Newton East 2010 AA Minor League Rules
Last Modified: April 5th, 2010
Please keep this sheet with you at your games.
1. All players must play at least three innings in the field before 5 1/2 innings are completed for the Home Team and 6 innings for the Visitors, and must have one turn at bat. Players will bat in rotation whether playing in the field or not.
2. The distance from home plate to the pitcher shall be 42 feet. This is the nearest rubber to the batter.
3. Each manager will supply the umpire with one ball per game.
4. Ten (10) players are in the field, with 4 outfielders. A game can be played with as few as 8 players. A forfeit will occur when a team cannot field 8 players.
5. Uniforms and hats must be worn at all games. Baseball pants are optional but recommended. Shorts are strongly discouraged.
6. Batting helmets are mandatory. Batters, base runners and “players" coaching at 1st and 3rd must wear helmets. AA teams are provided with one helmet that has a wire cage for extra facial protection.
7. Catchers must wear full protective equipment including cup (provided by the player.) Any player warming up the pitcher must wear a catcher's mask. This rule also applies to practices. Left-handed catchers must supply their own catcher's mitt (use of a fielder's glove gives the catcher an unfair advantage on plays at the plate).
8. The home team manager is responsible for calling off a game due to inclement weather. It is not the Commissioner's call, but the managers only! (Consult your league directory for Home and Work numbers of opposing managers) The home team manager must call the opposing manager, head umpire, and commissioner. It is advisable to have a "Team Parent" who can inform you of weather conditions if you are away from Newton on game days.
9. Sneakers or rubber cleat shoes must be worn. Metal spikes are not allowed.
10. Make-up games will be played on the first open date. Make-ups must be rescheduled with the commissioners and the umpire coordinator. Managers should not reschedule games on their own, or they may not have umpires assigned to the make up game.
11. In the event of darkness or rain, a game is legal if both teams have played four innings unless the home team is leading at the end of 3 1/2 innings. See LL Rule Book rule #4.11. Teams should not start the top of an inning if it is after 8:00 PM. It is unlikely that a full inning can be completed and therefore the score will revert to the previous inning. Do not get your players hopes up by starting an inning that cannot be completed. There is no limit to the number of extra innings that may be played subject to the 8:00 PM cut off time.
12. If a team scores 5 runs in one inning, that inning will end immediately regardless of the number of outs. If a play occurs which would result in more than five runs scoring in the inning only the maximum of five runs are scored and the inning ends.
This rule may be suspended for the 6th inning if a team is down by more than five runs, subject to the other rules relating to when an inning may begin.
EXCEPTION: On Sundays, if there are teams waiting for your field, end the game after the fifth inning if the 5 run rule applies.
13. The infield fly rule only applies if or when called by the umpire. If the umpire does not make the call the rule is not assumed. Exception: In AA this rule will not be enforced.
14. There is no leading from bases in Little League. Players may leave the bag after the ball crosses the plate. Umpires will warn a player once; a second warning can result in the base runner being called out! There is no stealing in AA.
15. Bunting is allowed. However, a player is not allowed to fake a bunt and then swing away.
16. Any player may reenter a game at any time (the 3 inning rule stays in effect). A pitcher may reenter a game but not as a pitcher.
17. Special trophies or awards cannot be given without league permission.
18. If protesting a game, the manager must inform the umpire and opposing manager of the protest. A letter shall be sent to the commissioner and the league presidents within 24 hours of the game. Protests can only be filed if a rule is broken. Protests do not apply in cases of judgment calls, weather or behavior.
19. Each manager shall select members of their team to play in the Minor League All Star Game. There will be separate All Star Games for AA and AAA. Managers will be selected based upon Won-Loss Records at the time of the All Star Games. All managers are urged to participate as coaches at the All Star game. Players shall be selected based on ability, regardless of age or positions. Managers are permitted to have the players vote as an element of selection.
