AAA League Rules
2023 Season
All National Little League rules are in effect per 2022 “Official Regulations and Playing Rules” handbook distributed to all Managers/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 after scheduled start time. Saturday games must end no later than 2 hours after scheduled start time. Please do not start a new inning after 1 hour and 45 minutes. There are no time limits for playoff games. Refer to rules 4.11 and 4.12 for games halted during an inning. The final score will be the last completed full inning (a complete game is 4 innings but no more than six innings, unless the game is tied after six 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.
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.
Rule #10: Walks: At the beginning of the season, there are no WALKS. On ball 4 a batting tee will be bought out and the count continues. A ball put in play off of the tee can result in a foul ball, an out, or a single. The batter-runner may not advance past first base on that play.
The tee will be used at the beginning of the season until each team has played FOUR GAMES If, in a game, one team has played four games, but the other has not, the tee rule is to be used during that game.
After all teams have played four games using the tee rule, the rule is suspended and normal pitch count rules apply.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.
Defensive Time Outs: Local: One visit per inning unless the pitcher is being removed.
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.
Stealing: No stealing until each team has played FOUR GAMES If, in a game, one team has played four games, but the other has not, no stealing is allowed during that game. After all teams have played four games, the no-stealing rule is suspended, and runners are allowed to steal but are not allowed to steal home. The ball must be put into play by a batter for a runner to advance to home. A runner must stop at third if there is an overthrow on a steal attempt. This rule is to develop the defensive skills of pitchers, catchers, and infielders. No leads are allowed at any time. Runners may only leave the base when the ball crosses home plate.
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
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.
17. Pitch Count Rule: Please refer to the following link for the Regular Season Pitching rules.
https://www.millvalleyll.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1718429
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.
18. 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.
-Clean Up: Home team is responsible for dragging the field after the game. Each team is responsible for cleaning up litter in the dugout before vacating the field. Managers should have a team parent encourage families to clean up the stands area before leaving.
-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 Player Guidelines
22. 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 re-played 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 call Commissioner Steven Younger (415-250-5073), and follow any and all Mill Valley Little League Board Policies. If Steven Younger is unavailable you can contact Mike Cann (415-407-6096).
For questions, contact your Commissioner, Steven Younger at (415-250-5073) or [email protected]