DANVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

Transcription

1 Official Supplemental Rules of Play General All Divisions I. Little League Int l Baseball Rule Changes for 2017 A. Little League Int l no longer offers a Big Division. LLI maxed the playable age at 16. II. Danville Little League Baseball (DLLBB) Supplemental Rule Changes for 2017 A. None at this time. III. Safety & Equipment A. An adult must remain in the dugout at all times and maintain control of the players that are there. B. All batting helmets used by players of the A-Major Divisions (12 years old and younger) in Danville Little League Baseball, home and away, must be equipped with a face mask. The use of such helmets is recommended, but not required, of visiting teams from other leagues. IV. Rules for All Games (practice, exhibition, regular season and tournament) A. All rostered players will bat in continuous rotation. B. All players present at the start of a game will be in the batting order. If a player arrives after the start of a game, he will be placed at the end of the batting order. C. Each player present at the start of a game must play at least six outs in the field. D. Players may re-enter a game after being removed from a defensive position. E. Except for injury replacements or pitching changes, substitutions and player position changes may be made only at the start/end of a half-inning. F. Practice games are treated the same as regular games as far as pitching restrictions are concerned. G. The ten run rule will be exercised after five innings (4-1/2 if the home team is in the lead). H. The official pitch count will be kept in the book of the home team. Pitch counts should be reconciled at the end of each half inning. I. To stop play, the defense must stop the lead runner, at which time the umpire should call time. *Note that while any player may request time, only an umpire may grant time, and play will continue until the umpire grants time. J. Games for A, AA, AAA and Major Divisions (12 years old and younger) will consist of six innings (5-1/2 if the home team is in the lead). Games for Intermediate-Senior Divisions will consist of seven innings (6-1/2 if the home team is in the lead). 1. Games for A, AA, AAA and Major Divisions in the case of bad weather, darkness, curfew or time limit, a game will be considered complete after four innings (3-1/2 if the home team is in the lead). 2. Games for Intermediate Junior and Senior Divisions in the case of bad weather, darkness, curfew or time limit, a game will be considered complete after five innings (4-1/2 if the home team is in the lead). 3. If a game is called before it is considered complete (as defined above) then it should be completed at a later date. Play will resume where it left off. 4. It is the sole discretion of the umpire when to call a game. K. Managers are responsible for entering all players into the game on defense. A game, which is shortened by bad weather, darkness, curfew or time limit, is not an excuse for failure to get all players into the game. Early substitution is encouraged. L. Pitching rules shall be those of the Little League as outlined in the Official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball, Section VI PITCHERS. Proven violation of this rule may result in suspension of the team manager for the following game. M. Use of a courtesy base runner is allowed for the next half inning s catcher if on base with 2 outs. The courtesy base runner will be the most previous batter in the line-up not on base. V. Time Limits A. There will be a one hour and thirty minute (1:30) time limit for all A Division games. A new inning will not be started after the time limit is reached. Given the supplemental rules that govern the A Division and the length of time it takes to complete an inning, when getting close to the 1:30 mark, it should be determined by both team Managers if it is in the best interest to continue to play an additional full inning. B. There will be a one hour and forty-five minute (1:45) time limit for all AA, AAA and Major Division games, except for tournament games when there will be NO time limit. A new inning will not be started after the time limit is Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 1 of 13

