Cornwall Little League Local Game Rules

WWW.CORNWALLLITTLELEAGUE.COM 

Jim Schilling UIC, JIM.SCHILLING@earthlink.net

April 16, 2009

1.                   Good sportsmanship is expected from all players, coaches, managers, and fans at all times. 

2.                   Unsportsmanlike acts include but are not limited to: the use of words or actions to incite or attempt to incite spectators; use of profanity, intimidation tactics, or remarks which reflect unfavorably upon any other person, or baiting or taunting; use of any language intended to intimidate; throwing any object; taking part in any physical confrontation, or threatening by gesture or word; for players, leaving their position or the dugout to approach any fight or confrontation; initiating any unnecessary, overly aggressive or violent contact; arguing any judgment decision by an umpire; for managers, failing to act, upon request of the umpires, to control parents or other partisan fans; or acting in any other manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play. 

3.                   Any unsportsmanlike act may be penalized (including ejection without warning) by the umpire (or in unusual, clear cases by the Director, a board member, or the UIC) during the game. The Director and/or the Board may impose appropriate or additional penalties after the game, without being limited by any decision to impose or not impose penalties during the game.

4.                   No tobacco or alcohol on field during games or practice.

5.                   Catchers must wear mask with dangling throat guard and helmet to warm up a pitcher at any time and during infield practice. During the game, catchers must also wear chest protector (majors and below boys must wear the long-type chest protectors properly) and shin guards.

6.                   Coaches are not allowed to warm up pitchers. Coaches are not allowed to take part in warm up between innings after the game has started.

7.                   One adult coach must be IN the dugout at all times.

8.                   Player wearing batting helmet and glove will protect pitchers warming up during game within confines of field.

9.                   On deck batters are not allowed.  Between half innings, only the batter due up first is allowed out of the dugout, but restricted to the area which would be the on deck circle for his/her team.  No batting donuts

10.                Base coaches shall stay in the dugout between innings and may take the field only when play is ready to resume.  Two adult coaches are allowed (all levels) provided there is a third coach to be in the dugout.

11.                Items from the concession stand may not be brought into the dugout or consumed during the game.

12.                Players shall not leave the dugout during the game, except to take the field or perform game related functions.

13.                All players must be in the lineup 3 consecutive innings.  This is the local Minimum Play Requirement (not applicable to travel softball), strengthening the MPR stated in Regulation IV(i), and Rule 3.03.  At the top of the fourth inning both managers will meet to exchange subs.  Starters may re-enter once, at any position in the lineup, at any time after the game goes beyond the sixth inning, in accord with Rule 3.03 as amended by the local MPR above. 

14.                A special pinch runner (courtesy runner) may be used once an inning (for any player who has not previously been run for under this rule), but the runner may only be a player who is not presently in the batting order.  See rule 7.14.

15.                Home team takes warm-up and infield 4:55 to 5: 10. Visiting team takes warm-up and infield 5:l0 to 5:25.  On week-ends, infield time ends five minutes before game time, and is split evenly with home team having field first (35 minutes before game time or when prior game’s teams clear the field, whichever is later).  Both teams are responsible to line and prepare the field for play, and to rake the field after the game.  Forfeit is one half hour after scheduled start time.

16.                On Weekends, no new inning or 1/2 inning will begin 15 minutes before the next scheduled game time. It is the responsibility of coaches and manager to have field and dugouts clean, equipment packed and players off the field so the next game can begin on time.

17.                Home team has the official score book.  Home team supplies new balls  (2 softball, 3 baseball) to start game, and further as needed.

18.                Immediately at game completion, players line up to shake hands at home plate.  Players will then report directly back to dugout.

19.                Fitness of field for play: The two managers, and/or league director, league representative or other board member(s), will determine if the game is to be played. Once the game is in progress the decision to continue play, delay or suspend belongs solely to the umpire(s). IF LIGHNING IS SEEN, PLAYERS SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE FIELD UNTIL 30 MINUTES FROM THE LAST FLASH OF LIGHTNING.

20.                Ten run rule “mercy rule” (LL rule 4.10 (e)) does not apply.

21.                Sliding is required only as specified in Rule 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;…”.  There is no “must slide” rule at any level.

22.                Intentional walk, all levels: Pitches must be thrown (2008 rule change).

Baseball

23.                The senior league light will determine that play is to be called for darkness (no further play allowed), though play may be called earlier if warranted in the judgment of the umpire.

