Developmental Guidelines for Rookies
Players who register for Rookies should be able to demonstrate the following skills:
Knowledge of batting stance and grip
Knowledge of throwing motion
Knowledge of Proper fielding stance
Should be familiar with the basic rules-of-play
Players should be able to make semi-accurate throws
Players should be able to catch with a reasonable success rate
Players with little or no prior experience, or who don’t meet the developmental guidelines for Rookies, may remain in T-ball (please email
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Rookies games last a maximum of 4 innings or 75-90 minutes. Each inning, every player hits machine or coach-pitched baseballs (soft core) at 35-40 MPH. Coaches pitch while taking a knee, from 2 feet in front of the mound. Players do not strikeout, but are put on base if they have not hit after 5 pitches. Players who are “put-out” in the field return to the dugout.
Players rotate through infield and outfield positions, although coaches may consider safety in assigning positions. Ten defensive players take the field during each half-inning. Players share equal playing time and will sit out innings, but no player shall sit out two consecutive innings. Catchers are positioned behind home plate and catch “live” pitches. Game scores are not kept.
As the season progresses and agreed upon by both coaches transitioning to a more typical inning of baseball may occur.