2 reached. C. Time limits for Int 50/70, Junior and Senior games are subject to the District 8 scheduler at the discretion of District 8 Administration. Typically there will be a two hour time limit, except for tournament games when there will be NO time limit. D. Enforcing the time limit is the responsibility of the home plate umpire. E. A Division, the next inning officially starts when play has stopped with the final batter in the lineup in the bottom half of the previous inning. F. AA-Senior Division, the next inning officially starts when the third out is made in the bottom half of the previous inning. G. Umpires have the authority to stop the game clock for special circumstances, such as injuries, stalling, etc. H. Umpires are responsible for getting the entire game in, if possible, within the time limits. This means they have the authority to use whatever means necessary to keep the game moving along, such as limiting time between batters and eliminating any stalling. VI. Division Standings A. Division standings have no bearing on the tournament seeding. 1. Division standings will include only DLLBB vs. DLLBB games. 2. All ties will be decided by: a) Head to head results in regular season games (not practice games); b) Defensive average per game (if teams remain tied after #1 above); c) Coin flip (if teams remain tied after #2 above). 3. Tie breakers, if needed, will determine final standings for tournament seeds. VII. Division Tournaments (AA-Major Divisions) A. Division tournaments will be held at the end of the regular season. B. The day/time each team begins the tournament will be determined by a blind draw. VIII. All Star Managers and Coaches A. Managers and coaches for league all-star games will be the managers and coaches appearing in the DLLBB Tournament Championship Game. IX. Little League Tournament Managers and Coaches A. Managers and coaches for DLLBB tournament teams must be from our league and will be selected by the DLLBB Board. Interested individuals must apply to the Board in writing ( to president is acceptable). B. A manager or coach for a tournament team must have been a rostered manager or coach at the SAME level as the tournament team for which they are applying. X. Manager and Coach Umpiring Obligations A. Managers and Coaches do not have umpiring obligations. XI. Game Duties (Danville Little League Baseball) A. Visiting team shall (as a guideline, cooperation between both teams is recommended on both ends of play): 1. rake and/or drag the field if necessary to make it suitable and safe for play; 2. install bases; 3. line the home plate area and foul lines; 4. raise the flags (if applicable); 5. clean visitors side of the field and dugout after the game. 6. clean up trash, etc. in the spectator areas of the visitors side of the field B. Home team shall (as a guideline, cooperation between both teams is recommended on both ends of play): 1. put bases away; 2. rake and/or drag the field; 3. take down flags and put them in the concession stand (if applicable); 4. clean home side of field and dugout; 5. clean up trash, etc. in the spectator areas of the home side of the field. C. Home and Visiting Coaches shall cooperate to put down tarps if needed. D. If the visiting team is from another league, the home team is responsible for both A and B above. E. Visiting teams from other leagues are asked to assist in the above, particularly A5 and A6. XII. Pregame Schedule A. Any practicing team shall vacate the field promptly when asked to do so to allow for game preparation. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 2 of 13

3 B. 25 minutes prior to game time - visiting team may take infield practice for no more than 10 minutes. C. 15 minutes prior to game time - home team may take infield practice for no more than 10 minutes. D. 5 minutes prior to game time - players, coaches and umpires shall be announced and national anthem shall be played (if P.A. system is available) E. START OF GAME - Official scorekeeper(s) shall announce (if P.A. system is available) the start time and record the time in the official score book. F. The umpire is responsible for starting the game on time if possible. They have the authority to shorten infield practice and/or deduct practice time from either team that is not ready to use it at their prescribed time. XIII. Player Pool A. A player pool shall be established prior to the first game of the season. All managers shall ask for players who wish to be eligible, and those names will be submitted to the player agent. B. The player agent shall use those names to create a list known as the Player Pool for each division level. The list will be maintained by the player agent with a checklist to indicate the players that have been called. The player agent s contact information (and an alternate, chosen by the player agent) will be posted at each of the diamonds. C. In the event a team will be short the required number of players to start a game, they can contact the player agent (or the alternate) and the player agent will, in turn, contact the first eligible player in the player pool. They will continue down the list, in order, until a player is available, but only after they have made a good faith effort to contact the previous player. D. The next available player, as prescribed above, shall be the very next player on the list following the last player that was contacted. If the end of the list is reached then they must continue from the first player on the list. E. The player pool shall not be used to bring a team up to more than 10 players in any league. F. If a pool player is used, no member of the team (including the pool player(s)) may play less than 9 defensive outs in the field. G. The player pool player may not bat earlier than 5 th in the batting order, and may not pitch. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 3 of 13

4 Specifics for Senior Division A. No special rules for Senior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Senior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Senior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 4 of 13

5 Specifics for Junior Division A. No special rules for Junior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Junior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Junior Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 5 of 13

6 Specifics for Intermediate 50/70 Division A. No special rules for Intermediate 50/70 Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Intermediate 50/70 Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Intermediate 50/70 Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 6 of 13

7 Specifics for Major Division A. No special rules for Major Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Major Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. A. No special rules for Major Division in this category other than the general rules listed previously. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 7 of 13

