Changes inserted to CSLL Local Policies
for the 2009 Season
A. CSLL Policy 5:
Batting Cage Policy. Change paragraph
1.c to read:
c.
Batting Cage No. 3 -- Co-located with Batting Cage No. 1
B. CSLL Policy
10. Use of pool players. Insert as
paragraph 5:
Championship and Playoff
Games: The
request for pool players for Championship and Playoff games in the regular
season shall require the approval of the Player Agent, Division VP and
Executive VP. Due to the additional
staffing required, as much advance notice as possible should be provided,
nominally 3-4 days. The Division Player
Agent shall maintain a complete and accurate list of eligible pool players.
C. CSLL Policy 12. “Zero Tolerance” Misconduct Policy. Paragraph
a. and c. modified as follows:
a.
Any player,
manager, or coach who is ejected from a game by an umpire due to a verbal
altercation or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct as described in
Regulation XIV (a) is ineligible to participate in the next game played as
cited in Rule 4.07. Additionally, this
player, manager, or coach is automatically prohibited from participating in
other team events including but not limited to games, practices, batting practices, team pictures, and special
events associated with CSLL (movie nights, etc)) until the one-game suspension
has been served. The game will not
continue until the player, manager or coach has left the boundaries of
Trailside or
c.
Any player,
manager or coach and any parent, guardian, league official, or umpire, who is involved
in a verbal altercation or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct as described
in Regulation XIV(a) at any other CSLL activity, shall immediately be barred
from participating in CSLL activities including but not limited to games,
practices, batting practices, team
pictures, and special events associated with CSLL (movie nights, etc) for two
calendar weeks from the date of the incident.
D. CSLL Policy
13. “Must Concede” policy. Implement OP&PR 9 in Majors Division.
If after 4 innings, one team has a lead of ten runs
or more the manager with the least runs must concede. If the visiting team has a lead of ten or
more runs, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
Each
game, subject to the time limits in Local Rule V.5, will be played a minimum of
four (4) complete innings (The Home team will always bat last).
GENERAL: Based on this guidance, CSLL has chosen to implement
this rule however appointment of the President as a coach, umpire or manager is
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
SPECIAL
PROVISIONS: Should the President put himself / herself
forward as a candidate to be a manager, the appointment and approval of the
President as a manager shall shift to the Board of Directors. The President shall interview for a manager’s
position with the other candidates prior to being appointed and approved.
Presidents who serve as a
manager, coach, or umpire must demonstrate model behavior and decorum at all
times and in all circumstances (a higher standard than for all other managers,
coaches and umpires) and any lapses are grounds for removal. The managing,
coaching and umpiring privileges of the President may be revoked by a majority
vote of the Board of Directors if he/she is not adequately addressing the
duties and responsibilities of that office.
F. New Policy: CSLL
Policy 18. Harassment of Umpires by Managers, Coaches and Parents
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules” published by Little League
Baseball, Inc. Specific reference is
made to Regulation XIV where it states “The actions of players, managers,
coaches, umpires and league officials must be above reproach”.
GENERAL: Umpire harassment has no benefit to anyone associated with Central
Springfield Little League. Harassment
creates a hostile, confrontational atmosphere that has no place in a children’s
game. Umpire harassment is repetitive
berating, belittling or harassing comments made as a result of a call or
situation directed toward the umpire in a manner meant to intimidate. At the basic level it is bullying.
RATIONALE: New umpires, especially junior umpires, are inexperienced and need to
gain confidence to get better. Patience
is important by all. They have
commitment and want to be there. The
number one reason for umpires leaving is harassment. CSLL cannot afford to continue to lose
trained umpires at the current rate.
Special Provisions: In the event that issues arise that are in immediate need of
resolution, the umpire should call time and request assistance from the
managers. If a manager is the
instigator, the Duty Board member (OD) should be contacted. Clearing the field of all players may be
necessary. The OD should attempt to
resolve the issue to allow the game to continue. In the case of a junior umpire, removal from
the field may be necessary to protect the umpire from further harassment.
In an effort to
empower the umpires to address this negative activity and gain immediate
relief, the following actions will be established:
o
Team Unsportsmanship Conduct Warning
§
Given to the Manager by the Division VP on
recommendation of umpire affected.
§
Cause: Manager, Coach, player or parent behavior
o
First incident – Call to Manager by Division VP
based on report by affected umpire
o
Second incident (subsequent game); Should be
witnessed by Board member or other adult (Manager, Coach or Parent); based on
report by affected umpire
§
Manager appears before the Executive Board
o
Third
Incident – Removal of Manager
The
Umpire will submit a report in writing to the Chief Umpire who will
expeditiously forward to the Division VP.
INDEX OF LOCAL POLICIES
(17 December 2008)
POLICY NO. TITLE
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules” published by Little League
Baseball, Inc. Specific reference is
made to Rule 1.01 where it states that “Little League Baseball in all divisions
is a game between two teams of nine players each”, and to Regulation IV(i) where
it states that “Every player on a team roster will participate in each game for
a minimum of six (6) defensive outs and bat at least one (1) time.” Additional reference is made to CSLL Policy
No. 08, “Batting Order in Little League (Majors) and Minor League”.
