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2009 NSLL Local Rules
PREAMBLE
The following are the Local Play Rules (“NSLL Rules”) of North Scottsdale Little League, Inc. (“NSLL”) as adopted by the Board of Directors of NSLL (“Board”) as of the date set forth above. These NSLL Rules have been adopted pursuant to the authority set forth in: (a) the Little League Baseball Operating Manual, (b) the Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules and (c) the Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules - Minor League and T-Ball (collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Little League Rules”) and are to be used in conjunction with those Little League Rules as they may be amended from time to time by Little League Baseball Incorporated. To the extent of any conflict between these NSLL Rules and the Little League Rules, the Little League Rules shall control. However, both the NSLL Rules and Little League Rules shall be read to give effect to both if at all possible. The NSLL Rules and the Little League Rules are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Baseball Rules”. All rule and regulations previously adopted by NSLL have been repealed and replaced in entirety by these NSLL Rules.
It should be noted that the structure described in the Little League Rules is as follows:
T-Ball Ages 5, 6, 7 & 8
Minors Ages 9 - 12
Majors Ages 9 - 12
Juniors Ages 13 &14
Seniors Ages 14, 15 &16
Big Leagues Ages 16, 17 & 18
However, pursuant to the authority granted to NSLL in the Little League Rules, the present structure of NSLL is as follows:
T-Ball Ages 5 - 7
Farm League Ages 7* - 8
Pony League Ages 8 - 10**
Minor League Ages 9-11
Major League Ages 10-12
Junior League Age 13 & 14
Senior League Age 14, 15 & 16
Big League Ages 16, 17 & 18
NSLL’s Farm, Pony and Minor Leagues are the equivalent of Little League Baseball’s Minor League. NSLL’s Major League is the equivalent of Little League Baseball’s Major League.
* No seven year old shall be eligible to play Farm unless that player has already completed one season in T-Ball in NSLL or its equivalent in another Little League program. Player may be subject to “an evaluation” to become eligible for play in the Farm Division.
** No eight or Nine year old shall be eligible to play Pony unless that player has already completed at least one season in Farm in NSLL or its equivalent in another Little League program. Ten-year-olds who have not been drafted into Minors or Majors may also participate in Pony.
The election to play in Pony or Farm, as set forth above shall always be subject to safety concerns for the player as determined by the Manager, Division Commissioner, Player Agent and the Board.
RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL LEAGUES
The following rules shall be applicable to all leagues of play within NSLL.
I. MANAGERS & COACHES - CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE
If a Manager or Coach is ejected from a game or intentionally violates any of the Rules, the Umpire shall report same to the appropriate Division Commissioner and/or NSLL President or Vice-President of Baseball Operations. A second ejection will require the Manager or Coach to appear before the Baseball Operations Committee for further review before said Manager or Coach may again appear with his/her team at a practice or game. A second ejection or violation of any of the Rules will result in a one (1) game suspension for the Manager, which shall be carried out at the next scheduled game.
II. ELIGIBLE PLAYER; SUSPENSION
A. A player is not an “eligible” Player if suspended. The Manager may make suspensions for one game. Notice of the suspension shall be made to the Division Commissioner. If the Division Commissioner cannot be contacted, notice shall be given to the Player Agent. Suspensions for greater than one game require the approval of the respective Division Commissioner and notice to the Vice President of Baseball Operations and the Player Agent.
B. A suspension shall not exceed one (1) game without the prior consent of the Division Commissioner and notice to the Vice President of Baseball Operations, the Player Agent, the Player, and his/her parents.
III. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The following shall constitute the sole procedure by which players and their parents should make grievances against Managers and/or Coaches.
1. The starting point in the process should always be direct contact with the Manager or Coach involved. In the event the parent or player for whatever reason feels uncomfortable or is unable to communicate directly with the Manager or Coach, the grievance should be made directly to the Commissioner for the respective age division. All grievances shall be documented. It is strongly recommended that parents or players with grievances complete a grievance form, which will be available at the snack bar during all regular season games. Grievances should be forwarded directly to the Commissioner for their respective age division.
2. In the event grievances are made orally, the Commissioner for the respective age division shall complete the grievance form and maintain a file of all grievances. Copies of all grievances shall be forwarded to the Player Agent immediately. In the event the parent or player is dissatisfied with the decision made by the Commissioner with respect to the grievance, the parent or player may contact the Player Agent. The Player Agent shall be given a copy of the grievance and shall discuss the issue with parent and player, Commissioner and/or Managers and Coaches if necessary. The Player Agent shall also, in his discretion, bring such grievances to the attention of the Vice President of Baseball Operations.
3. The decision by the Player Agent shall be final. Grievances may only be made in accordance with the procedure. All board members shall refer players or parents who wish to make a grievance to the procedures set forth in these rules.
IV. ALL PERSONS ON PREMISES
No person shall:
1. Smoke or consume alcohol on any property where NSLL games are played;
2. Incite by word, sign, sound gesture or movement;
3. Try to distract any player by word, sign, sound, gesture, or movement; or
4. Verbally harass or abuse umpires, players, managers or coaches. If in the opinion of the Umpire-in-Charge/Board member on duty such abuse has occurred, the offending person or team will receive a warning. If such conduct continues or occurs a second time, the Umpire-in-Charge/Board member on duty may eject the offending person(s) from the premises where the game is being played. Upon failure of the offending person(s) to immediately leave the premises where the game is being played, the Umpire-in-Charge may halt, delay or suspend the game.
