MINORS RULES – 2022
Transitional Program. Several more advanced skills are introduced and phased in. Player pitching is introduced. Fielding skills become more detailed and strategic as realistic game situations are taught and experienced
COMMISSIONER
Kevin Merrill 402-984-0814 [email protected]
FIELD SPECIFICATIONS
FIELDS USED:
North Rec - South Rec - High School Field
GAME DAYS: Monday and Wednesday
GAME TIME: 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.
BASE PATH: 60 feet apart
PITCHERS MOUND: 46 feet from front edge of pitcher’s plate to point of Home Plate
BATTER’S BOX: Regulation Size 3 feet wide by 6 feet
COACH’S BOX: Regulation Size 10 feet wide by 20 feet starting from back edge of third base 15 feet from foul line.
HOME TEAM BENCH: Third Base side
SCOREBOARDS: Home Team is responsible for running scoreboard and returning remote .
FIELD PREP and CLEANUP: Home Team needs to set the field - Visiting Team needs to put equipment away (AS IT SAYS ON THE SCHEDULE THAT WAS HANDED OUT TO EVERYONE!!!!)
EQUIPMENT
BASEBALLS: Little League approved (DOL -2)
BATS: 33 x 2 5/8” maximum diameter. Must have USA Baseball Logo
BASES: 1 “ Pop-up
SHOES: No metal Cleats
SHIRT: Provided as part of registration fee
HAT: Provided as part of registration fee
GREY PANTS: Must be purchased separately
HELMETS: Players must wear when batting, on deck or running. Players acting as a base coach must also wear a helmet.
ROSTER
TEAM MAKE-UP: Players go through a Skills Evaluation and assigned to a team by a committee of Hastings Baseball. Teams are reformed each year.
ROSTER SIZE: 11 to 12 depending on registrations
GAME REGULATIONS
NUMBER OF BATTERS: Full roster bats until three (3) outs
COMPLETE TEAM: Nine (9)
REQUIRED PLAYING TIME: Required to play half of the innings played each game. Players must start at least every other game in the field (may not start consecutive games on the bench).
POSITION LIMITS: None
SUBSTITUTION: Free substitution
COACHES: Only coaches with approved background checks are allowed in the dugout or on the field. Coaches may not warm up pitchers at games or practices. On only coaches in Coach’s Box are allowed on the field while teams are batting.
UMPIRES: Paid base and plate umpires. If for some reason umpires are not there, coaches should assign a parent from each team to umpire. If one umpire is there, they should call the plate.
MINIMUM PLAYERS: With Approval of League Commissioner, a Team may play with 7 or 8 players, but there must be nine spots in the batting order.
COMPLETE GAME: 6 innings, no extra innings will be played. Scores will be recorded as a tie. In case of games called because of weather, 4 innings is a complete game. (3.5 if home team is leading).
MERCY RULE: If a team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings, (added 3/2011) or 10 runs or more at the end of the 4th inning, or at the end of any inning thereafter, the game shall be over. The home team need not bat in the last inning if they are ahead.
TIME LIMIT: One hour forty five minutes (1 3/4 hrs). The 6:00 p.m. game (or first game scheduled) is the game time, regardless of actual time first pitch . Second game time is the actual time of the first pitch.
WARM-UP: No pre-game warm up on field. Home team should be ready to take the field at 5:55 pm so that the 6:00 pm game can start on time. The 8:00 pm games teams should be ready to start shortly after the 6 pm game is finished.
BAD WEATHER/WET FIELDS: Both coaches of teams playing make decision at game time if fields are playable. Coaches and umpires will make the decision to stop games in progress. If lightning is with in five (5) miles, games must be stopped. If lightning is heard, or with in 5 miles,, players must leave the bench area for safety ( cars or storage room) for at least one half hour from the last lightning strike . Players are not to remain in the open during this time. Commissioner needs to be notified if game is rescheduled.
