When young people play baseball for the first time, it is often a highly organized game that is run by adults to ensure players are protected and each youngster gets a chance to play. Children who are playing baseball often have had the opportunity to play T-ball. However, when they are hitting pitches, they face a new set of challenges. The typical rules for youth baseball help make the game safe and fun for all the players.
Protective Equipment
One of the most important things about the game when played by its youngest participants is keeping everybody safe. All batters must wear helmets any time they come into the batter's box. The helmet must cover the top of the head and both ears. A face mask is not required but encouraged. Players must wear helmets whenever they are on the bases or in the on-deck circle. All catchers must wear a catcher's mask, chest protector and shin guards. Catcher's masks must have a throat protector hanging from the bottom rung.
Coach Pitch
When the game is played by small children, the coaches tend to do the pitching. Learning how to throw the ball over the plate with control is very difficult, so coaches pitch in order to keep the game moving. In many leagues, each player will get a chance to swing at five strikes. If the player has not hit the ball after five swings, a tee is placed at home plate. The player swings at the ball on the tee and puts it in play that way.
Length of Game and Rules
In baseball leagues for the youngest players, scores are not usually kept. Teams play for about 90 minutes, and then two new teams take over and play. A team may have between 11 and 13 players on the roster. All players are put in the batting order. All players will bat unless the team in the field records three outs. In that case, the team in the field comes in to bat and the team at bat goes into the field. The next inning will start with the player who was scheduled to bat after the last batter in the previous inning. There are no walks and no strikeouts. Teams usually field 10 players, including a fielder next to the coach who is pitching. Other positions include catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field, left center field, right center field and right field. Players who sit on the bench one inning must take the field the next inning.
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