Coach Pitch Local Playing Rules
last updated Fall 2017

The BRLL Coach Pitch Division will be operated in accordance with the Little League Rules and Regulations (the Green Book) as modified by these local playing rules and the rules of conduct issued by BRLL. Although BRLL keeps game scores and standings, the coach pitch division is intended to be instructional. Accordingly, BRLL’s goals of encouraging player skill development and fostering player enthusiasm should be considered in interpreting these rules.

I.             Pre-game/Post Game Procedures

II.            Length of Games

III.           Official Scorekeeper and Score Reporting

IV.          Pledge

V.            Rain-Outs

VI.          General Rules of Play

VII.         Coach Pitch Offensive Play Rules

VIII.        Coach Pitch Defensive Play Rules

IX.           Coach Pitch Defensive Rotation Rules

X.            Conduct of Managers and Coaches

Pre-game/Post Game Procedures.

1. The visiting team shall occupy the first base dugout. The home team shall occupy the third base dugout.
   

2. Teams are not guaranteed or entitled to demand the infield for warm-up prior to the game start time. However, if available, and allowed by the league officials or game umpire,  prior to the game start time the following applies:

1. No team may take occupancy of the infield for warm-ups until 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game start time;
2. The visiting team has the first right to take possession of the infield commencing 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game start time and then must relinquish possession of the infield to the home team 15 minutes prior to the game start time.  Should the field not be available a full 30 minutes prior to the start of the game, then infield practice time shall be equally shared by both teams.
3. No pitcher may warm-up on the mound until the umpire has conducted the plate meeting.
4. No batting practice shall occur on the field within the 30 minute game warm up period.

3. Each team will provide one (1) new official Little League baseball for each game as provided by the league.  It is the responsibility of the manager to bring a game ball to the game.

4. Upon the completion of a game, both teams, including all players, coaches and managers, should line up and conduct a congratulatory handshake.

5. At the completion of a game, both teams are responsible for policing their respective dugouts and the areas near the playing fields, including the bleachers, and depositing any refuse in the trash containers provided.

1. Prior to the start of the game, each team will provide the umpires with their player position rotation sheet.

Length of Games.

1. A regulation Coach Pitch Division game is six innings, subject to a 1 hour and 30 minute time limitation, provided further that no game shall comprise less than four innings.

2. The game commences upon conclusion of the plate meeting as announced/determined by the umpire.  The official start time shall be determined by the umpire.

3. No new inning shall start after the 1 hour and 30 minute time limit is reached, unless four innings have not yet been played.  An inning begins at the last out of the previous inning.  For example, if the last out in the fifth inning should occur before one hour and twenty-nine minutes, the sixth inning will still be played.

4. Umpires may limit warm-up time between innings if a team fails to take the field promptly. Generally, umpires will be allowing a maximum of 2 minutes between innings.

5. Regular season games can end in a tie if time expired and at least four innings have been played. The 4 innings played requirement applies to spring season only.

6. Regular season games that are tied after 6 innings with time left, may continue to the next inning until time expires or a winner is determined whichever comes first.

7. Mercy Rule - when a team is (i) down 11 or more runs after having completed four offensive innings or (ii) down six or more runs after having completed five offensive innings, then, in either such case, the trailing team shall be deemed to have conceded and the game shall end. In the event the mercy rule is invoked within the one and one half hour game time limitation, the managers may mutually agree to continue play as a practice exhibition only (the game having already been completed and the score already finalized) until the expiration of the time limitation (subject to BRLL field availability needs). 

Official Scorekeeper and Score Reporting.

The home team is responsible for providing an official scorekeeper at each game.  Both teams must report the score and number of innings played to the division commissioner and [email protected]  within 24 hours of the game being played. 

Pledge.

Both teams are responsible for reading the Little League Pledge prior to the start of the game.  Teams should line up on the foul line in front of their dug outs, each team will send at least one and not more than two representatives to the mound to lead the pledge.  Pledge is located on the back of the Green Book.

Rain-Outs.

The following shall apply to weather situations:

1. Postponements of games prior to game start time is determined by the City of Boca Raton field staff and not by the league (field condition hotline 367-7068).

2. Postponement of a game in progress is determined by the umpire in charge.  

3. When lighting alarm sounds or when lighting is seen, all players MUST be removed from the field immediately and seek shelter until the all clear siren is sounded. Note:  some fields do not have their own lightning detector.  These fields are monitored by nearby facilities.  For example, Estridge is monitored by Lynn University and Spanish River Park.

