SPRING VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE:

INDIVIDUAL & DIVISION RULES:

 

Below is an updated list of individual & division rules for the 2021 Spring Season for Spring Valley Little League.

 

Each manager/coach is to sign a copy of these rules and will be held accountable during the regular season schedule and end of season tournament. A copy is to be with each team during each game. A copy will also be available in the snack bar. If a question about a rule comes up during a game and cannot be resolved by the umpire, the active Board Member assigned to that evening will be the "go to" person to resolve the issue.

 

NOTE:

Any Amendment and or Addition to any of the following rules must be voted upon and approved by the  Rules Committee.

 

INDIVIDUAL RULES:

 

1. All volunteers must have a volunteer application filled out and on file with the league. NO exceptions!

 

2. NO on deck batters are allowed to take practice swings on the field, in the bull pen, in the dugout or outside the dugout. Only the "leadoff" batter of each inning maybe outside the dug out while warm up pitchers are being thrown. (Rule 1.08)

 

3. The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).

Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, Junior League divisions, and Challenger division shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2⅝ inches for these divisions of play. Bats meeting the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard may also be used in the Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League divisions.

Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26″ and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com). Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.

 

4. The traditional batting donut is NOT permitted. (Rule 1.10)

 

5. A pitcher shall NOT wear any items on their hands, wrists or arms which may cause a distraction to the batter. White long sleeve shirts are NOT permitted. Sweat bands of any color are NOT permitted. NO jewelry of any kind is permitted unless for emergency medical reasons. (Rule 1.15 a, b & c) Pitchers gloves cannot be white or gray.

 

6. Catchers MUST wear a catcher’s mitt in all divisions.
7. All batters MUST wear protective batting helmets. All helmets must bear the NOCAE Stamp. There shall be NO added stickers, names or paintings.

 

8. All male catchers MUST wear a protective athletic supporter, either metal, fiber or plastic type protective cup.

 

9. Only a player, on the roster of that team, can warm up the pitcher before the game and in between innings. They MUST wear a protective legal helmet with the extended throat guard. Parents, manager/coach are NOT permitted to warm up the pitcher at any time before or during a game.

 

10. A catcher’s helmet MUST have an extended throat guard protector and no missing hardware items on the helmet.

 

11. A catcher’s helmet, with extended throat guard, must be worn during any practice drills before a game. Full gear is NOT mandatory. (Rule 1.17)

 

12. A manager/coach may participate during practice before a game. If a player is catching for the manager/coach during that practice, the player MUST wear a catcher’s helmet with the extended throat guard.

 

13. Skull type helmets or caps are NOT permitted.

 

14. Players, Managers, Coaches on both teams, shall NOT address or mingle with spectators nor may they sit in the stands during a game.

 

15. Players MUST remain in their respective dugouts during the entire game unless a "restroom" break is needed. Player must get approval from a manager/coach prior to taking said break and that information must be conveyed to the home plate umpire.

 

16. There will be NO food permitted in dugout at any time during a game.

 

17. There will be NO smoking, including chew, allowed on the field nor can a manager/coach leave the dugout to smoke.

 

18. The only people allowed in the dugout and or bull pen are the following: Approved coaching staff: ROOKIES- 4 Coaches / T-BALL- 4 Coaches and a Team Mom. MINORS & MAJORS- 3 Coaches. All players must be in proper uniform, tucked in. NO siblings in dugout. NO parents, at any time, are allowed in dugout/bullpen. No picture taking, with a flash, either from the dugout and or stands. One coach must remain in the dugout at all times....NO exceptions! Base coaches can be an adult on the coaching staff or a player with a helmet.

 

19. NO electronics of any kind are to be used on the FIELD at any time. Cell phone use is NOT permitted on the field. If keeping score with a tablet or phone it is only allowed while inside the dugout. The manager is to inform the home plate umpire they are using an electronic device to keep score prior to start of the game.

 

20. NO buckets, or any other related baseball items, are to be on the playing field. A bucket can be used but must be in the dugout doorway on the concrete.

 

21. NO players are allowed to stand directly in either doorway in the dugout, either on defense or offense. Players must be behind the pole in the caged area.

 

22. Divisions that have umpire (s) calling their game, the manager/coach will NOT be given a time out to discuss or appeal a JUDGMENT CALL. Such as: Ball/Strike; Fair/Foul, Safe/Out. All judgment calls by the umpire are final. A time out will be approved if the manager/coach feels a rule has been violated. There are exceptions for judgment timeouts, which are: A Tag Up; A Pulled Foot; Check Swing or Swipe Tag.

 

23. There will be one (1) coach initiated offensive time out per inning.

 

24. Any verbal communication by a manager/coach from outside the dugout will be considered a trip to the mound. Any discussion with any defensive player will also be considered a trip to the mound. A pitcher MUST be removed after three (3) trips to the mound in same inning. If it is the same pitcher, who started the game, you will be allowed four (4) trips to the mound for the entire game. (Rule 8.06)

 

25. No pitcher can return as a pitcher once removed from the game. One pitch will be considered one inning.

 

26. There will be NO defensive huddles prior to any manager/coach sending their players out onto the field.

 

27. Any questioning of the strike zone by manager/coach will result in a warning. The second time there will be an ejection. Once an ejection has occurred, the ejected party has one minute to leave the field and must go to the parking lot. Any manager/coach asking their catcher where the pitch was, is the same as questioning the strike zone and can also result in an ejection.

