San Mateo Little League American Local Rules
San Mateo Little League American Local Rules San Mateo Little League American is bound by the Little League Official Regulation and Playing Rules (Green Book) and Little League Operating Manual published by Little League International. The following “Local Rules” are intended to supplement Little League Rules and provide parents, umpires and player’s greater insight and clarification of how SMLLA administers its League. The rules are perpetual and can be added to, amended or deleted on as needed basis. 1. SMLLA elects to re-draft each year in the Majors Division and follow the “Alternative Method for Plan B” as described in the Little League Operating Manual. 2. SMLLA exercises the Sibling Option in the baseball player draft process as described in the Little League Operating Manual. 3. SMLLA exercises the Sons/Daughters of Managers option in the baseball player draft process as described in the Little League Operating Manual. 4. SMLLA organizes and operates a Player Pool in all divisions (Single A – Majors) divisions as described in the Little League Rule Book. 5. In the Majors Division there is no time limit imposed on games and games. Games that are tied after six (6) innings will be played until one team wins the game. 6. 6. The Majors Division will incorporate a ten (10) run mercy rule after 4 innings have been completed. 7. Game Time Limit: In the Minors Division (Single A – PCL / Regular Season) the timer on the scoreboard shall be set to 1 Hour and 50 minutes.- No new inning may begin after the timer hits zero.
Updated May 2016
8. Game Progression (California League – PCL) The first three (3) innings shall be limited to no more than 5 runs. Innings thereafter will have unlimited runs. As previously stated, no new inning shall be started after 1:50 minutes. A 10 run mercy rule will be in effect at the end of the fourth inning. 9. A continuous batting order will apply to all divisions at SMLLA. 10. Single A – Minors Divisions shall consist of no more that 12 player on a team. Each player shall play a minimum of four (4) innings. The assumption is made that the games played will be a complete six (6) inning game. 11. Single A and California League: no player shall sit more than one (1) inning until all other players on the roster have sat one (1) inning. 12. PCL - Majors Divisions shall consist of no more that 12 players on a team. Each player shall play a minimum of three (3) innings. The assumption is made that the games played will be a complete six (6) inning game. 13. Slash bunting is prohibited. A slash bunt is the act of squaring to bunt with the intent to draw infielders anticipating a bunt closer in on the infield and then swinging away at the pitch. Penalty: The batter is out, the ball is ruled dead and runners shall jot advance. 14. SMLLA encourages positive cheering and encouragement by players and coaches directed at their own team. Teams shall refrain from intentional chatter and artificial noise with the intent to distract a pitcher or batter from the time the pitcher is set through the delivery of the pitch. A warning shall be issued for Manager’s that encourage such behavior. After a second warning, the umpire may eject the Manager, Coach or player from the game. 15. Player absences: The Team Manager may inform the Player Agent If a player misses two consecutive practices or games without providing advanced notice to the Team Manager. The first incidence will result in a warning issued by the Player Agent. The second instance will result in a meeting with the SMLLA Executive Board, the player and the player’s parents. 16. All managers’ sons/daughters will be required to tryout. The purpose is for all team managers to assess the player’s talent and capabilities. This assessment will be utilized on draft night to determine what round a Manager’s son/daughter should drafted. The decision will be made by a consensus of all managers. The following method will be utilized If a draft round consensus cannot be reached. A. Sequential Example: The room is split with managers dictating round 4 and round 5. The benefit of the doubt will be given to the decision making body and the managers son will be drafted in the Updated May 2016
higher round. In this scenario, round 4. B. GAP Example: The room is split with managers dictating round 4 and round 6. In this scenario the manager’s son will be drafted in round 5. The purpose of the proposed method is to utilize best practices to help better balance teams. The number one reason for players loosing interest in baseball is playing on unbalanced teams. 17. SMLLA Team Practices shall start on February 1. Conducting a team practice before February 1 is prohibited and will result in the Manager being suspended for the first game of the season. 18. Suspended Games: The re-start of a suspended game can commence with team rostered players even though the game at the time of suspension was played with the use of a player(s) from the Player Pool. 19. The Manager should only use the Player Pool if he/she will have fewer than 10 players available to play a game. No more than two (2) players from the player pool will be allowed to fill in for any one team per game. Teams requiring more than two (2) players from the player pool will still play a short-sided game but will incur a game scored as a forfeit. 20. Because of field capacity issues, SMLLA is not obligated to reschedule games for Wiffle Ball or T-Ball games. 