PCAA Rookie II Division - Coach Pitch

(As of 3/2/26)

Purpose

The Rookie II division, which now utilizes Coach Pitch, is an important stepping-stone for young baseball players who have developed strong fundamental baseball skills. We teach situational baseball concepts and refine hitting and throwing techniques. The rules of the game are more

established and teams are required to stop the lead runner and make accurate throws. Players hit a pitched ball from a designated coach, positioned at a distance of 40’ away (measured from the back of the plate).

Ages

Boys & Girls ages 6-8

Practice & Games

· Practices occur one night during the week for 90 minutes.

· Games are played on Saturday plus occasional weeknights, and are scheduled for

1.5 hours.

· All practices and games are held at Pineville Memorial Ballpark on Fields 1 & 2

(unless otherwise noted).

· Following the regular season, a playoff tournament will be held for each

division. Format will be dictated by number of teams competing.

Evaluations & Draft

All players are evaluated by coaches at the start of each season to determine their skill

level. Players are then privately ranked based on the evaluation results and divided into

Rookie I and Rookie II divisions. The split between divisions takes into account a

number of factors including age, safety, coaches, players playing down (from Minors)

and roster size. Finally, coaches draft players in an effort to create balanced teams and

fair competition. Our aim is to have 6 year olds in Rookie I and 8 year olds in Rookie II

and 7 year olds fall in either based on eval scores.

Rules & Regulations

The Rookie divisions are guided by Official Baseball Rules (OBR) and Babe Ruth League Baseball Rules & Regulations.

All bats used for this division must have a "USABat" marking clearly visible on the bat

handle. Hitting with an illegal bat will result in the batter being out. This rule can be

enforced from the point the batter enters the batter’s box and until the next batter

receives their first pitch.

All players are required to wear a cup.

PCAA has instituted "Local League Rules" as an age specific overlay for each of the

divisions.

Local League Rules

The pitcher’s spot will be marked at 40’ from home plate. Coach / pitcher is allowed to

wear a glove while pitching, but should avoid interfering in any play once the ball is hit.

Roster and Lineup Overview

Roster size will differ between the division but may be smaller to promote maximum

infield development.

Games may be started with as few as 8 players.

The following positions MUST be fielded: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LC and RC.

A player from a lower division may be "called up" to play to ensure a team has 8 (or 9

to avoid the automatic out scenario listed below) players. The "call-up" player MUST bat

last in the lineup and may ONLY play an outfield position. Non-roster players MUST

come from a lower division and can only be used to fill out a lineup when rostered

players are unavailable.

NOTE: A non-roster player cannot be used if this addition would create an imbalance between

the teams (ex: if both teams have 8 rostered players in attendance, the game can be played as

8 v 8 or 9 v 9 (both teams picking up one player from a lower division), but NOT 9 v 8.

Note: If “Team A” has 8 players and “Team B” has 10 or more players, then “Team A”

will have an automatic out each time through their lineup. The coach for "Team B" is

encouraged to waive the automatic out rule before the start of the game as a gesture

of good sportsmanship.

· 8 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 2 outfielders.

· 9 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 3 outfielders.

· 10 Player Roster: Traditional infield and 4 outfielders (RF, RC, LC and LF).

· Any team with an 11-player roster must sit one player per innings. No 5th

outfielder.

Position Playing Requirements

· Minimum of one (1) full innings at an infield position per player per game. While

catcher is counted in as an "Infield" position, a player must play an inning at a non-

catcher infield position to meet this requirement.

· Minimum of one (1) full inning at an outfield position per player per game.

· Maximum of three (3) innings at a single position player per game.

· No defensive player can sit out two innings before every player has sat out once.

Failure to comply with these rules for developmental purposes will result in the team

forfeiting the game. These rules exist to encourage coaches to develop players in more

than one position.

A player rotation sheet should be provided to the other team for accountability and

transparency.

Commissioner’s Note: If you feel that another coach is not in compliance with

positioning requirements (whether intentionally or unintentionally), please make them

aware 1:1 in a non-confrontational manner. In recreational baseball, a forfeit based on

a technicality is an embarrassing outcome for all parties, so please assume positive

intent from your peers and attempt to rectify the situation without drawing attention.

90% of the time, this is likely to have been an unintentional oversight.

