RCWLL Locals
MINOR/MAJOR RULES
JUNIOR/SENIOR RULES
I.
REGISTRATION
A.
All persons who register
for play in Little League must present the league with a copy of their birth
certificate that the league can keep for its files, as well as 2 proofs of
residency as described by the Little League Operating Manual.
B.
Only those players
properly registered and who tryout will be eligible for the draft. Players who
are registered and do not try out will be considered in a blind draw
after the regular draft of Minor or Junior League players.
C.
In Majors and Seniors
all players are required to attend a try-out.
Returning players are drafted first.
Only returning players attending tryouts will be eligible for the draft.
Returning players who do not attend tryouts will be placed in a blind
draw immediately following the live draft of returning players.
New players who attended tryouts will then be drafted in a live draft,
immediately following the blind draw of returning players.
New players who did not attend tryouts will then be placed in a blind
draw immediately following the live draft of new players.
II. TEAMS
A.
Major league teams will be comprised of all 11 & 12
year olds. The Senior League will be
comprised of all 15 & 16 year olds.
The minimum number of players per team in Major and Senior League will be
determined by the Board of Directors prior to the start of the season. This
approved team total will be an addendum to these rules prior to the start of the
season.
B. Minor
league teams will be comprised of 9 and 10 year old players.
The Junior League will be comprised of 13 & 14 year olds only.
Prior to the start of the season, the Board of Directors will determine
the total number of players per team. This approved team total will be an
addendum to these rules prior to the start of the season.
C. If
a team is unable to field nine (9) players within ten (10) minutes after the
official starting time, the team will forfeit the game. Extenuating
circumstances will be considered by the Board of Directors to determine if the
game should be rescheduled.
D.
RCWLL makes every attempt to schedule games around school functions.
In the event that a game coincides with a school function, if the team
can field nine players, they MUST play the game.
In the event that a game coincides with a school function and the team
cannot field nine players because of said function, the manager must provide a
list of players and the reason for their absence to the Player Agent at least
one week prior to the game. The
Board will then decide whether or not to reschedule the game.
E. The
number of major league players registered will determine the number of major
league teams. At no time shall a
team have on its roster more that eight players whose league age is 12 (twelve).
The balance of the team roster shall be comprised of players whose league
age is 11, or 10 if the Board of Directors has approved them.
A.
Games will not be
postponed until it is reasonably apparent that the field cannot be made ready
for play. The Rose Capital West Little League Board of Directors will make this
decision. Normally, this decision will be made by 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Once a
decision to cancel has been made and one team manager has been notified, the
decision to cancel cannot be rescinded. Umpires will have complete authority to
decide on the fitness of the fields after the start of a game.
Cancellations will be posted on the website or the telephone recorder.
B.
If a game is called
before it is a regulation game (as per Official Regulation 4.10), the game shall
be continued at the earliest make-up date (this rule replaces 4.10 d). The game
will resume where it left off with all players in the same position, except the
pitcher if in violation of the pitching rules. If a player is not present at
this make-up game, the manager may make substitutions.
C.
All tie games will be
played out if time allows, otherwise it will be considered a called game and
completed under Rule III B above.
D.
All
cancelled, suspended, incomplete or tie games scheduled during the week will be
re-scheduled for the following Saturday or the next available time, whichever is
sooner.
A team
will not be required to play more than three (3) games during any calendar week,
unless required to finish the season.
The Player Agent will determine Saturday game times.
The Player Agent has the authority to re-schedule all cancelled,
suspended, and incomplete or tie games and forward this schedule to the Vice
President. If the Player Agent and
both managers cannot agree to a new game day and time and neither team can field
nine (9) players, both teams will receive a loss pursuant to forfeiture rules,
due to lack of players on game day.
Games not played within eight (8) days or two (2) Saturdays of the original
scheduled date will be brought to the attention of the Board.
IV. GAME TIMES AND WARM-UP
TIMES
A. Warm-up
Times: (10 minutes for each team)
1. Visiting
team - Start 30 minutes prior to game time.
2. Home
team -Start 20 minutes prior to game time.
B.
Second Game of
Night: If first games lasts over
time limit, the warm-up time remaining will be split between the two teams.
*Starting Game Time will remain the same.
C. Little
League
1.
First game starts
at 5:45 p.m. if there are 2 games and 6:00 if there is not a second game.
2.