8 Specifics for AAA Division A. Teams will field six players in the infield and either three or four in the outfield. Outfielders will start each play no closer than twenty feet behind the base paths. B. The infield fly rule will be used at this level. A. The offensive team will have the option of using one adult and one team member or two adults as base coaches. The coaches are not allowed to come into physical contact with either a player or the ball during play. Their interactions with the offensive team should not slow the progress of the game in any manner. A. The strike zone is from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the knee caps, and widened a few inches to the outside of home plate. It will not be a strike if the ball is inside on the batter's side of home plate unless the batter is standing well away from the plate. B. A half inning in AAA Division is defined as 3 outs or 5 runs (aka 5 run rule per half inning). C. The five run per half inning rule shall be in force except during the last inning of a game and all subsequent extra innings in case of a tie. (NOTE: If the visitors have a substantial lead in the final inning, it is expected that good sportsmanship will prevent running up the score.) 1. Due to time limits, when getting close to the end of a game and if the time limit could be a factor going into the next inning, that inning should be declared the final inning of the game. If that inning ends up coming to a close before the time limit expires, the next inning may be considered the last inning of the game and an additional unlimited run inning played. (Example: 4th inning is declared to be the last inning as it is starting at the 1:35 mark of a 1:45 time limit. During that 4 th inning, both sides go 3 up and 3 down with the home side finishing their at bat at 1:43. Play an additional inning with unlimited runs for both sides.) 2. The umpire will declare which inning should be considered the final inning and thus unlimited runs for both teams. D. If a half-inning ends because of the 5 run rule (i.e. before 3 outs are recorded), a player who participated in the entire inning on defense will be considered to have played for 3 consecutive outs for the purposes of the participation rule. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 8 of 13

9 Specifics for AA Division A. Teams will field six players in the infield and either three or four in the outfield. Outfielders will start each play no closer than twenty feet behind the base paths. B. Bunting is not allowed when a coach is pitching. C. Base stealing is not allowed. D. Runners will not advance on passed balls or wild pitches. E. The infield fly rule will not be in force. A. The offensive team will have the option of using two adult base coaches. The coaches are not allowed to come into physical contact with either a player or the ball during a play. Their interactions with the offensive team should not slow the progress of the game in any manner. B. The defensive team will have the option of using up to two coaches in the outfield to aid in the development of fundamental skills, not to think for the players. The coaches are not allowed to come into physical contact with either a player or the ball during play. If they do come in contact with the ball then it will be considered dead and the runners advance to the next base. Their interactions with the defensive team must not slow the progress of the game in any manner. If they do then the Umpire may choose to remove them from the field. A. The strike zone is from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the knee caps, and widened a few inches to the outside of home plate. It will not be a strike if the ball is inside on the batter's side of home plate unless the batter is standing well away from the plate. B. A half inning in AA and AAA Divisions is defined as 3 outs or 5 runs (aka 5 run rule per half inning). C. The five run per half inning rule shall be in force except during the last inning of a game and all subsequent extra innings in case of a tie. (NOTE: If the visitors have a substantial lead in the final inning, it is expected that good sportsmanship will prevent running up the score.) 1. Due to time limits, when getting close to the end of a game and if the time limit could be a factor going into the next inning, that inning should be declared the final inning of the game. If that inning ends up coming to a close before the time limit expires, the next inning may be considered the last inning of the game and an additional unlimited run inning played. (Example: 4th inning is declared to be the last inning as it is starting at the 1:35 mark of a 1:45 time limit. During that 4 th inning, both sides go 3 up and 3 down with the home side finishing their at bat at 1:43. Play an additional inning with unlimited runs for both sides.) 2. The umpire will declare which inning should be considered the final inning and thus unlimited runs for both teams. D. If a half-inning ends because of the 5 run rule (i.e. before 3 outs are recorded), a player who participated in the entire inning on defense will be considered to have played for 3 consecutive outs for the purposes of the participation rule. E. The first two innings will be player pitch. F. The pitching rubber will be a placed at 41 from the tip of home plate. G. Any batters that did not get to face a player pitcher MUST be placed in one of the top six positions for the following game, except for tournament games. H. When the player is pitching, the following rules apply: 1. Every strike resets the ball count to zero. In other words, it will take four consecutive balls to walk a batter. 2. This includes a foul ball with 2 strikes; the ball count is reset to zero. I. It is encouraged, but not required, that the pitcher wear a heart guard and a mouth protector. J. The last four innings will be coach pitch. If there are extra innings due to a tie then they will be coach pitch as well. K. If Coach Pitching (see below if using a Pitching Machine) 1. The coach must pitch overhand. 2. The coach must start each pitch with one foot on the pitching rubber. 3. Once a coach pitcher starts an inning, they must complete the inning unless injured. 4. The coach pitcher will not interfere with the ball in play or the defensive players. The coach pitcher will move to the opposite side foul fence of a ball put into play or backstop until play has stopped. 5. A batted ball which comes in contact with the coach pitcher is a dead ball and is not counted as a Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 9 of 13

