Tee-Ball Rules

Montgomery County Little League (MCLL)

2024 Local Rules

Tee-Ball Division ( Baseball and Softball)

Ratified: March 20 , 2024

MCLL will be governed by the rules set forth by “Little League Baseball Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Policies”, also known as “The Green Book” unless noted and modified below. Please be familiar with the official LL rules. The rules below are primarily to help clarify common areas of confusion, emphasize safety rules or set a local rule that varies from a Little League rule. Rules related to safety, good sportsmanship and the proper teaching of fundamental baseball skills should receive the highest priority.

1. Team Composition:

   1. Each team will contain only those players officially registered and listed on the Team Roster provided to the head coach by the league.

   2. These rules have been developed to provide for consistent play under a structured athletic environment. They are not designed to stress competition. The purpose of the Tee-Ball division is to help kids learn the fundamentals of the game, to acquire basic baseball skills, and to develop good sportsmanship attitudes while having fun in a healthy and positive outdoor environment. Following the league rules is just one of the life skills stressed under the Tee-Ball program.

   3. Official score and league standings will not be maintained in Tee-Ball. This is an instructional league and all actions must be done with the individual player's growth and development in mind.

2. Equipment:

   1. The bat must be a T-Ball bat with an official USA Standard stamp on the barrel or if softball as otherwise permitted by under LLI softball rules.

   2. Traditional Batting donuts are not allowed to be used. (LL Rule 1.10)

   3. Any non-adult personnel occupying a coach’s box must wear a helmet. (LL Rule 1.16)

   4. Helmets cannot be removed during play. After a warning the player can be removed for unsportsmanlike conduct. (LL Rule 1.16)

      1. For both baseball and softball tee-ball face cages on the batting helmet and fielding masks are not required.  

   5. Shoes with metal spikes or cleats are not permitted. Shoes with molded cleats are permissible.  (LL Rule 1.11.h) Sneakers, not cleats, must not be worn if playing on the rubberized field at Miracle Field.

3. Field Dimensions:

   1. Bases 50'; pitcher's mound 32'.

   2. Out-of-bounds line is the imaginary line paralleling the base path from the corner of the backstop to the outfield fence, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by both head coaches.

   3. Home team shall occupy the 1st base dugout. 

4. Game Length:

   1. An official game is two innings.  The goal is three full innings. Four innings is permitted if time allows and both team managers agree that the kids are still engaged.

   2. Games are approximately one hour (60 minutes) in length.

   3. No new inning should start after 45 minutes.  If a half inning is in process at the 60 minute mark the game will end upon completion of the half inning. (Modification of Regulation VII.h))

   4. Half innings are over after the opponent's full team has batted.

5. Offensive Team:

   1. Offensive team is required to announce the last batter to the opposing team. The inning is over when the defensive team makes an out after the last batter hits the ball or that runner makes it all the way to home. 

   2. Players will swing until a fair ball is hit (no strikeouts). 

   3. If a defensive play is made and the base runner is called out, that runner must leave the base. 

   4. All bases must be cleared when the defensive team makes three outs, but the team may continue batting until all players in the lineup have batted. 

   5. The ball is considered dead if the tee (not the ball) is hit. The offensive coach assisting batters at the tee will call out “Dead Ball” and the batter will try again. 

   6. All balls hit beyond 10' in front of home plate are live.  Prior to the game coaches should mark 10’ from the plate. 

   7. Helmets must be worn by all batters and runners. 

   8. Bunting, lead offs, stealing and sliding are not permitted. 

   9. Runners cannot leave the base until the ball is hit. 

   10. Pinch runners will be used only for injured players. 

   11. Runner must touch all bases. This is the perfect time to teach the runner the proper way to touch the base that they missed. 

   12. The batter and runners may only advance one base per at bat except in the final at bat runners may attempt to advance as many bases as they wish at their own risk until an out is made. At least once during the game we encourage the coaches to allow the final batter of a half inning to “round the bases” for a homerun. This is a fun way to reward the patience of that player and perhaps celebrate a special occasion, such as an upcoming birthday.

   13. Base runners (including the batter) will not be granted an extra base on overthrows.  In the event of an overthrow, the play is called dead. An overthrow is when the fielder has to abandon his/her position to retrieve the baseball. 

   14. Play is stopped by a play at any base, unless the defensive team attempts to make multiple outs in which case, play will continue until the defense calls for a “time out” in accordance with the next paragraph (Local Rule 5.15). 

   15. Play is also stopped when an infielder has possession (control) of the ball, and while on the infield dirt raises the ball in the air with a fully extended arm. If the fielder raises the ball before the runner reaches 1st base, then all runners currently on base will be awarded the base they are advancing to on a force play or on a non-force play so long as the runner is at least ⅔ of the way to the next base. 

   16. 
       

   17. Only the batter is allowed to handle a bat. All other players must remain on the "bench". An assistant coach or parent must monitor this requirement to avoid injuries.

6. Defensive Team:

   1. Defensive team will consist of all players. Minimum of six players are required to start a game or continue a game. Coaches will play all players for each inning, playing the normal infield positions and placing all other players in the outfield. Outfield is defined as the grass area behind the infield dirt. 

   2. A player will play an infield position at least once during each game and a player will not play more than two consecutive innings at an infield position each game. 

   3. Players can change positions between batters.

   4. Infielders must play their own positions. The Catcher will take all throws to the plate when there is a play at home (except when catcher is chasing down a ball). The pitcher may not tag out batters running to first, throwing the ball to first should be encouraged. (Having a catcher is at the discretion of the manager.  The catcher should be placed behind the coach managing the T, and wear a helmet at all times.)

   5. The catcher must wear a batting helmet when playing behind the plate. 

   6. Except on the last batter (see Local Rule 5.1), play is stopped by attempting a play at any base (Local Rule 5.14), an overthrow (Local Rule 5.13), or an infielder calls “time out” (Local Rule 5.15).

7. Umpires/Coaching:

   1. Umpiring responsibilities will be shared evenly by the teams.

   2. The head coaches are to maintain complete control of the game and must have good knowledge of the rules and ethics governing Tee-Ball. 

   3. A meeting between the two head coaches is recommended to fairly resolve any questionable play or disagreement.  Managers should gather on the field and talk in a calm manner.  No screaming across the field. If an assistant coach has a concern, that concern should be raised to the manager to discuss with the opposing team’s manager.

   4. The offensive coach will remove the tee and bat after each hit. 

   5. Play is stopped when a coach has called "time". 

   6. Coaches will stop play immediately upon an injury to any player. Base runners will be awarded only the next base. All defensive players and runners will sit down at their positions during the injury timeout. 

   7. The hitting team will have 1st and 3rd base coaches. A second base coach may be used when necessary. 

   8. The defensive team may have three coaches in the field of play, but if necessary parents are permitted to assist their own child in the outfield.

8. Conduct:

   1. Please remember that our primary purpose at this age group is to teach the players the basic rules and fundamentals of the game in a safe and positive environment. Only positive reinforcement should be used by a coach, player or parent. As a coach, please also remember that YOUR conduct is being watched by players, parents and coaches on BOTH sides of the field. Concerns regarding conduct by a coach, player or parent should be brought to the attention of the Tee-Ball Commissioner immediately.

   2. A written incident report must be submitted within 48 hours of the incident. Incident reports can be found on the MCLL web site (www.mclittleleague.org) under “Coaches/Incident Report”. 

   3. Please review the complete Code of Conduct policy on the MCLL website to obtain a full understanding of MCLL’s expectations of conduct.

9. Additional Information and Training

Little League International has a number of additional training materials for parents and coaches at https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/tee-ball/.