4. Games that get rained out:
   1. Prior to completing one inning of play will be rescheduled and begun as a new game in its entirety and all records of the first inning will be expunged. 
   2. After one inning but before it can be considered an official game (4 innings), will be resumed at the same point as where stopped. 
   3. That have reached official game length (4 innings) but are rained out prior to completion or reaching the time limit, shall be considered an official game and final at that point. 
5. If your game is rained out, it is up to the managers of each team to coordinate and reschedule the game during either team’s next available practice time.  Inform your commissioner of the time and date of the rescheduled game.  Consider enough time for the league to schedule umpires for the game. If the game is not played within 7 days, the game will be rescheduled by the commissioner.  Any team not able to field a team at the rescheduled date will forfeit the game with a 6-0 loss.

Note: batting order of any previous games still apply to all rescheduled games due to rain. Substitutes or new players will be added to the bottom of the order.Missing players are skipped in the batting order with no penalty.

General Rules of Play.

1. Gates must be kept closed to the dugout and to the field during play.

2. All managers and coaches not specifically permitted on the field of play under these rules must remain in the dugout during play.

3. All male players must wear athletic supporters.  Male catchers must wear the hard cup protector. 

4. 5-run limit per inning shall be imposed.

5. Each team shall have a minimum of 8 players to start the game.  If you find that you are not able to field 8 players for a game email your commissioner directly as soon as possible and they will find subs.  Subs will be provided to allow for 9 players not 10. 

6. Subs must bat at the end of the batting order and shall play no more than one inning at an infield position (including catcher for this purpose).

7. All teams shall play with a 4th outfielder (assuming ten players are present).

8. Runners are not allowed to make head first slides into a base, unless they are returning to the base.  Runners will be called out for head first slides. 

9. Any butcher boy play (where the batter squares to bunt and then follows through with a full swing) will result in the batter being called out.   

10. There is no “must slide rule”, however, a runner must slide or avoid contact with a defensive player who has possession of the ball.  A runner will be called out for violation of this rule. Similarly, a player playing the position of first base shall not extend their foot over the bag in such a way as requires the base runner to slow to avoid collision.  
11. Base stealing is not permitted.
12. Lead-offs are not permitted. A base runner must remain in contact with the bag until the hitter makes contact with the pitch.
13. If there are two outs, a manager may pinch run for any player scheduled to play the position of catcher the following inning. In such case, the most recent batter to have made an out must be the substitute runner.

14. A team may not hold any non-scheduled meetings consisting of five (5) or more players at a field or batting cage. Any such meetings will be considered an illegal practice subject to potential disciplinary action by the Board of Directors

Coach Pitch Offensive Play Rules.

1. Hitters will get 6 pitches or three swings. A foul tip or ball on the sixth pitch or 3rd swing will result in additional pitches until a ball is put in play or the hitter strikes out. There are no walks or free bases awarded to a batter hit by a pitch.

2. There are no on deck batters allowed inside or outside the gates.

3. There will be a continuous batting order that includes all players on the team roster present for the game.  Each player is required to bat in his/her respective spot in the batting order.  If a player arrives late to a game, they are added to the end of the current lineup.  

4. If a player is injured or leaves, the team will skip over him/her when it is his/her time at bat without penalty.  If the injured player returns, the player is inserted into its original spot in the batting order and the game continues.  If a player is injured while at bat and cannot continue, the next player in the line-up takes his place and assumes the injured player’s count.

5. An adult pitcher and no more than two adult base coaches are allowed on the field and one adult coach must remain in the dugout. No more than four coaches (including the manager) shall be permitted on the field/dugout on game day. Base coaches shall not touch any player while the ball is in play. Any such contact shall result in the runner being called out.

6. The adult pitcher must pitch from a position 40' from home plate.  The adult pitcher may not issue instructions to baserunners. The adult pitcher may issue instructions to the then current hitter between pitches. The adult pitcher must make a diligent effort to avoid balls in play and obstructing defensive players. The adult pitcher should promptly exit the field of play once a hit ball is put in play and remain in foul territory until time is called by the umpire.

 Coach Pitch Defensive Play Rules.