V. PRE/POST-GAME RESPONSIBILITIES
Both Teams’ Responsibilities:
A. Clean dugout after the game.
B. Provide a new baseball to the Umpire-in-charge before the game.
Additional Home Team Responsibilities:
A. Install bases before the game and remove them after the game. Line baselines.
B. Turn on and off any electrical sources or illumination devices required for the game.
C. Home teams shall remove rocks, paper and trash in and around the respective fields (including the basketball courts) at the conclusion of the last scheduled game of the day.
D. Rake infield after each scheduled game.
E. T-Ball, Farm, Pony, Minor, and Majors shall provide one person per (home) team for snack bar responsibilities – OR – pay $25 per home game to have covered.
F. Major and Minor (Home) teams will provide the official scorekeeper.
G. Each manager and/or coach or their representatives shall participate in the NSLL annual field day (if held). Failure to participate will result in a one game suspension to be determined by the respective league commissioner.
VI. GAME TIME DURATION, COMMENCEMENT, TERMINATION AND SUSPENSION; BASEBALL SESSION LIMITATION
Farm, Pony, Minor and Major Division.
A. No inning shall start after two (2) hours of game duration in the Minor and Major divisions.
Special Rules for Minors: The “early” game shall end no later than 7:45 p.m. and the “late” game shall immediately begin, with no new inning beginning later than 9:30 p.m. If the game is not complete by that time the game score shall revert back to the score at the end of the previous inning. Except for during the tournament, in the event that the game ends in a tie, the game shall be declared a tie and shall not be completed at a later date.
Special Rules for Majors: No inning of a game shall commence after two (2) hours of play unless the game is tied. If the game is tied, it shall be played until there is a winner.
The ensuing “late” game shall then begin immediately without any infield warm-up by either team. The “late” game shall continue until two (2) hours have elapsed or 10:30 p.m., whichever occurs first. In the event at least four (4) innings (or three and one-half (3 1/2) innings if the home team is ahead) of play have been completed, the game shall constitute a complete game and shall count in the standings. In the event at least four (4) innings (or three and one-half (3 1/2) innings if the home team is ahead) of play have not been completed, the game shall be suspended and completed to a total of six (6) innings immediately prior to the next regularly scheduled game between the two teams (or as rescheduled by the appropriate league official). Immediately after completion of the suspended game, the game originally scheduled for that time shall commence and be played subject to the time limitations set forth above
In the event that the two teams are not scheduled for any further regular season games, the suspended game shall be completed on the first available Sunday and shall be rescheduled for that day regardless of pitching concerns or personal scheduling conflicts, and is subject to the sole discretion of the VP of Baseball Operations.
B. Weekday “early” games shall commence at 5:15 p.m. Provided, however, Farm and Pony “early” games played on Field 7 shall commence at 5:00 p.m. and shall end at 7:15 p.m. regardless of whether the inning is complete or not. If the game ends during an inning, the score shall revert back to the end of the previous inning.
C. Weekday “late” games played on artificially illuminated fields shall commence after the end of the early game. Every effort should be made to start this game no later than 8:00 p.m.
D. In Majors, no inning shall begin after 10:00 p.m. An inning starts the moment that the third out is made, completing the preceding inning. In any event, the lights must be out by 10:30 p.m. prevailing time whether an inning is completed or not. If the game is not complete by that time, the game score shall revert back to the score at the end of the previous inning unless the home team is ahead and batting when the time elapses, in which case the game score shall be the score when time expires.
Managers are responsible to see that teams hustle on and off the field so that time does not become a problem.
No team shall conduct more than five (5) Baseball Sessions per week. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Baseball Session” shall mean and include any practice conducted by all or part of the team and any game. No “practice” may last longer than 2 hours.
VII. BATTING HELMETS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT:
A. Batting helmets must be worn by all Players while outside the dugout, at bat, on base or base coaching, and at all times while on offense and outside the dugout.
B. All batting helmets must be snug fitting.
C. All batting helmets must have a face guard for Farm, Pony, Minors and Majors.
VIII. PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS
A. Junior Division:
1) Bases - 80 feet;
2) Pitchers mound - 54 feet; and
3) Outfield fences - 230 feet, or such fences or other permanent barriers as may exist at playing fields utilized by such Division.
B. Senior Division:
1) Bases - 90 feet;
2) Pitchers mound - 60 feet 6 inches, but no less than 60 feet; and
3) Outfield open without limit, or such fences or other permanent barriers as may exist at playing fields utilized by such Division.
C. Tball, Farm, Pony, Minors, Majors:
1) Bases - 60 feet for Majors/Minors, Farm & Pony; 45 feet for T-Ball.
2) Pitcher's Rubber - 46 feet for Major and Minor Divisions; 42 feet for Pony, Farm and T-Ball Divisions; and
3) Outfield fences - 200 feet for Majors and Minors. Cones shall be placed at 150 feet and marked with a chalk line for T-Ball, Farm and Pony Divisions.
IX. DISCIPLINE:
The following playing and participation rules for all levels presume that players and parents comply with the attendance requirements established by Team Managers for both practices and games. Managers of all age levels retain the discretion to modify playing requirements for disciplinary or attendance reasons. Managers and/or Coaches who attempt to abuse this discretion in order to obtain a competitive advantage may be suspended and/or dismissed from their positions.