10 pitch. 6. Each batter gets a maximum of five pitches to either hit a ball in play or strike out. There will be no walks. The at-bat cannot end on a foul ball. A foul ball on the 5 th and subsequent consecutive pitches will continue the at-bat one additional pitch. 7. The pitcher s helper must stand behind an imaginary line from the pitching rubber towards first and/or third base. If the pitcher s helper crosses this line before the ball is hit, the play is dead, and will be considered a no-pitch. They must be on the batter s weak side (on first base side of coach pitcher for right handed batters and on third base side of coach pitcher for left handed batters). They must be no further away from the pitcher s rubber than a radius of 8 feet. The pitcher s helper may not distract the batter in any way. Glove and clothing rules will apply as they do to pitchers in higher level leagues. 8. It is encouraged, but not required, the pitcher s helper wear a helmet with a face guard and a heart guard. The team manager s discretion is to be used, heavily leaning toward the use of one or both if the player s safety is questionable. 9. It is recommended a flat pitch, as flat as possible, be thrown rather than a rainbow type, arched pitch. L. If Pitching Machine 1. The pitching machine shall be placed at 41 from the tip of home plate. 2. The coach pitcher placing the ball on the pitching machine will not interfere with the ball in play or the defensive players. The coach pitcher will move to the opposite side foul fence of a ball put into play or backstop until play has stopped. 3. A batted ball which comes in contact with the coach pitcher or pitching machine is a dead ball and is not counted as a pitch. 4. Each batter gets a maximum of five pitches to either hit a ball in play or strike out. There will be no walks. The at-bat cannot end on a foul ball. A foul ball on the 5 th and subsequent consecutive pitches will continue the at-bat one additional pitch. 5. The pitcher s helper must stand behind an imaginary line from the pitching rubber towards first and/or third base. If the pitcher s helper crosses this line before the ball is hit, the play is dead, and will be considered a no-pitch. They must be on the batter s weak side (on first base side of coach pitcher for right handed batters and on third base side of coach pitcher for left handed batters). They must be no further away from the pitcher s rubber than a radius of 8 feet. The pitcher s helper may not distract the batter in any way. Glove and clothing rules will apply as they do to pitchers in higher level leagues. 6. It is encouraged, but not required, the pitcher s helper wear a helmet with a face guard and a heart guard. The team manager s discretion is to be used, heavily leaning toward the use of one or both if the player s safety is questionable. 7. It is recommended a flat pitch, as flat as possible, be thrown rather than a rainbow type, arched pitch. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 10 of 13