No inning starts
after 1 hour and 45 minutes in the early game.
3.
Second game starts no later than 8:00 p.m. No inning starts after 1 hour
and 45 minutes or 10:00 p.m.
4.
If there is a second game scheduled on a field,
the 5:45 p.m.
scheduled games will be stopped at 8:00 p.m., and resumed at the earliest
possible date, applying the tie game Rule (III-B). If there is no second
game scheduled, tie games will be played until completion or when the 10:00
curfew is reached.
5.
It will be the Home team manager’s responsibility to ensure that the
Umpire in Chief logs a starting game time with the Official Scorekeeper.
If an official game time is not logged at the start of the game, then the
official starting time will be the scheduled game time.
D. Junior
and Senior League
1.
Teams need to
consult official schedule for game time.
2.
No inning starts
after 2 hours and 5 minutes in the first game.
3.
No inning starts
after 2 hours and 5 minutes or 10:30 p.m. in the second game.
4.
If there is a second game scheduled on a field, the first
game will be stopped at
8:00pm, and resumed at the earliest possible date, applying the tie game rule
(III-B). If there is no second game
scheduled, tie games will be played until completion or when the 10:00 curfew is
reached.
5.
It will be the Home team manager’s responsibility to ensure that the
Umpire in Chief logs a starting game time with the Official Scorekeeper.
If an official game time is not logged at the start of the game, then the
official starting time will be the scheduled game time.
E. All
games played on Saturday or Sunday will have starting times assigned by the
League.
V. GAMES
A. Games
will be played in accordance with the latest Little League/Senior League
Official Regulations and Playing Rules as amended and clarified by these Playing
Rules and as approved by the League Board.
B. All
Leagues will play a schedule of at least twelve (12) games in accordance with
Little League Rules.
C. RCWLL is a predominantly
voluntary organization. All teams are required to provide umpires during the
season. The Umpire Coordinator will
post an umpire schedule. Failure to
provide umpire(s) for assigned duty will result in a $70 fine per game, payable
to RCWLL before the start of the team’s next game.
If the fine is not paid before the start of the team’s next game, the
manager will be suspended until the fine is paid.
In 5-pitch games, the Home team will provide someone to be the umpire
behind the plate, to count pitches and call plays at the plate and the League
will hire an outfield umpire who will be the umpire in charge of the game.
In T-ball games, umpires will not be scheduled, but instead will be
parent volunteers, one from each team participating in the game.
VI. DUGOUTS
A. Only
uniformed players, managers, coaches and umpires shall be permitted within the
confines of playing field just prior to or during games. Except for the batter,
base runners, player "on deck", base coaches, and the players in the field, all
players shall be in their dugouts or in the bullpen. A uniformed player will be
used as a batboy. Only three adult managers or coaches may occupy the
bench or dugout during a game.
B. If
any of the adults in the dugout are not approved by the Board, then the
President, any Board Member or as a last resort, the umpire-in-chief, may give
approval. Such approval will be valid for one game only, and must be brought to
the attention of the opposing manager. (i.e. photographers)
C. The
Home team shall occupy the 1st Base dugout and the Visiting team shall occupy
the 3rd base dugout at all fields.
D.
Complimentary dugout water coolers and cups will be made available before the
first game of the night. Coaches of
the first game MUST pick them up at the concession stand.
Coaches of the last game of the night MUST empty them and return them to
the concession stand. (*Thank you for your cooperation.)
In the event a foul ball
from one playing field goes onto another field and hits a player, it shall be
the umpire-in-chief's decision to stop or continue play. If play is stopped,
each base runner will return to the original base and the batter will return to
bat and assume the count as existed before the incident occurred. If the ball
does not strike a player, the umpire shall call time-out when play in progress
has been completed.
VIII. SCOREKEEPERS
A. Team
volunteers will keep score for all RCWLL teams. Home team scorekeeper will keep
the official book. Visiting team will provide the announcer/scoreboard
operator. The Official Scorekeeper
MUST record 1) the game date; 2) the official game time, obtained by the home
plate umpire; 3) team names; 4) player names; 5) pitch counts, per pitcher, per
inning; and 6) final scores, in legible handwriting, in the scorebook provided
by RCWLL.
B. If
a qualified scorekeeper cannot be provided, the game cannot start or be
continued. The scorekeeper is responsible ONLY to the umpire-in-chief.
