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Little League Refines Baseball Pitching Rules for 2009
CHANGES/UPDATES TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL®
RULES AND REGULATIONS – 2009
(Last update: October 30, 200 8)
Regulation IV (i) Note 3
What is changed: Text added for clarification.
NOTE 3 : In Minor League, if a half-inning ends because of the imposition of the five-run limit in "Rule 2.00 - Inning," and a player on the defense has played for the entire half-inning, that player will be considered to have participated for three consecutive outs for the purposes of this rule. However, if the player has not played on defense for the entire inning, that player will be credited only as having played for the number of outs that occurred while the player was used defensively.
Regulation VI - PITCHERS
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then be permitted to become a catcher in that day; Provides a second option for required rest; Deleted (e.) and moved that text up so that it applies only to Option 1.
(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. ( NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)
(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Junior, Senior, and Big League Divisions only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age 17-18 105 pitches per day
13-16 95 pitches per day
11-12 85 pitches per day
9-10 75 pitches per day
7-8 50 pitches per day
Exception : Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Prior to the start of the regular season the local league Board of Directors (or leagues involved in interleague play) must choose one of the following pitching rule options to be used by all teams in the league or a specific division during the regular season. NOTE: The local league Board (or leagues involved in interleague play) may select option 1 or option 2 but may not pick parts of option 1 and option 2 to make a local league rule.
Option 1:
(d) Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 - 75 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game (see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 26 - 50 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
NOTE : A player may not pitch in consecutive games. Exception – League Age 16 and under - A player may pitch in consecutive games if 40 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game. League Age 17-18 - A player may pitch in consecutive games if 50 or less pitches were delivered in the previous game.
Option 2:
(d) Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 - 75 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 26 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
(e) DELETED for 2009
(f) Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.
(g) The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
(h) The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.
(i) Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.
(j) A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. (See Regulation V – Selection of Players)
(k) A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (Exception: In the Big League Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games in a day.)
NOTES :
1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately.
2. Pitches delivered in games declared "Regulation Tie Games" or "Suspended Games" shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.
3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required days of rest.
Example 2 : A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required days of rest.
Example 3 : A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous three days (or four days, if the league is using Option 2).
Note : The use of this regulation negates the concept of the "calendar week" with regard to pitching eligibility.
Rule 1.10
What is changed: Reduces the maximum diameter for a bat in the Junior League Baseball division from 2 3/4 inches to 2 5/8 inches. (Maximum diameter for bats in Senior League and Big League remains at 2 5/8 inches.)
1.10 - The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.
Little League (Majors) and below : it shall not be more than thirty-three (33) inches in length nor more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less;
Junior League: it shall not be more than 34 inches in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30") at its smallest part.
Senior/Big League: it shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30") at its smallest part. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-Iong bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All non-wood bats shall meet the BESR performance standard, and such bats shall be labeled with a permanent certification mark.
In all divisions, wood bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches (18 inches for Junior/Senior/Big League baseball) from the small end. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited. An illegal bat must be removed.
NOTE 1: Junior/Senior/Big League: The 2¾ inch in diameter bat is not allowed in any division.
NOTE 2: The traditional batting donut is not permissible
NOTE 3: The bat may carry the mark "Little League Tee Ball."
NOTE 4: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play. The 2¼ inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Tee Ball, Minor League and Little League Baseball divisions. The 2 5/8 inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Junior, Senior and Big League divisions of baseball.
Rule 1.11 (k) Note
What is changed: Clarified to include managers and coaches.
(k) Casts may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Persons wearing casts, including managers and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
Rule 3.02 Penalty
What is changed: Clarified to make it clear that the pitcher could remain in the game after the infraction, but at a different position.
PENALTY : The umpire shall demand the ball and remove the offender from the pitching position. In case the umpire cannot locate the offender, and if the pitcher delivers such discolored or damaged ball to the batter, the pitcher shall be removed from the pitching position at once.
Rule 3.03 Note (1)
What is changed: Added for clarification.
NOTE 1 : A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.
Rule 7.10 (d)
What is changed: Added for clarification.
EXCEPTION: If an otherwise proper appeal is being made by a player who has to go into foul territory to retrieve the ball in order to make an appeal or if the appeal is being made by the catcher (who may never have been in fair territory at all), the appeal will be adjudged to have been properly executed.
-TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES – 2009 (Last update: October 30, 2008)
Teams:
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of players on a Senior League or Big League affidavit. Senior League: Teams and Eligibility Affidavit shall consist of, and must be limited to, a maximum of sixteen (16) players, one (1) manager and a maximum of two (2) coaches. Big League: Tournament teams may be selected from all league teams in a district or may be a regular season unit team. Teams and Eligibility Affidavit shall consist of, and must be limited to, a maximum of seventeen (17) players, one (1) manager and a maximum of two (2) coaches.
Participation In Other Programs:
What is changed: Removes the prohibition on participation in non-Little League programs for all divisions, but still provides the local league with the ability to remove a player who repeatedly misses games or practices. Participation in other programs during the International Tournament is permitted, subject to the provisions of Regulation IV (a) Note 2.
