2023 SPRING MAJORS
1. (Rule 3.09) Beginning this year, to improve pace of play, Little League is allowing Adult Coaches to warm up pitchers (during Regular Season only).
a. Once the catcher is ready and heading to the plate, the adult coach needs to return to the dugout.
2. Pitch Counts will be strictly adhered to.
a. Ages 9-10 75 Pitches per Day
b. Ages 11-12 85 Pitches per Day
3. Pitchers must adhere to the following rest requirements:
a. 1-20 pitches: 0 Days rest
b. 21-35 pitches: 1 Day rest
c. 36-50 pitches: 2 Days rest
d. 51-65 pitches: 3 Days rest
e. 66+ pitches: 4 Days rest
4. A player who played the position of catcher for 3 innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more MAY NOT return to the catcher position that calendar day.
a. If the pitcher reaches the 20-pitch limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, AND maintain their eligibility to return to the catcher position until any one of the following conditions occur: (1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat.
5. A pitcher removed from the mound CANNOT return as pitcher.
6. A pitcher’s pitch count for the purposes of day(s) rest threshold is determined by the 1st pitch thrown to a batter.
7. Under no circumstances shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.
8. Once a game starts, field conditions, including the pitcher’s mound, cannot be altered without approval from the UIC.
9. No Defensive coaches outside the dugout. All Defensive coaches must remain in the dugout.
10. There is NO on deck circle. Players must remain in the dugout until it is their turn at-bat.
11. Teams will bat their entire roster.
12. The continuous batting order will be set prior to the start of the game and cannot be changed during the game unless a player shows up late (added to bottom of batting order) or a player leaves the game due to injury/removal from game for any reason. No player may return to game in any capacity unless approval is given by league official. Per Little League Rule 4.04 (Note 2) – When a player is injured, becomes ill OR must leave the game site after the start of the game, the team will SKIP OVER him/her when his/her time at bat comes up WITHOUT PENALTY.
13. 15 run rule is in effect: If the home or visiting team is ahead by 15 runs or more after 3 complete innings, the team that is ahead is declared the winner. 10 run rule is in effect: If the home team is ahead by 10 runs or more after 3 ½ innings or the visiting team is ahead by 10 runs or more after 4 complete innings the team ahead is declared the winner. 8 run rule is in effect: If the home team is head by 8 runs or more after 4 ½ innings or the visiting team is ahead by 8 runs or more after 4 complete innings the team is declared the winner.
14. Drop 3rd strike: A batter may run on a dropped 3rd strike provided 1st base is not occupied with less than 2 outs. A batter may also run on a dropped 3rd strike with 2 out and 1st base occupied.
15. Players may steal any base but may not leave the base prior to the pitch crossing home plate.
16. Courtesy runner for catcher and pitcher only. A Courtesy runner may only be used when there are two (2) outs. With a continuous batting order, the courtesy runner must be the player in the batting order who made the last out.
17. ** New Little League update for 2023 ** Rule 6.08 (a) (2) A player may only be intentionally walked by announcing such decision to the plate umpire one (1) time during the course of the game. This DOES NOT restrict a team from throwing four balls outside of the strike zone to this batter at another time during the game.
18. All games shall have a 1 hour 45-minute time limit or 6 innings, whichever comes 1st. No new inning may start after 1hr 30 minutes. A new inning begins as soon as the third out is recorded in the prior inning. The umpire will order the countdown clock to be started when ready, but play will not begin until rosters have been turned in. The clock will not be stopped for any reason other than “Serious Injury.” If we have to call 911, it’s serious. Home team shall finish their at bat if losing at expiration of time or game ends if scoring winning run after expiration of time.
19. Games cannot end in a tie. If tied, the 7th inning would be played as normal. Beginning with the 8th inning, and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on 2nd base with 0 out. (LL Tournament rule # 14)
20. Rule 4.06(c), No manager, coach, or player shall at any time whether from the bench or the playing field, make any move calculated to cause a balk or illegal pitch. The ability for a team to cheer for their batter or runners should not be restricted unless there is a definite intent to gain an unfair advantage as discussed in Rule 4.06(c). The chanting/cheering must be in good taste and be directed solely at their own team. A good rule of thumb is the chants/cheers may be as loud as the team desires as long as there is no crescendo or shrieking when the pitcher is delivering the pitch. No artificial noise making (i.e.- pounding on buckets, or fences or air horns) is allowed.
21. There will be no forfeits in PLAYER PITCH. A team must have a minimum of nine (9) players to play the game or the game must be rescheduled. Substitute players are allowed. Players from the opposing team cannot be used to fill the field at that game. Substitute players will come from a pool of players that have expressed desire to play additional games. The Player Agent will create and run the pool. This rule is not eligible for amendment or exclusion per LL Regional Director. *** Pool Players are only to be used to meet the 9-player requirement. *** Example: Team has 10 players now present at start of game, 2 of whom are Pool players. Only 1 pool player can be used.
22. After each game, each team is responsible for cleaning up all trash on their side of the field and place in trash receptacles. This includes all bottles on the ground, wrappers, etc. ** Please help keep our ballpark clean **
23. All coaches and managers are responsible for the actions of their parents and players.
24. Home team will provide the official score keeper on GameChanger.
25. Visiting team will run the scoreboard and is mandatory for game play. Please make sure all trash is removed from the Press Box after each game. If last game of the night please turn off scoreboard and lock Press Box door.
26. Home team is responsible for post-game field maintenance (last game of the day/night)- removal of bases/install foam inserts, turning off complex lights, and make sure bathrooms are locked. If Farm field lights are still on and no game being played turn off Farm Field lights.
27. Games that need to be rescheduled for any reason must be rescheduled by the Division Commissioner or Information Officer.
28. It will be the winning team’s responsibility to email [email protected] with the final score or input into their team GameChanger.