Important Game Day Reminders and Rules | Please Read!

The opening weekend of OYO’s 49th Annual Spring Season was an amazing success on so many levels! Last Saturday reminded us how blessed we are at OYO!

We had glorious weather. We entertained an energizing parade. We witnessed happy ballplayers! We enjoyed fans cheering positively for their favorite players! We watched players enjoy their first hit, catch or even chance to pitch. We had a blast all day at a ballpark that looked fabulous! And, many of the games were fun and competitive.

Throughout the day, we also uncovered a few timely events we would like to share with all OYO families about the game and related to Veterans Memorial Park. So, in lieu of a TWIO this week, we’re sending customized email messages to the coaches and fans in each division – and sharing this info with our amazing umpire crew, too.

GENERAL PARK INFO FOR ALL DIVISIONS

Know the park rules and policies, including no pets, smoking or vaping on the premises at any time
Download the OYO-specific game rules for all baseball divisions
Remember the OYO Code of Conduct to help keep it fun for all players, fans and coaches
Be sure to follow our bat eligibility requirements
Weather in question? Check the OYO Weatherline by Champion’s Edge at 317.767.5170
Need a cart ride? Whatever your reason may be, enjoy a seat on a bench at any one of the five courtesy pick-up locations by Aqua Tots and our golf carts will be by soon to escort you to the field of your choice

GENERAL GAME INFO FOR ALL DIVISIONS

OYO is a developmental and instructional league and does not keep standings in any division
Regardless how many players you may have present, always show up for your games (no forfeits!)
Lot of valuable minutes are lost every game with delays between innings, so coaches and parents should work together to have their defense ready to go and properly equipped as fast as possible when the offensive inning ends
Home team chalks the field – dirt areas only, never the grass – before the game
Visitors team rakes the field following the game
Every player must play one inning in the infield and one inning in the outfield every game
Every player must sit one inning before any player sits two innings (not applicable for TB, JRO, RB,08U)
No mercy rule is followed in regular season games
National anthem is only played before our first game of the day (Saturdays at 9 a.m., weeknights at 6 p.m.)

GAME DAY RULES TO KNOW

TEE BALL

Games do not use an umpire
Coaches should each bring one new game ball and team tee to game
Coaches should start game on time
Games should last approximately 60 minutes and never longer than 70 minutes
Each batter receives five pitches max, then uses the tee (if ball is not hit into play)
Game lasts four innings, half of team present bats each inning
Players each run one base at a time, last batter completes home run trot (and all runners on bases run home too)
As many coaches or parents as necessary can be on the field with the players
Coach may pitch from any distance

JUNIOR ROOKIE

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should bring tee to game
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are five innings or 90 minutes with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Each batter receives five pitches, then uses the tee for up to two swings (if ball is not hit into play) … tee is removed during the last two innings of the game during the last two weeks of the regular season
Four ways an umpire will call “Time”
1. Pitcher’s helper has control of ball in the circle
2. Fielder is in front of the lead runner
3. Coach-Pitchers asks for and attempts to catch the ball
4. Ball is thrown out of play (beyond the fence)
Up to two coaches may coach from outfield grass on defense (but must remain on grass entire time)
Pitcher’s helpers must wear a helmet with mask and heart guard on top of jersey (both provided by OYO)
Coach-pitcher may pitch as close as 27-foot line, but may not cross line
Coach-pitcher is not allowed to coach once pitch leaves his/her hand until play ends
Pitcher’s helper circle should be drawn with a 16’ diameter (note, diameter, not radius) and three-foot arc in front of home plate
Chalk hashmarks at midway point between 1B-2B, 2B-3B and 3B-Home
Five runs per inning maximum in all innings

ROOKIE

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or 100 minutes with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Each batter receives five pitches or three strikes to hit a ball in fair play
Four ways an umpire will call “Time”
1. Pitcher’s helper has control of ball in the circle
2. Fielder is in front of the lead runner
3. Coach-Pitchers asks for and attempts to catch the ball
4. Ball is thrown out of play (beyond the fence)
Up to two coaches may coach from outfield grass on defense (but must remain on grass entire time)
Pitcher’s helpers must wear a helmet with mask and heart guard on top of jersey (both provided by OYO)
Coach-pitcher may pitch anywhere within the circle, but may not step outside the circle when completing the pitch
Coach-pitcher is not allowed to coach once pitch leaves his/her hand until play ends
Pitcher’s helper circle should be drawn with a 16’ diameter (note, diameter, not radius)
Chalk hashmarks at midway point between 1B-2B, 2B-3B and 3B-Home
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the sixth inning and any subsequent innings)

MINOR

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or two hours with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Look-back rule is in effect
Steals are permitted once ball crosses the plate
Infield fly and dropped third strike rules are not in effect
Players may only play three innings at a single position; pitchers may pitch two innings in any game
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the sixth inning and any subsequent innings)

SUPER MAJOR

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or two hours with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Look-back rule is in effect
Leadoffs are permitted; balks are called
Infield fly and dropped third strike rules are in effect
Players may only play three innings at a single position; pitchers may pitch four innings in any game
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the sixth inning and any subsequent innings)

08U SOFTBALL

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or 100 minutes with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Each batter receives five pitches or three strikes to hit a ball in fair play
Four ways an umpire will call “Time”
1. Pitcher’s helper has control of ball in the circle
2. Fielder is in front of the lead runner
3. Coach-Pitchers asks for and attempts to catch the ball
4. Ball is thrown out of play (beyond the fence)
Up to two coaches may coach from outfield grass on defense (but must remain on grass entire time)
Pitcher’s helpers must wear a helmet with mask and heart guard on top of jersey (provided by OYO)
Coach-pitcher may pitch anywhere within the circle, but may not step outside the circle when completing the pitch
Coach-pitcher is not allowed to coach once pitch leaves his/her hand until play ends
Pitcher’s helper circle should be drawn with a 16’ diameter (note, diameter, not radius)
Chalk hashmarks at midway point between 1B-2B, 2B-3B and 3B-Home
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the sixth inning and any subsequent innings)

10U SOFTBALL

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or two hours with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Look-back rule is in effect
Steals are permitted once pitcher releases the ball
Infield fly and dropped third strike rules are not in effect
Players may only play three innings at a single position; a pitcher may pitch only three of the first five innings and any pitcher can pitch the sixth inning
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the sixth inning and any subsequent innings)

12U SOFTBALL

Umpire will provide game balls and will manage the game clock
Coaches should come with a lineup written and ready to exchange with opposing team before game starts
Regular season games are six innings or two hours with a hard-stop (whichever comes first)
Look-back rule is in effect
Steals are permitted once pitcher releases the ball; illegal pitches are called
Infield fly and dropped third strike rules are in effect
Players may only play three innings at a single position; a pitcher may pitch only three of the first six innings and any pitcher can pitch the seventh inning
Five runs per inning maximum (and 10 run max in the seventh inning and any subsequent innings)

SHARE THIS INFO TODAY!

You are receiving this information since your ballplayer is participating in our league. Yet, we know you may have an amazing cheering section at games, too, involving family members and friends. They won’t receive this information so please be sure to share these reminders – especially about the park rules – so they can be in compliance, too, and make the game day experience memorable for all!

THANK YOU!

We hope this information is helpful and contributes to a quality game day experience for all our ballplayers and families in all our divisions. And as always, we appreciate you choosing OYO as your place for baseball and softball this spring!