 

28. At the conclusion of each game, both teams must totally clean their dugouts of all trash in a timely manner, especially if there is another game following their game. Have snacks and game concluding meetings outside the dugouts and not on the field itself.

 

29. Rule 901.c, which states: An umpire can rule on anything that is not specifically covered in the rule book.

 

30. Mangers will receive a WARNING on a first offense of pitch counts violation. A second offense will result in a suspension for the remainder of that game and the next game.

 

31. Manager's shall always be responsible for team/ fans/parents conduct.

 

32. Batters are required to keep one foot in the batter’s box throughout their at-bat, barring eight exceptions provided in the rule book, during regular season games. If the batter leaves the batter’s box or delays play and none of the exceptions apply, the umpire shall warn the batter. After one warning on a batter, the umpire shall call a strike. Any number of strikes can be called on each batter. During tournament play, the rule is no longer an option and all batters will be mandated to keep one foot in the batter’s box throughout their at-bat, barring the eight exceptions provided in the rule book.

 

33. For Minor and Major Divisions of Baseball, defensive teams may elect to intentionally walk a batter by announcing the decision to the plate umpire. After appropriate notification is made by the defensive manager, the ball is ruled dead and no other runners may advance unless forced by the batter’s award of first base. Once the award is granted, four pitches will be added to the defensive pitcher’s official pitch count.

 

Along with the efforts for increased pace of play, additional rules and regulations were created to help promote sportsmanship within the Little League program:

Stealing and Relaying of Pitch Selection and Location

Starting in 2017, local league umpires will have the option to adopt the rule that the stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and/or location is unsportsmanlike behavior. If, in the judgment of the umpire, this behavior is occurring, both the player and the manager may be ejected from the game.

Language Regarding On-Field Altercations

A manager, coach, or player shall not leave their position in the field or bench area during a fight or physical confrontation; a manager or coach who attempts to prevent a fight or restore order, in the umpire’s judgment, is not in violation of this rule. The umpire shall eject the offender(s) from the game immediately. Failure to comply with the ejection may result in the umpire suspending the game and referring it to the Board of Directors for further action.

 

T-BALL

 

1. There is NO scorekeeping.
2. Games will have a 1-hour time limit.
3. Teams will bat ALL batters each inning regardless of outs. If a base runner is called out at a base, they must leave the base.
4. Max (7) players on the infield which includes the pitcher and catcher. All other players MUST have at least one foot on the outfield grass. Position players on field as a regular team would.
5. Every player plays defense every inning. NO player sits the bench.
6. After the game be respectful when leaving the dugout. Please leave in a timely manner since there is a game following yours. Make sure dugout is clean.

 

ROOKIES - COACH PITCH

 

1. 1-Rookie Silver is strictly a "Coach Pitch" division. A coach will pitch up to (5) pitches to each batter until the batter either puts the ball in play or strikes out on the 5th pitch. If the batter fouls off the 5th pitch, the batter will get another pitch until they either put the ball in play, swings and misses, or does not swing at all. There are "NO" walks or "Hit By Pitch".
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2-There will be a "Continuous" batting order.

3-Teams will play (10) defensive players (4 Outfielders). The outfielders "MUST" have both feet on the grass.

4-No player can sit for (2) consecutive innings.

5-There is "NO" stealing.

6-"NO" new inning after (90) minutes.

7-(1) defensive coach will be allowed on the field of play but must be in the "Outfield".

8-The Coach/Pitcher "MUST" have one foot in contact with the pitching rubber.

9-The Coach/Pitcher "CANNOT" coach the batter or any runner on base.

10-Play is "Stopped" once the ball hits the infield dirt. If a player is more than half way to the next base, they will advance to that base, but they are still in jeopardy of being put out. If they are NOT more than half way, the play will continue until said player reaches the next base. At that time the runner shall be sent back. Since there is NO umpire during the season, the coaches MUST be honest in their assessment where the runner was when the ball hit the infield dirt. 

11-In earlier play there was (1) base given on an overthrow to first. This rule has changed: There will be "NO" base given on any overthrow. Runners will advance base to base only.

12-There shall be "NO" equipment stored on the playing field; such as: Bats, Gloves, Balls...etc.

13-A Manager, Coach, or Parent "CANNOT" play catch with another player. It must be player to player.

14-The Bullpen: The Bullpen shall be used to warm up a pitcher and or player. A Manager, Coach, Parent...etc "CANNOT" warm up a pitcher. It must be another player with a helmet. The same goes for in between inning warm ups for the pitcher, it must be another player with a helmet. The Bullpen shall not be used as a sandbox for other children to play in.

15-There shall be "NO" parent or sibling in the dugout and or bullpen.

16-There are "NO" on-deck batters allowed in bullpen nor can any player swing a bat in the bullpen.  