21. In Minors Division Only; A run can only score if: a. The run is as a result of a hit (batted in) b. The bases are loaded and the player on 3B is walked in. Stealing home in Minor’s Division is prohibited. Purpose: To develop pitchers and prevent a game from being cut short due to running kids around the bases in an effort to take advantage of the 10 run mercy rule. 22. The following criteria and sequence will be used to break ties in the Regular Season, division standings for the purpose of finalizing standings and slotting teams into tournament brackets. a. Winning percentage Highest of: (Total Number of Wins plus (Total Number of Ties times 0.5)) divided by Total Number of Games played. This could also be written as: "(wins + (ties * 0.5)) / games" b. Head to Head Winning percentage Highest of all teams tied after computing #1 of: (Total Number of Wins against tied teams in #1 plus (Total Number of Ties against tied teams in #1 times 0.5)) divided by Total Number of Games played against tied teams in #1 c. Head to Head Run Differential Highest of: Total number of runs scored Updated May 2016
when playing all tied teams in #2 - total number of runs allowed when playing tied teams in #2 d. Runs Against Overall Lowest of: Total number of runs allowed for all games played in the division e. Runs For Overall Highest of: Total number of runs scored for all games played in the division f. Coin Flip 23. Pitch Count Violations (Any Player Pitch League – California League, Minors, PCL and Majors) If it is determined by the Board that a violation of any rule relating to pitch counts has occurred, the following shall be the minimum penalties that will be imposed on the offending team and manager for a first time violation: The manager of the offending team will be suspended for one game. The suspension will take effect for the game immediately following the date on which the Board determined a pitch count violation occurred. The manager shall not be allowed to be present before, during or after the game for which the suspension is in effect. An assistant coach will be named the temporary manager. The child participant whose pitching caused the violation will not be allowed to pitch in the same game for which the suspension is in effect. The game in which the violation occurred will be declared a forfeit in favor the opposing team. The official standings will reflect the game as a loss with the score representing the amount of runs the other team scored and zero runs for the team in violation. The Board may impose additional penalties for first time violators depending the nature of the violation and other factors. Second time violators (including those that have occurred in different seasons) will be subject to such additional discipline at the Board may deem appropriate, including without limitation, permanent suspension of the offending manager. Because of the paramount importance of player safety, a formal protest does not need to occur for the foregoing discipline to be imposed , and may be imposed long after the violation occurred. A pitch count violation can be brought to the Board’s attention at any point throughout the little league season. This Rule applies to ANY pitch count violation, including without limitation: (i) a player exceeding his age appropriate pitch limitation, (ii) use of a pitcher (even for a single pitch) who is ineligible to pitch based on pitches thrown in a previous game, (iii) use of a player (even for a single pitch) who has caught more than 3 innings in the same game, and (iv) a Updated May 2016
player catching in the same game in which he/she has pitched 40 or more pitches. Again due to the importance of player safety, this Rule will be applied on a strict liability basis. No excuse or circumstance whatsoever shall be deemed justification for the violation of any pitch count rule.
Updated May 2016
Updated May 2016
8. Game Progression (California League – PCL) The first three (3) innings shall be limited to no more than 5 runs. Innings thereafter will have unlimited runs. As previously stated, no new inning shall be started after 1:50 minutes. A 10 run mercy rule will be in effect at the end of the fourth inning. 9. A continuous batting order will apply to all divisions at SMLLA. 10. Single A – Minors Divisions shall consist of no more that 12 player on a team. Each player shall play a minimum of four (4) innings. The assumption is made that the games played will be a complete six (6) inning game. 11. Single A and California League: no player shall sit more than one (1) inning until all other players on the roster have sat one (1) inning. 12. PCL - Majors Divisions shall consist of no more that 12 players on a team. Each player shall play a minimum of three (3) innings. The assumption is made that the games played will be a complete six (6) inning game. 13. Slash bunting is prohibited. A slash bunt is the act of squaring to bunt with the intent to draw infielders anticipating a bunt closer in on the infield and then swinging away at the pitch. Penalty: The batter is out, the ball is ruled dead and runners shall jot advance. 14. SMLLA encourages positive cheering and encouragement by players and coaches directed at their own team. Teams shall refrain from intentional chatter and artificial noise with the intent to distract a pitcher or batter from the time the pitcher is set through the delivery of the pitch. A warning shall be issued for Manager’s that encourage such behavior. After a second warning, the umpire may eject the Manager, Coach or player from the game. 15. Player absences: The Team Manager may inform the Player Agent If a player misses two consecutive practices or games without providing advanced notice to the Team Manager. The first incidence will result in a warning issued by the Player Agent. The second instance will result in a meeting with the SMLLA Executive Board, the player and the player’s parents. 16. All managers’ sons/daughters will be required to tryout. The purpose is for all team managers to assess the player’s talent and capabilities. This assessment will be utilized on draft night to determine what round a Manager’s son/daughter should drafted. The decision will be made by a consensus of all managers. The following method will be utilized If a draft round consensus cannot be reached. A. Sequential Example: The room is split with managers dictating round 4 and round 5. The benefit of the doubt will be given to the decision making body and the managers son will be drafted in the Updated May 2016
