KETTLEMORAINE
BOY’SBASEBALL
JUNIOR
LITTLELEAGUE
RULES
2017
Revision1.00
03/28/17
JuniorLittleLeagueRules
2017
NationalFederationofStateHighSchool(NFHS)andWIAAruleswillapply,withthefollowing
clarificationsandexceptions:
A.AgeRestrictions
1.Agecut-offdate:May1st.
-Noplayermaybe11yearsofagepriortoMay1stoftheseasonalyear
E.G.–Forthe2017season,thecut-offdateis5/1/17
A.1PlayerRestrictions
1.Eachplayerparticipantmayonlybelistedononerosterandplayforonlyoneteamperdivisioninthe
league.
- Ifextraplayersareneeded,theycanbebroughtupfromthePee-Weedivisionorseeexception
below
Exception:
Eight(8)yearoldsmayparticipateonmorethanoneJuniorLittleLeaguedivisionteamintheir
communitybutonlyifneeded.
-Bothcoachesmustdiscussandagreeonthisexceptionatthepregameconference.
B.PlayerEquipment
1.Protectivecupsarerecommendedforallmaleplayers.
2.Steelspikesarenotallowed.
-Round,plasticcleatsarepermissible
-Round,steeltippedplasticcleatsareNOTALLOWED!
3.Catchersmustwearprotectivecups(males),helmet,facemask(orcombination)anddanglingthroat
protector.
4.Faceshieldsareallowedbutmustbeclear.
5.Helmetsmustbewornbyalloffensiveplayersatalltimeswhileontheplayingfield.Helmetsmaynotbe
removedforanyreason,withoutpermissionoftheumpire,whiletheballisliveandwhiletheplayerisin
liveballterritory.
-Batboysandbasecoachesunder18mustalsowearhelmetsatalltimeswhileonthefield
C.Bats
1.Woodbatsareallowed:
-2-3/4”maximumdiameter
2.Aluminumbatsize:
-2-5/8”maximumdiameter
-Noweightdroprestrictions
C.1Anyadultleague/highschoolleaguebat(thosewithaweighttolengthratioof-3),mustconform
tothecurrentNFHSstandards.
-NOEXCEPTIONS-
-for2017,batsmustmeettheBBCORstandardandlabeledaccordingtoNFHSstandards.
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C.2Anybatthatismorethanadrop3oris2-1/4”indiameter,maybeusedwhetheritisaluminum,
composite,orwood.
D.Baseballs
-2newand1likenewleagueapprovedbaseballstobeprovidedbythehometeam
-1new/likenewbaseballtobeprovidedbythevisitingteam
E.Alldiamondstohave60footbasesand46footpitchingrubber
1.Doublefirstbasesarenotrequiredandarenotrecommended.
2.Ifnobatter’sboxismarked,thebattercannotstandmorethanonebatlengthbehindthemid-point
ofhomeplate. -Onewarningshallbegivenperplayer.
F.FreeSubstitution.
-Playersmayenter,exit,andre-enter,asmuchasthecoachwouldlike.
-Thegoalistoplayallparticipantsasmuchaspossiblewithequalplayingtime.
-Pitchersaresubjecttoaspecialre-entryrule.SeeI.1below
G.ContinuousBattingOrder.
-Allplayersbatregardlessiftheyplaydefenseornot.
-Onceaplayerhasbattedinonepositioninthelineup,hemustalwaysbatinthatspot,regardlessof
whereheplaysondefense.
-Ifthenumberofeligibleplayersdropsto8,thegamewillcontinuebutanoutwillbeissuedthefirsttime
themissingbatter'sspotcomesupinthelineup.
-Ifthenumberofplayersdropsbelow8,thegamewillbeforfeitedbytheoffendingteam.
H.Theremaybenomorethan10playersinthefieldondefense.
-Theuseof4outfieldersisencouraged.
-Thegamemaystartwith8playersbutthe9thpositionwillbeanautomaticouteachtimethroughthe
line-upuntilaplayerfillsthatposition.
I.PitchingRules
1.Pitcherscanpitchnomorethan3inningsinanyonegame.
2.Pitcherscanpitch6inningsevery3days.
-onepitchconstitutesaninning
-enforcementofpitchingrestraintsisthecoach’sresponsibility,nottheumpires
3.BalkswillNOTbecalled.
I.1Pitcherre-entryrule.
1.Onceapitcherisremovedasapitcher,hemayonlyreturntothepitchingpositiononemoretime.
-The3inningmaximumpitchruleabovestillapplies
2.ThepitchingrulesundersectionIaboveapplytotheleaguesponsoredtournamentsonly.
