CHANGES TO 2004 OFFICIAL REGULATIONS

For a PDF copy of the information below Click here '2004 Rule changes'

Pitch or machine pitch after participation in Tee Ball for one year.

(g) Player roster forms supplied by Little League Headquarters must be completed and

filed no later than May 28, 2004. Players claimed under Regulation II (d) and/or IV

(h) must be declared on appropriate forms available from Little League Headquarters

annually. It is highly recommended that rosters be supplied to Headquarters via

the Little League Data Center. Look for related information online at

www.littleleague.org.

(j) Any request for a waiver pertaining to the eligibility of a player must be submitted in

writing, by the president of the local Little League through the district administrator,

to their respective Regional Director not later than May 28 of the current year. Requests

submitted after that date will not be considered.

To aid leagues that are having a difficult time getting enough players for their regular

season teams the following option is available:

A pool of players from existing regular season teams can be created with players

that are willing to participate in extra games during the regular season when teams

face a shortage of rostered players for a regular season game.

1. The league’s Player Agent will create and run the pool. The league’s Player Agent

will use the pool to assign players to teams that are short of players on a rotating

basis.

2. Managers and/or coaches will not have the right to randomly pick and choose

players from the pool.

3. Players used from the pool will not be allowed to pitch, except during the player’s

own regular season scheduled game

4. Pool players that are called and show up at the game site must play at least nine

consecutive defensive outs and bat once.

This regulation applies only to the Little League (Majors) Division and Minor League.

2. Innings pitched in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended

suspended games resumed in a subsequent week, the pitchers of record at

the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their remaining

eligibility for the calendar week in which the game is resumed. Note

(2): Innings pitched in games that do not complete one (1) full inning shall not

count towards a pitcher’s total for that particular pitching week.

and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of

wood or of material tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.

and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood

or of material tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.

(a) The pitcher’s glove shall be of one solid color other than white or gray, or if

multi-colored, white and light gray shall not be included in the colors.

(seven (7) for Junior/Senior/Big League Baseball) protective helmets which must meet

NOCSAE specifications and standards. 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. Each

helmet shall have an exterior warning label. The helmets provided by each league must

meet NOCSAE specifications and bear the NOCSAE stamp as well as an exterior warning

label as noted above. Note: Helmets may not be painted and may not contain tape or

decals unless approved in writing by the helmet manufacturer.

for another. Substitutes must take the place of the replaced player’s position in the

batting order except as covered by Rule 3.03. A league may adopt a policy of a continuous

batting order that will include all players on the team roster present for the game batting in

order. If this option is adopted, each player would be required to bat in his/her respective

spot in the batting order. However, a player may be entered and/or re-entered defensively

adopted and a child 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.

If the injured, ill or absent player returns he/she is merely inserted into their original spot in

the batting order and the game continues. Also, if a child arrives late to a game site, if the

added to the end of the current lineup.

bat, one near first base and one near third base. The coaches shall not leave their respective

dugouts until the pitcher has completed his/her preparatory pitches to the catcher.

Base coaches shall-

(1) be eligible players in the uniform of their team; an adult manager and/or coach.

Both base coaches may be adult managers or coaches.

(2) be an adult manager or coach only if there is at least one other adult manager

or coach in the dugout.

(3) remain within the base coaches’ boxes at all times, except as provided in Rule

7.11;

(4) talk to members of their own team only.

An offending base coach shall be removed from base coach’s box.

field immediately and take no further part in that game. They may not sit in the stands and

may not be recalled. Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for

his or her team’s next physically played game and may not be in attendance at the game

site from which they are suspended.

special pinch-runner for any offensive player. The player for whom the pinch-runner runs is

not subject to removal from the lineup. If the pinch runner remains in the game as a substitute

defensive or offensive player, the player may not be used again as a pinch runner

while in the batting order. However, if removed for another substitute that player or any

player not in the line up, is again eligible to be used as a pinch runner.

The president of the League, the District Administrator or District Staff shall not serve

as manager or coach.

and/or coaches from the Little League Baseball (Majors) Division.

season team managers and/or coaches from the Little League Baseball (Majors) Division

or Minor League Division.

and/or coaches from the Junior Division or Senior Division.

and/or coaches from the Junior Division, Senior Division or Big League Division.

and/or coaches from the Senior Division or Big League Division.

It shall be the league president’s responsibility to review and certify the birth records

(league age) and residence (as defined by Little League Baseball, Incorporated) of all

players. When the league finally decides on the makeup of the team, names must be

entered on the league’s Eligibility Affidavit. Once the District Administrator certifies the

eligibility affidavit, the tournament team will be required to have in its possession:

1. the tournament affidavit;

2. copies (originals not required) of the records used to verify date of birth for all players

on the affidavit;

3. a map showing the actual boundaries of the league, with locations noted for the

residences of the parent or legal guardian (court appointed) of every participant

named on the affidavit.