20. A manager is allowed 2 trips to the mound per pitcher, per inning. A pitcher is automatically removed on the second visit, injuries not inclusive.
21. The home team will use the 3rd base bench, the visitors on the 1st.
22. The manager of the winning team shall post the score on line at www.eteamz.com/newtoneastll within 24 hours for the game to count. Failure to do so results in a forfeit.
23. Players must be on their bench at all times. Exceptions are players coaching the base path and pitchers warming up. All pitchers must warm up away from the playing field and the bench area. An umpire will warn a player not adhering to these rules once. A second infraction will result in immediate ejection from the game.
There is no on-deck batter. No player other than the batter at the plate may hold or swing a bat.
24. Any disputes over rules shall be discussed by both managers and the umpire without input from players unless the players are called upon. Umpires do have the authority to eject managers and coaches for conduct that he/she deems to be irresponsible. Please refer to the zero tolerance policy.
25. Only three adults will be permitted in the dugout area during games: The manager and two assistants or co-managers and one assistant. This is intended to cut down the interplay between adults and umpires. Uniformed players may coach the bases if they are equipped with a batting helmet. For AA Minors, one adult may coach either base. Parents shall not stand behind the dugout unless they are coaching. This will be strictly enforced to reduce well-publicized "Little League Parent Behavior Syndrome."
26. In order to avoid collisions, all runners must slide or attempt to get around a fielder when a player has the ball and is waiting to tag them. No fielder may block a base without the ball.
NELL MINOR LEAGUE PITCHING RULES
Regulation VI – Pitchers:
a. Any player on a regular season team may pitch. There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.
b. A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, cannot return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game.
c. The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the 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
7-8: 50 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out. Intentional Walk: Before a pitch is delivered to the batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive team wishes to give the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-in-chief waves the batter to first base. The ball is dead.
Updated for 2010:
Required number of days of rest / Number of pitches thrown0 / 1-20
1 / 21-35
2 / 36-50
3 / 51-65
4 / 66-max
A pitcher may re-enter as a catcher if he or she has thrown 40 or fewer pitches.
New Rule for 2010: A catcher cannot move to pitcher after catching for 4 or more innings in a game.
d. Each team must designate a person as the official pitch count recorder for their team.
e. 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.
f. 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.
g. 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.
h. 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 four 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 four 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.
Umpires
NELL uses a combination of junior high school boys, many of whom have participated on the NELL program as players, paid adult umpires, and adult volunteers. All umpires attend a clinic and receive written materials prior to the start of the season. While we strive for consistency in umpiring, it is possible the quality of the umpires will be inconsistent over the course of the season and possibly over the course of a game. We will be working with our younger, newer umpires during the early part of the season. NELL has a zero tolerance related to umpires. Managers and coaches should not complain, make comments, or in any way criticize our umpires. As a Manager, you are responsible for the conduct of your players and parents. Please thank the umpires after the game and be courteous. If you have a complaint about an umpire, please contact your league commissioner.
The home team is responsible for paying umpires. Checks will be provided to each manager prior to the beginning of the season. Because the checks are made out to “Cash” please ensure they are kept in a safe place. Any lost checks must be immediately reported to the commissioner.
Zero Tolerance Policy
All persons associated with the team, including players, coaches and spectators, shall support the umpires. No one is to address the umpire during the game with the following exceptions:
1. Coaches or players responding to the umpire
2. Coaches making substitutions
3. Coaches, players or spectators pointing out emergencies or safety issues.
In between innings or after a game, a coach may ask an umpire to explain a rule in a polite and constructive way. Polite and friendly feedback can be given to the umpire after the game.
Absolutely no demonstrative behavior, sarcasm, harassment or intimidation by coaches, players or parents will be tolerated. Umpires will report such behavior to the Board.
1st infraction: Umpire will ignore
2nd infraction: Warning
3rd infraction: Offender will be ejected and asked to leave the area