Last Updated 3/13/10

Rule 1

The “Official Regulations and Playing Rules” of Little League Baseball Inc, the League Constitutions, and Bylaws apply in their entirety to all divisions of Manchester Little League Baseball. (Major League, Minor League, Prep League, and Tee-Ball standing rules may vary from league to league. League specific standing rules will be listed in the standing rules for that specific league).

Rule 2

The following Standings Rules for Manchester Little League Major League Division shall apply to the Prep League as well:

1. Rule 2 – Managers
2. Rule 3 – Coaches
3. Rule 4 – Registration

Rule 3 – Draft

1. The Prep League draft will be a “blind draft”. The manager (or representative) from each prep league team, the Player Agent, and the Prep League Vice President must be in attendance.


2. Prior to the start of the draft each team representative will draw a number from a container to determine the draft pick rotation.


3. Players may be “pre-assigned” to a roster prior to starting the “blind-draft”. There may be up to a maximum of three (3) pre-assigned players per roster. Players must meet the following criteria to be eligible for pre-draft roster assignment:

a. The manager/coach is the a parent or legal guardian of the player,
b. AND the player is an eligible player in the Prep League player draft pool,
c. AND the player does not have a sibling in the draft pool, which could effectively create a sibling option that would cause the pre-assigned player maximum of 3 to be exceeded.

Once all the players that meet the above criteria have been assigned to rosters, the number of players pre-assigned to each roster will be made equal using the following method. All teams that have fewer pre-assigned players than the team having the highest number, will be allowed to select any player from the remaining draft pool until all rosters have the same number of pre-assigned players. The selection order used will be in the order selected in part 2.

Example A: For simplicity lets say the draft rotation drawn is part 2 is A-B-C-D. After manager/coaches options are assigned the teams have the following number of players.
Team A has 3 pre-assigned manager/coach option players.
Team B has 2 pre-assigned manager/coach option player.
Team C has 2 pre-assigned manager/coach option player.
Team D has 3 pre-assigned manager/coach option players.

Team A and Team D have the highest total with 3. Team B selects 1 player from the draft pool, and then Team C selects one. Now each team has 3 players each, ready to start “blind draft”.

Example B: Draft order is still A-B-C-D.
Team A has 3 manager/coach option players.
Team B has 1 manager/coach option player.
Team C has 3 manager/coach option players.
Team D has 2 manager/coach option players.

Team B selects 1st, both Team B and Team D now have 2 player each. Team B selects its 2nd player, then Team D selects. This leaves Team A, Team B, and Team D with 3 players each.  All teams now have the same number of players, the maximum of 3.

Note: Players with siblings in the draft pool may be assigned to a team prior to the “blind draft” only if there are sufficient pre-draft openings to accommodate any sibling options without exceeding the 3 pre-assigned player maximum.

4. Once the rosters have the same initial number of players from part 3 above, all eligible players from each player age group, who will begin the season in the Prep League, will have their names placed into a container. The player age groups will be drafted by age from oldest to youngest. Each player age group will have its players names drawn out one at a time, in the predetermined rotation, until all names from that age group are chosen. This procedure shall be repeated for each player age group until all eligible players are placed on a roster.  When one player age group no longer has any names left, the team who is next in the rotation picks the 1st name from the next age group.


5. Whenever a team draws a player who has a sibling in the draft, the sibling(s) shall automatically become that team's first draft selection of the round corresponding to the siblings’ age.  This process is automatic and the team receiving such sibling will not draw a name in the appropriate round of the draft. At the time the sibling(s) name is actually drawn, if it is not the correct team, that team will redraw since the assignment of the sibling to a team has already occurred.


6. Immediately after the draft is completed (all eligible players have been assigned to a team), each team will be allowed a maximum of two trades. Trades must be agreeable to both managers (or team representatives) involved and MUST be approved by the Player Agent. Only players from the same player age group can be traded. The Player Agent must monitor any attempt by managers and parents to manipulate the system and thus create an imbalance in the league. All trades must be for justifiable reasons.

Rule 4 – Games

1. A time limit of 1 hour 30 minutes will be imposed on all regular season Prep League games. Unless tied, no inning shall start after the 1 hour 30 minute time limit. The next inning starts immediately upon completion of the last out of the previous inning.


2. No player pitchers allowed. A team’s manager or coach will pitch to the players on his or her team. The pitch must be initiated by the manager / coach pitcher from a distance no less than 30ft. from home plate.  Pitches may be thrown from a standing position or while on a knee or knees.  A paint line shall be marked 30ft. from home plate to assure the pitch is initiated from behind the line.


