2008 Local Rules for Tee Ball

1. A soft baseball will be used.
2. All players are in the batting order.
3. All players are used defensively at one time.
4. Positions:
   • Optional catcher: One player may play “catcher” using a catcher’s helmet and mask. They should be placed in foul territory half way between home and third base or well behind home plate. The catcher is used to make plays at home and field balls hit near the plate.
   • A pitcher is placed on the mound.
   • The remaining players will be placed around the infield area, with one designated “first baseman.” Defensive coaches are permitted on the field behind players for instructional purposes (this is encouraged). Coaches are not permitted to touch a live ball.
5. The manager or a coach will tee-up the ball for the batter and is permitted (and encouraged) to instruct the batter at home plate. Mid-way through the season, at a point determined by the League Director, coaches may pitch to the batters. At this point, each player's at bat will consist of five swings and then the use of the batting tee (this MUST be enforced or games will become too long and uninteresting for the children).
6. First and third base coaches are permitted in the coaching boxes to coach the runners.
7. All games will last approximately 1 hour to a maximum of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
8. No bunting is allowed.
9. No base stealing is allowed.
10. There are no strikeouts.
11. There is no infield fly rule.
12. If a player is put-out, he/she may remain on base (unless thrown out at home). Multiple base runners ending up on the same base will be rearranged. This may be adjusted to regular baseball rules later in the season if all managers agree.
13. An offensive inning consists of one time around the batting order regardless of the number of outs made by the defensive team.
14. Scores will not be kept.
15. If a team does not have enough players, that team may recruit other players in the stands provided they are on the roster of another Tee Ball team. (Note: Only players that are registered in the league are covered by the Little League insurance.)

Equipment

Downloadable Copy of Tee-Ball Rules

2008 Local Rules for A League

1. All players are in the batting order.
2. All players are used defensively at one time; one player catches behind the plate in full catcher's gear, four players play the infield, with one next to the pitcher and the rest of the team plays the outfield.
3. Optional: Coaches should agree on this before the game: Due to the ball not reaching the outfield too often, and the amount of kids in the outfield, only 7 or 8 players used in the field at once (one or two outfielders). The other players during this half of the inning would receive extra practice on another spot of the field. Players would rotate through the practice session. It keeps all the kids active while on defense and less “swarming” to the ball.
4. All games will consist of at least four innings or no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes. No new inning will start after the time limit.
5. No bunting is allowed.
6. No base stealing is allowed.
7. An offensive inning consists of one time around the batting order regardless of the number of outs made.
8. A team may play with as few as eight players. If a team has fewer than eight players, that team may recruit other players in the stands provided they are on the roster of another A League team. (Note: Only players that are registered in the league are covered by the Little League insurance.)
9. Coaches and managers will pitch ALL games; however, some pitching instruction should be given later in the season on the side.
10. A soft baseball will be used.
11. Each player's at bat will consist of five swings and then the use of the batting tee (this MUST be enforced or games will become too long and uninteresting for the children). The batting tee will only be used for the first eight games of the regular season. After this period it will become a strikeout. There are no “walks”.
12. It is recommended that any player in the catcher position use an athletic supporter and cup.

