1. These are the only rules. They cannot be changed, even if both teams agree.
2. 1st and 2nd grades play for 5 innings. 3rd grade plays for 6 innings.
3. There cannot be a tie game, overtime innings must be played. If a game is reported as a tie, it will be
considered a loss for both teams.
4. Home teams must bring all necessary equipment including bases, balls, measuring tape and catchers
gear. If your team is on bottom, you’re the home team.
5. If an umpire fails to show up, the home team will provide an umpire for the first three innings and the
visiting team will provide an umpire for the remainder of the game.
6. Should it rain during a game, it is the discretion of the umpire whether to allow play. Games played
for 3 full innings are considered final.
7. If the home team cannot field the 7 required players at the start time (1:45 & 3:00 & 4:15) it loses its
home field advantage.
8. If a team (minimum of 7 players) is 10 minutes late, it is considered a forfeit.
9. A team cannot substitute outsiders to play, no matter the grade.
10. Grades 1 & 2 can have up to 14 fielders. Grade 3 can have a maximum of 13 fielders.
11. All players on the roster who attend the game must be included in the batting order even if they don’t
play the field.
12. Players may be substituted in the field at any time and a player removed from the field may return at
any time.
13. Grades 1, 2, & 3 are allowed 7 pitches. Three swings is considered an out. If a player hits a foul ball
on a 7th pitch or any subsequent pitches, he keeps batting until he either swings and misses or does
not swing.
14. There is a mercy rule that if a team has 20 more points than the opponent after the bottom of the
inning, the game is over.
15. In the first and second grades, the fielding team can have one coach in the field. If this coach touches
a live ball or a player, all runners are safe, and he must leave the field.
16. If a batter bats out of order it is an automatic out for the current batter.
17. After a warning, a player throwing a bat should automatically be declared out by the umpire. During
the game, no one is permitted to stand behind the batting cage directly behind the batting area.
18. A ball hitting an umpire is in play. In games where coaches are pitching, a ball hitting a coach is in play.
If the coach deliberately interferes, the runner is out.
19. A batted ball in 1st through 3rd grades must reach the pitcher’s mound (Depends on the grade). No
fielder can be standing in front of the pitcher before the pitch. If a fielder crosses the line to field a
ground ball, it is the discretion of the ump whether it would have been a fair or foul ball.
20. In the 1st through 3rd grades, the pitcher must turn to face the ball after it’s hit to help the fielders get
the ball back to the pitcher. He should not be the one to coach the runners. If the pitcher is not facing
the fielders, the ump should call the runners all back.
21. A runner, hit by a batted ball, before a fielder (other than the pitcher) has had a chance to make a
play on it is declared out and the play is dead, with the batter given first base. This rule applies even
if the runner is standing on a base when hit by the batted ball.
22. Both the batter and the runner are out if a base runner purposely touches a batted ball or deliberately
interferes with a fielder trying to make a play.
23. There is no infield fly rule.
24. If the umpire thinks that a fielder let a ball drop on purpose to get another runner out, the umpire
may declare the batter out.
25. There is no tagging up from any base after a ball is caught in the 1st through 3rd grades.
26. A batted ball that hits first or third base is a fair ball.
27. Two runners cannot be on the same base safely. If there isn’t a force play, the base belongs to the
lead runner and the following runner may be tagged out. It is not an automatic out – runners must be
tagged!
28. A base runner that passes another base runner ahead of him is out.
29. A base runner that rams into a fielder, who is in the base path while playing the ball, is called out and
risks ejection!
30. A runner is called out for missing any base if the team in the field appeals the play by beginning the
next play by throwing to that base and tagging the base.
31. Sliding is permitted. There is no stealing, no bunting, no advance on a wild pitch, no balk calls, no
leading off base (a runner may run on the swing only), and no running to first base by a batter on a
dropped third strike.
32. A fielder who does not have possession of the ball or is not fielding the ball cannot prevent a runner
from reaching the next base. If it is deemed that the fielder obstructed the runner’s advancement,
the runner is awarded the base he was trying to reach.
33. If the fielder is obstructing the batter or runner from reaching a base, the runner can slide but may
not ram the fielder. It is the discretion of the umpire to decide if the player was intentionally blocking
the base which would result in the runner being safe.
34. A runner only advances to a base if he was there when the play ends. No ½ way runs.
35. In grades 1-3, overthrown balls in fair or foul territory can advance every runner a maximum of two
bases from where they are standing. E.G. a runner going to first advances to second. A fielder may
put the ball back in play and tag the runner unless the umpire calls it a dead ball.
36. In 1st through 3rd grades, play stops when the ball reaches the proximity of the pitcher’s mound where
the other coach is playing. The coach should expand reasonable effort to retrieve the ball. If the ball
stops rolling before it reaches the correct proximity (as determined by the umpire) the runners can
keep advancing.
37. If a parent, coach or teamate touches a runner, the runner is automatically out. This includes helping
up a fallen runner (unless he’s hurt) or patting him on the way home.
38. No players or parents may talk to the umpire. The only people that can communicate with the
umpires, are the coaches of the teams
39. As Bnai Torah, it is incumbent upon us all to treat each other appropriately. Should an umpire feel
that children or parents are behaving inappropriately, E.G. trash talking, arguing etc., he should eject
the parties involved. If they fail to leave the field in a timely manner, their team will forfeit the game.
40. It is equally important that coaches treat their players and other coaches with respect. “Losing your
temper” is not an option for a little league coach.
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Pitcher’s
Mound
20 Feet
25 Feet
30 Feet
Base length
45 Feet
50 Feet
50 Feet
Measurements
Home Team should bring along measuring tape for the measurements. Please
don’t use your feet.