Kindergarten Softball Rules

T-Ball

Kidsports T-Ball follows National Federation Rules except as modified below. 

1. UNIFORMS  

1. All uniforms and equipment issued by Kidsports shall be legal for all Kidsports T-Ball games. 

2. The Field  

1. Base Distance: 60′ bases and 84′ 10″ from home plate to second base. 

2. 10 Foot Arc: The area inscribed, a ten foot arc in front of home plate, will be considered foul territory and subject to the same rules as any other foul territory between home plate and the first and third bases. The arc shall be marked (by coaches if necessary) on the field. Coaches, use a ten foot string or cord; attach to an anchor at the point of home plate; mark arc only between foul lines. 

3. EQUIPMENT  

1. The Ball 
   A 9” Safe-Soft ball will be used for all game and practice sessions. 

2. The Bat 
   Both wood and metal bats with safety grips are legal. Bats that have been finished with enamel paint are not legal. (Exception: approved bats with factory enamel finish are legal). There are no weight-to-length restrictions. 

3. Batting Helmets 
   Each team is required to have a minimum of four (4) regulation protective batting helmets on its bench prior to starting a game or practice session. 

4. Shoes 
   Shoes that have metal spikes or polyurethane soles cannot be worn. Players are not required to wear cleats flat soled athletic shoes are acceptable. 

5. Batting T 
   The home team is responsible for having a batting T at the game. It is recommended that the visiting team have their T available in case it is needed for emergency use. The batting T shall be placed directly on the tip of home plate and may be adjusted to each batter’s preferred height. A regulation batter’s box will be used during T-Ball games. 

6. Second 1st Base 
   The second 1st base (provided by visiting team) is placed next to the regular 1st base on the outside of the foul line. The base in foul territory is the one the batter runs to and fielders use the fair base. If the visiting team cannot provide the base, the game is played with one first base. 

4. Player Requirements  

1. Starting Line-up 
   All T-Ball games are played with ten players on the field at one time. Teams may start and finish with less than ten players. 

5. Positioning Players  

1. Pitching Position 
   When the batter is hitting off the T, the defensive pitcher must start within the pitching circle. 

2. Catching Position 
   The catcher must be behind home plate when the ball is hit. 

3. Other Positions 
   Same as in regular baseball. However, there will be four outfielders, and these outfielders must be restricted to positioning themselves a minimum of 15′ beyond the baseline. Infielders must be positioned at least 40′ feet from home plate until the ball is hit (excluding the pitcher). 

4. Designated Hitter 
   A designated hitter is not permitted in Kidsports. 

5. Defensive Player Rotation 
   The ten defensive player positions are classified into two groups.  

1. Group # I  

1. Pitcher 

2. 1st Base 

3. 2nd Base 

4. 3rd Base 

5. Shortstop 

2. Group # II  

1. Catcher 

2. Left Field 

3. Left Center 

4. Right Center 

5. Right Field 

3. No Player may play more than two consecutive innings at a position of either group. Example: A player who plays one inning at pitcher and an inning at first base must play the next two innings at one or more of the Group II positions. 

4. Note At the end of each inning, all players on the bench must be entered or substituted into the game. 

6. The Game  

1. Regulation Game 
   Consists of five innings unless shortened because of time limit, curfew, or bad weather. There will be no minimum number of innings played to constitute a regulation game. A game will be considered complete if five innings have been played or the time limit expires. 

2. Batting 
   Each batter will be given three (3) attempts to hit the ball into play. In T-Ball games, each team will bat one time through the line-up regardless of defensive outs. 

3. Automatic Outs  
   Batters will be automatically declared out in these situations: 1. Misses or hits a foul ball on the third swing. 2. Does not take a full swing at the ball. 3. Attempts to bunt the ball. 

4. Advancing 
   A base runner may advance to home in a T-Ball game whenever any legally batted ball occurs or the defensive team attempts to put any base runner out as in regular baseball. The base runner must touch home plate, not the T to score. 

5. Base Runners 
   1. No runner may advance until a ball has been hit. 2. A base runner shall be declared out for leaving the base before the ball is hit. 3. When any defensive player within the baseline holds the ball above their head and does not attempt to put an advancing runner out, base runners may advance only to the next base to which they are proceeding when the runner is past the halfway mark. When an infielder with the ball in their possession elects to throw the ball to another player in an attempt to put out an advancing runner, and, in the process overthrows the base, runners may not advance to the next base on the overthrow. 4. There is no infield fly rule in T-Ball games. 

6. Time Limits 
   Kidsports T ball games shall be governed by a time limit after 75min. has elapsed 

7. Inning Termination 
   Each half inning is terminated after every player on the roster has batted once regardless of defensive outs. 

7. Substitution Rules: The following player substitution rule is required in all Kidsports scheduled games:  

1. Starting Players: Each eligible player listed on the team batting roster form must start on defense every other Kidsports scheduled game they attend. 

2. Eligible Batters 
   All eligible players will be in the batting order for the entire game. A player arriving after the beginning of a game may be inserted at the end of the batting order at the beginning of a half-inning. 

3. Defensive Substitutions 
   At the start of any new inning, players who did not play defense the previous inning must be inserted for that inning, unless injured or sick. 

4. Cancelled Game Starters 
   If a game is canceled or postponed, the players who were scheduled to start the postponed or canceled game must start and play in the very next game on the Kidsports schedule. 

5. Failure to make substitutions  
   If a coach knowingly violates the substitution rule, the opposing coach should call “time-out” and ask the coach to make appropriate changes. If the coach refuses, the game is played and the opposing coach should contact his/her sports manager at Kidsports. Kidsports will then take appropriate actions against the coach as it sees fit.