Field Prep

· Home team lines field before game and uses 1B dugout.

· Lining consists of batter’s boxes, baselines, pitching arc. Base coaches box and on

deck circles are optional.

· Away team drags field after game.

· Each team locks their respective dugout, if they are the last game of day; if not

sure, lock it.

· Each team is responsible for cleaning up their respective dugout, ensuring no trash

is remaining.

· One game ball per team will be supplied by each coach at the beginning of the

game.

· One ball is returned to each coach at the completion of the game and distributed

as a “game ball” for a player.

Game Details

A coach from each team should meet with the umpire to review the local rules and

make sure that all are on the same page.

Game start time will be when the first batter is at the batters box and the machine

operator is ready for play. Both coaches should make note of start time and should be

determined using a cellular network time.

The inning being played should always continue until completion. In the case of

inclement weather, the game will resume at the same point with all local rules applying.

· Regular season games CAN end in a tie

· Mercy Rule: 15 after 4, 10 after 5

· Games will be scheduled for six (6) innings. No new inning should begin after

"playing time" reaches 1 hour and 30 minutes.

· Games will be deemed official at the conclusion of 4 innings.

· A paid umpire will oversee all regular season and playoff games.

Scoring

Games should be scored via the Game Changer app. All league games will be

scheduled in the app. Scorekeepers should navigate to that game and begin

scoring. Teams have the option to utilize one scorekeeper for both teams or to utilize a

scorekeeper per team.

Lineups should contain the name and number of each player and should be set prior to

the start of the game. This helps the other team’s game changer operator to recognize players when they do not know their name.

Regular season games CAN end in a tie.

· First 3 Innings: Five (5) runs maximum per team. A team that is already ahead

may score 5 runs.

· Last 3 innings: Unlimited runs until 3 outs.

Hitting

· Continuous batting order is in effect. All players hit.

· Batter receives maximum of Five (5) pitches unless 5th pitch is a foul ball. Foul

balls are unlimited.

· Batter is out after 5 pitches / 3 strikes, unless the last pitch is fouled off.

· There is NO “No Pitch” at this level.

Commissioner’s Note:  The difference between Rookie I and Rookie II levels with regard to the “no pitch” is that we expect Rookie II kids NOT to swing at unhittable pitches.  They still have two pitches they can take and still get up to 3 strikes.  

· There are no walks.

· No Bunting.

· No slash bunting. A batter is out for illegal action when the player fakes a bunt and

then takes a full swing. PENALTY – Batter is out, the ball is dead, no runners may

advance.

· A player who throws a bat after hitting the ball will be issued one warning.

Coaches have option to replace any player who throws his or her bat and reaches base

with another runner. The last player who made an out. If a player throws the bat a

second time in a game -- even during the same at bat -- he or she will be called out.

· If a batted ball hits the machine prior to being touched by a defender it is an

automatic single and all base runners advance ONE base from where they were when

the pitch was delivered.

Note: The “Batting Out Of Turn” rule is fully outlined within the Babe Ruth League

Official Playing Rules (6.07).

6.07 BATTING OUT OF TURN

(a) A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when he fails to bat in his proper turn, and

another batter completes a time at bat in his place.

(b) The proper batter may take his place in the batter’s box at any time before the

improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and any balls and strikes shall be

counted in the proper batter’s time at bat.

(c) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and the defensive team

appeals to the umpire before the first pitch to the next batter of either team, or before

any play or attempted play, the umpire shall (1) declare the proper batter out; and (2)

nullify any advance or score made because of a ball batted by the improper batter or

because of the improper batter’s advance to first base on a hit, an error, a base on

balls, a hit batter or otherwise.

(d) When an improper batter becomes a runner or is put out, and a pitch is made to the

next batter of either team before an appeal is made, the improper batter thereby

becomes the proper batter, and the results of his time at bat becomes legal.

(e) When the proper batter is called out because he has failed to bat in turn, the next

batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of the proper batter thus called out

(f) When an improper batter becomes a proper batter because no appeal is made

before the next pitch, the next batter shall be the batter whose name follows that of

such legalized improper batter. The instant an improper batter’s actions are legalized,

the batting order picks up with the name following that of the legalized improper batter.

The umpire shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batter’s

box of an improper batter. This rule is designed to require constant vigilance by the

players and managers of both teams.

