HOBOKEN LITTLE LEAGUE

 

Regulation III(c)
Little League (Major) Division: Local league must establish the age structure for the Little League (Major) Division. It is recommended that the local Little League set a maximum and/or minimum number of participants of a particular league age per team. For Intermediate (50/70) Division/Junior/Senior League, it is recommended that the local Little League set a maximum and/or minimum number of participants of a particular league age. (Example: If the league has all 15- and 16-year-olds in its Senior League Division, it may have a local rule that states that each team must carry between four and eight players of league age 16.)

 

Operating Policies – Local League Draft Method – Methods for Existing Leagues
It is recommended that managers not select more than eight players in a given age group. The team roster may be comprised of players of league age 9, 10, 11, and 12 unless modified by the local league according to options established by Little League. The local league may opt to allow only 10, 11, and 12, or 11- and 12-year-olds, to try out for the Major Division.

 

 

 

Regulation VI(d) – Pitchers; Tournament Rule 4 [Baseball, Challenger]

 

Divisions: All divisions of Baseball and Challenger

 

Synopsis: This restricts a player from pitching in three consecutive days in Regular Season and Tournament.

 

Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

 

• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

 

NOTE: Under no circumstances shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

 

EXCEPTION: If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold 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 retired; or (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during that at-bat, provided that pitcher is removed or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter.

 

Regulation VI Note 3 – Pitchers; Rule 4.10(d); and Tournament Rule 11 [Baseball, Softball, Challenger]

 

Divisions: All divisions of Baseball, Softball, and Challenger

 

Synopsis: All suspended games will be resumed exactly where they were left off. Regular Season pitching will be governed by Regulation VI. Tournament pitching will be governed by Tournament Rule 4.

 

Regulation VI Note 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. In the event that the first inning is not completed, all records, including pitching records, batting records, etc., shall be retained.

 

Rule 4.10(d)
If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. NOTE: In the event that the first inning is not completed, all records, including pitching, shall be counted.

 

Tournament Rule 11
SUSPENDED GAMES: Any game in which a winner cannot be determined in accordance with the playing rules shall be resumed from the exact point at which it was suspended regardless of the number of innings played. Exception: In the event that the first inning is not completed, the game shall be replayed from the beginning and all records, including pitching, disregarded. Incomplete (not regulation) or tie games are considered suspended games.

 

NOTE: A contest decided by forfeit does not constitute a “game” for the purposes 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.)

 

Rule 3.03 – [Baseball, Softball]

 

Divisions: All divisions of Baseball and Softball

 

Synopsis: This would revise the substitution rule for all divisions of play for the Regular Season.

 

Rule 3.03
A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game, in the SAME position in the batting order, provided:

 

(a) his or her substitute has completed one time at bat and;
(b) has played defensively for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs;
(c)

 

Baseball: pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers; Intermediate (50/70) Division/Junior/Senior: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher any time in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.

 

NOTE: A player who has met the mandatory play requirements, and is a pitcher at the time she/he is removed, may be removed for a substitute batter and re-enter the game as a pitcher once, provided the pitcher was not physically replaced on the mound.

 

EXAMPLE: Player A is a starter and not a pitcher, Player B substitutes into the game for player A. Both players have met mandatory play by completing one (1) time at bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs and both occupy the same spot in the batting order. In the fifth inning player A becomes a pitcher and is scheduled to bat in the sixth inning, but player B bats for player A. Both players have met mandatory play requirements and player A was not physically replaced on the mound as a pitcher, therefore, player A can return to pitch the sixth inning.

 

 

 

Minor/Major Divisions: NOTE: A pitcher, withdrawn from the game for a substitute offensively or defensively, may not re-enter the game as a pitcher. This applies to continuous batting order. EXCEPTION: A pitcher may re-enter the game as a pitcher, if withdrawn for a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner, and then returned to the game at the beginning of the next half-inning.

