Scores and standings will be kept and playoffs will be held.
If time allows, the game is 6 innings. If a game is tied after 6 complete innings or after the time limit rule stops the game (see next rule), the game will end and be recorded as a tie (this does not apply to playoffs).
No inning can start 1 hour 45 minutes after the start of the game. However, managers shall not intentionally slow down the game for competitive reasons. Playoff games will have no time limit.
Move the game along quickly! Start on time. Have your next inning catcher geared up while the team is still batting if he/she is unlikely to bat.
Managers must attempt to field 9 players in accordance. See the policy on the league website for more details. However, a minimum of 8 players are needed to field a team (and possibly borrowing a player from the other team for fielding only, not batting or pitching) or a forfeit will be called. There is a 15 minute grace period from the scheduled start time of the game in order for a team to have 8 eligible players. If a team does not have 8 players, the game will count as a loss in the standings (using a 6-0 score) but the two teams can still play the game as a scrimmage.
This rule also applies during the playoffs.
If a player gets injured, causing a team to field less than 8 players, the game is forfeited (please see rule book for additional information).
If a team is playing with 8 players, the 9th position in the batting order is skipped and no out will be recorded.
During games, only the manager and 3 coaches are permitted in the coaching areas. When the team is at-bat, coaches must be in the coaching boxes or the dugout areas. When the team is in the field, a defensive team coach should be positioned behind the catcher to speed up play on passed balls and all other coaches must be in the dugout areas. Keep dugout gates closed.
On deck and “double deck” batters MUST be in the dugout. No on deck batters.
After the game is over, players and coaches line up and shake hands.
Defense consists of 10 Players - Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, 3rd Base, Shortstop, 4 outfielders. Managers may elect to have five outfielders if they so choose and agree upon pre-game. For each player, two innings in the infield is required unless there is a safety concern. A catcher is considered infield.
Defensive play time should be equal for all players +/- one inning. No player may sit out a 2nd inning until all players have sat out at least 1 inning.
Re-entry of players into defensive positions can occur as much as you wish.
If a ball is hit to the outfield, play stops after the ball has reached the infield and is in the possession of a defensive player. It is strongly encouraged to keep players from running in situations where they would have a high chance of being put out.
A runner less than halfway towards the next base must return back to the previous base, and while in the basepath, is still at risk of being thrown out. If the runner advances in this situation, the umpire shall send the such advanced runner back to the previous base.
If the runner is halfway or more towards the next base, he has no safe harbor and is at risk of being thrown out.
If the defensive player that is in possession of the ball in the infield throws the ball and an overthrow occurs, no further advancing can occur.
If a ball is hit in the infield and an errant throw occurs, a runner cannot advance an extra base.
If a ball thrown by a fielder to a fielder covering a base is knocked down or otherwise within a reasonable distance from the fielder, no further advancing can occur.
It is the intention of the league to conduct most innings for AA with the Louisville Slugger Blue Flame pitching machine.
Pitching will be conducted with only sanctioned SLL Pitching Machines.
Both managers will meet prior to the game to agree upon calibration. The machine should provide a hitable pitch that can go over the plate on a repeatable basis.
The pitching machine must be on the mound, attempting to get as close to the 46’ rubber as possible. If calibration at that angle proves difficult, the machine may be moved closer, upon the agreement of both managers.
There will be no walks with the pitching machine.
After getting 2 strikes, a player can strike out by either swinging/missing or 2 called strikes. Foul balls do not count as one of the called strikes for this purpose. The goal of the league is to get kids swinging at strikes and putting the ball in play.
HBP from the machine will be ignored unless the hitter is unable to continue the at bat. If the hitter cannot continue, that at-bat will be ignored.
A fielder playing the pitching position must have one foot parallel to the the mound, even with the pitching rubber.
The pitching machine shall be considered part of the playing field. If a ball hits the machine it should be considered “live.”
The league will begin play with two innings as kid pitch (with machine rescue) followed by four innings as Machine Pitch. For kid pitch innings, the following apply.
There will be no walks. After the fourth ball of an at bat, Machine Rescue (of the batting team) goes into effect and remains in effect for the remainder of the at-bat. After the second “series of 4 balls” or "one hit batter" delivered by the kid-pitcher, machine pitch remains in effect for the remainder of a half inning (even after a pitching change).
For machine pitch: when a coach (of the batting team) begins machine pitching, the strike count resumes for the hitter (ie., if the batter had 2 strikes, he or she stays with 2 strikes when the machine comes on to pitch).
A batter may take a called “Strike 1” or “Strike 2” by the umpire by both Kid pitch and Pitching Machine. There will be a called third and fourth strike on the Pitching Machine. A Third Strike maybe called on a batter during Kid Pitch by the Umpire.
Balls and HBP from the machine pitch are ignored. The batter will either hit a ball into play or strike out, but not walk..
A pitcher who hits 1 batter with a pitch during a game must be removed from the game as a pitcher.
Upon one visit by a manager or coach to the same pitcher in one inning, or the third visit by a manager or coach to the same pitcher in a game, the pitcher must be removed as the pitcher. The visit where the pitcher is removed will not count as a visit for the substitute pitcher. Once a pitcher comes out of the game as a pitcher, he cannot pitch again that day.
