SOFTBALL WA LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT RULES 2014

SOFTBALL WA LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT RULES 2014 (LLWA) AUTHORITY OF REGULATIONS These Regulations shall apply to all tournament Little League play including state championships. Unless otherwise stated in these Regulations the Rules of Little League Softball as currently endorsed by Little League International (LLI) will prevail (the orange book ). In these Regulations, unless inconsistent with the context, words denoting one gender shall include the other gender. The Little League District Administrator (LLDA) shall be charged with enforcing these Regulations. 1

LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (including LLWA & ABF requirements) Teams Each chartered league shall be eligible to enter a team. Alternates are not authorized. Where two or more charters have combined to form a single program, a tournament team must be selected for each charter composed of players from within its own chartered area. Tournament teams and Eligibility Affidavit shall consist of, and must be limited to, a maximum of fourteen (14) players, one (1) manager (aka head coach) and a maximum of two (2) coaches. LLSC teams must have a minimum of twelve (12) players. Teams are responsible for the provision of their own water and associated requirements (eg first aid box, sunscreen) Each team shall supply - An approved scorebook - A scorer whilst an accredited scorer is preferred, it is not mandatory. - An accredited base umpire to be called on if needed - A line-up book Teams are responsible for the maintenance of the diamond they have played on at the conclusion of their game this includes raking of cutouts and collection of rubbish in their dugout and in the stands in which their spectators have resided for the duration of the game. Coaches The president of the Charter, the District Administrator or District Staff shall not serve as a coach. All Head Coaches must be accredited to the minimum requirement as set by Softball WA plus all other coaches of LLSC teams must also be of the same level. Child Protection Legislation - it is the responsibility of all teams to ensure that all team personnel adults comply with Western Australia s Child Protection Legislation. Coaches and managers must not wear conventional softball uniforms or shoes with metal spikes but may wear cap, slacks, shorts and shirt. (clarification: for the purposes of these regulations, where the term manager is used it is to be assumed to be the head coach) League Eligibility In order for a Little League program to be eligible to enter a team or teams into the International Tournament (LLSC) the league must have scheduled and played, at a minimum, a 12- games (per team) regular season exclusive of playoffs and tournament games for each division entering tournament. This includes the exhibition series. Player Eligibility Players are eligible for Tournament Play, provided they meet the following criteria: Little League (Majors Division) - Any player League Age 11 or 12, who has participated as an eligible player in 60 percent the regular season games as of June 15 on a Little League Softball (Majors Division) team. Tournament Administration All tournaments shall be administered by a Tournament Director appointed by the LLDA. Head Coaches of the competing teams will attend a Managers Meeting prior to the commencement of each tournament which will be convened by the Tournament Director. A scorers meeting may also be scheduled. The LLI team affidavit form for listing details of players and coaches is to be completed by competing teams. The forms are to be received by the Tournament Director no later than three (3) weeks prior to the tournament commencing. Payment of the team nomination fees is to be received in the Softball WA bank account prior to the tournament commencing. Teams are required to provide the Tournament Director with copies of all receipts as evidence of deposits made. The Tournament Director shall ensure that water is made available to umpires and scorers and that food is available to umpires when scheduled around meal times. The Tournament Director will ensure that a qualified First Aid attendant is present during all games of the Championship. 2

Marketing, Merchandise & Sponsorship Softball WA shall hold the marketing rights of all charter teams competing in the State Championships and this shall include but not be limited to: - Sponsorship - Merchandise - Logos, designs, colour schemes, nicknames and trademarks Charter teams may negotiate their own sponsorships to offset costs. Sponsor logos may be displayed on supporter clothing and offfield banners etc but may not be displayed on any clothing or equipment on the diamond before, during or after a scheduled match. Charter teams may only acquire apparel displaying the team s logo, name and / or colour scheme through Softball WA s authorized supplier. Softball WA reserves to right to impose a monetary fine on any charter team that does not comply with this requirement. Charter team personnel identifying that individuals associated with their team have independently breached these requirements, shall instruct such individuals to discontinue wearing such apparel at the playing venue. 3

LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL PLAYING CONDITIONS (LLWA) The Little League International rules (the Orange Book ) shall govern the running of all tournaments in their entirety. Tournament pages (T1 onwards) shall apply together with all general rules governing normal game play. The following are details of the most commonly referred to rules associated with tournament play. It must be stressed that this is provided only for easy reference and must be read in conjunction with pages T1 onwards of the orange book. 4

