News and Announcements
2009 Baseball Rule Changes
Prior to the start of the season each league must select one of two options when it comes to pitchers rest between games.
Option 1:
Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game
(see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game
(see note below) must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Option 2:
Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Note the difference being the game rest between games pitched.
Also changed for the 2009 season is the rule that prohibits pitches from playing the position of catcher.
The rule has been changed to allow a pitcher who pitches 40 or fewer pitches may play the position of catcher. Keep in mind if a pitcher pitches 41 or more pitches in game one of a double header, they cannot play the position of catcher in game two.
The bats that can be used in Junior League and Minor and Major Leagues have changed.
Junior League bats now may not have a diameter greater than 2 5/8 inches. This uniforms bat diameter for Junior and Senior league. Junior league however does not have the -3 weight to length rule like Senior League baseball.Bats used for Minor & Major baseball now must have the BPF (Bat Performance Factor) of 1.15 or less and the certification must be printed on the bat.
Managers, Coaches and Players who have casts must remain in the dugout. They can’t coach a base all be the bat boy.
2009 Little League Softball Rule Changes
A pitchers glove may not include the colors White, Grey and Optic Yellow.
If the pitcher delivers a ball that’s been discolored or damaged, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position but may play another position.
A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of mandatory play. Starters may be removed prior to completion of mandatory but must meet requirement prior to the end of the game.
2009 East Region Umpire Schools and Clinics
2009 East Region Umpire Schools and Clinics
February 7th & 8th - East Region Umpires Clinic
March 25th - 29th - East Region Umpire School
April 1st - 5th East Region Umpire School
September 16th - 20th East Region Umpire School
2007 Regular Season Playing Rule Changes
Baseball Pitching Rule
a. Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (
NOTE: There is no limit to thenumber of pitchers a team may use in a game.)b. Junior, Senior, and Big League Divisions only: 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 that batter reaches base or is put out. Note 1. Intentional Walk: Before a pitch is delivered to the batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive team wishes to give the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-in-chief waves the batter to first base. The ball is dead.
d. Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest
must be observed.
• If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must
be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must
be observed.
e. Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the
official pitch count recorder.
f. The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
g. The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c). The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.
h. Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.
i. A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League.
j. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (Exception: In the Big League Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games in a day.)NOTES:
1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should be notified immediately.
2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games” shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.
3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.
Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the required three days of rest.
Example 2: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required three days of rest.
4 Example 3: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday whenthe game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based on his/her pitching record during the previous three days.
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard to pitching eligibility.
Baseball Bat Rule
Rule 1.10 – The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards. It shall not be more than thirty-three (33) inches (34 inches for Junior; 36 inches for Big and Senior League) in length, nor more than two and one-quarter (2 ¼) inches for Little League, 2 ¾ inches for Junior, and 2 ¾ for wood-2 5/8 non wood for Senior and Big League in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenth (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches (18 inches for Junior/Senior/Big League Baseball) from the small end. Senior/Big League baseball a bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length (in inches) of the bat (e.g., a 33- inch-long bat cannot be less than 30 ounces).
Note 1: ……………
Note 2: ……………
Note 3: Beginning with the 2009 season, non wood bats used in divisions of Little League (league age 12 years old and younger) shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less.
