Streamwood Little League
T-Ball Rules

These rules are designed to create a fun, safe, and instructional environment for all T-Ball players. Our focus is on learning fundamentals, sportsmanship, and enjoying the game.

Uniforms & Equipment

• Baseball pants, team shirt, socks, and caps are provided by the league and must be worn at each game.

• All male players must wear a hard cup supporter.

• Catchers must wear a chest protector, mask, and shin guards.

• Batters may wear a cage on their batting helmet, but it is not required.

• No on-deck batters.

• No bats in the dugout.

• Do not allow batters to pound the plate with their bats.

Game Play & Batting

• All batters will hit off a tee placed over home plate.

• NO STRIKEOUTS.

• If a batted ball travels less than 15 feet in fair territory, it is considered a foul ball.

• If a batter throws the bat, the play is ruled dead ball and replayed.

• All players present will be placed in the batting order and bat consecutively.

  • If a player refuses to play in the field, he/she will not bat.

• Batting out of order carries no penalty; the player resumes their normal spot next time up.

• One half-inning is defined as one time through the batting order.

• A complete game consists of 3 innings or a 2-hour time limit, whichever comes first.

• Coach pitch rules:

  • Not allowed in the 1st inning

  • Maximum of 3 batters in the 2nd and 3rd innings

• Coach pitch is used to:

  • Gently challenge players as their skills improve

  • Help players transition from tee work to live pitches

  • Encourage confidence, hand-eye coordination, and proper hitting mechanics

  The use of coach pitch will vary by game and by team, based on player ability and comfort level, while always keeping safety and fun as the top priorities.

Base Running

• Base runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball is hit.

• Runners may not advance extra bases due to defensive inexperience.

• All infield hits are limited to one base.

Fielding & Defensive Positions

• Every player present will play a defensive position.

• All players must be taught both infield and outfield positions.

• Managers must rotate players and ensure each player plays at least two (2) innings in the infield.

• On Stark and Plasky fields, outfielders must play at the grass edge of the outfield.

• Outfielders must stay behind the designated outfield line until the ball is hit.

• The pitcher must remain in contact with the pitching rubber until the ball is hit.

• Catchers should stand by the fence behind home plate, not directly behind it, for safety.

Throwing Rules

On a ground ball:

• The pitcher must throw the ball to a base

• Outfielders must throw the ball to a base

• Shortstop and Pokémon position players must throw the ball to a base

Special Rules

• Pokémon Position: An extra infielder is placed between 1st base and 2nd base.

• In a 3-inning game, six different players must play Pitcher and 1st Base.

  • A player may not:

    • Play Pitcher twice

    • Play 1st Base twice

    • Play both Pitcher and 1st Base in the same game

• When bases are loaded:

  • The catcher may not tag home plate or the runner on a ground ball

  • The catcher may throw to a base

  • The catcher may tag home or the runner if receiving a throw from another fielder

• The infield fly rule does NOT apply in T-Ball.

Coaches & Game Management

• All coaches must be 18 years of age or older and have a background check on file with the league.

• Defensive positioning:

  • Up to two (2) coaches may be in the outfield

  • One coach may be in front of the dugout (not near the foul line)

  • If assisting the catcher, coaches must stand behind the catcher

• When batting:

  • Coaches may be stationed at 1st base, 3rd base, and home plate

  • No coach is allowed at 2nd base

• Players should arrive 30 minutes before game time.

• Managers or coaches should arrive 45 minutes before the game to help set up the field.

  • If it rained the night before or day of the game, arrive 1 hour early if possible.

Most Important Rule

HAVE FUN! ⚾😊