HWLL - Hamilton-Wenham Little League

Local Rules for Major and Minor League Play

1. Sportsmanship and a positive attitude are an important part of baseball. Cheering on your team and encouraging your players teaches this. Harassing the other team is not allowed. Acts such as switching batters boxes, shaking the bat in the strike zone, or loud chanting or banging of fences or bats intended to break the concentration of the pitcher are examples of negative coaching and do not teach the sportsmanship we desire in our children. Positive cheering is permitted including chanting for your teammates at a consistent tone when the pitcher is pitching (i.e. can not raise the tone of cheering as the pitcher is winding up so as to break his or her concentration). (This is in addition to LL National Rule 4.06 governing conduct.)
2. Continuous batting order. All players available to play in a game will be included in the batting order. Every batter in the order bats before the first batter bats for his second time. A player reporting to a game late will be inserted after the last player in the batting order regardless of who might be due up at bat.
3. Playing time: No player may sit out more than two innings in a game (unless for disciplinary reasons or for chronic absenteeism). HWLL strongly encourages equal playing time for all of its players. Consecutively singling out any one player for less playing time is not permitted (i.e. don’t sit the same player two innings every game when other players are not).
4. Playing positions: Players should have an opportunity to play both infield and outfield positions. Per game, each player must play at least one inning in both infield and outfield. The only exception to this rule is that a major league pitcher (and a catcher continuously catching that pitcher) may pitch up to his/her 85 (or 75) pitch limit and remain on the mound (/behind the plate), potentially for the entire game. If pulled from the mound before the end of the game, that pitcher (and catcher) need fulfill their outfield requirement or be removed from the game for a substitute. If that pitcher or catcher is reinserted in the game they MUST fulfill their outfield requirement.
5. No “Ten-Run Rule.” Play the full 6 innings and coaches please make every effort to not let games get or continue to be out of hand (which a 10-run lead certainly implies).
6. Intentional walks are not permitted.
7. Replacing base runner: If a base runner is injured and is unable to run, the manager may replace him/her with another runner. The replacement will be the last player in the batting order, previous to the injured player, who is not currently a base runner. The injured player may return to the game once he/she is able.
8. Make-up games: A postponed game must be played on the next available date. The next available date should be no later than the weekend following the day on which the game had to be postponed. The availability of a manager or specific player on a team should not impact the re-scheduling of a game. The assistant manager can fill in for the manager.
9. Base Coaches: 1 adult and 1 player may coach either at first or third base.
10. Pitcher Disqualification: Any pitcher who hits 3 batters in one inning or 4 batters in a game must be removed from the game as a pitcher.
11. All batters must have shirts tucked in and helmets properly strapped before they enter the batter’s box.
12. Sliding Rules – Any runner is out when the runner slides head first while advancing. Headfirst sliding is only permitted when returning to a base. A runner must slide into any contested base. The umpire will determine when there is a contested base (typically when the ball and player are arriving at the base at roughly the same time). In any situation involving a contested base, failure to slide results in the runner being called out.
13. All rules not specifically addressed in the HWLL local rules will be governed by the Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules. Coaches, managers, umpires, and league officials are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules.
14. Tie break rules for post-season/playoff seeding in major and minor:
    1. Win – Loss Record
    2. Head-to-head record
    3. Runs Against
    4. Runs Scored
15. Home vs Away Team: The home team will be responsible for paying the umpire (Major League only) and providing game balls (3). The home team will occupy the first base dugout. The home team will use the field first for warmups, from a half hour before game time until 15 minutes prior to game time. The away team will occupy the 3rd base dugout. The away team will use the field from 15 minutes prior to game time until game time. Following the game, both teams are responsible for cleaning up all trash in their dugouts and raking the dugout, home plate, and pitching mound areas, filling holes where appropriate.

Local Rules - Major League Only

1. Replacing Players for one game or longer: Major League managers who know they will have less than 10 players for a game must bring up replacement(s) from the minor league. Also, if a player for any reason will miss the remainder of the season, that spot on the roster must be filled by bringing up a minor league player permanently. It is understood that this will weaken the team who will be losing the player, but the overriding factor is giving a deserving player a promotion when a spot at the major league level is available. Temporary call up player may not play the position of pitcher for the game that he/she is called up to play in. All requests for a replacement player must be made through the Major League Director.
2. Bunting permitted in the Majors as a strategic part of the game. The same player should not be required to bunt excessively (i.e. not in every game, more than twice in a game, etc.).
3. Delayed Stealing is permitted as it is in Little League nationally.

