AGES
Any candidate who will attain the age of 10 years before September 1 and who will not attain age 13 before September 1st shall be eligible to compete in the LL Major League Division (Draft requirements apply).
ROSTERS
At no time shall a team have on its roster more than eight players of 12 year olds, or more than seven players of age 10 or 11 year olds.
“POOL PLAY” will be available in Majors, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Leagues. The manager or coach of the team needing players must notify the Player Agent no later than 24 hours prior to game time. This is detailed under the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules in Section V (c). Only teams that supplies players for the pool will be eligible to use the pool.
The Player Agent must be notified if a player misses more than one week (7 days) of scheduled practices or games for any reason. A continued absence is seven continuous days of missed practice or games, NOT seven practices and games. Excused absence is medical and/or school related absence. Players who have missed games and/or practices due to an injury cannot return to play without medical release (per Regulation III (d) Note 2.)
A player must participate in 50% of regular season games, or be replaced on the roster.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Managers, coaches, players, and parents shall sign and abide by the League’s Code of Conduct.
ON DECK
There is no “on-deck” hitter from LL Majors down. All players must stay inside the dugout until their turn to bat.
No player in the Little League majors, AAA, or AA divisions shall have a bat in their hand until they are ready to go up to home plate to bat. Players may not stand in the dugout with a bat in their hand.
PITCHING/CATCHING POSITION CHANGES
CATCHER -> PITCHER -> CATCHER
Any player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.
EXCEPTION: If the pitcher reaches the 20-pitch limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to return to the catcher position, until any one of the following conditions occur: (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.
PITCHER -> CATCHER -> PITCHER
If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day, 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 would be allowed to play the catcher position provided that pitcher is moved, removed, or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Penalty:
If the pitching or catching regulation is not followed, the following penalty shall also be imposed:
- First Offense – Manager receives written warning and said pitcher and/or catcher will not be able to pitch/catch in the next eligible/physical game played.
- Second Offense – Manager suspended from the next physical game and said pitcher and/or catcher will not be able to pitch/catch in the next eligible/physical game played.
- Third Offense – Manager suspended for the remainder of the season and said pitcher and/or catcher will not be able to pitch/catch the next eligible/physical game played.
Note: if any of the violations is determined to have been intentional, the Board of Directors may assess a more severe penalty. However, forfeiture of a game may not be invoked
WARMING UP THE PITCHER
Any player warming up the pitcher must be wearing a cup and a mask with a dangling throat guard. Any player warming up an outfielder must wear a batting helmet. Managers and coaches are not permitted to warm up players at any time (Per Regulation XIV (f) of the Little League Rules and Regulations). This includes any warm up period on the field at any location. Player must wear catcher’s mask during any type of pregame warm ups when a player is used to catch for the Manager or coach.
Penalty: The first incident will constitute a warning to the manager. A second incident will result in the manager’s ejection from the game.
UMPIRES
Major league managers & coaching staffs will be responsible to umpire AAA games as scheduled by the League UIC.
Umpires will be directed to begin play at the scheduled time. In an effort to speed up the game, the umpire will observe the “1 minute rule” between innings.
Only the manager, or designee, will be recognized by the umpire in the event of a dispute. The manager, or designee, must obtain permission to discuss a possible violation of the rules. Arguing an umpire’s judgment will result in the manager being ejected from the game and serving a one game suspension.
TIME LIMITS
Each team will be limited to 10 minutes of infield/outfield warm-up if time permits. No inning will start after one hour and forty-five minutes for the first game of a double header. No new inning may start after 10:00 p.m.
TIED GAMES
All tied games will be continued prior to the start of the next regularly scheduled game. This may result in a change of the start time when the two teams meet. If the teams are not scheduled to meet again, if necessary, the game may be made up at a later date. The game will resume from the point where the game ended and play to a conclusion (pitch count shall determine eligibility of the original pitchers of the game).