CSLL emphasizes the
participation of all players during games.
It is important that players experience game situations in order to
further their development and understanding of the game of baseball. Therefore, the following playing-time policies
apply:
1. TEN
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: It is the explicit policy of CSLL that teams
in ML-2, TB-1 and TB-2 use ten (10) players on defense. This is normally accomplished using four
outfielders. A team that has only nine
(9) or fewer players available for a game shall still play that game, subject
to the limitations stated in CSLL Local Policy No. 10. The opposing team will still use ten (10) on
defense if available; it will not revert to nine (9) or fewer to “even the
playing field”.
2. ROTATING
SUBSTITUTION: It is the explicit policy of CSLL that
players in Senior League, Junior League, Little League (Majors), Minor League
and Tee Ball divisions shall not sit out two (2) consecutive defensive innings,
nor shall a player sit out a second defensive inning until all other players
have sat their one (1) defensive inning.
a. For this policy, a defensive inning is
defined as three (3) consecutive defensive outs. If a player is removed from the field during
an inning, he/she will continue to sit out the following inning until meeting
the three (3) consecutive outs requirement.
b. The only exception to this policy is a player
who is ill or injured; pitchers are not exempt. The manager is required to
announce to the official scorekeeper which player(s) is (are) sitting on the
bench on an inning-by-inning basis. The
scorekeeper will annotate these defensive changes in the official book.
c. In the event that all players have sat their
one (1) defensive inning and the game is not completed, managers shall continue
rotating substitutes per this policy.
However, managers are not required to maintain the same rotation scheme
as previously used. Managers may rotate
players using a new scheme, as long as no player sits two consecutive
innings. If the situation warrants, no
player shall sit a third defensive inning until all other players have sat
their second defensive inning.
d. Violation of
the Rotating Substitution policy will be treated as an ineligible player
violation, which is protestable under OR&PR 4.19(d). If a player sits out a second inning before
everyone else has sat out one inning, or if a player sits a second consecutive
inning, and the opposing manager brings this to the attention of the umpire-in-chief,
the umpire-in-chief will require the player to immediately enter the game, and
the game shall be continued under protest or not as the protesting manager
decides. The protesting manager must
inform the umpire-in-chief of his/her desire to lodge the protest prior to the
umpires leaving the field at the end of the game. (NOTE:
as per OR&PR 4.19, all officials must prevent possible protest
situations. If a violation of this
policy is imminent, correct the situation before
play resumes to prevent a protest.)
3. BENCHING
OF PLAYERS:
a. A manager may determine a need to bench a
player for a game due to disciplinary reasons (i.e., failure to properly
participate in practice, horseplay during practice/pre-game, disrespect, etc.) If so, the manager must first inform the
Player Agent and Division Vice President of his/her intent. The Player Agent and Division Vice President
will ensure the manager has taken all appropriate measures leading up to the
request, to include speaking with the player’s parents. Only when the Player Agent and Division Vice
President are convinced that the manager has taken all actions with no results
will they allow the benching. They will
also inform the Chief Umpire of the impending action.
b. Prior to the game in question, the manager
will announce to the game’s umpire-in-chief and the opposing manager of the
benching. The manager will also annotate
the action on the official lineup card.
The player is not eligible to enter the game. No penalties as required by Regulation IV(i)
of the OR&PR will be imposed on the manager. (NOTE:
managers are advised to use the benching of players as a last resort and
not to abuse this policy. Many times
when a player misses practice, it is the fault of the parents, not the
player. Managers should not punish
players for actions of the parents.
Additionally, managers may not bench players, except for a disciplinary
issue during a game, until they have discussed the issue with the Player Agent
and Division Vice President.)
4. Division Vice Presidents will emphasize the
above policies to the managers during manager orientation and training and will
monitor their respective division’s adherence to these policies during the
playing season including playoff games.
It is the manager’s responsibility to comply with the above policies.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
It is the policy of CSLL to
recognize regular season and playoff performance with the presentation of
trophies. Trophies will be provided to
members of teams that finish in the top three positions in the Little League
(Majors), ML-1, and ML-2 divisions. A
trophy will be provided for each player member of the team. The playoff winner in the Little League
(Majors) and Minor League divisions will receive an additional trophy in
recognition of their playoff performance.
Trophies will also be awarded
to the players of the top Senior and Junior League team(s) relative to their
placement in the regular season. If
there are less than five teams, a trophy will be provided to the first place
team only. If there are more than five
teams, a trophy will be provided for the top three positions. In the event that the Senior and/or Junior
League teams do not play in Interleague playoffs and, instead, play in
CSLL-only playoffs, the playoff winners will receive an additional trophy.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the
roles and responsibilities of a League Treasurer in the “Little League
Operating Manual” published each year by Little League Baseball, Inc.
