 innings.
-Base running/field guideline
“A Dead Ball”
Once the pitcher has control of the ball and at least 1 foot inside the pitcher’s circle, the umpire should call time. (The pitcher does not have to hold the ball up or verbally call time, just have control of the ball with at least one foot inside the circle.) This is not a local rule, please see Babe Ruth 2010 handbook for further information.
-The infielder can prevent base runners from advancing any additional bases, if they obtain and retain possession of a thrown ball. Infielders should make an attempt to make a play on all batted balls.
“An Overthrow”
-Runners advance at their own risk. The defensive team may elect to attempt a play on the advancing runner.
-A batted ball is in play until the lead runner is stopped. Runners may advance on an overthrow until the lead runner is stopped.
“A Judgment Call”
-Advancement of base runners or the denial of advancement is at the umpire’s judgment.
THE ACTUAL RULE from the rule book
A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.
A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball. If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair hit.