EAST CHATHAM BASEBALL
TEE BALL DIVISION RULES
Currently, East Chatham Baseball (ECB) partners with Little League (LL) and will generally follow the rules and guidelines of LL unless otherwise specified in ECB rules and regulations.
Eligible Players:
Any player whose age is between 4-6 years old and won't turn 7 before September 1 is eligible to play.
The Playing Field:
The distance between all bases shall be 60 feet.
The pitching distance from the point of home plate to the front of the pitching line shall be 30-40 feet. A sixteen (16) foot diameter circle will be drawn around pitching line.
Positioning of Players:
Infield – 5 players: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, shortstop, and pitcher.
Coach of team at bat will be the catcher.
If teams have 11 players or more, then coaches can add a 6th player to the infield at the long stop position, which is halfway between 1st and 2nd bases but deeper than 1st and 2nd player positions.
Outfield – all other players must be positioned on the grass at a similar radius. No short fielders will be allowed.
Defensive pitcher must remain inside circle and adjacent to the coach/pitcher until batter makes contact with ball.
Playing Rules:
Players must be rotated between infield and outfield every inning. Players playing outfield in the first inning must play infield during the 2nd inning. Coaches may rotate players during the inning as well. Every player will have an opportunity to play infield and outfield at each game. If teams have more than 10 players, coaches must rotate players within the innings to facilitate each player getting the opportunity to play infield.
The entire lineup will bat each inning, three (3) outs doesn’t change sides.
Outs will, however, be recorded for caught fly balls, force-outs at a base and runners tagged out. Once a player has been called out, he/she will be removed from the base path and return to the dugout. Instruction should be provided by the coach as to the reason for the recorded out.
Coaches shall give instructional interpretation of rules such as missing the base, batted balls hitting the runner or running out of the baseline. Unless players repeatedly violate these rules, no outs will be recorded. Coaches will use their best judgments.
One (1) hour and 15 minute time limit, unless another game is not scheduled to play afterwards.
A game may start with a minimum of six (6) players. In the event a team does not have the minimum number of players present, and the opposing team has above the minimum number, the players shall be divided equally and a game will be played.
No official score will be kept and no official league standings will be recorded.
No stealing.
Advancement of base runners will be base to base if the ball is playable within the infield. For batted balls that reach the outfield, base runners may advance more than one base at a time as instructed by the base coaches. If players choose to slide, the slide must be feet first. No head first sliding is allowed or should be taught.
Home Run Hitter – The last batter is designated the home run hitter. On his bat, he will be allowed to round all the bases including any other runners who are currently on base. Only the first out will be played.
The coach/pitcher must start the pitch near the pitching line and must finish within the pitching circle. The coach may pitch from one knee and must pitch overhand.
Each batter is allowed four (4) pitches from the coach/pitcher, including foul balls. No extra pitching will be given when fouling the fourth pitch. If a batter fails to get a hit on the fourth hit, a batting tee will be placed by the coach/catcher and the batter will be allowed to swing until a fair ball is hit.
No bunting.
A line shall be marked twenty (20) feet from the point of home plate, from foul line to foul line in fair territory. A ball hit in this area will be considered a foul ball. Base runners will not advance and the batter will be allowed to resume his/her at bat.
Coaching Positions
Offensive: 1 – Pitching
1 – Catching and assisting the batter with stance
1 – Coaching 1st base
1 – Coaching 3rd base
1 – Dugout and on-deck circle monitor
Defensive: 1 – Coach behind 1st at the edge of the grass
1 – Coach behind 3rd at the edge of the grass
2 – Coaches behind the outfielders
Balls hitting the coach/pitcher shall be ruled a ground rule single and each base runner will advance one base.
Offensive players at bat, on base or on deck must wear batting helmets at all times (including the bat boy).
Substitution of base runners, if needed, will be done by utilizing the player making the last out.
Head coaches shall be umpires.