District 12 Little League Baseball Tournament Information

District 12 Little League BaseballTournament Information

Points of Emphasis District 12 Little League Tournament Information District Administrator is responsible for scheduling and supervising all district tournament games All International Tournaments are authorized by the International Board of Directors of Little League Leagues opting to participate must do so with full understanding of the rules and regulations

Observe Baseball’s Cardinal Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information District official administers the game Umpires officiate the game Coaches coach the game Players play the game Concentrate on your area of the game

What You Should Bring to the Game District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Minimum of 3 Wilson A1074 SST baseballs with the RS-T (Regular Season and Tournament) designation; Alternate is MacGregor 76C with RST designation. • Minimum of 3 Wilson A1072 BSST baseballs with the RST designation. They should read Senior Little League Alternate is MacGregor 73C • Minimum of six (Little League and below) or seven (Intermediate and above) NOCSAE approved batting helmets with warning labels • No stickers/paint permitted on helmets other than single letter/logo without written manufacturer approval. • Face guards must also be NOCSAE certified 4

What You Should Bring to the Game District 12 Little League Tournament Information • $45 per game for umpire fees. $67.50 for semi-final, championship, and ‘If’ games. • $20 show-up fee is payable should game be cancelled after scheduled start but not officially started. Once games starts full fee is required. • Should game be continued on a subsequent day new umpires will be assigned and another full fee will be due. • Original affidavit with yellow sheet attached. 5

Uniform Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Managers and coaches must adhere to District 12 and NJ dress code.They may wear shorts if all wear shorts. • Cargo style shorts are not permitted • All players must have the official Little League patch on the uniform • All teams must carry a blood uniform

Safety “If you see it - flee it, if you hear it - clear it” District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Lightning and Thunder Policy • The field is cleared at the first sign of lightning or thunder • Each delay is a minimum of 30 minutes • Subsequent lightning or thunder resets the clock • Players MUST stay in dugout (covered) or protected area

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Catchers must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet/mask with a dangling throat guard • Skullcaps are not permitted • Male catchers must wear a cup • Catchers must wear a helmet/mask during infield warm-ups • Players warming up pitchers between innings or in the bullpen must wear a helmet/mask • Coaches can not warm up any player

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • There is NO on-deck circle in Little League baseball and softball • Only one batter allowed on field between innings • Holding a bat in the dugout is not permitted • Batting donuts are not permitted • No on-field team meetings between innings. Meetings must be held in dead-ball territory • Little League Baseball Bats must have the USA Bat stamp.

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • The on-deck position is permitted in the Intermediate Division • Intermediate Division bats (2 5/8”) • Bats must have a USA Bat stamp or BBCOR stamp

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Any time a team is warming up, pre-game or between innings, the other team must be in a protected area • Jewelry is not permitted to be worn. This includes, but is not limited to: • Earrings • Necklaces, including the popular titanium magnetic necklaces • Bracelets, including metal, string, leather, cloth or rubber band “cause” bracelets • Exception: Jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition is permissible (must be secured in some manner)

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Slash bunting is permitted • Please teach your players how to defend themselves. • Umpires will inspect all bats and helmets before the game. No other bats are to be brought into the dugouts. Please line up bats and helmets in front of the dugout before team introductions.

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information Umpires are inspecting bats looking for USA Bat stamp, cracks, dents, burrs, rattles. 50-70 bats must have USA Bat stamp or BBCOR stamp. When inspecting helmets they are looking for cracks, missing padding or painted helmets. All must have NOCSAE stamp and may have league logo and player number. Face guards must be NOCSAE certified.

Regulation Game District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Each tournament game must be played to the point of being an official game • Regulation games are of four or more innings in which one team has scored more runs than the other…(3 1/2) if the home team is ahead. • Intermediate regulation game is five or more innings. • Regulation games (when a winner can be determined) terminated because of weather, darkness or curfew must NOT be resumed. This does not mean games suspended or delayed by weather that may still be resumed before darkness or curfew on the same day • If two games are scheduled for the same site, no “time limit” may be imposed on the first game

Regulation Game District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Mercy Rule • If at the end of three innings (2 ½ if the Home team is winning), one team has a lead of 15 runs or more, or, if at the end of four innings (3 ½ if the Home team is winning), one team has a lead of 10 runs or more, the manager of the team with fewer runs shall concede the victory to the opponent • For Intermediate, it is 15 run lead after 4, and 10 run lead after 5

Regulation Game District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Curfew • No new inning may start after midnight (12:30 am for Intermediate Division • Games stopped due to weather, darkness, curfew, etc., but are not yet official, will be considered a suspended game

Extra Innings - Tiebreaker District 12 Little League Tournament Information When six innings are completed [Intermediate: seven innings] and the score is tied, the following tiebreaker will be played to determine a winning team: • The seventh inning [Intermediate: eighth inning] will be played as normal. • Starting in the top of the eighth inning [Intermediate: ninth inning], and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base.

