Youth Minor League Baseball Rules
Youth minor league baseball is a time for kids to learn game skills, sportsmanship and life lessons. Leagues apply rules to teach athletes the fun of competition and physical activity. It is the job of coaches, league officials and parents to instill positive values in every participant. Every child should see significant time on the field at every position. No one can learn by riding the bench all season long. The goal should not be to win every game but to teach and instill confidence. Provide rules to ensure safety, fair competition and equal participation.
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Safety Rules
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Baseball can be a dangerous game, even at the youth level. Due the danger of getting hit with a baseball or bat, all batters, base runners, base coaches and players in the on-deck circle must wear protective helmets at all times. Every catcher or player/coach warming up a pitcher must wear a catcher's mask. Every male player must wear a protective cup to all games and practices.
Playing Time
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Youth minor league baseball is supposed to be used a teaching mechanism for young players. This is not Major League Baseball, and leagues do not pay players for their participation or achievements. To learn the game, players must get experience on the field and in the batter's box. Give every player present at the game one spot in the batting order. Coaches cannot skip this player unless he is injured. If a player has an injury, he must sit out the entire game. In the field, each player should play at least four innings in the field. To give players experience at every position, participants must play at least one inning in the infield every game.
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Slaughter Rules
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Youth minor league baseball games can be lopsided at times. To avoid unsportsmanlike conduct, leagues can end games early if a game meets certain standards. If the visiting team is ahead by 12 or more runs after the end of five innings of play, officials should end the game. If the home team is ahead by 12 or more runs after the visiting team ends its at bat in the fourth inning, officials should end the game. These rules ensure that no team loses by a truly ridiculous score.
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References
- Photo Credit baseball image by Tomasz Plawski from Fotolia.com