 

 

 

(d) A starter and her/his substitute must not be in the line-up at the same time, except as provided in 3.03 Note 3. Once mandatory play is met, a starter and substitute(s) can enter/re-enter for each other as desired, but must re-enter in the SAME position in the batting order.

 

(e) Defensive substitutions must be made while the team is on defense. Offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base.

 

NOTE 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements.

 

NOTE 2: When two or more substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders, designate to the Umpire-in-Chief such players’ positions in the team’s batting order and the Umpire-in-Chief shall notify the official scorer. The Umpire-in-Chief shall have authority to designate the substitutes’ places in the batting order, if this information is not immediately provided.

 

NOTE 3: If during a game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to illness, injury, ejection, or inability to make a legal substitution, the opposing manager shall select a player previously used in the line-up to re-enter the game, but only if use of all eligible players has exhausted the roster. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry.

 

 

 

Rule 4.10(e) and Tournament Rule 12 – Regulation Game [Baseball, Softball]

 

Divisions: All divisions of Baseball and Softball

 

Synopsis: This allows a local league to implement a 15-run rule after three [four innings for Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League]. This would be mandatory during the International Tournament.

 

Rule 4.10(e)
If after three (3) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four innings], two and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: three and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If after four (4) innings [Intermediate (50/70) Division/Junior/Senior League: five innings], three and one-half innings [Intermediate (50/70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: (1) If the visiting team has a lead of fifteen (15) or ten (10) runs or more respectively, the home team must bat in its half of the inning. (2) The local league may adopt the option of not utilizing this rule.

 

Tournament Rule 12
RUN RULE: If at the end of three (3) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four innings], two and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: three and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If at the end of a regulation game one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: If the visiting team has a lead of fifteen (15) or ten (10) or more runs respectively, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

 

 

 

Rule 8.06:
This rule, which applies to each pitcher who enters a game, governs the visits of the manager or coach to the pitcher at the mound.

 

(a) A manager or coach may come out once (Minor Division: twice) in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the second time (Minor Division: third time) out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A once in the first inning, then makes a pitching change in the same inning, Pitcher B would be allowed one visit in that inning before being removed on the second visit.

 

(b) A manager or coach may come out twice (Minor Division: three times) in one game to visit with the pitcher, but the third time (Minor Division: fourth time) out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A twice in the first three innings, then makes a pitching change in the fourth inning, Pitcher B would be allowed two visits in that game before being removed on the third visit, subject to the limits in (a) above.

 

Tournament Rule 7
VISITS: A manager or coach may not leave a dugout for any reason during a game without receiving permission from an umpire. The manager or coach may be removed from the field for the remainder of the game for violation of this rule. When permission is granted, the manager or coach will be permitted to go to the mound to confer with the pitcher or any defensive player(s). A manager or coach who is granted a time out to talk to any defensive player will be charged with a visit to the pitcher.

 

9- to 11-Year-Old Division, Little League, Intermediate (50-70) Division, Junior League, and Senior League: A manager or coach may come out once in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the second time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The manager or coach may come out twice in a game to visit with the pitcher, but the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The rule applies to each pitcher who enters a game.

 

8- to 10-Year-Old Division: A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The manager or coach may come out three times in a game to visit with the pitcher, but the fourth time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The rule applies to each pitcher who enters a game.

 

NOTE: Only one offensive time-out will be permitted each inning.

 

 

 

Playing Rule 1.10 – The Bat [Baseball, Challenger]

 

Divisions: All divisions of Baseball and Challenger

 

Updated the bat rule for all baseball and challenger divisions to comply with the USABat standard. (Pages 66-67 in Baseball, 49-50 in Challenger).

 

Summary:

 

For Junior League Baseball divisions and below, as well as all Challenger divisions, the bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).

 

Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, and Junior League divisions, as well as the Little League Challenger Division, shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2-5/8 inches for these divisions of play. Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.

 

Tee Ball [Baseball]: Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26” and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017.

 

Minor/Major Divisions: It shall not be more than 33 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. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed sixteen (16) inches from the small end. NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.