2010 Junior-Senior Fall Baseball Interleague Play Operating Guidelines

Revised 9/10/2010

 

OPERATING COMMITTEE

 

  • District Administrator
  • Assistant District Administrators
  • Representatives from each participating local League (e.g., League President or VP/Commissioner of Junior/Senior Baseball)

 

1.0       OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

1.1       As charter members of Little League International, interleague teams will play in conformance to the rules established by Little League Baseball and published in the 2010 “Official Regulations and Playing Rules,” unless changes or modifications are specified as exceptions in this document.  Every manager must have an official 2010 Rule Book in his possession.

 

1.2.      Interleague play will take place in two groups (Varsity and J.V.) in the Junior (13-14 year old) division and one group in the Senior (14, 15, 16 year old) division.  Team rosters shall be submitted to the Assistant District Administrator within 14 days after the first scheduled game.

 

1.3.      Each local League is expected to balance the talent of its teams in each division. The deliberate “loading” of a team with “all-star” caliber players at the expense of other teams is strictly prohibited.  Each local League is required to abide by an open enrollment policy. The cutting of players based upon a lack of playing ability is not permitted.

 

1.4.      The team manager is responsible for the conduct of his or her players, coaches, and spectators.  Any misconduct by a manager, coach, player, or spectator should be brought to the attention of the local League V-P’s/Commissioners who will be responsible for disciplining any individual(s) who display(s) unsportsmanlike behavior.  Disciplinary action can include oral and written warnings, suspensions (ranging from one game to the entire season), and/or forfeiture of one or more games.

 

1.5.      Ejections.  When a manager, coach, or player is ejected from a game, the person ejected shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game.  Persons ejected may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled.  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 site from which he or she is suspended.

 

1.6.      Cancelling Games Due to Weather.  The home team manager is responsible for the cancellation of any game due to inclement weather.  He or she is responsible for contacting the opposing manager and the umpire at least one hour—preferably much more—before the scheduled start of the game.  After contacting the umpire, the home team manager must then notify the Assistant District Administrator by e-mail of the cancellation and which umpire was contacted.  Both managers are responsible to be sure the umpire is notified.  The Assistant District Administrator will reschedule the game if feasible.

 

1.7.      Official protests must be made in conformance with Rule 4.19 (pp. 70-71).  The Protest Committee shall consist of the District Administrator and two Assistant District Administrators.  A $25.00 fee shall be imposed on the protesting team if the protest is not allowed.

 

2.0       PREGAME ACTIVITIES

 

2.1       The home team shall supply a sufficient number of “Senior Little League” or equivalent baseballs for the game.  In addition, the home (host) team is responsible for ensuring that the playing field is properly prepared.

 

2.2       The visiting team shall be provided a minimum of 15 minutes of infield practice immediately before the game if time permits.  Priority is to be given to the visitors.  The home team should make the necessary arrangements to warm up in advance of the visiting team or forego warm-ups if time is not available.  Remember that the visiting team members are your guests.

 

2.3       The participating managers and umpire shall meet immediately before the start of the game to discuss ground rules.  At this time, the opposing manager should be made aware of any players in attendance that will not play due to illness, injury, or for disciplinary reasons.  The opposing manager should be made aware of any replacement players who will be playing in the game.  At this pre-game conference, each manager should be prepared to exchange pitching logs, if requested.

 

2.4       Start games on time.

 

3.0       PLAYING RULE ADMENDMENTS

 

3.1       Each player is required to play a minimum of six consecutive outs in the field, and have at least one at-bat in each game. See Rule Book Regulation IV(i) (p. 36).

EXCEPTION: A player who does not play the minimum amount of time as set forth in this rule due to the termination of a game by the ten-run mercy rule, or due to the termination for any other reason of a game that is nonetheless declared a “complete game” must start the next game he is in attendance. This exception applies to games terminated early due to darkness, weather, and similar, unanticipated conditions, but does not apply to the situation in which a home-team player does not get his required at-bat because he is due to bat in the bottom of the last inning and his team is ahead. It is the home-team manager’s duty to assume such a possibility, and should therefore ensure each player an at-bat within six innings. The manager must make every effort to play each player in attendance the minimum amount of time in each game.

