Rules/Guidelines for the Seventh District KinderClinic Program

The KinderClinic Program is a non-competitive program for children ages 4 and 5 years old. The participants will learn basic skills, fundamentals of the game, and principles of teamwork and good sportsmanship. The "rules" of KinderClinic are quite different from those of baseball.  While KinderClinic is intended to be instructional, this is not its sole purpose.  The program is merely an introduction to baseball.  Skills will be introduced, but not mastered.  Focus should be made on team play, playing fair and good sportsmanship.  “Play is the glue that makes learning stick” and KinderClinic is very much about play and, we hope, fun.  We do not keep score and there are no losers.  Everyone is a winner, and hopefully everyone leaves with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The following are intended to be guidelines. A coach may have to alter these “rules” to suit the team’s individual needs.

1. The dimensions of the KinderClinic field are 30 feet base distances. This would equate about 10 adult paces.

2. Each KinderClinic team will practice one time per week for about an hour.

3. KinderClinic games are also to be held one time per week.

4. The KinderClinic games are to last three “innings”. The entire game should be completed within one hour.

5. Each team member will bat each inning, and each player will play the field. The coaches do the “pitching” and the “catching”. There may be one player on either side of the coach pitching (the child pitcher and the child catcher) that can be used to field the short hits.

6. There are no outs and the score is not kept.

7. Each batter gets on base and then advances one base with each hit. The exception to this occurs when the last batter in the line-up is up. At this time, the coach should announce that this is the last batter, the “home-run” hitter of the inning. With this hit, all the children on bases will run the bases all the way to home plate.

8. Coaches should make an attempt to adjust the line up regularly so that each child gets to hit a “homerun”.

9. For the most part, the season should be started with all players using the tee. Eventually the players can advance to underhand pitches by the coach. Not all players will be ready for this, so the decision to pitch should be made with the players comfort level in mind.

10. In the game situation, underhand pitching remains acceptable, but the batter should be limited to three swings before he or she must hit off the tee.

11. Sliding should be prevented to avoid injury.

12. At the game’s completion, all players should line up to congratulate the opposing team with the traditional handshake.

13. Most importantly, make the practices and games fun for all!