SLPLL Local Special Rules

SLPLL Local Special Rules

Minors AA Division

St. Louis Park Little League (revised 4.3.2018)

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 clarified or 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 Minor League Division is sub-divided into a player-pitch Division for player’s league age 8 through 11.

Regulation IV(i) – Mandatory Play

Every Minors Division player in a team’s lineup for a game will play:

• A minimum of 12 defensive outs for each 6 defensive innings, with
• A minimum of 6 defensive outs played in the infield, and
• A minimum 3 defensive outs played in the outfield;
• No more than 6 defensive outs at any one position during a game, with the following exceptions:
• a pitcher may pitch more than 6 defensive outs during a game, subject to established pitch count policy, provided that the player fulfill his minimum defensive playing time in the outfield (3 defensive outs) before assuming any other infield position
• a catcher may catch more than 6 defensive outs during a game provided that the player fulfill his minimum defensive playing time in the outfield (3 defensive outs) before assuming any other infield position.

No player may sit out a second inning until all players on their team have sat out at least one complete inning.This is mainly because the slower pace of Minors Division play can make it difficult to complete more than 4 innings of a game, limiting the chances for players to be on the field, and no player should be sitting on the bench for 2 innings of a 4-inning game.

Regulation IV(i) – Mandatory Play

Every (MachinePitch) orA Division player in a team’s lineup for a game will play:

• A minimum of 12 defensive outs for each 6 defensive innings, with
• A minimum of 6 defensive outs played in the infield, and
• A minimum 3 defensive outs played in the outfield;

Example: the spirit of the rule,

1)Abraham play’s 2 inning at 3rd base, he must now go to the outfield for 1 inning or bench for at one inning.

2)Abigail play’s 2 inning in the outfield, she now must either go to the bench/infield if jenny goes to the bench for 1 inning she must come back into the infield/catcher/pitcher for at least 1or 2 innings only then can return to the outfield

Most players will play, this is your goal

3 innings within the infield

1 Bench

2 innings within the outfield

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.

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 Agent assigns 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 pitch and 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. The last inning shall be declared, if possible, 1:30 after the start time.

Regulation X(a) – Night Games

(6.12.2014) No new inning can start after 9:59pm. Lights at Skippy are programmed to shut off at 10:15 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 day
11-12 / 85
9-10 / 75
7-8 / 50

The rest periods required during the 2012 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 Coaches in Minors Division and Majors National Division may 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.

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 4.03 – Player Positions

10 fielders allowed

Minors Division teams may place up to ten fielders in the field during a game. A minimum of eight players is required to play a game. Only six infielders are allowed.

All outfielders must be placed at least 15 feet beyond the nearest infield dirt.

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 5.07 – 5-Run Rule

For Minors Division, SLPLL will use the 5-run rule as described in Rule 5.07. A maximum of five runs may be scored in one inning. If five runs score in an inning, that inning is over regardless of the number of outs. The inning is over as soon as the 5th run crosses the plate, except in the case of an out-of-the-park home run, in which case all runners and the batter will be allowed to score. The 5-run rule does not apply in the top and bottom halves of the last inning.

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 7.13 -- Stealing and Base Running

Through May 31st, base runners will not be allowed to steal or advance on passed balls,wild pitches oroverthrows. This will give Minors Managers and Coaches time to develop their pitchers and catchers and fielders to trust their arms.

After May 31st, base runners may attempt to steal once the pitch reaches the batter. Base runners may also advance at their own risk on passed balls,wild pitches oroverthrows. Advancing on a passed ball, wild pitch, or overthrow is NOT stealing.

NO STEALING HOME ON OVERTHROWS/PASS BALLS ALL YEAR

If a Runner stops on third base during a play and occupies that base during a pitch, runners shall not advance from

third (3rd) base to home unless the runner is batted home or forced home by a base on balls, hit batsman, or award

from the umpire or if the defensive team attempts a play on the runner legally occupying third base. Runners shall not

advance from third (3rd) base to home on passed balls, wild pitches or dropped / missed third (3rd) strikes by the catcher.

Rule 9.01(a) -- Umpires

In the event the league cannot provide two league-sanctioned umpires, the two Managers and the Officer of the Day, if necessary, may choose to play with one umpire or agree on a suitable replacement volunteer umpire from the Coaching staffs or from the stands. If no suitable umpire can be found, the game will be postponed and rescheduled in accordance with the rainout procedure.

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.

Rule SLP9.04 Pitching

April/May pitchers cannot pitch more than 2 innings per game.

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/Visitor Team: It is the responsibility of the HOME and VISITORteam’s to the rake the field 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 smooth. Additionally, the batters box and pitching mounds should be raked and covered with a tarp.

Clean is done by park team only

Raking:Please rake from the grass TO the dirt to avoid ‘lips’ where the grass meets the infield dirt.

Tarps: Tarp rolls should maintain contact with the roller-core to avoid puddling in front of home plate

and pitchers mound. Tarp rolls should face each other as shown below:

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 for the game. After the game has concluded the Visiting team should secure the press boxes (Skippy) or return the PA cart to the shed (Northside).

Note: When hosting an inter-league game with a non-SLPLL team, the home team will perform the responsibilities of the Visiting team.