Little League Tournament Guidelines:

1.    Coach warming up F1; not allowed.  If no one suitable on bench, an on-field player is allowed to warm up the pitcher, provided he/she wears the catcher’s mask with dangling throat guard AND this does not unnecessarily delay the game (once the catcher is ready, AND sufficient warm-up tosses have been made, the on-field player will NOT get practice tosses to first base.

2.    Catchers must wear full mask (mask and dangling throat protector during any pre-game onfield practice and warming up pitchers.

3.    Hockey-style catcher’s helmets MUST have a separate dangling throat guard.  Umpires will NOT allow a game to start without the catcher’s mask having a dangling throat guard.

4.    9-12 YO:  Male catchers must have long model (“tail”) chest protector and wear a cup.

5.    Six (6) NOCSAE-approved helmets in each dug-out.  Helmets are to be free of decals, stickers of any kind or paint work not originally part of the helmet, and intended by the manufacturer. Unauthorized helmets and equipment (bats) will be removed from the dug-out by the umpires prior to the start of the game.

6.    Read the rule on bats.  Baseball bats for baseball games only; softball bats for softball games only.  While you can use that wonderful bat gauge supplied with your LL Registry membership, your eyes work better.  “Read” the bat information, eyeball for out of round bats (a performance and safety issue).

7.    9-12 YO:  No on-deck batters, no one in area, everyone in the dug-out, except first batter each half-inning.  Note; umpire will allow player several pre-swings to loosen up.

8.    Your catcher’s box is different in the 9-12 YO than above.  See page 42 and 44 of the green book.

9.    Batter may vacate batter’s box between pitches, but must stay in area of home plate; NO WANDERING, NO DELAYING THE GAME.  Umpire will enforce rule.

10.           Coaches need to understand the Substitution rules – MPR (one time at bat and three CONSECUTIVE defensive outs) and Special Pinch Runner (7.14).  SPR only once per inning, any player not currently in line-up.  A player can only be pinched-run for ONCE in a game.  NOTE:  a player needing MPR is up at the plate.  A runner is thrown out stealing a base for the 3rd out.  This does NOT COUNT as meeting MPR.

a.     9-12 YO; Pitcher’s being replaced ON the mound, may not re-enter as a pitcher.  ALL LEVELS:  Pitcher may be removed for a substitute batter who has ALREADY made MPR, and then placed back on mound in next half-inning.  This can be done only ONCE per game, per each individual pitcher. (10-T16-B, note 2)

b.    Starters DO NOT have to complete MPR before being removed.  HOWEVER, they must complete MPR before game is over.  Substitutes must complete MPR before being removed, AND starter must re-enter the game in the SAME batting position.

c.     Starters and substitutes can re-enter the game.  What this means is that once a starter and his/her substitute have achieved MPR, you can alternate each other (one plays defense, one plays offense, SPR if not in current line-up, PR (substitute) in same batting slot, once MPR has been achieved).

d.    While some plate umpires keep line-up cards, some do not.  However, the plate umpire should be made aware of any line-up changes passed to the official scorer.  Note:  it is NOT the responsibility of the official scorer to note illegal substitutions, batting out of order, etc.  It is the responsibility of the umpires to recognize, and correct before an illegal action occurs.  Therefore, the plate umpire must confer with the official scorer to make sure all substitutions are legal before proceeding.

11.           Protest procedures – READ THE RULE BOOK

12.           The Chain of Command Process on Rule Interpretations

a.     Umpires on the Field

b.    TD (Tournament Director)

c.     DA - District Administrator

d.    RQ - Regional Headquarters

e.      Finally LL Headquarters in Williamsport

13.           No protest shall (meaning WILL) be considered on an umpire’s judgment call (Green Book, Protests-T9).

14.           Questions must be directed to the Umpire who made the call.  This should be done by the Manager.  DO NOT ASK another umpire to overturn a decision.  DO NOT approach another umpire who didn’t make the call.  You will be directed to the umpire who made the call.  You must ask for time (the umpire will decide if he/she grants the request) before entering the field.  If you do not, and come on the field, you will be told to leave the field until you properly request permission to enter the field (request time).  If you do not, you are subject to ejection.

15.           Be aware that illegal pitches will be called at the 9-12 YO level and Balks at all levels above.

16.           9-12 YO:  runners will legally steal whenever Rule 7.13 is not REALLY in effect; e.g., catcher positioned in the catcher’s box isn't facing the pitcher, or pitcher is walking back to the rubber, or BR, without hesitation, continues to 2B after a base on balls. Furthermore, players should not expect the umpires to protect them by requesting TIME to stop this.  The purpose of the game is to keep the ball LIVE; not to call time to aid either the defense or the offense.   R3 may steal home and score while the pitcher is walking back to the rubber with the ball and the plate umpire is clearing the bat away from home plate.  A bat-clearing action does not necessitate a time out.  An umpire cleaning the plate, back turned to the field, is considered TIME CALLED, whether or not verbalized.

17.           Two rostered coaches and one rostered manager are allowed in the dug-out if team has 13 players. 12 or less players means 1 coach and 1 manager. Team scorers are NOT.  However, the scorer should remain in close proximity to the dugout to respond to questions from the adult coaches, managers, and umpires, when required.

18.           There are NO “local rules” during tournament play; only Little League rules apply.

19.           No jewelry for any player, except medic alert badges, and those are taped to the skin.  Jewelry includes, but is not limited to; pins, leather or other material wrist or neck bands, rubberized bracelets (“LiveStrong,” etc.), ear rings, body piercings, necklaces, chains, rubber bands, etc.

NOTE:  This is a compilation of material from a variety of sources, including material from the eteamz.com site.  It is not all-inconclusive, nor is it meant to be.  Read the Rule Book.  Know the Rule Book.  Understand tournament rules for the level you are umpiring or managing/coaching.  Use your on-field resources (fellow umpires) and tournament officials.  There are THREE teams on the field; the visiting team, the home team, and YOUR team.  WORK AS A TEAM.

Revision 3 – 6/09/2009