Please remember that our players are 6-8 year olds and are playing
to have fun and to develop their baseball skills. Please play within
the rules and do not try to benefit from an incorrect or missed call.
For example, if you know one of your baserunners advanced an extra
base after the ball is controlled/thrown-in, but the umpire missed it,
please send your runner back to the appropriate base. Let’s
demonstrate good sportsmanship to our kids as coaches.

General rules
● Coaches must exchange line-ups prior to the game
● Line ups must list each players defensive position by inning
● All players in attendance will bat in the order listed in the line-up card.
● All players must play at least 2 innings in the infield by the end of the
5th inning. Catcher is considered an infield position (with the
understanding that by playoffs, all catchers will be geared up playing
behind home plate).
● All players will sit out one defensive inning before a player is scheduled
to sit out a second defensive inning.
● Games are Six (6) innings maximum until playoffs where teams can
play extra innings if tied after 6 complete innings.
● Scores are kept, but no standings or win/loss records during the
regular season.
● A new inning cannot be started after 90 minutes from the start of the
game (no time-limit in the playoffs where all six innings must be
played). Any inning, once begun, must be completed. Coaches and
umpires are to agree on the starting time prior to first pitch.
● Eight players are required to start and finish a game. Failure to field at
least 8 players will result in a forfeit. If agreeable to both teams, once
the game has been forfeited, non-roster players may be included to
allow for a practice game. Non-roster players must be M-A Little
League players.
• If an 8 th player arrives before the batting line up has turned
over (i.e. the lead off batter has had 2 at bats), the arriving
player can be slotted into the bottom of the lineup and the
game will be played as normal (prevailing score wins).
• If the 8 th player arrives after the batting lineup has turned
over, the arriving player can be slotted into the bottom of the

lineup, but the game will be treated as a forfeit by the team
who started with 7 players.
• If a player has to leave early, that players spot in the batting
lineup will be counted as an out going forward when they
would otherwise be due up to bat. However, that players
defensive position can be filled by another player who would
otherwise be on the bench that inning.

● Pitching machine speed is 4, 4, 7 setting or 40-42 MPH for all games,
including playoff games.
● The pitching machine may only be adjusted at the top of each inning.
The machine is to be calibrated before the top of the 1 st , 3 rd and 5 th
inning. When calibrating the machine, the pitch should be tested
using both a short player and tall player. Both coaches must be
present for the calibration.
● Umpire must show the ball to batter and defense before feeding
machine. Umpire should consistently let go of the ball in the same
position each time (i.e. 4 seam fastball).
● The same umpire must feed the machine for the full inning (top and
bottom half), but the umpires can switch in between innings
● Players may not hit off the pitching machine prior to the game (same
day) unless all available players from both teams are given equal time.
Defense
● Defense fields 10 players (using 4 outfielders).
● 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.
● Runners may not advance beyond their initial target base once the ball
is under the control of an infielder. Control means the fielder has
picked up the ball (in either hand).
● Runners may not advance beyond their initial target base once the ball
has been thrown by an outfielder. The quality of the throw does
not matter. For example, if an outfielder throws the ball but it does
not reach the infield, the runner is still not allowed to advance an
extra base.
● Outfielders will start the play 15 feet 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.

● Outfielders cannot 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 cannot make an unassisted out).
● 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 to the next base
from where they started.
Batting
● Teams bat until 3 outs are recorded or 5 runs have been scored
whichever comes 1st.
● 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, however only 5 runs count. Stop the inning
after the play ends and runners have stopped/scored. Only 5 runs
count.
● 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 the same number of batters
as the largest roster team, whichever comes first. For example, if one
team has 10 players and one team has 12 players, each team will get
12 final batters in the last inning maximum. This is to speed up the
game since there is no run limit in the last inning.
 In the unusual event that the away team reached the 5 run limit
before getting 3 outs and was not given the opportunity to score
additional runs, but then because of the passage of time it
becomes clear during the home teams at bat in the same inning
that it will be the last inning, the home team is then limited to 5
runs (i.e., both teams must have equal opportunity).
Note: The playoffs are different, and the last inning allows unlimited
runs scored by either team until 3 outs are made. In other words, you
can bat through your lineup (more than once if needed) until 3 outs
are made.
● No bunting – this is a developmental league and kids need to learn
proper swing mechanics!
● No batting warm ups – Little League rules clearly state there are to be
no warm up swings inside or outside the dugout. 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.
● Home-run line – there will be a home-run line 30 feet behind the
outfield defensive line (so 45 feet beyond the dirt). In the event, the
ball flies over the home-run line, the batter will be awarded a home-
run. However, there will still be a maximum of 5 runs per inning
except for the last inning. There will be no ground-rule doubles so
there is no impact of the ball rolling past the home-run line
● The batter is allowed 2 total “takes” on good pitches during an at-
bat, after which an additional take on a good pitch is considered a
strike. For example, if the pitch count is the following – take, swing,
take, swing, take - the 3 rd take will count as strike 3
• If a pitch is significantly out of the strike zone, as deemed by
the umpire, and the batter does not swing, it will not count
towards one of the 2 allowed takes.
• Umpires will be asked to call pitches as “take”, “strike” and
“ball” and to inform the batter when no more takes are
allowed.

● 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
● No composite or “big barrel” bats are to be used in either regular
season or playoffs. Only USAbats (bats stamped with the “USA” label)
are permitted.
Base Running
● No sliding unless avoiding a likely collision with a defensive player that
is covering the entire base. Teams (not players) will be given one
warning in a game, then future occurrences will be called outs.
● To ensure safety, if a runner does slide head-first, the runner will be
called out.
● There is no base stealing and no leads. Runners cannot leave their
bases before the ball is hit. Players (not teams) will be given one
warning in a game, then the runner will be called out in future
occurrences. In the event a baserunner is called out for leading
and it ends the inning, the current batter will start the next inning
with a fresh pitch count (i.e., no strikes or balls)
● There are no advances on a passed ball.
● Overthrows into the bleachers/stands at first base will NOT generate
an extra base call by the umpire. We want to encourage fielders to
make the throw to first base and not punish inaccurate throws.
● If a play is made on a child coming into any base and an overthrow is
made. An extra base is not to be taken. This helps to encourage the

players to make the throw to the appropriate base rather than always
throwing to the pitcher’s cylinder.
● The batter (and lead runners) can continue to advance on a ball hit
significantly past the outfielders until the ball is thrown by the
outfielder. If the runner is between bases when the ball is thrown back
to the infield, the runner can continue to the forward base and then
stop.
● In the event, a player is sent back to the previous base (i.e., if
the runner turns second base towards third after the ball has
been thrown in by the outfielder and the coach sends the player
back to second base), the runner is awarded safe passage back
to the base (the runner cannot be thrown out in this situation)