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SALEM LITTLE LEAGUE

2009 PLAYING RULES

 

 

 

1. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

 

 

6.01         A new inning cannot start if it is 15 minutes after the scheduled start of the next game. (2006)

 

DRAFT

 

6.02         Each team shall be made up of 12 players aged 10-12. (2006)

 

6.03         All teams shall begin the season with an equal number of players.

 

6.04              Any player who played in the Farm League the previous year will not be allowed to play in the Majors the following year. (2002)

 

6.05         The Draft and Registration Committee will set the number of 10-year-olds each team will be allowed to draft each year.  This will be set based on the numbers available vs. the number needed (not talent) for all age groups.

 

6.06         Rosters will be filled by managers using a draft system.  Draft order will be determined by where you finish in the playoffs.  The last place team will receive the first pick in the draft. (2005) The order shall remain the same through every round on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.

 

 

SUPPLEMENTARY DRAFT

 

6.07         Following the completion of the regular draft, teams will draft three additional supplementary players.  The players, if possible, will be selected from three different Minor League teams.  The role of the supplementary players is to provide the Major League team with insurance in case it is short of players for a given game.

 

6.08         All 12-year-old players remaining in the pool following the completion of the regular phase of the draft must be taken first in the supplementary phase.  When the last 12-year-old player is drafted, supplementary drafting of 11-year-old may begin.

 

6.09         If a team requires a player on a temporary basis (this will occur only when the team reaches a critical number of 10 players or less), the manager may select any player from the three available to him.  The manager may contact the player directly and then inform his league director of his action as soon as possible.  At the completion of the game, the player will return to his Minor League team.

 

6.10         If a player is unavailable, contact your league director to get you another player. (2002)

 

6.11         In choosing a player, the manager must abide by the following requirements:

               

A.)          The player is not committed to his Minor team that day

B.)           The player will play a minimum of three innings in the game

                C.)           The player is prohibited from pitching in the game

                D.)           The player is prohibited from playing in the infield (use your own players)

 

6.12         A temporary player may become a permanent member of the Major League team only when the team has lost players on a permanent basis and its roster has been reduced to eight, or if a player from the original roster is lost prior to the beginning of the regular season.  No supplemental player may be taken up on a permanent basis, for any reason, during the final two weeks of the regular Minor season.

 

6.13         At the end of the regular season, all supplemental players will be returned to the general draft pool.

 

PLAYOFFS

 

6.14         All teams in each league shall qualify for the playoffs (2006).  In case of ties, a tie-breaking procedure (Rule 5.29) shall be used to determine seeding.  The first round of the playoffs will be between the fourth and fifth place team of each league.  The second round will be the winner of that game vs. the first place team.  The other game will be between the second and third place teams.  These series are 2 out of 3.  The two winners will play each other 2 out of 3.  The League Championship playoffs will begin shortly after both Salem teams are eliminated from tournament play (Major baseball only). (2006)

 

6.15         In each series, the team with the better record shall have the option or being home team or visitor in games one and three.  The other team shall have the option in game two.  Better record shall be determined by appropriate tie-breaking procedures.

 

ALL-STAR GAME

 

6.16         The manager of the league playoff champion shall serve as manager of the all-star game.  He may pick coaches at his discretion.

 

6.17         Each team will carry a roster of 18 players with the following breakdown.  First place (five), second place (four), third place (three), fourth place (three) and fifth place (three).  Each team’s manager will choose his players.  All 12-year-olds and only 12-year-olds make the team.  For example, if the first place team has five picks but only has three 12-year-olds, then the second place team adopts the two remaining picks from the first place team and so on until all the 12's are picked.  Regular season playing requirements shall apply.

