League Rules

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Age requirements and bat rules follow USSSA guidelines outlined in the USSSA rules that can be found on www.usssa.com

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5u Division Rules (T-Ball division)

OBL 5u Division will play 8 games.

1. 9 players per team on the field. A catcher position is not required (extra infielder or outfielder allowed instead).
2. Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 45 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:30, no new inning will begin past 6:15. (A new inning begins after last batter from home team bats.)
3. Safety balls will be used and no score will be kept.
4. Players will hit off of the tee with no swing limit and will swing until they hit the ball into fair territory.
5. No leading off or stealing.
6. On a ball hit to the outfield, the outfielder needs to get the ball to an infielder. Once an infielder gets the ball and raises their hands for time, the ball is dead. Runners that have not made it half way to the next base, must return to the previous base.
7. Base runners should advance one base on an infield hit; please no additional advances on bad throws to 1st base (or other bases). We want the kids to spend time batting and fielding, rather than running around bases because of poor throws.
8. Runners must be batted home.
9. Entire lineup bats through each inning. The last batter in each inning hits a home run.

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6u Division Rules (T-Ball division)

OBL 6u Division will play 8 games.

1. 9 players per team on the field. A catcher position is not required (extra infielder or outfielder allowed instead).
2. Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 45 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:30, no new inning will begin past 6:15. (A new inning begins after last batter from home team bats.)  
3. Safety balls will be used and no score will be kept.
4. Hitters cannot strike out or walk.
5. No leading off or stealing.
6. On a ball hit to the outfield, the outfielder needs to get the ball to an infielder. Once an infielder gets the ball and raises their hands for time, the ball is dead. Runners that have not made it half way to the next base, must return to the previous base.
7. Base runners should advance one base on an infield hit; please no additional advances on bad throws to 1st base (or other bases). We want the kids to spend time batting and fielding, rather than running around bases because of poor throws.
8. Runners have to be batted home.
9. Entire lineup bats through each inning. The last batter in each inning hits a home run.

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7u Division Rules (Coach Pitch/T-Ball division)

OBL 7u Division will play 8 games.

1. 10 players per team on the field (extra outfielder only, no extra infielder) with no player sitting consecutive innings. To expedite play, please have a coach behind the catcher to to help with passed balls. Best if coach pitches up to 5 balls at a time before getting the balls back from the catcher.
2. Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 10 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 6:50. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.)  
3. Safety balls will be used and no official score will be kept.
4. Each hitter will get a maximum of 5 pitches to hit (foul balls do not count as last pitch), and then will hit off of the tee.  ***Please keep it to 5 pitches, as that helps keep the game moving at a faster pace particularly for these younger kids standing in the field and in the dugouts.***
5. Hitters cannot strike out or walk.
6. No leading off or stealing.
7. Base runners may only take one total base on an overthrow (except when that base is home).  For example, if the batter hits the ball in play and there is an overthrow to 1st base, the base runner may only attempt to advance to 2nd base and may not advance to 3rd base if there is an additional overthrow to 2nd base trying to get the base runner out.
8. Runners must be batted home (cannot score on an overthrow).
9. Either a team bats through its entire lineup in a half-inning or 3 outs occur, whichever occurs first, is the end of that half-inning.
10. Teams will use a continuous batting order.  Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.

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8u/9u Division Rules (Kid Pitch Division)

OBL 9u Division will play 10 games.

1. Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
2. Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 25 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:05. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
3. There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
4. Players may not lead off, but may steal once the ball gets over home plate. There is no stealing home or scoring on a passed ball/wild pitch. Players need to be either hit or walked home.
5. Base runners may take one base per overthrow but cannot score on an overthrow. For example, if the batter hits the ball in play and there is an overthrow to 1st base, the base runner may attempt to advance to 2nd base. If there is an overthrow to 2nd base, the base runner may attempt to advance to 3rd base.
6. There is no bunting, no dropped third strike or infield fly rule.
7. Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
8. Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited.  If a team has 8 players, they will not have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
9. Bases will be set at 60’ and pitching will be from 40’.

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10u/11u Division Rules

OBL 10u/11u Division will play 12 games.

1. Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
2. Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
3. There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
4. Players may not lead off, but may steal any base, including home, once the ball gets over home plate.
5. Base runners may take unlimited bases on overthrows and passed balls, including home.
6. There is no dropped 3rd strike.
7. Bunting is allowed and the infield fly rule will be enforced.
8. Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
9. Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited.  If a team has 8 players, they will not have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
10. Bases will be set at 65’ and pitching will be from 46’.

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12u/13u Division Rules

OBL 12u/13u Division will play 12 games.

1. Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
2. Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
3. There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
4. Leading off and stealing of any base allowed at any time.
5. Dropped 3rd strike is in play.
6. Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
7. Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited.  If a team has 8 players, they will have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
8. Bases will be set at 70’ and pitching will be from 50’.

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14u/15u Division Rules

OBL 14u/15u Division will play 12 games.

Please Note: Per USSSA Rules all bats must be permanently stamped with the new USSSA mark, be a legal BBCor bat or be made of wood by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.

All rules will follow the official USSSA Rule Book except for the following house rules:

1. Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
2. Games are 7 innings or less with no new inning starting after 1 hour 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 7 runs) after the top of the 7th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
3. There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
4. Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
5. Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited.  If a team has 8 players, they will have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
6. Metal spikes are allowed.
7. Bases will be set at 80’ and pitching will be from 60’.

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Trusted Coaches

ALL Volunteers for the OBL of West Des Moines must complete the Trusted Coaches course before volunteering. https://www.trustedcoaches.org/

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The Open Baseball League is in high demand for Volunteer Coaches for the season!

ALL Volunteers for the OBL of West Des Moines must complete the Trusted Coaches course before they can volunteer. Contact Blake Marchant to get your code for the course: bmarchant@sportsplexwest.com

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