Safety Bases

· A batted ball that hits the white half is a fair ball, orange half is a foul ball.

· When a play is being made on the batter-runner, the defense must use the white

half; batter-runner must use the orange half.

NOTE 1: A play is being made on the batter-runner when he/she is attempting to reach

first base while the defense is attempting to retire him/her at that base.

NOTE 2: On extra-base hits or other balls hit to the outfield when there is no chance for

a play to be made at the double first base, the batter-runner may touch either the

white or orange.

Commissioner’s Note: The purpose of the safety base is not to punish the batter-runner, but to add an element of safety.  Given that there can be ambiguity in whether the batter-runner should use the safety base or may use the white base, it is to the umpire’s discretion on how to enforce the use of the proper base and that discretion should be largely based on whether there was a blatantly unsafe play made.  A runner may be called out if an unsafe play is made intentionally.  Warnings may be provided to each team if needed.  There is no discretion required for the defense.  They must always use the white base.

· Once the batter-runner goes beyond first base, he/she may only return to the

white half.

· When tagging up on a fly ball, or prior to leaving base on a batted ball the runner

must use the white half.

· Use of the double first base does not change any other rule concerning

interference or obstruction at first base.

Base Running

· Runners may not leave the base until the batter makes contact. The runner will be

removed from the base after one team warning but this will NOT result in an out.

· No head first sliding.

· If there is a play at home plate, runners must slide AND avoid aggressive contact

with the opposing player. One warning per game, then if a runner does not slide and

there’s a “play at the plate” the runner is ruled out. To be clear, a runner does not need

to slide if there is no play at home plate.

· NO sliding at 1B. One warning per team. Second offense per team results in

runner sliding at 1B being an automatic out. This is for the safety and protection of the

defensive player. Players are allowed to slide back to a base.

· Coaches are not allowed to touch the runners. The player will be called out after

one warning.

· Base runners must avoid collision at all cost; otherwise they will be called out.

· If the catcher for the next inning is on base and there are two outs, the catcher

should be substituted with the last batter out.

· Obstruction by a fielder may be called by an umpire, at their discretion, if they feel

a fielder significantly or intentionally impeded a runner’s progress resulting in a material

impact on the outcome of the play. The obstructed runner should be awarded the base they should have reached in the umpire’s judgement.

Commissioner’s Note: The difference between obstruction and interference is determined by whether a fielder is making a play on the ball or has the ball.  For example, if a ball is hit to the shortstop and they are making an attempt to field the ball and the runner at second impacts their ability to field the ball, that shall be deemed interference and the runner will be called out.  Only the primary defender can be making a play on the ball, so if a second defender obstructs the runner, it should be called obstruction.  Defenders should not block bases without the ball unless they are making a play to catch an incoming ball and it takes them in the path of the runner.  Runners should attempt to avoid contact at all times regardless of whether it’s obstruction or interference for safety purposes.

· In the event of an overthrow or missed catch from the INFIELD at any base, the

base runner may advance one (1) additional base at-risk.

· Caught fly balls are subject to the same rules as both infield and outfield ground

balls. On infield fly balls, runners are entitled to advance at-risk one base following a

legal tag up. On caught fly balls to the outfield, runners may continue to advance after

executing a legal tag up until the ball has been returned to the infield and controlled by

an infielder.

Stoppage of Play

Specific rules are designed for each division to promote proper development.

Stoppage of play happens when an umpire calls time. If there is no umpire, the coaches

should stop play.

Allow the play to play out and apply the rules below. Runners can always be sent

back!

· If time is called by an umpire in the middle of a play, all runners go back to the

base they were coming from.

· The umpire should stop play based on the scenarios below.

· The umpire should be asked, or coaches reminded, during the pre-game meeting

to quickly and loudly call time when one of those two conditions have been met.

· Once an infielder has gained control of the ball, runners may only finish running

toward the base directly in front of them AT RISK.

· While the infielders action or inaction initiates the stoppage of play, the umpire is

the ONLY person that can officially stop play.

· Any runner attempting advancement / failing to stop on a base will be considered

at-risk until and unless the umpire calls for a stoppage of play. The umpire already has

full discretion to decide which base(s) each runner is entitled to per our Infield/Outfield

ball rules, so this doesn't change. The only caveat on the scenario above is that the

umpire is empowered to stop play & sort things out if they determine that chaos has

broken out. In the event a play ends with 2 runners on the same base (and 1 or both

having been tagged by the defensive team), the runner who is not entitled to the base

should be ruled out.