 

3.3       Replacement Players Allowed.  If a team does not have a sufficient number of players to play a game, replacement players may be used.  In the Senior division, replacement players shall be obtained from the Junior division if possible (14 year olds only); otherwise 14 or 15 year olds from another Senior division team in the same local League may be used.  In the Junior Division, replacement players shall be obtained from another team in the local League’s Junior division only.  At no time shall a team use replacement players from a team in another local League.

 

3.4       Replacement Player Procedures.  A team may use up to three replacement players in a game.  Should it become necessary for a replacement player to start a game, his position in the batting order shall be behind all regular team members in attendance.  No replacement player may play in favor of a regular team member in attendance, except that once a replacement player enters the game, he or she must remain in the game until satisfying the minimum play requirements of Regulation IV(i) (p. 36) (six defensive outs and one at-bat).  If a regular team member arrives after the game begins, the replacement player is required to leave the game immediately to make room for the regular player, unless the replacement player has played fewer than six consecutive defensive outs or has not yet batted.  Replacement players are not permitted to pitch.

 

3.5       $100 Fine for Last-Minute Cancellation.  A team must have 9 players to start a game (See Rule 4.16 (p. 70)), but may finish a game with 8 players, notwithstanding Rule 4.17 (p. 70).  A team may not “borrow” a player or players from the opposing team unless that team is from the same local League; if 9 players are not present when the game begins it is forfeited to the other team if present and ready to play within 15 minutes of starting time.  If a team cannot field 9 players to start the game, the manager shall notify the Assistant District Administrator no later than the preceding Wednesday by 8:00 p.m. so that the game can be cancelled in advance.  A team cancelling later will pay a $100 fine.  If a team arrives at the field but cannot field 9 players to start a game, the umpire shall not be obligated to umpire the game but may agree to umpire a practice game in which one or more players is borrowed from the other team.

 

3.6       Mercy Rule.  The ten-run mercy rule after five innings (4½ if home team ahead) is in effect for all games.  The manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent.  If the visiting team has a lead of ten runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.  See Rule 4.10(e) (p. 67).

 

3.7       Time Limit.  Any game that remains tied after the two and one-half hour time limit has expired will play one additional inning if the field is available without preventing the timely beginning of the next scheduled game.  Should the game remain tied at the end of the extra inning, or the field be unavailable for an extra inning, the score shall be recorded as a tie.

 

3.8       Report Score Promptly.  The winning manager is responsible for reporting game results to the Webmaster via the District 27 Web site at http://www.padistrict27.org no later than Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. at the conclusion of the weekly schedule.  Results will be posted on the District Web site as soon as possible.  Any problems or concerns about the game should be made known to the Assistant District Administrator (not the Webmaster) at this time.

 

3.9       Continuous Batting Order.  In the fall, we use the continuous batting order instead of the substitutions provided for in Rule 3.03 ((pp. 61-62).

 

 

4.0       PITCHING

 

4.1       Pitching Record.  The manager or coach of each team shall maintain and attach to his or her scorebook a pitching record upon which he or she shall record, for each game, the date and day of the week, pitcher(s)’ name(s), number of innings pitched, number of pitches, and name of the opposing team.  At the conclusion of each game, these logs shall be exchanged for initialing by the opposing manager or coach, or umpire if necessary. Failure to produce an appropriately completed pitching record could result in the game being protested and forfeited at the Assistant District Administrator’s discretion. Pitching log can be found here.

