San Carlos Little League: Coaches Corner

Sunday, February 8
RULE UPDATES
Bat Performance Factor [BPF] of 1.15 is required for Little League Baseball (Majors) Divisions and Below

In effect for the 2009 season is the requirement that all non-wood bats used in Little League Baseball (Majors) Divisions and below shall be printed with a BPF of 1.15 or less. The BPF is a measure of a non-wood bat's performance relative to wooden bats.

This stipulation has been included in the Official Rules and Regulations for the past few years, leading up to 2009, so that leagues, parents, and bat manufacturers could prepare for it.

Most non-wood bats manufactured over the past several years for the age groups involved in Little League Baseball (Majors) and below have been permanently imprinted with the BPF. In fact, very few bats sold today with a diameter of 2-1/4 (two and one-quarter) inches are not printed with the BPF rating.

So, starting with the 2009 season, bats printed with a BPF higher than 1.15, or without a BPF printed (or not legible) on the bat, are not permitted in these divisions.


Changes/Updates for: The 2009 Rules and Regulations & The Tournament Rules and Guidelines

10/30/08 - Little League International released the rest of the changes/updates to the 2009 Rules and Regulations, as well as the Tournament Rules and Guidelines. You can view the changes for 2009 by clicking on the links below:

Baseball - Rules and Regulations
Baseball - Tournament Rules and Guidelines


Monday, March 2
LL PITCHING LOG

Here is a Little League Pitching log that makes keeping pitch counts in games easier.

 Pitching LogPitching Log



Monday, March 2
PITCHING RULES

Regulation 6 - Pitchers

Any player on a team roster may pitch, except that in Minor League, 12-year-olds may not pitch.

Pitchers of league age 11 and 12 are limited to 85 pitches in a day; pitchers aged 9 and 10 are restricted to 75 pitches in a day; a pitcher aged 8 or younger may pitch no more than 50 pitches in a day. If the pitcher reaches the limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue pitching until that batter is retired or becomes a runner, or the inning ends, whichever comes first, and then must be removed.

A pitcher must observe specific rest periods between pitching appearances, based on the number of pitches thrown the last day the pitcher pitched. A day’s rest is a calendar day in which the pitcher does not pitch, rather than a 24-hour period; a pitcher who throws over 20 pitches Tuesday may not pitch at any time on Wednesday. Effective 2009, each local league must select one of two options for rest periods during the regular season, but may not “mix and match” options within a division. NOTE: SCLL has adopted Option 1 for Majors and Minors Divisions in 2009.

  • Regular season option 1:
    • 61 or more pitches = 3 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 41 to 60 pitches = 2 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 21 to 40 pitches = 1 day’s rest
    • 1 to 20 pitches = may pitch the next day
  • Tournament:
    • 46 or more pitches = 2 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 21 to 45 pitches = 1 day’s rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 1 to 20 pitches = may pitch the next day

A pitcher once removed from the mound may not return in the same game.

A player who has thrown more than 40 pitches on a given day may not be utilized as a catcher for the rest of that day.

If a pitcher begins warming up and is found ineligible before throwing a pitch in the game, the ineligible pitcher may be removed without penalty. Rule 3.05 (b) will not apply.

Pitches in suspended or called games count toward pitchers’ eligibility for that day. Eligibility in a suspended game is determined strictly by the most recent appearance by that pitcher, except that a pitcher removed from the suspended game may not return. All pitches, including those thrown in games called before one inning is completed (and thereby not resumed), count toward pitchers’ eligibility.



Friday, May 15
SCLL PLAYING RULES FACT SHEET

 

Time Limit 

                Majors:   none

                Minors:    Regular Season – no new inning starts after 2 hours (a new inning begins immediately after the last out of the previous inning);  SCLL TOC – no new inning after 2 hours and 20 minutes.

 Run Rule

                Majors:   None

                Minors:   5 run rule except for the 6th (or last) inning which is uncapped

 Mercy Rule

                10 run rule is in effect for both divisions;  Any home team leading by 10 any time after 3.5 innings or any visiting team leading by 10 after 4 or more complete innings is declared the winner.

Pitching Rules

Any player on a team roster may pitch, except that in Minor League, 12-year-olds may not pitch. Pitchers of league age 11 and 12 are limited to 85 pitches in a day; pitchers aged 9 and 10 are restricted to 75 pitches in a day; a pitcher aged 8 or younger may pitch no more than 50 pitches in a day. If the pitcher reaches the limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue pitching until that batter is retired or becomes a runner, or the inning ends, whichever comes first, and then must be removed.  A pitcher must observe specific rest periods between pitching appearances, based on the number of pitches thrown the last day the pitcher pitched. A day’s rest is a calendar day in which the pitcher does not pitch, rather than a 24-hour period; a pitcher who throws over 20 pitches Tuesday may not pitch at any time on Wednesday. NOTE: SCLL has adopted Option 1 for Majors and Minors Divisions in 2009.

  • Regular season option 1:
    • 61 or more pitches = 3 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 41 to 60 pitches = 2 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 21 to 40 pitches = 1 day’s rest
    • 1 to 20 pitches = may pitch the next day

       
  • Tournament:
    • 46 or more pitches = 2 days’ rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 21 to 45 pitches = 1 day’s rest, also ineligible for team’s next game
    • 1 to 20 pitches = may pitch the next day

A pitcher once removed from the mound may not return in the same game. A player who has thrown more than 40 pitches on a given day may not be utilized as a catcher for the rest of that day. If a pitcher begins warming up and is found ineligible before throwing a pitch in the game, the ineligible pitcher may be removed without penalty. Rule 3.05 (b) will not apply. Pitches in suspended or called games count toward pitchers’ eligibility for that day. Eligibility in a suspended game is determined strictly by the most recent appearance by that pitcher, except that a pitcher removed from the suspended game may not return. All pitches, including those thrown in games called before one inning is completed (and thereby not resumed), count toward pitchers’ eligibility.

Catching Rule

                No player in either division may catch after they have pitched 41 or more pitches in that game

 Batting Order for injured or missing player:

                Cannot finish at-bat:   If a player cannot finish his at bat due to injury, the closest previous batter (not on base) would step in and assume the existing count and finish the at bat.

                Player gets hurt and is removed or has to leave early:  Skip that spot in the batting order.  No penalty.

                Player arrives late to a game:   Add to bottom of lineup once they arrive.