Announcement
BERGENFIELD LITTLE LEAGUE
2011 Minor Division Rules of Play
Pre-Game Responsibility
• Only Bergenfield Little League issued uniforms and hats are allowed. No modifications are permitted.
• Ensure your team uses undamaged, approved equipment.
• Bats shall not be more than 33" in length nor more than 2-1/4" in diameter. All non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.15 or less.
• Composite bats are prohibited unless there is a waiver by Little League International, thereby; each Manager is responsible to carry an updated list of approved bats.
• Absolutely no children and non-certified adults are allowed on the playing fields and dugout area.
• No more than (4) coaches total (Manager plus three Coaches) are allowed on field at any one time.
• All coaches must be paid active members with the league; completed a volunteer application and been approved with their background check process; and completed/renewed a Rutgers Safety certification in order to be on the field during practices/games.
• Each team must have a volunteer adult for the concession stand help when playing games at Hickey field. The home team must provide one volunteer for the fifty-fifty raffle and for Score Board / Announcing.
• No one under the age of 16 shall be allowed to be in the Announce Booth on Hickey or Staunton Fields without being accompanied by an adult.
Starting the Game
• Eight players are the minimum you can play with. Any other Minor Division Team, or a “Call-up” player from the Farm Division may provide additional players to reach 8 players, or more, to avoid a forfeit.
• Defensive team will play with 10 players in the field. Note, when (10) Players are present, the team must position (4) Players at the start of each pitched ball in the outfield grass.
• All games start AS SCHEDULED, however, if the umpire is not there the game should be started with mutual agreement amongst Coaches to umpire the game.
• No inning of any game may start less than 15 Minutes PRIOR to the start time of the next game.
* Managers must contact the BLL Player Agent to request to “bring up” a player from the Farm Division to play in a Minor Division game.
Players
• All players present at the game are to be placed in a continuous batting order, unless you have a discipline problem. If this should occur, advise the opposing Manager before the stat of the game. If a player arrives late to the game, that player will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
• All players must play a minimum of 6 defensive outs, or 2 innings (non consecutive) in the field, when inning play allows.
• Should a player have to leave the game, during the game for other obligations, or injury/sickness, that player’s at-bat position is skipped and there is no penalty to the team.
• If a player gets hurt during the game, that player is allowed to miss 1 at bat. If that player misses 2 at bats that player is out of the game and can not return.
• A player may only coach first base and ALL players must wear a protective helmet when on the field coaching a base, or assisting outfielders during warm-up time.
• If your catcher is on-base, and there are 2 defensive outs, the offensive team may request to bring their catcher off the field. The last player that made a batted out will take his position as the base runner.
Base Stealing
• If a batter gains a base-on-balls, there is NO "touch & run" play for that player. This play is when a player runs to first base and continues onto to second base without any further pitch thrown.
* There is no advancing to first base on a dropped third strike.
• A runner may steal either 2nd or 3rd base, but not both on one continual play. (There is no further advancement for a base runner after successfully stealing 2nd base.)
• NEW: A runner may not steal home until after May 1st; meaning, the base runner on third base cannot advance to home under any overthrow situation, or missed ball scenario made with the pitcher and catcher. Home plate must be an earned on a batted ball or a bases loaded walk.
After May 1st, a base runner may steal home base only once per inning:
Minor League games; there will be only 1 steal of home base per inning. Included are situations where any base runner advancing from 2nd base to 3rd base and the base runner continues to home base during the continuation of the play, or on the catcher's overthrown ball, will count as an unearned advancement of home base for that inning.
• There is NO leading off base, and a base runner must wait for pitch to “break the plane” of the front edge of home plate before leaving their base.
• The Slide or Avoid rules apply to all bases. During ALL attempted plays made on a base runner at home plate, the runner must slide or may be called out at the discretion of the umpire.
Length of Game
• Don’t start an inning after 7:45PM during the first game, 9:45PM during the second game.
• 5 runs maximum may be scored in any 1 inning. The Playoff rules will be reviewed on this issue.
• Any combination of (3) Base-on-balls or hit-by-pitcher, in any consecutive order, will count for (1) defensive out awarded in that inning for the defensive team. However, the third out recorded out of the inning must be earned by the defensive team.
• Intentional walks are not permitted in Little League.
• Mercy Rule: The game is ended by the trailing team when they are behind by 10 or more runs after their 4th turn at-bat.
Pitching Rules
The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age:
There are no 12 yr. old players allowed to pitch.
Age Pitches
11 yr. old- 85 pitches max per day
9-10 yr. old- 75 pitches max per day
7- 8 yr. old- 50 pitches max 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.
• A player who plays the “Catcher position” for any part of 4 innings may not be entered the game in the “Pitcher position”; and, any player playing the “Pitcher position” who throws (41) or more pitches in a game can not play the “Cather position” for the remainder of that game.
Pitchers that are league age 11 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
o If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
o If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
o If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
o If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
o If a player pitches 01- 20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
• A manager is allowed 2 trips to the mound per inning, if he makes a third trip in the same inning, the pitcher must be removed.
• Any player removed from the mound for any reason during a game may not return to the mound for the remainder of that game.
Coach/Player Conduct
• No food allowed in dugouts.
• No swinging of bats allowed in dugout areas of the on-deck area.
• Coaches must keep all players in the dugouts.
• Coaches are expected to keep their players under control at all times. This includes prohibiting inappropriate language and rude or excessive chanting/cheering. Teams must not cheer, or make loud sounds, once a pitcher reaches their set position on the mound.
• Each team shall adhere to the BLL Code of Conduct; coaches are responsible for the actions of their teams. Coaches shall notify the Administrator or a Board Member if needed. Disciplinary measures will be reviewed on an as needed basis.
• Umpiring calls are final, if a discussion or question is needed; only the Manager is allowed to approach the umpire to request a clarification on the umpires ruling. If a call is changed, both coaches shall be informed.
• Please show the respect to these individuals that you would want for your own children. If there are any issues, discuss it off the field, after the game with a Board Member present.
* Please try to speed up the game in between innings. Managers have your changes made before the ½ innings are over to make the transitions.
Post-Game Responsibility
• Each team is responsible for ensuring their respective dugouts are kept clean and all empty drink bottles are deposit in the trash receptacles.
• Both teams are responsible for light raking of the infield areas following the game.
** These rules adopted in the 2011 Season will remain in effect until any changes are presented in writing and submitted to the Bergenfield Little League Board for approval and amendment.
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