RULES APPLICABLE TO SPECIFIC LEAGUES WITHIN NSLL
X. T-BALL RULES
Goals and Objectives:
The goal of T-Ball is to have the maximum participation by the maximum number of players in the game of baseball. Enjoyment of the game, a positive experience and learning of fundamental baseball skills by each of the players shall be paramount. While strict enforcement of certain Rules are necessary to preserve the integrity of the baseball experience, these Rules should always be enforced with the foregoing in mind.
Team Members:
Each team shall consist only of those players assigned to the team by NSLL. No player shall be added to a team or removed/traded from a team except by NSLL.
A. Fielding Positions
1. Teams shall consist of the number of players assigned by NSLL. All players may play defensively in the field at one time. The regular baseball defensive positions (pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman) shall be occupied, along with four outfielders (left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder and right fielder), with the remaining players being positioned behind the regular outfield. Outfielders shall be required to position themselves at least 20 feet beyond the bases. (Remaining kids are to be at least 15 feet behind them). For safety reasons, we do not utilize a catcher in Tball.
2. No player shall spend more than one inning on the bench until all other players have sat on the bench for one inning. Similarly, no player shall sit more than two innings on the bench in any one game until all other team members have sat on the bench at least two innings.
3. Players shall not play two consecutive innings in the outfield. (If player “A” is in left field then sits out an inning, they may not be placed in the outfield upon their reinsertion in the lineup.)
4. All Managers shall incorporate A ROTATION SYSTEM THAT PERMITS EVERY PLAYER TO ROTATE THROUGH ALL POSITIONS and which complies with the provisions of paragraphs X. A. 1, 2 & 3 above. Examples of 10, 11, 12 & 13-player rotation schedules and instructions for their use are attached hereto as Exhibit "A". All Managers are encouraged to implement this or a similar rotation system in their lineups. Provided, however, the situations/playing requirements set forth in paragraphs X. E. 1, 2 & 3 above are subject to good faith concerns of the manager for player safety. A manager should not place a player in a position of danger due to lack of physical ability or skill. However, the manager should strive to help each and every player reach a level of physical ability and skill so that they can all play each and every position during the season. In cases where substitutions need to be made due to concerns for player safety, that player should still be given an equal number of opportunities to bat first, second, etc. Additionally, when substituting, the manager should also strive for equality among the rest of the players in getting to substitute for the unsafe player (i.e. do not substitute the same player in for him and do not always substitute your best player or group of players in for him).
B. Game Duration:
No new inning shall begin after one (1) hour of play.
C. Scoring/Standings:
The score of the game shall NOT be kept in a T-Ball game. Additionally, the Managers and Coaches shall down-play winning and losing and emphasize the positive experience of playing baseball in addition to achieving the goals and objectives set forth above. Team standings shall not be kept.
D. Dead Ball:
1. The play is dead once the ball, after being touched by a defensive player, passes through the 15-foot circle around the pitcher's plate. Any base runner, which has not advanced passed one-half way to the next base at the time the ball becomes dead shall return to the prior base. Any doubts shall be resolved in favor of the player returning to the prior base. Additionally, a ball becomes dead for legal cause when the ball travels beyond the boundaries of the playing field (other than the outfield which has no boundary). Usually this occurs on an over throw and in that case a base runner in between bases may advance to the next base.
2. Over Throws: No advancement on overthrows to first base. Any or all other overthrows, the runner can advance (at risk) to the next base. If the runner’s advancement causes another overthrow, the play is dead.
E. Batting:
1. Bunting is not permitted. The batter must take a full swing. Any batted ball, which does not proceed past the 15-foot arc, is a foul ball. At the batting coach’s discretion, any ball, which is hit but only barely rolls beyond the arc, may be called a foul ball and the batter given another chance to hit the ball. There shall be no strikeouts.
2. A batter may choose to bat by either (i) hitting off of a tee or (ii) having a manager or coach for the batting team pitch. If a manager or coach is pitching, the manager or coach throws no more than 3 pitches to the batter. If the last pitch is a foul ball, the pitcher may throw an additional pitch. If after 3 pitches there has not been a ball hit in fair territory, the batter shall use a tee for the remainder of the at bat. There shall be no strikeouts
3. All players in attendance at a game shall bat. The Manager shall establish the batting order prior to each game. The Manager shall rotate the batting order from game to game so as to ensure that each player on the team shall have a substantially equivalent number of times at each position in the order (i.e. first batter, second batter, etc.) throughout the season. The batting order cannot be changed once the game is in progress. (A player arriving late to the game is placed last in the batting order)
4. Each team shall bat through its entire line-up in each inning, irrespective of whether they have made three (3) outs in that inning or not. After three (3) outs the bases shall be cleared.
5. Cones shall be placed in the outfield approximately 150 feet from home plate to delineate the outfield boundary. A ball hit in the air beyond the cones shall be a home run. A ball which is hit but bounces before it roles past the cones is a live ball and all base runners and the batter may continue to advance until the ball becomes a “dead ball”.
F. Practicing:
Due to the nature of baseball games and taking into account the age of players in T-Ball, it is difficult to accomplish much “teaching” of baseball skills during games. Therefore, it is required that, prior to the start of the season, each team practice at least twice a week. During the season, in addition to game days, it is required that each team practice at least once a week. Generally, practices should last approximately one hour.
