GENERAL LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL RULES Tempe Rio Salado Little League (TRSLL) will adhere to the Little League International (LLI) Baseball Rules for 2017. TRSLL has added additional rules/guidelines that will cover how our league plays at each level. These rules are an addendum and in no way supersede Little League Rules. ** Note this is a list of the most basic and exercised rules according to the LLI rule book. For a complete listing of the LLI rules, please refer to the official rule book. PITCHERS Regulation VI (page 42) (a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.) (b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Juniors only: 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 per game. (c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position: League Age: 13-16 - 95 pitches per day 11-12 - 85 pitches per day 9-10 - 75 pitches per day 7-8 - 50 pitches per day Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning. 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 or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day. 1 P a g e
(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements: 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 days of rest must be observed. If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required. (e) Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch count recorder. (f) The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed. (g) The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with the regulation in (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-inchief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible. (h) Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19. (j) A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. (See Regulation V Selection of Players) (k) A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. New Rule 2017: Allows a defensive team to intentionally walk a batter in Minor and Major Divisions (Page 97) Summary: Prior to a pitch being thrown, the defense elects to Intentionally Walk the batter by announcing such decision to the plate umpire. Note 1: Such notification must be made by the defensive manager. The manager must request and be granted time by the umpire and then inform the umpire of the defense s intent to walk the batter. Note 2: The ball is dead and no other runners may advance unless forced by the batter s award. Four (4) pitches will be added to the pitch count. 2 P a g e
PLAYERS Draft TRSLL will exercise Plan C Blind Draft from Little League International. First, players are separated by age into these divisions: tee-ball, farm, minors, majors, and juniors. Players names will be placed in a non-transparent container and individually selected at random and placed on team. Players in the minors and majors divisions will participate in a showcase in which coaches will assess skill level in variety of baseball abilities. Based on scores, players will be placed in three different categories: A, B and C. The random selection of teams will occur but A level players will be chosen first, followed by B and then C players to ensure fair and equitable teams. Any players who do not participate in the showcase will be placed in the C category. Brother/Sister Option If there are two or more siblings in the draft, first brother or sister is drafted. Then the player agent automatically has the option to draft the other brother or sister on the next turn. Failure to exercise this option makes the second sibling available to be drafted by any team. However, this option will be utilized if requested by the parent(s). Sons/Daughters of Managers or Coaches If a manager or coach has son/daughter eligible for the draft, the Parent /Manager/Coach option takes priority over any other option. This provision also applies for managers/coaches having eligible brothers/sisters in the draft. Friends There will be no provisions for friend requests. Team Structure Regulation I(a): (page 24) (a) The league is the only unit of organization. 1. The Little League (Major) Division is to accommodate participants league ages 9-12. 2. The Minor League Division is an extension of the local Little League to accommodate participants league ages 7-12. 3. The Tee Ball Division is an extension of the local Little League to accommodate participants league ages 4-7 and may utilize the batting tee or the pitched ball (by a coach). The league may opt to deliver a designated number of pitches to all batters and then utilize the tee if necessary. ** TRSLL has chosen to divide the tee ball division into tee ball (4-6 year olds) and farm (7&8 year olds) 3 P a g e
Mandatory Play Regulation IV (page39) Every rostered player present at the start of a game must participate in each game for a minimum of six defensive outs and bat at least once. Six defensive outs is defined as A player enters the field in one of the nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defense and occupies that position while six outs are made. Bat at least one 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. Penalty: The player(s) involved shall start the next scheduled game and play no less than the mandatory time limit. The manager shall for the A. First offense---receive a written warning. B. Second offense---a suspension for next scheduled game. C. Third offense---a suspension for remainder of the season. Note 1: If the violation is determined to have been intentional, a more severe penalty may be assessed by the board of directors. However, forfeiture of a game may not be invoked. Note 2: There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any reason (e.g., rain out). Note 3: In minor league, if a half-inning ends because of the imposition of the five-run limit, and a player on the defense has played for the entire half-inning, that player will be considered to have participated for three consecutive outs for the purposes of this rule. However, if the player has not played on defense for the entire inning, that player will be credited only as having played for the number of outs that occurred while the player was used defensively. Note 4: Tee ball and farm teams if having a 15 or more member roster, they may reduce the mandatory play rule to 3 defensive outs and 1 at bat per game Schedules Regulation VII (page45) (a) Each team should play at least 12 games (tee ball should not play more than 12) (b) Majors - may play one doubleheader per week. No team shall play 3 games in one day. (c) Farm and minors no team shall be scheduled to play 2 games in one day (d) Juniors double headers are permitted Behavior Toward Umpires and Other Team Rule 4.06 (page 82) No manager, coach or player, shall at any time, whether from the bench or the playing field or elsewhere 1. Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators; 2. Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon opposing players, an umpire or spectators. 3. Make any move calculated to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal pitch. 4. Take a position in the batter s line of vision, with deliberate intent to distract the batter. a. The umpire may first warn the player, coach and/or manager. If continued, remove the player, coach and/or manager from the game or bench. If such action causes an illegal pitch, it shall be nullified. 4 P a g e
