Winchester Little League: Rookie Division: (Ages 6-8)
The Winchester Little League Rookie Division program is the 2nd step in a player’s Little League career, which provides opportunities for league age 7-8 years old. At this level team managers/coaches introduce the fundamentals of catching, throwing, hitting, base running and fielding. The Rookie Division is a Coach Pitch League. At this level of play all team will play in an end of the season tournament. A team hat and jersey will be provided by The Winchester Little League.
Winchester Little League Rookie Division Rules
League Age – 6, 7 & 8 Years Old
The Rookie coach pitch division is an extension of the local league to accommodate younger athletes. This division will utilize coach pitching . The following rules are in addition to the Little League International rules. For any rule not listed here, please refer to the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules.
1. Manager and Coaches\Volunteers
• All managers, coaches, and volunteers MUST obtain a clear background check approved by the Winchester Little League Board.
• Each team may have ONE manager and THREE coaches OR TWO coaches and ONE dugout parent inside the fence during a game.
• An injury report must be filled out for every player and volunteer injury, no matter how minor. Forms can be found in the concession area or ask the Board Member on Duty. The incident must be reported to the league Safety Manager within 24 hours of the injury.
A. Manager Responsibilities
• Attend all manager meetings.
• Ensure that coaches and volunteers know the Winchester Little League rules, and specific division rules.
• Ensure that Parents/Guardians are given appropriate information in a timely manner.
• Provide a representative from team on assigned work days.
• Locate his/her practice field and notify the division director of the location and times of practice at [email protected].
• Pick up and return any equipment and uniforms on designated day set by Winchester Little League.
*League issued equipment MUST be returned and checked by Equipment Manager or his/her designee at the conclusion of the last game.
• Notify player agent of any player who has left their team.
• Ensure that good sportsmanship and conduct are displayed by all coaches, volunteers, parents, and players at both practice and games.
B. Coaches\Volunteer Responsibilities
• Assist Manager with Practices.
• Assist Manager with Pre and Post Game field work.
• Assist in ensuring that good sportsmanship and conduct are displayed by all coaches, volunteers, parents, and players. At both practice and games.
C. Manager and Coaches\Volunteer Code of Conduct
• The use of tobacco products is prohibited before, during or after practices and games when children are present.
• Use of Profanity is not permitted or tolerated in the presence of the players.
Winchester Little League has a ZERO tolerance alcohol and drug policy.
• NO PROTESTS PERMITTED. Managers/coaches will not argue calls by the umpire and will always demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship.
• Any Manager\Coach using physical force towards anyone during a Little League activity will be banned from coaching in Winchester Little League.
*Violators of the above rules will be subject to dismissal by the League Board.
D. Manager and Coaches\Volunteer Dress code
• No cut off shorts
• No sandals or flip flops
• No tank top shirts
• No offensive print on shirts (alcohol, tobacco, profanity or nudity)
*Violators of dress code will not be permitted on the field or in the dugout until dress code is compliant.
2. Players
A. Player dress code
• Team shirts and Team hats provided by The Winchester Little League must be worn during all games.
• No jewelry of any kind or material is permitted on playing field. NOTE: If earrings cannot be removed they must be covered with medical tape and must not pose a safety hazard.
• No Shorts will be permitted on the playing field.
• Casts may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Persons wearing casts, including the manager and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
B. Player Equipment
• Little League approved equipment must always be used
• All helmets MUST have a facemask
• All bats must bear the “USABat” stamp and meet the Little League requirements as to weight, and length. No others will be permitted.
• No Tee Ball Bats may be used
• The player in the catcher’s position must wear catcher’s gear. Male catchers must wear a protective cup.
3. Field & Dugout Responsibilities
• The Home team will occupy the 1st base dugout while the Visiting team will occupy the 3rd base dugout.
• Both teams are responsible for picking up the trash in their respective dugouts.
• NO BATS ARE PERMITTED IN DUGOUT.
• The Home team manager is responsible for setting out bases, bringing a rake to the field and preparing the field for the game.
• The Visiting manager is responsible for raking the field after each game and putting away the bases, and rake at the conclusion of the final game.
*Bases and Rakes are to be returned to the equipment building at the conclusion of the final game each day.
4. Game Play & Practice
• Rookie participants may practice and/or play up to 4 times per week for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Games and practices will not be permitted if the outside temperature is below 50 degrees.
• A game will consist of 5 innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes time limit. No new inning may start after the 1 hour 15 minutes, unless the game is tied.
• The umpire will notify scorekeeper and managers of game start time. It will be recorded in score book.
• In the event of inclement weather or darkness, three innings will serve as a complete game and will not be made up.
• Score will be kept.
• An inning will consist of 3 outs OR 5 runs. *Five run rule does not apply after the fourth inning.
• A minimum of 6 players is required to play a game.
• Pitching distance will be set at 45 feet.
• Pitching machine speed will be set at a speed of 40 mph. This shall be checked by the umpire prior to the start of the game and shall not be adjusted after the start of the game.
• The batting team manager/coach will operate pitching machine. He or she must remain behind machine while in the offensive position.
• In the event the machine operating manager/coach is hit with a batted ball, the ball is dead immediately and no runner should advance. The batter WILL NOT be charged with a pitch.
• In the event the machine is hit by a batted ball the ball is dead and the batter will be awarded first base. No other runner shall advance unless forced.
• One Manager or Coach must remain in the dugout at all times.
• Coaches are not permitted to have drinks in the coaching boxes or on the field.
A. Defensive Play
• All defensive players must be on field. There is to be only one player occupying each infield position. All others should be placed in outfield. *Only 2 coaches are permitted on field and must stay behind the outfield line.
• Infielders consist of a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. The remaining players are positioned in the outfield.
• Player in the pitcher and first base positions must wear a helmet with facemask.
• Catcher Must wear catchers gear. Male catchers must wear a protective cup.
*This pertains to both practice and games.
• The player pitcher will be considered part of the field and must have at least one foot in the dirt circle when the ball is pitched. If the player pitcher is hit by a batted ball, the ball will be considered in the field of play and a live ball.
• The infield fly rule does not apply in this division.
• The play is live until the umpire calls time when defensive player has control of the ball in an attempt to stop the lead runner from advancing.
B. Offensive Play
• All batters must wear helmet with facemask.
• A continuous batting order is in effect.
• No batter shall exit dugout until time is called.
• Each batter may receive 6 pitches in which to hit a fair ball. Umpire will call swinging strikes and foul strikes. 3 swinging strikes will constitute an out. If batter hits a foul on third strike, batter will receive another pitch. If the batter attempts to bunt on the third strike and hits a foul ball the batter shall be called out.
• There are no walks in this division.
• Infield fly rule does not apply.
• Runner/s must return to previous base if the halfway distance is not met when time is called.
• Steals are not permitted in this division.
• If the runner is called “out” that runner shall return to the dugout.
Please Note: Any player league age 8 with at least one (1) year of Rookie Division, may by parents request and Winchester Little League's Board of Directors approval, move up to the next level of play. Parents will need to send an email to Baseball Player Agent at [email protected]
Still have questions ??? Please email Rookie Division Director Jason Goodpastor: [email protected]