Youth baseball is one of the most popular organized sports in the United States. Organizations like Little League, Dixie Baseball and the Babe Ruth League have been giving youngsters the chance to play baseball for decades. The rules of the game concern themselves with player participation, player safety, game procedures and sportsmanship.
Game Rules
Youth recreation baseball games usually are six innings long. The home team does not bat in the bottom of the sixth inning if it is ahead. If a team is ahead by 15 runs or more after four innings, the team that is ahead is the winner. If the margin is 10 or more after five innings, the game is also over.
Player Participation
In youth baseball, a team usually consists of 11 or 12 players. All players are in the batting order, while only nine will take the field. In youth baseball, all players must play the field in at least two innings of every game, and they usually must play infield for at least one of those innings.
Pitching Limitations
In order to prevent arm injuries, youth baseball pitchers are limited in the number of innings they can throw. In most leagues, a pitcher cannot throw more than six innings in a calendar week. He also usually cannot throw more than four innings in a single game. If a youngster pitches four innings on Monday, he can pitch two more innings on Thursday. However, he will not be able to pitch again until the following Sunday, which is in the next calendar week.
Sportsmanship
Arguing with the umpire is prohibited in youth baseball. Players are not allowed to make comments to umpires. A coach can raise a question about a call or a ruling, but he cannot argue with the umpire. Spectators can only make encouraging remarks to players. If a spectator says anything derisive, the umpire can eject him from the premises. Coaches, players and parents in youth baseball often sign ethics statements promising to behave in a sportsman-like manner.
Safety Equipment
All batters must wear batting helmets made of hard plastic that cover both ear holes. If they reach base, they must continue to wear the batting helmets as long as they remain on base. All catchers must wear a catcher's mask, a chest protector and shin guards. The catcher must wear a throat protector that hangs from the bottom rung of the mask. First base often has an orange safety base next to the standard white base. The first baseman uses the white base to make plays, while the runner crosses the safety base. This is designed to avoid collisions at first base.
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