Rules of Kids' Baseball

Kids' baseball generally uses an abbreviated and slightly modified version of the official rules employed by Major League Baseball. Little League Baseball and smaller local organizations may set these rules with the intention of minimizing the risk of injury and enhancing the style of play for young athletes.

Basic Rules

The rules for kids' baseball follow all of the major parameters under which Major League Baseball is played. A team consists of nine position players. Additional players are available off the bench as replacements, pinch hitters, pinch runners or in case of injury. Innings consist of a top half, in which the team designated the visiting team bats, and a bottom half during which the home team bats. Each half inning consists of three outs. Batters are called out after three strikes and are awarded first base after four balls, as called by an umpire. Beyond these basics, the rules for kids' baseball begin to diverge from Major League Baseball's official rules.

The Playing Field

Kids' baseball is often played on a smaller field that Major League or college-level baseball. For Little League Baseball, the bases are set 60 feet apart, as opposed to 90. Also, the distance between the pitcher and hitter is reduced from 60.5 feet to 46 feet. In terms of overall field dimensions, many Little League ballparks have home run fences that are around 200 feet away from home plate, whereas in major league ballparks fences may be twice that distance.

Major Differences

One of the most obvious differences between Major League Baseball's official rules and the rules used for kids' baseball involves the length of a game. Little League Baseball mandates a six-inning game (as opposed to nine). In addition, time limits may be placed on games to prevent a game that goes into extra innings from continuing for too long. For games played in the evening, a time limit may exist in which a new inning cannot begin after a certain hour to prevent play in dim light when injury is more likely due to players not being able to see the ball well. Another rule that may be adopted to limit the length of games is known as a "mercy rule" and declares that a team wins the game when its lead surpasses a certain number of runs. This rule prevents an inferior team from being forced to continue play against a superior one indefinitely.

Other Differences

Many other noteworthy rules exist for kids' baseball. Many leagues adopt a mandatory play rule, in which every player on a team must be given a certain amount of playing time. This prevents coaches and managers from keeping a poorer player on the bench and is a function of kids' baseball's focus on sportsmanship and recreation over pure competition. Kids' baseball also generally adopts a rule requiring the use of aluminum bats. This prevents the dangerous situation that sometimes occurs when a wooden bat breaks and also allows teams to avoid the cost of replacing broken wooden bats throughout the season.

The Designated Hitter

One area where kids' baseball can be in agreement with the rules of only part of the Major Leagues is in its use of the designated hitter. Currently, the Major Leagues are split on this rule: the National League does not use the designated hitter, instead allowing the pitcher to bat. The American League employs the DH as a substitute for the pitcher. Many youth baseball leagues prefer not to use the designated hitter so as to avoid too much specialization and allow each player to gain experience at both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.

Resources

• Major League Baseball: Official Rules