Novice ball is for 6-7 year olds. The Novice division is a more competitive league, as the concept of three outs per inning is introduced. All players remain in the batting lineup and they will all get to hit each inning.
Games are played at 5:30 or 6:45 on Sundays, Mondays or Wednesdays. Two games per week and they are played on Greenwood Field across from Dominion on Old Placentia Road.
The instructor or coach still acts as the pitcher using a cushioned ball which is thrown underhand. A greater emphasis is placed on making "outs" at this level.
The schedule is usually Mondays and Wednesdays but if we get larger numbers Sunday evening will be added to accommodate the extra teams. These sessions are one hour and fifteen minute sessions. Teams will only play two sessions per week. Greenwood Field across from Dominion is home field.
In the event of rain, an announcement concerning the scheduled games for that evening will be posted to the website at 4:00 pm.
Players are to notify their coach if they are unable to make a scheduled house league game.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for a pre-game warm up.
Fair Play Rules For Coaches:
Coaches will be issued a score book. They must set their batting order at the start of the year. Once this batting order is set, the player who is after the last out of the previous game will start the next game. If a player does not show up for the game then he will stay in the same spot in the batting order but crossed out for that particular game. Coaches should use the first three games of the season to finalize the batter order. Batting order may be reset for playoffs. Players should receive equal time on the field. Players should be rotated in positions on the field during games.
Novice Rules:
Official Playing Rules: All games shall be played in accordance with regular baseball rules except where modified by the rules below
Players must wear full uniform, which includes the wearing of white baseball pants, and are advised to wear a protective cup.
All batters must wear helmets when on deck or at bat.
Batters will receive 5 underhand pitches, then a batting tee will be used for 2 attempts.
All teams may use all players in the field.
An inning will be complete after 3 outs are made or 3 runs are scored.
Players must return to the bench when an out is recorded.
Only one base on a ball hit to the infield, two bases on a ball hit to the outfield (the ball cannot roll or bounce to the outfield)
Only one base on an overthrow. One overthrow is allowed per play to encourage players to try to make the play. For example, if the ball is overthrown to 1st base, the runner can advance at his own risk to 2nd. If the ball is overthrown on the same play to 2nd, the runner remains on 2nd.
All plays to the plate are force plays with the catcher just having to touch the plate. This prevents unnecessary collisions.
No lead-offs are permitted.
Throwing the ball back to the pitcher will end the play. If this occurs when a runner is less than half-way to a base, the runner must return to the prior base.
Umpires, at their discretion, will call a foul if the ball doesn't go approximately 10 feet in front of home plate. Score is kept by the coaches and validated with the officials several times during the game.