Rules to Teach LL Juniors?

[Larry in TN]

Our Spring LL is starting practices this weekend and I'll again be an assistant coach and team scorekeeper in our Junior division (13 & 14 yrs).

 

I always try to teach the kids about the rules as that's typically neglected by the coaches that they've had along the way.  (I suppose the coaches would actually have to know the rules to teach them but that's another topic...)  I'd like to get some input on which rules experienced umpires would suggest to include.

 

Topics that I've covered in the past are the running lane to 1B (which, of course, the league doesn't mark!), interference, obstruction, when the runner can leave the base on a tag (when the ball is first touched, not when it is caught), and the proper use of the appeal (and how to watch for opportunities to appeal).

 

Another of my favorites is the foul-tip.  We have a number of umpires who call or signal foul-tip on tipped foul balls which doesn't help the kids understand the rule.  It is amazing to me how hard it is to get them to un-learn this one.  It often takes half the season before I stop getting kids saying that a tipped ball bouncing off the backstop is foul-tip!

 

Anyway, what do you think are the most important, frequently confused, rules for kids of this age?

 

Thanks...

[SJA]

Don't pay attention to the parents and spectators!

 

HA! :-)

[maven]

Teach fielders that the only time they have the right of way over runners is while they are fielding a batted ball.

[mstaylor]

Balks are the obvious one for Jrs. Teach them all so runners know what to watch for when taking a lead.

[Dash Riprock]

Teach them to swing at everything they can reach, and never listen to a coach who tells them to take a strike, because we will find one.  It's in the rules.

[BigUmpire]

PM me and I may have something I can send you that can be modified for them.

[Larry in TN]

Don't pay attention to the parents and spectators!

 

HA! :-)

 

Last Spring one of the player's father was terrible about that.  Our manager would have a specific play called and this guy would always be shouting out instructions that contradicted the called play!  I have no idea how he always managed to do it when our manager has specifically called something else.

 

 

 

Teach fielders that the only time they have the right of way over runners is while they are fielding a batted ball.

 

Definitely.  Goes right along with OBS.  I don't need to tell anyone here how much confusion there is on OBS/INT in LL.

 

 

Balks are the obvious one for Jrs. Teach them all so runners know what to watch for when taking a lead.

 

Ha!  Who's going to teach me!  

[mjr_2013]

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

[BigUmpire]

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

Great!

[Larry in TN]

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

 

My son, who turns 14 in April, will start umpiring Pee Wee division this Spring.  He's been to two of the umpire meetings so far.  He's been waiting to be an umpire for about four years now.  He's quite excited about it.

[BigUmpire]

 

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

 

My son, who turns 14 in April, will start umpiring Pee Wee division this Spring.  He's been to two of the umpire meetings so far.  He's been waiting to be an umpire for about four years now.  He's quite excited about it.

 

Outstanding.

Will also make him a better ball player

[Guest Steve Jewell]

Not meaning to hijack this post but I have 3 LL questions. 

 

1. If a batter squares to bunt, pulls back and then swings at the pitch is he out?  I was told this by another umpire today. If that's true it has to be in place to protect the players moving up for the bunt, right?

 

2. At what level are the players allowed to leadoff/steal?

 

3. Anyone know where I might find a powerpoint (or video) showing small field mechanics?

 

I haven't worked LL or small field mechanics. I've been asked to volunteer, hopefully they'll give me a rule book and some training..

[Guest Steve Jewell]

 

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

 

My son, who turns 14 in April, will start umpiring Pee Wee division this Spring.  He's been to two of the umpire meetings so far.  He's been waiting to be an umpire for about four years now.  He's quite excited about it.

 

Good for him!  My 15-yo son started umpiring late-last year and loves it.  Right now our league limits him to 13U and under.  I have been assigned to work with him for a few games already and had a really great time working with him.  Good bonding experience for us both.  He is the 2nd of my sons to become an umpire. I hope that your son has some good mentors and has a great time.

[mjr_2013]

Don't have much to add to what's been said, but you should take the ones who seem interested in the rules you teach and direct them to the league UIC!!

My son, who turns 14 in April, will start umpiring Pee Wee division this Spring. He's been to two of the umpire meetings so far. He's been waiting to be an umpire for about four years now. He's quite excited about it.

Good for him! My 15-yo son started umpiring late-last year and loves it. Right now our league limits him to 13U and under. I have been assigned to work with him for a few games already and had a really great time working with him. Good bonding experience for us both. He is the 2nd of my sons to become an umpire. I hope that your son has some good mentors and has a great time.

My league president has said in the past we only take age 13+... Michigan labor laws say they have to be 11.

I'm not going to "recruit" that young. It's too young to ask them to be looking for jobs... BUT if an 11 year old emails or calls me asking about my Juniors umpire program, wants in, and is willing to learn, I'd so much rather teach him than the 16 year old who just wants a check.

I've yet to have it happen, but it will eventually!!

What the president doesn't know won't hurt the league. :D

[mjr_2013]

Not meaning to hijack this post but I have 3 LL questions. 

 

1. If a batter squares to bunt, pulls back and then swings at the pitch is he out?  I was told this by another umpire today. If that's true it has to be in place to protect the players moving up for the bunt, right?

 

2. At what level are the players allowed to leadoff/steal?

 

3. Anyone know where I might find a powerpoint (or video) showing small field mechanics?

 

I haven't worked LL or small field mechanics. I've been asked to volunteer, hopefully they'll give me a rule book and some training..

 

1. I am answering for baseball only, I believe softball may be different... It was on the LL Agenda in the Congress in Minneapolis... It was a proposition because of safety yes. No idea if it was accepted, but it wouldn't be in the book until at least 2015... There was some STUPID stuff on that agenda.

 

2. They are allowed to leadoff at the Intermediate division (13U)... Majors and below it is not allowed... Depending on your definition of steal, it could also be Intermediate... The runners can leave the base in Minors and Majors after the ball reaches the batter... So, they ARE allowed to "steal", but not until the ball reaches the batter.

 

3. PM me your email and I'll send you what I've made. I'm the UIC of the LL in my town... @mstaylor and @BigUmpire also have resources. 

 

Good luck!

[mstaylor]

Not meaning to hijack this post but I have 3 LL questions. 

 

1. If a batter squares to bunt, pulls back and then swings at the pitch is he out?  I was told this by another umpire today. If that's true it has to be in place to protect the players moving up for the bunt, right?

 

2. At what level are the players allowed to leadoff/steal?

 

3. Anyone know where I might find a powerpoint (or video) showing small field mechanics?

 

I haven't worked LL or small field mechanics. I've been asked to volunteer, hopefully they'll give me a rule book and some training..

 

1. I am answering for baseball only, I believe softball may be different... It was on the LL Agenda in the Congress in Minneapolis... It was a proposition because of safety yes. No idea if it was accepted, but it wouldn't be in the book until at least 2015... There was some STUPID stuff on that agenda.

 

2. They are allowed to leadoff at the Intermediate division (13U)... Majors and below it is not allowed... Depending on your definition of steal, it could also be Intermediate... The runners can leave the base in Minors and Majors after the ball reaches the batter... So, they ARE allowed to "steal", but not until the ball reaches the batter.

 

3. PM me your email and I'll send you what I've made. I'm the UIC of the LL in my town... @mstaylor and @BigUmpire also have resources. 

 

Good luck!

PM me, I have the LL PPT for 60 ft. As to leads, just rember 60 ft/no leads, anything longer then leads. The show bunt, then swing is legal. The umpire that told you that may be quoting a local rule, ask him to show it to you. Local rule or not, if they can't produce the rule, it is legal.