Minor - Coach/Machine Pitch - Little League Baseball Rules Minor Coach Pitch (6,7,8, & 9 year olds)
1. The purpose of minor leagues is to provide training and instruction for those players who by reason of age and other
factors are not assigned to a Major League division. See Little League Rulebook and website for additional details
on the conduct of Minor League Coach Pitch Baseball.
2. The following rules are Allegany-specific. Nothing in this document overrides head coaches’ ability to improve the
developmental nature of a game.
3. Continuous batting order: All players will be in the batting order.
4. Games will be 6 innings or 2 hours long. No new inning will start 2 hours after the start of the game.
5. Pitching- no Tee’s allowed
a. Adult coaches will pitch their own players. They may move forward of the rubber depending on the level
of the batter. Pitching from a knee is allowed- it provides a more accurate eye-level/angle for the batter
b. The goal is for the players to identify and swing at strikes only. Most players will swing at every pitch. The
result is that a hard ‘3 strikes you’re out’ rule is counter -productive especially for players just up from
Tee-Ball. Al players get more out of the game when the ball is in play more.
c. Coaches will meet before the game and determine how many swings they will allow players before they
are out.
d. Coaches may refine as needed- IE player swings at very bad pitches, is very young, can barely hold the
bat, etc. Its best practice to inform the other coach which players they plan to give a few extra pitches to.
Do not abuse this!
e. No called strikes
f. No walks. Players will bat until they hit the ball in fair territory or strike out.
g. Pitcher will tell the batter when he/she is on their last strike and hold them to it.
6. Three outs or 5 runs will end an inning.
7. No stealing.
8. Play with ten defensive players (four in the outfield…large field-small players).
9. When a ball is hit to an infielder, all base runners and batter may advance a maximum of two bases from where they
start. If an infielder touches the ball, it is considered an infield hit regardless of where the ball comes to rest.
10. On an outfield hit, the batter may run as far as 3rd base and runners at 2nd and 3rd base may have the opportunity
score. A runner on first may have the opportunity to score in any situation in which the batter reaches 3rd base
safely. If the batter only reaches 2nd base, the runner on 1st can only go to 3rd base. Any outs recorded stand,
even if a base runner would have been required to return to a previous base.
11. Bunting is permitted. Once the batter commits to bunt, he/she may not swing at the pitch.
12. Pitcher position may not play in front of the adult coach pitcher. They MUST wear a helmet
13. If the adult coach pitcher is struck by a batted ball, this will be treated as a no pitch/dead ball situation, and the
batter will return to the batters box and bat again with the same ball/strike count.
14. If a thrown bat strikes the catcher, the batter is out, the ball is dead, and all runners return to the bases they last
occupied.
15. No infield fly rule.