2025 Updates

1. Uniforms (Added)
2. Coaches (updated)
3. Pitch Counts (updated)
4. Equal Team Size (added)
5. Mercy Rule (added)
6. Minimum Playing time (changed)
7. Sign Stealing (added)
8. Showing Bunt (Added)

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Umpires

If only one umpire shows up for a game, coaches will jointly appoint someone (e.g., a parent) as the field umpire.  If coaches cannot agree on the appointee, then only one umpire will be used. Coaches must not make “shadow” calls or other gestures which might influence an umpire’s call.  For example, coaches must not signal outs or make safe signs before a call is made. An umpire’s judgment call shall not be questioned after it has been made. Coaches may request clarification on the proper application of rules to a specific situation. At their sole discretion, umpires may request help from another umpire, but they are not required to do so.

Uniforms

Jerseys should be tucked in and worn as the most outer layer (e.g. outside a sweatshirt).

Coaches

When a team is at bat, two adult base coaches are allowed on the field. A team may only have three (3) coaches on the field or in the dugout at any given time. Only two base coaches are allowed on the field.

Fielding a Team/Forfeit

A team forfeits a game if it does not have nine (9) players and an official coach ready to play within 15 minutes after the umpire’s official start time. A team also forfeits if it does not have at least eight (8) players playing throughout the game.

Equal Team Size Rule

Season Start Roster Balance: At the start of the season, each team should strive to have the same number of players on their roster. 

Game Day Roster: On game days, matched teams should communicate 48 hours ahead of the game with the goal of being +/- 1 player.

Lineup

Coaches will exchange lineups before the game. Lineups consist of both batting order as well as defensive positions for each inning. Players must be identified on the lineup card by full name and number. Coaches shall identify on their line-up cards players who are not eligible to pitch under the pitching rules below. Line-up cards shall be in a form so that the players are listed in the first column in the order they are batting and their positions by inning are listed in the same row as their name. Substitutions are allowed provided that they are clearly communicated before the substitution to the opposing coach. Minimum playing time and other rules requirements must still be observed.

Mercy Rule

If a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 4 innings (or 3.5 innings if the home team is leading) the game is immediately over. Additionally, if a team is ahead by 8 or more runs after 5 innings (or 4.5 innings if the home team is leading) the game is immediately over.

Resumed Game/Suspended Game

Occasionally we have tie games or otherwise suspended games that must resume on a different day. This document compiles Little League and M-ALL local rules that can impact the resumption of the game.

Inning Length

An inning is 3 outs, unless the mercy rule goes into effect in which the game is immediately over.

Batting Order

All players present shall bat based on their position in the team’s batting order that is presented to the coach of the opposing team at the beginning of the game. Players arriving at the game after the game has begun shall be moved to the bottom of the batting order and shall remain at that position in the batting order for the entire game. If a player leaves the game, that player will be skipped in the batting order and no out is recorded.

Minimum Playing Time

All players present at the start of the game must play (i) four (4) complete defensive innings or 12 outs; and (ii) at least one (1) full inning in the infield by the end of the 5th inning. If the visiting team could have complied with this rule had it played defense in the bottom of the 6th inning (i.e., the home team won the game before it batted in the 6th inning), the visiting team will not be considered to have violated this rule. The four defensive innings or 12 out requirement is reduced by the number of full or partial innings of defense a late arriving or early leaving player missed. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the late arriving or early leaving player must still play one full inning in the infield. If it is determined that a team failed to comply with these minimum play requirements, it will result in that team’s forfeit of that game.

NOTE: The above rules are only a minimum requirement and coaches are encouraged to offer each player the same quality playing time as all others regardless of ability. If a coach has a player or parent inform them that they do not want the player to play in the infield due to safety or other issues, then upon notice to and approval of the appropriate Commissioner this requirement will be waived for this particular player.

Batting/Walks

Bunting is allowed. Walks are allowed. Strikes are called. A pitcher may walk a runner home. Defensive teams can 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.

Sliding

No sliding head first to advance to a base, but is allowed going back to a base. If a player is deemed to have slid head first while attempting to advance, they will be called out.

