Rules

FOOTHILLS LITTLE LEAGUE

Summary of League and Local Rules – All Divisions

• All players will play a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and one at bat, as required by Little League, Inc. rulebook. If a player has not met the minimum play requirements, the Player Agent must be notified with 24 hours.
• All players must be listed on the roster and given to the Head Umpire prior to the start of the game.
• All male players must wear an athletic supporter. Male catchers must wear a cup – No exceptions. Players warming up pitchers must wear a catcher’s mask and stand in front of home plate. Only players in full gear may assume the catcher’s position behind the plate.
• Male catchers must wear long chest protectors, females may wear short, with neck collar, dangling throat guard, shin guards and catcher’s helmet (no skull caps).
• Catchers warming up the pitcher must be in full gear, if catching from behind the plate.
• Any player may warm up a pitcher provided he/she wears a mask and stands in front of home plate.
• The home team will supply two new baseballs each game and are to be given to the Head Umpire prior to the start of the game.
• Players may not wear jewelry (including stud earrings). Only medic-alert bracelets or necklaces may be worn. (Rule 1.11)
• Players may not wear shorts. Coaches* may wear shorts provided they are appropriate style and color. No cutoffs.
• No visitors to the dugout. Family and friends are to remain in the stands. Kids are also required to remain in the dugout, unless permission is granted by the umpire or coach, i.e. for bathroom only.
• Coaches may not warm up a pitcher at home plate or in the bullpen or elsewhere at any time. Rule 3.09
• The Home team is responsible for field preparation prior to the game. This includes clearing the field of any obstructions, checking the field for safety concerns, chalking base lines, coaches boxes and batter boxes — See Rule Book for dimensions. (No on-deck batters boxes, Rule 1.08 Note 1)
• The umpire and scorekeeper shall not direct the attention of any person to the presence in the batters box of improper batter. This rule is designed to foster constant vigilance by the players and managers of both teams. Rule 6.07

  *the term coaches is interchangeable with manager, or coach.

• Scorekeeper will keep track of pitchers eligibility and pitching record. Scores must be submitted to snack bar at the close of the game. The home team will provide and maintain the official scorebook. No other persons are allowed in the scorekeeper’s box except children of scorekeepers. Note: Scorekeepers must remain neutral observers – i.e. no cheering from behind home plate.
• Umpires will inform and enforce rules of the dugout. Seeds and water or sport drinks are acceptable (no food or gum).
• Protests will be considered when based on the violation or interpretation of a playing rule, use of an ineligible pitcher or the use of an ineligible player. No protest will be considered based on the umpires judgment. Rule 4.19
• Coaches may be asked to umpire 3 games outside their division, so please become familiar with the rulebook (Minors will be field umpires in Majors, Majors will field umpire in Minors)
• Painting or altering of helmets by anyone other than the manufacturer is not authorized due to the possibility that the structural integrity of the helmet may have been compromised.
• Teams may use two adult offensive coaches on the field, provided there is one adult in the dugout. Rule 4.05
• Teams are responsible to clean (and sweep) out their own dugouts after games and help keep the fields clean.
• No foul language whatsoever. Offenders will be ejected from the game. This applies to Players, Coaches, Parents and Spectators.
• Little League is a tobacco-free (including chewing tobacco) and alcohol-free environment.
• Injuries must be reported in writing within 24 hours to the League Safety Officer. Forms shout be kept with the teams Medical Release Forms.
• Player Selection follows Little League Recommended Draft Procedures as outlined in the Operating Manual. Majors follow Plan A. Minor Divisions follow the Serpentine method of Draft.
• Players who refuse to draft up from the Minors to the Majors (unless Board Approved) will not be permitted to advance to the Majors at any time during the season and will be required to replace any drafter player who is drafter to their place.