The funds raised in the name
of Central Springfield Little League, Inc. (CSLL), constitute a valid
trust. They must be recorded properly
and are accountable. Therefore, it is
important for CSLL to conduct the financial management of the League with the
highest integrity. In order to maintain
and perpetuate this high level of financial integrity, it is the policy of CSLL
to limit the terms of its Treasurer to no more than three consecutive
years. This is intended to dispel any
perceptions of financial mismanagement and does not reflect on the personal
integrity of the CSLL Treasurer, past, present, or future.
The foregoing Local Policy was
reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled meeting
on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the
“Player Enrollment and Registration Fees” section in the “Little League
Operating Manual” published each year by Little League Baseball, Inc. Based upon the guidance provided, the
schedule of fees, policies pertaining to late registrations, and refund
policies shall be determined annually by the CSLL Board of Directors concurrent
with the development and approval of the annual operating budget.
The following schedule of
fees and associated policies are applicable for the Spring 2008 playing season:
1. FEE SCHEDULES1: The fees for the Spring season are as
follows:
a. First player in
a family: $110.00
b. Second &
subsequent players in a family: $65.00
c. Field
Maintenance Fee2 (per family) $50.00
d. County User Fee
(per player): $
5.50
e.
Late Registration Fee: $15.00
Notes: 1. Based
upon the policy of Little League Baseball, Inc., no child shall ever be turned
away or limited in participation because of a parent/guardian’s inability to
pay any of the listed fees. In turn, “scholarship”
requests shall be submitted through the Player Agent to the President or Vice
President for approval.
2.
This fee may be refunded if a parent works four (4) hours at Carey Fields at
3. A
$25 referral credit will be applied at registration to any returning member who
refers a new member that registers for the upcoming spring season. Siblings of current members do not qualify as
new members. Only one referral credit will
be issued per family.
2. LATE REGISTRATION: Late registration
is defined as registering anytime after the two scheduled registrations,
normally held during January each year.
(Note: Should a weather make-up date be required for registration, the
late fee shall not be applicable.)
Further, a late registration fee will not be assessed in the event a
player is registered in another Little League in the Northern Virginia area and
it is subsequently determined that the player is ineligible to participate in
that League and should have been directed to CSLL for initial registration.
3. REFUNDS: The following refund policies shall apply:
a. Senior League, Junior League,
Little League (Majors), Minor League and TB-1 Divisions: In the event a player is withdrawn from CSLL
registration prior to the published date of the division drafts/player
selections, all fees collected shall be refunded.
b. TB-2 Division: In the event a player is withdrawn from CSLL
registration prior to assignment to a team, all fees collected shall be
refunded. “Assignment to a team” is
defined as the date that player rosters are distributed to managers in
accordance with the master schedule.
c. After the draft/player selection/assignment
to a team, as defined in sub-paragraphs “a” and “b” above, refunds shall only
be made on an exceptional basis with the approval of the Board of Directors, or
when designated, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to Section
V.1 of the CSLL Local Rules. Further
reference is made to the requirement for CSLL to institute a strong “A Safety Awareness Program” (ASAP) and the
requirement for safety education addressed in the “Little League Operating
Manual” published each year by Little League Baseball, Inc.
1. The three batting cages at Carey Fields at
a.
Batting Cage No. 1 -- Located beyond the outfield fence of Field
No. 1
b.
Batting Cage No. 2 -- Located beyond the right-field fence of
Field No. 2
c. Batting Cage No. 3
-- Co-located with Batting Cage
No. 2 beyond the left-field fence of Field No. 1
Furthermore, there is one
batting cage located at
2. In order to maximize the use of the above referenced
batting cages while affording an equal opportunity for using these facilities
by all the teams in CSLL, the schedule for batting cages will be issued by the
CSLL Scheduling Officer in conjunction with practice and game schedules. Managers and coaches must adhere to the
schedule.
3. Based upon the potential for accidents and/or
injuries during the use of any of the batting cages provided by CSLL at Carey
Fields at
a. The
manager or coach shall inspect the cage area to ensure there are no hazards to
players. Hazards shall be reported
immediately to the CSLL Safety Officer.
b. Batting cages shall only be used when there
is adequate lighting, the cage surface does not have standing water and there
is firm footing.
c. Pitching machines shall not be operated
during storm or rain conditions and when there is a threat of lightning in the
area.
d. The manager or one of the coaches shall
supervise players at all times.
e. Players shall not climb on the batting cages,
swing on the entrance doors/gates, or otherwise be involved in horseplay at any
time.
f. Only the manager or one of the coaches shall
pitch to batters and/or feed the pitching machine.
g. During batting practice, the batter must wear
a helmet at all times and shall be the only player in the batting cage.
h. A catcher shall not be used for batting
practice.
i. Players outside the cages waiting their turn
shall not swing bats.
j. During the warm-up of pitchers and/or
catchers, player catchers must wear a helmet/mask. The pitcher and catcher shall be the only two
players in the cage.
k. Managers, coaches, and players shall follow
the “Safety Code for Little League” located in the “Tee Ball, Minor League,
Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big League Official
Regulations and Playing Rules” published by Little League Baseball, Inc.
l. Managers, coaches and players in the CSLL
Senior and Junior Leagues shall not use the batting cages at Carey Fields at
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
CSLL recognizes
the importance of demonstrated sportsmanship by its players. As role models, the managers and coaches
should emphasize not only the skills required for Little Leaguers to play the
game of baseball, but equally important, players shall strive to exhibit
sportsmanlike qualities and behavior befitting a baseball player whose
character is such that they can take a loss or defeat without complaint, or victory
without gloating, and who treats their opponents, umpires, and teammates with
fairness, generosity, and courtesy both on and off the playing field.
