Tadpole Baseball- Age 7/8/9

Tadpole Division Rules

TADPOLE DIVISION BASEBALL (MACHINE PITCH)

• The Tadpole division is open to players age 7-9 years old.
• Players are randomly placed on teams. Cranbrook Minor Ball Association will attempt to accommodate as many team mate and coach requests as possible, but they are not guaranteed.
• Players will receive a team shirt and hat as their uniform. CMBA will provide equipment to each team including balls, catchers gear, and bats. Players must bring their own glove, and batting helmet. Players must wear a protective cup, sweat pants/athletic pants/baseball pants, but no jeans or shorts are allowed. Players may wear rubber cleats or running shoes.
• Players are encouraged to arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior for a proper warm up.
• The goal of Tadpole Baseball is to build on the foundational skills learned in Rookie and to increase each player's ability to hit, throw, catch, and build a better awareness of game play. Our goal is to provide a safe, fun, and instructional environment for kids to learn the FUNdamentals and enjoy the game of baseball.

TADPOLE DIVISION RULES

Fielding

• All players play in the field. Players are to be rotated each inning so that everybody has a chance to spend some time at multiple positions. Note: If you have a player that has trouble catching thrown balls, do not put this person on first base or at catcher until they are comfortable but do not “bury” players in the outfield.
• Each team may have a maximum of 10 players for fielding with one player being assigned as a rover and placed in shallow outfield. One player will be assigned as pitcher. Teams are not permitted to station two pitchers in the infield, or to station any extra players in the infield.
• The catcher must wear full protective gear.
• Once the ball comes back into the infield and any player has possession all play stops.
• Coaches are encouraged to be in the field with players to ensure proper positional play and to provide some game play assistance. Coaches are not permitted to touch a ball in play. If so, play is ruled dead and base runners will advance 1 additional base.

 Pitching

• The pitching machine operator will be the coach of the team that is on offence. The operator will show the ball to the batter before placing it on the lever. The ball to be used is a “mush” ball. NO HARDBALLS PERMITTED! The pitching machine operator must be attentive to throws coming from the third base side of the circle to first base, moving out of the way or ducking to avoid interference.
• Each batter receives a maximum of 6 pitches in which to hit the ball (can be extended for foul balls on the last pitch). If after 6 pitches there has not been a hit (in fair territory) the batter will be called out.
• There are no walks or strikeouts, but a 6 pitch maximum rule for speed of play.
• The pitching machine will be positioned at a distance of 40 - 45 feet from home plate .The speed will be set (by mutual agreement of both coaches) and will not be changed during the game. The pitching machine operator may only adjust the height of the pitches.
• Any batted ball that hits the pitching machine or pitching machine operator will be called dead. The batter will be awarded first base and only runners forced to advance will do so. · Pitching machine operators should not catch balls thrown to them unless the ball has been declared dead.
• The pitcher is not to stand in front of the pitching machine and shall receive all thrown balls on either side of the pitching machine to give to machine operator.
• A pitch which is over the batter's head or bounces in the dirt will be ruled a no pitch regardless if batter swings or not.

Batting

• All players present shall be listed on the team's batting line-up and shall bat in that order. Any late arrivals shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
• Bunting is not permitted, automatic out. Length of game
• Games should last at least three innings or the maximum time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The players’ attention spans will dictate the length of the game. Only continue playing as long as the clear majority are having fun and enjoying the game. Scoring
• There will be a maximum of 5 runs per team per inning.
• Score will be kept only for the purpose of keeping track of number of runs scored per inning.
• Scorekeeper should announce immediately when 5th run has scored so teams can change from offense to defense.
• An inning will end once 3 outs are made or 5 runs score.

 Miscellaneous

• Hustle in and out of dugout to increase speed of play.
• There is no stealing, even on passed balls or over throws.
• Infield fly rule does not apply.
• Players are to remain in dugout when not in the field.
• Umpires decision is the final decision.
• Be respectful of the players, coaches, and umpires