CHANGES TO 2005 OFFICIAL REGULATIONS
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CHANGES TO 2005 OFFICIAL REGULATIONS
Regulation I - The League (Baseball and Softball)
(b) The league shall be governed by a Board of Directors elected from and by the
membership, consisting of volunteer personnel. As a condition of service to
the league, all managers, coaches, Board of Directors members and any other
persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league
and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with players or teams, must
complete
and submit an official “Little League Volunteer Application” to the local
league president. Annual background screenings must be completed prior to
the applicant assuming his/her duties for the current season. Refusal to
annually
submit a fully completed “Little League Volunteer Application” must result
in the immediate dismissal of the individual from the local league. (See also
Reg. I (c) 8 and 9.)
Officers shall be elected by the Board (i.e. president, one or more vice
presidents,
secretary, treasurer, safety officer and player agent or agents). A president
may
manage, coach or umpire provided he/she does not serve on the Protest Committee
nor serve as tournament team manager or coach. Player agents shall not
manage, coach or umpire in their respective divisions. Vice Presidents may
manage,
coach or umpire provided they do not serve on the Protest Committee.
President, with approval of Board of Directors, shall appoint managers, coaches
and umpires annually. Manager/coach representation on the Board shall not exceed
a minority. NOTE: All members of the local league Board of Directors, as well as
managers and coaches, whose activities in another youth baseball/softball
program
are deemed detrimental to the operation of the local league, can be removed by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors. (Tournament Rule variation, Note: An
individual that manages or coaches in another youth baseball program is not
eligible to be appointed to manage or coach a tournament team in the Little
League program at the same age division as defined in Regulation I (a) unless
a waiver is granted by the appropriate regional director.)
Regulation 1(c) (Baseball and Softball)
5. adopt and play a separate schedule of games as provided for in Regulation
VII.
Interleague play and practice with another league(s) may be permitted during the
regular season with the approval of the district administrator. The district
administrator
must verify that all leagues involved in the interleague combination
are properly chartered and insured. Interleague play during the regular
season between leagues from two districts must be approved by the regional
office. Leagues involved in interleague play will field separate tournament
teams.
Players shall not be transferred from one league to another. Requests to combine
for tournament play must be submitted through the district to the regional
offices for approval per guidelines established by Little League. Districts will
be required to submit interleague play forms with all insurance claims that
result from interleague play.
Regulation III - The Teams (Baseball and Softball)
(a) The league shall, at least 10 days prior to the first regular game,
establish the
number of players on each team. No team may have more than 15 players (18 for
Big League) nor less than 12. Minor League and Tee Ball: There will be no
minimum or maximum established at the Minor League and Tee Ball levels.
The manager of a team must, at least five days prior to the first regularly
scheduled game, register the regular team roster. All teams in a particular
league must
carry the same number of players on their rosters.
Regulation IV - The Players (Baseball and Softball)
(g) Player roster forms supplied by Little League Headquarters must be completed
and filed no later than June 3, 2005. 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, team,
manager, or
coach 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 June 3 of the current year. Requests submitted after that date will not be
considered.
Regulation VI - PITCHERS (Softball only)
(c) 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.
(Removed the restriction from a Little League Softball pitcher moving to another
position and returning later in that inning or that game.)
Regulation IX - Special Games (Baseball and Softball)
(c) With the approval of the Charter Committee of Little League Headquarters,
and
on recommendation of the Regional Director and District Administrator, chartered
leagues may engage in Special Games during and after the regular season but
prior to the opening of the school term or September 1st, whichever comes
sooner.
Regulation XV – APPEARANCE OF LITTLE LEAGUERS
IN THE MEDIA (Baseball and Softball)
(a) The appearance of Little League players in uniform in advertisements of any
kind,
or on commercial television programs, or in motion pictures, without the written
approval of Little League Baseball International, is forbidden.
(b) Brief, televised reports of games and activities on news programs are
permitted.
(c) The televising of regular season games, special games, or International
Tournament
games on a local or regional basis is permitted, provided a contract (available
to
District Administrators and tournament directors) is in place, and provided
written
permission from Little League Baseball International has been received to
televise
the specific game(s) or tournament(s).
(d) Radio broadcasts of regular season games and special games are permitted,
provided
a “Little League Regular Season Radio Contract” (available to District
Administrators)
for the specific game(s) is properly completed and on file with the local
league.
(e) Radio broadcasts of International Tournament games are permitted, provided a
“Little
League International Tournament Radio Contract” (available to District
Administrators
and tournament directors) for the specific game(s) or tournament is properly
completed and on file with the district.
(f) Internet web casts of regular season games and special games are permitted,
provided
a “Little League Regular Season Internet Web Cast Contract” (available to
District Administrators) for the specific game(s) is properly completed and on
file
with the local league.
(g) Internet web casts of International Tournament games are permitted, provided
a
“Little League International Tournament Internet Web Cast Contract” (available
to
District Administrators and tournament directors) for the specific game(s) or
tournament
is properly completed and on file with the district.
CHANGES TO 2005 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES
1.00 - OBJECTIVES OF THE GAME
Rule 1.10 (Baseball only)
NOTE 3: Beginning with the 2007 season, non-wood bats used in divisions of play
Little
League (Majors) and below must be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor)
rating of
1.15 or less.
NOTE 4: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass
through the approved Little League bat ring must be removed from play. The 2 ¼
inch bat
ring must be used for bats in all softball divisions, and in the Tee Ball, Minor
League and
Little League Baseball divisions of baseball. The 2 ¾ inch bat ring must be used
for bats in
the Junior League, Senior League and Big League divisions of baseball.
Rule 1.10 (Softball only)
NOTE 3: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass
through the approved Little League bat ring must be removed from play. The 2
¼ inch bat ring must be used for bats in all softball divisions, and in the Tee
Ball, Minor League and Little League Baseball divisions of baseball. The 2 ¾
inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Junior League, Senior League and
Big League divisions of baseball.
Rule 1.11 (Baseball and Softball)
(3) Any part of the pitcher’s undershirt or T-shirt exposed to view shall be of
a
uniform solid color, not white or gray. However, if the uniform is a vest type
uniform and the Little League shoulder patch is attached to the undershirt, that
undershirt is then considered part of the uniform and may be either white or
gray.
Rule 1.16 and 1.17 (Baseball and Softball)
Warning! Manufacturers have advised that altering helmets in any way can be
dangerous.
Altering the helmet in any form, including painting or adding decals (by anyone
other
than the manufacturer or authorized dealer) may void the helmet warranty.
Helmets may
not be re-painted and may not contain tape or re-applied decals unless approved
in writing
by the helmet manufacturer or authorized dealer.
7.00 - THE RUNNER
Rule 7.14 (Baseball and Softball)
7.14 - Once each inning a team may utilize a player who is not in the batting
order as a
special pinch-runner for any offensive player. A player may only be removed for
a special
pinch runner one time during a game.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.
8.00 - THE PITCHER
Rule 8.03 - (Softball only)
(c) Junior/Senior/Big League Intentional Walk Rule: Before a ball is delivered
to the batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive
team wishes to give the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-inchief
waves the batter to first base. The ball is dead.
Rule 8.04 (Baseball only)
Junior/Senior/Big League Intentional Walk Rule: Before a ball is delivered to
the
batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive team
wishes to give
the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-in-chief waves the batter to
first base.
The ball is dead.
Rule 8.06 and 8.06 (d) (Baseball and Softball)
8.06 - This rule, which applies to each pitcher who enters a game, governs the
visits of
the manager or coach to the pitcher at the mound.
(d) A manager or coach may confer with any other player, including the catcher,
during the visit with the pitcher.
APPROVED RULING 1: At the time a pitcher is removed, a visit shall not be
charged to the new pitcher.
APPROVED RULING 2: A conference with the pitcher or any other fielder to
evaluate the player’s condition after an injury shall not be considered a visit
for
the purposes of this rule. The manager or coach should advise the umpire of
such a conference, and the umpire should monitor the conference.
CHANGES TO 2005 TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES
Managers and Coaches (Baseball and Softball)
The president of the League, the District Administrator or District Staff shall
not serve
as manager or coach.
