Minor/Major Rules

Revised February 22, 2013

I.                   League Rules

A.                 LIABILITY:  The Home field organization will not be responsible for any injury to players.  Cars are to park at their own risk and the home field is not responsible for any damage to personal property.

B.                 WARM-UPS:  The home team will have the field for warm-ups thirty minutes before game time.  The visiting team will then have fifteen minutes before game time.  Games must be started on time.  If the previous game extends into the time slot of the following game, each team will be permitted five minutes of warm-ups and the game must begin.

C.                 DEFENSIVE LINEUP

1.                   Minor:  A maximum of ten players will play in the field:  Pitcher, Catcher, 4 infielders, and 4 outfielders.

2.                   Major:  A maximum of nine players will play in the field:  Pitcher, Catcher, 4 infielders, and 3 outfielders.

3.                   A team may play with as few as eight players.  Less than eight players will constitute a forfeit.  There will be a fifteen minute grace period, if a team is waiting for a ninth player, from the scheduled game time.  There will be free substitutions.

4.                   Call-ups from lower league only.  No restrictions

D.                OFFICIAL GAME:  A regulation game is six innings.  A 10 run rule shall be in effect after four complete innings.  The home team does not need to bat in the 4^th inning if they are ahead by 10 runs or more.  In case of rain or lightning and the game is officially called by the home plate umpire, the game must be replayed from the beginning unless four complete innings have taken place and/or it is an official game.  Innings will be played until there are 3 outs.

E.                 SPORTSMANSHIP:  No smoking, abusive behavior, abusive language, or profanity is to take place on the field or in the dugout area by any player or coach.  Throwing of equipment of any kind will not be tolerated.  The umpires have the power to eject any player, coach, or fan who violate this policy, AFTER a warning (no pre-game warning as 1^st violation).  If a player or coach is ejected from a game, the player or coach will be suspended for the next game.  The player or coach is not allowed to be in the dugout or on the field of play.  However they may watch from the bleachers.  Leagues are responsible to control their own players behaviors within itself.

F.                  FIELD PREP:   The home team will be responsible for lining the field before a game, and the last home team of the night will be responsible for closing the field (Including the concession stand).

G.                 OFFICIAL SCORE:  The home team will be responsible for the official score book.  The scorekeeper must check with the visiting scorekeeper at least once an inning for score and pitch count.  The home team scorekeeper will be responsible for submitting the score and pitch counts for both teams to the web team (to be named later) within 24 hours of the game.

H.                OUT OF PLAY:  If a batted ball bounces over the fence in fair territory, two bases are awarded.  If a thrown ball goes out of play, one base is awarded.  One base refers to the base in which the runner was going at the time of the throw.  If the player had the base made, the player may be awarded the next base at the umpire’s discretion. ( umpires discretion of +1 base)

I.                   IN PLAY:  Time will be called by the umpires if a runner at a base requests time and the play is dead.  If a base pops loose the runner is to stay at the spot where the base was, unless he/she chooses to advance to the next base.  There is no automatic time just because a base comes loose.  Time cannot be called by any coach or fielder while play is going on.  Play stops when the pitcher has possession of the ball and is in contact with the pitching plate and the umpire calls time; or if time has been called by any of the umpires.  The pitcher cannot receive the ball while in contact with the pitching plate.

J.                   RULES COMMITTEE:  A rules committee will be created by a representative from each league. 

K.                PROTESTS:  Any  game protests must be made in writing within 48 hours of the end of the game to the rules committee which is made up of both groups. (1^st & 2^nd or Pres & VP)

L.                  OTHER RULES:  Little League rules will apply except where noted herein.

II.               BATTING

A.                 OFFENSIVE LINEUP:  Minor will have a continuous batting order.  All players on the bench must bat.   Major will bat 9, a 10^th batter (extra hitter) can be used but that player does not have to play the field.  Free substitution for players is permitted but the batting order is not changeable.  A player returning to the lineup must bat in the spot in lineup that he started at.

B.                 COURTESY RUNNER:  A courtesy runner will be allowed for the catcher on base with two outs.  Also, if a player is injured during his last at-bat or while on base a courtesy runner will be permitted.  The last out must be the courtesy runner.

C.                 NO SWINGING BUNTS:  If a batter squares to bunt, pulls back, and swings at the pitch.  He will be warned once, and it will be an out if done again.  If a slug bunt happens, its considered a Dead ball & a strike.

D.                SLIDE RULE:  There is a mandatory avoid contact rule.  To avoid controversy each manager should instruct his/her players to slide if a play is being made.  This rule applies to all bases.  No head first slides are permitted going to a base.  You can, however, slide headfirst back to a base.

E.                 DUGOUTS:  Only players, coaches, and a batboy/batgirl are permitted in the dugout area.  Only one batter shall be in the on deck area.  No swinging the bats outside of the on deck area.  All other players are to remain in the dugout.

F.                  RUNNERS:  There is no leading.  A player who is off base on the pitch will be warned by the umpires.  A runner may leave the base once the pitch crosses the plate.  If the runner left early in an attempt to steal, the runner will be sent back if they were safe.  If they were called out on the attempted steal, they are out.  If the runner left early and the ball was hit fair, the runner cannot advance beyond the number of bases they were ahead of the batter.  Base coaches may not physically assist or restrain base runners while the ball is in play.  Such interference will result in that runner being called out, no warning.

1.                   SCORING A RUNNER (MINORS ONLY):  A runner must score on a batted ball.  There is no stealing home.  If the runner leaves third base after a pitched ball, the defense may make a play on the runner but the runner cannot score.

III.            PITCHING

A.                 Any player on the roster may pitch

B.                 Distance of mound to plate is 46’ 6”.

C.                 PITCH COUNT:  If a pitcher hits the maximum number of pitches he may finish the current batter, and must be taken out.

1.                  MINOR

1-20 Pitches – Can pitch next day             

21-40 Pitches – 1 day rest

41-60 Pitches – 2 days rest

61-75 Pitches – 3 days rest

2.                  MAJOR

1-20 Pitches – Can pitch next day

21-40 Pitches – 1 day rest

41-60 Pitches – 2 days rest

61-85 Pitches – 3 days rest

D.                A player once removed as a pitcher may not pitch again in the same game.

E.                 Violation of any section of the regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs.

F.                  The home team scorekeeper will be 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. 

I.                   A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.

J.                   Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.

K.                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.

L.                  If a pitcher hits 2 consecutive batters in an inning, or hits 3 total batters in a game, they must be removed.

M.               Balks will not be enforced.  For all other pitching rules, see the Little League Rule Book.

N.                Umpires for all Major games must be 18 yrs of age or older. The plate and field/base umpires. Umpires for Minor games, the plate umpire must be 18 yrs of age, but base umpire can be 16 yrs of age.