CHAMPION
The league champion will be decided in a double elimination tournament between the four major league teams with the best records. The best record will play the fourth best record, the second best record will play the third best record, the winning teams will meet to determine the Champion, and who will represent the National League in the City Championship, and TOC. This may be changed depending on the decision to have a City Championship Tournament with Turlock American League.
SCOREKEEPING
The HOME team scorekeeper will maintain the Official Scorebook of the game. When playing at Soderquist, the scorekeeper must be in the press box. The Official Scorekeeper must be stationed in the press box behind the home plate area if the field has one available. If the field has no press box then they must be stationed in the stands nearest the plate umpire. The Official Scorekeeper is not permitted in the dugout or on the field. Pitch counts shall be kept by this scorekeeper. This scorekeeper shall advise the umpire of the score and pitch count at the end of each inning. The team manager is responsible for knowing the pitch count for their respective pitchers.
MANDATORY PLAY
All divisions have a mandatory play rule. All players must play six consecutive defensive outs and bat one time before the starter can return to the game. Only the starter may re-enter the game in the Major, Intermediate, Junior or Senior League. Please see clarification of Continuous Batting Order (CBO) for AA/AAA in AA/AAA Minors section of ground rules. PENALTY: See section IV (i) of the Little League rulebook.
GAME CARDS AND PITCHING ELIGIBILTY FORMS
The manager or designee must sign the game cards and pitching eligibility forms at the conclusion of each game.
NOTE: Failure to sign the game cards and pitching eligibility forms will result in each pitcher appearing in the game to be charged with the maximum pitch count per game. The managers or team representatives’ signature indicates that the lineup card is correct, and shows an accurate representation of the game. This lineup card will be used to determine if players have played the minimum time, if pitchers have pitched the correct amount and if catchers have not pitched after catching four or more innings.
THE DUGOUT AND BASE COACHES
Only the manager and two adult coaches will be permitted in the dugout with the players. Managers and coaches must have been approved by the Board of Directors. All managers and coaches who are not functioning as base coaches will remain inside the dugout. There must be at least one adult in the dugout at all times. A player in uniform may be used as a base coach, provided he/she is wearing a batting helmet. Two adult base coaches are permitted at all levels provided one adult coach/manager is present in the dugout. No more than three adults can be in the dugout or on the field at anytime.
The manager shall hold his/her team responsible for the condition of the dugout area at the end of each game. No sunflower seeds are permitted on the field.
BATBOY / BATGIRL
No batboy or batgirl is permitted at any level.
OPENING AND CLOSING THE FIELD
The home team of the first game is responsible for the “opening” of the field. This includes unlocking of the field, bathrooms, dugouts, and score booth. In addition, it includes putting out the banners on the outfield fence, the trashcans and the bases.
The home team of the last game of the night is responsible of locking up of the above items, and for putting away the above items. This includes dumping the trashcans and relining them. In addition, an adult from the home team must stay with those in the concession stand that are closing in order to ensure the safety of all. Additionally, if the game has ended early, please call the president of the league (or designated persons) to have the lights turned off.
INJURIES
All injuries sustained during practice or a game must be reported to the Safety Officer on an accident form. This must be done within 24 hours of injury.
10 RUN RULE
“The 10 Run Rule”: Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rule 4.10 (e) shall be in effect during regular season games.
BATTING WITH AN ILLEGAL BAT
If prior to the next batter entering the batter’s box, it is determined that batter is using or did use an illegal bat, the batter who used the bat shall be called out. The illegal bat will be handed to the official scorekeeper in the score booth, and will not be given back to the player, or player’s family or the manager or coach until the end of the game. The umpire will make a report of the use of the illegal bat on the back of the lineup card, and if the player attempts to use the bat a second time, the batter will be brought before the discipline committee. Additionally, Little League International has added more sanctions in rule 6.06 (d) which will be followed.
APPROVED BATS
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).
It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2⅝ 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.
Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.
NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.