2009 Local Rules - Toccoa Little League

Local Rules are the addition to, or modification of, regular Little League Rules to reflect the playing rules, conduct, safely conditions, special field conditions, Tournament Selection, and other league management issues. The following local rules, adopted by the Board of Directors of Toccoa Little League, supplement the 2009 Toccoa Little League Constitution, and the 2009 Official Little League Regulations and Playing Rules.

NOTE: Local Rules apply only to games being played between TLL teams. Games played between TLL teams and teams from other Leagues in interleague play are governed by Little League Rules, unless the “interleague league” has modified those rules.

A.         Manager/Coach Selection

The League Board is responsible for evaluating the performance of managers and coaches. Managers and coaches are approved each year for that season only. Each manager or coach must complete an application for their position and submit it to the League along with a Volunteer Application. No Player Agent will be a manager/coach of record, in the same league in which they are a Player Agent.

B.        Manager/Coach Responsibilities

The manager and coaches are responsible for learning and teaching the rules of Little League Baseball, Inc. and Toccoa Little League. All managers and coaches must comply with Little League rules. The Player Agent and the manager share responsibility in assuring all coaches for each team are presented to the Board for review. They are also responsible for following the rules regarding completion of Volunteer Application forms for background checks for anyone with direct involvement with children in the TLL program. Failure to comply will result in said person(s) inability to participate.

Managers shall inspect their equipment prior to each game. Any damaged equipment must not be used and the manager shall notify the Equipment Manager. TLL will not be responsible for equipment acquired personally by managers or coaches.

All home teams are responsible for lining-off the field and installing bases before the game. After the game, the home team is responsible for removing the bases and raking the field—including the pitcher’s mound and batter’s area. For TLL teams deemed as visitors, they are responsible for providing the Official Scorekeeper.

All teams are responsible for picking up trash in and around their assigned dugout after each game. No food will be allowed in the dugout during a game.

While on the field, caps will be worn properly and shirts must be tucked in. Full uniform will be worn. Caps and visors are optional in Girls Softball. (Rule 1.11) Teams are required to wear plain gray pants during the regular season.

C.         Manager/Coach/League Official/Parent/Fan Conduct

players, coaches, or managers will not be tolerated. Chanting or yelling, which interferes with the play of an opposing player or verbal abuse of any player, is not permitted. Team members, the manager and two coaches are the only persons allowed in or around the dugout. Parents and fans are not allowed in the dugout. Any parent or fan wishing to discuss any matters with the manager or coach must do so after the game—never during and never in front of children if tone and subject are inappropriate.

The actions of players, managers, coaches, umpires, and League Officials must always be above reproach. Any manager, coach, or League Official using profanity in or around players will be suspended for one (1) game. A second offence will result in suspension for the remainder of the season. Rules governing the conduct of managers, coaches, and players toward any of the teams, fans, and umpires are outlined in the Official Rule Book and shall be followed accordingly. Managers and coaches must remain in the dugout during games.

Managers and coaches are reminded that a person ejected from a game will leave the ballpark, to include the parking lot and surrounding park area, within 2 minutes. Failure to do so could result in a possible forfeiture to the team being played. TLL will not tolerate uncontrolled or unsportsmanlike conduct. Players who have been ejected cannot leave the ballpark without their parent or guardian.

No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by managers, coaches, or League Officials at the ballpark.  Managers, coaches, or League Officials should not consume alcoholic beverages prior to games or practices. Any offense will result in automatic suspension for the remainder of the season. No tobacco products are allowed on the field or in the dugouts during games or practices.

D.       Players

Any player out for a three (3) week period or six (6) games due to injury shall be replaced on the roster, provided the manager has presented notification in writing to the player’s parent(s)/guardian and the Player Agent. Immediate replacement can be taken if duration of injury is equal to or more than the three (3) week period.  Replacement of players will follow the procedures as outlined in the Official Operating Manual. Any Junior/Senior Baseball Player or any Softball Player in any Division may return when capable of playing.

