Little League Baseball & Softball Beginner Umpire Training · Little League Baseball & Softball...
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Little League Baseball & Softball Beginner Umpire Training Patrick O’Rourke, Umpire in chief, Redmond West [email protected] George Cannon, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected] Steven Kehrli, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected]
Transcript of Little League Baseball & Softball Beginner Umpire Training · Little League Baseball & Softball...
Little League Baseball & SoftballBeginner Umpire Training
Patrick O’Rourke, Umpire in chief, Redmond [email protected]
George Cannon, Umpire in chief, Kirkland [email protected]
Steven Kehrli, Umpire in chief, Kirkland [email protected]
Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out• Appeals
• Obstruction / interference
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system
• Appendix: 58-71
Actions:1. Provide your name, email, mobile, League, Division / team
• e.g., Joe West, [email protected], 425-123-4567, RWLL BB Coast / Braves
• E.g., Jill East, [email protected], 206-123-4567, KNLL SB AAA / Vision
2. Complete background check by March 113. See welcome email from Arbiter and log-in; edit your profile4. Sign-up to umpire games5. Get a hat for your league (RWLL, KALL or KNLL)
Version Feb. 27
Terms
• Batter
• Batter-Runner (BR)
• Runner (R1, R2, R3)
• Fielder (F1-F9)
• Protest, Appeal, (Gripe)
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http://www.littleleagueumpiring101.com/
http://umpirebible.com/rules.htm
http://www.littleleagueu.org/quiz/2016/06/02/LLU+Umpire+Quiz+101
Youtube: search “little league umpire”
Websites for learning
“It’s about kids and character development using baseball as a tool”
Pregame: Gear
Home Plate (HP) Umpire
• *^ Hat
• *^ Shirt (same color as bases)
• *^ Mask
• Grey slacks
• Black belt
• *^ Indicator
• Water
Base Umpire
• *^ Hat
• *^ Shirt (same color as HP)
• Grey slacks
• Black belt
• *Indicator (optional)
• Water
• Cleats/Turf shoes
• *^ Red flag (baseball only)
• Plate gear in the car!
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• *^ Ball bag (black, grey)
• *^ Plate brush
• *^ Chest protector
• *^ Shin guards
• Cup
• Plate shoes (optional)
• Small pencil
• Lineup holder (optional)
* RWLL provided^ KNLL provided
Pregame: Partner
• Check the rainout line• Hartman Park: Call (425) 200-0076 (Mon-Fri 3:01pm; Sat-Sun 8:01am). Or use
“rainoutline.com 2017” app for iOS and Android
• Big Finn Hill Park: 206-205-3893
• Juanita Beach & 132nd Square Park: 425-587-3345
• Meet partner 30 minutes before the game.
• Discuss your game plan:• Coverage—who’s looking for what.
• Signs: Infield fly, number of outs, 1st-to-3rd rotation
• What you’re working on improving; ask your partner to help you watch.
• Be done by 20 minutes before game time.5
Home Plate (HP) Umpire
Responsibilities
• Lineup card, pitching changes, work with scorekeeper
• Balls and strikes
• Catch / no catch on fly balls
• Fair / foul
• Ensure base coaches in position before first pitch
• R3 tagging up on fly ball
• Runner touching 3rd base on way to home plate
• Infield fly
• Game management (pace of warm-up pitches; play; manager visits)
Keep It Moving!
• Control the time• Returning pitcher only needs 5 pitches• By rule, teams have 1 minute to get ready.
• An extra 2 minutes between innings is more than 20 minutes per game. This is a full inning!
• If a ball goes foul or out of play, throw another ball to the pitcher and ask the catcher to get the foul ball.
• Do not let batter leave batter’s box
• Visits to pitcher• Note visit on lineup and scorebook• HP umpire brushes off plate• Then slow walk to mound• When you reach the mound, visit is over
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Base Umpire Responsibilities
• Safe and out at 1st, 2nd and 3rd
• Runners touching 1st and 2nd
• Runners retouching 1st and 2nd (fly ball)
• Batted balls that touch batter in the box (foul!)
