In the AA league, the following special rules apply:
1. There is no bunting allowed.
2. The infield fly rule does not apply.
3. There is no stealing.
4. A player can not tag up and advance from any base on a fly ball.
5. A run cannot score and a player cannot advance on a passed ball or a wild pitch.
6. When the bases are loaded, it takes 6 balls for a batter to walk instead of 4.
7. However, if the batter is hit by a pitch, he is awarded first base and a run scores.
8. Previous years rules regarding the ’18 foot circle at pitchers mound’ and advancing runners have been eliminated (starting 1998 season). Runners may advance anytime the ball is in play, i.e. standard baseball rules shall apply.
9. A runner may not advance after the umpire declares time is out.
10. Two adult coaches are allowed on the bases.
11. One adult coach will be allowed to stand behind the pitcher, instructing the pitcher and positioning the infielders while their team is on the field. This coach is permitted to position the infielders and instruct the pitcher only when the ball is not in play. Once the ball is in play, the coach will not interfere with the play or issue instructions to the players. If this occurs, the coach will be warned by the umpire that continuing this behavior will result in the forfeit of this privilege. Further, if a batted or thrown ball hits the coach, the ball shall be declared dead and the runners will advance. This will be in effect for the first three games of the season only.
12. All players must play 3 full innings in each regularly scheduled game.
13. All children should play, at least, alternating innings.
14. No child should be expected to sit on the bench for more than one inning in a row.
15. All children should play as close to an equal amount of innings as possible.
16. Subject to individual safety considerations, children should be given the opportunity to play all field positions.
17. Offensively, a continuous batting order is used. If the player in the fifth batting position makes the last out of the game, the player in the sixth batting position leads off the next game. The batting order may only be changed at the start of the second half of the season.
18. Defensively, there is a "free substitution" to allow any player to reenter the game once he has left. AA Teams field 10 players. The tenth player is a short fielder or a fourth outfielder. The tenth player cannot play in the infield and cannot cover a base or take a throw to a base.
19. Each team shall not have more at bats in an inning than the number of players dressed and playing in that game. In the event that one team has more players dressed and available to play, both teams will use the lesser number of players of both teams as the limit of number of players that can bat in an inning.
Safety Guidelines are included in this booklet only as a guide for the manager.
1. Pitching week is Monday - Sunday
2. A single pitch in an inning constitutes an inning pitched
3. A pitcher may pitch a maximum of four innings per week
4. If a pitcher pitches even one pitch beyond 3 innings, 3 full days rest is required.
5. A pitcher removed from pitching in a game shall not pitch again in the game.
6. No days of rest is required where a pitcher pitches fewer than 4 innings (that is, one pitch through 3 complete innings).
7. A pitcher may not pitch more than 4 innings in 2 consecutive days.
8. A pitcher, once replaced, may not reenter as a pitcher.
9. The use of curve balls is forbidden.
NOTE: A suspected violation of the pitching rules must be presented to the Executive Planning Committee for review. If the Committee determines that a violation has occurred, the penalty shall be a forfeit of the game in which the violation took place.
These guidelines are not mandatory and may be superseded at the Commissioner's discretion. However they are strongly recommended.
1. No more than 3 games per "pitching week" (Monday-Sunday) will be scheduled.
2. "Games" include regular season, make-up, playoff and World Series.
3. A "continued game" (e.g. a game previously ending in a tie) shall not constitute a game for these purposes unless it exceeds an additional 3 innings. However, such innings pitched do count towards the limits specified above. The involved managers and League officials have a mutual interest in completing any make-up and continued games prior to the conclusion of the regular season.
1. In the AA league, a two-hour time limit is imposed on all regular season games.
2. No half inning can start after two hours from the start of the game.
3. An official game is 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead, and all four innings if the visiting team is ahead. If a game is called before it is a regulation game, the pitchers are still charged with the number of innings pitched in the current calendar week.
1. Once a game begins, it is the umpire's decision whether a game is continued or is halted because of weather conditions.
2. The home team must take the first base side of the diamond.
3. The home team and the visiting team each provide one baseball at the beginning of the game. If a third baseball is needed, the home team must supply it. A fourth baseball will be provided by the visiting team. The official baseball used by Reading Youth Baseball is the Wilson 1074 Little League Baseball.
4. Compare scores frequently to avoid any problems.
5. The AA consists of 12 teams, 6 in each league.
Giants Twins
Dodgers Tigers
Braves Orioles
Cardinals Indians
Cubs Red Sox
Pirates Yankees
6. Each team plays a maximum 16 game regular season schedule. Each team plays the other five teams in their league two times and teams in the other league once each.
7. Please keep a careful record of your team's won and loss record. (for draft order purposes)
8. Weekday night games should start promptly at 5:45 P.M. Weekend games should start promptly at their scheduled time to avoid delaying the start of later games.
9. All rescheduling of makeup games must be done through the Minor League Director.
10. Good managerial judgement should be used in removing "wild" pitchers that may pose a safety hazard.
11. Reading Youth Baseball does not have a pitch count rule. However, managers are encouraged to remove pitchers who have tired or who have obviously thrown "too many" pitches.