G. Umpiring the Games:
The Managers and Coaches of each team shall umpire the games in a cooperative fashion to achieve the Goals and Objective set forth above. Generally, two Coaches from the defensive team shall be stationed in between the infield and the outfield to assist and encourage (verbally only) the players playing in the field. Generally, two Coaches from the offensive team shall be positioned on the sidelines (one in each coach’s box along the first and third base lines) and one additional Coach will assist the batter in the batter’s box. The Coach assisting the batter shall determine fair and foul balls (including those that do not travel beyond the batter’s arc). Within this paragraph the terms “Manager” and “Coach” are used synonymously and should be read interchangeably with each other.
H. Team Assignments:
Assignment of players to T-Ball teams shall be completely at random from eligible players registered to play T-Ball with the following exceptions only:
1. A T-Ball team manager’s son/daughter shall be assigned to the manager’s team; and
2. A T-Ball team’s manager may designate one coach (or may be assigned one coach by the T-Ball Commissioner) and that coach’s son/daughter shall be assigned to that coach’s T-Ball team.
No requests to be assigned to any particular team, manager, coach or with any other T-Ball player will be accepted. No trades shall be allowed.
I. Miscellaneous:
The Home Team shall obtain the tee and the bases before the game and remove them after the game.
The Home Team shall supply the game ball for each game.
Players shall remain on the bench when not participating.
XI. FARM LEAGUE RULES
A. The Home Team shall keep score.
The Home Team shall obtain the bases and cones before the game and remove them after the game.
B. A side is retired or half-inning is completed upon the first occurrence of any of the following:
1. Three (3) outs are made; or
2. All Players eligible to bat in the half-inning have had a turn at bat. Under this rule, the play continues until the third out is made or play is stopped by the confinement of runners to bases. In the event that the teams have different numbers of players eligible to bat, the number of batters allowed for each team in each half inning shall be the greater of the two numbers. For example, if Team A has 10 eligible players while Team B has 11 eligible players, the maximum number of batters allowed to either team during any half inning shall be 11 (the larger of 10 and 11). In this case, the first batter for Team A in any half inning may bat twice as the first and the eleventh batter.
3. No new inning shall commence after 1 ½ hours.
C. Live Ball:
TThe play shall become dead when an infielder is in control of the ball in the infield, as determined by the Fielding Manager making the calls in the field. Once the ball is dead, all runners who have not advanced more than half way to the next base shall return to the prior base. All doubts will be resolved in favor of returning the player to the prior base. A batted ball that hits the pitching coach before any defensive player touches it shall be an automatic single and all runners may advance only 1 base. Any offensive player that is hit by a batted ball before it is touched by a defensive player shall be out. A batted ball is live if it rolls past the cones. The play is not dead until an infielder has control of the ball in the infield. If a throw is made after an infielder has control of the ball in the infield, the play is still dead and the runner proceeds at his or her own risk. If an out is made on the throw, then it is an out. If the out is not made, then the runner returns to the prior base. A batted ball that lands past the cones on a fly is a homerun.
The fielding team shall have shall have no more than 2 coaches in the field and shall make the calls in the field (i.e., outs at bases, fair or foul balls, etc.)
D. Batting:
There shall be no bunting in Farm. A batter bunting a ball shall be out. The official batting order will be the complete roster of the team as supplied by the Manager to the official scorekeeper prior to the start of the game. The batting order cannot be changed once the game is in progress. (If a player arrives late, they are placed last in the batting order) The larger number of players present for either team will determine the maximum number of batters either team may bat per inning. If the last batter hits the ball into play, the play shall continue till the ball is dead, as determined by these rules. A manager or coach for the batting team shall pitch, and shall call balls and strikes. If a batter is hit by a pitch or if catcher’s interference occurs, the batter does not proceed to first base. They continue their at bat.
E. Substitutions:
1. Teams shall consist of the number of players assigned by NSLL. TEN (10) PLAYERS SHALL PLAY DEFENSIVELY IN THE FIELD AT ONE TIME. The regular baseball defensive positions (pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman) shall be occupied with the addition of a fourth outfielder so that the outfield positions are: left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder and right fielder. Outfielders shall be required to position themselves at least 20 feet beyond the bases.
2. No player shall spend more than one inning on the bench until all players have sat on the bench for one inning. Similarly, no player shall spend more than two innings on the bench until all other players have sat on the bench for at least two innings.
3. ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY IN THE INFIELD AT LEAST ONE INNING PER GAME (for the purposes of this rule, the "infield" consists of pitcher, first base, second base, short stop and third base).
4. NO PLAYER SHALL PLAY THE SAME INFIELD POSITION ON TWO CONSECUTIVE OCCASIONS IN THE SAME GAME. The intent of this rule is to allow all players to play all different infield positions an equal number of times during the season.
5. The situations/playing requirements set forth in paragraphs XI. E. 1, 2 & 3 above are subject to good faith concerns of the manager for player safety. A manager should not place a player in a position of danger due to lack of physical ability or skill. However, the manager should strive to help each and every player reach a level of physical ability and skill so that they can all play each and every position during the season. In cases where substitutions need to be made due to concerns for player safety, that player should still be given an equal number of opportunities to bat first, second, etc. Additionally, when substituting, the manager should also strive for equality among the rest of the players in getting to substitute for the unsafe player (i.e. do not substitute the same player in for him and do not always substitute your best player or group of players in for him).
