2023 MILL VALLEY MAJOR LEAGUE RULES, POLICIES and PROCEDURES
(Revised March 9, 2022)
1. All National Little League rules are in effect per 2022 “Official Regulations and Playing Rules” which can be downloaded from Little League, except as noted below.
2. Game times: Monday-Friday games must end by 8PM. Saturday games must end no later than 2 hours after scheduled start time if there is a following game to allow for field prep and COVID 19 protocols to be enacted. Refer to rules 4.11 and 4.12 for games halted during an inning. Essentially, the final score will be the last completed full inning (a complete game is 4 innings). Games that are over 1 hour 45 minutes are complete games irrespective of the innings played.
3. Rain: When a field has not been closed by the City, teams are expected to show up at field 45 minutes before scheduled start. Our fields drain very well and showers in the morning may not result in cancellation. If a team does not appear and the field is playable, that team will forfeit. Check the MVLL website for information concerning field conditions and closures.
4. Dugouts: Home teams as designated by the schedule shall occupy the 1st base dugout, visitors the 3rd base dugout.
5. Batting Practice on Game Day Field: No batting practice, soft toss, on any game day field prior to scheduled start time.
6. Continuous Batting Order: Players attending the game shall bat in a continuous order throughout the entire game regardless of when they play in the field. (Note: 7.14 Special Runner does not apply).
7. 10-run Rule: If after 4 innings (3.5 innings if home team ahead) one team has a lead of 10 or more runs, the losing team shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the teams wish to continue as a scrimmage, without interfering with a following game, they may do so, but the umpires will be excused at the completion of the regulation game.
8. Playing Time Local Rule: For teams that have 12-players or more in their line-up, every player on the team roster will participate in each game for a minimum three (3) complete innings in the field in 6-inning games, three (3) complete innings in a 5-inning game, and two (2) complete innings in a 4-inning game. A complete inning is three consecutive outs. A player, who does not start in a game, must start in the following game. Players can be alternated in consecutive innings. If a team only has 11 or fewer players in their line-up for a given game, each of the above referenced minimum player requirements shall increase by 1 inning.
9. Adult Coaches: Teams may have no more than 3 approved/certified adults within the confines of the field during a game. Adults may coach in the coach’s boxes at 1st and 3rd bases when the team is on offense. When the team is not on offense all adults must be in the dugout. A team may have a scorekeeper sitting in the stands, but coaching should not be done from the stands or other field areas. One adult must be in the dugout at all times. Only adults within the confines of the field at the time of first pitch will be permitted. All adults on the field must have completed, and submitted to MVLL, the Volunteer Form.
10. Offensive Time Outs: Local: in the interest of time, only one offensive time out will be granted per inning.
11. Runner Must Avoid Fielder: A runner must slide or attempt to go around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag. See rule 7.08.
12. Pitching: When a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s plate and in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher’s box ready to receive delivery of ball, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter.
13. Pitching Local: Prior to SATURDAY APRIL 31ST, pitchers shall pitch no greater than 6 consecutive outs or to the maximum pitch count. On or after SATURDAY APRIL 31ST, the maximum pitch count rule will prevail. A pitcher may take another field position immediately under both National and local rules. A pitcher may not return to pitch having been removed from that position earlier in the game. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.
14. Dropped 3rd Strike: Per rule 6.05, beginning on OPENING DAY, batters may advance to first base on a dropped 3rd strike provided first base is not occupied. Dropped third strike: The batter becomes a runner and may advance to first base If strike 3 is not caught AND first base is unoccupied with less than 2 out. Furthermore the batter becomes a runner and may advance to first base when strike 3 is not caught if first base is occupied AND there are two outs.
For the purposes of the Major's Division, "occupied" is defined as: A runner occupying first base at the time of the delivery of the pitch. Therefore, with no lead offs allowed in majors, the runner stealing second does not change the fact that first base was occupied at the time that the pitch was delivered.
15. Pitcher/Catcher: A pitcher who reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, may continue to pitch until that at-bat is completed, and then thereafter play the position of catcher for the remainder of that game. A catcher who catches less than 4 innings in a game can pitch.
