Minor League (AL) Rules

MINOR LEAGUE (AL) RULES AND GUIDELINES 

 1.    Operation

Minor League operates as a program for 8 and 10 year old players under Little League Minor League Baseball Rules and Regulations. Normal league ages are 9 and 10 year olds. Players 8 years old may try out IAW Player Selection below. An 11 year old may play at this level only if the board along with the player’s parent agrees it is in the player’s best interest to do so.

2.    Player Selection

a)     The player pool will be all players who are (see ages above) as defined by Little League rules. There is no guarantee that players will be on the same team from one year to the next.

b)     All players in the Minor League are selected through a player tryout and draft each year.  It is expected that most 8 year old players will play Pac Coast. The Board will review requests for 8 year old players to play in the Minor League. The request must be received by January 31 in order to be approved. Board approval does not ensure that an 8 year old player will be selected in the Minor League draft. All eligible 9 and 10 year old players will be drafted to a Minor League team in the initial draft. Players playing up (8 year olds) may then be selected in supplemental draft. Approved Minor League managers may exercise their manager’s option for their child as described by Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations.

3.    Manager/Coach on the Field

Managers and Coaches are not allowed on the field without umpire permission. During a time-out, the Manager or Coach may request permission to confer with a player.

4.    Time Limits on Games

A normal game is six (6) innings. On Saturday, no inning should begin after one hour and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time for the game. At two hours after the scheduled start time on a Saturday game, the final score will be determined using Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations/Little League Softball Rules and Regulations. Continuation of play at a later date will be necessary only if fewer than four (4) innings of play have been completed. The last game played on any given day may be played past the time limit.

5.    Scorekeeping and Excessive Scores

The home team is responsible for providing the Official Scorekeeper. The League scorebook will be the official game scorekeeping book. All Scorekeepers are required to sit in the appointed scorekeeping area provided. After the game, the score sheet must be reviewed and signed by the umpire or both managers.  The League Commissioner will keep records of the game scores and of team standings which will be posted on the website.  Managers and Coaches are expected to do their best to prevent very lopsided scoring in games. Games in which one team has a ten (10) run or more lead after 4 (3 ½ if the home team is leading in score) innings of play, will be considered a complete game.

6.    Game Attendance and Weather

a)     Teams are to appear at the field regardless of the weather. No game will be cancelled because of rain until thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start time. A game not started after the thirty (30) minute delay will be considered cancelled and a reschedule date assigned. The board member on duty has the authority to cancel the complete day due to field conditions. Prior to starting the game, the Managers, in consultation with the Board Member on duty, may agree to cancel the game because of weather or field conditions.

b)     When weather conditions involve lightning, the teams present are to use the “Hear it, clear it, see it, flee it” rule with the 30 minute rain delay rule placed into affect.

c)      Once play has begun, the Umpire is responsible for the decision of whether to stop the game (as described in Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations).

d)     If the League Commissioner and/or Board Member on duty have formally rescheduled a rained out game or rescheduled a game, the game must be played on the rescheduled date. The only exemption is if the appropriate Commissioner and Vice-President approve a valid request from one or both Managers that either team cannot field the required number of players on the rescheduled date; however, when appropriate, the request has to be made within 48 hours from the time of notification of the rescheduled date. The Commissioner or Vice-President will normally give notification of rescheduled time and date. The 48-hour time limit starts when the League Commissioner notifies the appropriate Managers or Coaches. If the next rainout date is less than 48 hours away, the Manager must notify the League Commissioner as soon as possible that they are unable to field a team. The League Commissioner should be contacted for the next make-up time slot. The League Commissioner will notify the teams of the date of the make-up game within 48 hours after the rainout.

e)     The home team is responsible for providing home plate and base umpires at make-up games. When multiple make-up games must be played on a Sunday, the Saturday time limits will apply.  Both Managers, in consultation with the Board Member on duty, may agree to cancel the game because of weather or field conditions. The League Commissioner may reschedule games.

7.    Protests

Protests are described in the Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations/Little League Softball Rules and Regulations.  If a formal protest is lodged, the protesting Manager should request that the official Scorekeeper enter the time, inning and number of outs at the time of the protest on the official score sheet. The game is to continue “under protest” and the protesting Manager must submit a written description of the play and the basis of the protest to the League Commissioner and League President within 24-hours of completion of the game. The opposing Manager and the home plate Umpire must submit rebuttal letters regarding the protest within 24-hours of notification by the League Commissioner that the written protest has been received. The protest will be resolved by the Protest Committee.

8.    Umpires

The home team is responsible for assuring an umpire is available. If a League Umpire is not scheduled, the Umpire is to be provided by the home team.

9.    Fields

a)     The Home team responsible for the following before and after the game:

(1)   Put bases in and place base plugs were they can be found by visitors.

(2)   Chalk batter’s box and foul lines in dirt.

(3)   Foul lines in grass are done with paint (must use chalk line).

(4)   Home team must provide Scorekeeper in tower. Must use official League scorebook.

