Division Rules: A - Coach Toss
Revision History
v1 2023-02-27 Initial Draft
v2 2023-03-01 Removed Tee-ball references; added overthrow to include outfield
(Section 1.5); modified “Defensive Team: Section 1” regarding control
and outs
v3 2023-03-06 Added more to section “Coach Toss, Section 5:Runners and Outs”
v4 2023-03-05 Added more to section “Coach Toss Rules, Section 5: Runners and Outs”
Coach-Toss Division Rules
All rules according to most recent Little League Rules and Regulations. In addition, the following “Local Rules” shall apply:
Safety first – Safety of the players, coaches and spectators is paramount. Coaches have the responsibility to stop any unsafe act immediately. Be especially vigilant for children around the batter. Use only the Soft-tee balls (no hardballs are to be used).
Player Development – Coach Toss is about player development, not competition. ALWAYS be positive when making a correction or suggestion to a player. Have fun and teach the basics that will be the building blocks for future development.
Sportsmanship – Reinforce fair play and sportsmanship at all times. Do not tolerate temper tantrums, especially where a child throws balls, bats or other equipment in anger or frustration (see rule 1).
Don’t Keep Score! Tie games are perfectly acceptable!
Length of Games: Each game is limited to 1 hour. The field must be cleared at the end of the time limit even if an inning has not concluded.
Field Clean-up – Coaches are responsible to ensure that their side of the field and areas used by spectators are clean of trash at the end of the game.
GAME RULES
1. Number of Innings – Games will be no longer than 3 complete innings. The whole team bats each inning. Coaches should announce “Home-run Hitter” to the fielding team when the last batter comes up to bat. When the last batter hits the ball, all runners should advance to home including the batter.
COACH-TOSS RULES
Offensive Team:
1. At Bat – Coach tosses ball on his/her knee from at least 12 feet from home plate. Under or overhand toss is left up to the discretion of each coach and can be made on a per-batter basis. The goal should be to eventually pitch this overhand and from further away. After 5 pitches, the coach will tee up the ball; batters are allowed to swing until they hit the ball into play. If the ball falls off the tee or into foul territory, a coach will pick up the ball and place it back on the tee (ensure the batter isn’t swinging the bat first). The batter and all base runners must wear helmets at all times. A bucket should be placed a few steps up the 1st baseline so that the batters can place their bat into the bucket as they run to first base. The reason for this is to teach the batters to hold onto the bat while batting.
2. Batting Order – Rotate the batting order each game such that the lead-off batter from the previous game is the last batter the following game.
3. Coaches -- Use at least three coaches while the team is at bat: one to assist the
batter, one to line up the children in batting order and assist the next batter in
getting ready and one to pitch to the batters.
4. No on deck circle – the only player with a bat shall be the batter. The next batter
in the order should have a helmet (if available), but not a bat while waiting his/her turn. All other bats should be leaned against the fence.
5. Runners and Outs – If a play is made and a batter/runner is thrown or tagged out, the runner must return to the “dugout”. However, outs will not be counted in the sense that, no matter how many outs are made, the offensive team will always bat through their lineup. Innings end after three outs, aiming to acquaint players with the three-out rule commonly observed in higher divisions.Also, on plays where the ball is overthrown(infield or outfield), allow the runner(s) to advance only one base. A play is deemed “dead” if the ball is fielded and held anywhere on the field (infield or outfield). As soon as the ball is held (controlled and not thrown) by a defensive player, runners may continue to the base they were running to at the time the ball was controlled but must not advance any further. However, if a ball remains in the infield, the batter must stop at first unless there is an overthrow, at which point he/she can try for second base. The furthest base a batter can reach from his/her at bat is second base.
Defensive Team:
1. Players on the field -- All of the players present will play in the field. Use no
more than 5 infielders plus the pitcher (all regular infield positions plus one player just behind second base). Keep the infielders back to at least the base line. Place cones in the outfield to help position all of the players in the outfield. After the play is over, the closest Coach to the ball should instruct the fielder to throw the ball to the pitcher who should then throw it to the Coach on the opposing team who is helping the batter. Rotate infielders and outfielders after every inning.
*Choose a player for pitcher that will pay attention to the game.
2. Teach Positioning -- Teach the players about positioning ... don’t let them cross the field chasing a ball or bunch up around a base. Teach them where to go (cover a base, back up ...) when the ball is not hit to them.
3. Coaches – Use no more than three coaches on the field at one time, one for each side of the infield and one in the outfield. Infield coaches should stand behind the infielders and not obstruct the view of the outfielders. Allow only one over-throw before stopping the play.
4. No catcher – No catcher will be used.