Columbiana Mahoning County Little League Rules 9-10, 11-12

  1. Official little league rules apply unless otherwise noted.
  1. All weekday games will begin at 6:00 pm with a 15-minute grace period. Any team unable to field 8 players after the expiration of the grace period will be forced to forfeit. If a team is coming from a distance, try to give some extra time.
  1. Game starts with eight players; the ninth player is an out in the batting order. If a player comes after the start of the game he can enter, but only in the last position of the batting order. There is no automatic out for the tenth player in the 9-10 league.
  1. If a team starts with 9 players, it can finish with 8 due to player injury and the ninth player is an out in the batting order
  1. If a younger player is brought up to field a team, the opposing manager must be told and that player must bat last and with the exception of an injury, cannot take the position of any player if the team has enough to field a team. They can play any position except pitcher or catcher
  1. If a team does not appear for a scheduled game, the PROTEST COMMITTEE will make the final judgment as to whether a game is a forfeit or if it will be rescheduled. The Protest Committee consists of the league commissioner and league directors from each community
  1. The home complex provides the game ball; the home team provides the backup ball
  1. All baseballs used in the game will be the same
  1. The home team will occupy the first base dugout and the visiting team the third base dugout; unless otherwise posted
  1. The home team will have the field beginning 45 minutes from game time for a period of 20 minutes for warm-ups, the visiting team for the next 20 minutes. Every effort must be made by both teams to begin all games on time.
  1. In the event of inclement weather all teams must be prepared to play. Every attempt will be made to complete a game on its scheduled date. The home team manager will notify the visiting manager as soon as possible when cancellations occur prior to game time, managers must assume that the game will be played. Once arriving at the field the umpire in charge and both managers will confer and determine if and when the game will begin. In all cases, the safety of the players will be the deciding factor
  1. All postponed games must be rescheduled within 7 days and played within 14 days or a forfeit may occur. The league commissioner must approve any exceptions to this rule. If at any time you are unable to reach or reschedule with another team, notify the commissioner. The commissioner reserves the right to register a forfeit for any team that is showing a lock of cooperation in rescheduling said game. Any games not rescheduled or played prior to the end of the regular season can be considered a loss for both teams. The commissioner and directors must approve any forfeit that has playoff implications
  1. In games that are played on a night before a school day, no inning may start after 8:15pm
  1. Each player must play 6 consecutive defensive outs in the field and bat at least one time. Any player that is taken out of the game except the pitcher may re-enter only after the player who has replaced him has fulfilled the above obligation. The player returning can re-enter at any position but may only return to his same place in the batting order. If this obligation is not done due to a shortened game, etc., player must start next game and fulfill previous game as well as current game requirements. Failure to meet this obligation will result in a forfeit of the previous game and possible disciplinary action for the manager by the protest committee.
  1. 2010 The extra hitter(EH) rule shall apply to both the 9-10 & 11-12 divisions for teams who choose to bat 10 or 11 players respectively. The EH must be declared on the lineup card prior to the game. Once the game has started a team cannot choose to add or eliminate an EH. The EH may hit in any place in the batting order and is considered eligible for re-entry under the re-entry rule like any regular position player. For the purposes of player substation rules, the EH is considered a starter. The EH allows an additional individual player to hit in the batting order. Once the EH is indicated on the lineup card, the EH cannot be eliminated at the discretion of the coach or manager. The EH is eligible to be put into the game defensively at any time. If this happens, the batting order does not change. The players in the batting order can be rotated among defensive positions at the discretion of the manager or coach and all are eligible for re-entry under the re-entry rule. For example, a manager can move the EH into LF, and the LF now becomes the EH. This would be just like switching the shortshop and the second baseman. This does not require a substitution, as the batting order is not affected. The EH is not however excluded from mandatory play requirements. The EH must like any other player meet the playing requirements in the field (The EH does not need 6 consecutive defensive outs, just 6 outs total) This rule is designed to provide the manager with an opportunity to get additional playing time for the child. If a team using the EH drops below 10 players due to injury, ejection or some other reason, the team will be allowed to continue the game with 9 players and no EH. There will be no penalty, should this occur. Please note, unlike a designated hitter (DH), when a team decides to use and EH in a game, the only way an EH can be eliminated from the game is to have no more eligible players available in that game.