-individualcommunitytournamentsmaysettheirownpitchingrestrictionswithgoodsportsmanshipand
player'swelfareinmind
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J.SlidingRules
1.Whenthereisapotentialplayatabase,therunnermustmakealegalslide(accordingtobookrule)and
attempttoavoidcontact,unlesstheactofslidingispotentiallymoredangerousthantheactofnotsliding.
-Thisisanumpirejudgmentcall.-
Thedefensiveplayerhastherighttobeinthebasepathtofieldthethrownballbutmaynotdenysome
accesstotheplate.Therunnerisresponsibleforavoidingcontact.
-Ifthedefensiveplayerisnotattemptingtoreceiveathrownballandisinthebasepath,hehas
committedobstructionandtherunnerisawardedthebase.
-Therunnerhastherighttore-establishhisbasepathbyrunningnomorethan3feettoeithersideofthe
basepathtoavoidcontact
-Iftherunnerdoesnotattempttoavoidcontactandthereisincidentalcontact,thenthiswillbea
judgmentcallbytheumpire
-Ifthedefensiveplayerisonthebagwiththeballandtherunnermakesalegalslideandthereiscontact,
interferenceshallnotbecalled.
-Iftherunnercommitsmaliciouscontact,therunnerisoutandejected.
-intentionalchargingwithdroppedshoulder,elbows/forearmsflyingaresomeexamplesofmalicious
contact
-Maliciouscontactsupersedesobstruction.
-Thisisanumpirejudgmentcall
3.NOheadfirstslides.
-Runnerisoutifhe/sheslidesheadfirstwhileadvancingabase
-Retreatingtoabaseheadfirstisallowed
K.BaseRunning
1.Baserunnersmuststayontheirbaseuntilthepitchcrosseshomeplateorthefoulline
-Iftherunnerleavesthebasebeforetheballcrosseshomeplateorthefoullinetherunnerisout
(umpire’sjudgment–1warninggivenperteam)
-Thiswillbeanimmediatedeadballandthepitchwillnotbeallowed
-Anyactionthatresultsfromthedeliveryofthepitchwillbenullandvoid.Battersandrunners(except
thosecalledoutforleavingearly)returntothebaseoccupiedatthetimeofthepitch
2.Nobasestealingisallowed.
L.DroppedThirdStrikes
1.Batterisautomaticallyoutondroppedthirdstrike.
M.InfieldFlyRule.
-Theinfieldflyruledoesnotapplytothisleague.
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N.BuntRule.
-Buntingisallowed
-Slashbuntingisnotallowed.
Aslashbuntisanattemptmadebythebattertodrawtheinfieldinby“showing”buntandthenswinging
away.
-Becausethisisasafetyissue,therearenoexceptions.
-Thisisanumpirejudgmentcall-
O.GameLength
1.Eachgameshallbe6inningsindurationwitha1hourand45minutetimelimitperitem3below.
2.Thereisaneight(8)runruleperinningexceptforthefinalinning.
-Inthefinalinning,the8runruletakeseffectifandwhenthelosingteamtiesthescore.
Example:TeamAwayislosinginthetopofthesixthinning,8to12.Thenthescoreafteroneout
becomestied,12to12.TeamAwaycannowscoreupto8moreruns,makingthe
maximumscore20to12.Atthatpointorafter3outs,teamHomecomestobatandplay
continuesuntil3outshavebeenmadeoruntiltheywin,whicheverhappensfirst.
3.TimeLimit
Thereisa1hourand45minutetimelimitfromthetimeofthefirstpitch.
-Anewinningmaynotstartafterthetimelimithaselapsed.
-Anyinningstartedpriortothetimelimitexpiringmustbecompleted.
-Anumpireshallbetheofficialtimekeeperandannouncethestarttimeatthefirstpitch
-Timetakenduetoinjuries,weatherdelays,etc.shallnotcounttowardsthe1hourand
45minutetimelimittotal
4.TieBreakerRule.
-Intheeventofatieaftersixinningsorexpirationoftime,thetiewillbebrokenbyuse
ofthe"CaliforniaTieBreakerRule".
-Thevisitingteambatsfirst.Thevisitingteamplayerthatmadethelastoutfromthe
previousinningisplacedonsecondbasewithoneout.Thenextplayerinthe
lineupbats.
-Playcontinuesuntil3outsarerecorded.
-Thehometeamthenrepeatstheprocess.
-Gamecontinuesuntilthetieisbroken.
- The(8)runruleperinningdoesnotapplyduringtie-breakerplay.