 

4.3       Regulation VI (pp. 38-40) governs pitchers.  It limits the number of pitches to 95 per day and requires the following days of rest:

 

            Pitchers league age 14 and under (league age is player’s age on April 30, 2011):

 

                                    Pitches             Days of Rest

                                    66 or more                   4

                                    51-65                           3

                                    36-50                           2

                                    21-35                           1

                                    1-20                             0

 

            Pitchers league age 15-18:

 

                                    Pitches             Days of Rest

                                    76 or more                   4

                                    61-75                           3

                                    46-60                           2

                                    31-45                           1

                                    1-20                             0

 

A balk counts as a pitch, whether or not the ball is thrown.  (Rule 2.00, definition of pitch, p. 60.)

            Violation of this rule could result in forfeiture of the game in which the violation occurs. A protest for violation must be made in conformance with Rule 4.19 (pp. 70-71).

 

            New for 2010:  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.  Regulation VI(a) (added by 25th Little League International Congress after the 2010 Rule Book was printed).

  

5.0       NO STANDINGS OR PLAYOFFS

 

No standings are maintained in the fall and no playoffs are held.

 

6.0       MISCELLEANOUS

 

All managers, coaches and League officials should become familiar with all rules in the 2010 Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules book.  The rules listed below are most often misunderstood or misinterpreted.  Managers should review the following rules with their players. They are listed with the Rule number, page number, and subject matter. 

 

 Bats.  Rule 1.10 (pp. 52-53)  – Senior division bats must be “–3” or less—shall not weigh more than 3 ounces less than their length in inches (e.g., a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). The weight of bats in the Junior division is not regulated.  Bats may be no longer than 36 inches (Seniors) or 34 inches (Juniors) and non-wood bats may be no more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter  Senior Division bats must meet and be labeled with the BESR performance standard.

 

On August 27, 2010, the Little League International Board of Directors adopted a moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Junior and Senior divisions.  They may not be used in any practice or game.  A composite bat is one that has a metal shell, but a woven composite of fibers on the inside of the barrel portion of the bat.  Not covered under the Little League moratorium are wood bats, metal bats, or bats that have composite materials in the handle only.

 

Rule 1.17 (p. 54) – Refers in part to all catchers wearing the dangling type throat guard regardless of the type of mask.  Requires catcher’s helmets to bear the NOCSAE stamp for compliance with safety standards.

 

Rule 2.0 – Interference and obstruction (p. 59).

  

Special Pinch Runner.  Rule 3.04 (p. 63) – Courtesy runner not permitted. But special pinch runners are allowed once per inning. See Rule 7.14 (p. 86). Note that a player may only be removed for a special pinch runner one time during a game.

 

Rule 3.17 (p. 64) – Occupying the bench and/or dugout.

 

Rule 4.05 (p. 66) – Two adult base coaches permitted.

 

Rule 4.06 (p. 66) – Conduct—good sportsmanship at all times.

 

Rule 4.16 (p. 70) – Game cannot start with fewer than 9 players.  D27 Operating Guideline 3.5 permits a game to end with 8, notwithstanding Rule 4.17 (p. 70).

 

Rule 6.02 (p. 74) – Batters may not step out of the batter’s box without getting time from umpire.

 

Slide or Avoid.  Rule 7.08 (a)(3) (p. 81) – A runner is out when . . . (3) the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.

 

Rule 7.14 (pp. 86) – Special pinch runner permitted.

 

Intentional walk.  Rule 8.05(k) (p. 91) – The pitcher must throw 4 pitches to walk a batter intentionally.  The catcher must be in the catcher’s box when the pitches are thrown.  Rule 8.05(k) (p. 91). 

 

Rule 8.05 (pp. 90-91) – Balk.  D27 amendment: one warning will be given per team per game.  In the fall, take the time to teach young pitchers how to hold and pick off runners without balking.

 

Chuck Casper, Ass’t District Administrator—Junior & Senior Baseball

Pennsylvania District 27, Little League Baseball International

610-667-4535 (home)

215-772-7223 (office)

610-745-8479 (cell)

ccasper@mmwr.com

 

September 10, 2010