F. Strike-Outs:
For the first two weeks of the season, a player shall be given one warning on a called third strike. After the warning, the player shall be out on the next called third strike or ball that is swung on and missed. After the first two weeks of the season, the three-strike rule will be enforced.
G. Scores/Standings:
1. Scores of Farm games may be kept, however there are no standings maintained throughout the season.
2. Notwithstanding the introduction of keeping score, the emphasis in Farm remains instructional, and all players shall be provided an opportunity to play all positions during the season.
3. These objectives shall be monitored during the season by the Farm Commissioner. If at any time during the season the Commissioner determines that Managers are not complying with the spirit of this rule, such non-compliance shall be brought to the attention of the Vice-President of Baseball Operations. In such case, the Baseball Operations Committee shall determine the appropriate action to take. Such action may include suspension or termination of the offending Manager or institution of a mandatory rotation/substitution procedure as contained in T-Ball Rule X. A. 4.
H. Practices:
All Team Managers will be required to hold a minimum of two practices per week until the first game and a minimum of one practice per week following the first game. Practices should generally not last longer than 1 ½ hours.
I. Team Assignments:
Assignment of players to Farm teams shall be completely at random from eligible players registered to play Farm with the following exceptions only:
1. A Farm team manager’s son/daughter shall be assigned to the manager’s team; and
2. A Farm team’s manager may designate one coach (or may be assigned one coach by the Farm Commissioner) and that coach’s son/daughter shall be assigned to that coach’s Farm team.
No requests to be assigned to any particular team, manager, coach or with any other Farm player will be accepted. No trades shall be allowed.
XII. PONY LEAGUE RULES
A. The Home Team shall provide the official score book to the official scorekeeper. The Home Team must provide the official scorekeeper.
Each team shall provide a lineup to the official scorekeeper and opposing Manager.
The Home Team shall obtain the bases and cones before the game and remove them after the game.
B. A side is retired or half-inning is completed upon the first occurrence of any of the following:
1. Three (3) outs are made; or
2. All Players eligible to bat in the half-inning have had a turn at bat. Under this rule, the play continues until the third out is made or play is stopped by the confinement of runners to bases. In the event that the teams have different numbers of players eligible to bat, the number of batters allowed for each team in each half inning shall be the greater of the two numbers. For example, if Team A has 10 eligible players while Team B has 11 eligible players, the maximum number of batters allowed to either team during any half inning shall be 11 (the larger of 10 and 11). In this case, the first batter for Team A in any half inning may bat twice as the first and the eleventh batter.
C. Live Ball:
The play shall become dead when an infielder is in control of the ball in the infield as determined by the Fielding Manager. Once the ball is dead, all runners who have not advanced more than half way to the next base shall return to the prior base. All doubts will be resolved in favor of returning the player to the prior base. Any offensive player that is hit by a batted ball before it is touched by a defensive player shall be out. A batted ball is live if it rolls past the cones. The play is not dead until an infielder has control of the ball in the infield. A batted ball that lands past the cones on a fly is a homerun.
The fielding team shall have no more than 2 coaches in the field and shall make the calls in the field (i.e. outs at bases, fair or foul balls, etc.)
D. Batting:
THE following pitching rules shall apply: Team players shall pitch to opposing batters until a count of four balls is reached, or the batter is hit by a pitched ball. Once either occurs the manager/coach of the batting team shall complete the remaining pitches to that batter. The number of strikes to the batter shall carry forward at the time the manager /coach begins pitching to that batter. The maximum number of pitches the manager /coach shall pitch to each batter is three (3) UNLESS the third pitch results in a foul ball in which case the manager /coach shall continue to pitch to that batter until such time as the pitch does not result in a foul ball at which time the batter shall be declared out unless he has reached base; OR if the batter is hit by the pitch before he has the opportunity to have the benefit of seeing 3 pitched strikes OR if the pitch is behind the batter or directly at the batter or otherwise totally unhittable because of its location in the judgment of the coach who is pitching.. No player may pitch more than two (2) consecutive innings and a pitcher once removed from the game as a pitcher may not return as a pitcher in that game. A pitcher may not pitch in two consecutive games. THE SPIRIT OF THIS RULE IS TO GIVE THE BATTER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE/HIT A MINIMUM OF 3 STRIKES AND NOT TO ENCOURAGE SWINGING AT BAD PITCHES.
A pitching manager or coach shall not participate in the fielding of any live balls and shall endeavor to stay out of any such plays. In the event a live ball hits such manager or coach, the play shall immediately be dead, the batter shall be awarded first base and all other base runners shall advance one base.
There shall be no bunting in Pony. A batter bunting a ball shall be out. The official batting order will be complete roster of the team as supplied by the Manager to the official scorekeeper prior to the start of the game. The batting order cannot be changed once the game is in progress. (a player who arrives late shall be placed at the end of the batting order) The larger number of players present for either team will determine the maximum number of batters either team may bat per inning. If the last batter hits the ball into play, the play shall continue till the ball is dead, as determined by these rules. A manager or coach pitching for the batting team shall call balls and strikes. If a batter is hit by a pitch or catcher’s interference occurs the batter does not proceed to first base. The batter continues the at bat. If however, a batter is hit more than once at the same at bat with a second hit by pitch, the batter assumes first base.
