Rookie A & B rules (Ottawa West Little League)

PrintRookie A & B rules

OWLL Rookie House Rules

In the Canadian division, an umpire is provided for all games.  In the national division, the home team will supply a volunteer plate umpire. The visiting team will provide the base umpire. (Home plate umpire has the final word in any matter concerning the rules. Volunteer umpires are greatly appreciated — coaches are to ensure the umpire is familiar with the rules).

Canadian

  1. Players must equally play all infield and outfield positions. Safety positions are pitcher’s helper and first base. Safety position players must pay attention at all times.
  2. Catchers will always wear full protective gear. It is recommended that all players wear a jock/jill. 
  3. The pitcher helper will always wear a helmet.
  4. There are 10 defensive players on the field, with the extra fielder being a “rover”. Two defensive coaches may be on the field but must remain in the outfield. 
  5. All 4 outfielders, including the rover, must be on the outfield grass when the pitch is delivered. 
  6. The infield fly rule is not in effect. 
  7. Fair territory begins at the plate. There is no minimum distance for a hit to be considered fair.
  8. There is NO on-deck circle. Players next up to bat will remain behind the fence or in the dugout. They will wear a helmet, and MAY NOT pick up a bat until they are the batter. 
  9. Players are allowed 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes, whichever comes first
  10. No throwing of the bat is allowed. 1 warning per team per game, after the warning it will be an automatic out.
  11. If a batted ball touches the adult pitcher or pitching machine, the ball is dead, and it does not count as a pitch or strike. The count remains as it was before the play.
  12. There are no walks.
  13. Sliding into first base is an automatic out. Batter-runner can slide back into any base and can slide (not head-first) into second, third, or home plate.
  14. There is no leading off or stealing. Runners can only leave their bases when the bat hits the ball.
  15.  When a ball is hit into the outfield (reaching grass or first touched by an outfielder), runners may advance. Once the ball is in possession of any infielder who is in the infield (on the gravel), runners can only advance to the base they are going to at the time the infielder gets possession.
  16. ADVANCING ON OVERTHROWS In the Canadian division ONLY. Runners may advance a maximum of one base on any throwing error. There may be only ONE ERROR PER PLAY. For example, if there was an overthrow at first base followed by an overthrow at second base, only the overthrow at first base allows runners to advance. After the second overthrow, the ball is dead, and runners do not advance further. The batter/runner will stay at second. In the national division runners may not advance on a throwing error.
  17. Maximum 5 runs per inning.

National

  1. Players must equally play all infield and outfield positions. Safety positions are pitcher’s helper and first base. Safety position players must pay attention at all times.
  2. Catchers will always wear full protective gear. It is recommended that all players wear a jock/jill. 
  3. The pitcher helper will always wear a helmet.
  4. There are 10 defensive players on the field, with the extra fielder being a “rover”. Two defensive coaches may be on the field but must remain in the outfield. 
  5. All 4 outfielders, including the rover, must be on the outfield grass when the pitch is delivered. 
  6. The infield fly rule is not in effect. 
  7. Fair territory begins at the plate. There is no minimum distance for a hit to be considered fair.
  8. There is NO on-deck circle. Players next up to bat will remain behind the fence or in the dugout. They will wear a helmet, and MAY NOT pick up a bat until they are the batter. 
  9. Players are allowed 5 pitches that will be collected then returned to the pitching coach. After five pitches, players will be permitted to hit off of a tee for the first three weeks of the season. NATIONAL ONLY
  10. No throwing of the bat is allowed. 1 warning per team per game, after the warning it will be an automatic out.
  11. If a batted ball touches the adult pitcher or pitching machine, the ball is dead, and it does not count as a pitch. The count remains as it was before the play.
  12. There are no walks.
  13. Sliding into first base is an automatic out. Batter-runner can slide back into any base and can slide (not head-first) into second, third, or home plate.
  14. There is no leading off or stealing. Runners can only leave their bases when the bat hits the ball.
  15.  When a ball is hit into the outfield (reaching grass or first touched by an outfielder), runners may advance. Once the BALL LANDS BACK ON THE INFIELD (back on the gravel), runners can only advance to the base they are going to at the time the ball lands on the infield.
  16. In the National Division runners MAY NOT ADVANCE ON A THROWING ERROR. 
  17. Maximum 5 runs per inning.
  18. A safety base will be used at first base.

 

Our Fair Play Policy applies to all levels/divisions offered by OWLL.