C. The
scorekeeper's integrity must be above reproach and not exhibit prejudice or show
favorable treatment toward a certain player(s) or team(s).
D. Each
manager will furnish two courtesy line-up rosters to the umpire-in-chief before
game starting time, one for the scorekeeper and one for the opposing team.
E. No
correction or alteration may be made in the official scorebook by a manager,
coach, or official scorekeeper. If a correction is requested, a league official
is to be called prior to signing the scorebook. If the problem cannot be
resolved at that time, the official shall note the requested correction in the
book and then get all parties involved to agree on the correction at the
earliest date. Protesting manager does not have to sign the book until the
correction is resolved. If the meeting does not bring about an agreed-to
correction, the matter and parties will be referred to the Board of Directors.
Scorekeeper shall note any protest made by a manager at this time.
F. Both
managers must sign the official scorebook immediately after each game. Signed
scorebooks constitute acceptance of that game and no appeal will be accepted
after the books are signed. If the books are not signed the night of the game by
10:50 p.m., no protest will be accepted. Signing of the scorebook does not
affect any unresolved protest already noted in the scorebook.
IX. PROTEST
A. No
on-field protest discussion will last more than five (5) minutes. Protest will
be noted on the official scorebook.
B. Each
protest will be ruled on and settled at the field involved if possible. It must
be done at the point and time of the infraction, and play must not have
proceeded beyond that point. The umpire-in-chief and the opposing managers will
resolve the protest to mutual agreement. If additional advice is needed, the
umpire-in-chief may ask the help of the League President, League Chief Umpire,
or other League Umpire or League Official on duty. Protests must be
registered in accordance with Rule 4.19 of the Official Regulations and Playing
Rules. In no event may a protest be entered after completion of a game.
Unresolved protests will be submitted to the rules committee for resolution
except for incidents regarding violation of the minimum-playing rule.
C. Upon
notification that a game is being played under protest, the umpire-in-chief will
have the official scorebook annotated as to the exact point of the protest
(inning, number of outs, existing score, name of scorekeeper, name of umpires,
and protesting team). Further the umpire-in-chief will insure that the scorebook
and the team game line-ups from which the scorebook line-up was created are
impounded immediately following the protested game and delivered to a league
official.
D. The
Player Agent, upon notification of an unresolved protest, will immediately
request two or more members of the rules committee to investigate the protest.
The vice-President may be one of the investigating members.
E. The
rules committee will convene to resolve protest within three (3) business days
of the occurrence.
F. All
league officials, including scorekeepers, should and will help each manager to
avoid making a decision that could cause forfeiture of a game. Forfeitures shall
be avoided if at all possible.
X. MINIMUM-PLAYING RULE
A.
Major and Senior League minimum playing time for each player is one at
bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs in each game.
RCWLL
will comply with Little League rule 3.03 which states: “A player in the starting
line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any
position in the batting order, provided:
1.
His or her substitute has completed one time at bat and;
2.
Has played defensively for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs;
3.
Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers;
Junior/Senior/Big League-A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a
different position, can return as a pitcher any time in the remainder of the
game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed.
4.
Only a player in the starting line-up may re-enter the game.
The minimum-playing rules for the Minor League and Junior League are set
out below in XI and XII.
5.
A starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter
(S2), must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six (6)
consecutive defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game.
B. Special
reference shall be made in the official scorebook by the official scorekeeper of
any violation of the minimum playing rules.
C. If
any manager violates the minimum playing rules, the losing manager may, if the
outcome of that game should determine the league championship or which team will
go into post-season tournament play, elect to protest that night and notations
will be made in the official scorebook. The choice of exercising this option
must be made in writing to the Player Agent within 24 hours after such
determination becomes evident and shall be scheduled at the earliest convenient
date. The entire game will be re-played.
D. It
shall not be considered a violation of the minimum playing rule if a game has
been called due to the time limit or due to an incomplete game (weather, lights,
etc.). If all regular innings are completed and a player does not meet the
rulebook requirements, then that player must be a starter in the next game,
meeting last game's unfinished requirements as well as the current game's
requirements. For Senior League, if a player does not meet the rulebook
requirements, then that player must start the next game and must play a minimum
of nine (9) outs and three (3) times at bat. If a manager violates the
minimum-playing rule, the offending manager will for the first offense, receive
a written warning; for the second offense, receive a suspension for the next
scheduled game; and for the third offense, receive a suspension for the
remainder of the season. Note 1:
if the violation is determined to have been intentional, the Board of Directors
may assess a more severe penalty. However, forfeiture of a game may not be
invoked. Note 2: There is no exception to this rule unless the game is
shortened for any reason, at which time the Local League may elect not to impose
a penalty on the manager.
