Coach's Responsibilities

¨      The objective of the Mahwah PeeWee Baseball division is to teach the basic fundamentals of baseball, encourage improvement and have fun. Coaches must set an example of good sportsmanship and ensure that good sportsmanship is shown by their players. Players should be encouraged to cheer FOR their team, but not AGAINST the other team.

¨      The game can be stopped at any time to give instruction to the players, with care taken to not overuse this to the point of delaying the game.

¨      Players should play a variety of positions in the field. Coaches, however, should keep the safety of the child in mind based on his skill level when setting positions in the field. 

¨      Players must remain on their respective benches when their team is at bat. The only players allowed to hold a bat are the batter and the batter on-deck. The on-deck batter is allowed to practice swinging in the on-deck area but must be wearing a helmet. Coaches must assign a “safety coach” to enforce this rule to avoid injury.

¨      Home team is responsible for removing bases and equipment from the field equipment boxes, and replacing them in the proper box when play has ended. Please take care to ensure that equipment is kept together so the next team to use it has everything it needs.

¨      Coaches must ensure that proper equipment is being utilized.

¨      Coaches should inform the League Director when first aids kits and ice packs need to be replenished.

¨    The lightning detection systems at Airmont and Continental Soldiers Park have a five-mile radius. When there are lightning strikes within five miles of the system a siren will sound and a strobe light will be activated. The initial siren will go off only once for 18 seconds, while the strobe light will stay on for 30 minutes after the last strike. If the strobe light is on it means there is lightning in the area. When all is clear, a horn will sound for 18 seconds and the strobe light will turn off.  Only at that time may players and coaches take the field.

The Game

¨      The core objective is to teach, therefore, scores aren’t kept.

¨      There are no umpires scheduled during peewee games. Coaches serve as umpires during the games.

¨      Bases should be placed 50 feet apart.

¨      During the first half of the season (first seven games) the game will consist of three innings with each team having one turn at bat per inning.

¨      Players will begin pitching to the other team from 40 feet. The pitcher will get five pitches per batter. A batter may strike out, but there are no walks during this phase of the game. If the batter doesn’t put the ball in play or strike out on five pitches, the pitcher’s coach will pitch to the batter. The strike count continues and the batter either puts the ball in play or strikes out on five pitches. 

¨      In every inning during the first seven games, each team will have all the players in its line-up get one turn at bat. If the offensive team makes three outs, the bases are cleared. But the team batting continues with its line-up until everyone has batted. The last batter in an inning isn’t permitted to circle the bases as in t-ball. If an out is recorded, or the ball is returned to the pitcher, play stops.  

¨      If a batter makes contact and hits the ball into fair territory, the batter and base runners must run the bases accordingly. If a player is forced out, tagged out, or flies out, he must return to the bench.

¨      A pitcher may pitch only one inning per game during the first seven games of the season. Coaches may pitch more than one player during an inning. 

¨      During the second half of the season - the final seven games of the schedule - games will become more like real games. Balls and strikes will be counted. Outs will be recorded, three per inning, and games will be up to six innings, time permitting.

¨      During this phase, a pitcher may pitch up to two innings per game.

¨      If a pitcher walks in a run, the next batter isn’t permitted to walk. They must either hit the ball or strike out.

¨      The team at bat can’t bat around. If three outs aren’t recorded by the time all batters in the lineup have batted, the inning is over. No batter may bat twice in an inning.              

¨      A maximum of 11 players on a team will play the field each inning. Field positions should be filled as follows:

o       One player at the first base position.

o       One player at second base.

o       One player at third base

o       One player at shortstop.

o       One pitcher.

o       One player at the catcher position. The catcher must wear all equipment and a protective cup. Catcher must be filled before any extra outfield spots are filled.

o       A maximum of five outfielders can be used provided both teams agree at the start of the game. Outfielders need to play on the outfield grass.

o       Defensive players can be rotated to provide an opportunity for all kids to play all positions during the course of the game/season.

o       There is free substitution - a player can start the inning on the bench and be moved into the field after the first batter.

¨      Players in the field should be instructed on what the appropriate play is in order to record an out. This includes forcing a player at a base, catching a fly ball, or tagging a runner out.

¨      There is no leading. There is no stealing.

¨      If there is the possibility of a play at any base, including home plate, the base runner must SLIDE or ATTEMPT TO AVOID contact with the defensive player. A base runner may not attempt to run into or knock over an opposing player. Failure to SLIDE or AVOID will result in the runner being called out. If a runner intentionally runs into or knocks down an opposing player, he will be called out and ejected from the game. Head first slides are only allowed when returning to a base.  

¨      A base runner cannot continue to advance once the ball is returned to a player in the infield. The ball is dead on overthrows.

¨      Bunting isn’t allowed.     

¨      No throwing of helmets, bats or any equipment is permitted. Any issues involving players, coaches or parents that are disruptive to the objectives listed above should be reported to the League Director. 

Practices and Games

¨      Each team will have access to the entire field for practices on days/times it has been assigned.

¨      It is recommended that all teams show up 15 minutes prior to schedule starting times. This ensures that games will be completed before the next game is scheduled to begin and allows for both teams to get the same number of at-bats before it gets too dark. 

Equipment

¨      Ceramic or wooden bats aren’t allowed.

¨      Bats should bear the legend “LL Approved”.

¨      Steel spikes aren’t allowed.

¨      Catchers must wear a protective supporter in addition to full catcher’s gear. This applies during play and in warm-ups before an inning starts.

¨      Batters must wear protective helmets while batting, on-deck, or as base runners.

Make-up games