Tee Ball

Primary Competition Rules

• Competition Format

  Expand Competition Format

  Matches are conducted in conjunction with Softball Victoria.

  • Match Duration: 7 innings or 60 minutes.
  • Team Size: Maximum of 12 players per day.
  • 9 players on the field (with up to 3 substitutes).
  • Substituted players are permitted to return to the field.
  • Scoring: 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw, and 0 for a loss.
  • Innings Completion: An innings is completed when three outs are made or 7 runs have crossed the plate.

• Scoring and Determining Winners

  Expand Scoring and Determining Winners

  If teams are tied on match points:

  1. The winner of the head-to-head match between the tied teams is declared the winner.
  2. If the head-to-head match was a draw, the total percentage from all games is used.
  3. If more than two teams are tied, the percentage of matches between only the tied teams determines the final standing.

• Gameplay and Rules

  Expand Gameplay and Rules
  • Hitting: The ball is hit from a tee. Bunting is prohibited and counts as a foul ball and a strike. Batters must take a full, forceful swing.
  • Strikes: A strike is recorded if the batter moves their back foot after 'Play Ball' is called, misses the ball, hits the tee, or hits a foul ball (with less than two strikes).
  • Base Running: Runners must wait until the ball is hit before leaving their base. If they leave early, they are out and the ball is declared dead.
  • Catcher: Must be positioned behind home plate in the catcher's box until the ball is hit.

• Conditions

  Expand Conditions
  • See the School Sport Victoria's 'General Conditions of Competition'  
  • All players, teachers, spectators and officials are bound by the 'SSV Codes of Conduct'.
  • A girl cannot play in a girls' team and a boys/mixed team in the same sport.
  • The level of competition chosen by a student at District level remains binding through to Division, Region and State levels.

• Equipment to Bring

  Expand Equipment to Bring
  • 11-inch synthetic leather softball (soft polycore centre).
  • Official Tee-Ball stands and softball or baseball bats.
  • Competent scorer and up-to-date team sheet (with uniform numbers).
  • First-aid kit and sports tape (strapping must be performed by the school).

• Rules

  Expand Rules

  7 Run Rule

  • An innings is complete when either three outs have been made or 7 runs have crossed the plate.
  • Once an innings is started it is to be completed.
  • The rules for Tee-Ball have been formulated in conjunction with Softball Victoria.
  • Please see the SSV Primary Schools Resource Manual for more useful sport specific information.

• Ball

  Expand Ball

  The 11" (eg. Easton Softcore ball or Ausport Primary Softball) Synthetic leather softball (with soft polycore centre) for all games.

• Playing Area

  Expand Playing Area
  • The field is to be marked as follows:
  • Baselines is to be 18 metres (60 feet)
  • The Pitching Plate is to be 10.7 metres from the apex of the Home Plate.
  • On open grounds, a field limit line should be drawn parallel to and 7.6 metres to 9.1 metres (30') outside the Home/Third Base line.
  • The players' benches are to be outside this area.
  • Place the tee in front of home plate and the catcher uses the tee, the runner must touch the actual home plate to score.

• Batter

  Expand Batter
  • The Umpire should ensure that the tee is adjusted to the batter's satisfaction before calling 'PLAY BALL'.
  • The batter shall be permitted to level the bat with the ball with only one movement.
  • Any additional movement of the bat towards to ball shall be called a strike.
  • The batter shall take a normal full forceful swing when striking the ball. Bunting is not permitted.
  • A violation shall be called a foul ball and a strike.
  • The batter shall take a set stance adjacent to the home plate.
  • The back foot is not permitted to be lifted off the ground after 'Play Ball' is called.
  • (Front foot movement is permitted.)

• Catcher

  Expand Catcher
  • The catcher must be behind home plate, in the catcher's box until the ball is hit.
  • Each time the back foot is moved, 'Foul Ball' is called and one strike is recorded on the batter.
  • Once a Foul Ball is called, the ball is dead and play stops.
  • If the batter hits before 'Play Ball' is called, the ball is dead and a strike is recorded on the batter.

• Strike

  Expand Strike
  • When the batter swings at the ball on the tee and misses.
  • When the batter swings and hits the tee but not the ball, or if the ball settles within the 4.5metre arc.
  • A strike is called, for each foul ball when the batter has less than two strikes;
  • if the batter has two strikes, any subsequent foul balls are simply a dead ball and the umpire calls 'foul'.
  • The only time a batter can be called 'out' on a foul ball is if it's caught by a fielder.

• Fair Ball

  Expand Fair Ball
  • Settles, or is touched, on fair ground between Home and First Base or between Home and Third Base
  • Bounds past First or Third Base on or over fair ground
  • Touches First, Second or Third Base
  • While on or over fair ground touches the person or clothing of an Umpire or player then falls on fair ground beyond First or Third Base.
  • A fair fly must be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line,
  • The Batter hits, and the ball settles beyond the line of the 4.5 metres arc

• Foul Ball

  Expand Foul Ball
  • A foul ball is a legally batted ball which:
  • Settles on foul ground between Home and First Base or between Home and Third Base;
  • Bounds past First or Third Base on or over foul ground;
  • First touches on foul ground beyond First or Third Base;
  • While on or over foul ground touches the person or clothing of an Umpire, or player, or is blocked;
  • Settles, or is touched, within the 4.5 metre arc;
  • Touches a fielder in the 4.5metre arc and the ball drops to the ground - any bunt shall be called a foul ball, regardless of where the ball lands or is fielded.

• Fielding Positions

  Expand Fielding Positions

  All fielding players, except the pitcher, must stand outside the baselines, in fair territory, until the Umpire calls 'Play Ball'.

• Scoring

  Expand Scoring

  Team Coaches and the Umpire are required to sign the score sheets at the conclusion of each game.

• Officials/Coaching

  Expand Officials/Coaching
  • Umpire calls 'Batter'- then 'Play Ball' for each batter and after every strike, foul ball and dead ball. Call 'Time' at the end of each play.
  • The Umpire should place the ball on the tee and adjust the height to suit the batter.
  • The tee must be removed by the Umpire whenever necessary so that players will not be obstructed or injured.
  • All interferences and obstructions must be called, thus teaching children how to play properly and position themselves correctly, both fielding and base running.
  • The Umpire shall not call 'Time' until all possible play has ceased.
  • When the ball becomes dead, the Umpire should call and signal 'Dead Ball' to prevent further plays taking place.
  • Unless appealed to, the Umpire does not call a player out for having failed to touch a base or batting out of order.
  • (Umpires shall not give any indication of an appeal play situation.)
  • Each team, when batting, may place one coach/player, near third base, and one coach/player, who can be a pupil of the school, near first base to coach their side.
  • They must not be nearer than 3 metres from the diamond or touch the runners as they go by.
  • The wearing of helmets by base officials/coaches near the diamond is compulsory.

• Dress

  Expand Dress
  • All teams must wear matching school sport uniforms. No jewellery is to be worn. Navel rings must be taped.
  • All batters and base-runners must wear approved helmets.
  • The Catcher must wear a helmet & mask. Throat & chest protectors and shin pads are highly recommended.
  • Players not correctly dressed will not be permitted to compete.

• Lateness Penalty

  Expand Lateness Penalty
  • If a team is late for the start of their match for reasons beyond their control and the team communicates with the convener, then the convener will try to accommodate the team as best he/she can.
  • If a team is more than 10 min late without notice or communication or in the convener's opinion their lateness makes the draw impracticable, then they will be penalised one run for every 10 minutes late, or part thereof.