Keystone Little League

AAA Minors (Spring) and Minor A (Fall) Baseball Rules

All “AAA Minors” references shall also mean "Minor A” as rules are the same.

Overview:

The AAA Minors division is a developmental baseball division in the Keystone Little League program. The AAA Minors
division is for league age 9–11-year-olds. Its focus is on advancing players’ baseball skills in a more competitive
environment. Development should remain the focus as players get older, but AAA Minors will be increasingly
competitive and includes an end of season tournament. The winner of the KLL AAA Minor tournament will have the
opportunity to play in the District 6 Minor A Tournament of Champions (TOC) event. It is common for players in AAA
Minors to be selected for the 9U KLL Friendship or 10U KLL All Star teams. (Postseason Tournaments and All-Stars
do not apply to Fall Minor A)

Coaches and/or volunteers should keep score and track player pitch counts. Standings are not kept and wins/losses
are not recorded during the regular season of AAA Minors.

Game Length:

Games are six (6) innings or 2 hours in length, whichever comes first, and no new inning can start after 1 hour 45
minutes. There are no forfeits in the regular season of AAA Minors. The manager of a team in need of player(s) (up
to 9 players) should contact their Player Agent or they may coordinate with the other manager to borrow a player or
players.

No more than 5 runs can be scored per inning with the exception of the last inning, which shall be an open inning. The
umpire will consult with both managers (around the 1 hour 30-minute mark) to determine which inning is to be the last
inning based on the time left in the game. If managers disagree on whether to start the open inning, the home team
manager shall have the final decision. The open inning will be considered the final inning of the game even if the open
inning ends prior to the 1 hour 45-minute mark.

A Mercy Rule is in effect for AAA Minors. Managers may end the game if one team is ahead by 15 runs after 3 innings,
10 runs after 4 innings, and 8 runs after 5 innings.

Pitchers are allowed 1-minute or (up to) 8 pitches, whichever is less, for warm-ups between innings. Coaches may
catch the warm-up pitches in non-TOC and non-All-Star games.

Player Roster:

Each attending player shall bat (continuous batting order). Each player shall play at least 9 defensive outs in the AAA
Minors regular season (6 defensive outs in tournament play). This requirement is not in force for time shortened game
or a Mercy Rule game [Exception: all players must play at least 6 defensive outs if four full innings are played]

Base Running, Stealing and Sliding:

Stealing bases and intentionally bunting are permitted. Players may not leave the base until the ball crosses the plate
(breaks the plane of the front of the plate). Head first sliding is not permitted except when a runner is returning to a
base. For safety purposes, sliding is encouraged whenever a play is being attempted at a base. Coaches should cover
proper sliding technique and the safety reasons for sliding. Runners may advance on passed balls.

During the regular season, a play is considered over and the runner must return to his/her base when the pitcher
controls the ball in the “circle of the mound.” In tournament play, pitchers will be required to be “on the rubber” to end
the play.

Pitching:

Pitch counts must be strictly followed. Please see the Little League Rulebook for current pitch count rules. Per the
2023 LL Rulebook (with clarifying edits):

(a) Any player on a team may pitch.
Exception: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game (this means
any portion of four (4) innings), is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher.

(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below,
but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:

League Age
11 – 12         85 pitches per day
9 – 10 75 pitches per day
6 – 8 50 pitches per day

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch
until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out
is made to complete the half-inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers his/her 41st pitch (or more) of the day to start an at
bat cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements**:
- If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

**Days of rest is determined by the pitch count at the beginning of the last batter faced, not total pitches thrown.

The home team is responsible for keeping the official pitch count in Little League play. In AAA Minors, managers (or
coaches / volunteers) on both teams are encouraged to track pitch counts and help monitor fatigue and/or injury.

On-field Coaches:

The offensive team shall station two coaches on the field during play, one occupying the first base coach’s box and
one occupying the third base coach’s box. A coach must be in the dugout at all times. No other coaches from either
team are allowed to be on the field during play. All dugout gates must be kept closed. No on-deck batters are allowed
out of the dugout per Little League rules.

Umpires:

Umpires are to be treated with respect and compassion at all times. Umpires have the right to remove coaches from
the game without warning and pause or stop a game based on coach, parent, or fan behavior.

During the regular season, AAA Minors may have one umpire assigned to work a game. One umpire (behind the
plate) may not be able to cover all plays from the optimal angle. Managers and coaches on the field are expected to
support the Umpire’s efforts to make the right call to the best of their ability from the vantage point where they are
located. Berating of Umpires by Coaches, Parents, or Players will not be tolerated and could lead to dismissal from
the Park.

Field Preparation:

The home team is responsible for the lining of the field before the game. Both teams shall fill in holes in the batter’s
box and on the pitcher’s mound, water the field as necessary, and/or perform any other maintenance needed to
ensure safe playing conditions (including raking the field). Please use courteous common sense as the Away Team
and assist the Home Team if they are short on Coaches/Volunteers.

Post-Game Duties:

Teams must ensure that their dugout and bleacher area are cleaned up after the game. Home team should rake the
areas around the bases and other out high traffic areas of the field.

If you are holding a player meeting after the game, please clear your dugout and move outside the field of play for your
meeting - if there is another game scheduled after your game.

**** If a rule is not addressed herein, please see the Little League Rulebook for the applicable T-Ball, Minors, or
Majors rules.