ALAMEDA LITTLE
LEAGUE
RULES
PRESENTATION
Ron Matthews – President
Randy Marmor – Vice President
Jim Quilici – Director of Umpires
Paul Skuta – Director of Communications
STRUCTURE OF THE RULE BOOK
• One Rule Book ALL Divisions of Baseball
• Broken down into three major sections:
– Regulations
– Official Playing Rules
– Tournament Rules
• Official Playing Rules in 9 parts:
– 1.00 Objectives of the Game
– 2.00 Definition of Terms
– 3.00 Game Preliminaries
– 4.00 Starting and Ending the Game
– 5.00 Putting the ball in play – Live Ball
– 6.00 The Batter
– 7.00 The Runner
– 8.00 The Pitcher
– 9.00 The Umpire
THE UMPIRE
• Appointed by the President to be responsible
for the conduct of the game.
• Umpires are the official representative of the
League and Little League International and shall
enforce the rules of same.
• No one shall object to the Umpire judgment
• May eject any Manager, coach, or player for
objecting to decisions, or for unsportsmanlike
conduct.
• Umpires may ask another umpire for
information, but no umpire may overrule,
reverse, or interfere with another umpire.
• Umpires shall report to the President within 24
hours regarding ejections or protests.
• Umpires may forfeit a game if judged as a
“travesty” (for example, a manager in the lead
purposely stalls knowing that curfew is close).
SAFETY
• No metal cleats
• Male catchers must wear a cup
• Catcher’s mask (including hockey style mask) must
have a dangling throat guard attached
• Catcher’s mask must be worn by a player who
assumes the position of a catcher (during game, pregame warm-up, and pre-game infield/outfield)
• NO JEWELRY is allowed, including
– Rubber wrist bands/bracelets
– Rope necklaces
– Medical bracelets must be (clear) taped down
• Runners and youth base coaches must wear helmets
• No on-deck batter allowed
• No head first slides advancing to bases (runners
may return to bases head first)
CATCHER’S PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Jewelry Is Not Allowed
Players may not wear jewelry such as but not
limited to:
• Rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, or any
hard/cosmetic decorative item.
• Rule applies regardless of composition of
item, hard cosmetic or hard decorative.
• Medical Alert bracelets are
permissible.
LEGAL BAT RULES
• Bats used in games must meet the Little
League Specifications and standards as noted in
Rule 1.10.
– Exception: For Majors Baseball and below,
composite barrel bats are prohibited unless
approved by Little League. All approved and
licensed composite barrel bats can be found on
the Little League Website www.littleleague.org
• Generally, bats must be a smooth rounded
stick made of wood or of material and color
tested and proved acceptable to Little League
standards. Bats with visible cracks or sharp
edges are unsafe and must be removed.
–Majors and below:
–2 1/4” diameter, not more than 33” long, BPF of
1.15 or less for all non-wood bats.
USE OF AN ILLEGAL BAT
• Illegal/Altered bats must be removed.
– Illegal bats should be found in equipment check prior to
the game and removed from the field.
– A batter who enters batter’s box with an illegal
bat, with one or both feet entirely on the ground
is deemed to be Out for Illegal Action. Penalty:
• Batter is out (as long as discovered before
next batter enters box).
• If play occurred, manager of defense may
decline/accept penalty/play before next
batter enters batters box.
• 1st violation: offense loses 1 eligible adult
base coach position for duration of game.
• 2nd violation: manager ejected from game.
• Subsequent violation: new manager ejected.
– Cracked or damaged bat is not an illegal bat for
this rule.
STRIKES
• The Little League Strike Zone is defined as:
– Armpits to the top of the knees.
– Over any portion of the plate.
– Batter’s usual stance when swinging at a pitch.
• A strike is a legal pitch that:
– Crosses through any part of the strike zone
without being struck (not applicable to A
division).
– Is struck at by the batter and is missed.
– Is bunted foul by the batter.
– Is fouled by batter when less than two strikes.
– Becomes a foul tip.
– Touches the batter as the batter strikes at it.
– Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone
(not applicable to A division).
• Foul Tip– A batted ball that goes sharp and
direct into the catcher’s hand or mitt and is
legally caught
STRIKE ZONE-ARMPITS TO KNEES
STRIKE ZONE-BATTER’S STANCE
UNCAUGHUUU
UNCAUGHT THIRD STRIKE
Majors ONLY:
– Batter becomes a runner when a third strike is
called by the umpire and the pitched ball is not
legally caught by the catcher; when first base is
not occupied or first base is occupied when
there are two outs.
– A pitch that hits the ground, but is swung at
and missed, is considered an uncaught third
strike.
– Batter forfeits his/her opportunity to advance
to first base if he/she enters the dugout or other
dead ball area.
BALL
(Does not apply to Minor A division)
A ball is a pitch which does not enter the Strike
Zone and is not struck by the batter.
- A pitch that touches the ground and then
bounds through the Strike Zone is a ball, unless
it is struck at.
- If the pitcher brings his pitching hand in
contact with his mouth or lips while in the circle
surrounding the pitcher’s plate, it will result in a
ball being called and count toward pitch count.
