Bambino

General Information

• Teams are formed for all levels based on age and years of experience. The focus is on child safety and providing positive experiences for our players.
• If you are interested in becoming a coach or assistant coach, please indicate your interest as part of the registration process and/or send an email to our Bambino Commissioner.
• Teams are usually assigned and communicated to coaches by mid-March. Coaches will contact parents with practice schedules, parent meeting details, etc. within approximately a week of receiving team information.
• The first week of practices for Bambino teams is the last week or March or first week of April - dependent on when local school Spring Break lands.
• All bambino teams will typically have 3 events each week - either 1 practice and 2 games or 2 practices and 1 game. Durations of events vary based on level.
• The Bambino season concludes by either the first or second weekend of June.

Required Equipment

• Glove (consult local sporting goods stores for proper size and fit)
• Cup - for Rookies level only

Provided Equipment

• Baseball cap
• Team jersey (for game play)

Recommended Equipment

• Bat (provided by the league and many coaches will ask that kids not bring bats to practices, due to safety concerns)
• Batting helmet (provided, but buying one that fits your player can ensure a good fit and improve safety)
• Game pants
• Cleats
• Warm-up jacket and stocking cap - for warmth at practices (we do play in the rain in the northwest!)
• Bucket with a lid (for carrying the players glove and other gear) - can be purchased at most local sporting goods stores
• Water bottles for practice and games

Need to Know

Commissioner(s)

• Glenn Brivic - Bambino T-ball Commissioner
• Chris Mike - Bambino Rookies and Sluggers Commissioner

T-ball & Sluggers

• No official score is kept
• An inning will immediately end when one of the following happens:
• • 3 outs
  • 5 runs
  • Everyone on the bench has hit
• Tee-Ball games will be 60 minutes, Sluggers games, 75 minutes. No new inning can be started after 60 minutes (Tee-Ball) or 75 minutes (Sluggers) after the start of the game.
• Typically, each game should last 3-4 innings.
• Players should be rotated each inning. Each player should have an opportunity to play each position. For the beginning of the season, players who might not alert and are susceptible to injury should not be used at pitcher or first base.
• Parents and coaches are used as umpires at first base and third base.
• There is no leading off the base and no stealing.
• Bases must be kept in their original position and not moved closer to the batter (60 foot baselines are required

Rookies

• Coaches "pitch" to their own team. Coach will stand between 40 and 46 feet from home plate.
• Softie Balls will be the only balls used during games and practices.
• Each batter will be allowed 5 swings at the ball. If the batter has not reached the base after 5 swings, of any combination of balls and strikes, the batter is retired. However, a batter is not retired on a foul ball.
• If a batter does not swing at a pitch, strike or no strike, it will not count as a pitch. Teach your kids to only swing at strikes.
• Hard-hit balls, that go in the air or firmly on the ground, beyond the base path line and into the outfield, qualify a hitter to try extending a single into a double or further, if possible. Runners will not be allowed to advance on overthrows, and once the ball is advanced back to the infield base progression must stop. Any other hit can only be a single.
• No Bunting is allowed
• No stealing bases and no leading off a base.
• 5 runs or 3 outs constitute an end of an at bat for a team.
• The designated time to complete a game is 90 minutes. This should allow for about 5 innings. No new innings after 90 minutes, regardless of what inning it is.
• Athletic supporters with cup protection are required for boys.
• One player on deck at a time, must have a helmet on if bat is in hand.
• Defined positions are required. This means outfielders must start each pitch on the outfield grass.
• 11 fielders are allowed; infielders, catcher, two pitchers (one on each side of the coach pitching), and 4 outfielders. If a team has at least 7 players; enough for a catcher, 2 pitchers, and an infield, play the game
• No scores will be kept.
• At bat team will umpire "out" and "safe" calls. · During games the home team balls will be used instead of switching from one team balls to another. This will speed up the game, and improve the consistency of balls thrown.