E. Substitutions:
1. Teams shall consist of the number of players assigned by NSLL. Ten (10) players shall play defensively in the field at one time. The regular baseball defensive positions (pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman) shall be occupied with the addition of a fourth outfielder so that the outfield positions are: left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder and right fielder. Outfielders shall be required to position themselves at least 20 feet beyond the bases.
2. No player shall spend more than one inning on the bench until all players have sat on the bench for one inning. Similarly, no player shall spend more than two innings on the bench until all other players have sat on the bench for at least two innings.
3. ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY IN THE INFIELD AT LEAST ONE INNING PER GAME (FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS RULE, THE INFIELD CONSIST OF FIRST BASE, SECOND BASE SHORTSTOP, THIRD BASE AND PITCHER.
4. WHEN PLAYING THE INFIELD, NO PLAYER SHALL PLAY THE SAME INFIELD POSITION ON TWO CONSECUTIVE OCCASIONS IN THE SAME GAME, EXCEPT PITCHER. The intent of this rule is to allow all players to play all different infield positions an equal number of times during the season. An opposing Manager who recognizes non-compliance with this rule shall first discuss this with the opposing Manager and if the problem persists, report this situation to the League Commissioner.
5. The situations/playing requirements set forth in paragraphs XII. E. 1, 2 & 3 above are subject to good faith concerns of the manager for player safety. A manager should not place a player in a position of danger due to lack of physical ability or skill. However, the manager should strive to help each and every player reach a level of physical ability and skill so that they can all play each and every position during the season. In cases where substitutions need to be made due to concerns for player safety, that player should still be given an equal number of opportunities to bat first, second, etc. Additionally, when substituting, the manager should also strive for equality among the rest of the players in getting to substitute for the unsafe player (i.e. do not substitute the same player in for him and do not always substitute your best player or group of players in for him).
F. Scores/Standings:
1. Scores of Pony games shall be maintained throughout the season. League Standings ARE NOT to be maintained.
2. Notwithstanding the keeping of scores, the emphasis in Pony remains instructional, and all players shall be provided an opportunity to play all positions during the season.
3. These objectives shall be monitored during the season by the Pony Commissioner. If at any time during the season the Commissioner determines that Managers are not complying with the spirit of this rule, such non-compliance shall be brought to the attention of the Vice-President of Baseball Operations. In such case, the Baseball Operations Committee shall determine the appropriate action to take. Such action may include suspension or termination of the offending Manager or institution of a mandatory rotation/substitution procedure as contained in T-Ball Rule X. A. 4.
G. Practices:
All Team Managers will be required to hold a minimum of two practices per week until the first game and a minimum of one practice per week following the first game. Practices may not last longer than 2 hours.
H.. Team Assignments:
Assignment of players to Pony teams shall be completely at random from eligible players registered to play Pony with the following exceptions only:
1. A Pony team manager’s son/daughter shall be assigned to the manager’s team; and
2. A Pony team’s manager may designate one coach (or may be assigned one coach by the Pony Commissioner) and that coach’s son/daughter shall be assigned to that coach’s Pony team.
No requests to be assigned to any particular team, manager, coach or with any other Pony player will be accepted. No trades shall be allowed.
XIII. MINOR AND MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
I. Batting and Substitutions:
NSLL Minor and Major leagues shall follow the Little League rules in their entirety, with the exception that the following batting and substitution rules shall apply to the Minor leagues:
A. Every Minor league player shall play no less than every other defensive inning.
B. Minor league teams shall bat the entire line up.
C. Managers and Coaches of the Minor level SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PLAYERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY VARIED POSITIONS, INCLUDING PITCHER AND CATCHER.
II. Official Score; Lining Fields:
The Home Team shall obtain the electrical scoring equipment and provide the official electronic scorekeeper. The Home Team must also provide the official scorekeeper and pitch count monitor. Please return the official scorebook to the Snack Bar. There is no 10-run rule or run initiated forfeits in the Major division. The approved Little League 10-run rule shall be in effect in the Minor division.
The Home Team scheduled for the first game on Fields 1 and 7 shall be responsible for lining the field and the batter's box, installing the bases and raking the field upon completion of the game. Both team managers will verify and sign off in the official scorebook and pitch count log at the end of each game.
The Majors teams shall have priority of use for the large batting cage behind right field and the smaller portion of the batting cage between Field 1 and 7. .Minors teams shall have priority for the larger portion of the batting cage between Field 1 and 7.
III. Lineups:
Each team shall provide a lineup to the official scorekeeper, opposing Manager, and Umpire-in-Charge prior to the game.
IV. Move-Ups from Minor to Major
Major League teams shall carry at least 12 active players on their roster throughout the season. During the Major League draft, all eligible 12 year olds shall be drafted to Major League teams until the maximum number (as dictated by Little League) per team is reached. The only exception to this practice is if there is a legitimate 12 y/o safety concern verified by the Player Agent at the time of the draft.
The determination of whether a roster opening has occurred is made by a committee comprised of the VP of Operations, the Majors Commissioner and the Player Agent. Reasons for a roster opening may include, but are not limited to, injury or excessive absence of a player (missing more than 1/3 of a team’s total scheduled games)
During the season, when a roster opening occurs on a Major League team that opening shall be filled as follows:
• The manager of the Major League team with the opening shall identify a Minor League player to bring up. The manager shall first select from 12 year olds playing in Minors, (subject to safety concerns). If no 12-year-olds are available, he may then pick from the other Minor League players. Players initially tagged as “minors only” during the draft are ineligible for move-up.
