Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2015
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly and an appropriate hat.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The teacher/instructor must have appropriate expertise and/or training in the teaching/coaching of baseball.
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Supervision
If an adult other than a teacher is engaged as a coach, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Equipment
For training and competition games, students should wear baseball attire or clothing consisting of top, long sleeved undershirt (optional) and long pants (track suit pants). For inter-school competition games, footwear must conform to the rules of the game.
Equipment must match the size, strength and ability of the students.
All fielders must wear a glove.
Leather balls are used for inter-school competition at the high school level. Rubber balls (or Incrediballs) are suitable for practice for all age groups and game play for primary age groups.
The catcher must wear a chest plate, leg protectors, a helmet with face mask and throat protector and a genital protector.
Genital protectors are recommended for all players.
Two-eared helmets must be worn by all batters and baserunners.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
The ground surface must be free of obstructions and loose objects.
Hydrated lime must not be used to mark out the diamond.
Where possible, back netting should be provided.
Where more than one game is played at a venue at the same time, there must be sufficient space between the games to avoid overlapping of outfielders.
Safety
The umpire standing behind the catcher must wear protective equipment as prescribed for the catcher. If not, the umpire must stand behind the pitcher.
At any time and in any context where the pitcher-catcher situation exists, the catcher must wear a face mask. The catching position is assumed when the player is in the squat position.
At an unfenced venue, spectators should be allocated a viewing area which is at least 10m from either the 1st or 3rd base lines. This will ensure that spectators are clear of the dead ball lines. The area immediately behind the pass ball line must not be used by spectators unless it is appropriately screened.
Spectators at fenced grounds prepared for baseball must remain behind the fence.
The players who are not either on the field, in the batting box, or in the on-deck circle must remain in the team dugouts. If team dugouts are not provided, then players must be positioned at the side of the pass ball line.
The participants must be instructed to drop, not throw, the bat before running. Umpires should remove the dropped bat as soon as possible.
Players preferring to slide into bases should use the ‘figure 4 slide’ technique. First base is the only base that can be overrun on a single hit. Sliding is only necessary to avoid a tag.
If bases are to be pegged, they must be of the type with strapping which is pegged from beneath the base. Bases which require pegs being secured through the centre of the base must not be used.
The risk of injury to pitchers relates to the number of pitches delivered in one session or day and the pitching distance.
The pitching assignment and the pitching distance should be established considering the age, experience and physical development of the player. As a guide, Year 7 players should be restricted to 90, Year 8 100 and Year 9-12 110 pitches.
As a guide, the following playing field dimensions should be used:
Base Paths Pitching distance
| Year group | Base paths | Pitching distance |
|---|---|---|
| 7 and 8 | 24.3m | 16.4m |
| 9 and 10 | 25.9m | 17.4m |
| 11 and 12 | 27.4m | 18.4m |
* for female participants, the pitching distance shall not exceed 16.4m.
Ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.