ROOKIES - KID PITCH

 

1. This is a Kid/Coach Pitch Division. A player will pitch until ball 4 is reached. At this time a coach for the batting team will come in to finish the at bat. The number of strikes that a batter has at the team ball four is reached will determine how many pitches the batting coach may throw to finish off that particular at bat. For example, if a batter has one strike at the time ball four is thrown, the coach will be allowed to throw two pitches to that batter. Similarly, if a batter has two strikes when ball four is thrown, the coach may throw one pitch to that batter. There are NO walks, so to retire a batter the following must happen: Batter puts the ball in play; strikes out with a swing on their final remaining pitch, or lets the pitch go by without swinging on their final remaining pitch. If the batter fouls off their last pitch they will get another pitch until they put the ball in play, swing & miss, or let the pitch go by without swinging. If the Kid/pitcher hits the batter, the batter will go to 1st base. If the coach hits a batter it will count as a pitch and the batter does not go to 1st base.

 

2. Teams will bat a continuous batting order.

 

3. Teams will play nine (9) defensive players. There will be NO coach in the outfield coaching runners and or defensive players.

 

4. There is NO stealing.

 

5. Only one (1) base on any overthrow per play.

 

6. Play is stopped once the ball touches the infield dirt or the pitcher has the ball. If a player is more than half way to the next base they can continue to that base but can still be thrown out. This is under the umpire’s judgment. If the player is not more than half way, the umpire shall let the play continue until said player reaches the base since the ball is live and runner can be thrown out. Once the player reaches the base the umpire shall call time out and return runner to base they started from.

 

7. There is NO new inning after an hour and a half.

 

8. There is one umpire for this division behind the plate.

 

9. Coach must pitch from the rubber on the pitcher mound with one foot touching the rubber. The player, who was pitching must take up their position on the infield with 1 foot on the pitcher’s mound dirt and behind the pitching rubber.

 

MINORS

 

1. No new inning after 2 hours.

 

2. New inning starts as soon as the 3rd defensive out is made.

 

3. Teams will bat a continuous batting order.

 

4. For the first (4) innings the most runs teams can score is (5). The 5th & 6th innings will be "open innings" whereupon teams can bat their entire lineup and score as many runs as possible, or, 3 outs, whichever comes first. If one team has 12 players and the other team only has 10 players, the team with the 10 players can bat the extra 2 players to make it even.
   
   
5. The catcher has "NO" free throws. If there is an overthrow by the catcher, to any base, the runner can continue on.

 

6. Teams will play with only (3) outfielders. No coach allowed on playing field to coach defensively. No coach is allowed in the outfield in “foul” territory to coach.

 

7. No player will sit (2) consecutive innings.

 

8. (10) run rule is in effect after 3.5 - 4 innings.

 

9. There is no “drop third strike” rule.
   
   

10.  The ball is LIVE at all times until the umpire calls time.

 

MAJORS:

 

1. There is NO new inning after (2) hours.

 

2. Teams will bat a continuous batting order.

 

3. No player can sit for (2) consecutive defensive innings.

 

4. Only (9) defensive players.

 

5. Drop 3rd strike is in order. If the batter walks toward their dugout, they are out.

 

6. Stealing is allowed after the ball has passed home plate. Runners can score from 3rd base on a passed ball or wild pitch.

 

7. Runners may advance as many bases as possible on any overthrow.

 

8. Ten run rule is in affect after 3.5 / 4 innings. The losing team MUST bat 4 times.

 

9. The pitcher MUST receive signals from the catcher only. A coach may give signals to the catcher.

 

10. If a runner leaves a base early the umpire shall let the play continue until the runner reaches the next base. If the runner is thrown out, they are out. If not, they shall return to the base they started at. If that same player leaves the base early again in that same sequence, they will be called out.

 

11. There is NO must slide rule. The rule is "slide or avoid" contact with a defensive player. There are times when unintentional contact will happen. If the defensive player is "completely" blocking the base the runner is required to slide and wait for the umpire to make the obstruction call.

 

12. Head first slides will be an automatic out. It is only allowed if going back to a base.

 

13. Pitch counts and game scores will be input online by each manager after each game on SVLL website.

 

 

 

PITCHING RULES:

 

7-8 year olds...............50 pitches

 

9-10 year olds.............75 pitches

 

11-12 year olds...........85 pitches

 

REST TIMES:

 

0-20 Pitches................0 days rest

 

21-35 Pitches..............1 days rest

 

26-50 Pitches..............2 days rest

 

51-65 Pitches..............3 days rest

 

66 or more pitches.......4 days rest

 

A pitcher facing a batter may continue to pitch to that specific batter even if they pass their pitch count and still receive the lower pitch threshold until the conclusion of that at bat. Once the at bat is concluded the pitcher must be replaced.

A Pitcher CANNOT move to the catcher's position once they have thrown 40 pitches.

 

A Catcher CANNOT move to the pitchers position if they have caught 4 innings. One pitch in one inning will count as a full inning.

 

All manager's MUST record their pitchers pitch count and scores online. Failure to do so will result in your pitcher not being able to pitch in the next game if they are scheduled and manager discipline.