Petaluma National Little League
Spring 2019
Major League
Local Rules
The rules for the Major League will follow the Little League Green Book except as modified below (coaches and managers are expected to know the Little League Green Book):
SECTION I: FORCE AND EFFECT
A. The Local Rules govern the play & conduct of Petaluma National Little League, also referred to as PNLL or “The League.” The Local Rules are referred to as “By-Laws,” serve in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball, Inc.
B. The Local Rules must NOT alter, supersede with any published Little League Baseball Rules, Regulations, Policies or Principles.
C. Any rule shall NOT remove or replace authority granted to certain persons by the Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations.
D. The League shall be governed by the Board of Directors, elected from the general membership, consisting of volunteer personnel.
E. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make changes and /or exceptions to the local rules by normal Board Meeting quorum and major vote.
F. The Local Rules shall be distributed and/or be available to any party required to implement and uphold the policies or directives (i.e. managers, coaches, umpires, player agent(s), Board of Directors, etc.).
G. The League holds its Players, Managers, Coaches, Officials, Family Members and Fans to the highest standards of good sportsmanship, fair play, civility, appropriate behavior, appropriate dress and respect for others.
H. The PNLL Grievance Committee has the right and discretion to suspend any manager, coach, player, or parent for any part of or for the entire season for any conduct violation which results in an ejection or is deemed by the Grievance Committee to be detrimental to the operation and purpose of the Petaluma National Little League. Any Manager or Coach ejected from a game will automatically lose their eligibility to participate in any post-season tournaments. Managers and coaches who are ejected from a game twice in any season are subject to a mandatory suspension for the remainder of the season. In addition, the manager and/or coach shall be subject to a permanent expulsion from the PNLL at the discretions of the Grievance Committee. A manager or coach ejected from a game will not be allowed to remain in the dugout or the spectator area and must immediately vacate the PNLL complex (including the parking area). Failure to do so in a timely manner without further argument or delay may result in forfeiture of the game.
I. If a pitcher hits four batters during a single game and the pitcher is not removed from the pitching position, the manager will be subject to review by the division Vice President. This review could result in a one game suspension if the manager was deemed to have placed batters in danger by failing to remove a pitcher. This rule is not intended to supersede the Little League Rule regarding intentionally hitting a batter, that rule will be enforced separately. This rule only applies to the Majors and Minors division.
SECTION II: VOLUNTEERS
A. As a condition of service to the League, all Managers, Coaches, Board of Directors and any other persons, volunteers, or hired workers, who provide regular service to the League and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with players or teams and must complete and submit an official “Little League Volunteer Application” to the President of the League. Annual background screenings must be completed prior to the applicant assuming his/her duties for the current season. Refusal to annually submit a fully completed “Little League Volunteer Application” will result in immediate dismissal of the person(s) from the League.
B. Volunteerism: Little League is a volunteer run organization. Each family wishing to participate in this League shall be expected to embrace this concept. A parent or guardian for each child shall volunteer to work the required number of hours determined by the League.
1. All persons working in the concession stand must be at least 14 years of age.
2. During concession stand operating hours, the only individuals, aside from PNLL Board Members and Little League District Officials, to be in the concession stand are those individuals scheduled to fill a concession stand shift.
C. Field Duties: The Managers and Coaches of the Home team will prepare the field for play. The visiting manager will lock the storage container the conclusion of the last game of the day, and after raking the field, and securing all League equipment in the dugouts. The visiting manager will also ensure the field/facilities are secure before leaving the area. Each team is responsible for emptying trash from their respective dugouts.
D. Scorekeeping: The Home team will provide the Official Scorer for all games. The Official Scorer may not be in the dugout and may not communicate with members of either team. The Official Scorer works for the home plate umpire. The designated official scorekeeper will keep the pitch count and report it to the umpire at every half inning. In absence of an official scorekeeper, the official scorebook for a game will be the home team scorebook. The official scorekeeper shall be the official pitch counter for each game. The visiting team provides a scoreboard operator who will record the innings, pitch count, outs and pitch count on to the outfield scoreboard as directed by the home plate umpire and official scorekeeper. The home team will provide an announcer, if the sound equipment is set up.
