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Coaches and Parents,
The 2012 Season By-Laws are now available -
2012 Bylaws - Final.
There are many rules that are continually a source
of discussion and disagreement. I have listed some of the rules that I
get questions for the most often. If you feel anything is not clear or
needs to be addressed further, please let me know. I’ll do my
best to get the information out there. Any questions or comments don’t
hesitate to email or call me. Remember, Little League
International may change or update these rules at any time. Thanks for
your time and I look forward to another great season with everyone.
Ray Gonzalez
2011 BLL Vice President
(714) 768-5830
BreaLLVicePresident@gmail.com
Coaches: There is no rule
regarding the removal of a pitcher if he hits too many batters.
It is the umpire’s judgment as to whether or not,
the pitcher is intentionally throwing at a batter or if the pitcher is
creating a continual safety issue by throwing the ball without regard to
where it lands. It is his sole jurisdiction as to whether that pitcher
should be removed in that instance. Please remember that during
a game, if a pitcher is having difficultly, it could be the judgment of his
manager to allow him to work out of it. It can sometimes be more
detrimental to pull him then to leave him in.
Although it is difficult when your player is the one being struck, remember
that for most cases, it is just as difficult on the pitcher. If
you feel the need to discuss it with the opposing manager between
innings, you (Coaches, not parents) are certainly allowed to do that, but
remember that it is his choice as to whether or not to pull his pitcher.
Violent and loud disapproval from your bench or your parents, do more harm
than good and it doesn’t teach our kids anything about dealing with
adversity in the proper manner.
Remember that the pitcher has a manager and a mother
in the other stands as well. This is going to come up from time to
time this season. Let’s all do our best to deal with it in the best way
possible.
Remember that we cannot pick and choose which rules to follow and which
rules to disregard. Our agreement with the rules or by-laws is not required.
Only that we follow them and to teach our players to do the same.
1.11(j) No jewelry can be worn (except for medical
alert).
1.15 (a)(b)(c)
These rules cover what the pitcher may wear. In short:
(a) The pitchers glove may not be white or light gray, or in any way
distracting as determined by the umpire.
(b) If he wears a batting glove, it cannot be white, gray or yellow
(c) Cannot wear sweat bands on his wrists.
1.16 No decals or paint on the batting helmets.
Only those decals provided by the manufacturer can be adhered to a batting
helmet.
7.08.a.3 – Any runner is out when the runner does
not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting
to make the tag.
Since it is a judgment call on the part of the umpire, as to whether or not
the defender has the ball at the moment the runner gets to him, please tell
you players if they are coming to a base and there is any chance the
defender is going to make a play, they must slide or get out of the way. The defensive player has a right to the base path if he is in the process of
making a play.
7.13 - No Lead Off
Rule: When the pitcher is in contact with the pitchers
plate and in possession of the ball
and the catcher is in the catchers
box ready to receive delivery of the ball, base runners
shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and
has reached the batter. This rule is not there to give the
defensive a device against aggressive base running (read
more here).
2.00 Obstruction – A defensive player cannot block
the plate unless he has possession of the ball. (not waiting for possession
but already has possession)
Again, if the defender gets the ball a millisecond before the runner gets
there, he technically has the possession of the ball and can be in front of
the plate.
It will be the judgment of the umpire as to what the timing is.
Don’t risk it, have them slide
XIV(d) A manager or coach shall not leave the
dugout except to confer with a player or an umpire and only after receiving
permission from an umpire.
At least one adult manager or coach must be in the dugout at all times.
Managers and/or coaches cannot leave the dugout to take a walk, talk to
spectators or go to the restroom unless they have the permission of the
umpire.
3.09 Players, managers, and coaches of the
participating teams shall not address or mingle with spectators, nor sit in
the stands during a game in which they are engaged.
Your players should never leave the dugout unless nature calls.
(The fence gates shall remain closed while the ball is in play and should be
opened only to allow a player or manager/coach to leave the dugout for the
field)
3.09 – Managers or coaches must not warm up a
pitcher at home plate or in the bull pen or elsewhere at any time.
This continues to happen. It doesn’t matter if you agree with this rule. It
has to be followed by everyone.
You are not only breaking a well known rule but you are denying additional
practice for your catchers.
VII(h) Majors division. There is no time limit on
games...except
X(c) When league size and limited field availability require leagues to
schedule more than one game on the same night and on the same field, the
league may be permitted to impose a time limit on the first game.
If you are the 7pm game OR if there is no game following you, the game goes
the full 6 (7 for Juniors) innings.
If you game is tied, you still stops at the time limits imposed by the
by-laws. If you are in the Majors or Juniors divisions, we will play off the
tie until there is a winner.
Minor division games can end in a tie, given they are a regulation game.
Batting out-of-turn (6.07)
A batter shall be called out, on appeal, when failing to bat in his/her
proper turn AND another batter completes a time a bat in place of the proper
batter.
The defensive team has to appeal to the umpire BEFORE the first pitch to the
next batter. If that happens, the umpire shall call the proper batter out
and nullify any advance by base runners.
If an appeal is not made and the improper runner becomes a runner or is put
out and a pitch is made to the next batter, the improper batter becomes the
proper batter and the results are legal. (that is the new batter order)
Note: the umpire or scorekeeper SHALL NOT direct the attention of any person
to the presence of an improper batter. The rule is designed to require
constant vigilance by the players and managers.
Protests (Ineligible
pitcher) (4.19.d and .f Note1)
A pitcher becomes ineligible the moment they make a pitch to a batter, if
they have either not observed the minimum days rest, have caught for 4
innings or have gone over their maximum pitch counts.
Protests due to an ineligible pitcher or player may be considered only if
made to the umpire before the umpire(s) leave the field at the end of the
game. Whenever it is found that an ineligible pitcher or player is being
used, said pitcher shall be removed from the mound, and the game shall be
continued under protest or not as the protesting manages decides. If the protest committee allows and upholds the protest, the game will be
resumed at the point of the infraction.
Spectators (3.09)
Players, managers and coaches of the participating teams shall not address,
or mingle with spectators....
It is never appropriate during a game for a spectator to address managers,
coaches or the umpire with regards to actions on the field.
This goes both ways. Spectators should not be addressing managers, players
or coaches. If a spectator has any issue with regards to actions taken
on the field, then can address it with the board member on duty. Remember
that it is not the responsibility of the board member on duty to make calls
or interfere with the game at any time. If there are any issues, that in the
opinion of the board member need to be addressed with the umpire, they will
make the issue known to the umpire or managers at the earliest possible
time.
Dugout Gates
Dugout gates are to remain closed during the game unless a member of the
team is either entering or exiting the dugout. Managers are never permitted
to leave the gates open and stand in the entry way. This is a violation of
safety guidelines. Please make sure that you are keeping the gates closed.
Do not wait for an umpire to remind you.
Safety Reminders
- Do not permit your players to swing the bat off
the field or outside the batting cages.
- There are no on-deck batters (except for in
Juniors) so the only player who should be swinging a bat, is the first
batter of the inning.
- This holds true for practices too. Do not let
more than one player outside of the dugout swinging their bats.
In the batting cages, it is solely your
responsibility to ensure the safety of your players while they are inside
and outside the cages.
DO NOT PERMIT THEM TO SWING THE BAT OUTSIDE THE CAGE.
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