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INTERLEAGUE FASTPITCH LOCAL RULES AND
GUIDELINES
2005 PLAYING
SEASON
MAJOR LEAGUE
LEVEL
(North
Bothell, Northshore, Woodinville, Woodinville West, Kenmore, North Kenmore,
Playing Rules:
Playing Rules are
those found in the 2005 Little League Official Regulations
and Playing Rules book provided by Little League Baseball,
Inc. The following is a list of local
rule variations and options that will be used during the regular season at this
level. Some of the following items are
identical to those found in the Official Regulations and are
listed for clarification purposes. When
in doubt, refer to the Official Regulations.
1. An eleven inch (11”) Little League
approved ball will be used as a game ball.
Incrediballs and other training-type balls will not be used for
games. The game ball may be white or
fluorescent yellow/green (high vis) in color.
The white game ball will have white stitching. Red, green and other colored stitching may be
used for practice, but not in games. See
Rule 1.09 for specifications.
2. There is no mandatory 10-run rule at
this level for regular season play.
However, the team that is behind after four innings (three and one-half
innings if the home team is ahead) may concede the game if they desire. It is not the option of the leading team’s
manager to call the game. See Rule
4.10(e). There is no six-run rule
at this level. Unlimited runs may be
scored in each inning.
3. (a) The entire roster will make up the
batting order (i.e., the “bench-bat rule” applies). See Rule 4.04.
(b) If a player misses a turn at bat due to leaving a game early, an
out will NOT be recorded. (Reminder: A player who misses a turn at bat
due to injury is not allowed to return to the game without a signed medical release. Umpires should allow a reasonable time for an
injured player to be treated for and recover from the injury so the player may
stay in the game.)
(c) A player who arrives late may enter the game upon arrival at the
bottom of the batting order. (Note: A late-arriving player must still get
minimum playing time if possible.)
4. Minimum play rule is six defensive outs
and one at-bat per game required for each player on the roster. A player may be entered and/or re-entered
defensively in the game anytime provided the requirements of mandatory play are
met. Managers are encouraged to give all
players their minimum playing time before the end of the fourth inning to
ensure compliance in the event the game cannot be completed due to darkness,
weather or time limit. Violation of this
rule will result in game forfeiture and possible disciplinary action.
5. A time limit shall apply to all games, even if no game is scheduled following the game in progress.
(a) No new full innings may begin after 2 hours, 10 minutes from the scheduled
start of the game. No new batter will
come up to bat after 2 hours,15 minutes from the scheduled start of the
game. Both of these rules apply even if
no game is scheduled following the game in progress.
(b) Games played Sunday through Thursday while school is in session are
subject to curfew. No new innings may
begin after
Note: In early season games, darkness will often precede the time
limits. For safety reasons, coaches
should agree to halt play as soon as darkness makes further play
hazardous. The ultimate decision
relative to stopping a game belongs to the home plate umpire. A called game ends at the moment the home
plate umpire terminates play. See Rule
4.11 (d) and (e). To mitigate
controversy with differing opinions of darkness, and to ensure the highest
level of safety, it is suggested that coaches agree to a modified time limit prior
to the start of the game when darkness may be an issue.
(c) If a player is at bat when time expires, the player shall complete the at bat before the game is called.
(d) The ultimate decision relative to stopping a game belongs to the
umpire in chief. Note: Because time
limited games sometimes end in controversy (e.g., when the team behind is
rallying or team ahead is stalling), coaches and umpires are encouraged to keep
the game moving (by starting on time, limiting time between innings, limiting the
number of warmup pitches, keeping one team’s catcher out to warm up the other
team’s pitcher, etc.) so that as many innings as possible may be completed
prior to time running out.
(e) For games played at the Woodinville Complex, the Complex rules regarding time limit shall be followed.
6. A full game is six innings, five and
one-half if the home team is ahead. If a
game is called (due to time limit, weather, etc.), a “regulation game” is four
innings, three and one-half if the home team is ahead. A regulation game is a complete game, and the
score should be called in. If a game is
called before completion of a regulation game, but after one or more innings
have been played, it will be considered suspended and will resume from the
exact point where it left off. If a game
is called before one full inning has been played, it will be replayed from the
beginning. See Rule 4.10.
7. Cones should be used on fields with dirt
outfields, if available. Cones may be
used on fields with grass outfields.
Cones should be placed at 180 feet from home plate. If cones are not placed, play proceeds as an
open field (i.e., a ball rolling into the outfield is live and not subject to
ground rule for passing beyond 180 feet).
If cones are not available, a chalk line may be substituted. When games are being played simultaneously at
both ends of an open field (e.g., Westhill Elementary), cones must be
used for safety reasons (e.g., so that outfielders on one team do not run onto
the other field chasing a ball and collide with other players or get hit by
batted or thrown balls).
Note: Any live ball that continues beyond the cones is out of play
(dead ball), even if it has been touched by a defensive player.
8. Pitching is from 40 feet. See Rule 1.07. The distance should be measured prior to the
start of the game. An 8-foot radius
(16-foot diameter) circle must be drawn.
9. Pitchers are limited in the number of
innings they can pitch in a week, in a single game, and from game to game. See Major League Regulations
Section VI - Pitchers for rules regarding limitations on
pitching eligibility.
Scorers
are required to keep track of innings pitched by each pitcher during
each game. Managers shall inform the
umpire and scorer of all pitching changes.
Managers are required to keep a separate tally of innings pitched
by each pitcher during each of the preceding seven days, and to make the same
available to the umpire and opposing manager prior to each game, if
requested. Each team’s scorebook shall
be open to the other team, upon request.
10. Managers
and players may not employ tactics designed to delay a game, especially the
leading team when time is running out.
If in the umpire’s judgment a team employs tactics to delay a game
beyond the time limit, the umpire shall warn the offending team. If the delay tactics continue, the manager
may be subject to disciplinary action.
Other Rules:
11. The
home team is responsible for providing two game balls (one of which is new) and
providing the home-plate umpire. The
visiting team may provide a field umpire.
Managers are encouraged to umpire games for other teams on a reciprocal
basis when possible.
12. If a
game needs to be made up, or a suspended game needs to be completed, the home
team is responsible for rescheduling the game.
The home team manager should contact their league’s field representative
to determine field availability. Since
many leagues have fields available on Sundays, it is suggested that this be
considered as a viable option for make-up games. Teams should also consider playing make-up
games during their practice times when other fields are not available.
13. Post-season interleague tournament seedings will be
determined by a draw, and will not be based on team record. The drawing will be done by the interleague
tournament committee representatives.
This will enable scheduling of tournament game dates, times, and
locations prior to the last game of the regular season.
14. The
home team is responsible for field preparation at elementary school, junior
high and Woodinville Complex fields.
Both teams are responsible for cleanup at all fields. It is understood that all coaches will help
wherever they can.
Important! At school fields, both teams are responsible
for cleaning up the field and emptying garbage cans if necessary. Failure to do so may result in loss of use of
field. DO NOT go on Jr. High fields
before the scheduled time or before a school event is over. Violation of this rule may result in loss of
field use.
15. A player
who does not play in at least 50 percent of scheduled regular-season games will
not be eligible for All-Star participation.
16.
Conferences: A manager or coach
can go past the foul line to speak to any player on the field provided time out
is granted.
17. No batting
practice of ANY kind with ANY kind of ball before ANY game. Violation of this rule will result in
disciplinary action.