JEWELRY: Players, coaches, and managers shall not wear jewelry. This includes all Piercings items and jewelry. Medical alert and religious bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry, but must be taped down.
Modifications to Official Baseball Rules:
BATTER
MAXIMUM # OF BATTERS: Bat through the whole order until three (3) outs or Mercy rule takes effect,
WALKS No. After batter receives a Ball Four count, a coach comes in to pitch. . The Batter keeps the strike count when Ball Four is reached and either hits the ball or strikes out.
The opposing team pitcher must stay with ten (10) feet of pitching rubber.
BAT THROWING WARNING 1 per batter
CATCHER’S INTERFERENCE (rule 6.05 b&c): Enforced
BASERUNNING:
LEADING OFF: Not permitted until the ball has touched the catcher or got past him/her
STEALING: No Stealing Allowed (changed 2013)
OVERTHROWS: By rule.
TAGGING UP: Regular rules with regarding to tagging up on fly balls shall apply.
CONTACT RULE: Runners must slide or give themselves up If a play is imminent at the base they are attempting to advance to.
PENALTY FOR LEAVING EARLY: Play allowed to finish. Once the play is over an appeal must be made before the next pitch. The umpire shall call “Time” and if the umpire agrees that the runner left early, the umpire will give the defensive team the option of allowing the result of the play or to have play nullified and all runners to return to their previous base before the pitch. If the play is nullified, then the pitch is a “NO PITCH” and the count remains the same as before the violation.
DROPPED THIRD STRIKE: Batter is out and may not advance to first.
INFIELD FLY RULE: Batter is out..
PITCHING:
PITCHING LIMITS Little League Rule VI
(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.)
(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher.
(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the 75 pitch limit for Minors, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for Minors age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out is made to complete the half inning. Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed
• If a player pitches 51 -65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36- 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
A player may not pitch in more than one game a day
TEAMS / COACHES MUST CHECK PITCH COUNTS AFTER EACH INNING.
Days rest begin at midnight after the game ends.
BALKS N/A since runners cannot leave base until ball reaches catcher.
WARM-UP PITCHES: Seven (7) pitches are allowed to starting pitches in the first inning or new pitchers entering game. After that, Five (5) pitches are allowed.
TRIPS TO THE MOUND: Two (2) trips to any one pitcher in any one inning. On the second trip to the mound to the same pitcher in the same inning means the pitcher must be replaced. If a coach leaves the area (15ft circle) and then talks to the pitcher again or new pitcher is warming up, it will be considered a trip to the mound.
APPEARANCES: One appearance per game for a pitcher. Once a pitcher is removed from the position, h/she can not pitch again in that game. Any pitcher throwing more than 41 pitches cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of the day.
MISCELLANOUS
CONDUCT: Coaches are responsible for the conduct not only of themselves, but their players, parents and fans. Umpires may give warnings for unsportsmanlike conduct of players, coaches (including refusal to remain in the coaches box) parents and fans. If a second warning is given, no matter what the score, the game is over and the other team wins. The coach must then appear before the Youth League Board before the team will be allowed to play another game.
DISCIPLINE RULE: A coach may discipline a player for not attending practices and games, but the coach must first talk to the League Commissioner before denying the player playing time. Vacation is not a reason to discipline a player.
PROTESTS: Protests must be made in writing and turned in to the League Commissioner by 12 noon the day following the game being protested. The only protests considered will be a violation of pitching rules or not having a player in the required innings. No protest will be allowed if coaches do not verify pitch counts during the game. Calls made by umpires are not grounds for a protest, if you have questions regarding a ruling by an umpire please contact the Umpire Coordinator.
SLIDING: It is recommended that players slide feet first to the base they are trying to advance to. Head First slides should not be taught. For safety reasons, players should learn to slide feet first. Head First dives back to a base are allowed,
LITTLE LEAGUE PLEDGE
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best.