• Interference (by the runner on the primary fielder)
• Obstruction (by a defense player on a runner/batter-runner)
• Runner leaving early at 1st, 2nd and 3rd (use peripheral vision; eyes toward batter)
• Keep an eye on the dugouts for an adult in the dugout
Base Umpire Positioning
• “A” position• Behind first base, in foul territory
• No runners
• “B” position• Behind second baseman
• R1 only
• “C” position• Behind shortstop
• The rest of the time
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Base Umpire Rotation• Inside-out:
• When the ball stays in the infield, the umpire stays outside the diamond
• Outside-in:• When the ball goes to the outfield,
the umpire moves inside the diamond
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Pregame: Field
• Bases• Secured, break-away
• Double first for softball
• Foul lines
• Live ball / dead ball territory (dugout and cement path to dugout)
• Pitcher’s mound/rubber distance from point of home plate • 46-feet baseball
• 40ft for Majors softball; 35ft for Coast/AAA softball; 42ft for Juniors
• Home run fence (gaps)
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Pregame: Teams
• Adults may not warm up pitchers• Before a game
• During a game
• After a game
• Players standing near the bat during fielding practice must wear a catcher’s helmet.
• Teams should leave their gear out of bags ready for inspection while they take infield practice.
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Pregame: Check player
equipment
• Bats• Baseball: USA Bat logo for aluminum or composite only,
or a wood bat; 2 5/8" diameter or less; 33” or less in length
• Softball: BPF 1.20, 2 1/4" diameter, 33” or less in length• No dents or splits in bats• Illegal bat must be removed from play• No bat rings (donuts)!
• Batting helmets: look for cracks
• Catcher’s gear• Mask with dangling throat guard
• Uniforms• Pitchers can’t have white sleeves showing• No neoprene sleeve on pitching arm; arm sleeves must
be uniform color
• Jewelry: no watches, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc.
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Pregame: Plate meeting• Umpires and 2 managers only.
• Use managers’ first names
• Start 5 minutes before game time
• Provide heads-up to managers 5 minutes prior to plate meeting
• Collect lineups
• Umpires control the game starting at this point
• Time limits
• Generally, no new inning after 2 hours; stop at 2hr, 15 mins
• Brief synopsis of ground rules (specific to the field)
• Player with mask/catcher’s mit to warm-up pitcher
• If the field is too wet to play the game, umpire decision from this point forward to suspend play.
• Get game balls (2-3; more on a wet day)
• Confirm that all players are legal and properly equipped
• Confirm which players aren’t eligible to pitch
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Starting the game
• 9 or more players on each team.
• Fielders (except catcher) in fair territory.
• Batter in the box.
• No one on deck. All other offensive players in dugout.
• Base coaches• Can be players with helmets
• One adult in the dugout always!
• Limit of 1 manager plus 2 coaches
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Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out • Appeals
• Obstruction / interference
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system
How to call safe and out
Order is important!
1. Move into position [angle more important than distance]
2. Play is about to happen: stop moving.
3. Play happens: watch.
4. Think about what you saw.
5. Find the ball. Make sure it’s where you think it is.
6. Decide what your call is going to be.
7. Announce + signal the result to everybody (if not obvious)
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How a Runner Can Be Put Out
• Runner is tagged while off a base.
• Runner or next base is tagged when runner is forced.
• Runner passes a preceding runner.
• With a fielder attempting to make a tag, runner goes more than 3-feet to the side of a line from the runner to the base.
• Runner abandons the bases.
• Runner slides headfirst while advancing a base
• Runner fails to either slide or attempt to get around a fielder waiting to make a tag
• Missed touching a base (appeal play: later).
• Failing to retouch after a catch (appeal play: later).
• Batter-runner touches the ball outside of the batter’s box (usually running to 1B)
• Interference (see later slide).
Catch or No-Catch?
• It’s a catch when the ball is in flight and the fielder shows:
• Secure possession of the ball in the hand or glove.
• Complete control of the ball.
• Voluntary release of the ball.
• It’s a no-catch once the ball is no longer in flight:
• It has hit the ground.
• It has hit the fence or any other object.
• It has touched any person other than a fielder.
• When it’s a catch, the batter is out.
• It can be a catch in foul territory (ball stays live).
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Tag plays
• Unless forced, runners can only be put out by being tagged when off a bag.