11 Specifics for A Division A. Base to base is measured at 45. B. Calculating runs scored will not be tallied to determine a winner or loser of the game. All players in the A Division are winners because they got to play the great game of baseball. C. Bunting is not allowed. D. Base stealing is not allowed. E. The infield fly rule will not be in force. A. The offensive, at bat team will have one adult in each of the following positions: 1 st base coach, 3 rd base coach, catcher and pitcher. 1. After 4 pitched balls, the pitcher will be responsible for placing the ball on the tee. 2. After 4 pitched balls, the catcher will be responsible for controlling the bat of the batter until the pitcher has the ball placed on the hitting tee. B. The defensive, in the field team will have the option of using up to three coaches in the outfield to aid in the development of fundamental skills. The coaches should avoid coming into physical contact with either a player or the ball during play. A. Offensive Team 1. The batter will have 4 pitched balls to hit a fair ball. a) If the batter does not hit a fair ball after 4 pitches, the ball is placed on the hitting tee and allowed to take as many swings as necessary to hit a fair ball. 2. When the batting order for each team has been set: a) 1 st Inning, batter in 1 st spot in line up bats first. b) 2 nd Inning, batter in 2 nd spot in line up bats first. c) 3 rd Inning, batter in 3 rd spot in line up bats first. d) Continue all subsequent half innings in this fashion until the game is complete. 3. Bat through the entire batting order. 3 outs will not end a half inning. When all offensive players have an at bat is when the half inning is complete. B. Defensive Team 1. A play is considered dead and play stops when one of the three following conditions are met: a) The ball is thrown into the dead ball zone from the outfield. The dead zone for this type of play is the base path (base path is defined as 3 on either side of a direct line from base to base). b) The ball is controlled by a player within any dead ball zone including the base path (base path is defined as 3 on either side of a direct line from base to base). c) A player makes a throw to home plate in the direction of the adult catcher. 2. Throws from the outfield should be encouraged to be made to 2 nd base. 3. When the ball in play becomes dead, if a base runner has not reached halfway or further in the base path to the next base, the runner will return the previously occupied base. 4. When the ball in play becomes dead, if a base runner has reached more than halfway in the base path, the runner will awarded the next base only. 5. Throws to home plate (adult catcher), the base runner will be considered out, when the following conditions are met: a) The base runner is committed to going home by either not stopping to return to 3 rd base. (1) If the base runner at any time was more than halfway to home, they are considered committed to going home. b) The ball is received by the adult catcher and crosses any portion of the batter s box. C. If Coach Pitching (see below if using a Pitching Machine) 1. The coach must start each pitch no closer than 15 from the tip of home plate. 2. Once a coach pitcher starts an inning, they must complete the inning unless injured. 3. The coach pitcher will not interfere with the ball in play or the defensive players. The coach pitcher will move to the opposite side foul fence of a ball put into play or backstop until play has stopped. 4. A batted ball which comes in contact with the coach pitcher is a dead ball and is not counted as a pitch. 5. The pitcher s helper must stand behind an imaginary line stretching from 1 st to 3 rd base and be on Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 11 of 13

12 the weak side of the batter to give the player a clear view around the coach pitcher to the batter (on first base side of coach pitcher for right handed batters and on third base side of coach pitcher for left handed batters). a) If the pitcher s helper crosses the imaginary line before the ball is hit, the play is dead, and will be considered a no-pitch. 6. The pitcher s helper must be no further away from the center of the field than a radius of 8 feet. 7. The pitcher s helper may not distract the batter in any way. 8. The pitcher s helper glove and clothing rules will apply as they do to pitchers in higher level leagues. 9. It is encouraged, but not required, the pitcher s helper wear a helmet with a face guard and a heart guard. The team manager s discretion is to be used, heavily leaning toward the use of one or both if the player s safety is questionable. 10. It is recommended a flat pitch, as flat as possible, be thrown rather than a rainbow type, arched pitch. D. If Pitching Machine 1. The pitching machine shall be place no closer than 15 from the tip of home plate. 2. The coach pitcher placing the ball on the pitching machine will not interfere with the ball in play or the defensive players. The coach pitcher will move to the opposite side foul fence of a ball put into play or backstop until play has stopped. 3. A batted ball which comes in contact with the coach pitcher or pitching machine is a dead ball and is not counted as a pitch. 4. The pitcher s helper must stand behind an imaginary line stretching from 1 st to 3 rd base and be on the weak side of the batter to give the player a clear view around the coach pitcher to the batter (on first base side of coach pitcher for right handed batters and on third base side of coach pitcher for left handed batters). a) If the pitcher s helper crosses the imaginary line before the ball is hit, the play is dead, and will be considered a no-pitch. 5. The pitcher s helper must be no further away from the center of the field than a radius of 8 feet. 6. The pitcher s helper may not distract the batter in any way. 7. The pitcher s helper glove and clothing rules will apply as they do to pitchers in higher level leagues. 8. It is encouraged, but not required, the pitcher s helper wear a helmet with a face guard and a heart guard. The team manager s discretion is to be used, heavily leaning toward the use of one or both if the player s safety is questionable. 9. It is recommended a flat pitch, as flat as possible, be thrown rather than a rainbow type, arched pitch. Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 12 of 13

13 Dead Ball Zone when thrown in from outfield Revised: 04/26/17 jc Page 13 of 13