Mill Valley Little League Batting Cage Rules

April 19, 2024

Mill Valley Little League (MVLL) uses three batting cages.  The Alto North and Alto South cages are located at Alto Field; these are owned and operated by the City of Mill Valley.  The Friends cage is located near Friends Field South; this cage is located on land owned by the Mill Valley School District, and operated by the City of Mill Valley.  MVLL leases these cages from the City of Mill Valley; MVLL maintains the cages (e.g., providing L-screens and mats, maintaining netting, etc.).  The cages are open to the public, but MVLL has priority for use during scheduled practice and game times.

The Batting Cage Rules that apply to all users are prominently posted near each cage.  These are as follows:

·       Use at your own risk.

·       Always wear a helmet while using the batting cages.

·       No metal cleats.

·       No climbing or hanging on nets.

·       Keep the netting closed while batting.

·       Pitchers must be safely located behind the L-screen during BP.

·       Do not bring food or drink into the cages.

·       MVLL teams with scheduled times for cages have priority.

·       Do NOT remove L-screens or mats from the cages.

·       Be safe and follow these rules.

In addition to these rules, there are additional rules that apply to MVLL users (those using the cages during MVLL games or practices).

·       UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE USERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ALLOWED TO THROW BP.  ONLY ADULTS REGISTERED AS VOLUNTEERS WITH MVLL ARE ALLOWED TO THROW BP.

·       Helmets are required on anyone inside the cage – pitchers and hitters.

·       Adults throwing BP should familiarize themselves with the correct technique to throw BP – in particular, the adult’s head and torso should ALWAYS, at all times, be behind the L-screen.  Finish the throw with the arm behind the screen as well, so that by the time the ball crosses the “window”, the entire body is behind the screen.  While there are many resources for learning how to safely throw BP, this video provides a good summary of the safe way to throw BP.

·       Adults entering the cages to throw BP are responsible for knowing how to throw BP safely.  IF YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT YOU KNOW HOW TO THROW BP SAFELY, DO NOT DO IT.

Helmets for MVLL adult users are located at the Friends Field South shed (photo on left, below) and the Alto 3B shed (photo on right, below).  Youth participants will use either the batting helmets issued to the team by MVLL, or their personal batting helmet.