Help With League Rules

Dru, good question. Our league (unfortunately) utilizes coach-pitch for 7-8 year-olds. What ends up happening is that many coaches "lolly-pop" pitches to their hitters' strengths. I am glad to see that your league is getting kids hitting live pitching early. To answer your questions with my own opinions: 1) One of the leagues in our area uses a combo of pitching machine (1/2 of game) and kid pitching (other 1/2). This allows consistency of pitching (from the machine), as well as allowing the kids to gradually build their arms (pitching) and the batters to adjust to live pitching. This will, in my mind, keep a good 7/8 y-o from being over-used (6 innings can be very stressful on the young arm). Also, if you want to utilize just kid-pitching, you may want to limit a pitcher to 2-3 innings/game. This, too, will limit the wear and tear, but will also force the coach to develop more pitching. (in our Fall Instructional League, we limit it to 2 innings/game and over the past 4 years, the result has been better pitching in the Spring).

2) I would go for play-offs, and keep the regular-season standings as far as seedings. I believe this can potentially be a reward for a team that starts slowly, but has a coach that develops the players (and team) as the season progresses. To reward the regular-season champ, give trophies for both the regular-season and play-off winners. I would also open the play-offs to all teams.

3) At this age, the players are old enough to be taught about wins and losses. If you DO NOT keep standings, throw the score-books out, too. In any case, the kids DO CARE about who wins, as do the parents. We tried to eliminate standings in our 7/8 last year, and the result was some teams playing to win, and others playing to play. Let the games count and reward the champs.

4) If the kids are going to pitch, let them pitch, with the associated rewards (outs) and non-rewards (hits, walks). Yes, more balls will be put in play, with the "T", but I think you will find players looking for ball four and not learning to be agressive at the plate, when they know they can have the ball sitting on the "T". I would go ahead and play ball and prepare them for the next age group. You will have some "walk-a-thons", but you can also limit the number of batters in an inning (maybe 9-12).

You didn't ask this, but I will also throw in my 2-cents worth on substitutions. Have "open substitutions" (players can rotate in and out as the coach pleases, with the only exception that once a pitcher is removed, he cannot re-enter as a pitcher). This will allow for much greater participation. We did this in our fall league and everyone got pleanty of innings. As a coach, I used this to warm-up the next pitcher in the inning he was on the bench.

Also, consider having a team batting order. Instead of a 9-player order, if there is 12-13 players on the team, then have a 12-13 man order. Of course, you still play 3 outs, etc.

Good luck with your league. I will be interested in finding out what you decide. JT.