Eligibility Affidavit must be certified by the District Administrator or his or her designated

appointee and presented by the team manager to the Tournament Director before

every game. NOTE: The Eligibility Affidavit becomes official once the team plays its first

tournament game.

A player may participate in other youth baseball programs prior to the first game involving

that player’s team. Once play begins for a tournament team, players named on that

team’s tournament affidavit may NOT participate in any other youth baseball program until

that team is eliminated from tournament play.

Players are eligible for Tournament Play, provided they meet the criteria established by

the Little League “Residency Eligibility Requirement” and the following:

as an eligible player in one-half the regular season games as of June 15 on a Little

League Baseball (Majors Division) team, with the exception of the school baseball season.

eligible player in one-half the regular season games as of June 15, with the exception of

the school baseball season, on a:

1. Little League Baseball (Majors Division) team, or;

2. Minor League Baseball team.

as an eligible player in one-half the regular season games by the start of Tournament

Play in their respective District, with the exception of the high school or college

baseball season, on a:

1. Big League Baseball Team, or;

2. Senior League Baseball Team.

participated as an eligible player in one-half the regular season games as of June 15, with

the exception of the middle school, junior high school or high school baseball season, on

a:

1. Big League Baseball Team, or;

2. Senior League Baseball Team, or;

3. Junior League Baseball Team.

player in one-half the regular season games as of June 15, with the exception of the

middle school, junior high school or high school baseball season, on a:

1. Senior League Baseball Team, or;

2. Junior League Baseball Team.

manager may disqualify a player from the team for the current season, subject to Board of

Directors approval, if the player repeatedly misses practice or games.

Tournaments are divided by age, without regard to the regular season division in

which a player participates, as noted above.

Affidavit.

regular season games because of participation in a school baseball program will receive

an adjustment on the minimum participation in games required under this rule.

June 15, and a player missed 10 games because of participation in a school baseball

program, that player is required to have participated in only five (5) regular season games

to be eligible for the Tournament Team.

The Official Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League Baseball

Playing Rules shall govern tournament play except as noted below:

Junior League, and Senior League: Every player on a team roster shall participate in

each game for a minimum of three (3) consecutive defensive outs and bat at least

one (1) time.

a. Managers are responsible for fulfilling the mandatory play requirements.

b. There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened due to weather,

team does not complete the offensive half of the sixth or seventh inning (or any

extra inning) due to winning the game.

c. Failure to meet the mandatory play requirements in this rule is a basis for

protest. If one or more players on a roster do not meet this requirement, it shall

result in forfeiture of the game (by action of the Tournament Committee), if

Committee reserves the right to impose additional penalties to the tournament

team, manager or coach (es) for violation of the mandatory play rule.

d. To be assured of meeting the minimum participation requirements, in a complete

game, all substitutes who have not entered the game previously SHOULD

ENTER THE GAME DEFENSIVELY at or before the start of their half of the

third inning (visitors) or fourth inning (home). This is the responsibility of the

manager.

e. For the purposes of this rule, “three (3) consecutive defensive outs” is defined

as: A player enters the field in one of the nine defensive positions when his/her

team is on defense and occupies such position while three consecutive outs

are made; “bat at least one (1) time” is defined as: A player enters the batters

box with no count and completes that time at bat by being put out or by reaching

base safely.

3.03 (re-entry) for all levels of tournament play.

a. If illness, injury or the ejection of a player prevents a team from fielding nine (9)

players, a player previously used in the lineup may be inserted, but only if

there are no other eligible substitutes available. The opposing team manager

shall select the player to re-enter the lineup. A player ejected from the game is

not eligible for re-entry.

b. Any player who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game in

the SAME position in the batting order, provided:

1. the player being removed has played defensively for a minimum of three

(3) consecutive defensive outs, and;

2. the player being removed has completed one time at bat during the game.

defensively and offensively.

time he/she is removed, may be removed for a substitute batter and re-enter

the game as a pitcher once, provided the pitcher was not physically replaced

on the mound.

c. A starter and his/her substitute must not be in the lineup at the same time,

except as provided in Rule 10-a.

d. Improper substitution is a basis for protest. Protests involving improper substitution

not resolved before the next pitch or play shall not be considered.

e. Rule 7.14, Special Pinch Runner will apply during the tournament.

f. Junior/Senior/Big League only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to

a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the

game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. Big League

only: Rule 3.03, Designated Hitter, and Rule 8.04, Intentional Walk, WILL apply

during tournament.