2013LocalSpecial Rules
Majors Division
St. Louis Park Little League
Introduction
All intra-league regular season baseball games played by St. Louis Park Little League (SLPLL) are governed by the current Official Regulations and Playing Rules published by Little League Baseball, Incorporated, as clarifiedor supplemented by these Special Rules. These Special Rules were developed by the Rules Committee and adopted and approved by the SLPLL Board of Directors. These Special Rules are intended to avoid misunderstandings by clarifying rules and procedures and to make the games the best possible experience for the players.
Coaches are expected to be familiar with the Official Regulations and these Special Rules and are encouraged to read through them before the start of the season and during the season as needed. Individual Coaches are not to change the Official Regulations or the Special Rules. Suggestions for changes should be directed to the Rules Committee.
League Regulations
This section covers regulations that are left to the local league to modify or otherwise define.
Regulation III(c) – Age Structure
The Major League Divisionis open to players league age 9 through 12. It is divided into the American Division (“Majors American”), in which 9-year-olds are not eligible to play, and the National Division (“Majors National”).
Regulation IV(i) – Mandatory Play
Every Majors American player will play a minimum of 6 defensive outs and bat at least 1 time per game. Every Majors National player will play a minimum of 12 defensive outs and bat at least 1 time per game. There are no mandatory infield/outfield position requirements in Majors, and National Division players at league age 12 are allowed to pitch, subject to the provisions in Regulation VI.
Note: If a player does not meet the minimum requirements due to a shortened game, then in the next game the Manager should get that player into the game early enough to meet the minimum requirements for that next game. Managers are trusted to use their best efforts to abide by the spirit and letter of these rules. Managers are encouraged to prepare a game plan (for example, an inning-by-inning grid) prior to each game to make sure that players meet the minimum requirements.
Regulation V(c) – Player Substitutions
Little League has extended to all Divisions the option of allowing the Player Agent to create a list of players willing to participate in extra games during the regular season when teams face a shortage of rostered players for a regular season game. The sub list for Majors American teams will come from the Majors National rosters.
Coaches should request replacement player(s) online at Requests should be made no less than 48 hours before scheduled game time. Coaches cannot request a specific player; the Player Agentassigns the next available player, treating the list in a round-robin manner. A Manager cannot request a substitute player unless the team is expected to be down to 10 players or fewer for a game. Once a substitute is assigned, the substitute player must play even if the player being replaced is able to play. The substitute player is subject to the same minimum playing time as all other players, with the exception of the following:a substitute player cannot pitchand must bat at the end of the batting order.
Regulation VII(h) – Time Limits [Refer also to Regulation X(c)]
No inning shall begin after 1:45 from start time.
Regulation X(a) – Night Games
No new inning will start after 9:40 pm. Lights at Skippy MUST BE OFF BY 10:00 pm.
NOTE: An inning starts the moment the third out is made in the bottom of the preceding inning.
Regulation VI – Pitch Count
The rules in the official Little League green rulebook apply, re-printed here and applied to SLPLL:
League Age / Pitches allowed per day11-12 / 85
9-10 / 75
7-8 / 50
The rest periods required during the 2013 regular season are listed as follows:
• 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 days of rest are required.
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.
Note 2: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
Regulation XIV(f) – Warming up pitchers
Managers and Coachesin Majors National Divisionmay warm up pitchers.
Regulation I(c)(5) – Inter-league Play
All inter-league games will be played by the rules of the hosting league. Inter-league games will not count in the SLPLL team standings and will not be a factor in determining next year’s Majors Division draft order.
Local League Rules
Local rules are created for and apply to cases in which the official Little League rulebook either allows or fails to prohibit local autonomy to clarify and implement.
Rule 1.11 -- Uniform
During the course of a game, all players’ shirts must be tucked in. All players must wear a black belt and a SLPLL hat during the game. Hats and belts are available for sale at the concession stands.
Rule 4.04 – Continuous Batting Order
SLPLL will adopt the option of using a continuous batting order, as described in rule 4.04.
Note 1: The batting order need not remain the same from game to game.
Note 2: The lineup given to the scoring booth before the game must list only players that are present at the start of the game. If a player arrives late to a game (after the first pitch is thrown), that player must be added to the end of the lineup.
Rule 4.10(e) – 10-Run Rule
SLPLL will use the 10-run rule as described in Rule 4.10(e).
Rule 6.05(b)(2) –Running on a dropped third strike
For the purposes of 6.05(b)(2), a Majors American batter may run to first base (if unoccupied) at his own risk if the catcher drops the third strike on that batter. The batter will be considered safe at first base if not otherwise put out before reaching the base.
Rule 7.08(a)(3) -- Sliding
For the purposes of 7.08(a)(3), sliding is not required, but any contact made between the runner and the fielder will be considered a failed attempt to avoid the fielder, thus rendering the runner out. Although there is no “must slide” rule, SLPLL encourages Coaches and Managers to teach the kids to learn how to slide and to slide whenever in doubt. This can prevent injury as well as other potential rules issues that may arise.
Rule 9.03
Two umpires are preferred for each game but a game may be played with only one umpire if two are not available.
Hit by Pitch
A pitcher who hits three (3) batters with pitches in one (1) inning must be immediately removed from the pitcher position for the duration of that game.
APPENDIX
General Items Applying to All Divisions
Game Preliminaries
The infield will not be used for pre-game warm-ups. At all fields, the home team will have the first base dugout. Managers must exchange team rosters and batting orders with each other prior to the start of the game. Managers must also submit a copy to the Press Box prior to the game.
Game Responsibilities
Home Team: It is the responsibility of the HOME team to the rake the field (as described below) after each game. In the event that the game is the last game of the day on a particular field, the HOME team is responsible for removing the bases and raking the field – including the batters boxes and pitching mound – smoothly and completely.
Raking–Always rake from the grass TO the dirt to avoid ‘lips’ where the grass meets the infield dirt.
Additionally, the home plate area and pitching mound should be covered with a tarp, as described and shown below.
Tarps – Tarp rolls should maintain contact with the roller-core to avoid water puddles in front of home plate
and pitching mound. Tarp rolls should face each other as seen here:
Visiting Team: It is the responsibility of the VISITING team to prepare the press box area and supply an adult scoreboard operator and a public address announcer prior to the game. After the game has concluded the Visiting team should secure the press boxes at Skippy, or return the PA cart to the shed at Northside.
Note: When hosting an inter-league game with a non-SLPLL team, the SLP team will perform both responsibilities of the Home and Visiting teams.
1