• A tag requires control of the ball by the fielder.
• A tag may be made with the ball itself or with the glove when the ball is inside the glove.
• If the ball comes out during the tag, the fielder didn’t have control.
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Force Plays
• A force starts when a batter hits a fair ball.
• A runner is forced if he/she must advance to make room for the Batter-runner (BR) going to 1st, or for another runner who is forced.
• A force ends when the runner in question reaches the next base or when a following runner is put out.
• Example: R1, R3. When the batter hits the ball, R1 is forced to 2nd, but R3 is not forced. If the BR tries for 2nd, R1 is not forced to 3rd. If the BR is put out at 1st, the force on R1 is removed.
• A forced runner can be put out either by tagging the runner or by tagging his next base before the force ends.
• To tag the base, the fielder needs possession of the ball (in hand or glove) and contact with the base.
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Plays on the Batter-Runner (BR) at 1st
• She’s out if she’s tagged before reaching 1st base.• With ball securely held in a hand• With a glove securely holding the ball
• He’s out if 1st is tagged before he reaches it.• With any part of the fielder’s body with the
ball securely held in the fielder’s hand or glove.
• He’s protected if he runs straight through 1st and returns.• He can turn either way!• He loses protection if he makes a move
toward 2nd
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Note: batter-runner is past 1st base and the umpire still hasn’t made a call. That’s good timing!
Plays at the plate
• Timing! – wait until players stop moving
• Can be a force play
• Positioning: 3rd base line extended
• Mask and indicator in left hand
• Does the catcher have the ball?
• Wait for the dust to clear
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Double first base
• Allowed but not required at any level• Typically used in softball only
• Most of the time, the colored side doesn’t exist• Fielder forcing out the BR
• Runner returning to 1st
• Runner touching the base before the pitch
• When there’s a play on the BR at 1st base,the BR must use the colored side.
• When there’s not a play on the BR, he may use either side.
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Leaving Early
• On 60’ diamonds, runners must maintain contact with their bases during a pitch.
• Requirement starts when ALL of these are true:• Pitcher has ball and is in contact with the rubber (softball: in the circle, not
threatening)• Catcher has his mask on and is behind the plate facing the pitcher• The runner is not currently advancing.
• Requirement ends when EITHER:• The pitcher disengages the mound• The pitch reaches the batter (baseball, AAA and Coast softball)• The ball leaves the pitcher’s hand (Majors softball)
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Leaving Early: Softball
• Immediate dead ball (no pitch) – call “time”
• The runner is out.
• If two or more runners left early, you can only call one out.• Pick the most advanced runner.
• Majors and higher:• Runners may leave when the pitcher releases the ball
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Leaving Early: Baseball
• If any runner leaves early, all runners left early.
• When the play is over and nothing else is going to happen, call time.
• If the batter hit the ball, the plate umpire judges the base value of the hit. • Don’t give the batter extra bases because of errant throws or because he
advanced while a play happened.• Be guided by where the batter was when the ball was thrown back to the
infield.
• All outs stand.
• Return all runners to their starting bases unless this would push the batter further back than the value of his hit.
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Angle over distance!• Being “straightlined” to the play is bad;
get 45-degree angle
• Being too far away is bad, but not very bad.
• If you have to choose between them, opt for angle
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Appealsit’s an “unmistakable action” and must be specific
Non-runner
• Batting out of order (appeal by the defense)
• Checked-swing by batter (appeal can be made by catcher or manager)
• Umpire’s improper application of the rule. The affected team's manager (and onlythe manager) may request time and approach the umpire to appeal the decision. This does not apply to judgement calls.
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Runner
• The ball must be “live” to make an appeal on a runner.
• Failed to tag-up on a fly ball
• Failed to touch a base
• After overrunning or oversliding first base, the batter-runner fails to return immediately to the base
• At home plate an advancing runner (running or sliding) fails to touch home base and makes no attempt to return to touch the base; the fielder can appeal by touching either the runner or home plate
http://umpirebible.com/rules/appeals.htm
The Manager Appeal on a non-runner appeal
• If there is reasonable doubt, a manager can appeal the decision. Rule 9.02(b).
• Ask for help from another umpire. Rule 9.02(c).
