Rule Updates
Babe Ruth and USA Baseball Adopts April 30 as new Age Determination Date
(Babe Ruth League Baseball Inc.) USA Baseball, the governing body for amateur baseball, approved a motion to adopt an April 30 th age determination date for youth baseball in the United States. The change will be effective for the 2006 season.
Over the past three years, Babe Ruth League, Inc., in conjunction with USA Baseball and it’s affiliated members (such as Little League Baseball, Pony Baseball, Dixie Baseball, AABC, NABF and others) has been researching and studying the age determination date for youth baseball. A major issue facing our sport today is the loss of youth athletic participation and the seeming decline in player participation after the 10 year-old and 12 year-old age brackets.
The results of the research and study conducted by USA Baseball and its affiliated members positively shows that an initial step in reversing this trend would be to change the age determination date from August 1st to April 30 th. As such, our sport would benefit by keeping more players in programs longer; players being better prepared for the transition to conventional sized fields; and there being no diminished eligibility for players.
Per the policy of Babe Ruth League, Inc., before proceeding to make any rule change, we surveyed and requested input from our League Presidents and Commissioners for approval of the change to the age determination date. We received a favorable response toward moving to April 30 th.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. would like to thank USA Baseball for their recognition and subsequent action to deal with the issues facing youth baseball today. No one really knows when a player will reach their full potential in the game of baseball. As a group we feel the April 30 th date will allow most players on a team to spend the majority of the regular season at the same chronological age as their league age and will provide a longer opportunity for a player to stay in the game. As always, we appreciate the suggestions and recommendations submitted from our membership. Our goal here has always been and will continue to be, to keep as many players as possible in the great game of baseball and make it a fun and memorable experience for all.
Ronald Tellefsen
President / CEO
Babe Ruth League Baseball, Inc.
Procedures for Use of a Double First Base, as covered in the WSBR 2006 Spring Ground Rules
The double first base is used to reduce the chances of a collision at first base.
- A batted ball that hits the white section of the double base shall be declared fair. A batted ball that hits the colored (orange) section shall be declared foul.
- When a play is being made on the batter/runner from the fair territory, the defense must use the white section of the double first base and the batter/runner must use the colored (orange) section on his/her first attempt to tag first base. Exception: On extra base hits or other balls hit to the outfield when there is no chance for a play to be made at the double first base, the runner may touch either the white or colored (orange) section of the base. Should, however, the batter/runner reach and go beyond first base, he/she can only return to the white section of the base.
- When a play is being made on the batter/runner from foul territory on the first base side (e.g. a dropped third strike or a bunt down the first base line) the batter/runner should use the white section of the double first base and the defense should use the colored (orange) section of the double first base.
- When tagging up on a fly ball, the white section of the base must be used by the runner.
- On an attempted pick-off play, the runner must return to the white section of the base only.
- Use of the double first base does not change any other rule concerning Interference or Obstruction at first base.
