2018 LITTLE LEAGUE® INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS AGENDA RESULTS

Approved by the Little League International Board of Directors for 2018 Implementation

ITEM 2

Affects: Regulation III(c) – THE TEAMS and Operating Policies Local League Draft Methods – Major Divisions of Baseball and Softball

(c) Little League (Major) Division: Local league must establish the age structure for the Little League (Major) Division. It is recommended that the local Little League set a maximum and/or minimum number of participants of a particular league age. For Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League, it is recommended that the local Little League set a maximum and/or minimum number of participants of a particular league age. (Example: If the league has all 15- and 16-year-olds in its Senior League Division, it may have a local rule that states that each team must carry between four and eight players of league age 16.)

METHODS FOR EXISTING LEAGUES 

It is recommended that managers not select more than eight players in a given age group. The team roster may be comprised of players of league age 9, 10, 11, and 12 unless modified by the local league according to options established by Little League. The local league may opt to allow only 10, 11, and 12, or 11- and 12-year-olds, to try out for the Major Division.

Synopsis: This eliminates the maximum of eight (8) – 12-year-olds on a Major Division team. 

ITEM 3

Affects: Regulation VI(d) - PITCHERS – All Divisions of Baseball and Challenger

(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements: 

• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.  NOTE: Under no circumstances shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

  EXCEPTION: If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold 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 retired; or (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during that at-bat, provided that pitcher is removed or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. 

   

  Pitchers league age 15-16 must adhere to the following rest requirements:  

• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 61-75 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 46-60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 31-45 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed. 
• If a player pitches 1-30 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required. 

NOTE: Under no circumstances shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

EXCEPTION: If a pitcher reaches a day(s) of rest threshold 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 retired; or (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold he/she reached during that at-bat, provided that pitcher is removed or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter.

Synopsis: This restricts a player from pitching in three consecutive days in Regular Season and Tournament.

ITEM 4

Affects: Regulation VI NOTE 3 - PITCHERS and Rule 4.10(d) – All Divisions of Baseball, Softball, and Challenger

Regulation VI NOTE 3:

3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day, provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest. In the event that the first inning is not completed, all records, including pitching records, batting records, etc., shall be retained.

4.10

(d) If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. NOTE: In the event that the first inning is not completed, all records, including pitching, shall be counted.

Synopsis: All suspended games will be resumed exactly where they were left off. Regular Season pitching will be governed by Regulation VI. Tournament pitching will be governed by Tournament Rule 4.  

ITEM 5

Affects: Regulation VII(a) – SCHEDULES and Tournament League Eligibility (2) – Senior Divisions of Baseball and Softball 

Regulation VII:

(a) The schedule of games for the regular season shall be prepared by the Board of Directors of the league and must provide for not less than twelve (12) games [Senior Division: Ten (10) games)] per team per regular season against other Little League teams within their respective division, exclusive of playoff and tournament games. Tee Ball: It is recommended that no more than twelve (12) games be scheduled per team per season.

League Eligibility:

(2)   The league must have scheduled and played, at a minimum, a 12-game [Senior League: Ten (10-game)] (per team) regular season, exclusive of playoffs and tournament games, for each division, or age appropriate division, entering tournament prior to the first game in their respective tournament. See Reg. VII. NOTE: For Junior Tournament eligibility, Senior League players must have played in a minimum of 8 games.  

Synopsis: This allows a Board of Directors to only schedule 10-game Regular Season schedule Senior Baseball and Softball teams. For Senior Division Tournament eligibility, a team must play a 10-game Regular Season schedule.

ITEM 6

Affects: Rule 3.03 – All Divisions of Baseball and Softball

3.03 - A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game, in the SAME position in the batting order, provided: 

1. his or her substitute has completed one time at bat and; 
2. has played defensively for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs; 

(c)

Baseball: pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers; Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher any time in the remainder of the game, but only once per game. 

