Single A Rules
Single A Rules Single A is a developmental league designed for players to have the opportunity to learn the game of baseball. Deviations from the Little League Green Book Rules are as follows: Spring training games and the first four (4) games of the season shall consist of three (3) attempts to hit the ball off of a tee. After a total three of unsuccessful attempts to strike the ball, the batter will be called out. a. A continuous batting order will be used by all Single A Teams. One-half inning is complete when three defensive outs are made. Outs made by the defense will result in the runner being retired to the bench. b.Scores will be kept for each game but no standings will be kept in the Single A division. c. Each team shall not have a roster of no more than 12 players. The defense shall consist of six (6) infielders and four (4) outfielders). A team must start the game with a minimum of 9 players. In Single A, four (4) Managers are allowed on the field. d. A player shall not sit on the bench for more than one inning until ALL other players on the team have sat on the bench for a minimum of one inning. e. Pitching during the 2013 Single A season will be “Coach Pitch” from a temporary pitching rubber set 42’ from the front of home plate. This is 4 feet shorter than the pitching rubber used in Little League’s Minor’s Division. Each batter will be limited to five (5) pitches. A batter hit by a pitch thrown by a coach will be ruled a “Spent Pitch” and not a walk. A fifth ball pitched and hit foul is ruled foul. The batter is called out on strikes if he/she does not connect with the ball after the last Coach pitch. A team must use the same Manager/Coach to pitch throughout the game to assure consistency V3.0 1.10.15
and fairness by both teams. The youth playing the “Pitcher” position will play at safe distance from the batter (see diagram below) and shall play to the right of the mound for a right handed batter and to the left of the mound for a left handed batter. (facing home plate). f. The play is dead when an infielder holds the ball above his head within the area that constitutes the infield. The infield is the area within fair territory that extends from home plate to the grass brim of the outfield. Half way marks shall be scribed between bases as a means of determining if a runner advances to the next base or is called back to the previous base when the play is dead. g. Leads and base stealing are prohibited in Single A. The runner is not allowed to leave the base until the batter has made contact with the ball. h. Bunts are not allowed. Full swing bunts (show bunt/take full swing) are not allowed for safety purposes. The batter must take a full swing when attempting to hit a pitch. i. Umpires will enforce Little League and Local rules for SMLLA’s Single A Division. The team on offense (‘at-bat’) Is responsible for providing two umpires for their halfinning while at-bat. If the team at-bat is short-handed then they can supply just one umpire or their opponent can lend a hand and supply the second umpire if they’re able. One umpire positioned behind the batter, close to the back-stop and the other umpire in the field, positioned in ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ position: ‘A’ position located about 5-8 ft. behind the 1st baseman, just inside foul territory and when no runners are on base (the bases are ‘empty’). ‘B’ position located between the 1st and 2nd baseman about 5-8 ft. behind where the 1st and 2nd baseman are positioned, when a runner on 1stbase and ‘C’ position when a runner on 2nd, a runner on 3rd, a runner on 2nd and 3rd or when there is a runner on 1st, 2nd and 3rd base (the bases are ‘loaded’). If the team at-bat is only able to supply one umpire and their opponent is unable to lend a hand then the umpire should position her/himself behind the pitcher’s mound. Help from a coach may still be needed with the batter and catcher positioning and safety as well as with helping the catcher retrieve ‘will pitches’ and ‘passed balls’.
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j. The 5 run rule (LL rule 5.07) applies until the last 1/2 inning for each team at which time each team is allowed an unlimited number of runs.
Start of the Game 1. The home team is responsible for dragging the field, lining the field and putting out the bases BEFORE the game and cleaning out the dugouts and dumping the garbage cans AFTER the game. 2. The Visiting Team will be responsible for supplying two scorekeepers. One for the scoreboard and one for the book. 3. A team should field a minimum of 9 players to start and 8 players to complete a game. Safety Zone for Pitchers During Coach Pitch Situations:
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and fairness by both teams. The youth playing the “Pitcher” position will play at safe distance from the batter (see diagram below) and shall play to the right of the mound for a right handed batter and to the left of the mound for a left handed batter. (facing home plate). f. The play is dead when an infielder holds the ball above his head within the area that constitutes the infield. The infield is the area within fair territory that extends from home plate to the grass brim of the outfield. Half way marks shall be scribed between bases as a means of determining if a runner advances to the next base or is called back to the previous base when the play is dead. g. Leads and base stealing are prohibited in Single A. The runner is not allowed to leave the base until the batter has made contact with the ball. h. Bunts are not allowed. Full swing bunts (show bunt/take full swing) are not allowed for safety purposes. The batter must take a full swing when attempting to hit a pitch. i. Umpires will enforce Little League and Local rules for SMLLA’s Single A Division. The team on offense (‘at-bat’) Is responsible for providing two umpires for their halfinning while at-bat. If the team at-bat is short-handed then they can supply just one umpire or their opponent can lend a hand and supply the second umpire if they’re able. One umpire positioned behind the batter, close to the back-stop and the other umpire in the field, positioned in ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ position: ‘A’ position located about 5-8 ft. behind the 1st baseman, just inside foul territory and when no runners are on base (the bases are ‘empty’). ‘B’ position located between the 1st and 2nd baseman about 5-8 ft. behind where the 1st and 2nd baseman are positioned, when a runner on 1stbase and ‘C’ position when a runner on 2nd, a runner on 3rd, a runner on 2nd and 3rd or when there is a runner on 1st, 2nd and 3rd base (the bases are ‘loaded’). If the team at-bat is only able to supply one umpire and their opponent is unable to lend a hand then the umpire should position her/himself behind the pitcher’s mound. Help from a coach may still be needed with the batter and catcher positioning and safety as well as with helping the catcher retrieve ‘will pitches’ and ‘passed balls’.
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j. The 5 run rule (LL rule 5.07) applies until the last 1/2 inning for each team at which time each team is allowed an unlimited number of runs.
Start of the Game 1. The home team is responsible for dragging the field, lining the field and putting out the bases BEFORE the game and cleaning out the dugouts and dumping the garbage cans AFTER the game. 2. The Visiting Team will be responsible for supplying two scorekeepers. One for the scoreboard and one for the book. 3. A team should field a minimum of 9 players to start and 8 players to complete a game. Safety Zone for Pitchers During Coach Pitch Situations:
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