 

6.18         Each team shall appoint an alternate.  If a player from a team cannot play, the alternate shall take his place.  In the event the alternate also cannot play, another team’s alternate shall take his place.  The all-star manager shall choose the player.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.19         There will be free substitution defensively.  Each player must play two consecutive innings in the field. (2003)  The batting order does not change until the 4th inning when the players not currently in the batting order are put into the game to replace those who were in the batting order to start the game. (2001)

 

6.20         There will be no “mercy” rule in baseball.  In girls softball there will be a fifteen run mercy rule in effect after four innings for major leagues and after five innings for senior leagues.  There will be no mercy rule for minor softball.  It is suggested that managers and umpires adopt the following guidelines in the event of a lopsided score:

 

a)The winning team should hold up base runners whenever possible.

b)The winning manager should report a lower score to the local newspaper

c)The umpire should decide all questionable calls in favor of the losing teams

 

TOURNAMENT

 

6.21              The selection of the tournament manager will be decided by the standings of each league on June 15.  Use tie-breaker if necessary.

 

6.22              Each team will nominate their own players.  Managers will then vote on those players who were nominated.  The top 12 will be placed on a team.  In the event of a tie for the last spot(s), managers will vote again on those players involved until the 12 players are selected.

 

6.23              The manager of the team will get to add a 13th player to the team if he so chooses at his own discretion.

 

 

2. MINOR BASEBALL

 

(Minor Baseball will be played using Major League rules with the following exceptions)

 

 

7.01         Rosters shall consist of players aged 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.  All 10, 11 and 12-year-olds must tryout for the Major Leagues.  Any 10, 11 or 12-year-old who does not make the Majors will be placed in the Minors.   Any new player who does not attend tryouts will be placed on a Minor team. (2007)

 

7.02         Minor rosters shall remain intact from year-to-year.  Players drafted to the Major League shall be replaced by new sign-ups.

 

PLAYING RULES

 

7.03         A continuous batting order of all players will be used.  At the start of the season you make out a lineup and must maintain that lineup throughout the year.  If after a game your #5 batter makes the last out then your #6 batter would be the first batter of the next game.

 

7.04         12-year-olds are not allowed to pitch. (2004)  A pitch count will be used (see Williamsport rules).  A maximum of 3 innings will be allowed per pitcher regardless if he has reached his pitch count limit.

 

7.05         Only two runs per inning are allowed to score from bases loaded walks.  Four balls to force in run.  (2005)

 

7.06         No player can play the same position for more than 3 innings in a six inning game. (2006)

 

7.07         A new inning cannot start if it is less than 15 minutes to the start of the next game.  This applies to the regular season only. (2002)

 

7.08         If a league umpire is not available, game is played using adults agreed upon by both managers. (2007)

 

7.09         Teams shall play with ten players on the field at all times.  The extra player shall be an outfielder, not a short fielder.

 

7.10         No stealing of 2nd base will be allowed.  You may steal 3rd base at any time.  Player may not run home if the ball is overthrown past 3rd base or the pitcher.  You may make a successful steal of home once per inning.  No delay stealing.

 

7.11         There shall be no intentional walks.  If, in the umpire’s judgment, a violation has occurred, he may nullify the walk and keep the batter at the plate until he or she either hits the ball or strikes out.

 

7.12         Any batter who is injured or cannot continue while he is at-bat shall be replaced by the next person in the batting order.  The new batter shall assume the count of the injured batter.  If the new batter assumed at least one strike and eventually strikes out, the out shall stand, but the new batter shall then take his full turn at the plate.  If the new batter walks, reaches base, or hits the ball and makes an out, the batting order shall proceed in a normal fashion.

 

7.13         No infield fly rule.  No fake bunting.

 

7.14         If a pitcher stops in the middle of his windup when a batter squares to bunt, the umpire will issue a warning on the first offense.  On any subsequent offense a ball will be issued to the batter. (2005)

 

PLAYOFFS

 

7.15         Refer to 6.14 and 6.15 for playoff scenarios. (2006)

 

7.16         During the playoffs, each team must have at least ten players at the game.  If other team has thirteen players, then you must have at least eleven players at the game.

 

ALL-STAR GAME

 

7.17         The managers of the regular season champions shall serve as managers of the all-star game.  He may pick coaches at his discretion. (2003)

 

7.18         Each team will carry a roster of 18 players with the following breakdown.  First place (five), second place (four), third place (three), fourth place (three) and fifth place (three).