• You cannot be overruled or criticized by another umpire. Rule 9.02(c).
• No one can object to a judgement by an umpire. Rule 9.02(a). Start with “In my opinion…”
• You have the authority to rule on any point not covered. Rule 9.01(c).
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Obstruction• Fielder, not in possession of the ball or act of
fielding the ball, impedes the progress of a runner
• Type A: play is being made on obstructed runner. Example: Catcher waiting for throw as runner trying to score.
• Action: immediate dead ball – “time, that’s obstruction.”
• Penalty: at least 1 base beyond the last base touched
• Type B: play isn’t being made on obstructed runner. Example: 1B gets in the way of batter-runner going to 2nd base
• Action: delayed dead ball; yell “that’s obstruction”and pointer to offender
• Penalty: umpire judgement to place runner at advanced base or not
Type BCatcher attempts to throw out runner at 3B, but ball gets past fielder and
into left field. The defensive player obstructs R3 from running to home. Base umpire yells “that’s obstruction” and lets play continue.
When R3 is thrown out at home plate, the HP umpire points to base umpire who made the call, and that umpire makes the call – R3 is safe at home.
Type APlay is being made on runner trying to score, and defensive player doesn’t have the ball.
Interference• Offensive interference: an act by the team at bat that
interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
• Example: base runner hit by batted ball
• Example: base runner impedes defense from fielding a ball
• Example: base coach interference
• Action: immediate dead ball – “time, that’s interference”
• Penalty: runner is out, and move other runners back to previous base
• Batter’s interference• Interfere with a catcher’s throw, play at the plate, hits catcher with
backswing
• Defensive (catcher’s) interference• Catcher’s mitt interferes with swing
• If dead ball, delayed dead ball – “time, that’s interference” and batter is awarded 1B
• If ball put in play, wait to see what happens. Call time after play ends, and offensive coach chooses to accept play or penalty
Defensive (catcher’s) interference
Offensive interference
http://www.littleleagueumpiring101.com/obstruction-and-interference/
Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system
Fair or Foul?
Where is the ball when…
• It is touched or settles before 1st/3rd
• “Touched” means by a person.
• It first touches a person, an object or the ground after passing 1st/3rd in the air
• It passes the front edge of 1st/3rd after bouncing
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Fair or Foul?
• When it’s not obvious a foul, say “foul” and push the door open to signal foul
• When it is an obvious foul ball (e.g., hits the fence, goes out of play), just push the door open
• Never say “fair” – just point.
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Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system
The Pitcher
• Two legal pitching positions: set and windup.
• Softball has one legal position/motion.
• Illegal pitches:• Quick pitch (batter not reasonably ready)• Pitching while not in contact with the rubber• SOFTBALL ONLY: back foot comes off the ground; ball not shown to batter;
crow hop
• Penalty for illegal pitch: Ball.• Ignored if batter reaches 1st and all runners advance.
• The pitcher does not have to come to a stop (60’ diamond)
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The Pitch
• It’s a strike if:• The batter attempts to hit the ball
and misses.
• The batter hits a foul with less than two strikes.
• Any part of the ball crosses any part of the strike zone before hitting the ground.
• Otherwise, it’s a ball
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How to call balls and strikes
• Be completely still during the pitch
• Track the ball with your eyes
• Evaluate the trajectory and the zone
• Decide what you’re going to call
• Stay down to call balls, come up to call strikes
• Provide pitcher the count when needed, or on an “action count” (3 balls, or 2 strikes)
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How to call balls and strikes
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Working the slot
• Set up with head between the batter and the catcher
• Slot foot (batter’s side): toe even with batter’s heels AND catcher’s heels
• Drop foot: toe even with slot foot heel
• Head: chin no lower than catcher’s helmet
• Back: straight—be sitting on a stool, not leaning over
• Nose: pointed at the strike zone
• Chin: pointed toward opposite front of plate
• Eyes: are the only things to move
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Foul tips: don’t confuse this with a foul ball
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Only occurs when…
• Bat hits the ball and the ball travels sharp and direct into the catcher’s hand or glove, and catcher catches the ball.