League Eligibility:
What is changed: Clarified to establish that the league must schedule at least one-half of the regular season games to be played not later than June 15; Establishes the last date by which certain forms and/or requests must be submitted. In order for a Little League program to be eligible to enter a team or teams into the International Tournament (including 9-10 Year Old Division and 10-11 Year Old Division) the following must be accomplished as indicated: 1) The league must be chartered in the division(s) for which it wishes to enter a tournament team(s), no later than June 9, 2009. Examples: Chartered in Little League Majors to enter a Major Division team (11-12 year olds); chartered in Senior League to enter a Senior Division team, etc. 2) The league must have scheduled and played, at a minimum, a 12-game (per team) regular season exclusive of playoffs and tournament games for each division entering tournament. See Reg. VII. The schedule shall be arranged so that at least one-half of the games are scheduled prior to June 15. 3) All waivers requests (for the league, team, player, manager, and/or coach) of any kind must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009. 4) All regular season team rosters must be submitted to Little League International in accordance with the requirements outlined in Regulation IV (g), not later than June 9, 2009; 5) Team number revisions and fees incurred by the league must be paid in full by June 9, 2009. 6) All combined team and interleague play requests that may involve tournament play must be submitted and approved not later than June 9, 2009. Failure to meet any of the listed requirements could result in a team or teams being declared ineligible by the Tournament Committee at Little League International.
PITCHING RULES
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, 9-10 YEAR OLD, 10-11 YEAR OLD DIVISION, AND JUNIOR LEAGUE:
What is changed: Increases the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then be allowed to become a catcher in that day; Removes the Senior League pitching rules from this section and places them with the Big League rule. Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed above for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. Note: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
SENIOR LEAGUE AND BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL:
What is changed: Increased the maximum number of pitches a pitcher could deliver, and then become a catcher in that day; Added the Senior League pitching rules to this section.
These rules replace the regular season pitching regulations. Violation of these pitching rules is subject to protest and action by the Tournament Committee in Williamsport if protested before the umpire(s) leave the playing field.
a. Any player on a tournament team may pitch. ( NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a tournament team may use in a game.)
b. A tournament pitcher may not pitch in regular season or Special Games while the team is still participating in the tournament.
c. A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
d. The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age: 16 – 18 (Big League) 105 pitches per day
14 – 16 (Senior League) 95 pitches per day
Exception : If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed above for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. Note: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
e. Pitchers league age 14 and above must adhere to the following requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest, and a game (see f. below), must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36 to 60 pitches in a day, one calendar day of rest, and a game (see f. below), must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1 to 35 pitches in a day, no rest is required.
f. A player may not pitch in consecutive games. Exceptions – A player may pitch in consecutive games if:
1. less than 36 pitches were pitched in the previous game, or,
2. the previous game was at another level, and the pitcher has received the required number of days of rest as noted in (e.) above. (Levels are District, Section, State, Division, Region, and World Series.) Note: A contest decided by forfeit does not constitute a "game" for the purpose of this rule unless one complete inning was physically played before the game was forfeited. (Forfeits are only by decree of the Tournament Committee in Williamsport.)
g. A player may not pitch in more than two games in a day.
h. In a game suspended by darkness, weather, or other causes and resumed the following calendar day, the pitcher of record at the time the game was halted may continue to the extent of his/her eligibility, provided he/she delivered 60 or less pitches, and subject to each of these conditions:
1. If the pitcher delivered 35 or less pitches before the game was suspended, that pitcher’s pitch count will begin at zero for the continuation portion of the game;
2. If the pitcher delivered between 36 and 60 pitches before the game was suspended, that pitcher’s pitch count will begin with the number of pitches delivered in that game;
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New Regulation on 12-Year-Olds Goes Into Effect
One of the agenda items voted on by District Administrators at the 24th Little League International Congress in Houston earlier this year, was a regulation requiring that all league age 12-year-olds must be placed onto a Major Division team.
The measure was enacted, with 68 percent of District Administrators (delegates) voting to approve it.
The new Regulation V. 1. reads:
“The selection of players for the various teams within a league shall be in compliance with the Little League Draft Selection System as detailed in the Operating Manual. NOTE: All candidates who are league age twelve (12) must be drafted to a Little League Major Division team, or to a Junior League team. Exceptions can only be made with written approval from the District Administrator, and only if approved at the local league level by the Board of Directors and the parent of the candidate.”
The purpose of the new regulation is to ensure that local leagues are using the Minor Division as a training ground, and not keeping capable 12-year-olds from “moving up.” For those 12-year-olds who may lack the skills to play at the Major Division level, there is a process for allowing them to play in the Minor Division, provided certain conditions are met. (However, the prohibition on 12-year-olds pitching in the Minor Division remains.)
Recently, questions have been asked about putting this new regulation into effect. We have listed the answers below.
