Rules for Majors 2024 – Stamford Little League:
The Majors Division consists of 6 teams, each with 11 players. The League is an all-volunteer organization and falls under the jurisdiction of Connecticut District One. All Majors games are played at Springdale or Chestnut Hill Park. This division is open to children ages 10-12. All 12-year olds must play in this division. All ages are according to the most recent revised 2022 Little League age determination rules.
These Little League rules apply:
All batters and base runners must wear batting helmets.
All batting helmets must have face guards or a C-Flap
Catchers wear full protective gear.
Umpires officiate all games.
Scores are kept and the scoreboards are used.
Players try out and then are drafted.
Once drafted to a Majors team, a player must remain on that team.
Game Schedule
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Game schedules may not be changed and only rainouts will be rescheduled)
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Rainouts will be called by the Commissioner before the game begins
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Once a game begins, its decisions are then decided by the umpires
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A complete game is achieved once at 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead or at 4 innings if visiting team is ahead.
Playing Time Rules
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Each player must play six consecutive outs and bat at least once per game.
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Once entered into the game, players must remain until the minimum play time requirement is met.
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A starting player may re-enter the game as long as the player removed has met their minimum playing requirement
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Non-starters must remain out of the game once he/she has played the minimum and is removed from the game.
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Any team that fails to meet the player minimum play rule for a complete game (which excludes rain-shortened and 10 run-shortened games) must have the player complete the minimum play requirement for the previous game as well as meeting the minimum play requirement for the current game before coming out of the game.
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If a manager intentionally breaks the substitution or minimum play rule, the manager will be suspended for one game. If the manager commits the offense a second time, the manager will be subject to dismissal upon Board approval.
Pitching Rules
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The maximum allowable pitches per day per player are:
11 and 12 year olds 85 pitches per day
10 year olds 75 pitches per day
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There is a rest requirement for each player who has pitched as follows:
66 or more pitches in a day 4 calendar days
51 to 65 pitches in a day 3 calendar days
36 to 50 pitches in a day 2 calendar days
21 to 35 pitches in a day 1 calendar day
1 to 20 pitches in a day NO calendar days rest required
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If a pitcher reaches his limit while pitching to a batter, he will be allowed to finish pitching to that batter.
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A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. But a catcher can move to pitcher, unless that player has caught more than 3 innings in that game.
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The “automatic” intentional walk was eliminated for the 2008 season. If a pitcher wishes to intentionally walk a batter, he/she must do so by pitching four pitches outside the strike zone that are not struck at by the batter, and are called “balls” by the umpire. All such pitches will count in determining that pitcher’s pitch count.
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A coach may visit the pitching mound twice per inning or a total 4 times per pitcher. Once that limit has been reached, the pitcher must be replaced.
Pre-Game Warm-ups (start 1 hour prior to game time both on weekends or weekdays)
As an example, the following schedule would apply to a 5:45 pm game:
4:45-5:05 pm Home Team Batting Cage (20 min.)
5:05-5:25 pm Visiting Team Batting Cage (20 min)
5:20-5:30 pm Home Team Fielding Practice (10 min)
5:30-5:40 pm Visiting Team Fielding Practice (10 min)
The same schedule should be used for weekend game times. While one team uses the batting cage, the opposing team may use the outfield to warm up players (throw/stretch). If a team OR player misses the scheduled time, they may not go back and use the batting cage
Concession Stand and Pitch Count
Each team is responsible for staffing the concession stand and monitoring the pitch count during their scheduled game.
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Visiting Team: monitors pitch count for both teams from the booth. 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. However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.
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Home Team: works the concession stand.
If a team neglects its responsibility, a forfeit of that game can result.
Dugout Personnel
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The only personnel allowed in team dugouts are the team’s players and the league board-approved coaches.
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One coach must be in the dugout at all times.
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Coaches MUST stay in the dugout restricted area, which extends to the playing field gate.
Replacing a Player
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If a Majors player is injured for an extended period of time, usually more than two games, a replacement player must be brought up from the AAA/Junior Majors division.
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A list of available players will be given to the manager from which to choose.
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The age of the replacement player must be 10 -12 years old according to the most recent revised 2017 Little League age determination rules.