Cactus Foothills North Minors Division Local League Rules

Introduction

LAST UPDATED: April 21st, 2010

This page contains the local league rules for Cactus Foothills North Little League. The local rules do not replace or supersede Little League Incorporated rules, regulations, and/or policies.

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On this page:

Section 1: General
Section 2: Age
Section 3: Pitching
Section 4: Field Positions and Minimum Play Rules
Section 5: Play
Section 6: Field Preparation
Section 7: Snack Bar
Section 8: Black Mountain Ballpark
Section 9: Game Officiating Responsibilities
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Return to Cactus Foothills North Rules and Regulations

Section 1: General

1.01:	The rules stated herein compliment Little League’s official regulations and playing rules for baseball. Little League Incorporated rules over-ride local rules. All rules and regulations from Little League Baseball (from the Little League International Official Regulations and Playing Rules for Baseball) apply.
1.02	The Minors division is a hybrid competitive/developmental division. This means that there will be a mix of local rules to make the games competitive and developmental to ensure the players are learning and honing their skills. NOTE: While standings and scores will be kept, there will not be a divisional champion announced or a trophy for a champion. All players will receive either a trophy or a medallion for participation and recognition.
1.03:	On fields with dugouts with doors, the doors are to remain closed during games and practices.

Section 2: Age

2.01:

The Minors Division is comprised of a group of players ages 9 - 11 in accordance with the current league age requirements.

2.02:

All players that are league age 12 must be drafted to a Majors division team. For those 12-year-olds who may lack the skills to play at the Major Division level, there is a process for allowing them to play in the Minor Division, provided certain conditions are met. (However, the prohibition on 12-year-olds pitching in the Minor Division remains.) The process: Exceptions can only be made with written approval from the District Administrator, and only if approved at the local league level by the Board of Directors and the parent of the candidate.

Section 3: Pitching

3.01:

Coaches, managers, and the CFLL-North League are required to comply with Little League Incorporated pitching regulations (Regulation VI - PITCHERS) during regular season (Little League Regular Season Pitching Regulations) and tournament (Little League Tournament Pitching Rules) games. This policy will be enforced. Please make sure you have read and understand this pitching policy.

2010 Pitching Rules and Regulation Documents Published by Little League:

3.02:

2010 RULES CHANGE - REGULATION VI(a) - 2010 RULE BOOK AMENDMENT

This change is an amendment to the 2010 Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules. The change is effective immediately.

(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. Exception: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

What Does This Mean To Managers?
This change prohibits a player, who has played the position of catcher in any part of four innings in a game, from being used as a pitcher at any time on that calendar day. This applies to all baseball divisions, and will apply to the International Tournament as well.

3.03:

2010 RULES CHANGE - REGULATION VI(k) - 2010 RULE BOOK AMENDMENT

This change is an amendment to the 2010 Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules. The change is effective immediately.
(k) Pitching in more than one game in a day:
Minor League and Little League – A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.

Section 4: Field Positions and Minimum Play Rules

4.01:	There shall be a maximum of 9 players in the field.
4.02:	Little League Regulation IV(i): Every rostered player present at the start of the game will participate in each game for a minimum of 6 (six) defensive outs. PENALTY: If minimum play requirements are not achieved, the penalties as detailed in the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules under Regulation IV(i) will be imposed.
4.03:	A player shall spend no more than 1 consecutive inning on the bench.
4.04:	A player shall spend a maximum of 2 innings on the bench.
4.05:	Players are to remain in the dug out if not on the field. No visits to snack bar or stands.
4.06:	If a team does not have enough players (9) to field a team at any point during the game on defense, a team may request to "borrow" a player from the opposing team for the purposes of playing outfield defense only. The opposing team is required to provide a player/players if so requested. NOTE: The "borrowed" players are not to play infield, pitch, or bat. The players may only play defense in the outfield. Managers are also required to communicate the game schedule and participation requirements to parents on their teams to ensure that all players attend games and participate - avoiding this situation.
4.07:	The home team is listed second on the schedule and shall occupy the 3rd base dugout.

