Owasso Youth Baseball League Rules

Spring 2025

3U & 4U Little Rams T-Ball

1. All teams will bat the bench/contiuous lineup completely to the last batter. Late arrivals to the lineup are permitted.
2. The batter will get unlimited swings to put the ball in play. “Play” means fair batted ball.
3. Once the ball is in play the runner may advance only one base.
4. There will be “Time” after every runner reaches a base and the ball is dead.
5. The last batter in the lineup will advance to every base to “clear the bases”
6. After the bases are cleared the next team will bat.
7. No runner shall lead off or attempt to steal.
8. The defense and offense may have coaches stand in the outfield and coach players as long as they don’t interfere with the play of the game. Defensive coaches may help move players before the ball is in play. Offensive coaches may stand at each base and direct runners and physically assist them.
9. The defense will play all players in the field.
10. The defense will not record outs.
11. The game is over when the full hour has been played.
12. 8.5” safety baseballs will be used.

5U & 6U Modified T-Ball

13. A player must not sit out two consecutive innings.
14. All teams will bat the bench. Late arrivals will be inserted as the last batter.
15. The pitching coach for each team will throw each batter 3 pitches. If the ball is not put into play, the coach can choose for the batter to take two more pitches from the coach or the batter can have two attempts/swings to put the ball into play off of the batting tee. The head coach may also elect to have the batter start with the tee. There are no swinging strikes.
16. Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance. “Time” does not have to be called by the defense for the purpose of this rule.
    Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
17. Coaches may interchange defensive players freely.
18. Time limit – 1hr 15 min or 6 innings.
19. Run Rule –5 runs per ½ inning.
20. A defensive coach may stand in the outfield and coach players as long as he doesn’t interfere with the play of the game. If the umpire feels the coach is impacting the game negatively, he can remove him.
21. 8.5” safety baseballs will be used.
22. Pre-Game warm-ups in the outfield only. No soft toss, heavy ball, or hitting into a net inside the fence on the baseball or softball fields. Please talk to your outfielders about digging holes in the outfield. Do not allow your players to hit into the fences or climb on them.
23. USSSA Rules Specific for 5U & 6U Modified Coach Pitch
24. 8.01 Fair Ball Arc: There shall be a twenty (20) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.
25. 8.02 Safety Arc: There shall be a thirty (30) foot arc drawn from first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.
26. 8.03 Pitching Circle: There shall be a ten (10) foot diameter circle with the front edge at forty-two (42) feet from the rear point of home plate.
27. 8.04 Pitcher’s Line: There shall be a line drawn from the pitcher’s circle to the safety arc.
28. 8.04.A The pitching coach shall keep one foot on or straddle the pitcher’s line. The Coach can pitch anywhere in-between the 30’ Safety Arc and the 42’ Pitching Circle.
29. 8.04.C The pitching coach shall position himself as not to be an obstruction to the defensive team on any possible play once the ball has been hit.
30. Rule 8.04.C Penalty: If a coach violates this rule after the ball is pitched, obstruction shall be called.
31. Rule 8.04.C Additional Penalty: If a coach violates this rule before the ball is pitched, First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of coach as the pitcher for the remainder of the game.
32. 8.05 Pitching Coach: The Pitching Coach shall be an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age.
33. 8.06 The catcher shall receive the pitch in the catcher’s box in a normal baseball manner. If in the Umpire’s judgment, the catcher is not receiving the ball in a normal baseball manner, there shall be a warning issued. If the act continues after the warning, the offending teams’ manager shall be ejected.
34. 8.07 Ten (10) defensive players shall play in the field with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder shall not assume an infield position. All outfielders shall stay behind the baseline.
35. 8.08 The defensive player listed as pitcher shall not leave the pitching circle until the ball is hit.
36. Rule 8.08 Penalty: The play continues. After the play has ended, the offensive team has the option of taking the result of the play or no-pitch.
37. Rule 8.08 Additional Penalty: First Offense: Warning; Second Offense: Removal of player from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.
38. 8.10 The Infield Fly Rule shall not be in effect at any time.
39. 8.13 Bunting shall not be allowed.
40. 8.15 A player may only be Intentionally Walked once per game by announcement from the defensive team.
41. 8.16 Runners shall not lead-off or steal bases. A runner is out for leaving the base before the ball is hit or reaches home plate.
42. 8.17 A courtesy runner for catcher of record only the previous inning may be used. The courtesy runner shall be the player that made the previous out. If no outs have been recorded in the game, the courtesy runner shall be the previous batter not on base. If the team batting has not played defense yet and a courtesy runner is used for a player, the player that was run for must assume the catching position the next inning. This scenario only applies in the first inning for the visiting team.
43. 8.20 When a batted ball hits the Pitching Coach, the following shall apply:
44. 8.20.A If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did not make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the batter is declared out and no runners shall advance.
45. 8.20.B If in the Umpire’s judgment, the coach did make a legitimate attempt to avoid contact, the ball becomes dead and a no-pitch is declared.

