Greater East Austin Youth Association

Welcome to Coaches' Corner!

Here you'll find information about your Division including rules and practice guides. The guides are suggestions to help, but are not required. If you feel something is missing, email us and we'll work to get your request added.

Tee Ball
Minors Coach Pitch
Minor Players Pitch
Majors Player Pitch

GEAYA provides all necessary team equipment, including bats, baseballs, extra gloves, helmets, and a full set of catcher's gear.

All coaches are responsible for clarifying rules with the coaches of the opposing team before the start of any game. Call a Coaches Meeting 10-15 minutes prior to your game and clarify rules before you start. If an umpire is present at your game, include umpire(s) in your meeting.

GEAYA utilizes home field rules for home games at Mabson Field, meaning the rules below are what we go by at home games. If the opposing team does not agree, locate a GEAYA administrator before starting your game.

Download the Little League Rule App Here

Mandatory Training and Background Check

GEAYA COACHES TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory training required each year for all volunteers.

To participate as a coach or team parent, you must complete two specific online trainings required by Little League International. These trainings are valid for the calendar year.

Little League Diamond Leader (45–60 min)
Abuse Awareness for Adults (45–60 min)

How to Submit Proof of Completion:
Once finished, you must take a screenshot or screen grab of your completed certificates and email them to both:

Coach Emaan: [email protected]
Coach Lee: [email protected]

Note: If you completed training in the Spring, you do not need to retake it for the Fall season of the same year.

Diamond Leader Training

Scroll down and click
"Create an Account" or Login

Abuse Awareness Training

Scroll down and click
"Create an Account" or Login

Emailing Your Team

Coaches! You can email your team through the website by following the directions below.

1. Login to your account
2. Go to: Team Central > Team Directory
3. Click: Team Home
4. Click: Email
5. Enter your message and choose your recipients
6. Hit Send: Parents can reply directly to the email address on your account.

We also recommend using a text string for the team so you can communicate with them directly for fast questions and notices.

Rule 2.00: Infield Fly Rule

Note: The Infield Fly rule does NOT apply in Tee Ball.

The Infield Fly Rule is designed to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping a fly ball to record an easy double play. By calling the batter out immediately, the "force play" is removed for the other runners.

When is it an Infield Fly?

Rule 2.00 defines it as: “A fair fly ball (not including a line drive or a bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second, and third bases are occupied before two are out.”

Key Requirements:

There must be less than 2 outs.
There must be runners on 1st and 2nd OR Bases Loaded.
The ball cannot be a bunt or a line drive.
An infielder must be able to catch the ball with ordinary effort (Umpire's discretion based on the division's skill level).

Important Game-Play Details:

Live Ball: The ball is still alive. Runners may advance at their own risk or retouch (tag up) and advance after the ball is touched, just like any other fly ball.
Batter is Out: The batter is called out regardless of whether the ball is caught or dropped, provided it is a fair ball.
Infielders Defined: For this rule, the pitcher, catcher, and any outfielder stationed in the infield are considered infielders.

Head-First Sliding Rules

Major Division and Below

In both Little League Baseball and Softball (Major division and below), runners are prohibited from sliding head-first while advancing.

The Penalty: The runner is called OUT, and the ball remains live [Rule 7.08(a)(4)].

Exception: Runners ARE allowed to dive head-first when returning to a base.

Tee Ball For Coaches

Tee Ball Division (Ages 4-6)

"Remind your team: They are playing big-league Baseball!"

Basic Game Rules

Game Length: 4 innings or 60 minutes. If the time limit is reached, coordinate with the opposing coach to finish the current inning (3 outs or 5 runs).
Batting Order: All players bat in a continuous order. Please keep players lined up in the dugout to ensure everyone gets their turn.
Inning Transitions: An inning ends when the defense records 3 outs OR the offense scores 5 runs.
- Note: We do not keep score at GEAYA home games. The 5-run limit is simply used to change sides and keep the game moving.

Hitting & Fair Balls

Batters will use a tee and receive as many swings as needed to put the ball in play. To be considered a Fair Ball:

The ball must travel at least 15 feet in fair territory.
The batter must hit only the ball (hitting the tee and ball at the same time is a foul).
The ball must land or remain inside the left and right field white lines.
Lines are Foul: In Tee Ball, if the ball rolls on the white line, it is considered a foul ball.