3. There will be a maximum of 6 pitches per batter. If the 6th pitch is fouled, the player will receive another pitch. After 6 pitches, the batter will continue his or her at bat as long as they continue to foul of pitches, hits a ball into play, or strikes out. If a batter “takes” the last pitch, they will be called out. After 3 strikes a batter is out regardless of pitch count.


4. There will be no infield fly rule in Prep League.


5. A half inning is complete after three (3) outs have been recorded, or ten (10) batters have batted and play has been stopped, or the maximum number of runs per inning has been recorded.


6. There is a 7 run limit per inning. When the 7th run scores that half of the inning is over, regardless of the number of outs.


7. The entire team will be included in the batting order and will bat in order, no substitutions will be allowed. If a player cannot bat due to injury or sickness, the team will skip over him/her when his/her time at bat comes up without penalty. If the injured or ill player returns he/she is merely inserted into their original spot in the batting order.


8. A continuous batting order that includes all players on the team will be used.  If a child becomes ill, injured, or must leave the game site during a game, the team will skip over his/her time at bat without penalty.  If the player is later able to return, then they will be inserted into their original spot in the batting order.  If a player arrives after the game has started, the manager, if he chooses to allow the player to participate, must add this player to the bottom of the batting line-up.


9. All games will consist of a maximum of 6 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes. An inning starts the moment the 3rd out is made completing the preceding inning. If the inning is completed after 1 hour and 30 minutes, the game is completed.


10. Ten (10) run rule:


1. If after 3 ½ innings, the home team has a lead of 10 or more runs after the visiting team bats, the visiting team will concede the victory to the home team.


2. If after 4 innings, the visiting team has a lead of 10 or more runs after the home team bats, the home team shall concede the victory to the visiting team.


11. If a batted ball touches a batter or runner before passing through or by an infielder (not including the pitcher or catcher), and hits the batter or runner, that player will be called out.  The batter must have at least one foot completely out of the batter's box to be called out.


12. If the Coach Pitcher is struck by a hit ball the play shall be declared dead by the Umpire, and the batter shall return to the batter’s box without penalty or addition to the six-pitch count.  All base runners shall also return to the base occupied prior to the pitch.  The situation is to be treated as if the pitch resulting in the hit ball was never thrown. 

    The Coach Pitcher shall make every effort to avoid interference with a hit ball.  The coach pitcher must immediately leave the field of play and enter foul territory when the ball is put into play.  The coach pitcher is to move away from the direction of play as they enter foul territory.  The coach pitcher can give no assistance or direction to base runners.  The batter shall be declared out by the Umpire and all base runners shall remain on the base occupied prior to the pitch should the Coach Pitcher intentionally interfere with the play.  The Umpire shall have the final decision in determining if the Coach Pitcher intentionally interferes with the play.

13. A maximum of six (6) infielders will play in the infield (including the catcher). The rest of the players in the field must be positioned in fair territory in the out field grass.


14. When a defensive play is made at home plate only 2 defensive players are allowed to be in the home plate area.  Only one defensive player is to attempt to make the play at home plate, the other defensive player is to be behind the player covering the plate, backing up the throw home.


15. The player pitcher must wear an approved helmet with a face mask.  The player pitcher shall have at least one foot inside the 10 foot diameter circle surrounding the pitcher’s plate (i.e., the pitching mound circle) and must be even with or behind the coach pitching to the batter. 


16. Base coaches must stay in the coaches’ box and may not physically assist the base runner while the ball is in play or interference will be called and the runner will be called out.


17. Only one defensive coach on the field at a time, all others (manager, coach, volunteers) must be in the dugout. The defensive coach on the field must remain in the outfield grass area while the ball is live and in play.


18. Two adult base coaches are allowed, provided that there is at least one other adult manager, coach, or approved league volunteer in the dugout.


19. The umpire and/or scorekeeper shall not direct the attention of any person as to the presence of an improper batter (batting out of order) in the batters box.


20. Overthrows and missed throws to a base.


1. When a defensive player misses a thrown ball at a base in which a play is being made, all runners may advance 1 additional base (only) at risk of getting out. If the runner or runners reach the additional base safely, he or she may advance no further and the play is dead.


2. Time will be called when the defensive team has possession of the ball and the lead runner has stopped advancing. When time is called any runner that is between bases will have to return to the previous base if not already more than half way to the next base.