higher round. In this scenario, round 4. B. GAP Example: The room is split with managers dictating round 4 and round 6. In this scenario the manager’s son will be drafted in round 5. The purpose of the proposed method is to utilize best practices to help better balance teams. The number one reason for players loosing interest in baseball is playing on unbalanced teams. 17. SMLLA Team Practices shall start on February 1. Conducting a team practice before February 1 is prohibited and will result in the Manager being suspended for the first game of the season. 18. Suspended Games: The re-start of a suspended game can commence with team rostered players even though the game at the time of suspension was played with the use of a player(s) from the Player Pool. 19. The Manager should only use the Player Pool if he/she will have fewer than 10 players available to play a game. No more than two (2) players from the player pool will be allowed to fill in for any one team per game. Teams requiring more than two (2) players from the player pool will still play a short-sided game but will incur a game scored as a forfeit. 20. Because of field capacity issues, SMLLA is not obligated to reschedule games for Wiffle Ball or T-Ball games. 21. In Minors Division Only; A run can only score if: a. The run is as a result of a hit (batted in) b. The bases are loaded and the player on 3B is walked in. Stealing home in Minor’s Division is prohibited. Purpose: To develop pitchers and prevent a game from being cut short due to running kids around the bases in an effort to take advantage of the 10 run mercy rule. 22. The following criteria and sequence will be used to break ties in the Regular Season, division standings for the purpose of finalizing standings and slotting teams into tournament brackets. a. Winning percentage Highest of: (Total Number of Wins plus (Total Number of Ties times 0.5)) divided by Total Number of Games played. This could also be written as: "(wins + (ties * 0.5)) / games" b. Head to Head Winning percentage Highest of all teams tied after computing #1 of: (Total Number of Wins against tied teams in #1 plus (Total Number of Ties against tied teams in #1 times 0.5)) divided by Total Number of Games played against tied teams in #1 c. Head to Head Run Differential Highest of: Total number of runs scored Updated May 2016
when playing all tied teams in #2 - total number of runs allowed when playing tied teams in #2 d. Runs Against Overall Lowest of: Total number of runs allowed for all games played in the division e. Runs For Overall Highest of: Total number of runs scored for all games played in the division f. Coin Flip 23. Pitch Count Violations (Any Player Pitch League – California League, Minors, PCL and Majors) If it is determined by the Board that a violation of any rule relating to pitch counts has occurred, the following shall be the minimum penalties that will be imposed on the offending team and manager for a first time violation: The manager of the offending team will be suspended for one game. The suspension will take effect for the game immediately following the date on which the Board determined a pitch count violation occurred. The manager shall not be allowed to be present before, during or after the game for which the suspension is in effect. An assistant coach will be named the temporary manager. The child participant whose pitching caused the violation will not be allowed to pitch in the same game for which the suspension is in effect. The game in which the violation occurred will be declared a forfeit in favor the opposing team. The official standings will reflect the game as a loss with the score representing the amount of runs the other team scored and zero runs for the team in violation. The Board may impose additional penalties for first time violators depending the nature of the violation and other factors. Second time violators (including those that have occurred in different seasons) will be subject to such additional discipline at the Board may deem appropriate, including without limitation, permanent suspension of the offending manager. Because of the paramount importance of player safety, a formal protest does not need to occur for the foregoing discipline to be imposed , and may be imposed long after the violation occurred. A pitch count violation can be brought to the Board’s attention at any point throughout the little league season. This Rule applies to ANY pitch count violation, including without limitation: (i) a player exceeding his age appropriate pitch limitation, (ii) use of a pitcher (even for a single pitch) who is ineligible to pitch based on pitches thrown in a previous game, (iii) use of a player (even for a single pitch) who has caught more than 3 innings in the same game, and (iv) a Updated May 2016
player catching in the same game in which he/she has pitched 40 or more pitches. Again due to the importance of player safety, this Rule will be applied on a strict liability basis. No excuse or circumstance whatsoever shall be deemed justification for the violation of any pitch count rule.
Updated May 2016
