LITTLE LEAGUE RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS OF NOTE

Baseballs licensed by Little League will be printed with one of two designations: “RS”

(for regular season play) or “RS-T” (for regular season and tournament play).

1.1.5 (a)- (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

1.16- Each league shall provide in the dugout or bench of the offensive team (seven (7)

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

Rule 1.17

All male players must wear athletic supporters. Male catchers must wear the metal, fibre

or plastic type cup. Catchers must wear approved long or short model chest protectors.

All catchers must wear chest protectors with neck collar, throat guard, shin guards and

catcher’s helmet, all of which must meet Little League specifications and standards.

Catcher’s helmet must meet NOCSAE specifications and standards and bear the

NOCSAE stamp. All catchers must wear a mask, “dangling” type throat protector and

catcher’s helmet during infield/outfield practice, pitcher warm-up and games. NOTE:

Skull caps are not permitted.

“Hockey-style” catcher’s mask must also have the dangling throat protector. (Little

League Casebook and Rules Instruction Manual (2004))

All players standing next to coach hitting infield must also have a mask on whever there

is a bat present. (RIM)

2.00-OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball,

impedes the progress of any runner. A fake tag is considered obstruction. (NOTE:

Obstruction shall be called on a defensive player who blocks off a base, base line or

home plate from a base runner while not in possession of the ball.)

Rule 3.03 - Substitutions

A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may reenter the

game once, in any position in the batting order, provided:

1. His or her substitute has completed one time at bat and;

2. Has played defensively for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs;

3. Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers; Junior/

Senior/Big League - A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different

position, can return as a pitcher any time in the remainder of the game, but only

once in the same inning as he/she was removed.

4. Only a player in the starting line-up may re-enter the game;

5. A starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter (S2) must

then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six defensive outs) before

starter (S2) can re-enter the game.

NOTE 1: When two or more substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at

the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders,

designate to the umpire-in-chief such player’s positions in the team’s batting order and

the umpire-in-chief shall notify the official scorer. The umpire-in-chief shall have

authority to designate the substitute’s places in the batting order, if this information is not

immediately provided.

NOTE 2: If during a game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due

to illness, injury or ejection, the opposing manager shall select a player previously used in

the lineup to re-enter the game, but only if use of all eligible players has exhausted the

roster. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry.

Rule 4.04

The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a player is substituted 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 in the game anytime provided he/she meets the requirements of mandatory

play. NOTE: If 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 manager chooses to enter him/her in the lineup (see Rule 4.01

NOTE), he/she would be added to the end of the current lineup

Rule 4.07

When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the 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.

4.10 (e)- If after five (5) innings - four and one-half innings) if the home team is ahead,

one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs

shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: (1) If the visiting team has a lead of ten

(10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning. (2) The Local League

may adopt the option of not utilizing this rule

Rule 4.16

If a game cannot be played because of the inability of either team to place nine players on

the field before the game begins, this shall not be grounds for automatic forfeiture, but

shall be referred to the Board of Directors for a decision. NOTE: A game may not be

started with less than nine (9) players on each team.

Rule 4.17

If during a game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to injury

or ejection, the opposing manager shall select a player to re-enter the lineup. A player

ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry. If no players are available for rereentry,

or if a team refuses to place nine (9) players on the field, this shall not be grounds for

automatic forfeiture but shall be referred to the Board of Directors for a decision. NOTE:

A game may not be continued with less than nine (9) players on each team

Rule 4.19- PROTESTING GAME

(a) Protest shall be considered only when based on the violation or interpretation of a

playing rule, use of an ineligible pitcher or the use of an ineligible player. No

protest shall be considered on a decision involving an umpire’s judgment.

Equipment which does not meet specifications must be removed from the game.

(b) The managers of contesting teams only shall have the right to protest a game (or

in their absence, coaches). However, the manager or acting manager may not

leave the dugout until receiving permission from an umpire.

(c) Protests shall be made as follows:

(1) The protesting manager shall immediately, and before any succeeding play

begins, notify the umpire that the game is being played under protest.

(2) Following such notice the umpire shall consult with the other umpire(s). If the

umpire is convinced that the decision is in conflict with the rules, the umpire

shall reverse that decision. If, however, after consultation, the the umpire is

convinced that the decision is not in conflict with the rules, said umpire shall

announce that the game is being played under protest. Failure of the umpire to

make such announcement shall not affect the validity of the protest.

(d) Protest made due to use of ineligible pitcher or ineligible player may be

considered only if made to the umpire before the umpire(s) leave the field at the

end of the game. Whenever it is found that an ineligible pitcher or ineligible

player is being used, said pitcher shall be removed from the mound, or said player

shall be removed from the game, and the game shall be continued under protest or

not as the protesting manager decides.

(e) Any protest for any reason whatsoever must be submitted by the manager first to

the umpire on the field of play and then in writing to the Local League president

within 24 hours. The umpire-in-chief shall also submit a report immediately.

(f) A committee composed of the president, player agent, league’s umpire-in-chief

and one or more other officers or directors who are not managers or umpires shall

hear and resolve any such protest as above, including playing rules. If the protest

is allowed, resume the game from the exact point when infraction occurred.

NOTE: (1) This rule does not pertain to charges of infractions of regulations such as

field decorum or actions of the league personnel or spectators which must be

considered and resolved by the Board of Directors.

NOTE: (2) All Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent

protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offenders should be

notified immediately. Example: Should a manager, official scorer, league official

or umpire discover that a pitcher is ineligible at the beginning of the game, or will

become ineligible during the game or at the start of the next inning of play, the

fact should be brought to the attention of the manager of the team involved. Such

action should not be delayed until the infraction has occurred. However, failure of

personnel to notify the manager of the infraction does not affect the validity of the

protest.

Tournament Play- All protests must be resolved prior to play resuming.

Rule 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. 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

2004 Change-Aany player who is not currently in the lineup to act as a Special Pinch

Runner, even if he or she had appeared in the lineup earlier. Prior to this season, once a

player had appeared in the lineup, he or she could not be used as an SPR for the duration

of the game. Thus, for example, a starter who has been removed for a substitute may be

used as an SPR while he or she is on the bench, or a substitute who has entered and then

left the game may be used for an SPR thereafter

Rule 8.01 - Legal pitching delivery

There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position, and

either position may be used at any time.

Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while standing on the pitcher’s plate. Pitchers

may disengage the pitcher's plate after taking their signs but may not step quickly onto

the pitcher's plate and pitch. This may be judged a quick pitch by the umpire. When the

pitcher disengages the pitcher's plate, he/she must drop the hands to the sides.

Rule 9.01(f)-Umpires may order both teams into their dugouts and suspend play until

such time as League Officials deal with unruly spectators. Failure of League Officials to

adequately handle an unruly spectator can result in the game remaining suspended until a

later date