- If the pitcher applies foreign substance, rubs
ball on uniform, delivers a spit ball, or shine ball,
the pitch will be called a ball.
- If the pitcher commits an Illegal Pitch and
runners are on base (Rule 8.05), and the pitch is
delivered and no play is made, the result is a ball
on the batter
FAIR/FOUL
• Fair territory: that part of the playing field
within - and including - the first and third base
foul lines, from home plate to the bottom of the
outfield fence and perpendicularly upwards. All
bases and “foul” lines are in fair territory.
• A fair ball is a batted ball that:
– settles on fair ground in the infield
– is on or over fair territory when bounding to
the outfield
– touches first, second or third base
– while on or over fair territory, touches a player
or umpire
– passes out of the playing field in flight when
over fair territory
CATCH
• A catch is the act of a fielder in securing
possession of a ball in flight:
- in the hand or glove before it the ball
touches the ground (not using a cap, pocket,
protector or other part of uniform); and
- voluntarily removing the ball from hand or
glove to complete the catch
• If the fielder drops the ball while in the act of
throwing, that is still a catch.
– Fielder must prove complete control and that
the release is voluntary and intentional.
• It is NOT a catch if:
– Simultaneously or immediately player collides
with another player, falls to ground, or runs into
the fence and loses the ball, or if the fielder
touches a fly ball which is then touched by
another defensive player.
FOUL BALL
• Foul Territory: That part of the playing field
outside the first and third base lines extended to
the fence and perpendicularly upwards.
• Foul Ball: A batted ball that:
– Settles on foul territory.
– Bounds (bounces) past the bases in foul
territory.
– First falls on foul territory beyond the infield.
– While in foul territory, touches any person or
object foreign to the natural ground.
• A Foul Ball is judged according to the position
of the ball and the foul line or foul pole, not the
position of the player when he touches the ball.
TAG
• A Tag is the act of a fielder in:
– Touching a base with the body while holding
the ball securely in the hand or glove.
– Touching a runner with the ball or with the
hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the
ball securely in the hand or glove.
• It is NOT a Tag, if while attempting to make the
tag:
– Ball is dislodged from the hand or glove by the
action of the fielder in touching the runner.
– Ball is not in the hand or glove used to touch
the runner.
BATTED BALL OUT OF PLAY
• A fair batted ball that leaves the field results in
the following:
– If over the outfield fence on a fly, then four
bases, all runners score
– If a bounding ball over the fence, or a ground
ball that goes through the fence, batter is
awarded second base, AND all runners advance
two bases from position at time of pitch.
• Ball is ALWAYS dead at time it leaves the field
of play.
THROWN OR PITCHED BALL OUT OF PLAY
• A thrown ball that leaves the field of play, or
sticks in the fence, results in the following:
– Two bases for each runner and batter-runner,
from their position at the time of the throw.
– If the first play is made by an infielder, two
bases are awarded based on the runners’
position at the time of the pitch, unless all
runners including the batter runner advanced a
base prior to the throw.
• A ball, pitched to the batter or thrown by the
pitcher from the pitcher’s plate to a base to pick
off a runner, that leaves field of play or sticks in
fence results in one base for each runner from
the time of the pitch or throw.
• Pitched ball lodges in umpire’s equipment:
– One base for each runner from time of pitch.
– If ball four to the batter, he/she is awarded only
first base.
• Ball is ALWAYS dead at time it leaves the field
of play.
INTERFERENCE BY PLAYERS
• Offensive Interference:
– An act by a member of the team at bat which
interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or
confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
– If an umpire declares the batter, batter-runner,
or a runner out for interference, all other runners
shall return to the base that was, in the judgment
of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the
interference.
• Defensive Interference:
– An act by a fielder which hinders or prevents a
batter from hitting a pitch.
• On any Interference the ball is Dead.
EXAMPLES OF INTERFERENCE BY PLAYERS
Base Runner:
– Running into fielder attempting to field ball.
– Hindering fielder attempting to field ball in any
way.
•
•
•
•
Hopping over ball if it in fact interferes.
Waving arms.
Yelling: (E.g., “I got it” or “Drop it”)
Batted ball hits runner before ball passes
any fielder besides the pitcher (unless ball
passes first fielder cleanly and second
fielder has chance at it).
– Result: Ball is immediately dead.
• Runner is out.
• Batter to first and runners advance if forced.
BATTER INTERFERENCE
• Hit by fair ball out of batter’s box.
• On steal of base, hinders catcher making
play. (Exception: No interference if batter
stays in batter’s box and makes no
movement that may interfere).
• Running Lane violation—interferes with a
fielder taking a throw (from near the plate
area) by running outside of the runner’s
lane.
• If possible double play and interference is
intentional, batter-runner and runner closest
to home are out.
• Batter crossing in front of plate after striking
out and steal is in progress.
OTHER TYPES OF INTERFERENCE
• Umpire interference
– Batted ball hits umpire before it passes a
fielder other than the pitcher.
– Batter to first; others return unless forced
to advance.