Rule Exception:  When the 10th batter is at bat and the ball is hit into play an overthrown or missed ball shall not stop the advancement of base runners.  All base runners may advance until an out is made on the lead runner.  When the lead runner is put out the 1/2 inning is over regardless of the number of outs in the inning, and remaining base runners behind the lead runner shall stop advancement.  Runners may advance until an out is made on lead runner.

21. Helmets must be worn at all times by all batters and runners.


22. No bunting.


23. No on deck circle, all batters must remain inside the dugout until their turn at bat. No bats allowed inside the dugout. All bats will be placed on bat racks outside the dugout.


24. The players playing the catchers position must wear all proper safety equipment including a cup (male).


25. No bat slinging. A player will be given a warning for the 1st bat slinging offense. All offenses by the same player after their first offense will be subject to the following rules:


1. If the bat slinging occurs and the ball is not hit into play, the play is dead and the batter’s at bat is over. The next batter in the batting order is up. No out is awarded but the batter will count towards the 10 batter maximum per inning.


2. If the bat slinging occurs and the ball is hit into play, once the play has ended the opposing manager will have the option of either:
   
   
   1. Accept the play as it stands, including any out or runs that occurred during the play; OR
   
   
   2. Return all runners to their original bases prior to the play. If the offending batter reached a base, he will be removed without issuance of an out but will count toward the 10 batter maximum per inning.  The next batter in the lineup will bat.
   
   
26. No head first sliding. The only exception to the rule is when a player is returning to a base.


27. The home team’s manager is responsible for scheduling a trained person to keep the official scorebook for the game. The visiting team’s manager is responsible for scheduling a scoreboard operator and announcer for the game. The announcer shall announce in an impartial manner the name of the players for each team as they bat.  A minimum of two persons is necessary to adequately perform these duties.


28. The home team manager is responsible for the preparation of the field to include raking the field and marking the first and third baselines, and correctly marking at home plate before the first games.


29. The home team manager is responsible for ensuring after the last game that the following is completed:
    
    
    1. The infield is raked.
    
    
    2. The bases, rakes, and other equipment are stored and locked in the gear lockers.
    
    
    3. The field lights are turned off (if applicable) and locked.
    
    
    4. The press box is cleared, scoreboard UNPLUGGED, windows closed, and press box locked.
    
    
30. The manager of the winning team is responsible for entering game statistics and information on the league's web site in a timely manner. Entering the scores will ensure that the standings are correct and the web site remains current.


31. All injuries must be reported as soon as possible to the Safety Officer. All information must be written explaining in detail what happened, where the accident took place, type of injury, time or injury, what was done at the scene, and follow-up. Please include player’s name, team name, date, and manager or coach signature. Accident Report forms will be provided to all managers at the beginning of the season. Additional forms can be obtained from the Safety Officer or at www.manchesterlittleleague.com as required.

Rule 5 - Uniforms

1. Uniforms shall be worn in the appropriate manner with shirts tucked in pants.


2. Names (First, Last, Nicknames, Initials, etc) are not allowed on the shirt.


3. There shall be no altering of the uniforms in any manner, including cutting the neck or the sleeves.


4. Only league-supplied uniforms can be worn in ball games.  Privately purchased or privately funded uniforms are not allowed.


5. Hats and batting helmets shall be worn in the proper manner with the bill of the cap/helmet pointing forward.


6. Names, nicknames, airbrushed or painted artwork, graffiti, etc are not allowed on batting helmets.  A small number is acceptable on the back of the helmet.

Rule 6 - Parents and Spectators Conduct

1. Criticism - Parents and spectators shall be encouraged to be positive in any criticism of the program and will to volunteer their services to improve the League. Their opinions and criticisms should be presented to officers of the League in a constructive manner.


2. Recognition of Volunteers - Parents and spectators shall be encouraged to demonstrate that they recognize the effort expended by the volunteer personnel of the Manchester Little League program by refraining from unsportsmanlike like conduct and grandstand managing.


3. Umpire - Parents and spectators shall be encouraged to realize that the Umpire is the closest to the play and that each Umpire calls the play as he or she sees them. (The Umpires assume a difficult but necessary role).


4. Encouragement - Parent and spectators shall be encouraged to recognize that Little Leaguers are children, not professional players, and need encouragement, not criticism.


5. Applause - Parent and spectators shall be encouraged to applaud good plays and ignore errors. Parent and spectators should encourage greater effort, initiative, and hustle. They should congratulate the winner and encourage the loser. They should enjoy the game for what it is. If it isn’t fun it isn’t Little League.