Newton Central - North - West
Little League
2013 Spring Minor League Rules
GENERAL
I. Rules of Conduct
· Disparaging remarks to fellow teammates or opponents is simply not tolerated and could result in benching during the game. Cheering your teammates on is good sportsmanship; heckling a pitcher or batter or fielder is not, and reflects poorly on your team.
· Every game ends with a handshake. Kids must learn to win and lose graciously.
· A word about competition – every player should play to win, that is, “do your best.” Our true measure of success, however, is not how many games we win but how many kids come back next year because they had a positive experience.
· Players cheering for their teammates, even loudly, is acceptable and encouraged. However, players cheering or chanting in a manner in which the sole intent is to rattle an opposing player is considered un-sportsmanlike, and is against the rules. What constitutes “intent to rattle” is a judgment call that the umpire must make, but would certainly include chants or cheers that build in volume and reach a peak as the opposing pitcher is about to deliver the ball to the plate.
· Given the nature of this type of subjective call, cooperation from all managers is required for this rule to be enforced correctly. This rule has been documented so that managers can read it, understand the spirit of the rule, and enforce it on their own teams without putting the umpire in a position where they have to make this call.
I. Game Planning and Rosters
· GAMES MUST START ON TIME! It is the goal of NCLL, NNLL and NWLL to speed up play for the games. The following rules will improve the speed of play and make the game more enjoyable for all, including spectators:
1. Coaches should have their fielding and batting assignments made prior to the start of each game.
2. Catchers should suit up prior to the end of the half inning.
3. Batters should always know who they follow and have a helmet when on deck.
4. Pitchers are allowed a maximum of 6 warm-up pitches from the mound.
5. Players should be encouraged to hustle on and off the field.
· Prior to the start of the game ensure the coaches and umpires agree on what constitutes out of play.
LITTLE LEAGUE AA MINORS
The Official Regulations and Playing Rules in the baseball division of Little League will be the main source or guide to govern play. The following AA & AAA Minor specific rules have been adopted to incorporate and enhance the Official Little League Rules.
I. AA Minor League Eligibility Summary
AA is a competitive, player pitch level of baseball with significant attention given to skill development. Instruction should focus on the fundamentals of the game, promote good sportsmanship and encourage teamwork. AA schedules consist of two to three games a week and have both standings and play-offs.
AA is mostly comprised of players who are League Age 9. Advanced players or players who are League Age 8 who have played two years at the Farm League level are also eligible for AA. League Age 10 players may also be placed in AA if requested. Consideration to grade level may be given for placement in AA.
II. AA Minor League Rules Summary
· Duration of Games – Games will consist of 6 innings. A 7th inning may be played should the game end in a tie after 6 innings. The duration of a game is ultimately at the discretion of the umpire. Any game that reaches 4 full innings (or three-and-a-half innings if the home team is leading) is considered a regulation game. In leagues with standings where the game is tied and a time limit above is hit, the completion of the game should be rescheduled at the discretion of the two coaches.
o Sunday Games
§ Ward Upper Field - No inning should start less than 30 minutes before the next scheduled game. Specifically innings should not start after 2:45 PM in the first game or after 5:00 PM in the second game.
§ Murphy & Roche Fields - Games shall not go past their scheduled end time if another game is scheduled to play afterwards. If no following game is scheduled, the game may be played until completion.
§ Lyons, Hamilton 1, Franklin 2 Fields - No new inning shall start after 2 hours and 15 minutes of playing time if a game is scheduled to follow on the same field.
o Evening Games - For all early season games, no inning shall start after 7:15 PM up to and including Mother's Day. From this point on the games should be completed, provided there is enough daylight. The umpire shall have the discretion to call any game on account of darkness. Exception: Lyons Field since it is lighted and the game may be played to completion unless another game follows and the above game time limits apply.
· Game Cancellation Due to Rain - For severe weather conditions this will be posted on the website. Otherwise the home team shall determine whether the game should be played or not but at all possible games should be played. The opposing coach and the umpire need to be contacted if the home team coach decides to cancel.
· Batting - Each team bats through the entire line-up, even those players not starting in the field, in the same batting order throughout the game (for example, if 13 players are present, each player bats once, then the first batter bats again and the other 12 players follow in the same order they batted originally). Teams are encouraged to try and change their batting order from game to game so that the same players are not always at the bottom of the order. On-deck batters are strictly prohibited.
· Bunting – One bunt per inning is allowed in AA Minors.
· Slashing - Slashing is not allowed. (A player may not fake a bunt then swing away at a pitch.)
· Uncaught Third Strike - Players may not advance on an uncaught third strike.
· Fielders and Substitutes - Each team fields 9 defensive positions (including a pitcher and a catcher). There is free substitution in the field, except that a pitcher who is removed from the mound cannot pitch again in the same game. Pitchers and fielders may be replaced from the bench during an inning. Pitchers are also subject to the limitations on the number of pitches they can pitch in a game, as discussed below.
· Pitching Distance – The distance from the pitcher rubber to home plate is 46 feet. No player can be positioned closer to home than this distance prior to the pitch.
