Rules

LCB 2007 Local Rules

Baseball is a fun but complex game that requires years of playing and observing to fully understand, and even veterans of the game occasionally must refer to the rulebook for clarification. In youth baseball, such as Little League and others, there are additional rules in place that bring the game down to the young players' level and make the game a more fair and safe event.

At LCB we're committed to following the rules established by Little League as well as our own local rules. We give our managers and umpires instruction and count on their experience to ensure they are followed, however even then a mistake can be made or a call missed, sometimes with a negative effect on a player or a team. Please be patient and understanding, and remember, these are children playing a game - nothing more.

We've created this web page as a forum for any rules question you may have. You can submit your question by clicking on the "Ask a Rules Question" button above and it will be answered directly to you by return e-mail. Questions and answers that can benefit others will be listed in an FAQ format below. If we make a mistake please point it out to us and we'll correct it.

Rules Questions of the Day -

How does LCB's 'double elimination' tournament format work?
Every team at every level participates in their age-level tournament and will play a minimum of two games. Teams will play until they have two losses, hence the name 'double elimination'. The ultimate goal is that one team will win their tournament and be champions of their league.

Is a runner required to slide?
Wow! This is a tough one. (For purposes of this discussion we won't consider plays at first base, but only those at second, third and home plate.) Rule 7.08(a)(4) says: "Any runner is out when [he/she] does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag."  The intent of the rule is collision avoidance (read: "safety"). This is different than what we watch on TV with Major League Baseball, where collisions are routine and part of the game. For safety reasons we don't want that in youth baseball, therefore there's a rule.

As written, the rule requires the runner to slide or attempt to get around the fielder, so, technically, he/she is not required to slide since they can also go around, under and over the fielder with the ball waiting to apply the tag as long as they stay within a certain basepath while avoiding being tagged. That space is defined in rule 7.08(a)(1) as "three feet away from a direct line between the bases".

Can you imagine how difficult it is for a youth baseball player to make a split-second decision on what to do in this circumstance? "Is the fielder between me and the base?", "Does he have the ball?" "If not, how far away is the ball, which, by the way, I can't see?" "What should I do?" All this in a matter of a couple of seconds while running at full steam. Can you also see that it's a difficult call for the umpire? He's got to take into account the runner, the fielder(s) and the ball and make a split-second judgement call. There are so many variables here, making this one of the most difficult and controversial situations in the game.

Here are some guidelines: 1) The runner should attempt to avoid a collision if there's any chance that a play will be made on him or her. How? By listening to the coach, by watching the body language of the fielder at the plate, and by knowing he/she shouldn't run through another player. 2) The manager should teach his players what to do in these circumstances, such as how to slide and how to get around the tag. 3) The umpire should use all his skills, instincts and knowledge of the rules when making this split-second decision.

Bottom line: This is a judgement call by the umpire. Like it or not judgement calls are the final word, and cannot be overturned by protest.

Warning: In the unfortunate circumstance that a fielder is standing in the basepath without the ball and without any hope of making a play on the runner, and the runner barrels into him, sliding, standing or otherwise, the runner is safe without penalty. Why? The fielder has blocked the plate and obstructed the runner (rule 7.06(b), Note 2). In the same manner that a runner must avoid the fielder with the ball in his possession, the fielder must avoid the runner if he does not possess the ball.

Why is there an Orange Division and a Tangerine Division at LCB?
This is a frequent question at this time of year, so let's explain: Due to the way Little League requires leagues to operate, LCB must exist as two leagues in one. (The technical reason is related to population density within our league boundaries.) So, we are officially known as Lakeland City Orange and Lakeland City Tangerine. Every player at LCB is rostered in one or the other of these leagues, or "divisions" as they are officially known, and therefore every team belongs to one or the other. In most situations this distinction is invisible to players and parents, except when it comes to regular season win/loss standings and post-season play.

So what effect does this have on LCB? (Note - what follows applies to Training League and older, not to Tee Ball, Fours or Challenger Division where we don't keep score.) LCB holds a tournament for each age-level league at season's end and that tournament is seeded based on the final season standings, and those standings only apply to games played within the division. Also, for Minor League and older, LCB participates in All-Stars. Because we must exist as two separate leagues and identities, we must send two separate All-Star teams for each age-level, one Orange and one Tangerine.

If a player leaves the game due to an injury or other reason, can he or she return to the game?
If a player leaves a game due to injury, illness or other reason they can return to the game without penalty. This last phrase "without penalty" is important to note. Prior to this season, if a player left during the game and could not bat when their turn came, the penalty was an automatic out. The rule was changed this season to permit that player's return with no automatic out penalty. After advising the opposing team, umpire and scorekeeper, the missing player's turn to bat is merely skipped over, and if the missing player returns to the game he or she is inserted into their original spot in the batting order. (See green book rule 4.04)

What equipment must a catcher wear?
The catcher is in a particularly vulnerable position and must be suitably protected against injury. Little League rules require they wear a catcher's mitt "consistent with protecting the hand" (except in Tee Ball). With the exception of Tee Ball, all male catchers must wear a metal or plastic cup. Male catchers in Training through Major League must wear a long model chest protector, which is the type that has an extension at the bottom that covers the groin area. Catchers in Junior League and all female catchers can wear either the long or short model chest protectors. All catchers must wear shin guards and an approved helmet and face guard. All catcher helmets must have a dangling throat guard in place, even the newer hockey-style masks. (See green book rules 1.12 and 1.17.)