Pitching Rules

• Game Pitch Count Limits: Pitchers have specific pitch count limits for each game based on their league age. The maximum number of pitches per day by age of player is shown in the table below. A pitcher who reaches one of the thresholds above while facing a batter may continue to face that batter until the batter is retired or reaches base. If the pitcher is removed at that point, the pitcher will only be required to observe the number of days rest for the threshold reached during the at-bat; provided the pitcher is removed before facing another batter.
• Rest: The number of pitches delivered in a game will also determine the amount of rest the player must have before pitching again. Required rest is calculated in calendar days and not hours or any other measure of time. For example, a pitcher who throws 40 pitches in a game Wednesday morning cannot pitch until Saturday.

Maximum Pitches per Day

• 11-12 year olds
  • Through March: 60
  • Through April: 70
  • May and June: 85
• 9-10 year olds
  • Through March: 50
  • Through April: 60
  • May and June: 75

Rest Days Required

• 66+ Pitches = 4 calendar days
• 51-65 Pitches = 3 calendar days
• 36-50 Pitches = 2 calendar days
• 21-35 Pitches = 1 calendar day
• 1-20 Pitches = No rest required

NOTE: Protests regarding violation of these rules shall be made upon discovery to the opposing coach and to the umpire. The Commissioner shall be notified immediately following the game.

• Reporting: After each game, coaches must confer and agree on the number of pitches thrown for each pitcher who pitched during the game. Pitch counts and results should be posted by the winning team to the league website within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game.
• Substitution: Players once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. A pitcher that is replaced in the middle of a count inherits the count for purposes of the game. The replacement pitcher does not inherit the pitches for purposes of the Game Pitch Count Limits and Rest rules.
• Hit Batters: If a pitcher hits three batters total over one or more innings, he/she must be replaced. That pitcher may not return to the game as a pitcher.
• Mound Visits: A coach may visit a pitcher on the mound once per inning. That pitcher must be replaced after a second visit to the mound in the same inning. Once the pitcher is replaced, the coach may visit the new pitcher on the mound in that inning once before having to replace the new pitcher. A pitcher must be replaced after a third (total) visit to that pitcher on the mound over the course of the game.
• Catching After Pitching: A pitcher who delivers more than 40 pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

NOTE: As a point of clarification, a pitcher can have played the position of catcher prior to pitching more than 40 pitches in a game.

• Pitching After Catching: Any player who has played catcher in four (4) or more innings (whether playing in all of an inning or in any portion of an inning) in a game is not eligible to pitch on that day.

NOTE: As an example, this rule would prohibit a player from playing catcher in the 1st and 2nd innings; pitching in the 3rd inning and then catching in the 4th and 5th innings.

Leadoffs/Stealing/Base Running

Base runners are not allowed to take leads. Once a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s rubber, in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher’s box, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has passed home plate. Base runners may advance only after the ball passes home plate. If the pitcher does not control the ball on a throwback from the catcher, runners may steal and continue to take bases until the pitcher has the ball and is in contact with the pitcher’s rubber and the catcher is in the catcher’s box. Stealing home is permitted and provided that the other rules are followed. Coaches may not physically assist base runners (e.g., pushing the runner off a base or grabbing a runner to stop the runner from taking another base). If a coach physically touches a base runner, the base runner will be called out. There is no sliding head first to advance to a base, but is allowed going back to a base.

Pinch Runners

In the event a runner is injured and cannot continue on base, the pinch runner shall be the last batter out (i.e., not the last runner out). A courtesy runner will also be allowed for any player on base with two outs who will be catching the next inning. This is intended solely to expedite the pace of the game. The courtesy runner shall be the last batter out.

Overthrows

Baserunners may only advance one base on an overthrow that goes out of play. The out-of-bounds line is typically defined as the fence in front of the dugout extended into the outfield unless the out-of-bounds is otherwise clearly marked. If, and as long as, the ball remains in-bounds, there is no limit to the number of bases that the runner may advance. This rule is applicable regardless of the base being thrown to.

Ground Rule Double

An award of two bases from the time of pitch to all baserunners including the batter as a result of the ball leaving the field of play after being hit fairly.

Blocking Bases

See Little League National “Obstruction” Rule 7.06 and Rule 2.00 (definition of “Obstruction”).

Sign Stealing

You cannot steal signs. If a player is caught, the player and head coach are thrown out of the game.

Showing bunt

If a player shows a bunt, they cannot take a swing and if they do, the player is out.