1. SENIOR LEAGUE, Junior LEAGUE, LITTLE LEAGUE (MajorS), minor league and TEE BALL DIViSIONS: Each team shall
select a player who best represented the character of a sportsman throughout
the regular season. The manager,
designated coach, and assistant coach of each team shall select their team’s
outstanding sportsman. The manager will
then provide the name of his or her team’s outstanding sportsman to the
appropriate Division Vice President.
2. All Outstanding Sportsmanship Award selectees
will be identified to the CSLL President no later that one week prior to
the end of the regular season in order to provide time for the preparation of
plaques.
3. Winners of Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards
will be presented with a plaque.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to
Regulation X and Rule 4.14 in the “Tee Ball, Minor League, Little League
Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big League Official Regulations and
Playing Rules” published by Little League Baseball, Inc:
1. ACTIVATION OF FIELD LIGHTING: After a game has started, the umpire-in-chief
shall order the playing field lights turned on whenever in such umpire’s
opinion darkness makes further play in daylight hazardous. At Carey Fields at
2. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: When special District 9 and/or Virginia State
Tournaments are hosted at Carey Fields at Trailside Park, the Tournament
Director (TD) assigned to Carey Fields at Trailside Park shall, in coordination
with the CSLL President/Vice President and/or Executive Committee, determine
field lighting use policies and procedures for the tournament games over which
the TD has jurisdiction.
3. KEYED ACCESS TO LIGHTING CONTROLS: Keyed access to the field lighting controls
(switches and breakers) is limited to the CSLL President, Vice President, Chief
Umpire, Field Maintenance Chairman, All Star Managers during All Star Season, Challenger
Vice President, and designated league electrician (which may be a non-board
position). (Note: Temporary access to
field lighting controls may be granted on an as-required basis by the CSLL
Executive Committee. Additionally, the
board of directors’ Officer on Duty will have access to field lighting controls
during his/her time on duty.)
4. EVENTS WHICH QUALIFY FOR FIELD LIGHTING: Field lighting is authorized for the
following events/activities: Spring and
Fall League games; special tournaments; field maintenance, and special events
(e.g., Opening Day Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies, Challenger Games, fund
raisers, and All Star practices and games).
(Note: Executive Committee approval is required for events/activities
not listed above. Further, under NO
conditions will the field lighting be used for Spring and/or Fall season
practices.)
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)” published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to “Batting Order” in Section 2.00, where it states: “In Minor League,
the batting order may contain the entire roster of players. In Tee Ball, the batting order shall contain
the entire roster of players”, and to Rule 4.04, where it states: “A league may
adopt a policy of a continuous batting order that will include all players on
the team roster present for the game batting in order.” and “NOTE 1: The
continuous batting order is mandatory for all Tee Ball and Minor League
Divisions.”
1. GENERAL: In the interest of stimulating player
involvement throughout the game and to equally distribute the opportunity to be
a “batter-runner”, all members of a team who are present, and physically able
to play in the Senior League, Junior League, Little League (Majors), Minor
League, and TB-1 divisions, will be listed on the official line-up card and
will bat in the order listed regardless of their status in the defensive
lineup.
2. Special
Provisions:
a. A player who arrives after his/her game has
started (the first pitch has been delivered) will be placed last in the batting
order, regardless of where his/her name was in the original order. If the team has already batted through the
order, there is no penalty for this player missing his/her time at-bat.
b. The position in the batting order occupied by
a player who must depart prior to the conclusion of the game, who becomes
physically unable to play, or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in
the game (e.g., removed from the game by an umpire), will be deleted from the
batting order. The offensive team shall
not be penalized when this deleted position in the batting order is passed,
except as specified in Policy 10 when the removed player causes the team to
have less than nine (9) players available for its final at-bat of the game.
c. When a player must
be removed while at-bat due to ejection, injury, illness, or other
reason, the next player in the batting order shall bat. That player shall assume the count of the
removed player.
d. When a player must be removed while on the
bases due to ejection, injury, illness, or other reason, the previous
player in the batting order not already on base shall assume the removed
player’s position on the base.
e. Rule 5.07 of the OR&PR states that, when
a league adopts the rule of batting through the entire game roster in the Minor
League, then the inning ends, regardless of outs, when the last batter
completes his/her at bat. In the CSLL
Minor League and TB-1 divisions, an inning will end when three (3) outs have
been made by the defensive team or by the run limitations as stated in the
local rules.
