Keystone Little League Single A Baseball Rules Spring Season

Goal

The single A Minor division of baseball is an important part of the Keystone Little League program. Its goal is to create and emphasize a positive experience for the 7-9 year old players allowed at this level. Coaches should use positive reinforcement to develop basic baseball fundamentals and above all to ensure that the kid’s introduction into organized baseball is FUN! Although there is a tendency to keep score, there are NO recorded Wins or Losses at this level. Accordingly, coaches are prohibited from keeping score.

Game Length

The game length shall be no more than 2 hour or six (6) complete innings whichever comes first. There will be no forfeits in Minor A Division baseball. Players may be borrowed from the opposing team as necessary.

Player Roster

Each attending player shall be placed in the batting order (continuous batting order).  The catcher may not catch more than three innings in a game.  Each player shall play an infield position at least two innings per game. Pitch count limits will be followed as outlined in the Little League Rule Book. A maximum of 10 players will defense play with only one player per infield position and up to 4 outfielders. The number of defensive players can be modified for

a game only if mutually agreed upon by both mangers prior to the start of the game, but only 1 player per infield position must still be observed.

Batting

There are strikeouts but no walks. Players will pitch in odd numbered innings and coaches will pitch in even numbered innings.

In Player Pitch innings, the pitcher shall pitch to each batter until the batter is out, hit by pitch, or ball four (not the fourth pitch) has been reached. After a hit by pitch or ball 4 has been reached a coach shall pitch. If after 5 pitches from the coach the batter has not put a ball in play the batter will be out (unless the most recent ball was a foul ball).

In coach pitch innings, each batter will be allowed to face 7 pitches unless the 7th pitch is a foul ball. After the 7th pitch the batter will be declared out.

The ball shall be live after it is hit into fair territory, and shall remain live until it is possessed in the infield – fair or foul territory. Once the ball is judged dead, play will stop. Any runners still advancing to a base may continue to that base. Runners may not advance on an overthrow from an infield throw to first base, but may advance 1 base on an overthrow from the outfield or the infield to any base other than first. Runners advancing on an overthrow

do so at their own peril of being put out on a defensive play. Runners are only allowed to advance on the first overthrow of an offensive player’s at bat. Each half-inning concludes

when either (3) defensive outs are recorded or (4) runs have been scored by the offense.

Base Stealing and Sliding

Leading off base, stealing bases and intentionally bunting are not permitted. Head first sliding is also not permitted. Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. If the umpire determines that the runner deliberately attempted to injure the fielder, the umpire could eject the runner for unsportsmanlike conduct. Similarly infielders including the pitcher and catcher cannot block a base or home plate if they do not have the ball and/or are not in the process of making a tag.

Pitching:

Pitch count limits will be followed as outlined in Part VI – Pitchers of the Little League Rule

Book.

Section VI Pitching

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

(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                   9 - 10      75 pitches per day

7 – 8       50 pitches per day

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI(c) 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 41 or more pitches in a game 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.

** NEW: Days of rest is determined by the pitch count at the beginning of the last batter faced, not

total pitches thrown.

On-field Coaches

The offensive team shall station two coaches on the field during play, one occupying the first base coach’s box and another occupying the third base coach’s box.  A third offensive coach is only allowed on the field when they are pitching. All other offensive coaches must be in the dugout during play. At least one coach (or team mom) must be in the dugout at all times. The defensive team may station two coaches (official coaches and/or approved volunteers) in the outfield during play plus (1) coach / volunteer beside the catcher. All

other defensive team coaches must remain in the dugout at all times unless time is out. All managers, coaches, and approved volunteers must wear their lanyards for the duration of the game.