It’s a live ball
• Runners can steal bases
• It’s as if the batter missed the ball• It’s a strike• It can be strike 3
Base umpire: can help HP umpire withcatch/no catch, if requested
Bunts
• A bunt is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat.
• If a bunt goes fair, it’s just like any other batted ball.
• If a bunt goes foul, it’s a foul ball. If there were two strikes on the batter, then the batter is out.
• If the batter holds the bat out to bunt but doesn’t move it toward the ball, it’s not an attempt in baseball (and thus not a swinging strike). This is an attempt in softball.
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End of an at-bat
• Three strikes: an out
• Four balls: a walk
• Hit by pitch (then awarded 1st base)
• Batter interferes with play at plate or throw by catcher: batter is out
• Defensive interference: batter is awarded 1st base
• Hits the ball into play: the fun stuff starts happening!
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Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system
Hit by a pitch
• Ouch!
• The ball is always dead (“Time!”)
• Usually, the batter goes to first
• If the batter swung, it’s a strike
• If the ball was in the strike zone, it’s a strike
• The batter was born with hands. The bat wasn’t.
• If the batter didn’t attempt to avoid the ball, it’s a ball
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Live ball/Dead ball
• Ball becomes live when the umpire points at the pitcher and says “Play!”• Wait until the pitcher has the ball on the rubber.
• Wait until fielders are in fair territory.
• Wait until runners are on the correct bases.
• Usually wait for a batter to be ready.
• Ball becomes dead when the umpire says “Time” or “Foul.”• Sometimes it’s implied or obvious.
• Nothing can happen when the ball is dead.
• No one except the umpire can call time.
• The offense will not be granted time-out to confer with a player more than once per inning (except for injury).
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Thrown balls out of play
• Thrown by a fielder (or a batted ball intentionally deflected): two bases from Time-of-Throw.• First play by an infielder, Time-of-Pitch. Unless the batter and all runners have
advanced a base.
• Pitched: one base from Time-of-Pitch. If it’s ball four, the batter gets 1st only.
• A fielder with the ball falls in dead-ball territory: one base
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Batted balls out of play
• When a ball enters dead ball territory or becomes lodged (in catcher’s or umpire’s gear), the umpire calls “Time” and moves runners depending on how the ball got there.
• Foul ball: runners return to their base from time-of-pitch.
• Fair ball and it goes over the home run fence before touching anything except a fielder: four bases.
• Any other batted, fair ball: two bases from time-of-pitch
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Pitching substitutions
• A new pitcher gets 8 warm-up pitches, or 1+ minutes.• Returning pitchers only need 5, depending on hustle.
• Each pitcher must face at least one batter before being removed, including the starting pitcher on the lineup.
• The pitcher must be replaced after the 3rd visit by the manager to the same pitcher in an inning (2nd visit for Majors and above) or the 4th
visit in a game. (3rd visit for Majors and above)• A visit is a time-out granted for the manager or a coach to confer with any
defensive player.• When the pitcher is being replaced, a visit is not charged to the new pitcher.• In case of injury, the umpire should monitor the discussion and not charge a
visit as long as the only topic is the injury.
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Who Can Call Time?
• Only an umpire can call time
• A manager or player may ask for time. The umpire may or may not grant the request.
• Wait until all action is complete (unless for safety) and there is a reason to do so.
• When judging safety, use common sense. Does the player need an ice pack or an ambulance. For the latter, call time right away.