3. SPECIAL PINCH RUNNERS: Rule 7.14 of the OR&PR states that a
player who is not in the current batting order may be used as a special pinch
runner for any offensive player. Because
CSLL has adopted this Batting Order Policy, Rule 7.14 does NOT apply in the Senior
League, Junior League, Little League (Majors), Minor League and Tee Ball
divisions.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)” published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Section VI - Pitchers.
1. Based upon the need to develop young pitchers
who are league-age nine (9) and ten (10), while also providing pitchers who are
league-age eleven (11) an opportunity to pitch in the ML-2 Division, in
addition to the pitch count requirements, the following policies pertaining to
league-age eleven (11) pitchers in ML-2 shall be followed:
a. Pitchers who are league-age eleven (11) shall
not pitch more than a combined two (2) innings in a single game. Example:
One pitcher may pitch a total of two innings in a single game or two
pitchers may pitch a total of one inning each in a single game. Note: The delivery of a single pitch to a batter
in an inning constitutes having pitched one (1) inning.
b. Pitchers who are league-age eleven (11) shall
not pitch more than a combined four (4) innings in a calendar week, Sunday
through Saturday. This provision applies
regardless of the number of games that a team may play in a calendar week.
c. ML-2 managers are required to identify their
league-age eleven (11) players on the lineup cards at the start of each game,
and indicate the proper number of innings eligible.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)” published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Rule 1.01, which states:
“Minor League/Tee Ball baseball is a game between two teams under the
direction of a manager and not more than two coaches.”
Further reference is made to
Rule 4.16 which states: “If a game cannot be played because of the inability of
either team to place nine players on the field before the game begins, this
shall not be grounds for automatic forfeiture, but shall be referred to the
Board of Directors for a decision. Note:
A game may not be started with less than nine (9) players on each team”.
Further reference is made to
Rule 4.17 which states: “If during a
game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to injury
or ejection, the opposing manager shall select a player to re-enter the lineup. A player ejected from the game is not
eligible for re-entry. If no players are
available for re-entry, or if a team refuses to place nine (9) players on the
field, this shall not be grounds for automatic forfeiture but shall be referred
to the Board of Directors for a decision.
Note: A game may not be continued
with less than nine (9) players on each team.”
Based upon the above stated
responsibility of the Board of Directors, the following pre-determination
regarding play with less than nine (9) players in Senior League, Junior League,
Little League (Majors), Minor League, and Tee-Ball has been made
by the Board of Directors:
1. SENIOR LEAGUE, JUNIOR LEAGUE, LITTLE
LEAGUE (MAJORS), AND MINOR LEAGUE:
a. Start of Game: If at the scheduled start of their game,
either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field, the
umpire-in-chief shall delay the start of the game. The delay shall take no more than ten (10)
minutes to allow for any late player(s) to arrive at the game site. The game will not start, even if the team
that has less than nine (9) players is the visiting team (i.e., the visiting
team will not bat first in anticipation that the late player(s) will arrive
before the team must take the field on defense). If after ten (10) minutes either team is
still short players, the game shall be rescheduled per Section V.3 of the CSLL
Local Rules.
b. During the Game: Should a team lose its ninth player during
the course of the game (except in its last at-bat as described in c. below),
the umpire-in-chief shall immediately call the game. If the game has not completed the first
inning, it shall be rescheduled in its entirety. After the first inning, the game shall resume
from the exact point when it was called on a later date as specified in CSLL
Local Rule V.5.h.
c. Last At Bat
Exception: Should a team lose its ninth
player at its last at-bat of the game, and that team is losing the game,
that team may continue its at-bat until the game ends. Contrary to CSLL Local Policy No. 08, when
the missing player(s) is (are) scheduled to bat, that player(s) at-bat will be
skipped with an Out charged to the team.
If the game ends upon conclusion of that team’s at-bat, the game is
official. However, if that team scores
enough runs to tie/take the lead, which requires the team to take the field,
then the game shall be immediately postponed and resumed on a later date as
specified in CSLL Local Rule V.5.h.
2. TEE-BALL DIVISIONS (TB-1 AND TB-2):
a. The minimum
number of players required to play in the TB-1 Division (A-Ball) shall be nine
(9). Should a team have eight (8) or
fewer players, the procedures described in paragraph 1 above shall apply.
b. The minimum number of players required to
play in the TB-2 Division shall be five (5).
Should a team have four (4) or fewer players, the two managers shall
inform the TB-2 Division Vice President, and the game shall be rescheduled per
Section V.3 of the CSLL Local Rules.
3. TEN PLAYERS ON DEFENSE: In ML-2 and TB-1 where ten (10) players are
allowed on defense per CSLL Local Policy No. 01, a game shall not be postponed
if an ML-2 or TB-1 team has only nine (9) players available for the game. That team will play the game with only nine
(9) players present.
4.
USE OF POOL
PLAYERS: In all divisions, managers who
anticipate having less than the appropriate number of players to play must
immediately notify the Player Agent to obtain a pool player per Section II.9 of
the CSLL Local Rules. A manager may NOT
simply borrow a player from the opposing team, nor may that manager recruit
another player from the stands. The
manager must go through the appropriate means to obtain a pool player from the
Player Agent.
