Medford American Little League
Local Rules – Rookies Baseball
LOCAL RULES - Rookies Division
The following rules are listed for emphasis, and have been approved by the Medford American Little League Board of
Directors. They have been added to reflect the needs and philosophy of Medford American Little League and take
precedence over the Playing Rules for our league games. If a rule question cannot be answered after reviewing this
document, the current Playing Rules should then be consulted.
A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF Medford American Little League
Medford American Little League deems its primary function to be one of training and preparation of Little Leaguers in the
mechanics and skills of Baseball. THEREFORE: Medford American Little League resolves that team managers should
provide for an "adequate number" of team practices during the course of a season. An "adequate number" is defined as
an average minimum of two (2) "contacts" (games and practices) per week or a minimum of twenty (20) “contacts” during
the course of a season (which includes the pre-season period).
Violation of Local and/or National playing rules (with emphasis on participation rules) may ultimately result in the
equivalent to game forfeiture as determined by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors, in the interest of
adhering to the philosophy of Little League Baseball. The Executive Committee or Board of Directors may impose
additional sanctions.
GAME TIMES
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No new inning may begin after 7:00PM from the official start of the game. If the home team is trailing by 5 runs or
less, any inning started must be completed.
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All games are limited to six (6) innings.
THE HOME TEAM
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Is listed first on the schedule
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Uses the third base dugout
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Takes infield/outfield for practice twenty (20) minutes prior to game time for 10 minutes.
THE VISITING TEAM
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Is listed second on the schedule
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Uses the first base dugout
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Takes infield/outfield for practice ten (10) minutes prior to game time for 10 minutes.
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Is responsible for the bases and chalking the infield.
THOSE PERMITTED ON FIELD
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Only players on the official rosters of participating teams (no siblings, parents, friends, scorekeepers).
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Only one manager and two coaches in the dugout and in the coaching boxes per team.
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Only one manager or coach is allowed on the field during the game to pitch in the first three (3) innings.
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Umpires will wear the official Medford American Little League umpire attire.
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Managers and coaches, with the exception of the manager or coach pitching, must remain in the dugout or
coaching box until time is called and permission is granted by the Umpire to leave the dugout or coaching box.
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Once time is granted, a manager or coach may visit the pitchers mound and confer with any player.
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Two adult base coaches are permitted (managers are encouraged to use at least one player coach on the
offense). Team player base coaches must wear protective helmets. Coaches physically assisting a base runner
while time is in will result in the base runner being called out.
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Note: No photographers shall be on the field during the game.
UMPIRES
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The plate umpire is provided and scheduled by Medford American Little League.
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Umpires are not to coach while on the field umpiring.
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The base umpire makes calls at 1st and 2nd base and keeps track of runner’s positions at the conclusion of each
play.
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After a pitcher throws four (4) balls to a batter, the manager or coach of the team at bat will pitch to the batter.
The number of pitches by the manager or coach is determined by the batter’s strike count (Example: a 1 strike
count allows for two pitches; a 2 strike count allows for one pitch). All pitches by a manager or coach are counted
as strikes. In the event of a foul ball on a pitch by a manager or coach, the batter may continue his at bat.
PLAYING TIME
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Equal playing time for ALL Rookies players is a priority. National Little League Rules dictate that every player will
participate in each game defensively for a minimum of six consecutive outs and bat at least one (1) time each
game (Rule IV(i)).
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All players must start at least every other game at which they were present during the season.
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Players will bat through the entire roster consecutively, game after game during the regular season. For example,
if batter no. 6 is last up in a game, batter no. 7 will lead off the next game. Late arriving players will bat in their
regular positions. The manager is responsible for notifying the scorekeeper of absences and late arrivals.
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The batting order may be changed at the beginning of each calendar month.
GAME RULES
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There must be a minimum of eight (8) players per team to play a Rookies game.
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There will be a maximum of nine (9) players on the field for defense.
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FIVE RUNS OR THREE OUTS, whichever comes first, constitutes one-half inning. A maximum of five runs will be
scored in any half inning.