• Remember, time creates a dead ball
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Agenda
• Pre-game
• Safe and out
• Fair ball, foul ball
• Strike and ball
• Time
• Arbiter system: self-assign to umpire games
Arbiter system – home page
#1: District 9
#2: self-assign and review your schedule
#3: Contact info for other umps
#4: Insert mobile and recognizable photo
#5: check box
#6: message from D9 umps
Arbiter: self-assign
#1: Self-assign
#2: Filter by site: RWLL uses Hartman Park; KNLL uses Big Finn Hill, Juanita Beach, 132nd Square
#3: Can also filter by date
#4: Tournaments only
Arbiter: see your schedule with calendar
#1: Filter: next 30 days
#2: click apply
Arbiter: see your schedule, partner
#1: Filter: show all
#2: Each game has a #
#3: choose plate (HP) or bases
See field, home (3rd base dugout) and away (1st base dugout) teams
Field training: attend one of themBring waterDress warmStretchBring umpire hat (mask if you have it)You’ll receive umpire shirt
Saturday, March 10 1:30pm – 4:00pm Hartman Park (Redmond)Field 6 (turf)
Sunday, March 4 1:00 - 3:30pm Kamiakin Middle School gym (Kirkland)
or
Complete volunteer form, background check by March 11
Appendix and Extras
Patrick O’Rourke, Umpire in chief, Redmond [email protected]
George Cannon, Umpire in chief, Kirkland [email protected]
Steven Kehrli, Umpire in chief, Kirkland [email protected]
Little League baseball mythsthe following are all false statements
1. The hands are considered part of the bat.<No. The hand is part of the body. You have to decide if ball hit bat or hand first>
2. The batter-runner must turn to his/her right after over-running first base.<No. The BR can turn either direction and return directly back to 1B>
3. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.<No. Home plate is in fair territory. Watch for where the ball is touched.>
4. The batter can never be called out for interference if he/she is in the batter's box.<No. On plays at the plate, the batter needs to figure out a way to get out of the defense’s way.>
5. The home plate umpire can overrule the other umpires at anytime.<No. The bases umpire can consult the HP umpire on a proper appeal if the bases umpire requests help.>
6. Tie goes to the runner.<No. The batter-runner must acquire 1B before the defense properly puts them out.>
7. Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out.<No. A bases coach can’t physically assist a runner. It’s a judgement call for the umpire. A high-five isn’t assisting a runner.>
8. The pitcher gets 8 warm-up pitches before starting the inning.<No. Teams get 1 minute between innings. For younger ages, 90 seconds between innings.>
9. Runners cannot advance bases when the pitcher has the ball on the mound.<No. Runners must return to their base when the pitcher is engaged with the pitching rubber, and is ready to pitch, and the catcher is ready to receive a pitch, and the runner is not advancing.>
10. The runner must always slide when the play is close.<No. On a close play in a tag situation, the runner must try to avoid the tag. Sliding is only one way to avoid the tag.>
11. A runner is out if he/she runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.<No. A runner’s path to the base isn’t established until a fielder has the ball and where the runner is located. Then the runner has 3-feet either side, or a “step and a reach” away from the defender.>
12. If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.<No. Fair and foul balls are judged based on where the ball is located relative to the foul line when touched or hits the ground.>
New rules for 2018Updated the bat rule for all baseball divisions to comply with the USABat standard for non-wood bats. (Pages 66-67 in Baseball; Rule 1.10)
Mandates a softball pitcher’s glove shall not be nor have the color of the ball being used in the game (Page 65; Rule 1.15a)
Allows items to be worn on a softball pitcher’s glove arm (non-pitching arm) so long as they are of a solid, single color: black, white, gray, or uniform color. (Pages 65 and 108; Rule 1.15c and 8.02a).
Clarifies the softball pitcher’s release and follow through must be past the vertical line of the body. (Page 107; Rule 8.01q).
Updates the penalty for a softball batter hit by a pitch during an illegal pitch for Junior and Senior divisions. (Pages 108-109; Rule 8.01/8.05)
Clarifies that any parties caught stealing and relaying pitch selection will be ejected – local league option. (Page 117 in Baseball, 111 in Softball; Rule 9.01d)
All divisions of baseball: No player may pitch on three consecutive days. Both regular season and tournament.
Games suspended in the first inning are resumed like any other game. No more erasing the game if rain started before 6 outs were recorded. This impact pitch count and batter statistics.
15-run mercy rule after 3 innings, is in addition to the 10-run rule after 4 innings. Optional for the regular season.
In baseball and softball, Majors division and above, managers may only visit the same pitcher once in an inning; with the 2nd visit of the same pitcher in an inning, the pitcher must be removed. A manager may only visit the same pitcher twice in the same game; with the 3rd visit to the same pitcher in a game, that pitcher must be replaced.
