Minor League Rules 2010

  The objective of Minor League baseball is to develop baseball skills and introduce rules understanding to our youth.  We are working towards improving their abilities, with the goal of Major League consideration, participation, and beyond.  To this we strive to develop better hitters, fielders, and pitchers while providing an environment of teamwork, good sportsmanship, fair play, and especially safety; this allows the children to enjoy the game as they learn. 

 

All volunteers MUST fill out and hand in a Little League Volunteer Application!

Once you are cleared to coach, you will get an ID Badge. As a Manager or Coach you must wear your ID Badge at ALL games, and at all practices.

1.  Saturday and Sunday games shall have a two hour limit. The two-hour time limit begins with the scheduled start of your game. E.g. {If your game is scheduled to end at 5:00, that’s when you end}

2.  Games shall have umpires assigned by the Umpire-in-Chief, and paid by Chariho Little League.

They will probably be young, and still in training.  The Executive Board will not tolerate any abuse, verbal or otherwise, to any umpire, and such incidents will be dealt with accordingly.

3.  All Managers and Coaches MUST be approved by the Executive Board.  No more than one (1) manager and two (2) coaches shall be allowed in the dugouts or on the field during any games.

All coaches have to be eighteen {18} years old or older.  No one is allowed in the dugout or field except for approved umpires, coaches, and players on their official roster.

{AA} The Home Team Managers/Coaches are responsible for getting the pitching machine, balls etc. and making sure everything is put away after your game.  When playing at Langworthy Field, make sure the pitching machine is put away neatly in the shed.  Umpires and anyone under 18 are NOT allowed to touch the pitching machine.

4.   There is no on deck position. All players MUST stay in their dugout until it’s their turn to bat or be in their playing position. They are allowed to have a few practice swings out of the batter’s box only.

There is to be no swinging of any type of bats in or around the dugout.  There is NO bat boy or girl. The Manager/coaches are responsible for retrieving the bats.  

5.  Offensive Inning:

All players MUST bat in continuous order. A side is retired when three {3} outs are made, when a team has batted through it’s nine {9} player roster. The manager or coach should inform the umpire just before the ninth batter is up. The remaining subs will bat at the top of the next inning.

A five-run limit is to be imposed, which would complete the half inning. Exception, see Rule 5.07

Rule 5.07 - Five run rule – The inning is over after 5 runs are scored by a team, except if it is the last half of the inning of the game.  {The last inning of the game, does not have to be the {6th} Sixth inning}

The umpire will determine if the game will be called because of time restraints, etc. and he/she should notify each manager at the beginning of the top of that last inning, or before. 

6.  Substitutions:

Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of nine {9} defensive outs (subs must play (9) nine defensive outs).  Penalty:  The player(s) involved must start the next scheduled game and complete the minimum play required, and then play any previous requirement not completed in the last game. 

7. Injured Runner:

If a runner is injured, and is not able to continue, he/she will be replaced by the player that made the last out in the prior inning. 

8.  There is NO intentional walking of a batter

9. There are NO Playoffs in Minor League Baseball

10. There is NO head first sliding into any base {a runner will be called out if he/she slides head first}

11.  Passing the Hat:

The  manager of the home team will be responsible for sending  two children out to “ pass the hat“ during the top of the fourth inning of each game, and shall see to it that they bring any donations to the concession stand, and make sure they return to their dugout  immediately.  Players are only to be allowed outside the field to collect hat money or to go to the restroom—Players are NOT allowed to go to the concession stand to buy anything during their games. There is to be NO FOOD in the dugouts. Please clean your dugout at the end of your game, and do not allow players to stick gum anywhere on the dugout.

12.   If a team cannot field  nine {9} players, a player or players from the opposing team shall be volunteered or selected by the manager of that team to complete the roster of the short-handed team. There are no forfeits.