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The manager or coach pitches to his or her team for the first three (3) innings.
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Players shall pitch in the 5 and 6 innings and are allowed a total of four pitches per batter. After the 4th pitch, if
applicable, the manager or coach must finish pitching to the batter until the ball is hit into play or a combined total
of seven (7) pitches are made to the batter. Exception: If the last pitch results in a foul ball the batter is allowed
to continue his at-bat.
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Players are allowed to pitch from a chalk line, in front of the pitcher’s mound and marked at 35 feet.
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Missed swings and foul balls will be called strikes. Balls will be called. No walks will be awarded.
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A player that throws the bat during a swing or after a swing will be given a “warning” on the first offense during a
game. If a second offense occurs the batter is called out and must return to the bench.
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The umpire is considered part of the playing field. If a batted or thrown ball hits the umpire, play shall continue.
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The infield fly rule is waived for the Rookies division.
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All base runners are subject to Rule 7.13: leaving the base early.
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Base runners must go around a defensive player in possession of the ball in an attempt to avoid collision. Failure
to make such an attempt will result in the runner being called out.
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A pitcher must be removed from the position for the remainder of the game if he hits three batters during the
course of the game.
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BUNTING IS NOT ALLOWED.
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BASE STEALING IS NOT PERMITTED.
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SLIDING IS NOT ALLOWED.
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Runners may advance as far as third base on "overthrows" attempting to put a runner out. Players should be
encouraged to attempt to make the proper defensive play to develop basic skills. Runners may still be put out
while attempting to take the extra base on an overthrow, but any such attempts do not result in runners being able
to advance to home plate.
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A play ends when the ball is in the possession of the pitcher within the 8’ radius pitching circle. The pitcher must
refrain from making any demonstration with the ball that might be interpreted as an attempt to make a play. In
such situations (Example: the pitcher holds the ball aloft while facing a runner) the umpire will withhold judgment
until that official is certain that the defense is not attempting or threatening to make a play. A runner may advance
to the next base on an overthrow as noted above, or if he/she is half way to the base when the pitcher gained
possession in the pitching area. This is a judgment call made solely by the umpire.
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A batted ball that bounds, rolls or is deflected under a fence shall be a ground rule double. In this case, the ball is
dead, and all runners advance two bases from their position when the ball was hit.
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Catcher's Courtesy Runner: when there are two (2) out and the catcher is on base, a courtesy runner is allowed.
The courtesy runner must be the last player put out at that time in the game.
PITCHING RULES (see Section VI-PITCHERS of Playing Rules in National rule book)
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Any player on a regular season team may pitch (Note: There is no limit to the number of pitchers on a team)
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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.
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A pitcher who delivers one or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that
day.
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League age 11-12 can throw 85 pitches per day
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League Age 9-10 can throw 75 pitches per day
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League Age 8 and under can throw 50 pitches per day
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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.
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Pitchers league age 12 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
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If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game must be
observed.
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If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game must be observed.
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If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
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If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest must be observed.
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The home team scorekeeper is the official pitch count recorder. 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.
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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.
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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.
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A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. NOTES: 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.
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Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against
pitcher’s eligibility. 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.
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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 three days of rest.
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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 three days of rest.
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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 three days.
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
SPORTSMANSHIP
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A player may lose his/her privilege to play in one or more future games for disciplinary reasons provided that.
a. The League President approves such action in advance,
b. The opposing manager is notified prior to start of game, and
c. The action is recorded in the scorebook as player being absent.
Before such action is taken, every effort should be made to resolve the problem by talking with the parents,
League President, etc.
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Poor sportsmanship (by managers, coaches, players, or spectators) can result in ejection from the game and/or
removal from the park. Examples of poor sportsmanship include: throwing equipment, using illegal equipment,
bad language, arguing with an umpire’s judgment call or harassing an umpire, opposing players or spectators.
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Individual team rules, which identify player and family participation and cooperation guidelines, exist for each
Rookies team. For disciplinary purposes, failure to recognize or comply with the team rules may result in reduced
playing time.