banning continuation

bmakj said:

10u LL (ie rec league) coach here.

looking ahead to spring season, looking at our in house rules (ie modifications / additions to LL rules) from last year (mostly run limits, no bases loaded walks, etc.), and I see no mention on continuation.

Click to expand...

I actually have more of an issue with the bolded above. In 8U, our local rec league allowed bases loaded walks. Not to have it at 10U is too much dumbing down the game IMO. What happens when bases are loaded, you keep pitching until the ball is put in play or the girl strikes out? Not really fair to the batter who might not see a strike for 10 pitches since the pitcher has no consequences if she can't throw a strike and the batter starts swinging at bad, out of the strike zone pitches. I bet home plate is "cold" too since you wouldn't want the pitcher (or catcher) getting their feelings hurt for a passed ball/wild pitch scoring a run?

To Eric's point, start teaching the girls to play the game the right way at a young age (such as developing your pitchers and catchers) and most of these modified rules become a non-issue by 10u.

Dabears17 said:

On a walk, usually with a runner on 3rd, the batter-runner continuing to 2nd, hoping to draw a throw and the runner on 3rd can score.

My rec league doesn't allow continuation in 10u, but allows it in 12u. I teach my catcher to get the ball immediately back to the pitcher and my shortstop to cover 2nd on a walk so they are ready for it in 12u and All-stars.

Click to expand...

One of my favorite rules at 10U when we were a C-level team, was 3 runs/inning limit except for the last inning. It helped us get off the field when DD was struggling to throw strikes or the defense was doing a "Bad News Bears" imitation....

At 10U you could have your catcher throw down to first base before the runner is even there. If the runner rounds first then tag her out. She should also be close enough to throw back to the catcher and get the girl from 3rd base.

Get the out at 2B. No coach in their right mind will continue to run into outs when on the very next pitch they can steal second without a throw.

Get the ball immediately back to the pitcher, who gets in the back of the circle, towards 2nd base. Once BR hits 1st, the look back rule is in play. The runner on 3rd has to make a decision to return or go home. By that time, F6 should be at 2nd base on the 1st base side. If the BR continues to 2nd, throw to F6. F4 should be backing her up. I like to use F6 to cover the bag, because she has the stronger arm. If BR is still running to 2nd, F6 tags her out. If the runner breaks for home, throw to F2, who should be in front of the plate ready to make a tag.

If the BR stops, slows or heads back to 1st and the runner breaks, throw home for the tag play and the out.

I had a 10U team pull off a double play several years back doing this. Of course they stopped and then just stole on the next pitch.

smddad said:

Once BR hits 1st, the look back rule is in play.

Click to expand...

Isn't look-back rule in play for the runner on 3rd once the ball is in the circle? If the runner is off the base, she needs to make a decision once the ball is in he circle, no?

In 10U, I've always been a proponent of getting the out at 2b with less than two outs.

#7sDad said:

Isn't look-back rule in play for the runner on 3rd once the ball is in the circle? If the runner is off the base, she needs to make a decision once the ball is in he circle, no?

In 10U, I've always been a proponent of getting the out at 2b with less than two outs.

Click to expand...

ASA 8.7.T

(Fast Pitch) LOOK BACK RULE.
The “Look Back” rule shall be in effect for all runners when the ball is live,
the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the
pitcher has possession and control of the ball within the pitcher’s circle. The
pitcher is considered to be in the pitcher’s circle when both feet are on or
within the lines.

bmakj said:

10u LL (ie rec league) coach here.

looking ahead to spring season, looking at our in house rules (ie modifications / additions to LL rules) from last year (mostly run limits, no bases loaded walks, etc.), and I see no mention on continuation.

I loathe this rule, and for 10u (ie LL minors), would like to see it disallowed for our LL. I do not feel it adds any value to the game at this age for the girls, but is simply a way for slick coaches caught up in winning to get more wins. From my understanding (and I will admit it is limited), this "trick" really is not useful at HS level and above, and I do not think it really advances skills of girls (either offensive or defensive, they are not deciding when to do it, 1B coach is).

Click to expand...

OK..... for reference, we have done a lot of work on our rec league and are introducing kid-pitch in 8U for the first time. The ONLY rule we have for 10U is now 5-run inning limits. We had modified kid/coach pitch up until last year in 10U where we finally had enough decent pitchers for every team through clinics/regular skills sessions/etc. It was a lot of work, but until you do get there, some form of modified kid/coach pitching is fine in 10U. Even now we have got to this point, depending on your rec skill level I have no issue with local rules to make the game move faster as long as the league is working towards getting rid of them. 6 years ago we had no stealing home, no 2-base steals if the catcher threw (so catchers threw on every steal even if there was no chance), 1B over throws and so on. They made ABSOLUTE sense where we were - it no longer does.

With inning run limits, just tell all your coaches to take the out at second. They are giving you a free out - versus stealing next pitch - so TAKE IT. So you MIGHT give up a run in rec. Who cares - you are now one out closer to batting again and getting off the field and 1 out/no one on is better then 0 outs runners on 2/3. Also you are one step closer to making the play to get BOTH outs which you will never get to unless you take the out on offer.

And don't think it doesn't happen in older age groups. I saw this in D1 college 4 or 5 times last season (2x SS/2B were not paying attention after a walk, 3x ELITE SPEED on 3rd in a close game). It just doesn't happen as often.

riseball said:

If you really want to make a difference eliminate a runner scoring from 3rd on a passed ball.

Click to expand...

Says the parent of a pitcher, catcher parent would have said wild pitch.

marriard said:

With inning run limits, just tell all your coaches to take the out at second. They are giving you a free out - versus stealing next pitch - so TAKE IT.

Click to expand...

Best advice ever in rec, and as a bonus it covers every situation except winning run on 3rd, less than 2 outs.