1.  Outfielders must be positioned at least 12' behind the grass/dirt line on Sugar Sand field numbers 1 and 2. On Sugar Sand field numbers 3 and 4, outfielders can be positioned on the grass/dirt line or behind. On the Don Estridge East field, outfielders can be positioned no more than 6 feet in front of the grass/dirt line. On all other fields, the minimum outfielder setback shall be determined by the umpire and managers at the plate meeting with the intention of creating sufficient separation between infield and outfield positions
2.  The defensive manager must make a concerted effort to keep infielders positioned out of the base lines when runners are on base.
3. The defensive player pitcher must start each play with at least one foot within an eight foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber (meaning a circle with an eight foot diameter). The umpire may in its sole discretion award first base to any batter thrown out at first by a pitcher fielding the ball after starting the play from an improper defensive position.
4. When an overthrow occurs to any base, baserunners may advance one base further only (at the runners’ risk). Play stops once runner safely reaches the next base. This rule shall apply to any base where there is a play being made, including an attempted throw to the pitcher in an attempt to end the play.
5. A defensive play is concluded when the ball is returned to the control of pitcher within the eight foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber, at which point the umpire shall call time, provided that if an infielder (whether playing at his primary position or acting as a cut-off man) makes an errant throw to the pitcher or the pitcher is otherwise unable to catch such a throw, the umpire shall call time when the baserunners have reached the next base safely in accordance with the overthrow rule in #4 above.  If the pitcher is not within the circle when an errant throw is made to the pitcher, it will not be considered an overthrow and is a live ball. If either an outfielder (or an infielder running into the outfield in a capacity other than a cut-off man) throws the ball to the pitcher from the outfield, then the pitcher must actually control the ball within the eight foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber for time to be called; such throw will not be deemed an overthrow under #4 immediately above if not controlled by the pitcher. Said another way, a throw from an outfielder (or an infielder roaming to make a play out of position in the outfield) to the pitcher that cannot be controlled by the pitcher results in an overthrow with all baserunners remaining eligible to advance at their risk, as a live ball.
6. Once (i) the pitcher actually controls the ball within the eight foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber or (ii) the umpire is required to call time in connection with an errant throw to the pitcher (or errant catch by the pitcher) from an infielder playing its infield position or the role of cut-off man, then in either such case, all play shall stop until the next batter comes to the plate. The pitcher shall not be permitted to continue the play in either such circumstance. In contrast, when the pitcher controls the ball while remaining outside the eight foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber, the ball remains live with the runners able to advance continuously at the runners’ risk.
7. When time is called by the umpire in accordance with the rules set forth in #5 above, all baserunners are deemed halted at the moment time is to be called. Any runner then being more than half way to the next base shall be advanced to the next base. Any runner less than half way to the next base shall be returned to the previous base. The determination of any runner’s position at the conclusion of a play shall be based upon the umpire’s sole judgment.
8. While on defense, each team shall provide 1 coach on the field to backup the catcher. This coach is not permitted to instruct players while a play is going on. The coach may not speak from when the pitcher begins to throw until the umpire calls timeout signifying the end of a play.

Coach Pitch Defensive Rotation Rules.

1. Every player must play an infield position (P, 1B, 2B, SS or 3B, but not including catcher) at least three (3) consecutive outs (one inning) within the first four innings of the game.

2. No player shall be allowed to play the same position for the first 4 innings of the game.

3. A player may play 5 total innings at the pitcher position, but no player may play the first four consecutive innings at the pitcher position, in conformity with the other defensive rotation rules herein.  
   
   

4. No player will sit out more than one (1) inning per game unless all other players have already sat out once.

5. The general assumption is that all players will have sufficient skill to play an infield position in accordance with the defensive rotation rules. If a manager determines that a player lacks sufficient skill to protect itself from a sharply hit ball to the infield, the manager may request a waiver of such player’s mandatory infield play via the following procedure: (i) the manager must request such a waiver via email from the BRLL Player Agent and obtain the Player Agent’s approval, (ii) the manager must forward the Player Agent’s approval notice to the division commissioner, (iii) the manager must discuss the situation with the player’s parents before implementing the waiver and (iv) the manager must notify each opposing manager prior to the start of a game that such waiver is in place. Despite obtaining such waiver, the manager and coaches must continue to work with such player in an effort to improve such player’s skill level so that the waiver is no longer required. The Player Agent may revoke such a waiver in the Player Agent’s sole discretion.

Conduct of Managers and Coaches.

1. It is the team manager’s duty to act as the primary liaison between BRLL and the manager’s players and team parents. Each manager shall establish a reliable means of communicating BRLL and team information to all team parents.

2. The manager shall become well versed in the rules governing the coach pitch division and cause each team coach to become similarly familiar with the rules.

3. Teams shall be limited to two pre-season practices per week and one practice per week during the regular season. No practices shall be permitted following the conclusion of the coach pitch division’s final regular season game.

4. On game day, only the manager shall be permitted to raise any questions or disputes with the umpire. Under no circumstances shall any assistant coach, sponsor or team parent be permitted to raise game related issues to the umpire. Any such concerns or questions must be presented by the team manager in the following manner: (i) the manager requests the umpire to call time, (ii) time is granted, (iii) the manager approaches the umpire and expresses the manager’s concern in a calm and dignified manner. It is not permissible for a manager to argue the judgment calls of an umpire under any circumstances. Game related concerns should only be communicated with the umpire and not the opposing manager and coaches unless the umpire elects to call a plate meeting. Under no circumstances shall a manager or other coach raise their voice, gesticulate aggressively or otherwise take any sort of non-congenial disposition towards an umpire and/or the other team’s coaches or manager.  If necessary, the division commissioner or a BRLL board member may be contacted to resolve any material rules dispute that may occur during a game.

