trll: My Site News

Year 2008 District 1 Interleague Rules

As the District Board of Directors, we thought it might be a good idea to get all of our District Local Leagues on the same page. The only way to accomplish this is to go by the book, yes that means the Little League Operating Manual and Little League Rule Book. This is provided to each league every year with their charter package. The only acceptable deviations allowed are a few limited deviations, mostly in the minor and t-ball divisions. No more made up League Rules! Each Local League may submit Local League Rules to be used in Local League games, which would include, as an example, what that League wants to do with the batting order in the minors and t-ball, whether or not the mandatory 10 run rule will be used, or if coach pitching will be used in the minor or t-ball division. League operating procedures and ground rules would also be included in these Local League Rules. There are very few other situations that are allowed to be altered.

For Interleague play, "the District" will uphold the same policy that is being preached. Go by the book! The following conditions are some local District Rules to be used in interleague play. If it is not discussed on this page, then refer to the current Little League rule book that applies to the division in question. We are not using tournament or local League rules for interleague play.

The official time for all games shall be that of the plate umpire's watch (or on a watch designated by home plate umpire). The starting time shall be recorded in the scorebook for each game. If no second game is scheduled that day on the same field, there is no time limit that may be applied to any game.

All early games are scheduled for a 5:30 start time with a two hour time limit. The second game is scheduled for 8:00pm, with the appropriate curfew in the rule book being applicable. There is no automatic two hour time limit on the second game. When any time limit is reached in a game, the inning that is currently being played must be completed. All protests must be filed to the appropriate Interleague Representative instead of the local league President.

All suspended or canceled games must be rescheduled through the District Interleague Representative for the game in question.

The hosting team supplies both umpires. The hosting team supplies the official scorekeeper and the visiting team supplies the officail spotter to assist the official scorekeeper. Both the official scorekeeper and the official spotter shall sign off in the scorebook to validate the official book. The hosting team's official scorekeeper monitors and has the final say on the official pitch count for all pitchers

All interleague game standings do apply to the local league standings for all teams involved. The pitching records must be kept and provided upon request for all season games.

In all minor games, if ball 4 is reached in the count, time is called by the umpire. An adult pitcher comes in to pitch to finish pitching to the batter until the ball is put into play or a strike out occurs. The adult pitcher must pitch no closer that 25 feet from home plate. There will be no stealing of any kind before the ball is put into play by a betted ball, the ruling will be as if it were runners interference. The non-adult pitcher must start each pitch wven to or behind the adult pitcher and remain there until the pitched ball reaches the batter. There is no bunting allowed while an adult pitcher is pitching.

In all minor and major games, the offensive team will bat through their entire roster before starting over at the beginning of the lineup. The offensive team's half inning is over upon receiving 3 outs or batting through the entire team's roster, whichever occurs 1st. The declared last inning of the game from the home plate umpire, is an open inning, meaning there is no batter limit; it takes 3 outs to retire the side. The mandatory 10 run rule is in force for all interleague play in all divisions.

All Local League ground rules must be filed with the District Administratior at least 10 days prior to the 1st interleague game to be played. These ground rules must be approved by the District Administrator prior to being applied to any games. Any and all Local League ground rules that will apply to any interleague game must be pre-approved by the District Administrator and posted in each concession stand.