· Playing Time - Each player is entitled to play a minimum of twelve outs in the field. Each player must play at least three outs in the infield. Pitcher and catcher are considered infield positions. These requirements are based on a complete 6 inning game. If the player arrives in the first inning before the team takes the field it is 12 outs. Thereafter the 12 outs is reduced by 3 for each inning the player was late. So if a player’s team has played 3 in the field the player’s requirement is 3 outs. If they arrive after 4 there is no required playing time. In all instances the player is last In the lineup.
· (Please note per Green book rules, failure to meet these requirements is not grounds for a protest or forfeit of the game. Playing time is based on the honor system and coaches who routinely fail to comply with these guidelines will be disciplined.)
Pitching Limitation - League Age 12 year olds may not pitch in the Minors. Pitch count is mandatory. Pitchers are subject to the following daily pitch limits:
o League Age 7- 8 = 50 pitches
o League Age 9 - 10 = 75 pitches
o League Age 11 = 85 pitches
If any pitcher reaches his/her league age limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until the batter reaches a base, is put out or the third out is made to complete the half-inning. A pitcher who has pitched 41 pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. A catcher who has caught 4 innings cannot pitch for the remainder of that day. Pitchers may be replaced anytime during the game by a player on the field or from the bench. Once a pitcher has been removed from the mound they cannot pitch in the game again.
· Pitchers Days of Rest - Pitchers are required to observe the following full days of rest after pitching in a game:
o 66+ = four (4) calendar days of rest
o 51 – 65 = three (3) calendar days of rest
o 36 – 50 = two (2) calendar days of rest
o 21 – 35 = one (1) calendar day of re
o 1 - 20 = no rest must be observed
· Pitcher Warm Ups - A maximum of 6 warm up pitches are to be thrown for warm ups between innings and/or when a new pitcher enters the game.
· Hit Batters - A pitcher who hits three batters in a game must be removed from the mound.
· Intentional Walks – Intentional walks are not allowed in AA Minors.
· Base Coaches – Base coaches may consist of the following combinations: 2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult and 1 child. Children must wear helmets while coaching a base.
Stealing/Passed balls – Only the stealing of second base is allowed when the ball has crossed the plate. No leading is permitted and the runner cannot leave first base until the ball reaches the catcher. There shall be no advancements on overthrows to second base. No stealing will be allowed on wild pitches or passed balls that go past the dead-ball line. The dead ball line shall be defined as an imaginary straight line marked from the left side of the backstop to the right side of the backstop and perpendicular to the mound. The line shall be behind the catcher, but in front of the umpire. Any pitched balls that go past the dead ball line will be considered dead and will remain dead until the next pitch. Therefore no runners on base can advance. The goal is to encourage the catchers to try to throw to second base. Pitched balls that are caught, blocked or are otherwise in front of the dead ball line are considered “live”.
Stealing of third base or home, or advancement to third base or home on a passed ball/wild pitch is not allowed under any circumstances.
The final decision on any stealing play is at the discretion of the umpire.
· Delayed Steal - Delayed steals are not allowed in AA minors. (The base runner shall not commence his steal upon the throw from the catcher back to the pitcher, only when the ball has just crossed the plate.)
· Fake Steal - The base runner shall not start, then stop his steal attempt in order to draw a throw. Once committed the runner must continue on from first to second base.
· Five Run Limit- In AA Minors a five run limit is to be imposed which will complete the half inning. The five run limit is applicable in every inning, including the sixth inning. Under no circumstances can a team score more than five runs in a half inning.
· Base running – On a batted ball, base runners may advance one or more bases, at their own risk (this means they can keep going on overthrows unless the ball goes out of play), but base runners must tag up on batted balls that are caught in order to safely advance. On balls thrown out of play (other than by the catcher on steals or passed balls), base runners will be allowed to advance to the base they were headed to at the time. The infield fly rule does not apply in AA Minors.
· Sliding – It is expected that players will be instructed to slide into any base where the defensive team is attempting to make a play on the base runner. After giving at least one warning to a team, the umpire, at his or her discretion, may call out a player who fails to slide into any base where the defensive team is attempting to make a play on the base runner.
· Play-offs - All teams make the Play-offs. Standings will be determined first by won/lost record, then by head-to-head record, then by record against other teams, then by record against common opponents, then by the toss of a coin.
· Tie Games – Games can end in a tie. A 7th inning may be added to any game that ends tied after 6 innings, at the discretion of the umpire. Any game that reaches 4 full innings (or three-and-a-half innings if the home team is leading) is considered a regulation game.
· Dead Balls – Once the defensive team makes a legitimate effort to throw a fielded ball to the pitcher on or near the mound from the infield, the ball shall be considered dead, and all base runners shall return to whichever base they were nearest to when the ball was declared dead. All determinations regarding dead balls shall be at the discretion of the umpire.
· IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS, THE CURRENT OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GOVERN.
NEWTON NORTH LITTLE LEAGUE AAA MINORS
The Official Regulations and Playing Rules in the baseball division of Little League will be the main source or guide to govern play. The following AAA Minor specific rules have been adopted to incorporate and enhance the Official Little League Rules.