No player may be dropped from a team roster without the League’s Board of Director’s approval. Managers must submit a written request to the Player Agent to dismiss a player for disciplinary reasons. However, prior to submission of said request to the Player Agent, said agent should meet with the manager, the player, and player’s parent(s)/guardian at least once. The Board will review the request for suspension and render a decision within two (2) days of receipt thereof as provided in Article III, Section I (B) of the By-Laws.

If a player cannot complete the Major League season, the Major League Manager must notify the Player Agent. The Player Agent will contact the player and his/her family to determine whether the player will/can not play and should be removed from the roster.

1.    If a replacement is needed and the replacement is consistent with Official Regulations and Playing Rules (a reasonable amount of time for replacement of a player constitutes their ability to play 50% of the regular season), the Player Agent will advise the President and Vice President of the need for replacement. This executive Committee will confirm the withdrawal of the player and the vacancy on the team.  The Player Agent will present the removal of the player at the next Board Meeting or to a special meeting of the board, if a meeting is not scheduled within 7 days of the vacancy. After the board confirms the player’s removal, the Player Agent and the Secretary will advise the District Administrator and  LLB Inc. of the player removal.

2.    TLL prohibits replacement from the Minor League to the Major League during the last four weeks of the season.

3.    Players can only be released for the following reasons:

a.    Moved out of the league boundaries and wishes to play for the league located within the new area of residence.

b.    Medical reason (this requires a Dr’s statement)

c.    Resigns from the League and assigned team.

d.    Disciplinary reasons (must be approved by the Board of Directors).  The Board will review the request for suspension and render a decision within two (2) days of receipt thereof as provided in Article III, Section 4 of the constitution.

4.    For Little League Baseball, the Replacement Player must be selected from the eligible Minor League Players. For Senior League or Junior League Baseball and Softball, the Replacement Player must be selected from the eligible Player Pool, if one exists. A minimum of twelve (12) Players can be acceted upon Board approval. If a Player Pool does not exist, the Player Agent or V.P. shall try to locate a Player

5.    A child may not leave nor be removed from the dugout while a game is in progress without prior consent of the Manager or Coach.

Under the disciplinary procedures for player members, if a player is found guilty of actions that are a detriment to their team and the league, the Board will impose a 2 game suspension for each offense and/or revoke participation for the current year.

E.       Maximum Team Meetings per Week (Monday-Saturday)

During the Regular Season, each team is allowed to meet a maximum of four (4) times a week. This includes games and practices.  (Example:    2 games + 2 practices = 4 meetings) Sunday games and practices are prohibited, except by prior Board approval. The Board of Directors encourages a minimum of two (2) Coaches at each practice.

F.          Make up Games

Wednesday or any rained out games on Thursday and Friday shall be rescheduled for Saturday of the same week. Rescheduling rained out games shall be the responsibility of the League V.P. and Player Agent  

In the event of a rained out game on Opening Day or when two (2) games are scheduled and the preceding game is rained out, subsequent games will not be automatically postponed. It is the responsibility of the Manager and Coaches to be present prior to their scheduled game, at which time a decision will be made.

G.         Time Limits On Games

     1.   Games shall be called whenever the following applies:         

a.) Rookie (7-8) and Softball Minor (7-9) – No new inning shall start after a one and half (1 ½) hour time limit is reach. 

b.) Major & Minor League - The game shall be called after four (4) innings or three and a  half (3 ½) innings if the home team is leading by fifteen (15) runs.

                         .

c.) Junior/Senior League – The game shall be called after five (5)innings or four and a half (4 ½) innings if the home team is leading by 10 runs.           

     2.   All Junior/Senior League games will be played within a two and a half (2 ½) hour time limit. All Little League and Minor League games will be played within a two (2) hour time limit. The official starting time will be recorded by the Head Umpire and Official Scorekeeper. No new inning will begin after the time limit has expired. This time does not apply to a single game night.

