New Player / Family Information
Fall Ball 2016
Welcome to Novato Babe Ruth!
For over 50 years, NBR has provided a safe, competitive, and fun program for our local teens with the mission
of developing lifelong habits of success for our players.
About Fall Ball
The fall season (also known as Fall Ball) is the time of year when we focus on skill development, mechanics and
team comradery. A bit more relaxed and developmental in nature that Spring Ball, Fall Ball is an excellent way for
new Babe Ruth players to segue from Little League to a regulation playing field, and it’s equally useful for older
players who want to continue honing and maintaining their skills in the “off season”.
Fall Ball 2016 will run from the week of September 11th through the Championship Game on Saturday, November
5th. Complete practice and game schedules will be announced on or around September 12th, and the first practices
will take place that same day.
Where to get information
There are five main sources of information for players and their families:
1. Our website - www.novatobaberuth.org - is the most comprehensive and accessible source of league
information.
2. Email - We send out email messages to our database whenever league-level information or updates need
to be shared. The email messages will come from [email protected]; please add this
address to your Safe Sender list to ensure delivery. If you have not yet received email communications
from NBR, please send an email to the address above with a request to be added to our database.
3. Our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/NovatoBabeRuth/ - is a good source for league news,
updates and key information.
4. TeamWALL - TeamWall is an app that can be accessed via mobile devices once a season starts, using
the SI Play login credentials that were established when registering a player. It contains team-specific
information such as rosters and game schedules.
5. Team Managers / Team Parents - Team Managers and/or other designated representatives (such as a
Team Mom or Team Dad) will share team-level information such as practice and Snack Shack staffing
reminders during the season.
Volunteerism is key to the success of youth sports
NBR is a completely volunteer-run non-profit organization, and we rely on player’s families, the community and
local businesses to make our mission successful. You will be called upon to help in a number of ways during
baseball season, which may include working in the snack shack, keeping the team or official scorebook,
manning the scoreboard, field prep and closeout, fundraising, etc. Additionally, we are currently in need of
Board Members for the following positions:
 President
 Secretary
 Vice President
 Fundraising Chair
If you are interested in learning more about the open Board positions, or if you have any questions about
Novato Babe Ruth, please contact us at [email protected].
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It’s normal for new players – whether they are moving up from Little League or if they are new to the game – to
be somewhat nervous about playing at the Babe Ruth level. NBR managers, coaches, “veteran” players and
“veteran” parents are all sensitive to the nervousness new players and their parents may be feeling. Fall Ball is
designed to help with the adjustment to Babe Ruth in a relaxed, fun, supportive and instructional setting.
Below is some information that may help with the adjustment to Babe Ruth.
Differences between Little League and Babe Ruth
There are a few notable differences between Little League and Babe Ruth. Most notably, in Babe Ruth…
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Regulation size fields are used – 60’6’’ pitching mounds, 90’ baselines.
Base runners can lead off bases. Pitchers must therefore learn to pitch “from the stretch”.
Balks may be called.
Most players use the larger 2-5/8 barrel bats. Composite barrel bats must be BBCOR certified.
Younger players may still use their 2-1/4 bats from Little League; however, they are not recommended
for use against harder throwing Babe Ruth pitchers. (LL bats must still be BBCOR certified.)
Games are seven innings, not six.
Pitchers can pitch no more than seven innings in a week, and must have two days’ rest if they pitch
more than three innings in a game. Pitch count maximum for a 13-year-old is 75 pitches in a game.
There is no days’ rest requirement based on pitch count, and pitchers may pitch in consecutive games.
During Fall Ball only, NBR local rules provide for:
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Continuous batting order (everyone bats)
Pitchers are limited to two innings per game
Unlimited substitutions
For more information, please see the FAQ Page on our website, speak with your Team Manager, or reach out
to the NBR Board at [email protected].
Again, welcome to Novato Babe Ruth!