National Rules
	National Rules Changes - 2001
	Local Rules - Rule Change: 4/18/01
	Player Participation
	Tournament Team Selection and Participation

 

National Rules

	More National Little League Regulations
	More National Little League Playing Rules

National Playing Rules are developed by Little League Baseball, Inc., a non-profit membership organization which maintains the international program, with offices and Headquarters in Williamsport, PA.  Additional Little League rules can be found at Jim Booth's Baseball Rules.  Also check the official site of Little League Baseball, Inc., Little League On-Line.

Some national rules of note:

RULE 1.08 The ON-DECK position STILL IS NOT permitted. No on-deck batter may be used during game play, even outside the fenced in areas. All players not involved directly in the game are supposed to be in the dugout. Only the first batter of each half-inning will be permitted outside the dugout.

RULE 1.10 Traditional batting donuts are STILL ILLEGAL. No donuts may be used on bats for warming up. The batting sleeves that slide on bats are okay.

RULE 3.9 Managers, coaches, or any adult STILL MAY NOT warm up pitchers at home plate or in the bullpen during the game. This applies to all levels of play. This rule is being strictly enforced by Little League, Inc. in Williamsport.

RULE 7.08(a)(4) A runner shall be CALLED OUT when the runner slides head-first while moving forward. (In other words, the runner may not slide head first into a base. This applies only when advancing to a base. It does not apply when returning to a base from a run-down or pickoff.)

RULE 8.05 There are no more balks in Little League. Please read the rules as to what penalties are assessed when an illegal pitch is made.

National Rules Changes - 2001

The following rules changes were approved at the Little League Congress in Ottawa:

	Metal spikes ARE PERMITTED at the Junior and Senior levels; effective 2001 season
	90' Field Only:  Pitcher, who moves to another position and remains in the game may return as the pitcher; effective 2001
	Local Board may adopt complete team batting order for majors; effective 2001
	Ejection of coach and player; they are suspended for next game (2002)
	Junior pinch runner rule will be adopted for Little League (2002)
	Any player is ill or injured and temporarily not available to the team, and wil not be replaced on the team, who receives medical attention, must provide a medical release/clearance to resume play; effective 2001.

Local Rules

Fairfax Little League local rules are available for your review from your team manager and leaque officials.  Thank you for your patience.

Local Rule Change: Effective April 18, 2001
At the April 17, 2001 Board of Directors’ meeting, the following change to Local Rule 12.5.1. of the 2001 Local Rules was approved. Added words are in bold print.

Local Rule 12.5.1.
In the A Division, Official Playing Rule 8, The Pitcher, is modified by the following. The Pitcher shall be either an adult selected by the team manager to pitch in normal fashion to batters, or shall be an adult who utilizes a pitching machine provided by the League for delivery of the pitch to the batter. Decision of using an adult to pitch or using the pitching machine to pitch shall be made by the League Committee of each League. NOTE: If a ball in play hits the pitching machine on the field of play, such contact shall be considered a touch of the ball by a fielder. Therefore, a batted ball that first hits the pitching machine is a fair ball in all cases. If a thrown ball hits the pitching machine, continue play as if the fielder had not caught the ball. NOTE: If a batted ball in flight first hits the pitching machine, that batted ball can not be caught by a defensive player for an out—consider that the batted ball has touched the ground if it contacts the pitching machine on the fly; therefore, the defense must play on the batter-runner by force or tag play to gain an out.

Point of emphasis: An additional role of the adult utilizing the pitching machine to deliver pitches shall be to assist team managers in on field safety of all players by helping defensive players avoid contact injuries with the pitching machine. The exact nature of this help is situation dependent, but would be analogous to any caring parent preventing a player from falling or running into the machine. The adult pitcher, who shall wear a normal fielder’s glove, shall remain in the immediate vicinity of the pitching machine at all times during live ball action, subject to limited movement to avoid interference with defensive play. Regardless of actual interference caused by this safety oriented procedure, no actions by the adult pitcher shall be the basis for penalty due to interference.

For questions, contact your League Committee or the Chief Umpire, Rules, Rich Wax.

Local Rule 7.1
We are using the local rules concerning the start and end of the pitching week.  The pitching week runs Monday to Sunday.

Player Participation

Rules governing the length of playing time each player MUST play in each game are addressed in both the National and local rules:

JUNIORS:  Local Rule 6.2:  All players reporting for the game shall, in addition to all rules presently governing player participation, play at least three (3) complete innings of each seven (7) innings available and be entered into the game no later than the top of the third (3rd) inning.

MAJORS:  National Rules specify each player will participate in each game for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs and bat at least once.   In addition, Fairfax Little League local rules specify that each player will participate in each game for a minimum of three (3) innings of each six (6) inning game and will bat at least once provided the player is present for the entire game.   NOTE:  The manager may, for discipline reasons (i.e., not attending practice or unsportsmanlike conduct) 'sit' a player down for not more than one game.

MINORS:  Local Rule 6.4:  All players reporting for the game shall be in the batting order for the entire game and, in addition to all rules presently governing player participation, play a minimum of every other inning in the field.

T-BALL:  Each player plays the field and has a turn at bat each inning.

Questions regarding the player participation rules should be addressed to your league's Player Agent.

Tournament Team Selection and Participation

Selection of all tournament team players is governed by Local Rule 15.  All 11 and 12 year old players on Major League teams, and all 9 and 10 year old players are eligible to be selected to the Little League tournament team and the 9-10 tournament team, respectively.  All 13 year old players are eligible for the Junior tournament teams.   Little League tournament team players are selected by a voting process conducted by the League Presidents.  9-10 tournament team players are selected after a multiple day try-out.  Prior to either tournament team being announced, the League President shall check with each nominee and ensure their availability to participate.

Tournament team members at all levels who miss twenty-five percent (25%) of practices before a scheduled game may be replaced at the discretion of the manager after obtaining approval of the Player Agent and League President.  Tournament team members who miss fifty percent (50%) or more of practices before a scheduled game shall be replaced.

Little League Regulation 17: Tournament team selections may not be announced, and tournament practice may not begin, until 14 days prior to the scheduled start of the tournament. Significant tournament pitching rules differences are outlined under Regulation 6, Pitching, described below.

Little League Regulation 6, Pitching Rules for Tournament Play:  In the Little League Tournament (11- and 12-year-olds), a pitcher may pitch in up to 9 innings in a game. However, a pitcher may not pitch in consecutive games or on consecutive days, except when the prior appearance was for one inning. The pitcher who was in the game when it was suspended may resume pitching in that game, subject to the 9-inning game limit.

In the 9 & 10 Year Old Tournament, a pitcher may pitch no more than 6 innings in a game and no more than 9 innings in any consecutive 7-day period. Regular season rest rules apply, except that a pitcher is eligible the day after pitching in only one inning.

Tournament Questions and Answers