- Thehometeamalwayshasthefinalatbatandthegameisoverthemomentthehometeamtakes
thelead.
5.Gamesshortenedduetoweatherareofficialafter4innings(3-1/2inningsifthehometeam
isleading)
6.Ifagameiscalledduetolackofdaylight,itisconsideredasuspendedgameandshouldbefinished
fromtheexactpointwhereitwaswhencalled(inning,line-up,score,etc.).
-Ifagreeduponbybothcoaches,thegamemaybeconsideredcompleteatthistime.
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P.Rainouts/Cancellations
1.Everyeffortmustbemadetoplayeveryleaguegame.
2.Intheeventofarainout,thehometeammustnotifythevisitingteam1hourpriortogametime.
++++++Thismeanstalkingtothecoach,notsimplyleavingamessage++++++
3.Re-schedulingpostponedgamesshallbetheresponsibilityofthehometeam.
-Bothteamsmustmutuallyagreetothetimeandplaceofrescheduledgames
-Allrescheduledgamesshouldbecompleted5dayspriortoplayoff/championshipgamesifpossible
-Ifanagreementisnotreached,theleagueofficersmustbenotifiedimmediately
-Leagueofficialswillrescheduleasneeded
Q.1Rescheduleguidelines
-Mostschoolfunctionsareknownfarenoughinadvancethatintheeventofanecessaryreschedule,the
teamsshouldbeabletonotifyeachotheratleastaweekaheadofscheduledgametime.
-Weallknowemergenciesandrainoutshappenandthereisnothingthatcanbedoneaboutthat;
However,inallothercases,everyeffortshouldbemadetocontacttheopposingteam
atleast7daysaheadoftimetoreschedulegames
-Becourteousand“gentlemanly”aboutthewholerescheduledeal
Q.2Fortyeighthourcancellationrule–Effective5/1/2011
1.Barringanyemergencies(deathofaplayerorcoach),inclementweather,oractsofGod,government,
orwar,anygamecanceledlessthan48hourspriortothescheduledgametimewillbedeclareda
forfeitwithalossbeingawardedtothecancelingteamandawinawardedtotheotherteam.
-Thescorewillberecordedas7-0forleaguestandingspurposes.
R.Umpires/Sportsmanship
1.Hometeamtoprovide2qualifiedumpires.
-Minimumage–16yearsold
-Everyeffortshouldbemadetohaveatleastone(1)WIAAcertifiedumpireforeachgame
2.Umpiresmustconductapre-gameconferenceapproximately5minutespriortogametime.
-Groundrulesshallnotsupersedearulesbookrule
3.Arguingumpirejudgmentcallsisprohibited.
-Strikes/ballsandfair/foulballsaresomeexamplesofjudgmentcalls
4.Theumpireswillhavetherightandtheresponsibilitytoendagameduetounsafeplayingconditions.
-Ifagameisendedpriortosixinnings,thenfivecompleteinningswillconstituteanofficialgame
-4and½inningsifthehometeamisaheadatthetimethegameisended
-Theplayers’safetyshouldbeeverybody’smainconcern
5.Unsportsmanlikeconduct/tauntingbycoaches,players,andfanswillnotbetolerated.
-Coacheswillbeheldresponsiblefortheactionsoftheirplayersandfans
6.Electronicrecordingdevicesmayusedforcoachingpurposesonlyduringthecourseofthegame.
-Cellphoneuse,texting,etc.isprohibitedinthedugoutsexceptforemergencies
6.1Electronicdevicesarenotallowedinthecoachesboxes.
Exception:cellphonesmaybeinthebasecoaches’possessionbutnotheldintheirhandsorinusewhile
onthefieldofplayexceptinthecaseofanemergency.
-TheNFHSinstitutedthisruleduetosafetyconcerns.
-Failuretocomplywillresultinanautomaticejectionandpossibleforfeiture
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S.Ejections
1.Anycoachorplayerejectedfromagamewillautomaticallybesuspendedforthenextgame.
-Thisistheminimumpunishmentandleagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesifwarranted
1.A.Forthesecondejectioninaseason,theindividualwillautomaticallybesuspendedforthenext2games.
-Thisisalsotheminimumpunishmentandleagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesifwarranted
1.B.Forthethirdejectioninaseason,theindividualwillberemovedfromtheKMBBLpermanently.
-Thismeansforever-
2.CoachEjection:Ifacoachisejectedfromagame,thecoachmustleavethepark/standarea.