• The manager shall immediately (within 48 hours) notify the Major League Commissioner of the roster opening. The manager must provide his list of players he’d like to move up, and secure said replacement player(s), prior to the completion of one week of games since the loss of the original player. Failure to follow these procedures will result in (i) a one game suspension for the manager, and (ii) the selection of the player to be moved up will be made by the VP of Operations.
• The Major League Commissioner will then determine if the identified player is eligible for move-up and, if so, contact the player’s parents to request the move-up. No more than one player from any Minors team may be moved up.
• All eleven-year players who have gone through tryouts and are in the Minors must accept a move up to Majors if asked within 14 days of the NSLL Opening Day.
• Players may not be moved-up to a Major League team within the last 14 days of the Major League regular season unless approved by the Executive Committee of the NSLL BOD, and based solely on special circumstances. Players who move up to a Major League team prior to the last 14 days of the Major League regular season shall be retained on that team for all subsequent seasons that the player participates in the Major Division.
• Player move-ups must be completed prior to the completion of one week of games without the lost player.
• A Minors team that loses a player to a call-up is not required to call up a player from Pony unless the Minors team has fewer than 11 players on its roster after the call-up.
• A Minors team that loses a player (as determined by the VP of Operations, Player Agent and Minors Commissioner) for reasons other than a call-up has 2 weeks to call up a player from Pony. Players may not be moved-up to a Minor League team within the last 14 days of the Minor League regular season unless approved by the Executive Committee of the NSLL BOD, and based solely on special circumstances.
• Absent special circumstances, as determined by the Executive Committee of the NSLL BOD, a player who registers for Minors or Majors after tryouts and after the draft is placed on a waiting list behind other eligible players.
V. Practices:
Prior to the first scheduled game, Minor Managers shall be expected to have three practices per week. Following the first scheduled game, Minor Managers shall be expected to have three baseball sessions per week. (Games are included as "sessions") Prior to the first scheduled game, Major Managers are expected to have four practices per week. Following the first scheduled game, Major Managers shall be expected to have four baseball sessions per week. (Games are included as "sessions") No practice may exceed 2 hours. No team may participate in more than 5 baseball sessions per week.
Pitching:
NEW PITCHING RULES HAVE BEEN MANDATED BY LITTLE LEAGUE
At this time, all prior rules are overwritten with the following:
League Age Pitches allowed per day
17-18 105
13-16 95
11-12 85
9-10 75
The rest periods required during the 2009 regular season are listed below.
Pitchers league ages 7 through 16 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 must be observed.
If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest, and a game must be observed.
If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no calendar day of rest is required before pitching again
• A provision has been added that prohibits a player who has thrown 41 or more pitches in a game from playing the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
• Pitchers league age 16 and under who deliver 41 or more pitches in a game must also have a game of rest, in addition to the number of days rest prescribed. This enhancement is designed to help ensure that teams develop more pitchers, and to help ensure that scheduling anomalies do not result in undue advantages for some teams.
• The “automatic” intentional walk was removed. If a pitcher wishes to intentionally walk a batter, he/she must do so by pitching four pitches intentionally outside the strike zone that are not struck at by the batter, and are called “balls” by the umpire. All such pitches will count in determining that pitcher’s pitch count.
Slide Rule
VI. Major All-Stars:
A. All Star Selection Committee:
An All Star Selection Committee shall be comprised of the VP Baseball Operations, Player Agent and Major Commissioner. In the event any of these individuals has a conflict of interest, a member of the Baseball Operations Committee selected by the Operations Committee will replace that individual.
The All Star Selection Committee will select the All Star Manager. The All Star Manager shall be a Major Manager. The All Star Selection Committee shall receive (confidentially) input from other Major Managers concerning their evaluation of All Star Manager candidates.
The All Star Manager shall nominate two All Star coaches selected from a pool of other Major Managers and Coaches. The All Star Selection Committee shall approve these coaches. Major “managers” will be given priority over Major “coaches” when considering candidates.
B. All Star Team Selection:
All Major League players, Managers and Coaches shall vote for the number of players designated by the All-Star committee (up to, but not to exceed the number of players on the All-Star team). For 2009, the All-Star team will be comprised of 13 players. Votes of players, Managers and Coaches shall be of equal weight. All Star candidates will be listed on the All Star ballot alphabetically. The top nine candidates selected by this vote shall be members of the All Star team. The All Star Committee and the President shall count the votes. The remaining four team members shall be nominated by the All Star Manager and Coaches whose names shall then be submitted to the All Star Committee. The All Star Committee shall review the nominees and either approve or reject said nominees. The All Star Selection Committee shall be particularly sensitive to any nominees who are relatives of any potential manager/coach candidates. A nominee shall not be approved by the All Star Selection Committee simply because he has a relative who is being considered for either a Manager or a Coaching position. Similarly, the purpose of the All Star Selection Committee is not to substitute its judgment for the judgment of the All Star Manager and Coaches but rather to protect all players from any potential unfair practice in the selection process. All team members are subject to approval by the All-Star committee and then appointment by the President of NSLL.
