St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation

T-BALL

General Rules

(Scroll down for 5- and 6-Year-Old T-Ball Rules)

1. New players may only be added to rosters after the start of league play if they are newcomers to the parish.
2. Players in T-Ball (ages 7 & 8) and Boys/Girls Recreational Leagues (ages 9-15) must compete within the boundaries of their booster club (per OTS Manual, Article 4).
3. A player may only compete in an older age group if there are no teams available in their designated booster club for their age group.
4. Teams with 24 players or more will be automatically split into separate rosters (per OTS Manual, Article 4).
5. Field-specific ground rules must be discussed and agreed upon by both coaches and umpires before the game begins.
6. Only coaches, players, and scorekeepers are permitted in the dugouts. Coaches must have their background screening badges on them or readily available.
7. Coaches are not allowed to touch base runners while the ball is in play; doing so will result in the runner being called out.
8. Coaches should ensure players enter and exit the field promptly to maximize the time available for gameplay.
9. All players must play a minimum of two full innings. (Since teams’ bat in a continuous lineup and defensive substitutions are free, every player must play at least two full innings. However, coaches reserve the right to withhold participation due to disciplinary infractions or consecutive missed practices.)
10. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their assistant coaches, players, parents, and spectators.
11. Heckling opposing players or batters is strictly prohibited.
12. Games must start at their scheduled time. A 15-minute grace period is allowed only for the first game of the day. If a team arrives late, they must be on the field and ready to play within 15 minutes of their scheduled start time.
13. Batting helmets are required while batting and running the bases. Faceguards are recommended but optional.
14. Baseball coaches should encourage all players to wear protective cups. T-Ball catchers are highly recommended to wear a protective cup.
15. Coaches are responsible for the care and maintenance of their team’s equipment.
16. Only the Department of Parks and Recreation has the authority to postpone or reschedule games.
17. Games may only be rescheduled due to school functions that prevent a team from fielding enough players (per OTS Manual, Article 15).
18. Coaches should check the SCPRD website (www.scpparksandrec.com) for weather-related cancellations or rainout information.
19. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all youth games and practices in St. Charles Parish (per OTS Manual, Article 32).
20. Smoking and vaping are not allowed on the field, in the dugouts, or in the bleachers.
21. Players may not participate if they have any type of plaster or metal cast on any part of their body.
22. All coaches, players, parents, and spectators must adhere to the Department of Parks and Recreation rules. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or removal from the program.

Coach Ejections & Disciplinary Actions

• If a coach is ejected from a game, they must leave the park immediately and will be required to sit out the next game.
• A second ejection will result in disciplinary action and a two-year ban from coaching in any recreational league.
• Any coach, player, parent, or spectator who physically assaults an official, coach, player, or spectator will be removed from the facility and banned from all Recreation Department events for two (2) years.
• Anyone who refuses to leave after an ejection may have law enforcement called for removal.

State Law – Louisiana Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 14-34-4

Battery of a School or Recreation Athletic Contest Official

• Battery of a school or recreation athletic contest official occurs when a person knowingly commits battery against an official without their consent.
• This law applies to referees, umpires, coaches, instructors, administrators, staff, or recreation employees actively officiating or supervising an athletic contest.
• Penalties for this offense:
  • Fine up to $500
  • Imprisonment of 48 hours to 6 months, without suspension of sentence
  • The court may impose probation with five (5) days of community service instead of jail time. Failure to complete community service could result in probation revocation.

T-BALL PLAYING RULES

1. Games will have a 1-hour time limit.
   • Pitching distance: Minimum 20 feet, maximum 35 feet.
   • Base distance: 60 feet.
   • A coach may pitch to a player from 20 feet away without penalty and may pitch from a knee.
   • The pitcher must remain inside the pitcher’s circle until the ball is hit.
2. Each team will bat until either 3 outs are recorded, or 5 runs are scored in an inning.
3. Bunting and walks are not allowed.
4. No infield fly rule is enforced.
5. The tee must be placed evenly on home plate or just in front of it.
6. Batting Rules:
   • The batter gets 3 coach-pitched attempts.
   • If the batter fails to hit the ball, the 4th pitch will be hit from the tee.
   • If the batter misses on the 4th pitch, they get one final attempt from the tee.
   • The batter has a total of 5 attempts (3 pitched, 2 off the tee).
7. Outfielders must remain behind the base paths.
8. Runners may not leave the base until the batter hits the ball.
   • Penalty: The defensive team may choose to accept the play or require a re-bat.
9. Play stops when:
   • The ball crosses the plane of the 10-foot circle around the pitcher’s mound.
   • The ball crosses a designated stopping area around any base while making a play.
   • At least one foot of a defensive player must be inside the circle for play to stop.
10. No defensive players are allowed between the halfway line and home plate, except the pitcher, who must remain in the designated circle until the ball is hit.
11. The ball is dead within a 10-foot radius of home plate, except when catching a foul ball in the air.
12. The tee must be removed when a runner approaches home plate.
13. All players must bat in a continuous lineup.
14. Catchers must wear a batting helmet with a mask.
15. All T-Ball bats must be labeled “T-BALL”.
16. End of Play is determined when:

• The third out is made, the fifth run is scored, or the 10th batter has batted.
• A defensive player with possession of the ball touches any base where a runner is forced out (including home plate).