Lakehill Baseball Etiquette Rules

1. Wear your Lakehill baseball uniform correctly (black pants/shorts and LH coach's shirts). Take pride in your presentation and the image of the sport.

2. Do not ‘steal bases’ after being 10 runs ahead. Do not expect to be held close to the base. Advance on a batted or played ball. Do not embarrass your fellow opponent.

3. Pitchers and catcher should always apologise to the opposition player on a hit pitch ball or collision.  All players/coaches should take a knee if a player is hurt and coaches/umpires are attending to their injuries.....applause is a must from everyone once the player is up and okay........

4. Do not lift your team by criticising the opposition; always talk up positive remarks to your own players.

5. Do not excel or acclaim failures, always praise good plays from all players.

6. Always respect and thank the opposition, umpires, scorers and spectators after a game.

7. Never use the infield of a baseball diamond to warm up before a game. Use it only for pre-game fielding drills.

8. When making player position and substitute changes always inform the Chief Umpire first, then the Scorers.

9. During a game, players and coaches should only engage in conversations with their own bench. Do not engage in discussions with the opposition or public.

10.  If your opposition team is short of players, in the sprit of sportsmanship consider assisting by: a) providing your excess player into their line up, and b) providing outfielders when your team is at bat.

Batting Cage Etiquette

1. Please DO NOT enter the batting cage until the previous team has cleared out of the cage. This includes the seating area! It is very difficult to ensure that all players have collected their equipment if your team has crowded in and mixed their bags and equipment with the other team's equipment.
2. Teams ARE NOT to run over their allotted time. When your hour is done – you’re done! This means no excuses like "one last batter" or "quick team meeting" or "we got in late". You must be OUT OF THE CAGE by the time your hour is done.
3. Therefore, teams must start cleaning up their equipment 5 minutes prior to the end of their session, so they have vacated the batting cage on time. The clock on the wall in the batting cage (near the door) will be considered the official time for the batting cage.
4. All teams are responsible to clean up the batting cage each time they are finished their session (balls in buckets and covers on machines).
5. DO NOT (EVER) leave pitching machines in lanes on the turf when you leave.
6. DO NOT leave L-screens in the lanes when you leave.
7. There is to be no smoking, food of any kind, or beverages (except water) in the batting cage.
8. NO SPITZ are allowed in the batting cage. EVER! This includes the waiting area. You are not exempt by thinking that you can spit the shells into a garbage can or empty bottle. This includes players, parents, siblings, etc. NOT ALLOWED!
9. Only adults are to feed or operate the pitching machines.
10. Batting helmets must be worn while batting.
11. Balls are to be done placed back in the buckets and not in your baseball bags.

Below is some brief information on prepping a field prior to home games….  If you’ve got 10 minutes, here are a couple of great YouTube videos on how to line a field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6Ftn_Kt0M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFVchpkYTfY&feature=related

Field Prep: The image on the right has more than what is needed.

Line first and third base paths (45 feet for U11; 55 feet for U13; 60 feet for U15 and above):

• Use the string to mark the base path from the back corner/point of the plate to the edge of the outfield grass
• Leave the string lying straight and line over top of the string
• Remove bases plugs and insert/install 1^st (double) base, 2^nd and 3^rd bases (easiest to do 1^st and 3^rdfirst, then find second)
• There are 3 sets of bases: 45 feet (U11); 55 feet (U13) and 60 feet (U15 and above)
• There is a 3 feet safety line on the first base path that starts half way up and runs to the base

 Line the batters box:

• Batters box is laid down with short end towards pitcher
• Trace the inside of the box frame; remove and line the box
• Do both sides of the plate for 2 batters boxes!

 Line coaches box on either side aligned with first and third base – must be about 10-12 feet away from the first and third base paths

 Line a small on deck circle in front of each dugout

 Pitching Rubber is 35 feet (U11), 38 (U13), 40 (U15) and 43 (U17 and above) – need to dig up and put in the pitching box for correct distance – this could take 20-30 minutes for first time doing it

 8 foot Pitching circle – my “trick” below is much easier than in the youtube video and works just fine:

• Stand on the mound and use end of rake to form a circle (its close to the 8 foot circle) around the pitcher’s mound
• Line/trace the circle

Rake the entire infield after EVERY game AND practice.