Tadpole

Tadpole is an transitional division where skill development and sportsmanship are the focus.  Players at all skill levels will develop their primary baseball skills while being exposed to moderate levels of competition.  Live pitching and bat catching are added to the use of the pitching machines, and players will be exposed to base stealing, outs and game scores.  In order to ensure equally balanced teams, an evaluation is held prior to the season starting, and coaches will draft the teams.  Dedicated pitching practices may be provided through out the spring season, and summer ball may be offered depending on the interest of players and coaches.  

Tadpole goals are:

• Have fun and increase confidence
• Development of baseball fundamentals: throwing, catching, hitting, base running
• Introduction to live pitching, bat catching, base stealing and outs 

TABA will provide all the field gear.  Your child will need a glove, helmet, grey baseball pants, cleats , protective jock/jill, and a bat.  Please see our equipment page for information on bats.  Coaches will be provided practice materials and continued support and additional opportunities

PITCHING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Jerseys and hats are supplied by TABA and should be worn to all practices and games.  Full uniforms should be worn to games including pants, belts and socks.
2. Base runners, batter, and on-deck batter must wear batting helmets with chinstraps properly attached. It is mandatory that players wear a protective jock/jill. Players may wear running shoes or molded rubber cleats (soccer cleats are accepted)
3. Each team is responsible to clean up the field after practices and games
4. The coaches are responsible to set up the field for games. After the last game coaches are to make sure all equipment used during the game is returned to the storage area and locked up. All equipment will be provided by TABA.
5. Base paths are set at 60 feet with the pitchers mound set 42 feet from the tip of home plate.
6. Equipment is NOT to be used for any activity that is not TABA sanctioned. Only the coaches and the executive will be given access to the equipment boxes.
7. Coaches are responsible for the behaviour of their team players, fans and parents during games and to make sure there is no abuse of the equipment. INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  Umpires may direct coaches to address inappropriate behaviour by fans.  It is the responsibility of the coach to notify TABA of any major issues that occur at the ball park immediately following the game and/ or practice.
8. Games postponed due to rain will be considered a non-event, unless coaches wish to schedule a make-up game through the division coordinator.  It is the coaches’ discretion when to call a game or practice due to darkness, field condition or weather, and the coaches responsibility to notify the team manager and team.
9. Each game shall be 4 to 6 full innings, with no new inning started after 1 hour and 30 minutes.
10. Run limit is 4 runs per inning.  Last inning is open without a run limit. 
11. If a team is leading its opponent by at least twelve (12) runs after five (5) or more equal innings have been played, or after 4-1/2 innings if the team second at bat should have a twelve run lead at the end of its fourth inning, or before the completion of its fifth inning, the game shall be ended.
    12. Each team is required to have a batting order in writing, including the players numbers. A copy of the batting order shall be given to the opposing team and the home plate umpire 
    13. Each team shall field a team of no more than ten players and no less than nine players. There shall be six infielders and four outfielders. In the event a team is required to play with only nine players, they shall play with only three outfielders.
    14. All players will be included in the batting order. Placement of players in the batting order should be rotated each game. 
    15. Coaches for the batting team should call outs for their team. Strike zone is from the chest to the knees and the ball covers the plate.  The batting team provides the pitching machine operator Catchers must wear full gear and a glove of their choice.
    16. Prior to May 16, games should consist of 2 innings hitting from a tee, followed by innings of coaches pitching to batters.  From May 16 onwards, games should consist of 2 innings with coaches pitching, followed by innings of a pitching machine.  
    17. Each hitter gets a maximum of 5 baseballs. 

1. Prior to May 16: 3 pitches from the coach followed by 2 attempts to hit off the tee
2. After May 16: 3 pitches from the pitching machine followed by 2 pitches from the coach
3. Coaches may use their discretion to use a tee after May 16 using player comfort and preference as a guide. Focus is to be on building skills and confidence, and getting the balls into play to foster development of players batting and fielding.
   18. Coaches must switch players to different positions from inning to inning, alternating between infield and outfield.In the event of extra players than fielding positions, each child must sit once before someone sits twice.Players are allowed to play a maximum of 4 innings in the infield per game, of which only one position may be played twice. The catcher may occupy the position for a maximum of 3 innings each. Only 2 of the innings played at catcher will count towards their infield time Players shall be allowed to play a maximum of 3 innings in the outfield per game. All outfield positions are considered to be the same position.With live pitching, players can only pitch 1 inning per game.  Players may steal one base per play. Lead offs are not allowed.  The infield fly rule does not apply. Bunting and running on a dropped 3^rd strike are not allowed.Each game should end with a base race.Super T players may be called up to play on a Tadpole team a maximum of 3 games plus one tournament. The Super-T & Tadpole Coordinators, will coordinate call-ups to ensure eligibility and fairness. The player must receive the same treatment as regular players, must not play more innings than a regular team player and must not pitch.  Second year Tadpole players may be called up to play on a Mosquito team a maximum of 3 games plus one tournament. The Tadpole and Mosquito Coordinators will coordinate call-ups to ensure eligibility and fairness. The player must receive the same treatment as regular players, must not play more innings than a regular team player and must not pitch.  No record of Standings is kept. Score keeping is required as to keep a record of games played. If  a game ends in a tie, it will remain a tie. Not applicable to play-offs or tournaments.All BC Minor Baseball rules will be in effect, but TABA rules take precedence. 

PITCHING MACHINE RULES

1. Parents will operate the pitching machine to avoid injuries. 
2. TABA uses a spring loaded manual pitching machine. When the machine is in use, it is to be placed on the pitching mound 42 feet from the point of Home plate. The pitching machine will be set at setting #6. Any adjustments to the speed or position of the pitching machine must be agreed upon by both Coaches. 
3. The batting team will operate the pitching machine. The ball must be held up before putting it into the machine so that the batter and the catcher know the ball is coming. The pitching machine operator cannot communicate with the base runners but can communicate with the hitter. The Pitcher must hand the ball to the pitching machine operator. 
4. If the batted ball hits the machine (or operator), the ball is ruled a “DEAD BALL” and the batter gets a base. The base runners advance one base only. 
5. If a thrown ball hits the batting machine during “live play” then the ball is ruled a “dead ball” and each base runner will be allowed to continue to the base in which they were advancing too. 
6. If the machine is not throwing strikes and the batter does not swing at the ball the pitch will be deemed a “no pitch” however if the batter swings at the pitched ball it will be deemed a “strike”. There are no walks in this division.

PLAYER PITCHING RULES

7. Players must only pitch one inning per game.  Pitch count sheets are available. 
8. Coach pitch rule is in effect as follows:
   • If four balls are thrown to a batter, the coach of the batting team must enter to pitch to complete the at bat. 
   • If the batter has two strikes when coach pitch is activated, the strike count will lower to one strike to begin coach pitch. If the batter has no strikes or one strike, the strike count remains the same.
   • The pitcher must take a position with at least one foot touching the dirt on a real or imaginary mound.
   • If a hit ball hits the coach, the ball is declared dead and the batter re hits.