Franklin County Parks & Recreation
Instructional Baseball By Laws

The bylaws for the Instructional Baseball program were developed to provide a high degree of instruction to the athletes, as well as, provide a competitive environment to meet and form friendships with other children throughout Franklin County.  Of the utmost concern is the safety of the players and the ultimate goal of this program is that each child has a positive and fun experience in this activity.

Age Requirements

Any child is eligible that has reached his/her 6th birthday prior to August 1st, but will not have reached his/her 9th birthday by August 1st.

Player Assignments

The Parks & Recreation Department personnel will assign players to teams.  Assignments will be made by elementary school districts.  If registrations allow, two or more teams will be formed per elementary school district.  In this case, Recreation personnel would make a random assignment of players.

Coaches Selection

Coaches will be sought out as needed in any certain elementary school district.  Coaches wishing to return to a team they coached the previous year will have the first option on the team.  Persons listed as assistant coaches will have second option on coaching positions that open in the next consecutive season.  If no coach or assistant coach is interested in returning as the coach, the first person to contact our office will be given the opportunity to become the new coach.

All Other Special Play Rules

Regular baseball rules govern most play in this league.  However, due to the nature of this program, care has been taken in modifying the rules to allow better play at this level.
  *  There will be no stealing of bases.
  *  There will be no head first slides into a base.
  *  No walk by pitchers will be allowed.  Each player must either hit the ball into play or strike out.
  *  Umpires for this program will be the coaches involved.  The plate umpire is the pitcher.  The base umpires
     are coaches from the defensive team.  Umpire decisions are final and should always be for the betterment
     of the program and players involved.
  *  All players' names will be on the batting order at all times.  Any (10) players can play defense.
  *  All games will be (6) innings.  In case of a tie, teams will continue to play until there is a winner.  *Games
     will be limited to a two-hour time limit.
  *  There will be a winner and a loser, but no standings will be kept.
  *  Face guard helmets will be worn at all times on the field when on offense (Ex. Running bases, on deck
     batter/hitter).
  *  Courtesy will be allowed for catchers and pitchers.
  *  A minimum of (7) players will be allowed to play a regulation game.
  *  Coaches pitching may move from the pitchers mound towards the batter in an effort to throw a pitch that
     the batter can hit.
  *  The ten (10)-batter rule will be in effect for all teams on offense.  This rule states that if the 10th batter
     comes to bat one inning, he/she will be treated as if there are already two (2) outs (even if there are no
     outs or one out).  If the batter strikes out, flies out or grounds out, the inning ends immediately.  If the
     player hits the ball into play, the defensive team needs to stop the batter/runners progression around the
     bases by throwing the ball to the base ahead of the runner.  If other players are on base at the time of the
     hit, the umpire/coaches will need to make a decision on how many runs score prior to the stoppage of the
     progression of the batter.  If the ball can be thrown ahead of all the runners to stop their progression, this
     inning is over.
  *  On an overthrown ball the runner is allowed only one base.  This rule applies to overthrown balls only at 1st
     and 3rd bases.  This means on an overthrow there is a maximum of one base.  If the player gets thrown
     out then he's out, but he has to attempt to advance to the next base.

Uniforms

Each team must secure uniforms through a sponsor, parent payment or other means.  If a sponsors name appears on the uniform, the cost of the uniform cannot be passed along to the parents.  *It is recommended by the Recreation Department that teams keep uniforms fairly simple.  Pants, T-shirts and caps would be the ideal uniform for this level.

Schedules

Each team will be scheduled a minimum (8) game season.  All games will be played on Saturdays, unless unforeseen circumstances cause our department to schedule differently.  (Unforeseen circumstances would be several bad weather days.)

Cancellations

Games will be canceled the day ahead when the weather allows the Recreation Department to make that call.  However, many times weather is hit or miss.  On these occasions travel to a field may be unavoidable.  Coaches upon arriving at the field should evaluate the condition of the field and decide on whether to play or not.  All weather information will be broadcast on local radio stations whenever possible.  It will be announced on WZBB (99.9 FM) and on Recreation Departments Games Hotline at 484-4966.

Coach Pitch Rule

Each head coach, assistant coach or designated parent will pitch to his/her own team.  The coach will also make the ball and strike calls.  This will allow for the coach to pitch to each child at the ability level appropriate for that child.  (Ex. underhand, overhand)  The defensive team will place a player in each defensive position with four (4) outfielders.  This will allow for ten (10) players of defense.  A child will be positioned at the pitcher position for defense.  The coach pitching will not make an effort to field the ball.  *Please recognize the ability of the catchers in this league and keep pitches to a manageable speed.

Conduct & Sportsmanship

This will be handed out at the coaches organizational meeting or click here for Disciplinary Action Forms.

 
 

Franklin County Parks & Recreation - 2150 Sontag Road - Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151 - (540) 483-9293