Equipment

Downloadable Copy of Single-A Rules

2008 Local Rules for AA League

1. All players are in the batting order.
2. A maximum of ten defensive players are used at one time, using four outfielders. One player catches behind the plate in full catcher's gear.
3. All players must play a minimum of four (4) defensive innings (12 outs). This includes a defensive pitcher position when the pitching machine is used.
4. All games are six innings. Regulation games are six innings, unless the game is called (darkness; precipitation). Extra innings are played if the score is tied. If a game is called, it is a regulation game if four innings are completed or the home team is ahead after 3 ½ innings. However, no new inning will start after 7:30 p.m. weekdays or 1 ½ hours after the scheduled start time on weekends.
5. No bunting or leading is allowed.
6. Each ½ inning consists of either one time around the batting order or three outs made by the defensive team. Numbers of batters in the order to be determined by the managers before the start of each game. If one team has more batters than the other, the team with fewer batters will be allowed to bat around to equal the number of batters of the other team, provided there are less than 3 outs made in the inning.
7. The score will be kept for each game. A score book must be used.
8. A team may play with as few as eight players. If a team has fewer than eight players, that team may recruit other players in the stands provided they are on the roster of another AA league team or they may get players from the other team. (Note: Only players that are registered in the AA league are covered by the Little League insurance.)
9. Players will pitch the first two innings. The pitching machine will be used for the remaining innings of all games. The pitcher must pitch from the rubber. OPTIONAL: If the game is moving along quickly, and both coaches are in agreement, a 3^rd inning of players pitching will be allowed. The maximum time duration of the game noted in #4 above still applies. Defensive Pitchers will play to the left or the right side and just in front of the pitching machine with one foot on the dirt and one on the turf, when it is in use. A single pitcher may only pitch two innings in any one game. If a pitcher hits 3 batters, he/she will be replaced on the mound.
10. Maximum Pitch Counts: No pitcher may pitch more than the following:

Ages 9-10: 75 pitches in a game.
Ages 7-8: 50 pitches in a game. 

11. Pitchers’ Rest Requirements:

1-20 pitches thrown:            0 calendar days 
21-40 pitches thrown:          1 calendar day 
41-60 pitches thrown:          2 calendar days 
61 or more pitches thrown:    3 calendar days

A pitcher who throws more than 40 pitches in one game MAY NOT PITCH in the team’s next game, no matter when that game is played.

12. Once a player pitches in a game, that player cannot play the catcher position for the remainder of the day.
13. It will be the home team’s responsibility to get the pitching machine from the equipment locker and set it up after the second inning. The Machine will be set directly over the pitching rubber. The electrical cord should be thread through the legs of the base so the cord will not rub against the wheel. Only a Coach or Umpire is permitted to run and feed the pitching machine, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE ARE PLAYERS TO BE USED TO OPERATE THE PITCHING MACHINE. The pitching machine should be set between 50 and 52 on the speed dial for the first 8 games and then moved up to between 55 and 57 on the speed dial for the remainder of the season. The pitching machine may be adjusted only once by each manager in any inning and only at the top of that inning unless an obvious malfunction has occurred that renders the balls being pitched un-hittable.
14. Players (base runner) may advance only one base on an over throw, the ball becomes dead on this over throw.
15. The ball is dead after the pitch. When the ball is hit into play the ball will be considered dead when it has been returned to the pitcher. A runner more than ½ way to a base when the ball is returned to the pitcher will be awarded that base. Less than ½ way the base runner must return to the base.
16. The pitching machine is in play.
17. A hard ball will be used.
18. An umpire will officiate at all games from behind the mound. It is the home team's responsibility to recruit an umpire from the spectators. The strike zone during the first two innings will be widened as follows: from the chin to shins and about 2” on each side of the plate. Strikes and balls will also be counted when the pitching machine is used with the same strike zone. Balls can be called off the pitching machine but the machine can not walk a batter. (Note: Should an umpire be provided by Norfolk Baseball, that umpire may officiate from behind the plate.)
19. When playing the catcher position, players must wear an athletic supporter with cup.
20. Each team will supply one (1) new baseball for each game.
21. Rainouts must be rescheduled through the League Director.
22. No schedule changing can be made without League Director Approval.
23. If the AAA League field or Major League field is available teams may move up to that field. 
24. All players must wear a helmet with a face guard when batting, and on the base path and when in the coaching boxes.
25. The AA League is an instructional league. While scorebooks will be maintained during games, under no circumstances are wins, losses, or standings to be recorded or published.