13.   Pitchers: see Pitching Regulations {page 4} below, or Green rule book page 34 and:  “CHARIHO LITTLE LEAGUE PITCH-COUNT REGULATIONS”. {page 5} 

14.  Catchers:

a. Must wear full protective gear {catcher’s helmet with facemask, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and a protective cup} during all games, practices, and warm-up. NO Skull Caps are permitted.

b. Catchers MUST wear a catcher’s helmet and face mask during infield practice. {Games and practice}

c. A catcher is NOT allowed to pitch if, he/she has been catching for {4} four or more innings.

d. Managers/coaches are not permitted to warm up a pitcher in a catcher’s stance {crouched position}

15.  Bunting:

Bunting is permitted throughout the season, but only with live pitching.

{AA} NO bunting is allowed with the pitching machine.  If your team does NOT wish to bunt, prior to the game verify that with the opposing team’s manager.

16. Base Stealing:

a. There is NO leading off a base, until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter.

b. Base stealing is allowed, but base runners are only allowed to steal three (3) bases per inning, and are not allowed to steal home base.

c. Double Steal:

  A double steal constitutes one (1) steal, but the base runners are NOT allowed to steal home base.

  Example: If there is a runner on second base, and a runner on first base, the runners can steal third and second base; that will count as one (1) steal for that inning. 

{AA} There is NO base stealing.

{Note: there is no balk; see rule 8.05}

17. Base Coaches:

Base coaches will consist of Manager/coach and one player in his/her uniform.  {Players must have a baseball helmet on when coaching any base.}  There must be at least one Manager or coach in the dugout at all times.

18. Dead Ball:

The ball is dead when an umpire calls time, {see rule 5.00} or when an outfielder throws or runs the ball in to an infielder.  That infielder must be  “inside the base path”. The runners can not advance to the next base.

{AA} If a batted ball hits the pitching machine, the ball will be considered dead.

19. Parking Lot:

{AA} This rule only pertains to Langworthy Field only: If a ball is hit by a batter, and goes to the “Parking Lot” on the ground it will be considered a “Ground-Rule Triple”

It a batter hits a ball in the air and it goes into the “Parking Lot” it will be considered a “Home-Run”.

The idea of this rule is to STOP players from running after a ball that goes in or near the “Parking Lot”.

20. Manager/Coach Ejection:

If a manager or coach is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled. A manager or coach ejected from a game must not be present at the game site for the remainder of that game.

Player Ejection: Manager/Coach notifies the parents, and the player should be taken out of the dugout.  If no parent is present, then the Player should remain in the dugout, but can not be allowed to participate in the game in any way. Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for his or her team’s next physically played game and may not be in attendance at the game. (Rule 4.07)

21. Mercy Rule:

If after four {4} innings (three and one a half innings if the home team is ahead) one team has a lead of fifteen {15} runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs must concede victory to the opponent.  Note: if the visiting team has a lead of fifteen {15} runs or more the home team must bat in its half of the inning.  (This is a Chariho Little League rule; in the Little League Rulebook it’s 10 runs) 

22. Rain Outs.

AA – NO rains outs will be rescheduled.

AAA – If the umpire calls a game for weather, or darkness: if after three (3) full innings of play, a game will be considered a legally completed game. The team with the highest score at the end of the last completed inning is the “winner”.

All rain outs will be rescheduled by the President of the league, and it is the team manager’s responsibility to find out when.

Teams will only have one {1} rain out date per game.  If it happens to rain on your rescheduled date, you will not make that game up.

The rain out schedule will be posted in the Concession Stand and on the website. 

If possible check our website regularly for updated information. www.chariholittleleague.org

OVERVIEW:

AAA - live pitching the whole game.

AA – the first (1st) innings of live pitching, and five (5) innings using the pitching machine. (Note)

If it looks like it may rain, it is advised to use the pitching machine for the first - five innings rather than live pitching. (it will move the game along)

The Manager of every team is responsible for:

Passing the hat: Home team only, at the top of the fourth (4th) inning

After each game please make sure you pickup your dugout, recycle any plastic bottles etc. 

Fund raising: distributing and collecting raffle tickets and money

Concession Stand: getting your parents to man the concession when it’s your turn.

Pictures: distributing the picture envelopes, and making sure the parents get the pictures when they are in.  

Report any incidents that might happen to a player, manager/coach as soon as possible, and please fill out an accident report. Forward that report to the Safety Officer {Mark Davis 364-8903} if you can not reach Mark, then talk to any E-Board member.