Section 5: Play

5.01:	An official umpire shall officiate the game.
5.02:	EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY - TIME LIMIT ON MINORS DIVISION GAMES Under the Little League regulation VII(h), Cactus Foothills North has imposed the following time limit rules and regulations for minors division games: Games must start on time (see CFNLL rule 5.03 for cases where the start time is delayed). No new inning can start after 1 hour 45 minutes (from the scheduled start of the game). An inning begins the moment the final out is recorded in the previous inning. The game ends 2 hours after the official scheduled start time. However, the game must be a regulation game to end (see note 2 and LL rule 4.10(c)). This local rule does not supersede LL rule 4.10(c). ADDITIONAL POINTS OF EXECUTION NOTE 1: Managers are expected to (1) have their teams ready to start games on time and (2) carry out game operations (e.g., inning changeover, personnel changes, visits, exiting the dugouts, etc) in a very punctual manner. If in the umpire's judgment excessive time has been consumed for said activities, the umpire may add a reasonable and prudent amount of time to the end of the game. NOTE 2: For a game to end, it must meet the terms and conditions for being a regulation game under Little League rule 4.10(c). LL rule 4.10(c): If a game is called, it is a regulation game: 1. if four innings have been completed; 2. if the home team has scored more runs in three and a half innings than the visiting team has scored in four completed half-innings; 3. if the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fourth inning to tie the score (see note 4). NOTE 3: LL rule 4.10(d): If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, but after one (1) or more innings have been played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. All records, including pitching, shall be counted. NOTE 4: There are no ties in baseball. Refer to Little League rule 4.11(e) regarding the rules and regulations for handling a tie game situation if one were to occur. NOTE 5: The 10-run mercy rule (LL rule 4.10(e)) still applies (see CFNLL rule 5.05).
5.03:	Starting time is the official scheduled starting time, regardless of when the first pitch actually occurs. The umpire may extend starting time due to his/her tardiness, weather, or delays in start time due to team-related activities and events.
5.04:	Teams must bat the entire roster in order. Players arriving late will be added to the bottom of the line up. There are no automatic outs for players that leave early.
5.05:	The 10-run mercy rule will be enforced (after 4 innings or three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead). Refer to Little League rule 4.10(e) for complete details.
5.06:	All players are required to wear the league provided team uniform. Catchers must wear Little League required catchers equipment, including face mask with a throat protector and chest protector with hang down groin protector (the short chest protector is not LL Approved). CFLL North will provide all required catcher gear. However, a player may use their own catcher's equipment if the equipment meets Little League requirements. Male catchers must also wear a hard cup type athletic supporter. This protective equipment is strongly recommended for all male players.
5.07:	Batting helmets must be worn by all batters, base runners and player base coaches.
5.08:	No on deck circle. No player is allowed to warm up with a bat either inside or outside of the dugout. The only exception is the 1st batter of a new inning is allowed outside the dugout with a bat, but can't take a position within the home plate area until told to do so by the umpire.
5.09:	The home team is responsible for preparing the field for play before the game and provides 2 new game baseballs. Note: This includes dragging the infield, putting up the outfield fence, installing bases, chalking the foul lines and batters box. The home team is also responsible for providing the official scorer. If the field has a snack bar, then they are also responsible for opening and staffing during their game time. The visiting team is responsible for running the score board (Black Mountain Ballpark) prepping field for the next game, including dragging, watering, or taking down fence if last game of the night (removing bases, drag field, watering, clean up around the bench and bleachers and emptying the trash cans). Please see additional field and snack bar procedures.
5.10:	Only the umpire may call the game due to time limit, curfew, weather or darkness.
5.11:	The standings are kept only during the spring. Report via e-mail game scores, pitchers used and innings pitched after time due to his tardiness or weather
5.12:	The standings are kept only during the spring. Report via e-mail game scores, pitchers used and innings pitched after each game using the identified and approved Cactus Foothills North's reporting process. A pitching log will be kept in the Black Mountain Ballpark snack bar and will be maintained and updated by each manager following each game to include pitchers used and innings pitched. NOTE: The Minors division is a hybrid competitive/developmental division. While standings and scores will be kept, there will not be a divisional champion announced or a trophy for a champion. All players will receive either a trophy or a medallion for participation and recognition.
5.13:	A "side" is retired in accordance with Little League Rule 5.07 for Minor League divisions, which are divisions between Tee Ball and Majors. A side is retired when: Three offensive players are legally put out - OR - All players on the roster have batted one time in the half-inning - OR - Five (5) runs are scored IMPORTANT NOTE: Only 5 runs count at any time in any inning. Extra runs scored as a result of any ongoing play are NOT counted - - just the 5 runs that have scored only.