Pitch count limits
Players age 7 & 8: Maximum 50 pitches per game
Players age 9 & 10: Maximum 75 pitches per game
If a pitcher reaches this limit while pitching to a batter, he/she may finish pitching to that batter. For example: 8-year old Nolan has pitched 48 pitches so far in a game. He throws one ball and one strike to the next batter. He can continue to pitch to the current batter until that at-bat has been completed. Once that at-bat has been completed, Nolan is not allowed to pitch during that game and must be removed from the mound.
A player is not allowed to pitch if he/she was catcher for 4 innings that day. For a player that was catcher in 3 or less innings and then pitched, he/she can return to catcher if he/she pitched 20 or less pitches, or reached the 20-pitch threshold on the last batter he/she pitched to.
A player can be catcher if, and only if, he/she pitched 40 or less pitches that day or reached the 40-pitch threshold on the last batter he/she faced.
A player may not pitch in more than 1 game in a calendar day. A player may not pitch on 3 consecutive days.
Required days rest after pitching
1-20 pitches: no days rest required
21-35 pitches: 1 day of rest required
36-50 pitches: 2 days of rest required
51-65 pitches: 3 days of rest required
66 or more pitches: 4 days rest required
If a pitcher reaches a days rest threshold while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that at-bat has been completed and will only be required to observe the days rest threshold that he/she reached during the at-bat. Using the prior example, if the same 8-year-old Nolan threw 3 more pitches after throwing the initial ball and strike, and thereby threw 53 pitches (and was removed from the game as the pitcher), he would need 2 days of rest before being able to pitch in a game, since he attained the 50-pitch threshold during the last batter he faced.
The term days rest pertains to days between, and not including the days in which games are played. For example, if Nolan pitched 53 pitches on a Saturday, reaching the 50-pitch threshold on the last batter he faced, his 2 required days of rest would be Sunday and Monday, therefore first being able to pitch on Tuesday.
Tracking pitch counts
Each team must track pitch counts during the game. It is recommended that both teams discuss and agree on the pitch counts after each half inning.
Each manager must record the pitch counts on the website as soon as possible after each game. If a pitcher crossed a days rest threshold during the last batter, a manager has 2 options when entering the count into the website:
Enter the days rest threshold crossed (in the example we have used, that would be 50)
Enter the actual pitch count and check the “PC Met” box (in the example we have used that would be 53 and checking the box); only check the “PC Met” box when this “crossing the threshold” situation occurs and you enter the actual pitch counts
The website has been programmed to calculate the next day that the pitcher can pitch, when the data is entered correctly.
All players bat in a continuous order.
All players are strongly encouraged to wear helmets with full face guards/shields/cages when batting.
For innings other than the last inning, the inning will end when a team scores 4 runs, the team has batted through the lineup once, or 3 outs are recorded. However, in the last inning of the game, both teams have unlimited batting and scoring, and therefore are subject to only the 3-out rule.
“Last inning” for regular season games means either
(a) the 6th inning or
(b) the agreed/voted upon final inning of the game due to time limit considerations. With respect to (b), if the game is approaching the time limit, the managers and head umpire should agree prior to the inning that it will be the final inning, and that decision will stand regardless of whether the 1:30 time limit is actually reached. If there is a lack of consensus, each manager and the head umpire shall have 1 vote in the decision. “Last inning” for playoff games means the 6th inning or any later inning.
The 10 run mercy rule is in play after 4 or 5 complete innings (or 3.5 innings with the home team up by 10). 15 run mercy rule, after 3 complete innings (or 2.5 innings with the home team up by 15).
Bunting is allowed, but no slash bunting (faking bunt then swinging).
No throwing of bats. Players will be warned and the following infraction by the same player will result in an automatic out.
Hit by Pitch (HBP) is when a ball thrown by a pitcher and hits, or bounces and hits, the batter (LL 6.08) provided the batter did not swing at the ball.
Speed up/courtesy runner rule: player who made the last out may pinch run for next-inning catcher or next-inning pitcher (if the next inning is utilizing a player pitcher) when there are 2 outs.
1 steal per ½ inning. No Steals of home and no advancement on the overthrow.
No infield fly rule.
No intentional walks.
Only 1 base on overthrows. Only one overthrow per play (meaning one per batter/batted ball).
Coaches may only be positioned in the coaching boxes.
Managers/Coaches for each team must ensure that bats conform to Little League specifications and standards. In general, the bat must meet the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League and shall bear the USA Baseball logo.
For more information, the applicable link to the Little League website is here: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/baseballbatinfo.htm.
Please refer to the website for complete details.
Umpires are to be respected at all times. Judgment calls (ball/strike, safe/out) may not be questioned. Rule interpretations may be discussed, but those should be private and courteous discussions.
Promote sportsmanship! Cheer for good plays by BOTH TEAMS.
Use positive reinforcement only.
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
The HOME team shall prep the field (including raking infield dirt, placing bases, lining batter's box and foul lines). The HOME team is also responsible for opening up the field if it is the first game at that field (including opening all necessary locks), or closing up the field (including locking up, turning off lights, etc.).
The home team will have the first base bench/dugout and the away team will have the third base bench/dugout.
The HOME team supplies at least two new games balls to the umpire.
All batters and baserunners must wear batting helmets.
All batting helmets must have face guards.
Catchers must wear protective gear, including mask with throat protection, chest protector and shin guards.
Winning team shall promptly enter on website directly, or submit by text to the AA Commissioners, the final score of each game.
P.O. Box 4568 Stamford, Connecticut 06907