League Procedures

Game Rules and League Procedures

At OHYSA we follow Major League Baseball and DIAMOND Softball Rules, with exceptions as noted in our Oak Hill Blue Book– the book of policies, procedures and rules for Oak Hill baseball and softball.  Some rule exceptions are for safety of the players or to keep games to a reasonable schedule.

OHYSA adheres to a strict Zero Tolerance policy for players, coaches, parents and spectators. For more information about this, and our conflict resolution policy, please visit the Ballpark Safety page of our website.

OHYSA is private property and prohibits weapons of any kind. For detailed information, including legal notices in accordance with state law, please visit the Ballpark Safety page of our website.

OHYSA observes severe weather procedures, stopping all play or practice and vacating fields when thunderstorms or lightning are present or when tornado warnings have been issued. For detailed information about this policy, please visit the Ballpark Safety page.

League Procedures

Rules and policies are strictly enforced

Refund requests for recreational play are mandated by date of withdrawal, and subject to a 100%/50%/0% rule. Withdrawls after registration, but prior to first draft are refunded @ 100%, minus any add-on purchases, 3rd party credit card processing fees or discounts. Withdrawals following draft are refunded at 50%, minus any add-on purchases, 3rd party credit card processing fees or discounts.

Withdrawals after the first active day of play for any games are not eligible for refund, with the exception of season ending injury, or with the prior written approval of the Board President.

Refund requests for Elite or Platinum play are only approved due to injury and will require supporting documentation from a licensed physician and are only approved for the direct player fee paid to the league by the parent. Any additional costs associated with team fees or charges are not the responsibility of OHYSA. Player withdrawal and refund requests should be made by contacting the team coach and division commissioner via email.

Players are assigned a numbered jersey and logo’d baseball cap for each season of play (softball receives caps or visors at the discretion of the commissioners). Each player will need to provide their own pants, belt, socks, and cleats to complete their uniform. Your coach will tell you what colors to get these items in. Each player will need a glove, helmet and bat.

Equipment can be expensive; we recommend Play It Again Sports, or comparable used equipment vendors. Our corporate sponsors Academy Sports + Outdoors and DICK’S Sporting Goods generally have shop days or coupons at the start of each of our season.

Before making new purchases, make sure you are buying what your player needs for their level of play AND what they can use according to equipment restriction. The most current Blue Book has division specific equipment restrictions. This can and does change year to year, so if in doubt, contact your commissioner.

Game cancelations due to weather are made as soon as it is determined if a field is unplayable. Our fields are amazing at draining and being playable after it rains  We very rarely cancel games before 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (for weeknight games) simply because they recover so well, and because we can’t predict the weather perfectly. For Saturday games we evaluate each field very early in the morning.  Cancellation decisions are made on a field by field basis.  We attempt to post rainout info on the Oak Hill website and send out info via email.

League commissioners attempt to plan for makeup slots when creating the game schedule and makeup games are scheduled as soon as possible following a rainout.  This may mean that your team plays a double header on a Saturday or Sunday when only one game was originally scheduled. Makeup games are not typically scheduled in the Fall.

All registered players are drafted onto a team, with the following exceptions: 

  • WeeBall & 6U players do not try-out and there is no draft. The Commissioners assign players to teams based on several factors that ensure a balance across teams. While buddy to buddy player requests are considered, we do not guarantee that they will be met.
  • The children of Head Coach and Priority Assistant are placed on the team their parent coaches (usually two per team).
  • Siblings in the same division are drafted onto the same team unless otherwise requested by the parent.
  • 2nd year returners are automatically placed on the same team (Spring only).
  • Players registering after draft are assigned to teams based on random draw pending availability.  All registration is closed by season mid-point.
  • 18U teams generally apply with a full roster for summer and fall play, however teams can be formed if enough players are interested. Email [email protected] for more information.

Practices begin immediately after each league’s draft. If you have not been contacted by your Head Coach within 1 week of try outs, contact your league Commissioner.

There are strict limits on practices as outlined in our Blue Book – the book of policies, procedures and rules for Oak Hill baseball and softball. Copies of the Blue Book are generally available online, and every coach is familiar with their specific league’s rules.

In the spring, games begin the first weekend in March and play through the end of May.  Games play on weeknights after 5:30PM, Saturdays after 8AM, and occasionally on Sundays after 12PM. WeeBall games play on Saturday mornings. No games will play over Spring Break or Easter Weekend. Practices may be off-site and at locations determined by your coach.  Teams are limited to three team meetings per week (with certain exceptions related to make-up games or double-headers as outlined in the Blue Book). Some teams, including both 14U & 12U baseball and all softball, interlock with other leagues – playing other area teams at locations away from OHYSA fields. There is a Baseball Opening Day and a Softball Opening Day – both in March.  The season ends with end-of-season tournaments in all leagues, and a family themed End of Season Carnival with silent auction, home run derby, bbq cook-off, music and a parents’ softball tournament.

In the fall, the majority of games play on Sundays for eight weeks, beginning after Labor Day. WeeBall games play on Saturday mornings. Some 6U or 8U games may be scheduled in the late afternoon on Saturdays, dependent on total number of teams in those divisions. An end of season tournament, which may consist of pool play, single or double elimination, or some combination of those formats, is scheduled for each division at the conclusion of the regular season games. Teams are limited to two practices a week, held at the complex on a pre-determined weeknight. Access to cage or field during these is at the discretion of the commissioners based on field availability and scheduling. Some teams, including both 14U baseball and all softball, interlock with other leagues – playing other area teams at locations away from OHYSA fields.