Pre-game Activities District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Home/Away is determined by coin toss one hour before each game (except if game) • Coin toss will take place one hour before scheduled game time whether or not team has arrived at the game site • Team on top of bracket will call toss • Winner gets choice of home/away • Home team takes 1st base dugout • Away team takes 3rd base dugout

Pre-game Activities District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Official line-up (form provided) shall be given to the Game Director (Do not separate the sheets!) at least 20 minutes prior to game time, who will distribute to: • Opposing team • Chief umpire • Press box • The line up shall include: • Starting player’s full name, number, and position • Substitutes full name and number • Manager and coaches full names • Names of ineligible pitchers

Pre-game Activities District 12 Little League Tournament Information

Pre-game Activities District 12 Little League Tournament Information At the discretion of the Game Director and time permitting, teams will be permitted up to15 minutes of infield/outfield prior to game time Home team 45 min. prior to game time Visiting team 30 min. prior to game time Infield/Outfield warm-ups may take place on the game field or a designated warm-up area On field warm-ups are not guaranteed.

Pre-game Activities District 12 Little League Tournament Information Pre-game Meeting Representatives from both teams will meet with the umpires and Game Director five minutes prior to game time. Ground rules and game particulars will be discussed. Roster size for each team will be determined by the number of players present at this time. Umpires are in control of the game from this point forward.

Who’s Allowed in the Dugout District 12 Little League Tournament Information Number of coaches allowed in dugout during the game is determined by the number of players present when the pre-game meeting begins. A team with 12 or more players may have one manager and two coaches in the dugout A team with fewer than 12 players may have only one manager and one coach in the dugout. * Must be named on the affidavit including any temporary replacement

Who’s Allowed in the Dugout District 12 Little League Tournament Information Only the rostered manager and coaches are allowed in the dugout or on the playing field before or during the game At least one coach must be in the dugout at all times

Who’s Allowed in the Dugout District 12 Little League Tournament Information Scorekeepers, unless they are a rostered coach, are not permitted in the dugout or have contact with coaches, players, or umpires and must sit at the far end of the bleachers Cell phones (text/voice) are not permitted to be used Scoring apps (GameChanger, etc.) are permitted

Game/On-field Conduct District 12 Little League Tournament Information All coaches (except while coaching bases) must remain in the dugout area (dead ball territory) at all times. Do not stand or sit outside the fenced area of the dugout. Base coaches must remain in the dugout until the defensive team has completed their preparatory pitches/infield warm-up and the umpire gives permission to leave the dugout

Game/On-field Conduct District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Managers and coaches shall not: • Address or mingle with spectators • Sit in the stands • Warm-up players on the field at any time • Leave the bench or dugout area except to confer with a player or umpire • You must have permission from an umpire to leave the bench or dugout area • Players shall be in the dugout and on their bench at all times except when at bat or in the field

Mandatory Play Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information • If team has 13+ players all players shall participate in the game for a minimum of 1 at bat. • If team has 12 or fewer players all players must play defensively at least 6 consecutive outs and bat at least once. • Six (6) consecutive defensive outs is defined as: A player enters the field in one of the nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defense and occupies such position while 6 consecutive outs are made • Bat at least one (1) time is defined as: A player enters the batters box with no count and completes that time at bat by being put out or by reaching base safely

Mandatory Play Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information • There is NO exception to the mandatory play rule unless the game is shortened for any reason (10 run rule, rain, darkness, curfew, etc.) • A game is not considered shortened if the home team does not complete the offensive half of the sixth (or any extra inning) due to winning the game • Violation of the mandatory play rule if protested or brought to the attention of the tournament committee may result in the manager being removed from the position.

Mandatory Play Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information Prior to the start of play in the top of the fourth inning [Intermediate: fifth inning] the umpire-in-chief or other individual designated by the game Tournament Director, in consultation with the official scorer, shall advise both team managers of their obligations to insert all players who have not completed their mandatory play requirement into the line-up as outlined. A manager’s failure/refusal to insert players into the line-up as outlined shall result in immediate ejection of the manager and removal for the remainder of the International Tournament.

Mandatory Play Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information If a team has 12 or fewer players in uniform at the start of the pre-game meeting, and is: Visiting Team: Any player(s) who has yet to enter the game to meet the defensive requirements of mandatory play must be inserted prior to the first pitch or play in the bottom half of the fourth inning [Intermediate: fifth inning] into one of the next six (6) positions in the line-up. Home Team: Any player(s) who has yet to enter the game to meet the defensive requirements of mandatory play must be inserted prior to the first pitch or play in the top half of the fifth inning [Intermediate: sixth inning] into one of the next three positions in the line-up.

Mandatory Play Requirements District 12 Little League Tournament Information If a team has 13 or more players in uniform at the start of the pre-game meeting, players must be inserted into the line-up to bat offensively during the: Visiting Team: Players must be inserted into the line-up to bat offensively during the fourth or fifth inning, or as one of the first three batters in the sixth inning [Intermediate: fifth or sixth inning, or as one of the first three batters in the seventh inning]. Home Team: Players must be inserted into the line-up to bat offensively during the fourth inning or as one of the first three batter in the fifth inning [Intermediate: fifth inning or as one of the first three batters in the sixth inning].

