Cooperstown Dreams Park- COACH'S CORNER

Cooperstown Dreams Park

Coach's Corner

Coach: Please refer to this page to help organize your teams play at Cooperstown Dreams Park. Please check this page periodically for updated information.

The 2008 COACH KIT is now available (2/20/08)

To help you or your parents obtain room accommodations please visit our LINKS page or FAMILY GUIDE page.

If you have questions please feel free to contact us at 704-630-0050.

Directory

Click below to obtain information that is available to
help you in your stay at Cooperstown Dreams Park.

Daily Itinerary

Dreams Park Map

Official Tournament Rules

Pin Trading Information

Registration Page

Rules of Dreams Park

Skills Competition Rules

Tournament Services

Tournament Weekly Itinerary

Cooperstown Pins

2008 SKILLS COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Skills Competition will be held immediately following the Cooperstown Dreams Park Opening Ceremony.

ROADRUNNER
FASTEST TIME WINS

One player from each team is timed running the bases from home to home. EACH MISSED BASE WILL RESULT IN A 5 SECOND PENALTY. (Top qualifiers from preliminary round will participate on Field 3 for the trophy.)

GOLDEN ARM
MOST POINTS WINS

One player from each team gets 3 throws from the centerfield area, approximately 125 feet, to home plate. Each throw will receive a score based upon accuracy and distance. (Top qualifiers from preliminary round will participate on Field 3 for the trophy.)

KING OF SWAT
MOST HOME RUNS WINS

One player from each team gets to face the single-wheel JUGGS pitching machine. Each player gets five swings (ten in the finals). (Top qualifiers from preliminary round will participate on Field 3 for the trophy.) Cooperstown Dreams Park will provide bat for both preliminary and final.

A SPECIAL COOPERSTOWN DREAMS PARK TROPHY WILL BE PRESENTED
TO THE WINNING PARTICIPANT AT THE END OF EACH OF THE ABOVE
INDIVIDUAL CONTESTS.

AROUND THE HORN PLUS
FASTEST TIME WINS

Eight (8) or nine (9) players will compete from each team in this contest (pitcher optional). Each base must be tagged. Teams will compete in alphabetical order. No passing will be allowed. (Players may tag base with glove or any part of the body!)

The PITCHER throws the baseball to the CATCHER. (The team's time begins when the CATCHER tags home plate and releases the baseball.) If the catcher misses home plate, time begins when the baseball is released + a 5 second penalty is assessed.
The CATCHER must throw the ball to the THIRD BASEMAN tagging third base.
The THIRD BASEMAN must throw the ball to the SECOND BASEMAN tagging second base.
The SECOND BASEMAN must throw the ball to the FIRST BASEMAN tagging first base.
The FIRST BASEMAN must throw the ball to the CATCHER tagging home plate.
The CATCHER must throw the ball to the SHORTSTOP tagging second base.
THE SHORTSTOP must throw the ball to the RIGHT FIELDER tagging the outfield spot in right field and throwing the ball to the SECOND BASEMAN tagging second base.
THE SECOND BASEMAN must throw the ball to the CENTER FIELDER who must tag the outfield spot in centerfield and throw the ball to the THIRD BASEMAN tagging third base.
THE THIRD BASEMAN must throw the ball to the LEFT FIELDER who must tag the outfield spot in leftfield and throw the ball to the CATCHER covering home plate. (The team's time ends when the CATCHER tags home plate.)
A five second penalty will be assessed for each umpire-assisted overthrow and each missed base including home plate.

A SPECIAL COOPERSTOWN DREAMS PARK TROPHY WILL BE PRESENTED
TO THE TEAM THAT WINS THE "AROUND THE HORN PLUS" CONTEST.

EACH HEAD COACH
MUST SELECT
ONE DIFFERENT PLAYER
FOR EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AND ANY NINE (9) MEMBERS OF HIS/HER TEAM FOR THE "AROUND THE HORN PLUS" CONTEST.

2008 Official Tournament Rules

Major League Rules with these modifications

click here for a printable copy of the
2008 Official Tournament Rules

10 & UNDER Players may not turn 11 before May 1, 2008
12 & UNDER Players may not turn 13 before May 1, 2008
Teams must have a minimum roster size of 11 players and 2 coaches
SIX inning games ……… 12 run mercy rule after 4 innings
12 & under uses 50 foot pitching distance & 70 foot bases -200 foot fences-8' high
10 & under uses 47 foot pitching distance & 70 foot bases -200 foot fences-8' high
Lead off for all ages
No use of Designated Hitter
No one player in a game can assume more than one offensive position
Extra Hitter - (coach's discretion: 0, 1 or 2) - If using an extra hitter(s), you may use one or two players. The extra hitter(s) MUST hit in the TENTH and ELEVENTH POSITION and CANNOT enter the game defensively to play a position during the entire game. Only one (1) player may occupy each EH position per game. You may remove your EH(s) for the duration of the game at any time, without penalty. You must notify the plate umpire prior to removal. Extra Hitters must be announced prior to the start of the game; no mid-game entry is permitted.