C. Notice by Players/Candidates:
The All-Star committee shall establish a definitive date for all potential candidates to submit their name for consideration. Upon commencement of All-Star voting any player who has not submitted their name for consideration as an All Star player, shall not be eligible for consideration, shall not be placed on the ballot, and shall not be subject to selection.
All eligible players will be required to submit a form designating “yes” or “no” as to their intent of being considered for the All-Star team.
D. President Appointment:
The NSLL President shall, in accordance with Little League Rules, appoint the All Star Manager, Coaches and players.
XVI. JUNIOR AND SENIOR LEAGUE RULES
A. Official Score:
The Home Team shall provide the official score book to the official scorekeeper. The Home Team must provide the official scorekeeper.
B. Lineup:
Each team shall provide a lineup to the official scorekeeper, opposing Manager, and Umpire-in-Charge prior to the game.
C. All Star Committee:
The committee shall be comprised of the Inter-League Commissioner, Player Agent and
VP of Baseball Operations.
D. All Stars Manager and Coaches:
The All Star Selection Committee will select the All Star Manager. The selected Manager shall recommend 2 All Star Coaches to the committee.. The Committee shall vote on such nominations and make recommendations to the President.
E. It is the responsibility of all Inter-League Regular Season Managers to identify prior to the end of the regular season potential All Star players and bring them to the attention of the named All Star Manager.
The selection of the players on any Interleague Division All-Star teams will be made by the All-Star Manager, his coaches, the All-Star committee, and then appointed by the President of NSLL.
XV. SNACK BAR PARTICIPATION
The following rules shall apply to all games held at Cocopah Middle School at all levels of play:
• The home team for each game shall supply one adult (18 years old or over) to work in the Snack Bar during the game.
• OR – a team may pay $25 per home game in advance and the league will pay to staff your allotted time.
• If a team fails to provide such adult to work the Snack Bar, the Snack Bar Manager shall notify the home manager of same. The home team manager shall in turn notify the Umpire of same and the game shall not be allowed to start or continue until an adult from that team works in the Snack Bar during the remainder of the game.
• If the game continues even after the home team manager is notified, such manager shall be suspended for the following game.
• Team parents for all home games will be assigned Snack Bar duty.
• If the team parent is unable to fulfill their snack bar obligation,, they must contact the Snack Bar Manager at least 72 hours in advance and pay a fee of $25. The Snack Bar Manager will then provide a paid worker. A team may choose to “pre-pay” for an entire season – please contact the snack bar for details.
EXHIBIT “A”
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYER
ROTATION SCHEDULES
1. Use the schedule for the number of players corresponding to your team. The attached schedules are set up for either T-Ball (3 inning games) or Pony and Farm (4-6 inning games) and for differing numbers of players as indicated.
2. Once you have assigned a player to a position on the schedule (i.e. Player A, Player B, etc.) this should not change throughout the season. In other words, Jimmy A. should be Player A throughout the season; Billy is Player B throughout the season, etc. This ensures equal rotation to each defensive position and to each spot in the batting lineup. In this regard, however, it would be wise to intermix more skilled players with less skilled players so that in some games you are not caught with overall weakness or strength in either the infield or the outfield.
3. The numbers in each inning column correspond to the positions on the attached field diagram.
4. The player assigned to position 1 in the first inning will be the first batter and so on down the line with the last batters being the substitutes. This batting lineup should not change throughout the game. However, the batting rotation should otherwise proceed as in a normal game [i.e. if Player G playing in position 9 in the first inning (and, therefore, batting 9th in the first inning) makes the last out in that inning, then Player H will be the first batter in the next inning].
5. If a game lasts only four innings (or two innings in T-Ball) due to time limitation but you have worked out your schedule for five innings (or three innings in T-Ball), just use your fifth inning as the first inning for the next game and continue with the rotation for the next game, and so on.
6. If a player is absent from a game or arrives after the start of the game, the first player on the schedule who is on the bench (bench/sub) is the player you insert into the missing player's position in the field (not in his batting position, which will just remain unoccupied for as long as he is absent) for that inning. Each subsequent inning that the player is absent a new player will be substituted for him in the manner set forth in the previous sentence. If the missing player shows up sometime during the game, he will take up his pre-assigned position in the game per the schedule (although you do not put him in the game if your team has already taken the field). You do not interchange him with the player who had previously substituted for him. If this means that this late arriving player misses an inning of play in the field and has to sit out one or more innings later in the game (as a normal part of the schedule rotation), then so be it. If the player who substituted in gets the windfall of getting to play when it should have been his turn to sit on the bench, then so be it. Players who are on time and attend games sometimes experience windfalls in terms of extra playing time.
The next inning, since positions change due to the rotation, a different player will become the bench/sub that is inserted for the absent player.
7. If more than one player is late for or misses a game, the same rule applies as is outlined in 6 above. You just use the next substitute (bench/sub2 or bench/sub3) to substitute in, but do it in the order on the schedule (i.e. if position players 5 and 8 are missing, bench/sub1 plays position 5 and bench/sub2 plays position 8). In this example, if bench/sub2 is absent from the game too, just go to bench/sub3.
Managers are encouraged to make as many copies of the field diagram as they have games and to mark the player positions thereon as well as the batting lineup for the game. Then, if players are absent or come late just mark them out and replace them as necessary with the bench/subs.
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