  1. All 9-10 year old team will use a 10 man batting order and can play 4 outfielders. All 11-12 year old teams will use a 9 man batting order and will play 3 outfielders
  1. After 5 full innings, the game is official and ended if the visiting team is ahead by 10 runs for the 9-10 league and 15 runs for the 11-12 league and the leading team’s 9 or 11 year old pitcher has met the one complete inning requirement. After 4 ½ innings, the game isofficial and ended if the home team is ahead by 10 runs for the 9-10 league and 15 runs for the 11-12 league and the leading team’s 9 or 11 year old pitcher has met the one complete inning requirement. The game may continue if both managers agree, but all statistics, including score will not be counted after the official ending as stated above. A half inning automatically ends when the batting team scores 5 runs for the 9-10 league or 7 runs for the 11-12 league, with the exception of the 6th inning where unlimited runs can be scored. If a game ends early due to weather or because it is too late to start a new inning, the game must be resumed and completed if the leading team has not pitched their 9 or 11 year old for a full inning regardless of how many innings have been played. The leading team does not forfeit, they just need to complete the game and fulfill the 9 or 11 year old pitching requirement.
  1. Timeouts will be limited to 60 seconds and is to be enforced by the umpires. This rule is waived in the case of a player injury.
  1. Two adult coaches will be used as base coaches
  1. Runners may steal home. 11-12 ages – once the lead runner goes back and touches the base no runner may advance unless there is an overthrow back to the pitcher. 9-10 ages- Once the lead runner moves, motions, falls or in ANY way heads back toward the base, the umpire shall pronounce “runners back”(ball is still live) no runner may advance unless there is an overthrow back to the pitcher. An overthrow will consist of the ball going beyond the pitching rubber. No runner may advance if the pitcher is standing on the rubber with the ball in his hand
  1. Players must slide or go around a fielder at any base except first to avoid collision when a play is being made on a runner at that base. Judgment of the umpire will rule
  1. Batter is out on a dropped third strike, unless it’s fouled off(9-10 league only)
  1. No head first sliding is allowed except when returning to previous base. Penalty is the runner is declared out
  1. Two out catcher courtesy runner is allowed. This is optional and the replacement runner will be the player who made the previous out
  1. Suspended game will be resumed from the point of suspension
  1. No fake bunting that results into a full swing, batter will be called out and play becomes dead
  1. If a player is injured whether from batted or thrown ball and the umpires deems it to be necessary to stop play, the umpire will award the runners the bases that he feels runners would have advanced to. Judgment of the umpires will rule
  1. Fielders shall not fake tag on a runner. A fielder who fakes a tag is considered an obstruction an the runner shall be awarded the base attempted, plus one base.
  1. Players and subs shall be in the dugout unless they are participating in the game or preparing to enter the game
  1. Teams are encouraged to call up lower league players on a game by game basis only if they have less than 9 players for a game. All roster league players must be playing. Managers must be notified prior to the start of the game
  1. Metal cleats are not allowed
  1. It is mandatory to slide at home plate only if there is a defensive player at the plate in the process of applying the tag- umpires discretion- play is dead
  1. The umpire may eject a player or coach from the game for abusive or foul language. The ejection must be reported to the league commissioner following the game
  1. 2010- The infield fly rule shall apply to both the 9-10 & 11-12 divisions. An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball(not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first & second, or first, second & third bases are occupied, before there are two outs. The pitcher, catcher & any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners, If the ball is near the baseline, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly if Fair” The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of that ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