Question 1: If a league age 12-year-old does not tryout as required, is the league still required to place him/her within the Majors Division?
Answer: If a player/candidate does not attend 50 percent of the tryouts, the local league board of directors has two choices:
1. Accept the player’s excuse for missing the tryout(s) and make the player eligible for selection to a Major Division team, or,
2. Decline the excuse and the candidate would not be eligible for participation in any division within the league for that entire season. Little League would encourage leagues to be lenient in accepting 12-year-olds’ excuses in an attempt to provide as many opportunities as possible.
Question 2: Based on the response above, how do local leagues deal with late registrants who are league age 12?
Answer: A late registrant would be assigned to a Major Division team if the local league board of directors chooses to accommodate him/her. If this results in an unequal number of players on the Major Division rosters, the league can follow procedures for requesting a waiver from the Charter Committee to allow it. However, if the league and parents determine that the player’s skill level would dictate that he/she should be assigned to the Minor Division, they would go through the process of obtaining a waiver from the District Administrator as noted in the regulation.
Question 3: Who will review requests for 12-year-olds to be retained in the Minor Division?
Answer: The parent(s) or legal guardian (as assigned by a court of jurisdiction) of the player in question, in conjunction with the local league board of directors, must submit a request to the District Administrator for final approval. As noted in the new regulation, final authority on requests of this nature rests with the District Administrator.
Question 4: Will there be a form for the parents to complete and submit to leagues and District Administrators if they are requesting that their child not be placed in the Majors Division, so that this process can be expedited?
Answer: Yes. The form is now available in PDF format at http://www.littleleague.org/media/12yrold_waiver.pdf. This simple form allows the league and District Administrator to maintain records of these approvals.
Question 5: Is there any recourse if a league age 12-year-old is drafted, practices, and even participates in Major Division games – and then the player, parents, and/or league realize the player is not capable of playing in that division?
Answer: Little League encourages local leagues to conduct a thorough assessment of each player at tryouts to avoid this situation. In cases where a player’s assessment causes concern about participation in the Major Division, league officials should review the assessment with the parents to identify what is in the best interest of the child. However, when situations above arise, these matters should be forwarded to the District Administrator for a final decision.
Question 6: If the player is drafted onto a Major Division team, what if the parent’s assessment and the manager’s assessment of a player differ?
Answer: If the parent’s assessment is that the player should be moved to the Minor Division, but the manager believes the player should remain in the Major Division, the local league board of directors has two choices:
1. Support the parent’s assessment and forward the request to the District Administrator for final approval.
2. Support the manager’s assessment and inform the parents that the player will remain on the Major Division roster. (The parent may then choose to allow the player to continue in the Major Division, or remove the child from the league.)
If the manager of the Major Division team believes that the player should be moved to the Minor Division, the local league board of directors needs to review the assessment with the parents. If the parents do not support the assessment, the player must remain in the Major Division.
Question 7: Is the limit of eight league age 12-year-olds per team going to increase?
Answer: Not at this time. The intent of this rule change is NOT to create a Major Division that is essentially made of all league age 12-year-olds. Little League International conducted a survey of all District Administrators via e-mail to see if this limit should be eliminated. The result showed that 60 percent of DAs were in favor of it. But because the number falls short of the two-thirds required to make a change at the International Congress, the limit will remain and Little League will monitor the rule for adjustments in 2009 and beyond. (As with any rule or regulation, the local league board of directors may request a waiver using the method described in the rulebooks under “Charter Committee/Waivers of Rules and Regulations.)
Question 8: Is the 10-team limit in the Major Division going to remain for 2008?
Answer: Yes. However, if a local league has more than 10 Major Division teams, it does not automatically mean the league must split, or to field two tournament teams in that division. The 10-team limit will be considered, along with population, player enrollment in all divisions, competing programs and other factors to determine when or if a league must split into two leagues or divisions. With almost all 12-year-olds playing in the Major Division, the Charter Committee will have a more accurate gauge of the size and scope of the league through team registration.
Question 9: Could a local league only accept those 12-year-olds it believes are capable of playing in the Major Division, and “cut” the rest to avoid processing these waivers?
Answer: Absolutely not. That would be completely contrary to the policies and goals of Little League. Any child who is eligible by age and residence to play in the league should be given that opportunity, without regard to playing ability. A league in which children are completely turned away because of playing ability is doing a disservice to those children, their families, and their community.
Question 10: Could a District Administrator have a policy to refuse to sign any waivers allowing a 12-year-old to play in the Minors?
Answer: No. The District Administrator must take each case on its own merits and make what he/she believes to be a fair judgment each and every time.
Question 11: Could our league create two divisions within the Major Division (in effect a “Major A” and a “Major B” division), and place the lesser-skilled 12-year-olds in the “Major B” division?
Answer: No. There can be only one group of teams classified as “Majors” in any chartered local Little League, and all league age 12-year-olds must be placed into that division, subject to the provisions of this new regulation. (All teams within the Major Division of a local Little League must play a common schedule in which each team plays all other teams in that division.)
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