-Thereshallbenoelectroniccommunicationfromejectedcoach/coachestoanypersonorplayer
associatedwithorinvolvedwithsaidgame
- TheUmpireshouldissueawarningpriortoejectingacoach,forminorinfractionsonly
- Majorinfractionsrequirenowarningtobegiven
-Leagueofficialsmayimposeadditionalpenaltiesagainsttheejectedcoach/coachesifwarranted
-Ifanassistantcoachisnotpresenttocontinuethegame,thegamewillendinaforfeit
3.FanEjection:Coachesareremindedtotelltheirumpiresthattheyhavetheauthoritytoejecta
disruptivefan.
-Coachesareresponsiblefortheirfans.
-Gamewillbeputonholduntildisruptivefan/fansareremovedfromthepark/standarea.
-Ifthesituationcannotberesolved,thegamemayresultinaforfeiturebythedisruptiveteam
-Sufficientverbalwarningshouldbegivenbeforetheejectiontakesplace
-Noumpireorcoachshouldhavephysicalcontactwithadisruptivefan
-Ifnecessary,policeshouldbecalled
4.Allcoachandplayerejectionsmustbereportedtoleagueofficialsbythehometeamwhenreporting
thegamescore.
-Leagueofficialsarerequiredtoverifyejectionswithbothteamsandnotifythenextopposingteamofthe
upcomingsuspension
T.Scoringandreporting
1.Thehometeamwillbetheofficialscorekeeperforleaguegamesandmustprovideanofficial
scorekeeper.
2.Thewinningteamisrequiredtoe-mail(thisisthepreferredmethodofcorrespondence)theresults,
includingwinner,loserandscorewithin24hoursto:
Eastdivision:[email protected](630)501-8074
Westdivision:[email protected](920)979-2581
-Failuretoreportscoreswithin48hourswillresultinarecordedlossforbothteams
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U.Miscellaneous
1.Approvedgameballs:
-Rawlings-RLLB/R100HS/RPLB/RS-T
-Wilson-A1010HS1/A1010B
-Diamond-DOLA/DSLL/DINFHS/DPL
-BaseballExpress–BBXHS
2.RostersmustbesenttoleagueofficialspriortoJune1oftheseason.
-Noadditionstotheteamrosterwillbeallowedafterthattimewithoutwrittenapprovaloftheleague
officials
-Sendrostersto:
Eastdivision:[email protected](630)501-8074
Westdivision:[email protected](920)979-2581
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June6,2014
Toallcommunities,coaches,andumpiresinKMBBL,
Ithasbeenbroughttomyattentionthatsomecommunitiesaretellingtheircoachestoinstruct
theirplayerstothrowaliveballtotheinfieldersandthereceivinginfieldershouldcalltime,
therebystoppingallplay,makingtheballimmediatelydead.Thentherunnerswouldneedtostopand
returntothelastbasetouchedwhentheballbecame.Basicallynoadvances.
Thisisanoldwivestaleandisnotcorrect.
ThismayapplyinPee-Weerules(ifbothcoachesagree)orveryyoungsoftballbutnotinJuniorLittle
League,LittleLeagueorPonyLeague.
NowhereinourrulesortheWIAArulesdoesitstatethataplayermaycalltimewhileinpossessionof
theballintheinfield,therebyimmediatelystoppingplay.
Theonlytimeplaystopsiswhenanumpirestopsplay,eitherbytheballbecomingdeadortheumpire
grantingtimeout.Justbecauseaplayerasksfortimedoesnotmeantimeisgiven.Timeoutneedsto
begrantedbytheumpireandumpiresshouldnotgranttimeunlessallplayhasstoppedoraninjured
playermaysuffermoreinjuriesbylettingplaycontinue.(veryrare).
Toallumpires:
Youarenottogrant"timeout"whiletheplayislive,evenifaninfielder,withtheball,asksfor
timeoutduringplayingaction.Allplayingactionmustbeoverbeforegrantingtimeout.
Wearesupposedtobegettingthesekidsreadyforhighschoolbaseballandshowthemthecorrect
waytoplay.Theruleswerewrittenforthisveryreasonandneedtobefollowed.Communitiescannot
changetherulesorinterpretthemdifferentlywithouttheleague'sapproval.Noexceptions.
Ifbothcoachesagreetoplaythegamewhereaplayercanstopplaybycallingtimewhileintheinfield
withtheballandnorunnersmayadvance,sobeit;butnoprotestswillbeallowedoncethegamehas
started.Idonotagreewiththispracticebutiftheheadcoachesmutuallyagreepriortogamestart,
thatisthewayitwillbeplayed.
Idonotexpecttohearanymorecomplaintsonthisissue.
Thanks.
Brian J. Rychtik
414-333-5232
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