General Information

• Ages: 5-18
• Season: May through July
• Post Season Invitational Tourney for 10U-18U

What does RBI mean to MPRB Baseball:

Just like the Major Leaguers who call Target Field home, each player in the RBI Program is a Minnesota Twin. Since 1993, the Twins Community Fund, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and the Saint Paul Department of Parks and Recreation have partnered to provide Twin Cities youth the opportunity to play baseball and softball. Today, every player on a Minneapolis and St. Paul park team is a member of RBI, the national, competitive league sponsored by Major League Baseball. In addition to games, the nearly 6,000 Twins RBI players can participate in RBI Opening Day at Target Field, attend free skills clinics and the RBI Academy, try out for a Twins RBI All-Stars team, and have the chance to attend Twins games and meet players. 

Resources

• Youth Sports Homepage
• Youth Sports FAQ
• ActiveNet Registration
• Youth Sports Guidelines
  

Weather/Cancellations:

• Weather / Field Condition Cancellations: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff will contact coaches via email at least one hour prior to game time. Coaches are responsible for notifying players. If you have questions, call the host site one hour before game time on weeknights.
• Coaches along with facility staff will be responsible for making weather related decisions during games
• Lightning: Once lightning has been spotted or thunder has been heard, all MPRB athletic activities will be delayed for 30 minutes by the official, staff or coach on site. Games/practices may be re-started after 30 minutes after last lightning strike is seen and/or last rumble of thunder is heard.

6U Tee Ball Playing Rules:

1. Score will not be kept
2. Games will be 55 minutes
3. One inning will consist of both teams batting through lineup. The last batter will be allowed to run the bases until either tagged out or a “force” play is made at home plate. The fielding team must remain on the field until a play is made.

Batting Order Tip: Rotate the batting order every inning

Allowing a different player to lead off every inning is a great way to keep players engaged on offense. Here is a sample rotation: 

Participation/Substitution:

1. Players must play a minimum of two (2) complete innings (six outs) in the field
2. All players must play both infield and outfield positions during the game
3. All players should play every position at some point during the season
4. A player’s turn at bat is completed when he/she hits the ball into fair territory (no batter may strike out). Coaches may help players having difficulty hitting the ball off the tee.
5. Each child runs the bases, even if they make an out
6. If a ball is hit to the outfield, the play will stop once outfielder gets the ball back into the infield. The runner can keep running to the base they were approaching.
7. Coaches act as umpires while their team is on the field
8. Outs may be made but not recorded. Even if a player is out, they should still run the bases.
9. Stealing or leading off the base will not be allowed. Runners may not leave the base until the ball is hit.

Tee Ball Equipment:

• Players should wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather outside
• Players should have their own labeled glove and water bottle
• Bat Specification: The ball is softer than a standard baseball. All bats must be labeled Tee Ball.
• Ball Specification: The standard ball used for this league will be the Diamond Soft Touch baseball

8U Coach Pitch Baseball Playing Rules:

1. Score will not be kept    
2. Games: One inning will consist of each player getting to a turn at bat
3. Game times are 55 minutes
4. Batting Order: The batting order shall include all players in uniform. Late arrivals will be added to the bottom of the order. If for any reason a player needs to leave the game that position in the order will be left blank.
5. Pitcher: Coach Pitch will use a coach-pitcher. The coach-pitcher will pitch to his/her own player from the 35-foot pitching rubber. The pitch may be thrown overhand or underhand, standing or kneeling. Kids will have the opportunity to pitch in the last two games of the season. Kids who choose to pitch will have a maximum of three outs or one inning, whichever comes first.
6. Participation/Substitution: Players must play a minimum of two (2) complete innings (six outs) in the field.
7. Teams should have five players to play. Teams may exchange players.
8. The defensive team may play 10 fielders. The tenth player must be played in the outfield
9. All players present will bat in order whether or not they are currently playing defense
10. The batter will receive up to five pitches, to attempt to hit the ball. If the batter hits the ball they become a base runner. 
11. If the batter doesn’t hit a ball within these five pitches, the batter returns to the bench.
12. All foul balls will be counted as a pitch. A thrown bat will be an automatic out.
13. Bunting, sliding into any base, leading off or stealing bases will not be allowed
14. A runner can advance one base on an overthrow or ball thrown out of play (exception: runner can only advance home on a batted ball)
15. On a batted ball to the outfield, runners may not advance once the ball has been thrown back into the infield (i.e., once the ball crosses over the line between the outfield grass and infield dirt). A runner between bases when the ball is thrown back into the infield may advance to the next base at his own risk.
16. The defensive team is allowed one coach in bounds, on the grass during play
17. Coaches can and should remove unsportsmanlike players from the game
18. During the final two games, kids interested may pitch for up to three outs if coaches decide they are ready

8U Equipment:

• Players should wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather outside
• Players should have their own labeled glove and water bottle
• Metal cleats are not allowed
• Bat Specification:  Max Barrel Size – 2 ¼”, Length – Unlimited (-13 recommended), Stamps of Approval – USSSA mark or 1.15 BPF stamp -13 differential. Bats that are between 26” and 29” depending on the size of the player. Ball Specifications: Incrediball- soft core -  size 3