District 12 Little League Softball Tournament Information

District 12 Little League SoftballTournament 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 Softball’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 Little League licensed softballs • Wilson 11" softballs for 8-10 girls • Wilson A9274 SST, Wilson A9074 SSTor Wilson 12” softballs for 9-11,10-12, Juniors and Seniors • Alternate is a MacGregor 11LLY or 12LLY • Minimum of six (6) NOCSAE approved batting helmets with warning labels • No stickers/paint permitted on helmets other than other than single letter/league logo without written manufacturer approval. • Face guards must 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. (see handbook) All players must have the official Little League patch on the uniform All teams must carry a blood uniform 6

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 • Chest protectors must be worn • Catchers must wear a helmet/mask during all infield warm-ups • Players warming up pitchers between innings or in the bullpen must wear a helmet/mask • Coaches may not warm up players at any time.

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • There is NO on-deck circle in Little League 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 • Slash bunting in softball is permitted • Please teach your players how to defend themselves

Safety District 12 Little League Tournament Information • 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. • Umpires are inspecting bats looking for required BPF 1.20 stamp, cracks, dents, burrs, and rattles. • When inspecting helmets umpires are looking for NOCSAE seal, cracks, missing padding, painted helmets, etc. No stickers/paint permitted on helmets other than other than single letter/league logo without written manufacturer approval. • Face guards must be NOCSAE certified

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 (for example, the not as popular as it used to be “Livestrong” bracelets) • Exception: Jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition is permissible (must be secured in some manner)

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 (three and one-half (3 1/2) if the home team is ahead • 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 • Curfew • No new inning may start after midnight • 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, and the score is tied, the following tiebreaker will be played to determine a winning team: • The seventh inning will be played as normal. • Starting in the top of the eighth 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 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 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 • Ineligible pitchers

Pre-game Activities (cont’d) 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 Electronic scorecards 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, 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 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 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. 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.

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 District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Pitching Rules: • Rules for 8-10, 9-11 and 10-12 are the same • A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 12 innings per day • A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 12 innings a game • Pitching six or fewer innings in a day requires no rest • Pitching seven or more innings in a day requires one calendar day rest. • There are no restrictions/rest requirements in Junior, Senior or Big League • Violation if protested or brought to the attention of the tournament committee shall result in manager 2 game suspension. 32

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information A pitcher remaining in the game but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as she was removed. 8-10 year old pitch from 35 feet 9-11and 10-12 pitch from 40 feet Junior and Senior pitch from 43 feet

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Pitchers pivot foot on plate (rubber) and non pivot foot not extend beyond limits of plate • Take signs while on plate from coach or catcher with the ball in either the glove or pitching hand • Hands together before, during or after the backward step • Pitcher may not take pitching position with out the ball • Pitch starts when one hand is taken off the ball • After breaking hands the pitcher can’t put both hands back together • Can’t stop, pause or reverse forward motion • Pivot foot must remain in contact with or push off and drag away 34

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Legal Pitch – Legal Drag • Illegal Pitch – Crow Hop • Illegal Pitch – Leap • Illegal Pitch – 24 Inch Length Violation • Illegal Pitch – Side Arm • Illegal Pitch – Ephus • Illegal Pitch – Behind the Back 35

Pitching Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information Pitching in consecutive games is permitted subject to rest requirements 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 in the batting order 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.

Uncaught Third Strike District 12 Little League Tournament Information 8-10 Tournament: Batter is out 9-11 and 10-12 Tournament: 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.

“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 eight foot circle 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.

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 whom 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

Protests – Misinterpretation of Playing Rules District 12 Little League Tournament Information • Do not let the game continue if you think a rule has been violated • Formal verbal protest must be made to Umpire-in-Chief at the time of the dispute before next pitch or play • A protest on the last play of the game must be made before the umpires leave the field • Umpire-in-chief calls conference with umpires • If unresolved, Umpire-in-Chief must consult with Tournament Director or District Administrator • If still unresolved, a call must be made to Regional Director • If still unresolved, Regional Director must call Tournament Committee for a decision. • The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final and binding

Protests – Use of an Ineligible Pitcher District 12 Little League Tournament Information Verbal protest must be made as soon as facts are known but before either teams next game. Umpire-in-chief must consult with Tournament Director or District Administrator Call must be made to Regional Director Regional Director must call the Tournament Committee in Williamsport The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final and binding

Protests – Use of an Ineligible Player (Prior to or following Game) District 12 Little League Tournament Information Written protest must be made as soon as facts are known. Complainant presents matter to Tournament Director and/or District Administrator Matter shall be resolved with Regional Director and Tournament Committee before the first pitch of the game The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final and binding

Protests – Use of an Ineligible Player (During the Game) District 12 Little League Tournament Information Protest may be lodged by the manager or coach with Umpire-in-Chief who shall consult with Tournament Director or District Administrator Tournament Director or District Administrator shall contact Regional Director, who shall contact the Tournament Committee in Williamsport for a decision. The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final and binding

District 12 Little League Softball Tournament Information