     3.   In all situations, a new inning shall not begin after:

a) 10:00PM for Major and Minor Baseball and Softball

b) 10:30PM for JR/SR Baseball and Softball

     4.   Time permitting, infield warm-ups will be allowed prior to the start of a game. However, no game start will be delayed for warm-ups. The decision shall be at the discretion of the Umpire in charge.

H.       Team Structure

      Baseball                                       No. of Teams                            Ages

Rookie League                            6                              7, 8

Minor League                              7                              9, 10, 11

Major League                              5                              10, 11, 12

JR League                                  4                              13, 14,

SR League                                  2                              15, 16

Big League                                                                 16, 17, 18

 Softball

Minor League                               4                         7, 8, 9

Major League                              3                              10, 11, 12

JR/SR League                                                              13, 14, 15, 16

Little League Major Division team roster shall consist of ages twelve (12), eleven (11), and ten (10) year olds to complete a twelve (12) man roster.  The Major Division teams shall not consist of more than eight (8) twelve year olds per team. 

Softball - girls ages thirteen (13) through sixteen 16) years of age will combine for regular season play. Twelve (12) year olds will not be eligible to play in the Junior/Senior Division.

Mandatory playtime, for every Player, will consist of six (6) consecutive defensive outs and one (1) at bat.  Mandatory playtime does not apply to Big League. Refer to Section IV (i) of the Official Regulations and Playing Rules regarding Penalties for noncompliance.

Note: If child enters game at the beginning of the half (1/2) inning and the five (5) run rule is imposed that is considered their three (3) outs.

Minor/Rookie Baseball and Softball have a five (5) run limit per half inning. Once the 5 run limit is reach the inning is over regardless of the number of outs remaining.

Regulation VI – Pitchers - Minor League (which includes Rookie) and Major League will follow the pitching rules as outlined in Option 1.  Refer to the Official Reg and Playing Rules VI (d) p. 35.

I.          Manager/Coach/Player Tournament Selection   

All-Star Managers for all Divisions will be presented to the BOD’s by recommendation of the Regular season Managers in their respective Divisions. The BOD’s will ultimately make the final decision.                                                                                                                                                 

The selection of All-Star Players for all Divisions will be as follows: the regular season managers  will select the first ten (10)  within their respective divisions, with the All-Star Manager selecting the remaining positions to complete no less than a twelve (12) man roster.

Tournament Changes: Team must have scheduled and played twelve (12) games to be eligible for play.  Individuals must have played 60% of the games played.

J.       Fundraising

  Policy concerning fundraising and raising money for All-Star teams…

Our Constitution states in Article XI, Section 3 that the Board of Directors shall not permit the solicitation of funds in the name of Little League Baseball or Little League Softball, unless all the funds raised are placed in the local Little League Treasury. Penalty for noncompliance will be the immediate release of the manager and coaches.

Managers and coaches are required to participate in work projects and fundraisers. Managers and coaches shall also encourage parents and players to participate in work projects and fundraisers when applicable—failure to comply could result in disciplinary action such as being ineligible to manage or coach during All-Star games.

K.         Protest

Playing Rules Book, section 4.19, (a-h). The Umpire and Manager are encouraged to resolve the protest immediately. If a formal protest is lodged, the protesting manager should request that the Official Scorekeeper enter the time, inning and number of outs at the time of the protest on the official score sheet. The game is continued “under protest” and the protesting Manager must submit a written description of the play and the basis of the protest to the League VP and President within 24-hours of completion of the game. The opposing manager and the home plate Umpire must submit rebuttal letters regarding the protest within 24-hours of notification by the League VP that the written protest has been received. The Chief Umpire, the Player Agent, the League VP and the League President will resolve the protest. EXCEPTIONS:

Note: Formal protests are not allowed in Minor League. Protests must be resolved on the field at the time of play. The managers are encouraged to resolve the disagreements immediately. Letters describing on ongoing problem should be submitted to the League VP.