Umpire’s Judgment: Rule 9.02(a). An umpire’s judgment (safe/out/fair/foul/ball/strike) is not open for discussion. It is final. The person who attended the plate meeting will be considered the manager and may request time and, once time is granted, request a clarification on a rule.
Lineup Cards: Lineup cards will be used and exchanged at the beginning of the game. This determines a team’s batting order and allows for tracking of mandatory play. Managers WILL NOT separate lineup cards.
Mandatory Play Rule (MPR): EVERY player on the lineup MUST bat one time and be in the game for 6 defensive outs. No exceptions. If a player does not meet MPR for game 1, they MUST start game 2 and complete MPR from game 1 and then complete MPR for game 2 before being “benched”
Batting Order: Rule 4.04. A continuous batting order (CBO) will be used for the Minors AAA division. All players present at the start of the game will bat in the order on the lineup card. Any player not present at the start of the game but arriving late may, at the discretion of the manager, be added at the bottom of the lineup. Once added, the player must meet MPR for the game.
How and inning ends: An inning ends with 5 runs scored OR THREE outs are made OR everyone has batted once (no player will bat twice in a single inning)
Preparatory Pitches and Warm Ups. Rule 8.03. Preparatory pitches are allowed for up to 1 minute or 8 pitches. No exceptions. No extra time. COACHES MAY NOW WARM UP THE PITCHER BETWEEN INNINGS
Time Limit: If there is no follow on game, the game will be 6 innings. During the weekday, games are determined by the league sunset rule time that is established at the plate meeting. NO new inning will start 15 minutes prior to the established sunset rule time.
Regulation Game: a regulation game is 6 innings, but no new inning will start after 1 hour 45 minutes. Any inning started prior to the 1 hour 45 minute time limit shall be completed. .
Run Rule: Rule 4.10(e). New Run Rule for 2024. 15 after 3 innings, 10 after 4 innings or 8 after 5 innings
Protests: There are no protests in Minors AAA.
Lead Offs/Base Stealing: Rule 7.13. When the pitcher has the ball and is in contact with the pitching plate, AND the catcher is ready to receive a pitch, runners must be in contact with their base until the ball reaches the batter.
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Pitching: Player Pitch. NO 12 year old may pitch in Minors AAA.
Pitching Limits: 9 - 10 year olds: 75 pitches/day | 11 - 12 Year olds: 85 pitches/day
Pitching Rest Requirements: 1-20 pitches: 0 days rest | 21-35 pitches: 1 days rest | 36-50 pitches: 2 days rest | 51 - 65 pitches: 3 days rest | 66 or more pitches: 4 days rest
A Pitcher’s pitch count, for the purposes of determining days of rest, is determined by the first pitch to the batter.
Pitcher to Catcher: If a pitcher pitches 41 or more pitches, he/she CANNOT play the position of catcher for the remainder of the calendar day. If a pitcher pitches 40 or less pitches, he/she MAY take up the position of catcher.
Catcher to Pitcher: A catcher who has played the position of catcher for 4 or more innings CANNOT pitch on that calendar day. A catcher who has played the position of catcher for 3 innings or less and moves to the position of pitcher and delivers 21 or more pitches CANNOT return to the position of catcher for the remainder of that calendar day.
A Pitcher once removed from the mound may not return as a pitcher
Courtesy Runner: Rule 7.14(b). A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher of record when there are two outs. The courtesy runner must be the person who made the last out.
Home Team Pre-Game Responsibilities - Prepare and mark the field with a minimum of 1st and 3rd base foul lines, Left and Right batter’s boxes, Provide Official Scorekeeper. Provide Official Pitch Counter
Visiting Team Pre-Game Responsibilities - If both umpires are youth, Provide one adult to act as game coordinator. That adult CANNOT be a coach. PLEASE SEE GAME COORDINATOR SECTION. If no Game Coordinator is identified or available, the game CANNOT start
Home/Visiting Team Post-Game Responsibilities - Email final score and final pitch count totals to Managers and Division Coordinator.
These rules augment or reinforce all rules contained in the Little League rulebook. https://wclittleleague.org/bluesclues is our local knowledge repository of Little League
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Game Coordinator
If both umpires are Junior Umpires (i.e., under the age of 18), there must be an adult to act as the Game Coordinator. The Game Coordinator’s primary role is to support the Junior Umpires and to protect them from abuse by the coaches, players, or fans. The Game Coordinator can't be a coach or manager of one of the teams in the game — but can be a parent from one of the teams.
The Game Coordinator must be at the plate meeting and must remain near the field at all times.
If necessary, the Game Coordinator can eject players, coaches or managers if necessary to protect the Junior Umpires or for any other reason for which ejections are permitted.
The Game Coordinator can suspend play for rain or darkness and call the game thirty minutes after such suspension.
Here’s the official language from Rule 9.03(d):
“If no adult umpire is available for a game, and nonadult umpires are used exclusively for that game, the local Little League must assign an adult as Game Coordinator, or the game cannot be played. The Game Coordinator must not be a manager or coach of either team in the game, and cannot be assigned as Game Coordinator for more than one game at a time. The Game Coordinator's duties shall be:
(1) To be included in the pregame meeting as noted in Rule 4.01;
(2) To remain at the game at all times, including between each half inning, in a position to see all actions on the field and in close proximity to the field (not in any enclosure). If, for some reason, the Game Coordinator is not present or is unable to perform his/her duties for any reason, the game must be suspended
until the Game Coordinator returns, or until a new adult Game Coordinator is present and assumes the duties of Game Coordinator for the remainder of the game;
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(3) To oversee the conduct of all players, managers, coaches, and umpires in the game;
(4) To have the authority to disqualify any player, coach, manage or substitute for objecting to the decisions of an umpire, for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, or for any of the reasons enumerated in these Playing Rules, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If the Game Coordinator disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play;
(5) To have the sole ability to judge as to whether and when play shall be suspended during a game because of inclement weather conditions or the unfit condition of the playing field; as to whether and when play shall be resumed after such suspension; and as to whether and when a game shall be terminated after such suspension. Said Game Coordinator shall not call the game until at least thirty minutes after play is suspended. The Game Coordinator may continue suspension as long as there is any chance to resume play. (This supersedes Rule 3.10.)
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