2014 Minor B Softball Supplemental Rules Section I: League Composition 1. The Minor B Division in Illinois District 13 is comprised of 6 9 year olds who are new to softball and Little League. All 6 year olds that play in the Minor B Division will have at least 1 year of T-Ball experience. All 9 year olds that play in the Minor B Division will be new to Softball and have no experience playing the game, or need further experience before they are ready for the Minor A Division. 2. In 2014 the Minor B Division will play a total of 14 games. The only exception to this will be Central District Softball Little League, Kaneland Softball Little League, and Sugar Grove Little League whom will each play a 12 game season. Section II: Administration 1. Illinois District 13 Staff will be the overall administrators of the District 13 Minor B Division. However, each league will be responsible for their own teams, managers, coaches, fields, etc. as they are all chartering at the league level. 2. Illinois District 13 will serve as the protest committee for District 13 Softball. The District will act on all protests within 72 hours of notification that are presented in accordance with article 4.19 of the Little League International Official Playing Rules. a. All decisions made by District 13 in regards to protests will be considered final and binding. Section III: Umpires 1. This home team is responsible for supplying the umpires for their games. In the Minor B Division many of the leagues use volunteer umpires or adolescents that are learning how to be umpires. If the umpire is under the age of 18, there must be an adult in charge that is there to support the young umpire. This adult does not have to be on the field but must be present at the game so they may act in the young umpire s defense if needed. 2014 Minor B Supplemental Playing Rules Page 1
Section IV: Playing Rules 1. The Little League Softball Rulebook will be the used for the Minor B Division in all areas except when explicitly stated in this document. 2. Time Limits a. No new inning shall start after the time limit has expired. The current inning will be completed unless the game has been called due to weather or darkness. b. The time limit for this division will be 1 hour 45 minutes. After this time no new inning will be started. c. The time limit will begin with the coaches meeting at home plate with the umpire in chief and the specific time will be agreed upon during that meeting. 3. In this division a game may start with less than 9 players for a specific team present at the game. As this is an educational league, if a team wishes to donate a player(s) to the opposing team so that they may have 9 to start the game, it will be allowed. This is to help maximize the playing opportunity for every player on every team. 4. There is no Slaughter Rule for this division. Rather, per the Orange Book, there is a maximum of 5 runs per inning allowed. 5. In the event of inclement weather the opposing team must be giving at least 1.5 hours notification of the cancelation. This is to minimize the negative impact of having to travel without playing a game. 6. A Double Safety First Base will be used at this division in Illinois District 13. 7. The Mandatory Play Rule will be strictly adhered to in accordance with Regulation IV (I) of the Little League Softball Rulebook. 8. A team s official batting order, including names and numbers, must be given to the opposing team at the managers meeting at home plate. 9. There will be no bunting or stealing in the Minor B Division. 10. An offensive inning will consist of batting through the order or three outs, whichever occurs first. 11. Batting order for both teams will consist of the team with the most number of players at the game. a. If one team has 9 and the other team has 11, then 11 players will be considered as once through the order and the order stays as continuous. 2014 Minor B Supplemental Playing Rules Page 2
12. The Minor B Division will be using a continuous batting order. This means that minimum play will be met when a player plays 6 defensive outs and 1 at bat. The outs do not need to be continuous. Section V: Pitching Rules Up Until June 1 st, 2013 1. The Minor B Division is a Coach Pitch Division until June 1 st, 2014. 2. The Coach must be on the team roster and be a League Approved Volunteer with a passed background check. 3. The Coach will pitch from 35 feet, the required distance for the Minor Divisions in Little League Softball. Soft-Toss and / or pitching from a closer distance is not allowed at any time. 4. While the coach is pitching the player / pitcher must remain within the 8 foot circle and be even with, or behind, the coach that is pitching. 5. Prior to June 1 st, a coach will pitch no more than 5 pitches to any one batter. a. Strikes will be called and a batter can strike out. b. If after 5 pitches the batter has not struck out or hit the ball into fair territory the batter will be called out. No batter will walk when a coach is pitching. Section VI: Pitching Rules After June 1 st, 2013 1. The Minor B Division is a Player Pitch Division after June 1 st, 2014. 2. If a pitcher commits three (3) actions in a row (an action is a walk or a hit batter), an offensive team coach will take over the pitching for the remainder of that inning. 3. If a pitcher hits three (3) batters in an inning, they must be replaced with a new player pitcher and not the coach. The only exception to this rule is stated above when the hit batters are done continuously. a. The Coach must be on the team roster and be a League Approved Volunteer with a passed background check. b. The Coach will pitch from 35 feet, the required distance for the Minor Divisions in Little League Softball. Soft-Toss and / or pitching from a closer distance is not allowed at any time. c. After June 1 st, a coach will pitch no more than 4 pitches to any one batter. i. Strikes will be called and a batter can strike out. 2014 Minor B Supplemental Playing Rules Page 3
ii. If after 4 pitches the batter has not struck out or hit the ball into fair territory the batter will be called out. No batter will walk when a coach is pitching. 4. While the coach is pitching the player / pitcher must remain within the 8 foot circle and be even with, or behind, the coach that is pitching. 5. Adults pitching from the mound may not coach from that position. 6. Infield and Outfield Coaches in the field are approved and encouraged at the Minor B Division. Section VII: Sportsmanship 1. Teams may cheer and / or chant for their own team only. 2. No inappropriate comments will be made to the other team. 3. If inappropriate comments are made to an opposing team, the manager will receive a warning from the umpires. If the comments continue, the manager will be ejected from the game. This is subject to the umpire s discretion. Section VIII: Game Recording 1. All game results must be entered into the District 13 Softball Schedule Website. Even though standings are not kept in this division, pitch records are and must be entered. 2. Both team managers should evaluate their umpires after the game through the website as this can be used as a training tool for the leagues / associations to better their staff. If you have the umpires names please include that in your evaluation. 3. The district will also use these evaluations to identify those umpires who should be considered for All-Star games above the District Level of play. Section IX: Game Rescheduling 1. No games will be rescheduled for any reason except rainouts, school events, or inability to field nine (9) players (except in the Minor Divisions who may play with less than 9). 2. All games will be rescheduled through the District 13 Softball Schedule Website and will be entered by the ADA of Softball. Managers and / or Reps will work together to reschedule the game and send the following information to the ADA of Softball to have it entered. a. Old Game Date, Time, and Location. 2014 Minor B Supplemental Playing Rules Page 4
b. New Game Date, Time, and Location. 3. If a date cannot be agreed upon, the District will determine the outcome or reschedule date. 4. No forfeits will be assigned without proof that multiple efforts have been made to reschedule the games. No forfeits will be assigned in the Minor Divisions regardless of the reason as no standings are kept in these divisions. Section X: District Contacts 1. ADA Softball Aaron Kelly a. D13Softball@Gmail.com b. Cell: 847-890-5687 2. Samantha Miller a. ilvsoftbll@gmail.com 3. Websites a. District 13 Website: i. www.illinoisdistrict13.com b. District 13 Softball Scoring Website: i. http://www.leagueadminpro.com/d13softball/ 2014 Minor B Supplemental Playing Rules Page 5