E.
For purposes of this rule, if the last half of the last inning is not
required to be played due to the home team having the lead, such half-inning
will count as three (3) defensive outs for the visiting team and the next three
(3) scheduled batters for the home team will be considered as having batted.
F.
The Local Pitching Rules and in accordance with the Little League
Pitching Rules. Please see the
enclosed Pitch Count Regulation pages.
Note: (2008) The “automatic” intentional walk was removed. If a pitcher
wishes to intentionally
walk a batter, he/she must do so by pitching four pitches intentionally outside
the strike zone that are not struck at by the batter, and are called “balls” by
the umpire. All such pitches will count in determining that pitcher’s pitch
count.
1. It
is the responsibility of the manager to know how many pitches his pitcher has
thrown, and to relieve him before he violates any of the aforementioned rules.
2. A
player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch
in the Minor League.
G. Violating the regular season pitch count regulation can be protested
in accordance with Rule 4.19 in the Little League Rule book. And, as with all
regular season games, the local league (by action of the local league Board of
Directors, through the Protest Committee) resolves all protests.
The local league Protest Committee could decree a forfeit, or not, as it
sees fit. The Board of Directors
will invoke a one (1) game suspension upon the manager for the first offense, a
two (2) game suspension for the second offense and if there is a third offense,
the manager will be suspended for the rest of the season.
XI.
MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS
A. Minor
league teams shall conform to the same rules and regulations as Major league
teams with the exceptions contained herein.
B. Minor
league team batting orders will consist of a complete roster of all players
present for each game. All players will bat in consecutive order regardless of
whether or not they are playing in the field. No player may enter the game after
all players present have batted.
C. Each
player on the roster that is present must play at least six (6) consecutive
defensive outs or two defensive innings. (See Little League Rule 3.03)
D. Teams
will adhere to the "5-run" rule. (i.e., a team's at bat will be over when three
(3) outs are made or when five (5) runs have been scored, whichever occurs
first.) No team can score more than five (5) runs per inning.
E. Coaches WILL NOT be allowed to warm up pitchers at
anytime before or during games. (See Little League Rule 3.09.)
F. The ten (10) run Mercy Rule is NOT in effect in the
Minors. The game will be called when
the five (5) run limit per inning makes it impossible for the losing team to tie
or take the lead.
XII. JUNIOR LEAGUE TEAMS
A. Junior
League teams will play under the same rules as Senior League teams, except for
roster number, which shall be no more than sixteen (16) players.
B. If
a player does not meet the minimum playing requirements of one at bat and six
(6) consecutive defensive outs per game, then that player must start the next
game and play until he/she has fulfilled the requirements of the last game and
the requirements of the current game. (See Little League Rule 3.03)
C. Teams
will adhere to a 5-run rule for the first four (4) innings when playing teams
within the West boundaries. Such rule may be imposed with any other team, if the
opposing team agrees, i.e., a team's at-bat will be over when three (3) outs are
made or when five (5) runs have been scored, whichever occurs first. No team can
score more than five (5) runs per inning in the first four (4) innings.
D. Coaches WILL NOT be allowed to warm up pitchers at anytime before or
during games. (See Little League Rule 3.09.)
A. Male
catchers must wear a cup and supporter and will not be allowed to play without
both. All catchers must wear protective helmets with dangling throat protectors.
Hockey style helmets require an additional dangling throat protector.
B. The
League will provide Batting helmet face guards for any player requesting one;
however, the use of them is not mandatory. Use of the face guards can help
prevent eye and face injuries.
The Regional Little League Coordinator determines the number
of All Star teams in each division.
The RCWLL Board will determine the number of players per All Star team.
A. The
managers in the Majors division must keep in mind that they can select only
eight (8) players that are twelve (12) years of age (16 years of age for Senior
League). In each division, a manager
may draft any player from the draft pool, regardless of age.
B. Each division will redraft all of the teams.
The managers, or their representatives, will draw numbers to determine
who will select the first player. The manager who draws number one makes the
first choice; number two makes the second choice, etc. The sequence for drafting
in each even-numbered round will be in reverse order. The following is an
example of the drafting order for a four- (4) team league:
1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc ...