– Catcher’s arm hits umpire on throw attempt.
• Spectator interference.
– Reaching over into field.
– Standing or sitting on field.
• Coach interference.
– Assisting runner or failure to avoid defensive
player making a play on ball.
• Immediate dead ball.
OBSTRUCTION
• The act of a Fielder who, while not in
possession of the ball, impedes the progress of
any runner.
– A Fake Tag is considered obstruction.
– Obstruction shall be called on a defensive
player who blocks a base, base line, or Home
Plate from a base runner while not in
possession of the ball.
OBSTRUCTION EXAMPLES
• Fielder in baseline without ball and impeding
progress of runner.
– Standing on or in front of base.
– Fake tag.
– In rundown, impedes runner going back.
• First baseman obstructing batter-runner
rounding first.
• At Home Plate, catcher positioned in runner’s
Base Line up from Home Plate awaiting throw.
• Penalty:
– Type A – Obstructed runner is being played on.
At least one base beyond the last base legally
touched. Umpire may award bases to other
runners. Immediate dead ball.
– Type B – Obstructed runner not being
played on. Award base(s) to nullify
obstruction. Umpire may award bases to other
runners. Delayed dead ball.
OBSTRUCTION BY FIELDER
• First Baseman does not have the ball and is not making
a play on Runner,
• Runner’s progress in his baseline towards second base
is impeded.
OBSTRUCTION BY FIELDER
• First Baseman does not have the ball and is not making
a play on Runner,
• Runner’s progress in his baseline towards second base
is impeded.
OBSTRUCTION BY FIELDER
• Catcher not in possession of the ball.
• Runner is impeded from reaching Home Plate.
• Runner properly sliding to avoid direct contact.
• Obstruction has occurred, runner is awarded Home
Plate.
SLIDE OR ATTEMPT TO AVOID FIELDER
A runner is out when they do not slide or attempt
to get around a fielder who has the ball and is
waiting to make the tag. (Rule 7.08 (a)(3))
• Runner must slide, attempt to get around or go
back.
• Runner must avoid direct contact with fielder if
reasonably possible.
• Fielder without the ball must avoid obstructing
the runner.
• Penalty: Runner is out
• Note: An obstructed runner will be awarded the
base, but may be ejected for malicious contact.
– If safe, runner will be awarded the base if
obstructed even if ejected for a malicious hit
– If malicious hit— runner may be ejected from
game after awarded the base.
INFIELD FLY RULE
(Only applies to Majors and AAA in our league)
• Situation:
– Less than two outs.
– Runners on first and second, or bases loaded
• Fly ball (not a bunt or line drive).
• Must be a fair ball.
– If close to foul line, say: “Infield fly, if fair”
• Capable of being caught by infielder with
ordinary effort.
– Outfielder can in fact make the catch.
– Ordinary effort will vary by level.
• Batter is out even if ball not caught.
• Ball is live and runners advance at own risk.
• If ball caught, runners must tag-up to advance.
RUNNER LEAVING EARLY
• Runner cannot leave base until pitched ball
reaches the batter’s hitting zone
• A runner leaving early affects the status of all
runners.
• Runner leaving early is not automatically out.
– Pitched ball not hit, all runners return to base
at time of pitch. All out(s) stand.
– If the ball is batted fair, umpire determines
value of the hit.
Runners return to base closest to the base at
time of pitch. Batter Runner, no further than 1B
on a single or error.
APPEALS
• An appeal is an action by a defensive player in
claiming a violation of the rules by the offensive
team.
• Most common: Missing a base and failing to
tag-up properly on a caught fly ball.
– An appeal must be an unmistakable act.
– These appeals must be made during live ball.
– Umpire cannot help defensive team.
– Appeal must be made by player.
– Ball is live and players may advance.
– An appeal must be made before the next pitch,
play, or attempted play.
– No successive appeals on the same runner at
the same base.
– An appeal is not considered a play as defined
by Rule 7.10.
CONTINUOUS BATTING ORDER
• Mandatory for Minors and Majors
• All players present must bat in their spot in the
batting order, as determined by the line-up
• Players must still meet their minimum
defensive play
• If player injured, ill or leaves, player’s spot in
batting order is skipped without penalty
• If a runner must be removed from game, runner
is replaced by player on bench whose batting
order position most closely precedes that of the
injured player
• If removed player returns, he returns to same
spot in batting order
• Late-arriving players are placed at end of the
batting order
THE TOP MYTHS OF BASEBALL RULES
1. The hands are part of the bat.
2. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.
3. The batter who is out of order is out.
4. The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.
5. If the batter breaks his wrists when swinging, it’s a strike.
6. If the batter leaves the bat in the strike zone while in the bunting position, it’s a strike.
7. Tie goes to the runner.
8. The runner must always slide when the play is close.
9. The runner is safe if hit by a batted ball while touching a base.
10. A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder making a play on the ball.
11. A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.
12. The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch that bounces first.
13. If the fielder’s feet are in fair territory when he touches the ball, it is always a fair ball.
14. The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.
15. The Plate Umpire may overrule another umpire at any time.