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Defensive Conferences • Trips to the mound (1-2-3 rule) • One per inning • Second per inning is removal • Third in a game is removal • Offensive Conference • One offensive time-out per inning

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Pitch count limits • Ages 13 -14; 95 pitches per day • Ages 11-12; 85 pitches per day • Ages 9-10; 75 pitches per day • Age 8; 50 pitches per day • If a pitcher has reached his pitch count limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until one of the following: • The batter reaches base • The batter is retired • The third out is made to complete the half-inning

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information • An intentional walk may be executed by the manager asking for, and receiving, time out from the umpire, then indicating they wish to walk the batter. No pitches need to be thrown. Four pitches shall be added to the pitch count. • This must be requested prior to the first pitch to the batter.

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information Pitchers must observe mandatory rest: Threshold: The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar days of rest for the threshold reached, providing that pitcher is removed before delivering a pitch to another batter.

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game can not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. (Threshold rule applies) Players who have played the position of catcher for four or more innings may not pitch on that calendar day. (One pitch = inning) A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day. (Threshold rule applies)

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers. Intermediate Division: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher but only once per game.

Pitching Rules Baseball Only District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Pitching in suspended games resumed next day: • If fewer than 20 pitches; may continue with zero pitch count • 21-40 pitches; pitch count picks up from previous game. • 41+ pitches; not eligible • Pitching when game intervenes: see Rule 4(h) • Pitchers may pitch to the extent of their eligibility if they pitched in another game.

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information Pitching in consecutive games is permitted subject to rest requirements Players may NOT pitch on three consecutive days A tournament pitcher may not pitch in Little League regular season or special games while the team is still participating in the tournament Violation of pitching rules if protested or brought to the attention of the tournament committee may result in a 2 game suspension for the manager

Substitution District 12 Little League Tournament Information Defensive: Must be made as team takes the field Offensive: Must be made as player comes to bat, or while player is on base. Refer to uniform number, not name

Substitution District 12 Little League Tournament Information Any player who has been removed for a sub may re-enter in the same batting position provided the sub has met the mandatory play requirements. A sub entering the game for the first time may not be removed prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements. A starting player may be removed from the game before completing the mandatory play requirements The starter and sub may not be in the game at the same time

Substitution District 12 Little League Tournament Information • If illness, injury or the ejection of a player prevents a team from legally fielding nine (9) players, a player previously used in the lineup may be inserted, but only if there are no other eligible substitutes available. • The opposing team manager shall select the player to re-enter the lineup • A player ejected from the game is not eligible for re-entry

Special Pinch Runner District 12 Little League Tournament Information Once per inning, but not more than twice per game, any player not currently in the game may be used as a special pinch runner for any offensive player A player may only be removed for a special pinch runner once per game There is no “Courtesy Runner” in Little League.

“Stay In Box” rule District 12 Little League Tournament Information Batters MUST keep one foot in the batter’s box during their at bat, with the following exceptions: On a swing, slap, or check swing When forced out of the box by a pitch. When the batter attempts a “drag bunt” in Baseball [or attempts a “slap” or “slap bunt” in Softball] When the catcher does not catch the pitched ball. When a play has been attempted. When time has been called. When the pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound or takes a position more than five feet from the pitcher’s plate after receiving the ball or the catcher leaves the catcher’s box. On a three ball count pitch that is a strike that the batter thinks is a ball.

Uncaught Third Strike District 12 Little League Tournament Information 8-10 Tournament: Batter is out 9-11, 10-12, Intermediate Tournaments: Batter is out if first base is occupied with less than two outs. If first base is not occupied or there are two outs, batter becomes runner and defense must put him/her out.

Appeals District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Know how to make a proper appeal • An appeal should be clearly intended as an appeal • A verbal request by a player to the umpire • An act that unmistakably indicates an appeal to the umpire • Appeals must be made while the ball is live

Appeals District 12 Little League Tournament Information • An appeal may be made by the defense in any of the following ways: • By touching the runner they believe committed a base running infraction • By touching the base they believe was missed while the runner was advancing • By touching the original base that a runner left before a fly ball was caught

Appeals District 12 Little League Tournament Information • The defense loses their right to appeal when any of the following actions occur: • A pitch is made to the next batter • An illegal pitch is committed before or as part of an appeal attempt • When the throw made in an appeal attempt goes into dead ball territory • During an appeal, the ball is live and runners may advance

Protests District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Protests are considered only when based on: • Misinterpretation of the playing rules • Use of an ineligible pitcher • Use of an ineligible player • Violation of mandatory play requirements • Umpire judgment (ball, strike, safe, out, fair, foul) can not be protested

District 12 Little League Baseball Tournament Information