Division Rules

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Capital City Little League American Division Rules Players Allowed on the Field All players must be officially registered and assigned by the league management. Anyone who is not registered, and whose name does not appear on the official league roster is not allowed to play in a League game, or practice with a CCLL team. Due to insurance requirements, no other persons (including siblings) are allowed on the field or in the dugout during a game or practice. Number of Players, Lineup, and Field Positions • Each team must have at least eight players present in order for the game to proceed. In the event a team cannot do so within ten minutes of the scheduled start of the game, it will be considered a forfeit. • At the start of each game, a coach may request a copy of the other team's lineup. • All players present for a given game must be included in the lineup; the batting order remains constant throughout the game regardless of which players are on the field in the previous or upcoming inning. • Coaches will adhere to home/away assignments (i.e. batting at the top and bottom of the inning) based on the published league schedule. • Each player must play at least two defensive innings of every game that they attend and for which they are available. • Nine or ten players (coach's discretion) shall take the field for defensive play: o 4 infielders o 3-4 outfielders (coach's discretion) o 1 catcher in full gear o 1 pitcher's helper, who should stand on either side of the mound, no closer to the batter than the pitching machine or coach Game Length and Scoring • Coaches will make every effort to ensure that games start and finish on time. • A game will consist of six innings; the bottom of the sixth will only be played if the home team is behind. • The exceptions to playing six innings are: o Two hours elapse before six innings are played; if it appears likely after approximately 90 minutes that a six-inning game would run longer than two hours, the coaches shall agree after which half-inning the game will end o Game is called due to weather o Game is called due to darkness o Lightning/ Thunder immediately cancels the game • An official game will consist of four innings, or three and a half innings if the home team is ahead  

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• A half-inning ends when the batting team has scored five runs. If the last batter drives in more than one run, only five runs will be counted. Pitching and the R ole of the Coach/Pitcher • Assuming the availability of a properly functioning pitching machine, teams will use it as much as possible • Coaches may make exceptions and pitch to some/all players at their discretion • Coaches will convene prior to the start of the season to agree on field placement and use • For each at-bat, players are provided 7 strikes or near-strikes. If the final pitch is a foul ball, foul tip or clearly a poor pitch, the player is allowed a subsequent pitch. The 7 pitch count should be applied to all players on a team for the duration of a given game. • A ball that hits the pitching machine is considered in play. • The manager/pitcher may not: o Field a batted ball (except in self-defense, in which case the ball is dead) o Throw the ball for a defensive out o Fail to use maximum effort to avoid interfering with the fielding of the ball (A batted ball that strikes the pitcher and remains in the field of play remains in play, as if he were an umpire) o Play any further role in fielding, catching, or instruction to runners (maintains position on mound unless in line of play) after the ball is hit until it is time to deliver the next pitch to the plate. Field Rules • Base runners may not lead off or run before a ball has been hit. The offending runner must return to the original base. • After a hit, the play is over once the ball has been returned to either the coach/pitcher or the pitcher's helper. A runner who is not at least halfway to a base when the play has ended must return to the previous base. • Runners may advance only one base on a ball overthrown into foul territory. Any ball overthrown or otherwise mishandled in fair territory shall not stop play until the ball returns to the coach/pitcher or pitchers helper. • For safety reasons, no player may take 'on deck' practice swings. Umpiring • All calls at first base will be made by the first base coach. • All calls at second base will be made by the coach/pitcher. • All calls at third base will be made by the third base coach.  

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• All calls at home will be made by the coach/pitcher or coach retrieving pitches. • Any of the above calls can be deferred to another coach (of either team) who had a better view of the play. • All calls are final unless the head coaches from both teams agree a rule was misinterpreted or misapplied. • Coaches are strongly encouraged to communicate to their assistant coaches and parents that they should not shout "safe," "out" or anything similar unless they are in one of the above- designated roles. Recording and Reporting Scores • Both coaches are responsible for recording the score (and may delegate the task to a co-coach or team parent), and are encouraged to check with each other throughout the game to avoid discrepancies toward the end of close games. • Both coaches shall report the win/loss result of each game in a timely manner to the AD Commissioner. Safety Rules: • No player can swing a bat unless they are in the batter's box. There is an exception for Chevy Chase field. • No head first sliding except returning to a base. • Adults warming up a pitcher must use face masks. • Players warming up a pitcher must use full catcher's gear. • Coaches should keep a player emergency contact list with them during practices and games. • There must be a first aid kit at each field. First aid kits are available to coaches upon request. • Keep climbers off fences. • If lightning is seen or thunder is heard, play must be stopped. • Teams must report injuries that require medical attention or first aid to the Safety Officer. Please be extremely detailed about what you report.

 

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