Triple A Home Rules

CONFERRING WITH UMPIRES - There is no arguing or conferring with an umpire on ANY ruling by an umpire, even for an interpretation of a rule.

GAME BALLS-The Home team is responsible for supplying 3 new game balls for each game.

BUNTING - The slash bunt is prohibited – see Safety Home Rules.

Hit batsmen - A pitcher who hits two batters in one inning or three in one game shall be removed as a pitcher for the remainder of the game.

CATCHING - Amends Regulation VI in the LL Rule Book: A pitcher cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of the day after they have thrown 61 or more pitches. If a player throws 60 or fewer pitches in a day, they may play the position of catcher.

FULL GAME REQUIREMENTS - All 12 year-olds are required to play four full games during the season. All 11 year olds are required to play three full games during the season.

EXTRA HITTER (EH) - The optional use of an Extra Hitter is allowed. The EH must meet the Minimum Requirements of Mandatory Play as specified below. This game does not count as a full game toward the mandatory minimum number of full games.

MERCY RULE 4.10 - (This rule is included because Little League allows optional enforcement.) If after four (4) innings, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs MAY concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has the lead, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF MANDATORY PLAY - Including playoffs, each player must play at least 3 innings in the field and bat at least once in a complete 6-inning game. All non-starting players must enter the game no later than the top of the fourth inning. Violation of this rule means forfeiture of the game by the offending team.

Note: Although managers should make every effort to avoid the situation, there is no violation if a player enters the game at the top of the fourth inning but never comes to bat as long as that player is in the batting order for three full innings.

Exception 1: A player may be held out for disciplinary reasons or injury with the opposing manager being notified immediately

Exception 2: The rule on minimum participation is waived in the event of a shortened game due to weather or the Mercy Rule.

CURFEW/TIME LIMIT - No inning is to start after 8:00 PM. If another game is scheduled to follow, NO game shall last more than 2½ hours. Do not start an inning if the game will last past 2 ½ hours.

SUBSTITUTIONS - In the event that a 9-player roster cannot be fielded for a game, the Major League manager may bring enough players from Triple A to make up to 9. Triple A players to be brought up will be done so in conjunction with the League Director. No AAA player under the age of 11 may be “brought up.” If the rostered Major League player does in fact show up on time* for the game, the rostered Major League player will start. However, the Triple A player(s) brought up in such instance must play according to the Minimum Requirements of Mandatory Play rule above. In the event that the rostered Major League player shows up late*, the Triple A player(s) will start.

*All players must be in the dugout and available to play when the lineups are exchanged at the beginning of the game. If the player is not in the dugout and available to play when the lineups are exchanged, this player is considered ‘late’.

The same Triple A player(s) must not be brought up in the next short-handed game.

This type of filling in by a Triple A player does not in any way constitute a commitment or a guarantee by the Major League team to bring the substituting Triple A player(s) up in the following year.

Scheduling/Rainouts/Rescheduling - The Division Director makes the ultimate determination on the timing and location of rescheduled games. The game schedule stands and may not be altered at the discretion of individual managers. If a game is called or cancelled due to bad weather, the manager must contact the Division Director for the time and location of the makeup game. Individual managers may not schedule or reschedule makeup games at their own discretion.

Regularly scheduled games - Neither individual managers nor groups of managers may relocate or reschedule games at their own discretion.

Parades - No vehicles of any kind will be permitted to transport teams in either the Little League Opening Day Parade or Fourth of July Parade. The following teams and their managers and coaches will march in the fourth of July Parade in the following order:

A, AAA and Majors: In accordance with section 2.00: “a BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly… Batters are not permitted to take a half-swing.” HOME RULE: At all Little League levels, the ‘slash bunt’ is forbidden. The ‘slash bunt’ is defined as a half or full swing or an attempt at a half or full swing after the player assumes a bunting stance (either squaring or pivoting). If at anytime while in the batter’s box the batter squares or pivots as if to bunt, he either must bunt or attempt to bunt the ball or let the pitch go. A drag bunt is acceptable. The umpire MUST call the batter out if in his judgment the batter was attempting a slash bunt.
At all Little League Levels: In accordance with section 1.08 NOTE 1: “The on-deck position is not permitted…” HOME RULE: At the Major League and AAA levels, on-deck swinging is allowed only at Mills Field in the enclosed on-deck area. Only one player may be in each of the Mills on-deck areas at a time.
AT ALL OTHER FIELDS, THERE IS NO ON DECK SWINGING. THE UMPIRE (AA and above) WILL ASSESS A WARNING ON THE FIRST OFFENSE TO BOTH BENCHS (ONE WARNING PER GAME, NOT PER TEAM) AND WILL ASSESS AN OUT TO ANY TEAM WHOSE PLAYER IS SWINGING A BAT WHILE NOT AT THE PLATE ON ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS.
The only players allowed on the field of play are defense, batter, base runners and player base coaches. No other player is allowed on the field of play and must remain in the dugout or in special circumstances (e.g. warming-up in a bull-pen area), outside the playing field. Players must not stand in the dugout door area at Mills, these doors must remain closed during play.
At all Levels: If lightning is sighted during a practice or game, play must stop immediately and can only resume after fifteen minutes free of lightning. Players must immediately take appropriate and safe shelter while waiting for the game to resume.

The following are not home rules but are included to reinforce their importance. ALL OTHER RULINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED HERE ARE GOVERNED BY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND PLAYING RULES. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COPY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY.

At all Little League Levels:
In accordance with section 1.08 NOTE 2: “Only the first batter of each half-inning will be permitted outside the dugout between half-innings.”
In accordance with section 7.08 (a) (3): “Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.” Needham Little League Note: This will be at the umpire’s discretion. Runner is only required to slide into the base when there is a play at that base, otherwise, the runner may ‘stay up’.
In accordance with section 1.17: “Male catchers must wear the metal, fiber or plastic type cup and a long-model chest protector. Female catchers must wear long or short model chest protectors. All catchers must wear chest protector with neck, throat guard, shin guards and catcher’s helmet.” Needham Little League Note: There must not be a gap between the throat protector and the mask, which would permit a baseball to hit the throat.
In accordance with section 1.11 (h): At all Little League Levels, “Shoes with metal spikes or cleats are not permitted. Shoes with molded cleats are permissible.”
In accordance with section 1.11 (j): “Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry or other metallic items.”
In accordance with section 1.16: “Use of the helmet by the batter, all base runners and base coaches is mandatory. Use of a helmet by an adult base coach is optional.”

ALL OTHER RULINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED HERE ARE GOVERNED BY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND PLAYING RULES. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COPY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY.