League Rules

I. Home Team Responsibilities:

A. Will use the dugout on the third-base side.

B. Take infield practice last.

C. Official game scorer.

D. Responsible for bases and scoreboard numbers and raking infield (Before) infield practice.

 

II. Visiting Team Responsibilities:

A. Will use the dugout on the first-base side.

B. Take infield practice first.

C. Have field raked before both teams take infield practice, if needed due to inclement weather.

 

III. Both Teams’ Responsibilities:

A. Exchange lineups before the game which includes both first and last names of the players as well as the players’ number.

B. Winning team prepares game write-up and delivers to the side door of The Recorder by 9 p.m. (Ring bell once - drop in slot.) Sportsmanship should be considered in the game write-up. Write ups can also be send to GMLB webmaster by 12 midnight for posting on the website the following day

C. On field batting practice is not allowed on game day.

D. Police respective sides of the field and dugout for litter. All dugouts are to be cleaned up after every game (cups, wrappers, bottles, etc.).

E. In case of postponement, continuation, or make-up of scheduled game teams will cooperate with the scheduler.

F. The manager of the team scheduled for concession duty is responsible for assigning parents to the concession stand. No game will start until the designated team staffs the concession stand. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit for the designated team

 

IV. Sportsmanship and Safety Regulations:

A. No profanity will be allowed. Ejection is at the discretion of the umpire. Repeat offenders will be referred to the Board of Directors and subject to disciplinary action.

B. Any players using any profanity, throwing equipment or acting in an unsportsmanlike manner will be benched for the rest of the game. Repeated offenses will be brought to the Board of Directors for appropriate disciplinary action.

C. No glass objects (bottles, jugs, etc.) or food are allowed in the dugouts or on the playing fields.

D. No alcohol is allowed on the facilities or at any league practice, game or other event.

E. No smoking by managers, coaches or other league personnel on or near the playing field during practices, games or other league events.

F. A player whose team is involved in a game that has already started, is not allowed at the concession stand.

G. A player can be benched for disciplinary reasons at the discretion of the manager.

H. If a player has three (3) unexcused consecutive absences from practices or games, he or she may be benched at the discretion of the manager. The manager is required to notify the player agent for review.

 

V. Scheduling and Cancellation Rules:

A. Calendar week will be Sunday through Saturday.

B. Games that have been postponed, continued or rained out will be rescheduled by the league scheduler. No games will be rescheduled for any other reason.

C. Make-up games: If both teams fail to field a team on the scheduled date, both teams take a loss.

D. Umpire will stop and clear the field if lightning occurs and delay game for 20 minutes. Game will proceed at the Umpires Discretion.

 

VI. Coach and Manager Rules:

A. Manager’s will be responsible for their coaching staff.

B. All coaches and managers are required to wear their team hat while on playing field.

C. A base coach is a manager or coach on the team roster. The base coach must stay within the coach’s box. No physical contact by the base coach with the player is allowed while ball is in play.

D. Only the manager may protest an umpire’s call. Coaches should refer all challenges through their manager.

E. Harassment of umpires will not be tolerated. Any incident will be reviewed by the Board of Directors for possible disciplinary actions. 

F. During a team’s offensive side on an inning, only the manager is allowed outside the entrance of the dugout, and all coaches must be behind the fence or in the dugout.

 

VII. Equipment Rules:

A. Regulation bats shall be two and one-quarter (2 ¼”) inches in diameter and be stamped “Little League” or “Babe Ruth” approved.

B. The use of batting donuts is prohibited.

C. First base will be a fixed double bag.

D. All players must wear cups during any practices and or games.

E. Youth catchers must wear a mask during pitcher’s warm-up.

F. Catchers must wear long model chest protector; skull and mask with throat guards. Catchers must use a catcher’s mitt.

G. All players must be in complete uniform (Team hat, shirt, pants, and socks). Long sleeved shirts should not be white in color for pitchers. Shirts must be tucked in. Players not complying will not be allowed on the playing field.

H.  Only rubber cleats or sneakers will be allowed on playing field during the game.

J. No earrings or loose jewelry will be worn during a game or practice.

 

VIII. Roster and Lineup Rules:

A. Teams must field seven eligible players or forfeit game.  

B.  All players will bat in a round-robin order.

C. A player listed in the starting line up must always bat in his/her original place in the batting order, but may play any position during the game.

D. A player that has been replaced in the field may re-enter the game but must bat in the batting order in the position he/she occupied when removed.

E. All players must be reported, before the game, to the umpire and opposing manager.

F. Any changes in the lineup during the game must be reported to the umpire and opposing manager.

 

IX. Rules for All Divisions:

A. All players must play at least three (3) out of six (6) regulation innings by the home half of the fifth inning. (Major and AAA Divisions only: In extra-inning games, players must play in alternate innings.)

B. Any runner who does not slide into any base except first base and makes contact with the fielder who is holding the ball or is in the process of catching the ball will be called “out” at the discretion of the Umpire. The throw must be judged playable.

C. New innings may start after 8p.m. at the discretion of the umpire.

D. There will be no intentional delay of game. Delay is to be determined by the umpire.

E. The plate umpire may declare a game forfeited in favor of the opposing team if a team fails to appear upon the field within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time. The Umpire will call “Play Ball” at the prescribed time to begin the clock. The Umpire has discretion as to the delay being unavoidable.

F. Substitutions for an injured base runner go to the last person up in the order that is not on base.

G. After four (4) innings of play, a team holding a 12-run advantage is declared the winner. The game shall then continue without score being kept for the benefit of the learning experience of the players. Coaches are encouraged to use this time to work with players at unfamiliar positions. (Note: Rookie Division does not keep score).

H. No team practice will go longer than two hours or one hour when a team has a game scheduled.

 

X. Rules for Major League Division:

A. “Slashing” (fake bunt) is not allowed, and the batter will be warned by the umpire.

B. The intentional walk is not allowed. Catcher must stay in position behind the batter.

C. The manager is allowed two (2) trips to the mound per inning. The pitcher must be removed on the second visit. No more than six (6) visits to the mound per game.

D. A Major League pitcher may pitch a maximum of six (6) innings per calendar week. In the event of a tie game,  the original pitcher may pitch one (1) additional inning as long as that pitcher has pitched all six innings in that game.

E. At no time can a player return to the mound as a pitcher in the same game in which the player was removed from that position.

F. Pitching one (1) pitch constitutes an inning pitched.

G. Fast balls and “change ups” are the only legal pitches.

H. If a pitcher hits two (2) batters in one inning or three (3) batters per game, he/she is to be removed as a pitcher for the duration of the game.

I. Free substitution rule is allowed except for the pitcher. 

J. Base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter. After One warning the base runner will be called out

K. Violation of any pitching rule will result in forfeiture of the game by the offending team.

L. Players arriving after the posted game time will bat last or not play at the discretion of the manager. Late players will not be able to play if the first batter in the lineup has gone to the plate twice. Late arrivals must be reported to the opposing team manager

 

XII. AAA and Majors Playoff Rules

A. For single game series, the team with the best record is always the Home team.

B. A regulation game, during the regular season and  playoffs, shall consist of six (6) innings or if the game is called, four (4) innings if the Home team has scored more runs in three and one half inning than the visiting team has scored in four (4) complete innings.

C. Any League Championship Game with league title at stake (2nd/3rd game), must be played to a full six (6) innings completion. The team with the best record is the home team first, then alternating the next game to vistors, and back to Home team if game 3 is necessary.

 

XI. Rules for Rookie Divisions:

A. Two (2) additional coaches can coach from the outfield grass. Coaches must begin and end the inning with the players.

B. The youth pitcher should always be on the first-base side of the mound. This will prevent any attempted plays through the pitching machine area by the youth pitcher.

C. No infield fly rule.

D. No leading or stealing is permitted.

E. Runners will not leave a base early and may only advance after a ball is hit.

F. The batter runner may not advance a base if the thrown ball enters into foul territory during a play at first base.

G. During a play at third, all runners may advance only one base if thrown ball enters into foul territory. Advance is at the risk of the runner.

H. All play is considered stopped when a field ball is returned to the youth pitcher who has possession of the ball on the infield grass or when the ball enters foul territory and each eligible runner advances one base.

I. Any ball hit to the outfield, in the air, allows the batter to attempt a double at their own risk.

J. A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher in the event the catcher is on base with two outs. The courtesy runner shall be the last person in the order.

K. The game shall be played without score being kept for the benefit of the learning experience for the players. Coaches are encouraged to work with players at unfamiliar positions.

L. Coaches and Managers will do umpiring

M. Home team is responsible to get games ball from concession stand and setting up of the pitching machine.

N. Each team receives one game ball at the end of the game.

O. Home team is responsible for setting up pitching machine one half hour before game time.

P. No called strikes.

Q. After five hittable pitches, the batting tee may be used at managers discretion. Upon hitting off the teethe batter may run to first base, and stay on the base if reached safely. The batter will be considered an out for that innings out count. The next batter will come to the plate.

R. Five (5) run rule limit applies for all innings. Scoring five constitutes a complete inning regardless of the number of “out”.

S. These rules supersede any other rules either published or unpublished. Any contention can be brought to the board of directors with written notice.

 

Failure to comply with any of the rules may result in forfeiture pending a review of the Board of Directors.