Allenton Youth Organization

2009 AYO T-BALL COACHES GUIDELINES

T-Ball program coordinators: Jason & Melissa Green
Contact Information: 262-483-5913 or 262-483-5914
EMail: greens5@nconnect.net

Coaches Meeting: May 13th 6:30 p.m. by concession stand

Games: Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 Practices: Determined by Coaches.

First night: (June 10th) ALL COACHES need to meet Jason and Melissa on Diamond 4 at 6:00 to receive t-shirts and any other information that is needed

Picture Day: June 17th Coaches must pick up the picture packet directly from Jason or Melissa on the designated date, place and time. You will be notified when and where we will meet.

Family Fun Day: August 8th

Rain: Coaches will need to check the AYO website for weather related cancellation information. It will be the coaches responsibility to call their entire team to let them know the games have been called off.

Coaches: please do not call your team UNTIL you have received the official cancellation call. A cancelation decision will be made no later than 5:30 on game days. Due to our short schedule and limited availability of diamonds we will not make up the first cancelled game.

Rules:
1. HAVE FUN!!
2. Coaches pitch to their own team.
3. Batter may take up to 5 swings before using the tee.
4. The teams turn at bat is over when ½ the players have batted.
5. Children should try to play all positions (except catcher).
6. No score is kept Focus is on learning the basics: names of positions, base running, hitting, catching etc.
7. Children should hold bats ONLY when they are batting
8. Parents are encouraged to help. You can have as many parents on the field as you want.
9. REMEMBER GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP (Cheering, shaking hands, no booing)
10. Schedules and Diamonds: The schedule (who and where) is determined before the teams are “drafted”.

ALLENTON YOUTH ORGANIZATION – 2009 RULES

1. DECISION OF THE UMPIRE IS FINAL. The Umpire will call the game in case of inclement weather. If four full innings have been played, the game is complete. Games called prior to the end of the 4th inning, will make up a new game on Thursday from the beginning.

2. Poor conduct WILL NOT BE TOLERATED at the park. This applies to players, coaches, families and friends. Poor conduct will be dealt with at the discretion of the AYO Board and may result in expulsion.

3. When playing a game, a new inning will not be started after 55 minutes of game play. If a game is tied, two additional innings can be played, for a maximum of 9 innings. If the game is still tied, the game will stand as a tie to be played at the end of regular scheduled season play, only if standings are affected. Any tie game required to be played because of trophy position, should be a full game – 7 innings or 55 minutes.

4. Time will be called by the umpire when the ball is on the infield and the base runners cease to try to advance. The fielder does not have to call time. The umpire will automatically call the proper time.

5. Any ball hit or thrown beyond the fence is out of play. Only one base advance is permitted on an overthrow beyond the fence. A ball hit along the imaginary line drawn straight down the field from the fence at the West diamond is a dead ball and out of play.

6. The minimum height of the arch of the ball shall be above the head of the batter. The maximum height should not be more than 14’ high and is left to the discretion of the umpire. The ball must be hittable.

7. Every player shall be in full visible uniform (team t-shirt and tennis shoes or rubber cleats – METAL CLEATS/SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED). Shorts will be a respectable length up the discretion of the Coach and AYO.

8. The Minor Boys, Pony Boys, Minor Girls and Major Girls will use the longer mat, the 11” ball, and the short base paths, and the Sub-Major Boys and the Major Boys will use the regular mat, the 12” ball and the long base paths.

9. The Minor Boys and Girls games will be monitored by the umpires for excessive walks taken. If more than 5 walks have been taken without any batters attempting to swing, the umpire may enforce the WALK LIMIT. No other batter can advance to first base by walking (only a hit or a strike-out will count).

10. HOME TEAM – sits on the 1st base side and is the team listed second on the schedules.

11. When pitching, it IS NOT necessary t o stand on the rubber when beginning delivery, but the pitcher must contact the rubber sometime during the delivery.

12. The “out of box” area is: stepping in front of the plate, on the plate, or over the plate, and is considered an out. This will be enforced at the Major and Sub-Major levels, and at a cautionary basis in the lower levels.

13. Catcher’s masks will be supplied and used by all catchers during the game. This rule will be strictly enforced by the umpires. The safety of our youth is our number one priority.

14. Players and equipment shall stay behind the fence, except when batting, or in the on-deck circle. Any players interfering with a play will result in an out. All spectators are to be behind the fence.

15. Rainouts will be made up whenever schedule permits. Thursday nights have been designated as “make-up nights”. Final decisions will be made by the AYO Board and posted on the website, www.ayokids.com. Coaches can call 262-629-9446 or 262-483-5913 after 4:15pm for game cancellation information. PLAYERS AND FAMILIES NEED TO CALL THEIR COACHES PLEASE OR CHECK THE WEBSITE.

16. If a runner gets hit by a ball that has NO CONTACT with any defensive player or glove, the runner is OUT. If the ball has made contact, then hits the runner, he/she is safe. Players hit while on a base are SAFE.

17. COACHES SHOULD NOT tough any players while they are in play. If any coach interferes with a play, an OUT will be called.

18. No alterations or defacing of team t-shirts/uniforms is permitted. Teammates may autograph shirts at the end of the season.

19. If any runner interferes with the ball or the player attempting to field the ball, he will be called OUT.

20. All equipment issued by AYO must be returned on or before AYO Family Fun Day.

21. It should be the objective of every coach and assistant coach to see that each player present plays a fair portion of the game. All players present will bat in the line-up.

22. Players showing up late for a game, after the start of a game, no matter what the inning, can play. The late player will be placed at the end of the team’s batting order.

23. All leagues will use 3 balls and 2 strikes.

24. The back triangle of the plate is part of the strike zone.

25. When a batter hits a ball, it must be above his head for the catcher to catch it for an out.

26. Any player deliberately throwing a bat in disgust will be ejected. The bat slipping out of a player’s hand while swinging does not apply.

27. Free substitution is allowed any time during a game.

28. At the umpire’s discretion, runners must slide for CLOSE PLAYS AT HOME PLATE or will be called out.

29. Use of foul language will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate ejection.

30. A player will be called OUT for batting out of turn. Scorekeepers should immediately stop the game if a player hits out of turn.

31. IN-FIELD FLY RULE will be enforced at Sub-Major and Major levels, and at the discretion of the umpire. Must have players on 1st and 2nd bases, or 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases and one out.

32. A team consists of 10 or more players with a minimum of 8 players on the field at all times.

33. Line-ups shall be given to the official scorekeepers 15 minutes prior to the start of a game.

34. SMOKING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED on the playing field or in the bench area of any field.

35. The Amateur Softball Association has issued a list of bats from specific manufacturers that must be re-certified with the ASA Re-Certification Mark. If a player is caught using a non-certified bat, they will be removed from the game immediately. A second offense will result in permanent removal from the league for the remainder of the season.

36. PLEASE REMEMBER that the main objective of AYO is to teach our youth good sportsmanship and recreation. Therefore, let everyone, from player-to coach-to fan, conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times. Our umpires, coaches and scorekeepers are all volunteers, so please give them due respect.