NOTE: A player who has met the mandatory play requirements, and is a pitcher at the time she/he is removed, may be removed for a substitute batter and re-enter the game as a pitcher once, provided the pitcher was not physically replaced on the mound. 

EXAMPLE: Player A is a starter and not a pitcher, Player B substitutes into the game for player A. Both players have met mandatory play by completing one (1) time at bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs and both occupy the same spot in the batting order. In the fifth inning player A becomes a pitcher and is scheduled to bat in the sixth inning, but player B bats for player A. Both players have met mandatory play requirements and player A was not physically replaced on the mound as a pitcher, therefore, player A can return to pitch the sixth inning. 

Softball: a pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. 

Minor/Major Divisions: NOTE: A pitcher, withdrawn from the game for a substitute offensively or defensively, may not re-enter the game as a pitcher. This applies to continuous batting order. EXCEPTION: A pitcher may re-enter the game as a pitcher, if withdrawn for a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner, and then returned to the game at the beginning of the next halfinning. 

Junior/Senior Divisions: A pitcher may be withdrawn from the game, offensively or defensively, and return as pitcher once per inning provided the return does not violate either the substitution, visits per pitcher, or mandatory play rule(s).

1. A starter and her/his substitute must not be in the line-up at the same time, except as provided in 3.03 Note 3. Once mandatory play is met, starter and substitute can enter/re-enter for each other as desired.
2. Defensive substitutions must be made while the team is on defense. Offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base.

NOTE 1: A substitute may not be removed from the game prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements. 

NOTE 2: When two or more substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time, the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders, designate to the Umpire-in-Chief such players’ positions in the team’s batting order and the Umpire-in-Chief shall notify the official scorer. The Umpire-in-Chief shall have authority to designate the substitutes’ places in the batting order, if this information is not immediately provided. 

NOTE 3: If during a game either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field due to illness, injury, ejection, or inability to make a legal substitution, the opposing manager shall select a player previously used in the line-up to re-enter the game, but only if use of all eligible players has exhausted the roster. A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry.

Synopsis: This would revise the substitution rule for all divisions of play. 

ITEM 7

Affects: Rule 4.10(e) and Tournament Rule 12 - Regulation Game – All Divisions of Baseball and Softball

4.10:

(e)   If after three (3) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four innings], two and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: three and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If after four (4) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: five innings], three and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: (1) If the visiting team has a lead of fifteen (15) or ten (10) runs or more respectively, the home team must bat in its half of the inning. (2) The local league may adopt the option of not utilizing this rule.

12.  RUN RULE: If at the end of three (3) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: four innings], two and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: three and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If after four (4) innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League: five innings], three and one-half innings [Intermediate (50-70) Division/ Junior/Senior League: four and one-half innings] if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. NOTE: If the visiting team has a lead of fifteen (15) or ten (10) runs or more respectively, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.

Synopsis: This allows a local league to implement a 15-run rule after three (four innings for Intermediate (50-70) Division/Junior/Senior League). This would be mandatory during the International Tournament. 

ITEM 8

AFFECTS: Rule 8.06(a) and (b) – Major Division and above of Baseball and Softball 

8.06 - This rule, which applies to each pitcher who enters a game, governs the visits of the manager or coach to the pitcher at the mound.  

1. A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the second time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A once in the first inning, then makes a pitching change in the same inning, Pitcher B would be allowed one visit in that inning before being removed on the second visit. 
2. A manager or coach may come out two times in one game to visit with the pitcher, but the third time out, the player must be removed as a pitcher. Example: If a manager visits Pitcher A twice in the first three innings, then makes a pitching change in the fourth inning, Pitcher B would be allowed two visits in that game before being removed on the third visit, subject to the limits in (a) above. 

Synopsis: This reduces the number of visits to a pitcher to twice in one inning or three times in a game for the Major Division and above for Baseball and Softball.

*Y.O.I., Year of Implementation