24.                Pitch count shall be kept in the scorebook.  Each team MUST keep and record its own pitch count.  Keeping the opponent’s count is optional.  Umpires have full authority to resolve pitch count issues as deemed appropriate, without being bound by “home book”.  REQUIRED REST - REG. VI, OPTION 1 WILL BE USED IN MAJORS AND SENIORS.  (Coaches shall enquire of pitchers who also play “travel” whether they have pitched.  “Travel” pitches do NOT count regarding game enforcement of Reg. VI.  However the board expects the intent of the rule to be honored.  That is, coaches should be guided by the rest required based on all pitches thrown, including “travel” pitches, in determining when it is appropriate to have a player pitch. The board will take appropriate action if significant over use of a pitcher occurs.)

25.                Compliance with the pitch count rule and the restrictions on HS pitchers is the responsibility of the pitcher’s team. Violation of the pitching rules may be deemed an unsportsmanlike act of the manager/coaches subject to local rule 3 sanctions. 

26.                Pitchers will warm up outside the major field, or on the Senior field provided a third player with a glove is positioned to protect the pitcher and catcher.

 MAJORS

27.          Major EH rule. An extra hitter (EH) SHALL be used if 10 or more players. The EH shall be listed anywhere in the starting lineup as a tenth batting position.  The EH does not take the field on defense.  The starting EH shall remain in the lineup but take a defensive position after the third inning when other substitutions are made, and the EH position shall be assumed by another player who was in the starting lineup.  Therefore, the starting and substitute EH must play the first six innings.  After six innings, any player in the lineup may be designated the EH and the other nine players in the lineup shall play defense.  The EH is terminated only if the number of available players falls below ten, at which time all players will play defense.  The lineup then becomes 9 hitters; no out is recorded for the 10th slot. A player may not be EH in consecutive games, and every player shall be EH at least once during the season.

28.          Minimum play rule requires there is no re-entry except for extra innings or players leaving lineup for injury, etc.  

SENIORS

29.          Bats shall be treated as illegal and removed from game if lighter than minus 3 for Seniors.

30.          School players participation (applies for the entire CLL season): School players (players who were on a school team at any level for any part of the school season) are eligible to play more than the minimum play requirement only if this will not result in a non-school player being benched.  All non-school players shall start the game if batting order spots are available.  School players will start only if the batting order is not filled by use of all non-school players present.  School players who did not start will only substitute for other school players who did start, unless all school players who started have been substituted for and then a non-school player may be substituted for.  Late arriving players may be substituted only between the third and fourth innings, when local minimum play substitutions are mandated. 

31.          Pitching:  16 years olds may pitch (if otherwise eligible) only after April 27.  Balks will be called for all pitchers, subject to: 1) discretion of the umpire to ignore technical or other balks taking into account the skill of the pitcher and the impact on the game (in particular gaining of advantage) and 2) balks will not be penalized until after April 27, except that the umpire will nullify any advantage gained.   During the School season (until ALL levels of school play have ended), players who do not pitch on a School varsity or JV or modified team may pitch up to three innings but School varsity or JV or modified team pitchers may not pitch at all.  Catcher/pitcher rule: A player cannot be moved to the catcher position after having thrown 25 or more pitches. A catcher may pitch but only if the has caught in 4 innings or less. If the catcher has caught one pitch in the 5th inning he is no longer eligible to pitch in that game. 

32.          Pool players:  Pool players being removed from the game for late arriving rostered players shall be removed only during the change over between half innings.

33.          Senior League EH rule: An extra hitter (EH) MAY be used if listed in the starting lineup as a tenth batting position.  The EH does not take the field on defense.  The designated starting EH shall play that position the entire game, unless the EH position is terminated.  The EH is terminated only if the number of available players falls below ten, at which time all players will play defense.  A player may not be EH in consecutive games, or more than two times during the regular season.

Softball

34.                The softball field light will determine that play is to be called for darkness (no further play allowed), though play may be called earlier if warranted in the judgment of the umpire..

35.                No more than ten runs shall be recorded for any half inning.  The half inning ends under this rule when continuous action, during which the tenth run scores, ends, subject to any defensive appeal that might nullify any run(s). This restriction does not apply to the trailing team in the last inning.

36.          SENIORS:  An extra hitter (EH) may be used and listed in the starting lineup as a tenth batting position.  If used, the EH does not take the field on defense.  The starting EH shall remain in the lineup but take a defensive position after the third inning when other substitutions are made, and the EH position shall be assumed by another player who was in the starting lineup.  Therefore, the starting and substitute EH must play the first six innings.  After six innings, any player in the lineup may be designated the EH and the other nine players in the lineup shall play defense.  The EH is terminated only if the number of available players falls below ten, at which time all players will play defense.