Equipment

Downloadable Copy of Double-A Rules

2008 Local Rules for AAA League

1. All current Minor League teams as defined, which includes AAA, will be disbanded.
2. All 10 and 11 year olds that try out for Majors, but are not drafted, will play AAA.
3. 12 year olds shall play in Majors and are not eligible to play AAA without petitioning the league for an eligibility waiver based on special circumstances.
4. All 8 year olds will play AA.
5. All 9 year olds will be required to try out if they wish to play AAA. If they don’t make AAA (see #7 below), they will automatically be assigned to the AA draft.
6. Player evaluations must be completed for all 9, 10, and 11 year olds from the previous year in the AAA league. This must be completed by the previous year’s AAA League Manager on a scale of 1 to 5. Player evaluations must be done on all 8 and 9 year olds from the previous year in the AA league. This must be completed by the previous year’s AA League Manager on a scale of 1 to 5. Official ratings will be assigned by the player agent based on these ratings and the current year’s tryouts for use at the AAA draft.
7. Prior to the draft, the player agent will identify those 9 year olds who will not be eligible for the AAA draft and assign them to the AA draft. The player agent will then identify and distribute the complete list and ranking of all eligible players available to be drafted based on the required number of 12-player teams to be fielded (presumed to be 96 players for an 8 team league). All eligible players included on the player agent’s list will be drafted.
8. The draft order will be selected via random draw.
9. AAA managers will select their teams from the entire player pool, regardless of age. The draft will be “S” style with the last pick in the 1^st round having the 1^st pick in the second round, etc. Picks will continue until all players have been chosen.
10. A manager’s child will be slotted into the draft based on what round they would be selected in after all the players are stack ranked (1 through 96 for an 8 team league) by official player agent rating. These children will count as that manager’s pick in that round. If a manager has more than one child that they wish to have on their team, they must use a draft choice for each additional child, also based on where they are ranked.
11. Each manager will be allowed to select one assistant coach prior to the draft. In a similar fashion to the manager’s child, the assistant coach’s child will be stack ranked and slotted into the draft accordingly. Should the manager’s child and assistant coach’s child be ranked in the same round, that round’s draft slot and the subsequent round’s draft slot will be used.
12. Players who register late (following the draft) will be assigned as follows: 1) To a team that has lost a drafted player for any reason (chosen not to play, moved, called-up, etc.), 2) To the next team that was scheduled to pick when the AAA League Draft ended.
13. Only selected managers approved by Norfolk Baseball may attend the draft. Assistant coaches shall not be allowed to attend the draft.
14. The draft proceedings will be held in the strictest confidence by all attendees.
15. This process will be monitored by the Little League President, AAA League Director, and Player Agent.
16. Players may be swapped among teams after the draft has been completed in the spirit of maintaining 8 equally competitive teams. Any player movements must be made prior to leaving the draft and must be agreed to by all parties present at the draft.

1. All players are in the batting order.
2. All players must wear a helmet with a cage when batting, on the base path, and when in the coach’s boxes.
3. No on deck position for any game. (This includes the area behind and beyond the third base dugout). All players must remain in the dugout unless they are warming up (throwing) to come in the game.
4. Bunting is allowed. No slashing (the act of faking a bunt and swinging at a pitch instead).
5. Base stealing is allowed at second base and third base only. The ball must be kept in front of the catcher in order for a base to be stolen. Each team will be allowed 2 steals per inning. If there is an overthrow on an attempted steal, the ball is dead and the base runner cannot advance beyond the stolen base. The double steal is approved to use; a double steal counts for your two steals. Delayed steals are not permitted. If there is no attempted steal, the ball is dead after the pitch. This rule shall apply after the 4th scheduled game – start of game 5.
6. The runner cannot leave the base on a stolen base until the ball “has reached the batter”. If the runner leaves early and is thrown out; he is out. Otherwise he returns to the original base.
7. Any play at a base (except 1^st base) the runner must slide feet first. If in the umpire’s judgment the runner should have slid and did not, the runner will be called out. No head first slides, except back to the previous base.
8. An offensive inning consists of three outs made by the defensive team except in the last inning and extra innings. The number of batters in the order is to be determined by the managers at the start of each game.
9. Base Coaches – A team may use 2 assistant coaches for base coaches, two players for base coaches or a player and assistant coach for base coaches.

1. Free substitutions are allowed throughout the game. Once a player is removed from the mound, the player can not pitch again in that game.
2. A maximum of ten defensive players (four outfielders) is used at one time. However, should one team not be able to field ten players, their opponent will be limited to nine defensive players. One player catches behind the plate in full catcher’s gear.
3. When playing the catcher position, players must wear an athletic cup. An athletic cup is recommended for all players.
4. All players must play a minimum of three defensive innings (9 outs); players must play one of the three required innings in an infield position. Catching is an infield position.
5. A team may play with as few as eight players. If a team has fewer than eight players, that team may recruit other players in the stands provided they are on the roster of another AAA League team or an AA leagues team player that is 9 years of age. Note: Only players that are registered in Norfolk Little League may play – they need to be covered by the league insurance.
6. Pitching - Any player on the team roster may pitch.
7. No pitcher may pitch more than 75 pitches in a game.
8. Pitchers’ Rest Requirements:
   1-20 pitches thrown:            0 calendar days 
   21-40 pitches thrown:          1 calendar day 
   41-60 pitches thrown:          2 calendar days 
   61 or more pitches thrown:    3 calendar days

A pitcher who throws more than 40 pitches in one game MAY NOT PITCH in the team’s next game, no matter when that game is played.

9. Once a player pitches in a game, that player cannot play the catcher position for the remainder of the day.


10. If a pitcher hits (3) batters in a game he/she will be relieved from pitching for that game.

1. All balls hit in the air to the infield area are playable (no infield fly rule).
2. When the ball is hit into play, the ball will be considered dead when it has been returned to the pitcher. Base runners may advance to the next base if they are at least halfway between the bases when the ball is returned to the pitcher.
3. Players (base runners) may advance only if the ball stays in play, within the ground rules area.

1. Regulation games are six innings, unless the game is called (darkness, precipitation by Umpire determination). Extra innings are played if the score is tied. If a game is called, it is a regulation game if four innings are completed or the home team is ahead after 3 1/2 innings.
2. A MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE TEN (10) MINUTES BEFORE EACH GAME AND WILL INCLUDE THE GAME UMPIRE AND BOTH MANAGERS. ANY DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE GAME RULES AND GROUND RULES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THIS TIME. After this meeting has taken place, there will be a “Zero Tolerance rule in effect” – What ever the umpires calls – that’s the call. There will be no comment or additional interpretation allowed. If there is - the manager or coach will be subject to the “Norfolk Baseball Code of Conduct” and may be suspended from future games.
3. The five run rule (five runs plus any runs scored on the continuation the play, on which the fifth run scored) applies except in the last inning or extra innings.
4. The score will be kept for each game including balls and strikes. A score book must be used.
5. A hard ball will be used.
6. Each team will supply one (1) new baseball for each game.
7. Compensated umpires will be used for all games. At their discretion, they can officiate behind the plate or behind the mound. A volunteer umpire (only used in the absence of an available compensated umpire) shall officiate all games from behind the mound.
8. A wider strike zone will be in effect, from the shoulders to mid-shin and about two inches wider on each side of the plate.
9. Rainouts will be rescheduled based on field availability and must be played on the next available date. All games will be re-scheduled by the AAA League Director.
10. No schedule change can be made without the AAA League Director Approval
11. If the Major League field is available teams may move up to that field.
12. A team may only have a Manager and 2 assistant coaches on the field/bench for a game.
13. The home team is responsible for canceling the umpire on the day of the game in case of cancellations. (Not later than 4:00 PM).
14. On Saturday’s, no inning may start more than 2 hours after the start of the game. On weeknights, no inning may start after 7:30 PM. After day light savings, no new inning may start after 8:00 PM.

Downloadable Copy of Triple-A Rules

2008 Local Rules for Major League

1. First Offense – receive a written warning.
2. Second Offense – a suspension for the next scheduled game and shall not attend said game
3. Third Offense – a suspension for the remainder of the season

Downloadable Copy of Majors Rules