In addition to the Common Rules, these rules apply to Rookie A & B:

Rookie A & B Rules

• In rookie B, the home team will supply a volunteer plate umpire. The visiting team will provide the base umpire. (Home plate umpire has the final word in any matter concerning the rules. Volunteer umpires are greatly appreciated — coaches are to ensure the umpire is familiar with the rules). In rookie A an umpire is provided.
• The “coach pitch” is to pitch from the mound approx 35’ from the batter. Bases are 60’ apart.
• ​Beside the coach is a defensive player called the "pitcher’s helper" who is required to wear a helmet at all times while in the field.  The pitcher’s helper should be to one side and behind the coach pitcher and can field any batted balls hit to him/her.  In rookie A, the catcher is to return every pitched ball back to the coach pitching (whereas, in rookie B balls are collected and returned to the coach after every batter has completed their turn at bat).
• There are 10 defensive players on the field, with the extra fielder being a “rover”. The three defensive players stationed in the outfield must remain in the outfield grass until the ball is hit. Two defensive coaches can be stationed in the outfield to help instruct their team’s players but may not touch a live ball.
• Before the game, a coach needs to draw a half-circle that has a 20-foot radius from the centre of home plate extending out into fair territory. All batted balls MUST travel past this half-circle in fair territory to be considered a live ball (hit). If the batted ball settles inside the half-circle, it is considered a foul ball. A batter cannot intentionally bunt.
• There are a maximum of 5 pitches or 3 strikes*. An additional pitch is allowed on a fouled last or subsequent pitch. However, as with regular baseball rules, if a foul tip is caught by the catcher on strike three or the last pitch the batter is out. In rookie B, there are no strikeouts, after 3 strikes or the 5th pitch, the tee will be used to put the ball in play.
• Batter-runner cannot slide into first base but can slide back into any base and can slide (not head-first) into second, third, or home plate.
• Maximum 5 runs per inning.
• Runners must remain in contact with their bases until the ball is hit. There is no stealing in rookie. There is a limit of one base on an overthrow by an infielder in an attempt to retire the batter-runner or another runner.
• The Infield Fly Rule is NOT in effect in rookie.
• The ball is considered “dead” immediately upon an outfielder returning the ball to the infield (from the outfield grass to the infield dirt or gravel) unless a play is being made on a runner (i.e. tag attempt or throw to a base in an attempt to get a runner who is being forced to said base). A runner may advance to the next base only if he/she is adjudged by the umpire to be more than halfway to the succeeding base when the ball is returned to the infield. While advancing or returning to a base, the runner is still in jeopardy of being put out if tagged while not in contact with a base or a defensive player being in contact with a base to which the runner is being forced.
• An attempt to return the ball to the player pitcher that goes errant is not considered a play. If the ball is put back in play, it is considered back in the infield after the throw to the pitcher is started.

NOTE 1: Infield means the ball has crossed over the grass back onto the gravel

NOTE 2: Runner may advance only if he/she is more than halfway to the next base when the ball is returned to the infield. While advancing or returning to the base, the runner moves at the risk of being tagged.

NOTE 3: After the ball enters the infield (NOTE 1), the ball is considered back in play if an attempt is made to tag the runner. An attempt to return the ball to the player pitcher that goes errant is not considered a play. If the ball is put back in play, it is considered back in the infield after the throw to the pitcher is started.