Coaches in the league must go through an application process each season and pass an annual background check. Coaching candidates are approved on a seasonal basis. A coach is allowed to be the Head Coach for only one team per season, but can be an assistant coach on another team if approved. Coaching Clinics are provided to our coaches at no charge.

During end of season tournaments your child’s team may play games 2 – 3 consecutive days towards the latter part of the tournament.  Trophies are awarded for the 1st and 2nd place teams in each tournament. WeeBall does not have a tournament. WeeBall, 6U and 8U divisions distribute trophies to all participants.

OHYSA typically fields very competitive All-Star teams when the Spring season ends. Please do not commit your child to All-Star play if your plans prevent them from playing in All-Star tournaments. The season can be very busy for All-Star families, but it can also be very rewarding and enjoyable to share your child’s successes. More information will be supplied by your head coach about the All-Star process during the spring season.

OHYSA is a non-profit organization that relies solely on volunteers to keep the kids on the fields and playing ball.  Parents are encouraged to dedicate as much time and energy as they can, and are rewarded with smiles and thanks from our youth players, volunteer coaches, league commissioners and Board of Directors. During the season, teams are required to help with different tasks and coaches will assign parents or expect volunteers to step up. 

Frequently asked questions

No. Our rules do not allow a participant to deviate from their age group without Board of Directors approval, except in the case of a 6 year old playing up in the Pinto League, which will be allowed with the approval of the Baseball/Softball Commissioner.

Players are assigned a numbered jersey and logo’d baseball cap for each season of play (softball receives caps or visors at the discretion of the commissioners). Each player will need to provide their own pants, belt, socks, and cleats to complete their uniform. Your coach will tell you what colors to get these items in. Each player will need a glove, helmet and bat.

Equipment can be expensive; we recommend Play It Again Sports, or comparable used equipment vendors. Our corporate sponsors Academy Sports + Outdoors and DICK’S Sporting Goods generally have shop days or coupons at the start of each of our season.

Before making new purchases, make sure you are buying what your player needs for their level of play AND what they can use according to equipment restriction. The most current Blue Book has division specific equipment restrictions. This can and does change year to year, so if in doubt, contact your commissioner.

Yes. In order for a participant to be an eligible candidate for the league draft, he/she must 1) be registered 2) have paid the registration fees or have an approved waiver, 3) have attended a try-out session. The only exceptions to the try-out requirement are when the participants return for their 2nd year of eligibility on the team or when the participant will be drafted as a priority draft selection, or for 6U and WeeBall players.
No. All players in WeeBall through 8U will receive a trophy. Players in the other divisions will only trophies if the team finishes first or second in the end of season tournament.

If the following conditions are met: 1) an official request is submitted in writing prior to try-outs. 2) The request is due to problems encountered with the Team Manager or Priority Assistant and is not an attempt to manipulate the draft or team structure. 3) The parents making the request understand that if a player is released from the team, then the player must attend try-outs and is eligible for draft by any other team in the league. The released player cannot be selected as a Priority on another team. Final decision is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Yes, as long as the following conditions are met: 1) an official request is submitted in writing prior to try-outs. 2) The request is due to problems encountered with the Team Manager or Priority Assistant and is not an attempt to manipulate the draft or team structure. 3) No more than one team Manager or Priority Assistant can be specified in the request and only one request per season can be submitted by any one player.
The League Commissioner for your child’s league is responsible for assisting you with any problems you may encounter. However, if your problem is specifically about uniforms, fundraising, umpires, or special events, please feel free to contact the Director of that particular area you are having problems with or the President or Vice President of OHYSA
During the Fall Association meetings, rule proposals are submitted and discussed with the general association membership. These rules are then presented to the Board of Directors for final determination. If you wish to become more involved and have a say in how the program is run then you should become an association member.
Yes, as a parent in this program, we do ask that you assist your team with field maintenance, work days, trash duty, fund-raising activities and attending and supporting special events promoted by OHYSA. The more participation by everyone involved provides for a stronger and more productive program.
Yes, we provide an accident insurance program secondary to your own insurance that becomes primary in case your child is uninsured. If your child is injured during a game or practice, please inform your coach IMMEDIATELY and email your commissioner directly to begin the claim process.
“Priority” draft selections are to be used solely as a method of allowing team managers and priority assistant coaches to draft their own children and to keep siblings on the same team for the benefit of the parents. Under no circumstances will a priority draft selection be allowed as a “free pick” of any eligible candidate. In order for a team manager to exercise a priority draft selection of a priority assistant coach’s child, that team manager must present a priority assistant approval form to the league commissioner for that league, prior to the league draft. The priority assistant must sign the form and abide by the requirements set forth on the form to be eligible for a priority draft selection. No team may have more than 2 “priority ” draft selections on the team roster during a given season (excluding sibling type priorities). A player taken as a priority draft selection shall remain a priority draft selection on that team for the duration of the 2 years of eligibility in that particular league. The only exception would be if that player quits during their second year of eligibility. A team manager must exercise a “priority” draft selection of his/her children and the child of his/her Priority Assistant Coach and/or the brothers/sisters of a player already a member of the team. A team manager is not required to select a priority assistant coach, however, if one is selected then they must be declared at the player draft. A priority draft selection of the team manager’s children or the children of the priority assistant, shall begin in round 2 of the draft whereas the selection of brother/sisters (siblings) type priorities shall begin in round 5 of the draft.