GAME DURATION All LLSC games shall be of six (6) inning duration. All games tied at the end of regular innings shall continue until a winner is determined. Extra innings rules as detailed in the orange book shall apply. PLAYING EQUIPMENT The dimensions and other specifications of all playing equipment used must conform to those set forth in the Little League Softball Playing Rules except for those noted below: All male players must wear athletic supporters. Catchers (male) must wear the metal, fibre or plastic type cup. Catchers must wear a mask with (NOCSAE) approved catchers helmet (skull cap type not acceptable) and dangling type throat guard during practice, infield/outfield, pitcher warm-up and games. All catchers must wear approved chest protector and shin guards. Male catchers must wear long model chest protector with neck collar. Shoes with metal cleats or spikes shall not be worn by players, managers, coaches or umpires. All players on a team shall wear numbered uniform tops, identical in colour, trim and style. For Little League State Champs these uniform shirts will be provided by Softball WA in compliance with LLI. Coaches and managers must not wear conventional softball uniforms or shoes with metal spikes but may wear cap, slacks, shorts and shirt (shirt provided by Softball WA). Teams shall determine the colour of softball pants / shorts their team is to use however must be consistent with their charter colours. All pants must be uniform in design and belts (if used) must be consistent in colour with approved team colours. Teams shall not arrive at or depart from the playing venue in uniform top. Protective Helmets - Softball WA shall provide each team with four (4) appropriate batting helmets to use for the duration of the tournament. No other helmets may be worn. All base coaches are required to wear protective helmets compliant with NOCSAE. Base coaches aged under 18 must wear a double eared helmet when base coaching. Helmets must be the same colour as the team s cap. Teams are responsible for providing these helmets for their coaches. Softball Caps - Softball caps are regarded as part of the playing uniform and must be worn by all coaches and players at all times during a game unless where substituted by a protective helmet. Softball WA will provide one cap for each player and coach for the tournament. Warm-up Jackets - when his team is on offence, a pitcher or a relieved pitcher may wear a team warm-up jacket once he reaches base. Softball Bats All bats must comply with the current Little League regulations. No bat on an excluded list or not complying with the regulations as outlined in the Little League Rule Book is permitted to be used. Softballs will be provided by Softball WA. PITCHING RULES These rules replace the regular season pitching regulations. Any player on a tournament team may pitch. Exception: 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. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning. A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. A player may not pitch in more than nine (9) innings in a day. If a player pitches in less than three (3) innings in a calendar day, no rest is required. If a player pitches in three (3) or more innings in a calendar day, one day s rest is required VISITS A manager or coach may not leave a dugout for any reason during a game without receiving permission from an umpire. The manager or coach may be removed from the field for the remainder of the game for violation of this rule. When permission is granted the manager or coach will be permitted to go to the mound to confer with the pitcher or any defensive player(s). A manager or coach who is granted a time out to talk to any defensive player will be charged with a visit to the pitcher. A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The manager or coach may come out three times in a game to visit with the pitcher, but the fourth time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The rule applies to each pitcher who enters a game. NOTE: Only one offensive time-out will be permitted each inning. MANDATORY PLAY If a tournament team has thirteen (13) or more eligible players in uniform at a game, then every player on a team roster shall participate in each game for a minimum of one (1) at bat. If a tournament team has twelve (12) or fewer eligible players in uniform at a game, then every player on a team roster shall participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) consecutive defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time. Managers are responsible for fulfilling the mandatory play requirements. 5

There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any reason. NOTE: A game is not considered shortened if the home team does not complete the offensive half of the sixth or seventh inning (or any extra inning) due to winning the game. Failure to meet the mandatory play requirements in this rule is a basis for protest. If one or more players on a roster do not meet this requirement, and if protested or brought to the Tournament Committee s attention, it shall result (by action of the Tournament Committee) in the suspension of the team s manager for the next two scheduled tournament games, even if those games are played at the next tournament level. Additional penalties (up to and including forfeiture of a game and/or disqualification of the team, managers or coaches from further tournament participation) may be imposed. For the purposes of this rule, six (6) consecutive defensive outs is defined as: A player enters the field in one of the nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defence and occupies such position while six consecutive outs are made; bat at least one (1) time is defined as: A player enters the batter s box with no count and completes that time at bat by being retired or by reaching base safely. UMPIRES Umpire Coordinator - the Softball WA Umpires Coordinator (SWAUC) shall be responsible for: 1 Full control of the umpiring discipline of the panel both on & off the field. 2 Liaison with the Charter officials for application of their requirements. 3 Duties associated with the appointment of umpires. 4 The appointment of a Crew Chief to each team of umpires in each game. The SWAUC shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that umpires are appointed to neutral games. The SWAUC shall ensure that all Little League State Championships and qualifying tournament matches are provided with a suitably qualified plate umpire. Where possible the SWAUC shall appoint an additional umpire to these games as base umpire. Where a base umpire cannot be provided, each team shall provide one base umpire who shall be under the control of the plate umpire. It is the responsibility of the SWAUC to advise teams if they are required to provide a base umpire in a timely fashion. SUBSTITUTIONS / RE-ENTRY If illness, injury or the ejection of a player prevents a team from fielding nine (9) players, a player previously used in the lineup may be inserted, but only if there are no other eligible substitutes available. The opposing team manager shall select the player to reenter the lineup. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry. Any player who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game in the SAME position in the batting order. A substitute entering the game for the first time may not be removed prior to completion of her/his mandatory play requirements. A starter and her/his substitute must not be in the lineup at the same time, except as provided in Rule 10(a) of the orange book. Improper substitution is a basis for protest. Protests involving improper substitution not resolved before the next pitch or play shall not be considered. Rule 7.14, Special Pinch Runner, will apply during tournament TEN-RUN RULE (aka Mercy Rule) If at the end of a regulation game (4 th inning or any subsequent inning) one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) or more runs, the home team must bat in their half of the inning. EJECTIONS & REPORTS Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game will be suspended for the next physically played game (See Rule 4.07). Ejections shall be noted in the tournament team s affidavit in the Record of Ejections on page 4. Entry should include member s name and date ejected and be signed by the Tournament Director or District Administrator. Any person placed on report shall be dealt with post-tournament in compliance with Softball WA regulations. SLIDE RULE The LLI Slide Rule will be strictly enforced Rule 7.08 A runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag or in the umpires opinion is in the process of receiving the ball with the intend of making a tag. No head first slides are allowed (unless returning to a base). ORDER OF BENCHES & BATTING The First Named team in the official schedule of games shall occupy the First Base dug-out or bench. For LLSC, the allocation of home and away team status shall be determined by a coin toss prior to each match, as follows; - Sixty (60) minutes prior to each match the team Head Coaches shall meet in the tournament office with a tournament official who shall oversee the coin toss process. - The winner of the coin toss shall have the choice of being either the home (batting second) or away (batting first) team. - Failure of a team s Head Coach to attend the coin toss at the appointed time shall result in forfeiture of the coin toss. 6