Little League: The manager and coach (es) shall be regular season team managers
and/or coaches from the Little League Baseball/Softball (Majors) Division.
9-10 Division & 11 Year Old Division: The manager and coach (es) shall be
regular
season team managers and/or coaches from the Little League Baseball/Softball
(Majors)
Division or Minor League Division.
Junior League: The manager and coach(es) shall be regular season team managers
and/or coaches from the Junior Division or Senior Division.
Senior League: The manager and coach(es) shall be regular season team managers
and/or coaches from the Junior Division, Senior Division or Big League Division.
Big League: The manager and coach (es) shall be regular season team managers
and/or coaches from the Senior Division or Big League Division.
NOTE: An individual that manages or coaches in another youth baseball/softball
program is not eligible to be appointed to manage or coach a tournament team in
the Little League program at the same age division as defined in Regulation I
(a),
unles a waiver is granted by the appropriate regional director.
Participation in Other Programs (Baseball and Softball)
Little League, 9-10 Year Old Division, 11-Year-Old Division: A player may
participate
in other youth baseball/softball programs prior to the first game involving that
player’s
team. Once play begins for a tournament team, players named on that tournament
team’s affidavit may not participate in any other youth baseball/softball
program
until that team is eliminated from tournament play. Junior League, Senior
League,
Big League Division: Participation in other programs during the International
Tournament
is permitted, subject to the provisions of Regulation IV (a) Note 2.
Tournament Eligibility Affidavit
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.
4. three or more documents to determine residency of the parent(s) or guardian
for
each player named on the tournament affidavit.
5. waivers (i.e. II(d), IV(h), Charter Committee, etc...)
IMPORTANT: Alternates are not authorized. They shall not accompany the team
and shall not be listed on the Eligibility 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.
League Eligibility (Baseball and Softball)
In order for a Little League program to be eligible to enter a team or teams
into the
International Tournament (including 9-10 Year Old Division and 11 Year Old
Division) the
following must be accomplished no later than June 3, 2005:
1) The league must be chartered in the division(s) for which they wish to enter
a tournament
team(s). (Examples: Chartered in Little League Majors to enter a Major
Division team (11-12 year old); chartered in Senior League to enter a Senior
Division
team, etc.);
2) All required waivers submitted and approved prior to cutoff date established
in Regulation
IV (j). (Examples: Regulation II (d), Regulation IV (h), player out of
boundaries,
etc.);
3) All regular season team rosters must be submitted to Little League Baseball
in accordance
with requirements outlined in Regulation IV (g);
4) Fees incurred by the league must be paid in full by June 3, 2005.
Failure to meet any of the listed requirements could result in a team or teams
being
declared ineligible by the Tournament Committee at Little League Baseball.
Player Eligibility (Baseball and Softball)
Big League - Any player League Age 16, 17 or 18, with amateur status, who has
participated as an eligible player in one-half the regular season games (special
games
may be counted toward this requirement) 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.
Tournament Playing Rules (Softball only)
4. PITCHING RULES - LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL, 9-10 YEAR OLD SOFTBALL,
AND 11 YEAR OLD DIVISION
d. 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.
Tournament Playing Rules (Baseball and Softball)
7. VISITS: A manager or coach may not leave a dugout for any reason during a
game
without receiving permission from an umpire. The manager or coach may be removed
from the field for the remainder of the game for violation of this rule. When
permission is granted the manager or coach will be permitted to go to the mound
to
confer with the pitcher. A manager or coach who is granted a time out to talk to
any
defensive player will be charged with a visit to the pitcher.
A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher,
but
the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. The manager or
coach
may come out three times in a game to visit with the pitcher, but the fourth
time out,
the player must be removed as a pitcher. The rule applies to each pitcher who
enters
a game.
NOTE: Only one offensive time-out will be permitted each inning.
9. MANDATORY PLAY: 9-10 Year Old Division, 11 Year Old Division, Little League,
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.
b. There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any
reason.
NOTE: A game is not considered shortened if the home team does not
complete the offensive half of the sixth or seventh inning (or any extra inning)
due to winning the game.