SPECIFIC TEMPE RIO SALADO LITTLE LEAGUE RULES WET FIELD POLICY Please note that our fields are owned and maintained by the City of Tempe. The City of Tempe may choose to close all playing fields whenever it deems conditions warrant. When the fields are wet, the City will likely close them in an effort to prevent injuries, damage to the playing surface and costly repairs as well as to prevent unsafe conditions and unusable fields. In addition, the TRSLL Board may decide to close some or all fields due to weather conditions. In either case, you'll know which fields are closed because your games/practices will be canceled on the website and announced on Facebook. Coaches will be alerted as well and can also send additional messages to the teams. It is important to follow the decisions made by the City of Tempe and/or the TRSLL Board. TIME LIMITS 1. Official Little League game times are 6 innings; however TRSLL has game time limits. No new innings will begin after the official time ends (see 2, 3 and 4). It is not uncommon to see games that last only 4 or 5 innings. 2. Farm league games will last 1 hour and 15 minutes. 3. Minor league games will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. 4. Major league games will last 2 hours. 5. In the event a game is tied after 6 innings and it is within the time limit (as stated above), game will be continued until time limit or tie is broken. If time limit passes, one inning may be played to determine a winner. If there is no winner after one additional inning, the game will result in a tie. 6. Regular season games, which end in a tie score, will be counted in the standings as a ½ win and ½ lose for each team. 7. Rained out and incomplete games will be rescheduled as soon as possible. 8. In the event the field lights fail during a game, the game will resume at a later date where it left off. PITCH COUNT 1. Managers must complete pitcher cards immediately following game verifying the pitchers used and pitches thrown. 2. Each minor, major and juniors team will record pitch count at each game. Within 12 hours of game ending, the manager shall turn in the pitch count at the end of every game via the revised website. More details will be forthcoming and announced before the games begin. TEE BALL 1. All players bat each inning. 3 outs does not end an inning. Last batter clears the bases with all runners crossing home plate. 2. All players in the field. 3. 45 minute games. 4. No limit on adults/coaches in the field. 5 P a g e
FARM 1. A regulation game shall be 5 innings or 75 minutes, whichever comes first. An inning may not start after 70 minutes of play, but once started, an inning may continue as long as daylight permits. An additional inning may be played if agreed upon by both teams and time permits. 2. Batting order shall consist of all players present. 3. Coach pitch is a training and development division. 4. The avoid contact rule shall be in effect for all games. 5. No base sliding is allowed. 6. The offense is retired when 3 outs are recorded, all players have batted in an inning, or 5 runs have scored. 7. There are no walks. Each player receives 5 hit-able pitches. After 5 pitches, the offensive team Manager may allow the batter to hit from a tee. 8. No score is kept. 9. Base stealing is not allowed. 10. No player can sit out for consecutive innings. ANY RULE NOT COVERED ABOVE; REFER TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL RULE BOOK MINORS 1. Players are not allowed to steal home. 2. There will be 5 minutes between pitcher changes. 3. There will be 5 minutes between innings. 4. No new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 40 minutes from the start of the game. 5. There are no balks. 6. There are no lead offs. 7. The half inning is over when a team scores 5 runs or goes up by 5 runs after tying known as the 5-run limit. 8. Only one base on an overthrow. 9. Play is stopped when the pitcher receives the ball and is on the pitcher s mound. Runners may not advance at this point. Umpires shall have full authority to return a runner to his/her prior base if they deem the pitcher had the ball on the pitcher s mound. 10. Only one base allowed per steal, regardless of an overthrow. On an overthrow, the ball is considered dead. We want to encourage catchers to practice long throws without penalty. 11. Any time after the completion of the 4th or any subsequent inning, a team is in the lead by 10 or more runs, the umpire shall immediately declare the game over and the leading team will be the winner. This is also known as the mercy rule. 12. All rostered players present at the start of the game will bat in continuous order. ANY RULE NOT COVERED ABOVE; REFER TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL RULE BOOK 6 P a g e
MAJORS 1. No new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 55 minutes from the start of the game. 2. Runners may steal second, third and home. However, there are no lead offs. 3. Players may only slide headfirst BACK to a base (to avoid being tagged out). If the player slides head first into the next base s/he will be called out. 4. There are no balks. 5. Any time after the completion of the 4th or any subsequent inning, a team is in the lead by 10 or more runs, the umpire shall immediately declare the game over and the leading team will be the winner. This is also known as the mercy rule. 6. The batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by an umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied or (2) first base is occupied with two out. The runner forfeits his/her opportunity to advance to first if s/he enters the dugout or other dead ball area. 7. All rostered players present at the start of the game will bat in continuous order. ANY RULE NOT COVERED ABOVE; REFER TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL RULE BOOK JUNIORS There are no local rules for the Juniors division; they will adhere to all LLI rules. MANAGERS AND COACHES 1. Both team managers are responsible for ensuring that the baseball field is ready for play (raked, chalked, bases out, etc.) prior to the scheduled starting time of the game unless a board approved field prep staff member has been assigned to the task. 2. The HOME team manager is responsible for ensuring that at the end of their game, all league equipment (bases, rakes, chalker, etc.) is either put away in the shed or turned over to the home team manager of the next game. 3. The home team manager is responsible for ensuring that the official game scorebook is in the hands of the scorekeeper at the start of the game. 4. The home team is to supply two game balls for each game played. 5. The defensive team managers and coaches are to stay inside the dugout at all times unless permission is granted by the umpire to enter the field. 6. When a manager or coach is ejected from a game, he/she shall leave the field IMMEDIATELY, to a position beyond that field s outfield fence, and take no further part in that game. He/she may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled. Any manager or coach ejected from a game is suspended for his/her team s next physically played game. (Rule 4.07) 7. The home team must drag the field after each game. 7 P a g e