To help clarify, the manager who draws number one (1) makes the
following draft selections: 1st, 8th, 9th, 16th,
17th, 24th, 25th, etc. The manager who draws
number three (3) makes the following draft selections: 3rd, 6th,
11th, 14th, 19th, 22nd, 27th,
30th, etc.
C.
Majors
1.
All returning players, who attended try-outs, will be drafted in a live
draft first, regardless of age.
2.
After the live draft of all eligible returning players, the returning
players who were not eligible (did not attend try-outs) will be drafted in a
blind draft.
3.
After all returning players have been drafted, the new players who
attended try-outs will be drafted in a live draft.
Upon completion of the live draft of new players, those new players who
were not eligible (did not attend try-outs) will be drafted in a blind draft.
The blind draft will continue with the next coach’s turn to draft and
follow the same order.
4.
Parents can request that siblings be drafted onto the same team.
If one is a new player, then the manager who drafts the returning sibling
must draft the new sibling in the first 3 rounds of the new player part of the
draft. If the siblings are both
returning players, they must be drafted in back-to-back rounds of the returning
player portion of the draft. If the
siblings are both new players, they must be drafted in back-to-back rounds of
the new player portion of the draft.
5.
The manager’s son/daughter will not be drafted, but will automatically
be placed on the team at the end of the overall draft.
6.
Upon completion of the draft, eligible players may be traded.
Blind draftees MAY NOT be traded.
All trades must be made before leaving the draft room.
D. T-ball and 5-pitch
1.
Players will be drafted in two rounds: Older players will be drafted
first and upon completion of this part of the draft the younger players will
then be drafted.
2.
The manager’s son/daughter will be drafted in the 3rd round
of his/her age group.
3.
If the coach has twins, then they will be drafted in the 3rd
and 4th round of his/her age group.
4.
If parents have requested that siblings be placed on the same team, they
can draft the first one at any time and the second one must be drafted within
the next 3 rounds. Twins will be
drafted in back-to-back rounds.
5.
Upon completion of the draft, eligible players may be traded.
Blind draftees MAY NOT be traded.
All trades must be made before leaving the draft room.
E.
Minors, Juniors and Seniors
1.
Players eligible for the draft may be drafted in any order, regardless
of their age. (An exception is made for sons/daughters of managers and
siblings.)
2.
Parents may request that brothers and/or sisters of the same age,
becoming candidates who are subject to the draft, be drafted onto the same team.
If the siblings are the same age, when the first brother or sister is drafted
and a request has been submitted, the manager automatically takes the brother or
sister on the next turn. If they are
different ages, then when the first sibling is drafted, the second one must be
drafted in the round as determined by their age.
(See sons/daughters chart below.)
3.
If parents insist
that brother and/or sister play on the same team, then the managers will be
notified BEFORE the draft.
4.
Sons and/or Daughters of Managers
(*NOTE: Same provisions below apply
for managers having brothers or sisters of eligible age.)
a.
A manager who has
sons and/or daughters eligible for the draft, and who wishes to draft them must
state such to the Player Agent prior to the draft. If so stated, the
parent-manager is required to exercise this option prior to the close of the
specific draft round depending on the league age of the son and/or daughter.
Parent-manager options take priority over any other option. Such
candidates must be drafted in or before the following round:
Minors
Junior
League
Senior League
Draft Round (age appropriate)
8
12 *prior written permission from district required
5
9
13
15
4
10
14
16
3
b.
If the manager so chooses, the option on son or daughter may be waived.
c.
If managers have twin sons or daughters and choose to exercise the option
for them, the first child will be drafted according to the chart above and the
twin shall be drafted in the very next round.
2.
Parents of Major/Senior League players who become managers after their
child has been selected to a Major/Senior League team may NOT automatically
claim their child, but must TRADE for them at the proper time.
G. RCWLL does NOT recognize assistant coach
freezes!
If at the end of the season, two (2) or more teams are tied for the
league championship, then the winner will be determined as follows:
1.
Head to Head
2.
Run Ratio (Runs Scored/Runs Allowed); highest percentage wins.
3.
Coin toss.
*If
three (3) or more teams are tied and no team is a clear cut winner in Head to
Head competition, then Rule 2 and then Rule 3 will be applied, in that order.