(5)   Home team provides Announcer.

(6)   Home team is responsible for cleaning their dugout.

(7)   Home team is responsible for cleaning under and around their bleachers.

(8)   Home team is responsible for emptying the garbage can next to their bleachers.

b)     The Visiting team is responsible clean up after the game:

(1)   Pull bases and put in plugs. Put bases back in tower.

(2)   Rake or drag field so it is flat and without holes that will hold water.

(3)   Vsitors are responsible for turning off lights and locking tower and gates.

(4)   Visitors are responsible for cleaning their dugout.

(5)   Visitors are responsible for cleaning under and around their bleachers.

(6)   Visitors are responsible for emptying the garbage can next to their bleachers.

c)      There is always a Board Member on-duty, It is not their job to do these items but to make sure they are done by the responsible team. 10.  Player Equipment All players should wear consistent uniforms including hat and jersey provided by the League. No uniforms, other than those approved by the League, are acceptable. While on the field, all batters and player base coaches must wear an approved Little League batting helmet. Players may not wear jewelry, watches or bracelets, including yarn bracelets, while playing. All players should wear tennis shoes or all-purpose shoes. No metal cleats are allowed.  Catchers and home Plate Umpires will wear a mask with neck protector, helmet and chest protector whenever behind home plate including infield warm up before games. Catchers must warm up the pitcher and must be in full catcher’s gear during the warm up.

11.     Number of Players

If the game is stopped due to less than nine players (rule 4.17) the game will be treated as a suspended game.

12.     Minimum Playing Time

a)      As indicated in the respective Little League Rules and Regulations, each player must play at least six (6) defensive outs and one (1) time at bat, even when the game is played with a time limit. Failure to meet this rule will result in the following penalties:

(1)   First Offense: Warning letter and the player must play the entire next game.

(2)   Second Offense: Suspension of the Manager until review of the situation by the Board of Directors and a determination of penalty are made. The Board must review the situation within seven (7) days of notification to the Manager of the suspension.

13.         Pitchers

a)     Definitions of innings pitched and required rest periods are specified in the respective Little League Baseball/Softball Rules and Regulations. Pitchers may not wear a batting glove while pitching. Pitchers may not wear any brightly colored items or use a brightly colored glove while pitching. Pitchers are allowed a maximum of eight (8) warm up pitches.

b)     There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.

c)      The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:

(1)   League Age 17-18 – 105 pitches per day

(2)   League Age 13-16 – 95 pitches per day

(3)   League Age 11-12 – 85 pitches per day

(4)   League Age   9-10 – 75 pitches per day

(5)   League Age    7-8  -  50 pitches per day

d)     Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:

(1) That batter reaches base;

(2) That batter is put out;

(3) The third out is made to complete the half-inning. Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. 

e)     Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

(1)   If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.

(2)   If a player pitches 41 – 60 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.

(3)    If a player pitches 21 – 40 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.

(4)   If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

f)        Between each inning the manager or his/her designee shall verify the pitch count with the scorekeeper.  It’s the manager’s responsibility to comply with the pitch count rules.  When and if the scorekeeper realizes there is a pitch count violation they shall immediately notify the umpire.  The umpire shall stop the game and advise both managers of the violation.   The player that violated the pitch count shall be removed and shall not re-enter the game.  The removal of this player is not a penalty toward the player but a safety issue to rest the players fatigued arm.  The manager may be suspended for up to two games for violating the pitch count rule.  The game shall continue and if protested it will be reviewed by the protest committee.

g)     All ineligible pitchers must be listed on the lineup card and marked “ineligible.”  A copy of this will be given to the umpire and opposing manager.

14.     Batting Order

a)     All players on the team will bat using a continuous batting order format.

b)     Must be consistent with Little League Baseball/Softball Rules and Regulations.

15.     Batting Rules

a)     The strike zone is enlarged to include the area, which is the width of one ball on either side of the plate and from the batter’s knees to arm pits.

b)     Each batter will be allowed four (4) balls and three (3) strikes.

c)      Batters who are hit by a pitch in the strike zone or when swinging at the pitch is charged with a strike. They may not take a base.

d)     Five run rule: THE RULE: Play ends and the batter becomes out when any defensive player with the ball touches home plate after the fifth run, in the half inning, crosses the plate. The batter or any runner on base may score even if the defensive player make a proper out in the field unless the out is the third out of the inning. In the case of five runs having been scored with less than their outs in the inning, runners may cross home plate until a defensive player touches the home plate. This rule intends to limit the number of runs in a single inning when fewer than three outs occur. It does NOT stop play when the fifth run crosses the plate.

e)     Any ball over the ballpark fence is a home run. Balls that hit the field of play before going over or under the fence become dead and the batter may advance to second base (same as a ground rule double).

16.     Base Running

No lead off is permitted. The runner may steal only after the ball has passed over home plate.

17.     Overthrow of a Base

Out of field of play (beyond the outfield fence, behind the backstop, etc.): The runner shall advance as described in the respective Little League Baseball/Softball Rules and Regulations.