7U-14U Leagues

USSSA Rules apply with the following exceptions:

1. 7u batters will receive 6 pitches to place a ball in fair territory.  The 7u batter will be given an additional pitch for a fouled 6th pitch and continue to receive additional pitches for foul balls after the 6th pitch.  If the batter does not hit the ball into fair territory on the 6th pitch or does not hit a ball into foul territory on or after the 6th pitch, the batter will be out. There are no swinging strikes.
2. 5u/6u, 7u and 8u - Umpires shall call “Time” after every play and declare the ball dead. “Time” shall be called as soon as the lead runner is not attempting to advance.  Comment: When a runner stands off a base and “jukes” or “feints” back and forth, this is to be interpreted as “not attempting to advance” and “Time” shall be called.
3. 9u/10u recreational will play standard rules except for the following two rules:  9U recreational will have the option of playing 9 or 10 defensive fielders; the team must declare at the beginning of the game. The 9U team cannot start with 9 and then decide to use 10 players.
4. In the 9U recreational league the dropped 3rd strike rule will not be in effect.   If the catcher drops the 3rd called strike the batter is still out and may not attempt to advance to first base.  Any other runners on the bases may attempt to steal at their own risk.
5. The following are game time limits:

3U & 4U – 1 hour

5U & 6U – 1 hour 15 minutes

7U & 8U – 1 hour 15 minutes

9U & 10U, 11U & 12U – 1 hour 30 minutes

13U & 14U – 1hour 30 minutes

Game time clock starts after the 1st pitch, the home plate umpire will notify the home team score keeper the time.  An inning will be complete when time is called (No dead stop time limit).  The beginning of an inning starts immediately after the last out from the home team. 

Ending the Game:

In the recreational league the game will end when the time limit has expired and the trailing team is behind by 6 or more runs OR the game will end when the time limit expires and the home team is at bat with the lead.

For ages 8U-12U (6 Inning) game is called when the lead is 15 after 3 inning or 8 after 4 innings. Or any team with a 20 run lead at any time after a complete 1st inning.

For ages 13u and 14u (7 inning) the game is called when  the lead is 15 after 3, 12 after 4, or 8 after 5. Or any team with a 20 run lead at any time after a complete 1st inning.

If the score is tied after the home team bats and the time limit has expired then the game will end in a tie.

6. Complete games:
     a. 6 inning scheduled game – 2 ½ innings will constitute a complete game if the home team is ahead, or 3 complete innings if the visiting team is ahead.
     b. 7 inning scheduled game – 3 ½ innings will constitute a complete game if the home team is ahead, or 4 complete if the visiting team is ahead.
7. Recreational play – Max  runs per inning:

5u/6u, 7u, 8u, 10u, 11u, 12u, 13u, and 14u – Max 5 runs per inning

8. Suspended games will be resumed by referencing the “HOME” book.
9. Recreational players cannot participate in additional/multiple leagues.
10. Recreational teams and competitive teams will follow USSSA lineup rule 7.02.D thru 7.02.E
11. Recreational play: If a player cannot continue play due to injury, the batting team shall not be penalized an out for missing his/her spot in the batting order, unless it puts the team under 9 players.  An injured player can return to the line-up.  If the player leaves a game injured a second time, the player will be removed for the remainder of the game.
12. Pitchers are not required to wear a protective cup, however, catchers are required to wear one. (7U – 14U)
13. OYB follows USSSA rule 7.01.C and 7.01.D
14. Use of an illegal bat: follow USSSA rule 7.01.C Penalty
15. Maximum number of three coaches in the dugout for 9U – 14U leagues and four coaches for 7U and 8U leagues.
16. Coaches outside of the dugout within arm’s length of the dugout fence should be noted as a privilege.  It should be noted that they are treated as an obstruction if the ball touches them and will become a dead ball at that point.
17. Coaches certification is required for all coaches on the playing field.  Each league will honor the home league coach’s certification for coaches playing away from their home park.
18. USSSA roster is the official team roster for competitive teams.  The Board Approved Roster will be the official team roster for recreational teams. 
19. Any coach or parent ejected from a game must leave the complex immediately for the rest of the game.   If a fan or parent is ejected then the head coach will be ejected as well.  If they are ejected after a game has completed, they must sit out the next game. If a player is ejected from a game, they must return to the bench and remove their uniform top for the remainder of that game. They may return for the next game unless the ejection occurred after the game has been completed. In that case, they must sit out the next scheduled game.
20. Any person committing or threatening physical violence will be ejected immediately and that person will be suspended from all the parks participating in interleague for the remainder of the current season.  The board of the home park of the individual will determine additional consequences of such behavior and will attempt to notify the offender in writing prior to the beginning of the next baseball season.