Announcement
Little League Congress Approves Rule Changes for 2008
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Rule 4.04 - now mandates a “continuous batting order” for Minors and Tee Ball Baseball and Softball. The NMBLL has required a CBO for many years.Regulation V - now requires that all 12-year-olds entering the Little League draft process be drafted onto a Major Division Baseball or Softball team, unless an exception is approved by the Charter Committee for that individual. Again, the NMBLL has placed all 12 year olds in majors for many years.Regulation I, Section 3 - Leagues are allowed more flexibility to utilize coach-pitch for instruction in T-Ball.Playing Rule 2.00 - Innings are now defined in the Minor League program as limited to 5 runs. Although the NMBLL has had a similar run limitation in Minors Jr., this rule change requires a 5 run maximum in both Minors and Minors. Jr.
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Regulation VI - Pitchers The “automatic intentional walk” has been eliminated. If you want to walk someone intentionally, you have to throw the pitches.
- A pitch limit for pitchers league age 7-8 has been added, with a maximum of 50 pitches per day. Previously, the limit for these ages was the same as for pitchers who were league age 9-10.
- A provision has been added that prohibits a player who has been removed as a pitcher in a game from playing the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. This was a recommendation of Dr. Andrews and Dr. Fleisig, and is intended to further prevent overuse injuries. The position of catcher, according to Dr. Andrews and Dr. Fleisig, has the second-most overuse injuries, which can be acerbated by moving from pitcher to catcher in the same day.
- Pitchers league age 16 and under who deliver 41 or more pitches in a game must also have a game of rest, in addition to the number of days rest prescribed. Pitchers league age 17-18 who deliver 51 or more pitches in a game must also have a game of rest, in addition to the number of days rest prescribed. This enhancement is designed to help ensure that teams develop more pitchers, and to help ensure that scheduling anomalies do not result in undue advantages for some teams.
- As noted above in the regular season regulations, a provision has been added that prohibits a player who has been removed as a pitcher in a game from playing the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
- Pitchers league age 16 and under (except those 16-year-olds playing in Big League) who deliver 21 or more pitches in a game must also have a game of rest, in addition to the number of days rest prescribed. Big League Division pitchers league age 16-18 who deliver 36 or more pitches in a game must also have a game of rest, in addition to the number of days rest prescribed.
- A rule allowing the pitcher of record in a suspended game to continue pitching on a subsequent day in that game has been added. However, in the case of a game resumed more than one day after the suspended game, the number pitches delivered in a game in between those dates will also be used to determine eligibility.
- Failure by the manager to remove a pitcher before that pitcher becomes ineligible will result in the suspension of the manager for the next two tournament games, with further penalties possible if the Tournament Committee deems that the infraction merits it. (This removes the automatic forfeiture penalty. However, the Tournament Committee could impose a forfeit if the situation warrants it.)
- The “automatic” intentional walk was removed, as noted in the regular season regulation above.
Additional changes....
Regular Season Pitching Regulations
The complete regular season pitching regulation for baseball may be found at: http://www.littleleague.org/media/RS_Pitching_Regulation_Changes_Baseball_2008.pdf
Tournament Pitching Rules
The complete tournament pitching rule for baseball may be found at: http://www.littleleague.org/media/T_Pitching_Rule_Changes_Baseball_2008.pdf
Questions and Answers to additional Little League changes.....
Oct. 4, 2007
Dear Little League Volunteers:
This is a follow-up to the notice we sent earlier this week regarding the updated and enhanced pitching rules for baseball.
The response, as we expected, was excellent. Most volunteers realize that protecting young pitching arms is the right thing to do, and that Little League always has safety as its primary concern. We are gratified to know that the vast majority of Little League volunteers feel the same way.
A few questions did arise, and we would like to answer them below.
Pitchers and Catchers: “Regarding the prohibition for a pitcher to play the position of catcher later in the day/game – does it make a difference if the pitcher is removed based on the pitch count, or just removed for ineffectiveness before the pitch count is reached? What if the pitcher is not removed and finishes a game – could he/she be a catcher in a game later that day? Why not also restrict a player from moving from catcher to pitcher?”
Answer: The intent of the rule is based on the fact that experts in pitching injuries say that a player who warms up to pitch, and then pitches in a game, should not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. Any other position is acceptable. The same is not true for a player moving from catcher to pitcher. This portion of the regulations and rules has been clarified. You can find the text of the regular season pitching regulation here and the tournament rules here .
Game of Rest: There is now a requirement for a game of rest under some circumstances – does that mean the player cannot play at all in the game in which he/she must rest?
Answer: The rest requirement in this case only applies to pitching – same as it always has been in tournament play. The pitcher who needs a game of rest is only prohibited from pitching in that specific game.
More Pitchers: “Won’t this mean our managers and coaches will have to develop more pitchers?
Answer: Yes, managers and coaches will need to develop more pitchers.
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