Majors 

• FLL does not enforce the ten-run rule, but will use the mercy rule as follows: The coach of the team that is behind may concede to the opposing team by informing the umpire at his discretion (after the regulation, four innings have been completed). Remember, the minimum play requirements must be completed and will be enforced by the Board. Best practice is to meet all minimum play by the end of the fourth inning.
• At the beginning of each inning, pitchers will be permitted to pitch (not to exceed) eight preparatory pitches to the catcher, or other teammate acting in the capacity of the catcher. Such preparatory pitches will not consume more than one minute of time. If a sudden emergency causes a pitcher to be summoned into the game, the UIC will allow the pitcher as many pitches as the umpire deems necessary. Rule 8.03
• Offensive Time Outs – The coach may visit the pitcher twice in one inning, but the third time out, the player must be removed as pitcher. The coach is prohibited from making a third visit while the same batter is at bat. Rule 8.06 (a)(b)(c). Coaches are not permitted to leave their respective dugouts until the pitcher has completed his/her preparatory pitches to the catcher. Rule 4.05.

AAA Division

• No twelve-year-old players are allowed to pitch in the Minor division.
• There is a two-hour time limit on all AAA games. Umpires will notify managers and call the last inning at 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Continuous batting order will be in affect.
• The five-run rule will be in effect for AAA. A team cannot score more than five runs regardless of the score with the exception of the last inning, where no restrictions on placed on the number of runs a team can score. The last inning will be the sixth inning, only if you make it to the sixth inning.
• At the beginning or each inning, pitchers will be permitted to pitch (not to exceed) eight preparatory pitches to the catcher, or other teammate acting in the capacity of the catcher. Such preparatory pitches will not consume more than one minute of time. If a sudden emergency causes a pitcher to be summoned into the game, the UIC will allow the pitcher as many pitches as the umpire deems necessary. Rule 8.03
• Offensive Time Outs – the coach may visit the pitcher twice in one inning, but the third time out, the player must be removed as pitcher. A coach may visit with the pitcher three times in one game, but the fourth time out, the player must be removed as pitcher. The coach is prohibited from making a third visit while the same batter is at bat. Rule 8.06 (a)(b)(c) Coaches are not permitted to leave their respective dugouts until the pitcher has completed his/her preparatory pitches to the catcher. Rule 4.05.

AA division

• This division will play a minimum of 4 innings or 2 hours (no more than 6 innings.)
• The batting order will be as follows: Bat the whole lineup, 5 runs or 3 outs, whatever occurs first. (5 runs maximum per inning per team.) Each batter will have no more than 6 attempts to hit the ball into play.
• It is mandatory that the pitching machine be used for every league game.

T-ball division

• This division will play a minimum of 4 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes (no more than 6 innings.)
• Batting order will be as follows: Bat the whole lineup, reversing the order every inning.
• All players play the field
• No score will be kept
• Even if there are three outs, base paths do not get cleared. 

All-Stars

• The All-Star coaches for the 11-12 team will be the first place Major’s Coach and shall choose his two coaches from the Majors Division
• The second place Major Team Coach will manage the 9-10 All-Stars and may choose two coaches from Majors or Minors.
• If the Managers awarded the opportunity to coach an all-star team declines to take a team, other managers within the Majors may be offered the team(s). Minor managers may be awarded the 9-10 all-star team provided no Coach from the Majors wants to take the team to all-stars
• All-star players and coaches will be approved by a majority vote of the Board.
• Players from the Majors and AAA are eligible for the 9-10 all-star team. Only players from the Majors are eligible for the 11-12 all-star team. Remember, we must show enthusiasm toward each and every player on the field at all times. This isn’t the World Series (no matter how some people may act) If we pressure these players too much they may not return to the game if they think they have failed. With that in mind, if you have any player issues, please direct them to the Vice President and Player Agent of their division of play. If you have any coaching issues, please direct them to the President.The local rules are not intended to supersede, alter or conflict with Little League, Inc.’s published Rules, Regulations, Policies or Principles. Please be sure to have a meeting with your team parents to discuss basic rules and stress the fact that we are here to teach the fundamentals of the game. So everybody is a winner!!!!!!!!!! Good luck this season and thank you for giving your time and energy. If you need any assistance or have any questions, please contact a board member.

Local Rules Revised and Adopted 11/18/04