Reworked the substitution rule. Continuous Batting Order is still the same, which means that for us it will likely only affect Seniors. Now it’s like tournament subs: players can’t change spots in the batting order. Also provided for a pitcher’s sub to pinch-hit once without removing the pitcher, provided both have already met minimum play (1 at-bat and 6 outs).
https://www.littleleague.org/playing-rules/rule-changes/
New rules from 2017Keep One Foot In Batter’s Box
• RWLL enforced Majors baseball and softball only
• KNLL enforced Majors and AAA baseball, Softball Coast and Major
• Local leagues will have the option to mandate batters keep one foot in the batter’s box throughout their at-bat, barring 8 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.
Intentional Walk
• For Minor and Major Divisions of Baseball, defensive teams will now be able to 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.
Batting Out of Order
• This is an appeal play. The umpires and scorekeeper never call attention to this situation.
• Question 1: Who is the proper batter?• Hint: He is the one after the last batter
• Question 2: When did the appeal happen?• While the improper batter is still at bat? The proper batter takes his place in the
batter’s box with the current count
• After a first pitch (or other play) to another batter? Too late
• After the improper batter has completed the at-bat but before the next pitch (or play)? The proper batter is out. Whatever happened on the final pitch is nullified. The batter after the proper batter (who is now out) is due up.
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Batting Out of Order – ExamplesExample 1: Order is A-B-C-D-E-F. A on 3rd. B on 1st. No outs.
• C is the proper batter. But D bats instead.• If appealed, C becomes batter.
• D flies out. No runners advance. C bats.• If defense appeals: C is out. D’s out is erased. D is next.
• C swings and misses at first pitch. B steals 2nd.• If appealed, E becomes batter. D was legalized.
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Example 2: same scenarios as #1.
• C walks. E bats.• If defense appeals: E is out. F is next. B remains at 2nd.
• E takes first pitch.• If appealed, D becomes batter.
• E hits a single to center. A scores. B on 3rd. C on 2nd. E on 1st.• If the defense appeals, D is out. A’s run is erased. A returns to 3rd. B returns to 2nd. C returns to 1st.
RWLL appendix
Run limits for RWLL
• In AAA/Coast baseball and softball • 5 runs per inning: if the offense scores 5 runs before committing 3 outs in
innings 1-5, then the inning is over. The scorekeeper will tell the umpire if 5 runs have been scored. No run limit in the 6th inning.
• 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over.
• Majors baseball and softball
• 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over.
Time limits for RWLL• No new inning may start after 2 hours and the game must be stopped at 2
hours and 15 minutes, except as noted below. • The scorekeeper shall record the official start time of the current game, and may notify
the plate umpire at the precise moment that time limits are reached if requested by the plate umpire. A new inning begins at the moment the third out is made on the home team.
• MAJORS / COAST - Time limits shall not apply when there is no following game. On fields with lights, time limits shall apply even when there is no following game if the game is played on a weeknight (Sun-Thurs) and the scheduled starting time of the game is after 6:30 p.m.
• AAA - No new inning will start after 2 hours. With no game following, the last inning may be played until completion. • The final inning may have unlimited runs scored for both teams if the plate umpire
declares an inning prior to the 6th inning the final inning. [Note: This is an umpire decision, not a manager discussion.]
• All teams: Tuesday/Thursday games schedule for 5:00pm on Hartman #5 and Harman #6 will be played as follows: No new inning may begin after 7:00pm; Drop dead at 7:10pm. At 7:15pm the teams must immediately leave the fields.
Complete a volunteer form / background
check
www.redwestll.org/background-check
KNLL appendixKNLL Local Rules: http://www.kirklandnational.com/rules
KNLL Umpire Links: http://www.kirklandnational.com/umpires
Run limits for KNLL
• In AA/AAA baseball and softball • 5 runs per inning: if the offense scores 5 runs before committing 3 outs in
innings 1-5, then the inning is over. The scorekeeper will tell the umpire if 5 runs have been scored. No run limit in the 6th inning.
• 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over.
• Majors baseball and softball
• 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over.
Time limits for KNLL
• AA is hard-stop after 2 hours from scheduled start time.
• AAA is hard-stop after 2 hours 10 minutes from scheduled start time.
• Majors is hard-stop after 2 hours 20 minutes from scheduled start time unless the last scheduled game of the day.
Complete a volunteer form / background checkhttp://www.kirklandnational.com/forms