Re-entry rule: Starters may re-enter in the same offensive spot once. Substitutes cannot re-enter the game once they have been removed. Extra Hitter(s) cannot enter the game defensively, except as outlined below.

Exception to the re-entry rule when a player is injured and all legal substitutions have been used. The following is an allowable option:

If using an EH (extra hitter), the EH may enter the game defensively (this is the only time an EH may ever enter the game defensively). The injured player's spot in the batting order will be skipped with no penalty. This change must be announced to the opposing team and to the plate umpire at the time of injury.

Any pitcher can re-enter as pitcher as long as he/she stays in the game. Once removed from the game, the pitcher can re-enter the game defensively, but not as a pitcher
No pitching restrictions (coach's discretion).
Balks will be called following Major League rules. There will be one warning per pitcher per game up until the single elimination tournament begins on Wednesday. The warning will be an immediate dead ball. All balk calls after the warning will be delayed dead balls.
Courtesy runner - A courtesy runner can be used for the CATCHER and PITCHER of RECORD ONLY at any time. This is not a substitution and is optional. Courtesy runners may not be in the current lineup.
Must slide /avoid contact rule. A player must slide or attempt to avoid contact on all close plays (umpire discretion).
Headfirst sliding is permitted only into first, second, or third base. Headfirst sliding IS NOT allowed into home plate.
Teams provide their own bats for game play (no size or weight restrictions) (NO WOODEN BATS).
Coaches have the right, at any time, to call a Director to a field for a rules interpretation (Director Call). This does not include JUDGMENT CALLS made by the umpires. This action is to be taken in lieu of protests. In order to properly handle each Director Call, play must be stopped and the Director must be called BEFORE the next pitch. If the disputed call involves the last play of the game, the protesting team must appeal before the umpires leave the confines of the field.

Ground Rules

Infield/outfield practice is not permitted on Fields 1-22 at any time.
Teams may begin pregame warm-ups 15 minutes prior to game time.
Team equipment or chairs are not permitted outside the dugouts.
All areas within the walls of the fields, aside from the dugouts and spectators areas, are in play. A ball striking any part of the backstop netting and all netting extensions is an immediate dead ball (dead ball rules apply).
ALL Pitchers MUST warm up outside of each field.
In the event an umpire signals a rain delay, each team must remain in its designated dugout until otherwise notified by a Cooperstown Dreams Park Director.
All first and third base coaches are required to wear batting helmets when fielding their position.

Dress Code

NO METAL SPIKES.
NO jewelry-earrings, necklaces, rings, etc.
Players must have jerseys tucked in at all times, pant legs must be worn at the knee.
Blue jersey, blue socks & red jersey, red socks (jersey and sock colors must match). Home Team wears RED, Away Team wears BLUE.
Players must have plain white baseball pants (no pinstripes or striping down the side), and plastic or rubber cleats.
Coaches must wear their CDP coach's navy polo shirt or windbreaker and CDP hat during games.

Coaches and Players Conduct

Sportsmanship code: Promote good sportsmanship both on and off the field and encourage lifelong friendships.
Any player ejected from a game will be suspended from two consecutive games.
Any coach ejected from a game will be removed from Dreams Park premises for the remainder of the tournament and closing ceremonies, and may not return as a spectator or parent.
Coaches, please remind your players to respect the upkeep of the baseball fields and replace all divots and refrain from digging cleats into the infield and outfield grass areas.

Scheduling

Coaches will receive their game schedule during registration.
Pregame: The grass practice field adjacent to the Baseball Village must be used for infield/outfield practice. Batting practice must be held inside the batting cages. All coaches must abide by batting cage/practice field schedules and ensure that all participants wear proper safety equipment.
Game time: Teams must be at their assigned field ready to play fifteen minutes before game time.

Equipment

All teams must supply helmets, practice baseballs, bats, catching gear, pants and safety equipment.
Game balls are provided by Cooperstown Dreams Park. All foul balls must be returned to the umpire.

All meals will be served at scheduled times. Plan your day around the scheduled meal times. Team representatives can be issued and fill out a Late Team Meal Request Form at the Baseball Information Table in the Parents Pavilion. Meals are saved only for teams in a game that finishes past a scheduled meal time. All team members must eat at the same table and clean up their dining area when finished.

(updated 2/11/08)

Shuttle Bus is provided to
Downtown Cooperstown
for coaches, players and
family members

Sunday - Thursday