5.
Championship and Playoff Games: The request for pool
players for Championship and Playoff games in the regular season shall require
the approval of the Player Agent, Division VP and Executive VP. Due to the additional staffing required, as
much advance notice as possible should be provided, nominally 3-4 days. The Division Player Agent shall maintain a
complete and accurate list of eligible pool players.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the
“Tournament Rules and Guidelines” contained in the “Tee Ball, Minor League,
Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big League Official
Regulations and Playing Rules” published by Little League Baseball, Inc.
1. Following the selection of the Tournament
teams in accordance with Section VII of the CSLL Local Rules, letters of
notification will be signed by the CSLL President and personally delivered to
the residence of each selected player by either the CSLL President, Vice
President, or Player Agent(s). The
letters will be placed in the hands of the player’s parent and/or
guardian. Letters of notification WILL
NOT be left with any other family member at the player’s residence. The individual delivering the letter will
verify the address of the player and instruct the parent and/or guardian that
the information contained in the letter MUST NOT BE RELEASED TO ANY PLAYER OR
ANY OTHER PERSON OR PERSONS UNTIL THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED IN THE LETTER OF NOTIFICATION.
2. Under no conditions will the names of the
selected players be made known to the General Public until the date published
by Little League Baseball, Inc. and not until the availability and eligibility
of all prospective players have been established.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)”, specifically
Regulation XIV(a) which reads: “The
actions of players, managers, coaches, and umpires and league officials must be
above reproach. Any player, manager,
coach, umpire or league representative who is involved in a verbal or physical
altercation, or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct, at the game site or any
other Little League activity, is subject to disciplinary action by the Local
League Board of Directors.” Additional
reference is made to Rule 4.07, which reads:
“Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for his
or her team’s next physically played game.”
The stated purpose of the
above policy established by Little League Baseball, Inc. is to give wider
latitude to the local league Board of Directors, with regard to the conduct of
participants and volunteers.
1. DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
a. Any player,
manager, or coach who is ejected from a game by an umpire due to a verbal
altercation or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct as described in
Regulation XIV (a) is ineligible to participate in the next game played as
cited in Rule 4.07. Additionally, this
player, manager, or coach is automatically prohibited from participating in
other team events including but not limited to games, practices, batting practices, team pictures, and special
events associated with CSLL (movie nights, etc) until the one-game suspension
has been served. The game will not
continue until the player, manager or coach has left the boundaries of
Trailside or
b. Any
player, manager, or coach who is ejected from a game by an umpire due to a
physical altercation as described in Regulation XIV(a) shall result in the
ejected member being suspended for the remainder of the current playing season.
c. Any player, manager or coach during non-game
activities and any parent, guardian, league official, or umpire, who is
involved in a verbal altercation or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct as
described in Regulation XIV(a) at the game site or any other CSLL activity,
shall immediately be barred from participating in CSLL activities for one
calendar week from the date of the incident.
d. Any player, manager or coach and any parent,
guardian, league official, or umpire, who is involved in a verbal altercation
or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct as described in Regulation XIV(a) at
any CSLL activity, shall immediately be barred from participating in CSLL
activities including but not limited to games, practices, batting practices, team pictures, and special
events associated with CSLL (movie nights, etc) for two calendar weeks from the
date of the incident. The activity will
not continue until the player, manager or coach has left.
2. APPEALS: Any
member (player, manager, coach, umpire, parent, guardian, and/or league
official) who is disciplined in accordance with 1.b through 1.d above shall
have the right to appeal the disciplinary action and appear before the Board of
Directors. Upon notification of an
appeal, the Board of Directors shall convene a special meeting within three
days in accordance with Article VI, Section 5 of the CSLL Constitution and By-Laws.
a. For 1.c above, the member may continue to
participate in CSLL activities during the appeal process until the Board of
Directors renders a decision. Once the
Board of Directors decides to uphold the disciplinary action, the suspension
period begins immediately thereafter.
b. Due to the severity of those incidents in 1.b
and 1.d above, suspension from all CSLL activities begins immediately. The Board of Directors will hear the appeal
and decide to adjust the disciplinary action as necessary.
3. SUSPENSIONS AND TERMINATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP: In accordance with Article III, Section 4.a
of the CSLL Constitution and By-Laws, the Board of Directors, by a two-thirds
vote of those present at the duly constituted meeting, shall have the authority
to suspend or terminate the membership of any class of Member when the conduct
is considered detrimental to the best interest of CSLL and/or Little League
Baseball.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)” published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Rule 4.10(e) where it states: “If after four (4) innings, three and
one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10)
runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the
victory to the opponent.”
It is understood that, on
occasion, Little League (Majors) and Juniors Division games may become lopsided
affairs that provide no developmental benefit, and may actually be detrimental,
to the players involved.
If after 4 innings, one team has a lead of ten runs
or more the manager with the least runs must concede. If the visiting team has a lead of ten or
more runs, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
Each game, subject to the time limits in Local Rule
V.5, will be played a minimum of four (4) complete innings (The Home team will
always bat last).
