Local Rules

Local Rules – Spring 2010

The conduct and operations of Northeast Little League are governed by Little League Baseball, Incorporated 2009 Official Regulations, Rules and Playing Rules and the 2009 Little League Operating Manual. Where Local Option Regulations, Rules and Policies are not specified or allowed, the Regulations, Rules and Policies found in the official publications of Little League Baseball, Incorporated will be followed.

I (a)        Establish the age structure for all baseball/softball divisions

Baseball
Majors
  1. League age 10 through 12. (pg 54 2009 Operating Manual)
  2. Minimum 12 players per team.
Minors Triple AAA
  1. Ages 8-11, all 11 year olds must be drafted in AAA.
  2. Maximum 12 players per team.
Minors Double AA
  1. Ages 8-10, all 9&10 year olds must be drafted in AA.
  2. Age 7, In order for a 7 year old to be drafted or move up to Double AA the following requirements must be fulfilled.
    *Requested in writing by parent(s) 7 days prior to draft and majority consent of VP of Baseball and Player Agent
  3. Maximum 13 players per team.
Minors Single A

1.  Ages 7-8, # of players to be determined by President, VP of Baseball and Player Agent based on number of registrants.

2.  Age 6, In order for a 6 year old to be drafted or move up to Single A the following requirements must be fulfilled.
*League Age 6 are permitted to advance to Minor League Coach Pitch or machine pitch after participating in Tee Ball for one year. (Pg 20, 2009, (a)-note 2 Official Regulations and Playing Rules)
*Requested in writing by parent(s) 7 days prior to draft and majority consent of VP of Baseball and Player Agent

3. Remaining un-drafted players 7-8 are drafted

Tee Ball
  1. Maximum 12 players per team.
  2. League age 4, 5 and 6.  4 year olds must play with 4 year olds or rookie 5 year olds.

III (d)         Set number of days allowed for a manager to select a replacement for an injured player

If player misses two consecutive games for any reason, player agent and VP of Baseball must be notified of absence within 24 hours after the 2nd game missed.  If player agent and VP of Baseball determine there is a loss of player, then the manager shall select a replacement player within 7 days.

III (d)         Establish if replacements from Minors to the Majors during last 2 weeks of season are prohibited

A replacement will be determined at the discretion of Player agent and VP of Baseball.

IV (f)          Establish if league will accept late registrations and how they will be handled

League will accept late registrations based on approval of Executive Committee.

V (b)          Establish method of drafting teams for each divisions

Plan B as per the Operation Manual with following changes (Pg 62):

a)   Random Selection of draft position by drawing numbers from a hat.

b)   The Manager may select one Coach. His/Her Son or Daughter is protected in the 11th Round of a 12 player draft in Majors

c)  All Players may be drafted at any time as long as all the 12 Year olds play in the Majors.

V (c)          Determine if a “Player Pool” system will be utilized and in which divisions

Board of directors will determine if player pool is necessary upon completion of registration based on number of registrants.

VII (a)        Establish regular season schedules for all divisions

Sample Schedules on Page 72-29 will be followed as closely as possible.

a)     Season begins February 20th

b)     Majors Schedule will be for 24 games.

c)      Minors and tee ball schedules will be for 20 games.

VII (h)       Determine if time limits are to be used in the Tee Ball and Minor Divisions

Minors Double AA & Triple AAA – Weeknight games no new inning starts after 1 hour 45 minutes, Weekends 2 Hours

Minors Single A – Weeknight games no new inning starts after 1 hour 30 minutes, Weekends 1 hour 45 minutes

Tee ball – No new inning starts after 1 hour

VIII (b)       Establish policy for Minor Division players who refuse to move up to Major Division

Parent has right to refuse promotion to Major Division.

XIII            Determine a league fundraiser, if desired

Hit-a-Thon, mandatory participation for ALL players and teams–March 20th, 2010

XIV (a)      Establish discipline procedure for altercations

Disciplinary actions must be submitted to the appropriate Player Agent and Vice President of Baseball to determine penalty or punishment to be consistent with Page 84 – Rule 9.05

Guidance on the following Rules (as appropriate):

Rules

4.04          Establish in which divisions continuous batting order will be utilized

Continuous batting will be used in Tee ball and minor divisions.

4.05 (1)     Establish in which divisions two adult base coaches will be utilized

Tee ball and minors divisions MUST use adult base coaches.  Majors division can use player base coach, but player must wear batting helmet while on the field.

4.10 (e)     Establish in which divisions the league will utilize the mandatory 10 run rule

10 run rule will be used in majors division only.

4.19          Establish how to handle league protests for regular season

Minor game protests must be handled prior to next pitch or play.  No escalation past umpire and board member on duty.

5.10 (b)     Determine policies for games interrupted by light failure

Games not completed must be finished or made up with in 2 weeks.

