Featured Sponsors:

1. Pitching machine speed - 5.0 setting (will increase speed in May)
2. Pitching machine adjustments - adjustments can be made during an inning (please use your discretion wisely) only height adjustments (pitch speed must remain constant)
3. The "player pitcher" must have one foot within the circle surrounding the pitching machine, and not be closer to home plate than the machine, until the ball crosses the plate or is hit by the batter.
4. Coaches swap line-ups before the game
5. Defense fields 10 players (using 4 outfielders)
6. All kids need to play at least 2 innings in the infield by the end of the 5th inning. Catcher does not count as an infield position. (In May this may change if kids are being developed as catchers – big discussion to be had here)
7. No sliding into first base
8. No head first sliding into any base
9. There is no base stealing and no leads. Runners cannot leave their bases before the ball is hit. There are no advances on a passed ball.
10. Play is stopped if the ball is thrown into the pitchers cylinder with the
    pitcher in the cylinder trying to make a play on the ball
11. Mercy rule - 5 runs per inning regardless of how many outs or number of runners on base. If a 6th or 7th run is scored in conjunction with the 5th run that is fine. Stop the inning after the play ends and runners have stopped/scored. Only 5 runs count – not that we’re keeping score.
12. A new inning can not be started after 90 minutes from the start of the game. Any inning, once begun, must be completed. Coaches and umpires are to agree on the starting time prior to first pitch.
13. In the agreed upon last inning (coaches need to agree on the last inning before it starts), each team will hit until the defense gets three (3) outs or the batting team goes through their entire line-up once, whichever comes first. There is no run limit in the last inning but you may only bat through your lineup one time.
14. We will not be keeping score until playoffs
15. If a play is made on a child coming into 2nd or 3rd base and an overthrow is made. An extra base is not to be taken (this will be in effect until further notice - we will re-evaluate in early May with the help of the Development committee). This helps to encourage the players to make the throw to the appropriate base rather than always throwing to the pitcher’s cylinder.
16. Overthrows at first base will generate one extra base
17. No bunting – this is a developmental league and kids need to learn proper swing mechanics!
18. No batting warm ups – Little League rules clearly state there are to be no warm up swings inside or outside the dug out. All warm up swings should be taken when the batter gets to the batter’s box. This is a major safety issue we must abide by; keep your kids in your dugout at all times. This also applies to the batting cage, it must remain closed and locked during all games, no warm up or practicing is allowed in the cage during games for safety issues and liability reasons!
19. Outfielders will start the play 10 yards behind the dirt infield (a line
    will be painted delineating this point - and you need to make sure you touch up that line when getting the field ready for your games). Remind your players to stay at or behind that line. Coaches for the team at bat should feel encouraged to remind the other coaches (defensive team) if the defensive team’s players are crowding into the infield.
20. Outfielders can not move into the infield and make an out as an
    infielder (e.g. Runner on 1B, CF fields a single up the middle, CF picks up the ball and runs to second base to get the force out - he can throw the ball to the second baseman but can not make an unassisted out).
21. If a player is not swinging at good pitches, the umpire will be directed to start calling strikes. The limit for these situations is 3 good pitches in a row not swung at and this does not “re-set” after a swing. There are no walks.
22. Six (6) innings maximum for all games, there are no extra innings because score is not being kept until playoffs.
23. If a hit ball makes contact with the pitching machine the batter is awarded a single and any runner(s) is/are allowed to advance one base. Play is dead when the ball hits the machine.
24. If a player throws the ball and hits the pitching machine during the normal course of play, the play is called dead and base runners are allowed to advance one base. For instance, a ball is hit to 3B and the player throws through the cylinder hitting the machine, batter is awarded 1B and any runner is allowed to advance one base from where they started.
25. Umpire must show the ball to batter and defense before feeding machine

REMEMBER: Our 12 yr old umpires are going to make a bunch of great calls and a number of bad calls over the course of the year. When this happens be supportive and do not question the call. At the end of the game make sure that all players thank the umpires.