16. Pitch Count Rule: The link below gives an overview of the number of pitches that will be allowed per day for each age group during the regular season in 2022:
https://www.littleleague.org/playing-rules/pitch-count/
A pitch is defined as a “ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher”. For example: if a batter fouls off three pitches on a full count. All three are added to the pitch count even though the ball/strike count remains full at 3 and 2. Warm up pitches at the start of an inning do not count towards pitch count.
❑ Each team will have a designated Pitch Count Recorder (parent, coach, manager)
❑ Each team will record and complete the “Baseball Game Pitch Log” listing the pitchers name, uniform number, league age, and number of pitches thrown for that specific game.
❑ The Pitch Counter Recorder for each team will reconcile the pitches thrown after each half inning by meeting to agree on the number of pitches thrown in that half inning.
❑ Should there be any discrepancy, the lower pitch count will prevail.
❑ Should a discrepancy arise of 5 or more pitches, the Commissioner should be notified immediately.
❑ In the event of a protest the scorebooks and Baseball Game Pitch Count Log will be used to determine actual count.
❑ At the end of each game the “Baseball Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form” should be filled out by each team, dated and signed by both Managers. This “Baseball Game Pitch Log” and the “Baseball Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form” must be kept with your team’s scorebook. If the Tracking Form is not completed and signed by both Managers from the immediately prior game and a pitcher is challenged, that pitcher shall be deemed ineligible to pitch in the next game.
❑ At the beginning of your team’s next game, the “Baseball Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form” shall be presented to the opposing Manager and Home Plate Umpire. This will indicate any pitchers not eligible for that game.
17. Defensive position changes. Once an inning has begun, no defensive position changes are permitted unless they are due to a change of a pitcher or injury to a player.
18. Vocal Harassment: Organized chatter, taunting or uniform cadenced speech is not allowed.
❑ Managers/Coaches will not shout “safe” or “out” or give the “safe” or “out” sign from the coach’s boxes or shout “good pitch” in advance of umpire making the call. Such behavior is subject to ejection from the game.
19. Umpires: Any harassment of umpires by Managers, Coaches or parents will not be tolerated. Managers are responsible for maintaining their coaches' and fans' decorum. Positive cheering is always encouraged. 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 ball or strike, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, Manager, Coach or parent, shall object to any judgment decision.
20. Clean Up: Each team is responsible for cleaning up litter in the dugout and stands before vacating the field. Managers should have a team parent encourage families to assist clean-up of the stands area before leaving.
21. Outfield Fence Line: Friends Field: A) The outfield fence line is to be set at the Little League recommended 200 feet from the back corner of home plate prior to the start of the game. Cones or markers will be set by the umpires signifying the fence line. Once the first pitch has been thrown, the fence line will remain unchanged throughout the game even if it has been set shorter or longer than the recommended 200 feet. B) When a batted fair ball lands over the outfield home run line on a fly it is deemed to be a home run. C) A fair ball touched or caught on the fly by a fielder standing beyond the home run line is a home run. D) A batted fair ball that travels over the fence line, whether touched by a fielder or not, is a ground rule double. E) When a ball travels over the home run line the outfielder nearest the ball should raise both hands over their head to signal to the umpire that it went over the line. Umpires are solely responsible for making these calls. The home team shall retrieve and store the fence line markers after the game.
22. Field Maintenance: Home team drags the field at end of game.
23. Pool Players: See MVLL Pool Player Rules for information.
24. Conflicts/Protests: National rules allow for a game to be played under protest. MVLL discourages formal protests as they often result in a game having to be re-played from the point of the alleged infraction, and with schedules so tight, this is not easy. MVLL encourages trying to solve the problem at game time. Using a cell phone both Managers and the Head Umpire should initiate a phone call to the Commissioner.
25. No intentional walks – pitchers must reasonably challenge all batters.
26. Any good questions should be directed to the Major League Commissioner, Bruce Dorfman at (415) 823-3001 or at [email protected].