CANYON HILLS LITTLE LEAGUE

“A” Division Local Rules

2008 Spring Ball

Board Approved:  1/11/08

The “2008 Little League Baseball Official Rule Book” shall be used as the official rules and guidelines for the Canyon Hills Little League.  The purpose of these Local League rules is to establish guidelines in addition to the Little League Official Rule Book and in no way is intended to lessen or supersede those rules.  Final interpretation of a rule shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors:

I.          LOCAL LEAGUE RULES

A.        Batting order shall consist of all rostered players.

B.         If a roster player does NOT start the game, they MUST start the following game.

C.        A continuous batting order shall be used for all games (ie., if batter #5 makes the last out in game #2, then batter #6 shall bat first in game #3).

D.        The slide or avoid contact rule shall be in effect for all games (Rule 7.08(a3).

E.        Any runner is out when the runner slides headfirst into a base moving forward.  This rule does not apply when returning to a base, such as during a run down.

F.         There will be no base stealing or leading off.  Base runners may only advance 1 base in the event of an overthrown ball by the defensive team.

G.        The offense is retired when 3 outs are recorded or when 9 players have batted in an inning.

H.        In the event 9 batters are used, the inning concludes when the defense records any out or when a defensive player has possession of the ball and touches home plate, no tag of any player at home plate is required on this play.

I.          No standings or scorekeeping shall be allowed. NO SCOREBOOKS SHALL BE ALLOWED AT THE FIELD DURING A GAME AT ANY TIME.

J.         No official protests of any game shall be allowed. 

K.        Final interpretation of a rule shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors.

L.         Problems or conflicts shall be the responsibility of the Division Vice-President or Player Agent.

M.        The offensive manager or coach shall pitch to the batter, with the at-bat concluding after the batter hits the ball or strikes out.

N.        The pitching plate shall be a distance of 40 feet from home plate.

O.        Manager or coach may pitch from the front portion of the mound instead of on top of the mound.

P.        The strike zone is over home plate (17" width) and between the batter's armpits and top of their knees. The "A" strike zone may be expanded by mutual agreement with both managers prior to the start of the game.

Q.        Ten defensive players may be placed on the field with a regulation infield and a "rover" position in the outfield.

R.        No player shall sit out defensively for consecutive innings.

S.        Managers and coaches may coach both first and third as long as there is a Board approved volunteer in the dugout.

II.                  PLAYER/COACH SAFETY

A.         Players MUST NOT wear watches, rings, pins or jewelry of any kind. In the event a medical alert bracelet or necklace is worn, it is to be taped down to the player’s body.

B.         A pitcher will be removed from pitching if 2 batters are hit by a pitch from the same pitcher in the same inning.

C.        No manager or coach is allowed behind home plate without wearing full umpire or catcher's gear.

III.                 ELIGIBILITY

A.         A player must be league age 7.  Exception: 6 yr olds with one year prior experience in T-Ball may play with Board approval.

IV.                TEAMS

A.          No interleague play or practice shall take place.

V.         TIME LIMITS

A.         No new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 5 minutes from the scheduled starting time of the game, not when the game actually starts.  Maximum game time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.  This is a “Drop Dead” time. 

NO EXCEPTIONS.

B.         Rained out games may be rescheduled by the Director of Scheduling and made up as soon as possible.

VI.                MANAGERS AND COACHES

A.        Managers and coaches shall acknowledge their respective duties and responsibilities (as outlined in the “2008 Canyon Hills Little League Manager & Coaches Responsibility” handout) by signature and adhere to said duties and responsibilities.

B.                 The manager shall have the option of having as many Board approved coaches on the team roster as they would like.  At no time during a game shall there be a combined total of more than 3 Board approved volunteers (managers, coaches, etc.) in the dugout or on the field.

C.        Both team managers are responsible for ensuring that the baseball field is ready for play (raked, chalked, bases out, etc.) prior to the scheduled starting time of the game.  The visiting team manager is responsible for ensuring that at the end of their game, all league equipment (bases, rakes, chalker, etc.) is either put away in the shed or turned over to the home team manager of the next game.

D.        Both managers are to supply one game ball for each game played.

E.        "A" division shall be umpired by a manager or coach from each of the playing teams. The defensive manager or coach shall call balls and strikes against the offense. The offensive manager or coach shall call plays made at first and third. Defensive manager or coach shall call second and home plate.

F.         Managers will be assessed a $50 deposit in the beginning of the season to ensure that all snack bar duties are met and equipment loaned out has been returned.

G.        The team manager is responsible for ensuring their team’s fulfillment of its snack bar related obligations.  General obligations will be supplying workers for snack bar duty.  Failure to meet your team’s snack bar obligation can result in one or more of the following;

·         A $25 fee assessed to the manager’s $50 deposit.

·         The Manager is suspended for 1 game.

·         The Manager is suspended for 2 consecutive games.

·         The Manager is taken before Board for consideration.

ANY SUSPENSIONS SHALL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH THE 1^ST GAME FOLLOWING THE MISSED SNACK BAR ASSIGNMENT.

VII.                SECOND HALF OF SEASON RULES

A.        A defensive player will pitch to a batter.

B.        A player may not pitch more than 2 innings per game.

C.                After a count of 4 balls, the manager or coach of the team at bat shall pitch the remaining strike count with the umpire calling the remaining strikes. The batter shall either get a hit or strike out.

PENALTIES NOT PREVIOUSLY STATED FOR THESE LOCAL RULES SHALL BE AS OUTLINED IN THE 2008 LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL RULE BOOK.