5. The manager shall refrain from causing excessive game delays and shall raise between innings any concerns not having an immediate impact on game play or player safety.

6. The manager and coaches shall direct their players on-field in a manner appropriate for an instructional league and refrain from coaching players in a manner specifically intended solely to take advantage of the fact that some players’ skill levels will be insufficient to make what would be considered to be a routine play in the higher divisions.

7. The team manager is responsible for the conduct of its team parents on game day and shall follow any instructions of the umpire regarding the same. 

8. The team manager and all coaches on the field or in the dugout on game day must wear a league issued insignia coaches shirt at all times. 

9. The team manager shall be responsible for ensuring that its team follows the defensive player rotation rules in every game and as they may carry over from game to game.

10. The umpire may, in the umpire’s discretion, remove any coach or manager from any of the on-field coaching positions (including pitcher) if such coach or manager fails to adhere to applicable rules governing such on-field coaching position.

11. In the event that any manager, coach, sponsor or parent is ejected from a game by the umpire, such ejected person must remove themselves from the field area and wait for their player in the parking lot. Such ejected person shall also be prohibited from attending any BRLL game until after the conclusion of their child’s next game.

12. There is to be no alcoholic beverages or tobacco products consumed by coaches, volunteers or spectators at the fields before, during or after games or practices.

13. The Failure to follow these rules or any other rules and regulations of BRLL may result disciplinary action taken by the BRLL board of directors.

To break the tie between any two teams within a division:

The Team with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head games played between the two tied teams during the season; or

If the Teams remain tied, then to the tied Team that won the last game between the two tied teams during the season; or

If the Teams remain tied, then to the tied Team with the higher winning percentage in the divisional games during the season (use only if applicable); or

If the Teams remain tied, then to the tied Team with the higher winning percentage in the games played against the same opponents in cross divisional games (if another division exists).

If the teams remain tied, the last result of each team against the highest non-tied team within the division.  Note: use only one game per team, the latest game played. IF tied, then continue with the results of the last game against the 2nd highest non-tied team, then 3rd and so on; or

If teams remain tied that team with the highest season cumulative (all games) differential of runs scored less runs allowed will be used; or

If teams remain tied, that team that has scored the most total runs scored in all games.

To break the tie between any three or more teams within a division:

First, use only the result of the last game each team played against each other. The team with the best head-to-head Win-Loss record of those games advances or the team with the poorest record of the tied teams is eliminated.  As one or more teams advances or is eliminated from this process, remaining teams shall use the appropriate tie break system; or

If all teams remain tied, that team with the highest win/loss percentage of games played within the division.  If one team either advances or is eliminated from the process, the two teams remaining shall use the two team tie break; or

If teams remain tied, that team with the highest season cumulative (all games) differential of runs scored less runs allowed will be used. If one team either advances or is eliminated from the process, the two teams remaining shall use the two team tie break; or

If teams remain tied, that team with the most total runs scored in all games.

Examples :

1)   If the Team A, B and C end the season with identical records and it happens that A beat B the last game, B best C in their last game and A lost to C in their last game, A has a record of 1-1 B has a record of 1-1 and C has a record of 1-1. The finish would be determined by divisional record.

2)   If found B and C had tied with a better divisional record over A, then A would be seed last and eliminated from the tie breaker. With two teams remaining, B & C, use the two team tie break system, during the season B and C won and loss to each other, but since B won their last game against C, then B would be the higher seed, and C would be the next higher seed.  The ranking would be B,C,A.

3)   Two coach pitch teams (X and Y) have identical 7-6-1 records, they played each other 3 times and won-lost-tied a game with each other - the last game was a tie ’ and there was no other division, but the Y team beat the best team in the league last week that had a 13-1 record, team Y is the higher over team X since the last result the team against the highest non-tied team within the division.

4)   If 4 teams tied, and their records against each other was A: 2-0-1, B: 1-1-1 and C: 0-1-2, D: 1-2-0. Team A would advance to be the higher seed. With three teams remaining, restart the tie break procedure between B,C,D (removing the game against A): their records are now B: 1-0-1, C: 0-1-1 D: 1-1-0.  Team B would be next seed.  Then C and D remain and start into the two team tie break procedure. C and D played three times during the season, C beat D twice but lost to D the last game played, since C had the higher winning percentage in head-to-head games played between the two tied teams during the season, thus C is given the next seed and D would be the last seed.