Note: If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul and remains foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground, outside the baseline and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly

GAME – PROCEDURES IS AS FOLLOWS

  1. Prior to the end of the game the umpire has to be advised that the game is being played under protest unless the protest is made on the last play of the game. The reason for the protest must be a breach of the rules, Umpire judgments may not be protested
  1. Once the umpire is notified the protesting coach has to contact the league commissioner within 24 hours with the details of the protest
  1. League commissioner and directors will determine the outcome of protests in a timely manner
  1. Failure to abide by the above protest rules will negate the validity of the protest

PITCHING RULES

  1. No limit on the number of 10 or 12 year old pitchers, and no limit on the number of pitchers used in a game. A 9 or 11 year old must start and finish a complete inning in every game (5 run rule will constitute an inning in the 9-10 league. 7 run rule will constitute an inning in the 11-12 league) more than one 9 or 11 year old pitcher may be used to satisfy this requirement
  1. A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 9 innings in any week. The week runs from Monday through Sunday.
  1. Warm-up pitches before each half inning will be no more than 5. New pitchers will be allowed 10 warm-up pitches when entering the game
  1. A pitcher may pitch no more than 3 innings in one day. Maximum 5 innings in two days. No pitcher is allowed to pitch 3 days in a row under ANY circumstances. (even if a new week is started)
  1. A pitcher may use either the windup or set position. Balks will not be enforced
  1. Coaches may conference with their pitcher twice per pitcher per inning. The third conference will require the pitcher to be removed from the mound
  1. A coach or manager may warm-up a pitcher
  1. A pitcher must be removed from the mound if he hits 3 batters in a game. However, if a batter is stepping into a ball thrown over the plate and gets hit, the umpire must decide if it was a strike. If the pitch was in the strike zone, the pitch is considered a strike. No base is granted. Also, pitcher has no hit batter called against him
  1. Strike zone – The strike zone is one ball diameter width on both sides of the plate and between the shoulders and knees of the batter. This applies to the 9-10 league only
  1. Once a pitcher leaves the mound he may not re-enter as a pitcher

MANAGERIAL STAFF

  1. Managers must exchange lineup cards with innings pitched for the particular week listed to the opposing manager
  1. Any manager or coach, who intentionally coerces or tries to influence a player to miss a game, will be suspended from the league pending further review from the league board
  1. Only the manager may approach or question the umpire on any matter whatsoever
  1. The manager is responsible for the conduct of his or her team and its staff. The manager will also be responsible for the conduct of the parents & spectators on his side of the field. The manager will make every reasonable effort to discourage harassment of the players by spectators on that side of the field
  1. The manager must conduct himself in a sportsmanlike manner at all times and should always be an example of good sportsmanship for his players and the spectators. Any infraction of these rules of conduct may be reported in writing to the commissioner of the league. The commissioner will determine any disciplinary measures
  1. No manager or any member of his staff will appear at any game or practice under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Smoking will no be permitted on the bench or on the field
  1. If any member of a team including managerial staff is ejected from a game by the umpire he will immediately leave the field in a sportsmanlike manner. A member of the staff may be designated as manager to continue play. If no other coach is available the umpire will designate a parent to continue the game as manager.
  1. At no time will the manager touch or push the umpire. In the event that this would happen the manager or individual is automatically ejected from the game. Disciplinary action will be taken by the league to avoid reoccurrence

PLAYER AND SPECTATOR CONDUCT

  1. Spectators must be kept off the playing field and out of the dugout. Both the managers as well as the participating managers will be responsible for the control of the spectators
  1. Any person ejected from the game including spectators must proceed to the parking lot away from the field of play before play may begin
  1. No player, spectator or member of the managers staff is allowed to stand behind the backstop after the start of the game.

PLAY-OFFS

  1. The top ten teams in each division (9-10 or 11-12) with the best records will be selected to participate for the league championship series. (single elimination) Should there be a tie the following tie breakers will be used
  2. Head to head record
  3. Common opponent
  4. Lowest runs allowed
  5. Coin flip
  6. The championship game will be played at a neutral location with a coin flip determining the home team. The neutral site will be responsible for scheduling the umpires for the game. The cost of the umpires will be split between the two teams

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  1. All managers win or lose are responsible to text or email the scores to the schedule maker right away
  2. 3 sets of trophies are awardedper age group - regular season first place winner & playoff winner & runner-up - each community pays $150 to the league for this (2013)
  3. In case of thunder & lightning, the game must be stopped for a mandatory ½ hour
  4. Rainouts will be rescheduled by the coaches and their league directors
  5. Composite bats must be Little League Approved. Check the little league website for the approved bat list
  6. Games ending in a tie score are ties. Tie games will NOT be completed at a later date
  7. Starting in 2012, once a child signs-up to play in a community, that child is ineligible to sign-up in another community at a later date for the same season. Per prior practice, children may sign-up to play in any community. This rule applies even if a child moves during the season(The season must be completed with the original community)
  8. In the event that a team has a home game scheduled at another community’s facility, the ORIGINAL home team is responsible for the cost of the umpires.
  9. The drop third strike rule is to be enforced in the 11/12 league only

LIST OF COMMUNITIES TURN TO RUN THE LEAGUE