 

7.19         Each team shall appoint an alternate.  If a player from a team cannot play, the alternate shall take his place.  In the event the alternate also cannot play, another team’s alternate shall take his place.  The all-star manager shall choose the player.

 

7.20         Players picked first should be the 11’s and the 12’s.

 

3. FARM BASEBALL

 

 

8.01         Pitching machine shall do the pitching at O’Grady Field.   Coaches shall pitch to members of his own team at the side field at Forest River. (2007)

 

8.02         Balls and strikes shall not be called.  Each player will receive a maximum of 5 pitches per at bat.  Additional pitches if he/she fouls the 5th pitch off. (2007)

 

8.03         The opposing team shall position a defensive player to the right or left of the pitcher’s mound.

 

8.04         If a batted ball hits the coach or machine, the ball is live. (2007)

 

8.05         Teams shall have the option of using a standard catcher with full equipment or a backup catcher who must wear at least a face mask.

 

8.06         The adult pitcher shall also serve as the base umpire unless another volunteer may be found to do so.

 

8.07         One base advance on all overthrows.

 

8.08         An inning shall end when three outs are made or when ten batters have finished their turn at bat.

 

8.09         Players shall be six, seven or eight years old.  No playoffs.

 

8.10         It is strongly recommended that all players be given a chance to play all positions as the season progresses.  No player can play the same position for more than 2 innings in a game. (2005)

 

8.11         Score books will not be kept and there will be an attempt to limit the games to two hours.

 

8.12         Bunting is not allowed.

 

8.13         When the ball is thrown into the infield after a hit to the outfield, the ball will be considered dead when it is either caught by an infielder or lands on the ground within the boundaries of the infield.  At this point if a runner is not more than half way to the next base the runner must return to previous base.

 

 

4. MAJOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL

 

 

10.01       Only two runs per inning are allowed to score from bases loaded walks.  Six balls are required to walk in a run.

 

10.02       Only one run per inning is allowed to score by a passed ball or steal.  However, a base runner can advance to any base when either the pitcher doesn’t cleanly field the throw from the catcher or if a throw is made to any base. (2001)

 

10.03       A pitcher may pitch up to nine innings in a two game week.  In the event or a third game, an extra three innings is allowed. (2001)

 

10.04       In girls softball there will be a fifteen run mercy rule in effect after four innings for major leagues and after five innings for senior leagues.  There will be no mercy rule for minor softball. 

 

DRAFT

 

10.05       All 11 and 12 year olds must be drafted.  The balance of the rosters will be filled with 10 year olds.  Before the draft, the maximum number of 10 year olds eligible to be drafted will be set.  After that number has been drafted, no further 10-year-olds will be able to be drafted.

 

PLAYOFFS

 

10.06       Because the number of teams may vary from year to year, the playoff format will be decided by the league managers prior to the start of the regular season.  The league director will submit this format to the Board of Directors for approval.

 

 

5. MINOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL

 

(Minor League softball shall be played using Farm baseball rules with the following exceptions)

 

11.01       One coach will be allowed on the field to instruct the players on defense.

 

11.02       Players shall be either 7, 8, 9 or 10 years-old and shall be required to tryout prior to the season.  All seven and eight-year-olds must play in the Minor League.  Roster sizes and season schedules shall be determined by the Draft / Registration Committee.

                                                                                                               

11.03       No player shall play more than three innings in any one position.

 

11.04       In the first inning, a player will pitch from a distance no closer than 30 feet.  It will be the coach’s decision after the 1st inning as to whether to continue to let a girl pitch or have a coach pitch instead.  Coaches will pitch from the 3rd inning on. (2002)

 

 

6. SENIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL

 

 

12.01       A team will play with ten players in the field (2004). 

 

12.02       A pitcher may pitch up to ten innings in a two game week.  In the event of a third game, an extra four innings is allowed. (2001)

 

PLAYOFFS

 

12.03       Because the number of teams may vary from year to year, the playoff format will be decided by the league managers prior to the start of the regular season.  The league director will submit this format to the Board of Directors for approval.

 

12.04       Playoff games shall be scheduled to allow all pitchers for both teams to be fully rested for the playoffs.