Can a parent or coach warm up a pitcher?
Rule 3.09 states "Managers or coaches must not warm up a pitcher at home plate or in the bullpen or elsewhere at any time. They may, however, stand by to observe a pitcher during warm-up..." The purpose of this rule is to encourage greater player participation and for safety. For that reason, no player may warm up the pitcher in the squat position unless they are in full catcher's gear. If the pitcher is warming up for entry into the game by merely tossing the ball back and forth to a teammate not in the squat position, no catcher's gear is required, however, based on the rule, it must be to a player, not a manager or coach.

What are the "mercy" rules?
A mercy rule is one that is in place to minimize the amount of runs in an inning or the final score in a game. It's general purpose is to allow for more innings to be played or to end a game whose score is lopsided. At LCB we have various mercy rules in place that meet or exceed Little League requirements. In Fours there is no mercy rule. Everybody bats and has fun. In 5&6 yr-old Tee Ball there is a maximum of 5 runs per inning, then teams switch sides. Beyond that there is no mercy rule because we don't keep score in Tee Ball.

In Training League there is also a 5-run per inning mercy rule even though we do keep score. In the past there has been a "10-run rule" in Training League which stated that if after 4 innings one team is ahead by 10 or more runs the game is over. We eliminated that rule for Training League this season because there were many games last season that were called early because of the 10-run rule and teams wanted to continue playing despite the score. So this season we are allowing them to play through to the time limit - at the umpire's discretion and after consulting with both managers - despite a lopsided score. If the score is completely out of hand after 4 or 5 innings and the time limit has not been reached, a manager should consult with the umpire and the opposing manager and request the game be called. Remember, this applies to Training League only and the umpire has the final say.

In Minor League both the 5-run rule and the 10-run rule after 4 innings apply. In Major League only the 10-run rule after 4 innings applies. In Junior League a 10-run rule after 5 innings applies.

In Tee Ball, can a batter try for more than one base if the ball is hit to the outfield?
Yes, in Tee Ball the batter can attempt extra bases if he or she hits the ball into the outfield. LCB's Local Rules permit this as a way of rewarding the batter for a good hit. The batter is not limited to how many extra bases he or she can attempt and can keep running until the ball is back in the infield and under control of an infielder in fair territory and the umpire calls time. On hits to the infield the batter (and the runners) can only advance one base. In both cases the runners are at the risk of being put out until they safely reach a base.

In Training League, is the runner allowed to score if the ball is returned to the adult coach at the pitching machine instead of the player at the mound?
Our local rules address this issue based on the position of the runner. If the runner is less than halfway to the next base (in this case home plate) and the ball is in the control of an infielder in fair territory, the runner must return to the previous base. This could equally apply to a defensive infielder or the coach at the pitching machine. If the runner is more than halfway and the ball is returned to the mound with no attempt to make a play on the runner, the runner is allowed to advance, and in this case score. This is a play subject to the umpire's interpretation on when the ball is in control and by whom, and whether the runner is halfway or not.

Who is allowed in the dugout during a game?
The Little League rule book states "No one except eligible players in uniform, a manager and not more than two coaches shall occupy the bench or dugout." (3.17) At LCB we strictly apply that rule for Minior League and older, however we understand that Tee Ball and Training League need a little more help in the dugout with crowd control. For that reason we permit up to 3 coaches and 3 Team Moms to be registered with each team, plus the manager, at those age levels. ALL managers, coaches, Team Moms, and anyone else assisting on the field during practices and games at all age levels are required to submit a Little League volunteer application and pass a background check. Under no circumstances will anyone be allowed on the field unless they have done so. Managers, or their substitute coaches, are obligated to ensure no one is on the field or in the dugout unless they are an approved volunteer.
 
We appreciate the enthusiasm and willingness on the part of some parents to assist in the dugout during games, but unless you are an approved volunteer, and for the proper progression of the game and safety of the players, we ask that you remain in the stands and contribute by cheering the play on the field.

Do games at LCB end after a particular amount of innings or by time?
LCB limits the length of regular season games by time. This is necessary because we have a lot of games to play in a short period of time, and for those teams playing the last game of the day, because we want them to get home at a reasonable time.

What happens if the time limit is reached in the middle of an inning?
Since we don't keep score in Challenger, Fours and Tee Ball, it doesn't matter - the game is over and everyone shakes hands. In Training, Minor, Major and Junior League, where we do keep score, the final score is whatever it was at the end of the last complete inning.