Have your parents fill out a Medical Release form, {Supplied} and carry those forms with you at all games/practices.

Carry your First Aid kit {supplied} to all games/practices, and stock up on Ice packs {supplied}

AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

An AED is located in the concession stand; it’s on the left side as you walk in the door.

It is only to be used by those who have successfully completed a CPR and AED training program.

You should know where it is located to be on the safe side.  Always dial 911 immediately.

What to do if someone is struck by Lightning

1. The person that is struck will carry no electrical charge; therefore, they are safe to touch.

2. Call 911

3. Check for burns to the body.

4. Give first aid as needed.

5. If breathing and/or heartbeat have stopped, perform CPR until EMS arrives

                                                                                                          

PITCHING REGULATIONS

Chariho Little League Pitching Regulations revised as follows:

AAA: If a pitcher throws a “Ball”, and then throws a “Strike”, one (1) ball is then wiped off the count.

Example:

The count on the batter is 3 and 0 – the pitcher throws a “Strike”.  That “Strike” wipes out one (1) “Ball” the count is now 2 and 1.

AA: If a pitcher throws a “Ball”, and then throws a “Strike”, that “Strike” wipes out all “Balls”.

Example:

The count on the batter is, 3 and 0- the pitcher throws a “Strike” that “Strike” wipes out all “Balls”

The count is now, 0 and 1

Regulation VI – PITCHERS – 2010 Rulebook – Page 38

(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch Except see b. (NOTE): There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.) 

b. A player who is league age twelve (12) is NOT eligible to pitch in the Minor League.

  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.

                           

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 except as a catcher: NOTE: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

                                 League age - 8         50 pitches per day

                                

                                 League age - 9 -10       75 pitches per day                 

                                                                     

                        League age - 11          85 pitches per day

                            

d. Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch to that batter 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.

• 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 must be observed.

e. A pitcher, once removed from a game, may not re-enter that game as a pitcher.

f. A player may pitch in consecutive games ONLY if 20 or fewer pitches were delivered in the previous game. 

Coach/Pitcher consultations are limited to two {2} per inning. A third visit in the same inning shall result in the pitcher being replaced. The catcher may be included in the conference with the pitcher, but no other player may be called to the conference.

All managers are required to fill out the pitching affidavit after each game. (Affidavit will be in Concession stand.)  Strike that for now!

All managers will keep their own affidavit, and will have the opposing manger sign it after each game. 

           CHARIHO LITTLE LEAGUE PITCH-COUNT REGULATIONS

Managers are responsible for keeping track of the pitch count for their own teams. Managers may assign this responsibility to an on-field coach.  Assistant coaches or parents are not eligible to keep the official pitch count. It is advised that team scorekeepers also keep track of the opposing team's pitch count.

To record the pitch count, a mark is to be made for each batter in the batters box of your official scorebooks. All legal pitches thrown (including foul balls) shall be recorded. Warm-up pitches do not count towards the official pitch count. 

After each full inning the team scorekeepers will meet with the home plate umpire to verify pitch counts for all pitchers used during the previous inning.

Scorekeepers must agree on the number of pitches thrown.

A four-option plan should be used if the pitcher in question will be returning to the mound for the next inning:.

1) Agree on the higher number presented.

2) Agree on the lower number presented.

3) Split the difference.

4) Flip a coin to make the decision

Any disputes should be resolved quickly and quietly.

Disputes concerning pitchers not returning to the mound for the next inning should be resolved immediately following the game using the same four step option process.

Every effort should be taken to resolve pitch count disagreements on the field to avoid the possibility of protests.  In the unlikely event that the disagreement cannot be resolved using these four methods, an E-Board member shall be summoned to mediate.

Managers will maintain an official team scorebook along with their current team-pitching affidavit.

The managers or a team coach representative must meet immediately after each game to verify and sign each other’s, and the league's official pitching affidavits.  Failure to meet with the opposing team after the game to verify and sign pitching affidavits may result in penalties imposed on the offending managers; first offense will result in a written warning; second offense, a one game suspension; third offense, a three game suspension.

Perceived habitual or blatant manipulation of the pitch count rules should be reported to the board.

Please refer to the Little League rulebook for details concerning pitch count rules.