Defensive Outs

The defense can record an out by:

Fly Balls: Catching a batted ball in the air before it touches the ground.
Tagging: Tagging a runner with the ball (in glove or hand) before they reach the base.
- NO tagging above the shoulders/neck.
- NO throwing the ball at a runner to get an out.
Force Outs: Touching a base with the ball in possession if the runner is forced to advance.
- 1st Base is always a force.
- 2nd, 3rd, and Home are force plays only if all preceding bases are occupied.

NOTE: There is no "Tie Goes to the Runner" in Little League.
Runners MUST beat the play to be safe.

Coaches' Resource

Download the Little League Tee Ball Guide for practice drills and tips!

Minors Coach Pitch for Coaches

Minors Coach Pitch (Ages 7-8)

District 11 Interleague Rules

Umpire Requirements

Home Team provides one (1) umpire.
Must arrive 30 minutes prior to game start.
Home team may need to supply protective gear (Mask/Chest Plate).
Rule protests must be resolved before the next pitch.

Playing Time & Rosters

Minimum Play: 6 defensive outs and 1 at-bat.
Players not meeting minimum play must start the next game.
Roster Limit: Max 15 players.
Uniforms: Only official season uniforms permitted.

Field & Batting Rules

COACH PITCHERS CANNOT COACH PLAYERS WHILE PITCHING.
Time Limit: No new inning starts after the time limit or 9:00 p.m.
- 10-Run Rule: Victory conceded after 4 innings (3.5 if Home is ahead) if a team leads by 10+.
Pitching: Offensive coach pitches from the dirt (even with the rubber). May stand or kneel.
Pitch Count: Batter receives 5 pitches or 3 strikes. If the 5th pitch is fouled, the batter continues.
Bunts/Half-Swings: Not permitted. Batted balls traveling less than 15ft are foul.
Batting Order: Continuous batting order (all rostered players). An inning ends at 3 outs or when the entire order has batted.
Base Running: No stealing. Runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball is hit.
Overthrows: Runners may advance at their own risk on an overthrow in play, but not more than one base.
Coach Interference: If a batted ball hits the coach pitcher, it is dead; batter awarded 1st, forced runners advance. If a thrown ball hits the coach, it remains live.
General: No Infield Fly rule. Standard baseballs used. Only 9 players on defense.

Coaches' Resource

Please download the Little League Coach Pitch Guide for practice drills and tips!

Minors & Majors Player Pitch for Coaches

Minors (9-10) & Majors (11-12) Player Pitch

REMEMBER: THE BALL IS "LIVE" UNLESS TIME IS CALLED BY THE UMPIRE

To assist our coaches in the player-pitch divisions, please review the following Little League requirements and helpful tips:

🔗 8 Helpful Tips for New Little League Coaches

Pitching Rules & Rest Requirements

Daily Pitch Limits:

Ages 7-8: 50 pitches
Ages 9-10: 75 pitches
Ages 11-12: 85 pitches
Ages 13-16: 95 pitches

Required Days of Rest (Ages 14 & Under):

1-20 Pitches: 0 Days
21-35 Pitches: 1 Day
36-50 Pitches: 2 Days
51-65 Pitches: 3 Days
66+ Pitches: 4 Days

For full details, visit the Regular Season Pitching Rules page.

MINORS DIVISION (9-10)

Stealing Bases:

Runners may steal any base. A runner on 3rd may only steal Home at their own risk if a play is made to 3rd base and the ball is overthrown/mishandled.

Rule 7.13 (Leaving Early):

NO LEADING OFF. Runners must remain on base until the pitch reaches the batter. If a runner leaves early:

If the ball is not hit: Runner returns to the base (unless put out on a play).
If the ball is hit: Umpire determines base value. Batter cannot advance beyond 1st on a single/error, 2nd on a double, etc.
If a bunt or infield hit occurs with bases loaded: No run shall score; runners advance one base except the runner at 3rd, who is removed from the base.

Game Ends: After 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes.
No New Inning: After 1 hour 15 minutes.