Local Rules - Minor League Only

1. Infield fly rule will NOT be enforced.
2. Bunting – Each team is limited to 2 bunts per inning.
3. Moving a game along - The Minor League coaches should take steps to move the game along. This would include having the kids ready and running on and off the field, having the batting order communicated, having the catcher geared up and ready to go, etc. Any measures that will speed up the game will improve the chances of completing more innings.
4. Dealing with Umpires - Any managerial concerns about umpiring should be communicated right after the game to the Minor League Director and Umpire Coordinator. In the same way, if an ump has a problem with a manager or coach, that needs to be brought to the attention of the Minor League Director and the Umpire Coordinator to resolve the problem. We support our umpires. See Rule (9.02) below.
5. Starting an inning after 7:30 PM - No inning shall start after 7:30 PM. The umpire alone will make the call regarding the 7:30 PM ending. Not starting an inning after 7:30 does not mean that an inning cannot be completed after 7:30. Unless it is dark and unsafe to play the inning out, once an inning is started it can be completed after 7:30. With the exception of a game at Patton Field in which no inning shall begin after 8:30 when field lights are turned on.
6. Five Run Limit. Prior to the sixth inning, there is a five run per inning limit per team. If a sixth inning is played, it will be played without the five run per inning limit, applicable to both teams. The coaches may not agree to waive the five run per inning limit for any earlier inning.
7. Pitching – Will follow national Little League rules except that any pitcher will be limited to the 1st to occur of: 75 pitches / day or 3 innings / game. Any player is eligible to pitch in a game regardless of age.
8. 10 Positional Players – play with 4 outfielders.
9. Replacing players - If a minor league team needs a replacement player(s), the team manager should notify the Minor League Director. If necessary, a minor league game may be played with nine players in the field for each team. Temporary call up player may not play the position of pitcher for the game that he/she is called up to play in.
10. Stealing – Each team may steal up to 2 bases per inning with no stealing of home base permitted. Advancing on a passed ball or an overthrow on a steal attempt is counted as a stolen base (runners may NOT advance to home on an overthrow of a steal attempt). This rule does not affect advancement on a batted ball or an overthrow on a play that was initiated with a batted ball.

National Little League Rules of Particular interest:

• A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher.
• The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the pitch limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position.
  League Age:
  • 11-12: 85 pitches per day
  • 9-10: 75 pitches per day
  • 8: 50 pitches per day
  • Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed for his/her league age while facing a batter; the pitcher may continue to pitch 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.
• A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
• Pitchers league age 12 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• • 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 is required.
• The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
• The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher's manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible. Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.
• A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. (See Regulation V – Selection of Players)
• A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.
• NOTES :
  1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately.
  2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.
  3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
     • Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required days of rest.
     • Example 2: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required days of rest.
     • Example 3: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous four days.
     • Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
  4. (8.06)Visits to the Pitcher’s Mound: The manager may go to the pitcher’s mound to talk to the pitcher no more than 2 times in one inning or 3 times in one game. A 3rd visit in an inning or the 4th visit in a game will required the pitcher to leave the game as a pitcher.
  5. (1.08) The on deck position is not permitted – Also, attempting to substitute for the on deck position by moving outside the fences to take practice swings is not allowed.
  6. (4.10 (d)) If a game has been called before it has become a regulation game, but after one (1) or more innings have been played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. Note: All records, including pitching, shall be counted.
  7. (1.11(a) (3)) Any part of an undershirt exposed to view (i.e. long sleeve) shall be of a uniform solid color (not white) for all players on the team. (1.11(j))Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry, other metallic items, or casts. (1.15(c))No pitcher may wear sweatbands on the wrists.
  8. (8.05 (k)) No balks will be called or enforced.
  9. (9.02 (a)) Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decision.
  10. (9.02 (b)) If there is a reasonable doubt that any umpire’s decision may be in conflict with the rules, the manager may appeal the decision and ask that a correct ruling be made. Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision.