STLL AAA League Local Rules

STLL AAA League Local Rules

 

The AAA League is an instructional league program for 9 year old players.  The Leagues operate under the authority of the South Tonka Little League (STLL) Board and is coordinated by the AAA League Director.  The AAA League coaches emphasize learning fundamental baseball skills.

 

1. Teams
1. A team shall consist of STLL registered players of league age 9 as of April 30.
2. Teams are formed by the League Director based on player geographic location, school attended and player requests.  The STLL Board must approve the teams.
3. Each team shall have a coach and one or more assistant coaches.  Coaches are recommended by the League Director and approved by the STLL Board.
2. Game Format
1. Each game will consist of no more than 6 innings.  No inning shall start after 8:00pm or 90 minutes after the start of the game (whichever is earlier).
2. A team must field a minimum of 8 players to start a game.  In the case of less than eight players, the following options may be used to field a full team:

                                                              i.      Recruit players from another STLL AAA League team for that game.

                                                            ii.      The opposing team may fill positions in the field for the team lacking players.

                                                          iii.      Under no circumstances shall a player be used that is older than the League age of 9 or that is not registered in the STLL.

                                                          iv.      Non-roster players can not pitch.

3. The home team coach may call a game if the field conditions and weather prohibit playing.  The game must be called from the scheduled field of play and not another site.  The opposing team’s coach should be consulted regarding game cancellation.  Games in progress must be called if lightning is sighted.  The home team coach should attempt to reschedule cancelled games with the opposing coach at the earliest time available.  Makeup games should be coordinated with the AAA League Director.
2. Local Rules.
1. The team designated as the home team shall provide 2 new game balls.
2. The coach of the team at bat will present the balls to the batters:

                                                              i.      Via pitching machine until the 10^th game, approximately May 21^st.

                                                            ii.      Kid pitch effective their 10^th game, approximately May 21^st

3. A half-inning consists of 3 outs or 5 runs scored by the batting team.
4. No official game score shall be kept.
5. The coach/pitcher shall wait until the batter and defensive team are ready before placing the ball in play.  The coach/pitcher should remain consistent in their presentation of the “pitch”.
6. All players on the roster present at a game shall bat in a continuous order.
7. If a batter is struck by a pitched ball, the play is dead and no pitch is counted.  All runners must remain at the base occupied at the time of the hit batter.
8. The umpire shall only call strikes on swinging misses or foul balls and the batter is called out after 3 strikes.
9. Regarding the pitching machines: each batter will receive 7 pitches to put the ball into play.  Once kid pitch begins, all Little League rule apply.
10. A dropped ball by the catcher on a missed 3^rd strike is a dead ball and play shall stop.  The batter is called out and all base runners must remain at the base last occupied.
11. Play shall stop when the ball is returned to an infield position player.  Base runners may advance to the next base if they are more than half way to the next base when the ball reaches an infield position player.  The player will then present the ball to the coach/pitcher for the next batter.
12. Out of play balls are considered “dead” and play shall stop.  The runner(s) are awarded 1 base past the base they were advancing to at the time the ball went out of play.
13. Overthrows that remain in fair or foul territory are considered “live” balls and shall be played as such.
14. The base runner(s) must remain on the base during an at bat until the pitch has crossed the plate or is struck by the batter.
15. No attempted bunting or stealing is allowed.
16. No player shall play the same position for more than 2 innings in any game.  All players will have the opportunity to play both infield and outfield positions.  If there is a safety issue that prohibits a player from playing a position, the issue should be brought up with the League Director.
17. The defensive team must field 6 infielders (pitcher, catcher, 1^st Base, 2^nd Base, shortstop, 3^rd Base) and 4 outfielders.  The defensive team pitcher should play near the mound when the batter is up.  The defensive team outfielders must play 20 feet behind the infielders.  There should not be more than 10 defensive team players on the field during the game.
18. Base runner(s) must slide on any close play at any base except 1^st.  Failure to slide will result in the base runner being called out.  Head first slides are not permitted unless the runner is returning to a base he has previously touched or occupied.
19. No on-deck batters are allowed.  Coaches are required to strictly enforce this policy.  Do not allow players to handle/swing bats away from the home plate area during games.  This includes bench areas, in and around dugouts, or outside the fenced areas of the playing field.  NO EXCEPTIONS!
20. All batters and base runners are required to wear a helmet and a protective cup or pelvic protector.
21. Coach/Pitcher interference should be called by the umpire and replayed, however, a batted ball striking the pitching machine is considered live and in play.
22. A batter who throws a bat or helmet shall be called out.
3. Pitchers
1. All players will be encouraged to develop their pitching skills.  The coach will pitch a number of his/her players, with consideration of the player’s physical and emotional development.
2. The STLL AAA League is subject to other pitching rules as outlined in the Little League Rule Book, Regulation VI (updated 10-4-07).
3. Any player on a regular season team may pitch.  There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.  A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can not return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of that game.  A pitcher, after throwing even 1 pitch, can not play catcher for the remainder of that game.
4. The coach must remove a pitcher once said pitcher reaches the pitch count maximum allowed for that pitchers age (75 pitches for 9 year olds or 85 pitches for 11/12 year olds).  If a pitcher reaches the pitch count maximum on his/her last pitch to a batter, the pitcher must be removed before delivering another pitch to a new batter.  The pitcher can finish pitching to the batter he/she is facing once the pitching maximum is reached until one of the following conditions occurs:

                                                              i.      That batter reaches base

                                                            ii.      That batter is put out

                                                          iii.      The 3^rd out is made to complete the half-inning.

5. Pitchers in the AAA League must adhere to the following rest requirements:

                                                              i.      If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, 3 calendar days of rest, and a game, must be observed.

                                                            ii.      If a player pitches 41-60 pitches in a day, 2 calendar days of rest, and a game, must be observed.

                                                          iii.      If a player pitches 21-40 pitches in a day, 1 calendar day of rest must be observed.

                                                          iv.      If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, 0 calendar days of rest is required.

                                                            v.      A player can pitch in consecutive games only if 40 or fewer pitches were delivered in the previous game.

6. Intentional Walk: A pitcher must deliver the ball to the batter.  The catcher must remain behind home plate until the pitcher releases the ball.  The four pitches must be counted in that pitchers official pitch count. 
7. Each team’s coach is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.  A pitch count recorder should inform the umpire when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for that game.  The umpire will inform the pitcher’s coach that the pitcher must be removed.  However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to notify the umpire, and/or the failure of the umpire to notify the coach, does not relieve the coach of his/her responsibility to remove said pitcher when that player is no longer eligible.  Violation of any section of Regulation VI can result in protest of the game in which it occurs.  Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.
8. No curve balls are allowed.  Curve balls shall be ruled balls by the umpire.
9. The umpire will warn a pitcher that is thought to have intentionally hit a batter.  If that player hits another batter in that game, the pitcher must be removed.
4. Penalties for Non-Compliance of League Rules
1. Teams failing to comply with the League Rules or Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action as follows (in all cases the League Director and the STLL Little League Chair must be notified):

                                                              i.      First Violation - The coach of the offending team shall receive a 1 game suspension.

                                                            ii.      Second Violation – The offending team shall forfeit the game and the offending team’s coach shall be suspended for the remainder of the season and not be eligible for post season duties.

The 2008 Little League Rulebook shall govern any rule not specified above.

Updated March 21, 2008