Little League Rules for Baseball

The Little League Rule Book consists of 82 pages. You cannot expect kids to know and understand all these rules; however, there are a few they should understand because the will frequently encounter. Here are a few you need to cover with them:

1. Pitching Restrictions
2. Behavior toward umpires
3. Use of protective equipment
4. Location of the strike zone
5. Batter's proper position in the batter's box
6. Batter or runner is out when hit by a batted ball before a fielder touches it.
7. Runner interference.
8. Fielder obstruction.
9. When two runners occupy the same base.
10. Tagging up on a fair or foul ball caught.
11. Force play and removal of force.
12. Infield fly rule.
13. Overrunning first base.
14. Runner leaving base too soon

Batting

Here are some rules about hitting that need to be taught and repeated over and over to new players:

1. Know the location of the strike zone.
2. Bat speed, not the weight, makes a good batter; therefore, choose a light bat that you can swing fast.
3. When the count is three balls and no strikes, do not swing at the next pitch.
4. When the count is two strikes and no balls, choke up a couple of inches on the bat and concentrate on making contact with the next ball in the strike zone.
5. Focus your attention on the pitcher's release and follow the ball all the way to your bat.
6. Concentrate and believe you will get a hit in every game. If you get a hit the first time at bat, then get another the next at bat.

Running the bases

These are things every baseball player knows, but must be told over and over whenever they are on base:

1. Run on anything when there are two outs.
2. Whenever there are less than two outs and you are forced, run on ground balls, but hold up on fly balls.
3. When the pitcher walks you, run to first base and take a turn.
4. When in doubt, always slide.
5. Tag up whenever a fair or foul ball is caught.

Fielding

Here are some old tips, but are worth repeating over and over:

1. Play the ball. Don't let it play you.
2. Look the ball into the glove.
3. Cover the ball in your glove with the bare hand.
4. On a hit ball, either field it, backup the fielder, or cover a base.
5. Get in front of the ball and if you can't catch it, knock it down, keeping the ball in front of you.
6. With runners on base, always try to get the lead runner.
7. When fielding a hit to the outfield always throw two bases ahead of the leading base runner.