2007 Senior-Big League Softball Interleague Play Operating Guidelines

 

OPERATING COMMITTEE

 

 

1.0        OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

1.1        As charter members of Little League Baseball, Inc., interleague teams will play in conformance to the rules established by Little League Baseball and published in the 2005 “Official Regulations and Playing Rules”, unless changes or modifications are specified as exceptions in this document.  Every Manager must have an official Rule Book in his possession.

 

1.2.       Interleague play will consist of one division in the Senior (13-14 year old) division and one division in the Big (15,16, 17, 18 year old) division. Exceptions to place 15 year-olds in the Senior Division and 14 year-olds in the Big Division will be granted if submitted in writing with appropriate justification to the District. Team rosters shall be submitted to the District Administrator within 14 days after the first scheduled game.

 

1.3.       Each league is expected to balance the talent of its respective 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 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 players, coaches, and spectators.  Any misconduct by a manager, coach, player, or spectator should be brought to the attention of the League V-P’s/Commissioners who will be responsible for disciplining any individual(s) who display(s) un-sportsman like behavior.  Disciplinary action can include verbal and written warnings, suspensions (ranging from one game to the entire season), and/or forfeiture of one, or more games.

 

1.5.       In the event that a player is disqualified from play by way of action taken by an umpire in ejecting that player for un-sportsman like conduct, such player will be ineligible to play the balance of the game from which she was ejected, and she also will be ineligible to play in the next game at which she is in attendance. During this one-game automatic suspension, the ineligible player is required to be present, and in uniform, but may not participate as a player or as a base coach.

 

1.6.       It is highly recommended that managers contact each other several days before a scheduled game to confirm the date, time, and location of the game.

 

1.7.       The home team manager is responsible for the cancellation of any game due to inclement weather. S/He is responsible for contacting the Visiting manager and any umpires at least one hour prior to the scheduled start of the game. The game should be rescheduled between the managers at a time convenient to both teams.

 

2.0        PREGAME ACTIVITIES

 

2.1        The Home (Host) Team shall supply a sufficient number of “Senior Little League” or equivalent (12 inch) softballs for the game. Leagues are encouraged to use optic yellow softballs with low raised seam since these will be used in District tournament play. Visit Little League Baseball for list of approved equipment.

 

In addition, the Home Team is responsible for ensuring the playing field is properly prepared.

 

2.2        The Visiting team shall be provided a minimum of 15 minutes of infield practice immediately prior to 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 prior to the start of the game to discuss field ground rules as well as any Home League rules to be enforced (see Section 6). Also, the umpire(s) and opposing manager should be made aware of:

·         any players in attendance that will not play due to illness, injury, or for disciplinary reasons as well,

·         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 (see Section 4)

 

2.4        A concentrated effort should be made by all participants to start the game 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.

[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 she is in attendance. This exception applies to games which are 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 she is due to bat in the bottom of the last inning and her 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 attempt to play each player in attendance the minimum amount of time in each game; however, teams with rosters in excess of 13 players in attendance at the game are exempt from the mandatory-playing requirement beyond the 13th player.

 

3.3        If a team does not have a sufficient number of players to play a game, replacement players may be used. In the Big division, replacement players shall be obtained from the Senior division if possible (14, 15 year-olds only), otherwise 15 or 16 year olds from another Big division team in the same League may be used. In the Senior Division, replacement players shall be obtained from another team in the League’s Senior division only.  At no time shall a team use replacement players from a team in another League.

 

3.4        A replacement player may not enter a game until all of the team’s regular members in attendance at the game have played at least six consecutive outs defensively and batted at least once. Should it become necessary for a replacement player to play as a starter, her position in the batting order shall be behind all regular team members in attendance. Any replacement player called up to play in a game must play at least six consecutive outs defensively and bat at least once, however, this requirement notwithstanding, no replacement player shall play in favor of a regular team member in attendance. Replacement players are not permitted to pitch and there is a limit of three replacement players for a game.

 

3.5               A team must have 9 players to start a game, but may finish a game with 8 players.  A team may not “borrow” a player or players from the opposing team unless that team is from the same League.  If a team cannot field 9 players to start a game, the umpire shall not be obligated to umpire a game.

 

4.0        PITCHING

 

4.1        The Manager or Coach of each team shall maintain and attach to his scorebook a “pitching record” upon which s/he shall record, for each game, the date and day of the week, pitcher(s)’ name(s), number of innings pitched, 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 possibly forfeited.

 

4.3        A player may pitch a maximum of ten (10) innings per day and a maximum of thirty (30) innings per calendar week. One pitch in an inning shall constitute an inning pitched.  The week for determining innings pitched by a pitcher shall run from Sunday through Saturday. Violation of this rule could result in forfeiture of the game in which the violation occurs.

 

4.4        If a player pitches in less than five (5) innings per day, no rest is required. If a player pitches in five (5) or more innings per day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.

 

5.0        PLAYOFFS

 

            To be determined.

 

6.0        MISCELLEANOUS

 

6.1        Home League rules are intended to make minor accommodations to the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball & Softball and must never change the spirit of the game. These home league rules are acceptable:

·         Adoption of a mandatory Ten Run Rule after five innings (4½ if home team ahead) and the Fifteen Run Rule after four innings (3 ½ if home team ahead). 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 (10 run rule) or fifteen runs or more (15 run rule), the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

·         Five- or Six-run rule: When the team at bat legally scores a fifth/sixth run in an inning, that inning shalle be declared complete as if three outs had been registered. EXCEPTION: this rule is not in effect for the seventh and all succeeding innings.

·         A time limit for the game may be imposed by the home team. Any game which remains tied after the agreed upon time limit has expired will play one additional complete inning. Should the game remain tied at the end of the extra inning, the score shall be recorded as a tie

 

The Home team manager must inform both the Visiting team manager and the umpire(s) if any of the above home league rules are to be enforced during the pre-game conference (see Section 2).

 

All Managers/Coaches and League Officials should become familiar with all the rules in the 2005 Little League Softball Official Regulations and Playing Rules book. The below listed rules are most often misunderstood or misinterpreted. The following rules should be reviewed by each Manager and Coach and with their players. They are listed with the Rule number, Page number and subject matter.

 

Rule 1.17, Page44 - Refers in part to all Catchers wearing the dangling type throat guard         

                                              regardless of the type of mask they have.

 

Rule 2.0, Page 48 & 49 - Interference and Obstruction

 

Rule 3.03, Page 51 & 52 – Re-entry rule

 

Rule 3.04, Page 52 – Pinch Runner

 

Rule 3.17, Page 54 – Occupying the bench and/or dugout

 

Rule 4.05, Page 55– Two Adult base Coaches permitted

 

Rule 4.06, Page 55 – Conduct, Good sportsmanship at all times.

 

Rule 4.16, Page 59 – Game cannot start with less than nine players

 

Rule 6.02, Page 62 - Batters may not step out of the batters box without getting time from

 

Rule 7.08 (a) (3), Page 68 – A runner is out when -