All National Little League rules are in effect per 2023 “Official Regulations and Playing Rules” handbook distributed to all Mangers/Coaches except as noted below as local rules.
Game times: Monday-Friday games must end by 8pm and must end no later than 2 hours and 30 minutes after scheduled start time. Saturday games must end no later than 2 hours and 30 minutes after scheduled start time. Essentially, the final score will be the last completed full inning (a complete game is 4 innings).
Rain: When a field has not been closed by the City, both teams are expected to show up at field one hour 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. The Safety Officer determines the fitness of the field.
Dugouts: Home teams as designated by the schedule shall occupy the 1st base dugout, visitors the 3rd base dugout.
Batting Practice on Game Day Field: No batting practice, soft toss, on any game day field prior to scheduled start time.
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.
5 Run Rule: Except for the sixth inning and extra innings, the half inning is completed (ends) as soon as the 5th run crosses the plate. Base coaches must stop all other runners from advancing after the 5th run scores in the interest of safety.
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 two 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.
Steals: Players are allowed to steal bases (including home) at the start of the season.
Playing Time Local Rule: Every player on the team roster will participate in each game for a minimum of half the scheduled innings in the field or three complete innings. 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.
Balks: No balks in Minors.
Little League Bats: Bats used in practices or games cannot be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2⅝ inches in diameter. A bat must meet the USA Baseball Bat standards (Little League National Bat Rule)
Adult Coaches: Teams may have no more than 3 approved/certified adults within the confines of the field. Adults may coach in the coach’s boxes at 1st and 3rd bases when the team is on offense. 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.
Offensive Time Outs: Local: in the interest of time, only one offensive time out will be granted per inning.
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.
Sliding: A runner must slide or attempt to go around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make a tag. However, a defensive player without the ball cannot block the base path. Headfirst slides are illegal and the runner will be called out. See rule 7.08a.
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.
A play is considered dead, resulting in runners returning to their respective bases, once the pitcher has control of the ball on the mound in between pitches. If the catcher overthrows the pitcher, the runners can advance so long as they are more than half way to the next base prior to the pitcher controlling the ball on the mound.
During the Regular season, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 2 innings or 6 consecutive outs. The 6 outs may span 3 innings.
During the Playoffs, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 3 innings. A pitched inning is constituted by 1 pitch and 9 outs cannot span 4 innings.
Pitch Count Rule: Please refer to the following link for the Regular Season Pitching rules.
Pitch Count Guidelines
The manager is responsible for knowing when the pitcher must be removed. If the pitcher reaches the maximum pitch count while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch to the current batter until the batter is put out, the batter reaches base or the third out is made.
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” need to be kept with your team’s scorebook.
At the beginning of the 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.
(http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0040/1304/Pitching_EligibilityTracking_Form_7_.pdf )
A pitcher who throws no more than 40 pitches may play the catcher position. A player who pitches more that 40 pitches in a game cannot later the same day play the catcher position. A catcher can still come in later in the game as a pitcher. The catcher may pitch only if he/she has not played catcher for 4 or more innings in the same day.
No intentional walks – pitchers must reasonably challenge all batters.
Vocal Harassment: Organized chatter, taunting or uniform cadenced speech is not allowed. Managers/Coaches who shout “safe” or “out” or give the “safe” or “out” sign from the coaches boxes or shouting “good pitch” in advance of umpire making the call, is not allowed and are subject to ejection from the game.
Umpires: Any harassment of umpires by 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.
Outfield Fence Line: Friends Field: A) The outfield fence line is to be set at the Little League recommended 180 feet from the back corner of home plate prior to the start of the game. 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 180 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 rolls over the fence line, whether touched by a fielder or not, is a ground rule double. E) When a ball rolls 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.
Pool Players: Please contact Patti Shore at [email protected].
Pool Players Guidelines.
A team MUST have 9 players to start a game. If a team does not have 9 players, the team will forfeit. If a team starts with 9 players but a player is unable to continue to play (due to injury or something else), the result will be a forfeit.
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.
Field Maintenance: Home team drags the field at end of game.
Conflicts/Protests: National rules allow for a game to be played under protest. Locally we discourage formal protests as they often result in a game having to be replayed from the point of the alleged infraction (note: with schedules so tight, this is not an easy thing to do.) We do encourage trying to solve the problem at game time. Using a cell phone, both Managers and the Head Umpire should initiate a phone call to Commissioner Todd Moutafian (415) 850-9168 [email protected], or if not available, call Commissioner Michael Cann (415) 407-6096.
For questions, contact your Commissioner, Commissioner Todd Moutafian (415) 850-9168 [email protected].