Rookie Ball Rules
Please read the
following rules
pertaining to Rookie
Ball (as approved by the
OBA)
Q2 THE APPROVED PLAYING
RULES OF ROOKIE BALL
Section Q2.1 REGULATIONS
All OBA Rules &
Regulations pertaining
to membership,
territorial rights,
registration, players
signing, fees,
insurance,
classification, OBA
Play-offs, and
tournaments shall apply
as stated in the current
version of the
Constitution of the OBA
as amended each year at
its Annual Meeting.
The Approved Playing
Rules of Rookie Ball
apply to both Junior and
Senior Rookie Ball.
Section Q2.2 DIAMOND
LAYOUT
a) The pitching
machine is placed
directly in front of
home plate at a
distance of 44 ft.
b) An 8 ft. diameter
safety circle shall
be marked off
directly in front of
home plate and its
centre shall be 44
ft. from home plate.
No player is
permitted to enter
the safety circle,
which is considered
a dead ball area.
Enter means that any
part of the body
enters the safety
circle.
c) Electrical cord
must run along or
under the ground
from the pitching
machine to the
electrical source.
Section Q2.3 PLAYING
RULES
a) A team shall
comprise of a
minimum of 10
players and a
maximum of 25
players, all signed
to team rosters of
the series and
classification of
the team entered.
Each team must have
at least 1 manager
and/or 1 or more
coaches signed to a
team roster clearly
marked manager or
coach and who shall
be responsible for
that team.
b) Each team shall
have a catcher, a
first baseman, a
second baseman, a
third baseman, a
shortstop, a left
fielder, a right
fielder, 1 pitcher
and 2 centre
fielders in the
line-up. A team may
play as long as it
has 9 players at the
game. If it drops to
8 or few players at
a game, then the
game is forfeited to
the other team.
c) The pitcher must
stand beside the
pitching machine
outside of the
safety circle and
behind the release
point of the
pitching machine.
Lines shall be drawn
from the release
point to 4 ft.
beyond the circle.
The pitcher must
have both feet on
the white line until
the ball is released
from the machine.
The machine shall be
44 ft. from home
plate. Only the
pitcher may return a
live ball to the
operating coach with
runners on base. The
pitcher must wear a
regulation batting
helmet with an
attached chinstrap.
The pitcher must not
in any way break the
plane of the 8 foot
diameter circle
around the machine
whether stepping on
the circle line or
reaching in. Play
will be called dead
and 1 base will be
awarded. All other
forced runners will
move 1 base. This
only applies if the
pitcher makes
contact with the
ball. Infielders can
ask for time in the
infield area. Time
will be given at the
umpire’s discretion.
Note:
The ball does not
have to go back to
the pitcher before
an infielder may ask
for time.
d) The pitching
machine speeds
cannot be altered
except at the end of
an inning. Any
tampering with the
machine speed by the
coach feeding the
machine shall result
in the coach’s
immediate ejection.
If the machine speed
is erratic, it shall
be corrected by the
umpire. (This may be
done at any time.)
Machine speed is a
maximum of 40 mph
and a minimum of 35
mph. Height can be
adjusted at any
time.
e) All Rookie Ball
baseball games shall
be 7 innings or
until a winner is
declared. 5 innings
shall constitute an
official game.
f) Each batter shall
receive a maximum of
5 strikes as called
by the umpire. The
batter shall not be
called out if the 5
th
strike is called a
foul ball. If a ball
crosses the plate
over the batter’s
head or bounces into
the dirt, the umpire
will not count it as
a strike unless the
batter swings at the
pitch.
g) Batters cannot
walk or bunt. (Bunts
are automatic outs.)
h) There shall be no
passed balls or wild
pitches.
i) Base Runners
cannot leave the
base until the
batter makes contact
with the ball. If an
infraction occurs,
the ball will be
declared dead and
runners may not
advance. One (1)
warning will be
issued and for any
further infractions
Thereafter the
runner will be
called out. (Each
team may receive 1
warning). No
stealing allowed.
j) If a batted ball
hits the pitching
machine or any adult
in the playing
field, then the ball
is declared dead and
the batter is
awarded first base
with the
corresponding move
of any base runners
who may be forced to
move. The coach
feeding the machine
must not interfere
with any play being
made by the
defensive team.
Otherwise, the
batter will be
called out and the
runners will be
returned to their
base of origin. In
case of the third
out the side is
retired. If the 10th
batter hits the
pitching machine,
then the ball will
be declared dead,
the batter will be
awarded first base
with the
corresponding move
of any base runners
who may be forced to
move, and the inning
will be over.
k) The plate umpire
shall be behind the
catcher. The second
umpire is the
traditional base
umpire.
l) The on deck
batter, the batter
and base runners
must wear a
prescribed
protective helmet
with flaps covering
both ears.
Chinstraps are
mandatory and will
be worn as designed
by the manufacturer.
Helmets may not be
changed except after
the inning has been
completed, or the
player has been
retired or has
crossed home plate.
m) Shoes with metal
cleats are
prohibited.
n) All catchers are
required to wear a
mask with throat
protector, helmet,
chest protector,
shin guards, cup and
cup type supporter
during the game and
during any warm-up,
machine set-up, etc.
o) In addition to
wooden bats, metal
bats shall be
allowed in OBA play.
These bats shall
meet the dimensional
requirements
specified in Rule
1:10 of the Official
Rules of Baseball.
The maximum diameter
of the bat barrel is
2 3/4".
p) All players in
uniform (OBA
rostered) must be
put in a continuous
batting order, with
the bat person being
the exception.
q) A coach/manager
may only communicate
positive
instructions to
his/her players on
the field.
r) Up to 3 games may
be played in 1 day.
s) An inning shall
be 3 outs or the
maximum of 10
batters. If there
are 2 outs when the
10
th
batter is up, the 3rd
out
can be obtained by a
strike out, a caught
fly ball, a force
out (when the runner
must advance to a
base) or a tag play.
With 1 out when the
10th
batter is up, it is
possible to end the
inning with a double
play (forces, tags,
caught fly ball and
appeal, etc.).
Otherwise, with the
10th
batter up, the ball
must go to the
catcher or the
pitcher who must
touch the plate to
end the inning. (Note:
only
the catcher or
pitcher may touch
the plate to end the
inning.) While not
ending the inning
unless 3 outs are
recorded or all
runners (including
the batter) are put
out, with the 10th
batter up, the
defensive team can
make plays to get
the batter or
runners out. With
less than 2 outs, if
the 10th
batter is put out on
a caught fly ball,
all base runners are
permitted to tag up
and try to advance
to home. With the 10th
batter up, if the
ball proceeds out of
play, then the
runners advance as
prescribed by the
Official Rules of
Baseball and anyone
entitled to advance
to home will score.
t) The infield fly
rule does not apply.
u) The coach
operating the
pitching machine is
required to wear a
baseball helmet.
v) Batters at Rookie
Ball must drop the
bat and not throw it
(intentionally or
unintentionally)
upon hitting the
ball. Penalty, each
team shall be
entitled to one
warning per game.
After the warning,
any further offences
by a team shall
result in the batter
being declared out,
the ball being dead
and runners
returning to their
bases.
Section Q2.4 APPROVED
BALLS FOR ROOKIE BALL
Any baseball approved
for Mosquito play.
