These Tadpole rules are intended to supplement and / or highlight the Official Rules of Baseball. A copy of the Rule Books is necessary to fully understand the game.

Tadpole Rules

This format is designed to get young people interested in the game of baseball, by stressing and maintaining active participation of all the players with emphasis placed on teaching the fundamentals of baseball.

To emphasize the need for an appropriate level of competition in this division, the season will start an with exhibition series, where no official scorebook shall be maintained and no standing kept.

1. Coaches:
   
   1. Home team coaches are responsible for the following:
      
      1. To prepare and line the field.
         
      2. To return the bases, pitching machine and Umpire''s equipment to the box provided, and to ensure that the box is locked.
         
   2. Visitor team coaches are responsible for supplying and setting up the pitching machine.
      
   
    
2. Games:
   
   1. Each game to consist of 5 innings.
      
   2. If after 4 complete innings, one team is ahead by 12 runs, the game is over.
      
   3. If a game is called due to darkness or weather conditions, the final score will be the score at the end of the fourth inning. If less than four innings completed, the game is cancelled.
      
   4. All evening games will start promptly at 6:00 pm.
   5. No new inning may start more than 2 hours and 15 minutes after start time of game. (This rule is in effect all season.)
      
   
    
3. Infield Measurements:
   
   
   1. Pitchers rubber............. 38 feet
      
   2. Bases......................... 50 feet
      
   3. Batters boxes shall not be used.
      
   
    
4. Pitching Rules:
   
   
   1. If a pitcher hits 2 batters in an inning, he must be replaced, unless the Umpire determines that the batter could have avoided being hit through reasonable effort.
      
   2. If the pitcher walks 3 batters in a row, he/she must be replaced.
      
   3. A pitcher cannot pitch more than 2 innings per week. A pitching week is from Monday to Sunday inclusive.
      
   4. Pitchers cannot pitch on back to back days, even in tournament play.
      
   5. Any player who has delivered 1 pitch to a batter shall be considered to have pitched one inning. Once a pitcher is taken out he cannot pitch again, but may be used in any other position.
      
   6. During the month of April, a pitching machine shall be used for the entire game (unless both coaches agree prior to the game to use pitching in the first two innings).
      
      
      1. The pitcher shall play to the 1st base side of the machine, even with it.
         
      2. Strikes and balls are to be called, with no maximum number of called balls.
         
      3. Front edge of the pitching machine to be even with the back edge of the pitching rubber.
         
      4. Coaches or their designates will feed the balls into the pitching machine for their own team, and may adjust the speed of the machine to their own liking.
         
      5. Dead Ball Zone - A four foot radius circle around the pitching machine - 8 feet high. All batted balls that are judged by the Umpire to have passed through this zone shall be declared "DEAD BALL" by the Umpire. The ball will be alive and in play, unless so announced.
         
      
       
   7. During May and June, players shall pitch the first two innings of each game.
      
      
      1. During these first two innings, there will be a 2 run limit imposed (rather than the normal 4 run limit).
         
      2. Different pitchers must be used in each of the two innings pitched, with normal pitching rules regarding hit batters & walks still applying. Thus, teams may be required to use a total of four or more pitchers in a game.
         
      3. In the third inning, when the pitching machine is being used, the pitcher shall play to the 1st base side of the machine, even with it.
       

5. Playing Rules:
   
   
   1. All players in attendance will be placed on the batting order, and will bat in turn, regardless of whether they field in the inning.
      
   2. 10 Players on the field at one time, with the extra player as a rover playing in the field. A minimum of 7 players are required for the game to not be forfeit.
      
   3. If a team is short of players, T-ball players may be called up to supplement a team. To do so requires the T-ball players'' coaches approval. As well, T-ball players may ONLY play up a division for a maximum of three games a year. When a player is called up, the commissioner must be informed by the Tadpole coach.
      
   4. Unlimited defensive substitutions are allowed.
      
   5. The batter runner must touch only the outside square of the safety bag at first base. The fielder must touch only the inside square of the safety bag to effect an out.
      
   6. Basemen should play off their base so as not to interfere with runners.
      
   7. Shortstops must field 2 feet on either side of the base line.
      
   8. Running with the ball to tag runners is not permitted except over short, reasonable distances (maximum 20 ft.). The intent is to eliminate a fielder running all over the diamond tagging out runners without bringing other defensive players into the game. If the batter is chased and tagged out, the runner will be called safe and awarded the base.
      
   9. No LEAD OFF.
      If the baserunner leaves his base before a pitched ball crosses the plate, and the ball is hit in fair territory, the baserunner shall be called out. The ball remains in play and the batter will be allowed to advance as normal.
      
   10. No INFIELD FLY RULE.
       
   11. The batter is not permitted to run on a dropped 3rd strike.
       
   12. No STEALING. Baserunners are not permitted to run on a pitch that is not hit.
       
   13. No BALK BALLS shall be called against the pitcher.
       
   14. Any runner that overruns the preceding runner is out.
       
   15. The Umpire shall call "TIME" when the pitcher has the ball in his possession while in the infield - or if a thrown ball enters the "Dead Ball Zone" . If a runner is between bases, he may advance to the next base.

       Note: A team has the choice of making an out on a runner or throwing the ball to the pitcher to end play. If the defensive team uses the pitcher to end play, they have elected to allow all runners to continue to the base they are proceeding to.

       The pitcher is allowed to participate in making an out once he receives a batted or thrown ball. The Umpire will wait to ensure the pitcher''s intent, prior to calling "TIME".

       If the pitcher drops the ball, or attempts to throw the ball in an attempt to put the runner out, the ball remains in play and the runner will be allowed to advance as normal.
       

   16. Maximum 4 runs may be scored per offensive inning, except in (1) the first two innings while players are pitching, when there will be a run limit of 2 and (2), in the last inning which is open. Additional runs scored on the play in which the 4th run is made, will not be counted.