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules” (OR&PR) published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Rule 9.01(c) where it states “Each umpire has authority to rule on
any point not specifically covered in these rules”.
The OR&PR is a direct
product of the Official Baseball Rules (OBR) that are used in professional
baseball. Many on-field situations that
are allowed in higher-level competition under OBR are inherently unsafe in the
Little League environment. Some, but not
all, of these situations are covered in the OR&PR and its accompanying
casebook, “The Right Call”. For those
not covered by these documents, umpires have traditionally used Rule 9.01(c) to
make rulings on the field.
Unfortunately, the use of 9.01(c) is dependent upon the judgment of the
umpire; as such, different umpires treat similar on-field situations
differently. Most of these situations
deal with safety issues. In order to
provide consistency in CSLL games, all managers, coaches, and umpires shall
abide by the following policy regarding safety situations that have, in the
past, been covered under Rule 9.01(c):
1.
Throwing the bat: when a batter throws a bat during a swing,
said batter shall be officially warned by the plate umpire not to throw his/her
bat again. The plate umpire will inform
the player’s manager and the official scorekeeper of such warning. After a subsequent bat-throwing incident by
the same player, the player will be removed from the game. The player will not be assessed with
an Out, unless the result of his/her swing is an Out (strike-out, fly out,
etc.). If the player reaches base
safely, or is still at-bat, a substitute player will enter the game in place of
the removed player:
Senior
League, Junior League, Little League (Majors), Minor League and TB-1
Divisions: If the removed player reaches
base safely, the previous player in the batting order who is not currently on
base will take the removed player’s place on the base. If the removed player is still up to bat, the
next batter in the batting order will come to the plate and assume the removed
player’s count.
2.
Jumping over and making contact with a defensive player: when a base
runner jumps over a defensive player to avoid a tag, and makes contact with the
defensive player, the umpire will call the runner Safe or Out as the case may
be and then immediately call “Time”. The
umpire will then issue a team warning.
The next player to do so will be immediately removed from the game. If a player does not make contact with a
defensive player, no warning is necessary.
3.
Removing the helmet on the field: when a player removes his/her
helmet while on the field before entering the dugout/equipment storage area,
the umpire will issue a team warning.
The next player to remove his/her helmet while on the field will be
removed from the game.
4.
Faking a tag: a fake tag is
considered Obstruction by OR&PR 2.00.
Additionally, when a player fakes a tag on a runner, the umpire will
issue a team warning. The next
player to fake a tag on that team will be removed from the game.
5. Grabbing/slapping a fielder's arm or glove: when
a base runner grabs a defensive player’s arm or glove while the fielder is
trying to catch a thrown ball, throw a ball, or apply a tag, the umpire shall
immediately call “Time”. If the umpire
judges the runner’s action constitutes offensive interference in accordance
with OR&PR 7.09, the umpire shall rule accordingly, and will issue a team
warning. The next player who grabs
or slaps at a defensive player will be removed from the game.
Any of the above violations
assumes that the act is not willful and with deliberate intent to injure. As such, the removed player is not
ejected. He/she may sit on his/her bench,
but may no longer participate in the game, other than as a base coach. Also, the removed player is not suspended
from the next game as specified in OR&PR 4.07. However, if the umpire judges the action is
willful and deliberate, the umpire may eject the player for unsportsmanlike
conduct in accordance with OR&PR 4.07 and CSLL Local Policy No. 12.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules” (OR&PR) published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Regulation I(b), where it states that “As a condition of service to
the league, all managers, coaches, Board of Directors members and any other persons,
volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or
have repetitive access to, or contact with players or teams, must complete and
submit an official ‘Little League Volunteer Application’ to the local league
president. Annual background screenings
must be completed prior to the applicant assuming his/her duties for the
current season. Refusal to annually submit a fully completed ‘Little League
Volunteer Application’ must result in the immediate dismissal of the individual
from the local league.”
1. Based upon this guidance, CSLL shall require
the following adult volunteers to fill out the Little League Volunteer
Application (hereafter referred to as the “Form”):
a. Members of the
Board of Directors
b. Managers and
coaches, to include adults designated as “practice coaches”
c. Dedicated field
maintenance workers (not parents who simply rake the fields after games)
d. Concession
stand workers
e. League umpires
f. Those who serve
in team volunteer positions (Team Parents, Fundraising Coordinators, etc.)
2. Adult
volunteers shall fill out the Form and provide them to either the CSLL
President or the Safety Officer. The
President or Safety Officer shall conduct a check of all volunteers using a
nationwide search that contains the applicable government sex offender registry
data. Any volunteer who is listed on the
registry is automatically banned from any appointment within the league.
3. Should a volunteer indicate a past
indiscretion not involving a minor, the CSLL Executive Committee shall meet to discuss
the circumstances of the entry on the Form.
