T-Ball Rules

TEE-BALL (5 & 6 year olds)

Legal Players:  Boys and Girls who are 5 or 6 years old by Aug. 1 and not enrolled in Pinto Division of JBBL or in Johnsburg Pigtail League softball.  All players are limited to those who will enter kindergarten or first grade in the fall.

Purpose: T-Ball is to introduce the sport of baseball to the young in as informal, yet structured setting as possible, realizing it is just a game for all involved. A high priority is in developing social skills as well as baseball skills.

Teams:  Between 9 and 10 players per team with all teams to be in the same league.  Teams will be scheduled to play two-three games each week for the season, usually beginning in early June.

Uniforms:  JBBL will furnish caps and T-shirts, which players can keep. Players must wear the team shirt and cap.  No other caps or shirts are allowed.

Equipment:  JBBL will furnish 3 balls for game play, 2-3 bats, a T-plate, bases and 4-5 batting helmets and a bag for equipment for each team.  Players shall bring their own gloves.  Bats must be T-ball approved. No metal tipped spikes are permitted. Rubber or molded plastic cleats are acceptable. 5-9 practice balls will also be provided.

Playing Rules:  The game will consist of seven (7) innings or a game of 75 minutes in length, whichever comes first No new inning will begin after 65 minutes. No score will be kept. Each coach is allowed to pitch 5 pitches to each child, the last ball thrown will be a colored ball (red-yellow-orange) if the ball is not batted into play then batter must bat from tee. It’s important to keep to 5 pitches only, then bring in the batting tee to keep the game moving. Many times these young players want to keep trying and fuss when having to use the batting tee.

Inning:  An inning will consist of each team batting all players present.  The same batting order will be followed each inning, except in succeeding innings the former first batter will bat last.  The inning is over after the last batter bats. No outs are recorded.

Defense:  All players play defense in the same inning.  There are unlimited outs by the defense each inning.  There are no tag outs.  All outs are caught fly balls or by the fielder touching the base prior to the runner getting there.  The only defensive players in front of the base paths before the ball is hit will be the pitchers.  Coaches should be on the field helping explain the game, but should refrain from fielding or throwing the ball. Any player that stands in the pitching area, the player will wear a batting helmet. Also, no Tee Player will play the catcher position (safety issue).

Playing Field:  The diamonds will consist of temporary bases.  Home plate will be the batting tee and plate.  First and third bases will be at right angles to home plate, 45 feet away.  Second base will be equal distance from third and first, also at right angles and about 45 feet away.  No foul lines will be chalked.

Home plate will sit in the middle of a seven-foot circle.  All batted balls must clear the circle.  If a ball remains in the circle, the player swings again.  When hitting off the tee, the player will have unlimited chances to swing.  After contacting the ball, the bat must remain within the seven-foot circle.  If the bat is entirely outside the circle the batter will receive one warning for tossing the bat each game. A coach should be near the batting tee to adjust the height for each player and to replace the ball when the ball fails to clear the circle for the batter.

Base Runners:  There is no leading off bases before the ball is hit.  There is no stealing or advancing of bases until the ball is hit.  Violators are reminded of the rule and returned to their previous base, if the situation warrants it. After the ball is held by a defensive player at a base or inside the base paths, runners shall return to the last base safely touched. All coaches managers, players and parents shall adhere to the JBBL Code of Conduct rules. If league rules are violated by coaches, managers, or officers, the JBBL Board of Directors shall sit in judgment.  The minimum penalty for a violator is suspension from JBBL activities for one year. No director involved in the violation shall be on the review panel.  A simple majority of the panel members present is needed to finalize a decision.