Scenarios:

“Control” or “Possession” is defined by three things.

1. The player must be playing an infield position.

2. The ball must be either in the players throwing hand or glove.

3. The area of the field and the manner in which the infielder gained control.

   1. Ball is relayed by an outfielder and the infielder has control in the vicinity of the infield dirt.

   2. Ball is retrieved by an infielder, without relay by an outfielder, and the infielder is within the boundary of the infield dirt.

If a ball is controlled, the remainder of the play is subject to ‘Infield rules’. If the ball is first controlled in the outfield, then the play is subject to ‘Outfield rules’. 

Commissioners Note: The purpose of the clarification to “Control” definition #3 is two-fold.  First, we do not want to coach players performing a proper cutoff and relay to run to the dirt before throwing and we don’t want to penalize teams that perform a proper cutoff and relay by not granting control when the cutoff is performed properly in the vicinity of the dirt.  Two, we do not want to encourage infielders to run into the outfield to retrieve the ball to gain control, thus we require them to return to the infield when they are the first to touch to grant control.

Balls hit in Infield (IF)

1. Bases are empty. Batter hits ball in infield and there is an overthrow or missed

catch. Runner can advance to 2B only at risk, even if there are additional overthrows or

missed catches.  An overthrow must be more than just a “drop.”  The ball should get behind the player’s feet.

2. Runners on base. Batter hits ball in the infield and there is an overthrow, or

missed catch. Runners can advance ONE base on the ball in play and ONE base on the

overthrow.

3. Bases are empty or Runners on Base. Ball is hit in the air or the ground in the

infield. No infielder gains control of the ball. Any runner who has rounded a base prior

to established control may continue to advance to the next base at risk. Once control is

established, overthrow rules apply.

Balls hit to Outfield (OF)

1. Bases empty or runners on any base. Batter hits ball to OF. Runners can continue

to advance to any base until the ball is returned to the infield, and an infielder controls

the ball. The batter and runners may circle the bases and score if the ball is not

controlled by an infielder and an attempt is not made to stop the lead runner. If the

infielder controls the ball and then throws the ball to a base that a runner is trying to

reach the runners cannot advance past that base, regardless of an overthrow.

If a runner is rounding a base and the ball is thrown behind the runner by an infielder

in an attempt to make an out and there is an overthrow, the runner may continue to

advance at risk to that base, but only that base. Any other runners may only advance to

the base they are heading to.

2. Ball is hit to the outfield. Outfielder attempts to throw to a base to get a runner

out and the ball is overthrown. Runners may still advance until an infielder gains

control within the defined infield. All other rules in the above section apply.

Fielding

Outfielders

· Must start each play a minimum of 10' into the grass area.

· Cannot stop play by calling time.

· Cannot personally execute a force out at a base or tag a runner.

· Must throw to an infielder, cannot run the ball into the infield to stop play.

Pitcher

· Must set up within the chalked semi-circle. Coaches may use discretion to move

pitcher into safe position behind the machine operator.

· Has the option of wear a helmet with face protection.

· Permitted to execute a tag play between 3B and home.

Catcher

· Coaches should teach the players to make throws to the catcher in most

situations.

· Catchers must set up in the designated catching box.

Coaching

· The hitting team may have their pitcher, 1B coach, 3B coach and

catcher’s assistant on the field only.

· Each team should designate a parent or coach to score the game via the Game

Changer app. Game Changer/Scorebooks can be consulted if there is a dispute in the

score. Team coaches should report any discrepancies in the final score on Game

Changer to the Rookie Commissioner.

· Each team is also allowed a coach in front of the dugout to help with speed of play

(adjusting catcher equipment, grabbing bats, etc).

· The defensive team is allowed two (2) coaches on the field. They must be in the

outfield and out of play, outside of foul lines.

Coach/Pitcher

· NOT intended to function as a coach while on the field. And under no circumstance

should the machine pitch operator coach base runners once the ball is in play. One

warning. Then machine pitch operator is removed from game.

· Should stay behind the machine and crouch after ball is hit to avoid interfering

with defensive players.