Section 6: Field Preparation

6.01:	The home team is responsible for preparing the field for play before the game and provides 2 new game baseballs. Note: This includes dragging the infield, putting up the outfield fence, installing bases, chalking the foul lines and batters box.
6.02:	The home team is responsible for providing the official scorer and pitch count recording for the game.
6.03:	The visiting team is responsible for running the score board (Black Mountain Ballpark) and helping the home team prepare the field for the next game, including dragging, watering, or taking down fence if last game of the night (removing bases, drag field, watering, clean up around the bench and bleachers and emptying the trash cans).
6.04:	The home team provides game baseballs.
6.05:	The baseball field is to be prepared after each practice for future use – includes dragging, watering the infield, cleaning up/removing trash.
6.06:	The baseball field is to prepared after each game for future use – includes dragging, watering the infield, cleaning up/removing trash . After the game, visiting and home teams are responsible for preparing the field for either the next game or shutting the field down for the day (if it’s the late game).
6.07:	If the dugouts have doors, the doors are to be closed after every practice and/or game. The dugout doors are to remain closed during games and practices to avoid accidents.
6.08:	Water hoses are to be placed neatly near the quick couplers on either the left or right field side of the field. The covers to the quick coupler valves are to be put back in place over the valves after watering of the field has completed. Quick couplers valves are along the left and right field fence lines and behind the pitcher’s mound (Black Mountain Ballpark only).
6.09:	Do not remove the breakaway bases on the field (Black Mountain Ballpark).
6.10:	If the batting cages have doors (Black Mountain Ballpark), the doors are to be closed after practice or warm-ups before games.
6.11:	The L-screen is to remain in the batting cage.

Section 7: Snack Bar

7.01:

The home team is responsible for opening and staffing the snack bar.

Contact snacks@cfll-north.com with questions on snack bar operating procedures.

Operating Procedures:

Black Mountain Ballpark Snack Bar Opening and Close Procedures

Section 8: Black Mountain Ballpark

8.01:	The 1st and 3rd base field entry gates are to be locked after every practice.
8.02:	The 1st and 3rd base field entry gates are to be locked after the last game of the day.
8.03:	The entry gate south of the batting cages is to be closed after every practice and the last game of the day.
8.04:	The inner and outer large gates in the northeast side of the field (far right field corner) are to remain locked at all times.
8.05:	The equipment room is to be kept neat and free of debris.
8.06:	The deadbolt for the equipment room is to be locked after every practice and game.
8.07:	The scoreboard is to be turned off after the last game of the day.
8.08:	The visiting team is responsible for operating the scoreboard during games.
8.09:	The scoreboard remote is to be placed back in the Diamond Diner Snack Bar (in the top center drawer in the white cabinet along the back wall in the snack bar)

Section 9: Game Officiating Responsibilities

9.01:

Adult and youth volunteer umpires may be utilized in the minors division.

In cases where there’s only a youth umpire, the manager of the home team will be the umpire-in-chief and act in accordance with Little League regulation 9.0 – UMPIRE if issues are to arise during the game. Refer to rule 9.0 in the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules for more details on roles and responsibilities.

When acting as the umpire-in-chief, managers are expected to be impartial and support the decisions of the teenage umpire - not undermine them. The umpire-in-chief may call a timeout and conference with the umpire to get a call correct. The conference shall not be done with the intention of intimidating the teenager to get their way.

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