The President/Safety Officer will provide information on the
circumstances without revealing the person’s identity. The Committee shall decide by simple majority
if the person shall be allowed to serve in the requested position within the
league. If the indiscretion does involve
a minor, or the league discovers after investigation that a volunteer was
convicted or pled guilty of any crime against a minor, that volunteer will not
participate with the league in any manner.
4. The Safety Officer shall take appropriate
measures to secure all Forms so that only the President and he/she have access
to them. At no time will the Forms be
available for review by any other league member. Upon completion of all season’s activities
(to include Fall Ball), the Safety Officer shall destroy all forms in an
appropriate manner.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules (OR&PR)” published by Little
League Baseball, Inc. Specific reference
is made to Regulation I (b) where it states: “A president may manage, coach or
umpire provided he/she does not serve on the Protest Committee nor serve as
tournament team manager or coach.”
GENERAL: Based on this guidance, CSLL has chosen to implement
this rule however appointment of the President as a coach, umpire or manager is
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
SPECIAL
PROVISIONS: Should the President put himself / herself
forward as a candidate to be a manager, the appointment and approval of the
President as a manager shall shift to the Board of Directors. The President shall interview for a manager’s
position with the other candidates prior to being appointed and approved.
Presidents who serve as a
manager, coach, or umpire must demonstrate model behavior and decorum at all
times and in all circumstances (a higher standard than for all other managers,
coaches and umpires) and any lapses are grounds for removal. The managing,
coaching and umpiring privileges of the President may be revoked by a majority
vote of the Board of Directors if he/she is not adequately addressing the
duties and responsibilities of that office.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
Reference is made to the
“Local League Maintenance of Rosters” section of the “Little League Operating
Manual” published each year by Little League Baseball, Inc.
It shall be the express
policy of Central Springfield Little League, Inc. (CSLL) to annually release
Little League (Majors) players that do not register for the upcoming
season. In order to ensure that all
players are given ample opportunity to register and express their intent for
the upcoming season the following steps shall be taken:
a) After the second regular registration the
Majors/Minors Player Agent and/or Majors Vice President shall telephone all
Little League (Majors) players from the previous season that have not
registered. They shall determine their
intent and advise them of the date, time and location of the late registration.
b) If a Little League (Majors) player has not registered
by the time of the late registration a letter shall be sent by the
Majors/Minors Player Agent to the last known address of the player. The letter shall advise them of the leagues
intent to formally release them from their prior Little League (Majors) team
and to make them ineligible for Little League (Majors) at CSLL for the upcoming
season.
c) Prior to the draft, the Player Agent shall prepare a
list of Little League (Majors) players that have not registered for the
upcoming season. The CSLL Board of
Directors shall take action to release those players from their former team in
order to allow the manager to fill the spot on the roster for the upcoming
season.
d) If a former Little League (Majors) player chooses to
return to CSLL in a subsequent season they shall be required to tryout and be
placed in the draft.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008.
Phil Grone
President
(HARRASSMENT OF UMPIRES
BY MANAGERS, COACHES AND PARENTS)
Reference is made to the “Tee
Ball, Minor League, Little League Baseball, Junior League, Senior League, Big
League Official Regulations and Playing Rules” published by Little League
Baseball, Inc. Specific reference is
made to Regulation XIV where it states “The actions of players, managers, coaches,
umpires and league officials must be above reproach”.
GENERAL: Umpire harassment has no benefit to anyone associated with Central
Springfield Little League. Harassment
creates a hostile, confrontational atmosphere that has no place in a children’s
game. Umpire harassment is repetitive
berating, belittling or harassing comments made as a result of a call or
situation directed toward the umpire in a manner meant to intimidate. At the basic level it is bullying.
RATIONALE: New umpires, especially junior umpires, are inexperienced and need to
gain confidence to get better. Patience
is important by all. They have
commitment and want to be there. The
number one reason for umpires leaving is harassment. CSLL cannot afford to continue to lose
trained umpires at the current rate.
Special Provisions: In the event that issues arise that are in immediate need of
resolution, the umpire should call time and request assistance from the
managers. If a manager is the
instigator, the Duty Board member (OD) should be contacted. Clearing the field of all players may be
necessary. The OD should attempt to
resolve the issue to allow the game to continue. In the case of a junior umpire, removal from
the field may be necessary to protect the umpire from further harassment.
In an effort to
empower the umpires to address this negative activity and gain immediate
relief, the following actions will be established:
o
Team Unsportsmanship Conduct Warning
§
Given to the Manager by the Division VP on
recommendation of umpire affected.
§
Cause: Manager, Coach, player or parent behavior
o
First incident – Call to Manager by Division VP
based on report by affected umpire
o
Second incident (subsequent game); Should be
witnessed by Board member or other adult (Manager, Coach or Parent); based on
report by affected umpire
§
Manager appears before the Executive Board
o
Third
Incident – Removal of Manager
The
Umpire will submit a report in writing to the Chief Umpire who will
expeditiously forward to the Division VP.
The foregoing Local Policy
was reviewed and approved by the CSLL Board of Directors during a scheduled
meeting on 16 December 2008
Phil Grone
President