7.13          Establish policy for stealing or allowing extra-bases in Tee Ball & Minor Divisions

No stealing in Tee Ball, Minors Single A & Double AA

Minors Triple AAA – Stealing bases permitted during first half of season but no stealing home. Stealing all bases allowed second half of season – i.e. follow standard Little League rules.

Other

  1. Face masks must be worn on batting helmets.
  2. No Curve Balls – Interpretation of umpire.  Ball delivered in a spinning motion consistent with a curve ball.  1st pitch illegal pitch warning, 2nd pitch illegal pitch, ball and warning, 3rd pitch player ejected from game.  If there is another incident, the manager can be disciplined.  See Rule 8.02
  3. Playing Time in Minors Single A, Double AA & Triple AAA.  Consistent with the Little League Baseball, Incorporated’s Official “Big Al – Little Al” Training Program, NELL will implement the recommended “6-3-3 Substitution Plan.”  For the complete Minors Single A and Double AA season and the first half of the Minors Triple AAA season, managers will substitute players per the following plan.  The 12 rostered players will be divided into two groups of six (6) players – group A and group B for the season.  Group A will start and play all defensive outs of the 1st game; Group B will rotate in and out of the game each inning – 3 will start and 3 will substitute in the second inning.  Group B will continue rotating every three defensive outs until the game is completed.  During the 2nd game of the season, Group B will start and play all defensive outs.  Group A will then rotate in and out every three defensive outs until the 2nd game is complete.  For the remainder of the season, Group A and Group B will alternate games so that each child plays a full, complete game, every other game – i.e. Group A will start and complete odd numbered games and Group B will start and complete even numbered games.  If a child misses a regularly scheduled practice or shows up late for scheduled pre-game warm-up, then that child forfeits his/her right to start and complete the next scheduled game per the manager’s discretion.  The manager also has the right to alter the 6-3-3 Substitution Plan if a player is absent for a game, or an injury occurs during a game resulting in a loss of player, or a player ejection occurs.  Additionally, Little League has mandated continuous batting order for Minor Divisions; NELL is requiring that the manager assign the 12 rostered players a batting position (1 – 12) for the 1st game.  The batting order will be rotated throughout the season so that the # 1 batter in the 1st game; becomes the # 2 batter in the 2nd game; # 3 batter in the 3rd game; etc.; the # 12 batter in the 1st game becomes the # 1 batter in the 2nd game; the # 2 batter in the 3rd game; etc.; so that each player has an opportunity to lead-off at least one time during a season. For the second half of the Minors Triple AAA season, it is up to the manager’s discretion as to whether or not to continue with the 6-3-3 Substitution Plan.

Minors Triple AAA-If the manager chooses to use some other substitution method, then Little League rules governing minimum play and continuous batting prevail.  Managers must keep a scorebook to record compliance with this local rule.

  1. Determining Champion.  In the Major division, the season will be split into two halves, with the first half champion playing the second half champion in a best two-out-of-three tournament at the end of the regular season. The championship games will be played only after all regular season games necessary to determine first and second half champions are completed. All regular season rules apply throughout the playoffs. If the same team wins both halves, it will be declared Champion. Ties for individual half champions will be decided by a one game playoff between the applicable teams.  This one game playoff will be played on the first Saturday after the first half of the season.  All attempts will be made to have no majors games after the Wednesday before this potential game and no games until the following Wednesday.
  2. Minor Single A: Pitching Machine Only-5 Run Rule Limit per Inning. All positions, including catcher will have a player, not a coach.
  3. Minor Double AA: 5 Run Rule Limit Per Inning.

1st half Coach Pitch (7 Pitches) No walks/ No Strike Outs Recorder-They just sit.

2nd half Kid Pitch- If ball 4 occurs, coach pitches 5 pitches maximum. 1 Inning Per Pitcher.

Tournament Team Selection

1.         The number of players to be rostered for each team

Number of players to be determined by the post-season manager.

2.   The method of selection of players.

Majors- Manager’s and respective player agent & VP of Baseball will meet and evaluate each child and determine an all star rosters and submit to the board for approval.

Minors Triple AAA-  Manager(s) and respective player agent &VP of Baseball will meet and evaluate each child and determine an all star rosters (less three (3) players) and submit to the board for approval.  Minor Triple AAA players will nominate three (3) players – top three vote winners will make the team(s) pending Board approval.

Board approval for player selection is a majority vote.

The method of selection of manager and coaches.

Majors Division – Winner of league, upon board approval, has the right to manage the all star team of their choosing.

Minors Triple AAA Division – Managers desiring to be an all star manager must submit their request to manage a post season team and if necessary, make a presentation to the executive committee who will submit recommendations to the board for approval.

Managers are allowed to name their coaching staff.  All regular season managers and coaches are eligible to be named to their staffs upon board approval.

Board approval for all managers and coaches is a majority vote.

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