MADISON LITTLE LEAGUE–MAJORS–2018LOCAL RULES
1.All playersmustplay a minimum of 3 innings per game. Violation of this rule will result in review by the Commissioner and possible forfeit of the game and suspension of the Manager/Coach.
2.The entire team roster bats.All players are to bat in a consecutive lineup, regardless of how many players show up for either team.If a player shows up after the start of the game, they must be added to the bottom of the batting line-up.If a player cannot bat due to injury/illness, his turn will be skipped in the order without penalty to his team.If the player recovers, he may resume his place in the batting order the next time around.
3.There is absolute 2 hour 15 minute time limit for Saturday games.
4.Home team takes the FIRST BASE dugout and as time allows, shall take infield for ten minutes starting ten minutes prior to game time.The visiting team shall take infield for ten minutes starting twenty minutes prior to game time.
5.With two outs, if the catcher for the team batting is on base, he MUST be removed and replaced by the player who made the last out at bat that did not result in reaching base successfully.
6.An official,MLL-approvedManager/Coach will be allowed on the field to catch the pitcher as he warms up before each inning.
7.Coaches may remove equipment off of the field, but on-deck batters wearing helmets are encouraged to perform this task.
8.The Player Agent is eligible to manage/coach a team
9.All suspended or rescheduled games must be made up on the Friday or Sunday immediately after the originally scheduled game date.The commissioner must approve any deviations from this policy.
10.LOCAL MAJORS BAT RULE 2018:Only bats meeting the USA Baseball standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League, wood or wood composite bats(with no metal components) will be permitted in MLL Majors.Bats must also adhere to Little League International requirements for quality, diameter, and length restrictions (Rule 1.10).
11.LOCAL MAJORS PITCHING RULE 2018:For thefirst 6 gamesof the regular season, pitchers will be LIMITED TO 50 PITCHES MAXIMUM per game.Thereafter, LLI age-based maximums will be in place.
When questioning a rule, first refer to the 2018Little League Baseball Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Policiesbook. The local rule supersedes the Playing Rules book where applicable. There are no approved side agreements between coaches.There are no other rules other than what is specified in the officialrulebook.
MADISON LITTLE LEAGUE– MAJORS – 2018 RULE REMINDERS
1.Players mayadvance on a third strike that is not caught in flight by the catcher when: first base is open when the pitch is made; or with two outs.A batter is out when a third strike is not caught by the catcher, when first base is occupied before two are out.
2.Due to time limits and darkness, it is the umpire’s decision what inning will constitute the “last” inning of the game.An umpire can call a game at any time for safety concerns (darkness, weather, etc.)
3.Two adult (MLL approved volunteers) base coaches are allowed.A player wearing a helmet may coach a base.One MLL approved volunteer must be present in the dugout at all times.If there are only two coaches, for example, one stays in the dugout and a player can coach either one of the bases.
4.Maximum eight warm-up pitches (not consuming more than one minute of time)between innings or for new pitcher.
5.ONLY the batter in the batter’s box is allowed to hold a bat.
6.Individuals who have not been officially approved volunteers by MLL arenotallowed in the dugouts or on the field prior to or during practices or games under any circumstances.
7.A player that has caught four (4) innings in a game may not pitch.Receiving one pitch constitutes an inning.
8.A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
PITCH COUNT RULES FROM LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL for 2018
REGULATION VI - PITCHERS
(a)Any player on a regular season team may pitch.A player that has caught four (4) innings in a game may not 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.
(c)The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below. The pitcher may remain in the game at another position, except he may not catch in that game if he has thrown 41 or more pitches:
League Age 11-12: 85 pitches per day
League Age 9-10:75 pitches per day
League Age 7-8:50 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in RegulationVI(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.
The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest in Regulation VI(d) for the threshold he/she reached during that at-bat.
Note: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
(d)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 days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
(e)Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder.
(f)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.
(g)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 RegulationVI(c).
The Umpire-in-Chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with RegulationVI(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.
(h)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.
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. (In the event that the first inning is not completed, all records including pitching records, batting records, etc. shall be counted.)
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 four days.
4. Under no circumstances shall a pitcher pitch on three (3) consecutive days.
.
PLAYER CALL-UP POLICY for 2018MAJORS
Recognizing that a team occasionally may not have enough players to field a team due to player absences, MLL allows teams to call-up players from the lower league to fill out the roster on a single game basis. The following rules were approved by the Boys’ Committeeto govern this policy.
Call-ups are available only to teams in Majors (calling up from AAA) and AAA (calling up from AA). We do not call upPeeWeeplayers to AA games. If a team in AA does not have enough players, the manager must make every effort to reschedule the game, or simply take the forfeit and use the time slot for practice or a scrimmage against the scheduled opponent.
Every manager should know well in advance if a player or players will miss a game due to a scheduled conflict such as school trip, first communion, bar mitzvah, etc. These things do not happen overnight, so every player should be able to give plenty of advance notice. Poll your players at the beginning of the season and note any known schedule conflicts.
Ask your players to inform you of any schedule conflict whenever it may arise during the season. Tell them not to wait until the day of the game but to let you know as soon as they realize they will miss a game.
As soon as you realize you will not have enough to field a team, contact the Player Agent (Mike Catalano, , 203-530-8966) and request a call-up. You may request one or two players, but no more, for a single game. If you need more than two players, reschedule the game.
Managers may request a specific player but no guarantee will be made. The final decision on who to call up rests with the PA. The PA will identify eligible players in the lower league that do not have a conflict with their regularly-scheduled game and will invite a player or players to join your team for one game.Managers and coaches are not allowed to call-up players independently; you must go through the PA. Failure to abide by this rule will result in the game being forfeit by the offending team for allowing an ineligible player to participate.
Once a player agrees to accept the call-up, he must be allowed to play the minimum 3 innings and bat throughout the game, even if the team finds it has enough of its regular players. It is unfair to call-up a player and then turn him away as a matter of simple convenience for the manager.
Called-up players may not pitch in the call-up game.
If you arrive at the field expecting enough players to play, only to find you do not have enough players, you may try to call the PA and ask for a last-minute call-up. Your only other options are to try to convince the opposing manager to reschedule, or take the forfeit. You may not independently call-up, draft, grab, recruit, or otherwise entice a player to fill in for you on the spot. If you do, you forfeit.
The PA will keep a list of players called up so that the opportunities will be spread around amongst the eligible players, rather than always calling up the same one or two stars. Direct any questions to Player Agent Mike Catalano.