SECTION III: REGISTRATION AND PLAYER EVALUATIONS – WILL BE CONDUCTED BASED ON GUIDELINES FROM OPERATING MANUAL AND RULE BOOK
A. Player registration for the PNLL season shall begin on-line in December. Check website for dates and information.
C. All player candidates (League Age 8 – 16) shall participate in PNLL’s sanctioned player evaluation (tryouts) activities as determined by the League.
D. Any player candidate who fails to attend 50% of player evaluations (tryouts) forfeits League eligibility unless an excuse is presented which is accepted by a majority of the Board of Directors.
E. Once a player registers with PNLL and has completed tryouts, the league reserves the right to retain all submitted fees, forms and materials. No refunds will be issued after said player completes player evaluations.
SECTION IV: PLAYER SELECTION – WILL BE BASED ON LITTLE LEAGUE GREEN BOOK
A. The number of teams at each level shall be determined by the Board of Directors immediately following registration dates.
B. Level of Play: A player candidate’s League age and the player draft will determine a child’s level of play. The levels of play and corresponding League Age are as follows:
1. Little League Major Division: All Players 10 – 12 years of age drafted (as described below), returning Major League Players and all 12 year olds and players (10 –12) who attend 50% of tryouts are eligible for the Major League Draft.
SECTION V: GENERAL GAME RULES:
A. Game Status: Prior to game time, a presiding Board Member, Vice President of the Division, Safety Officer, or any member of the Executive Board may call games for safety and/or weather reasons. Games shall be rescheduled to continue per Little League rules. Once the umpire takes charge of the field, it becomes the umpire’s decision as to whether to allow the game to begin, and when it should end.
B. Missed Games: A Player in the Little League Division that misses six (6) consecutive regular season games for any reason shall be removed from the roster of his or her current team. The Manager, through the Player Agent, shall fill that spot within three (3) days. No roster spots will be filled after two (2) weeks before the last regular season game.
C. The playing rules of Little League Baseball, Inc. and these Local Rules will govern play in all PNLL games. Particular attention shall be paid to the rules of minimum playing time (see Regulation IV (i) in the Little League Rule Book) and pitcher eligibility (see Regulation VI in the Little League Rule Book). PNLL will strictly enforce the rules of the game and any violation should be reported immediately to the Umpire-in-Chief at the game involved and the responsible Division Vice President.
D. Make-ups: Incomplete or postponed games during the regular season will be
rescheduled by the Division VP prior to the end regular season play and reported to the Board. Makeup games will be played on the first available day following postponed game. No make-up game will be played within four
(4) days prior to any League Championship Playoff, unless the game is required to determine the Playoff participants. If circumstances prevent rescheduling of such a game, the Division VP may cancel the game with the approval of the Executive Committee.
SECTION VI: LITTLE LEAGUE MAJOR DIVISION SPECIAL RULES
A. Major Division will play a full regular season of games, no halves. The team with the best record will receive the top seed in the League Championship Playoffs. If multiple teams have the same regular season record, the advantage will be determined by:
· Team with the best head to head record. If still tied then,
· Team with the lowest total runs allowed between the two tied teams.
· If still tied, then the team with the lowest total runs allowed against all other teams in the full season.
· If still tied, then a coin toss.
B. A playoff format will be determined by the Board of Directors prior to the season’s conclusion at the recommendation of the Division Vice President. The Board of Directors will recommend the playoff system annually, depending upon the number of teams available, via registration, final standings, etc. to the best interests of the league and as recommended by Division Vice President. The Board of Directors shall approve any playoff recommendation and advise the team managers & parents at least ten (10) days in advance of implementation.
C. PNLL has received a 2017 waiver to the Special Pinch Runner Rule, so as to not adhere to Little League Rule 7.14. Replacement of a runner requires substitution into the game for that player. A runner who is replaced cannot re-enter the game until minimum play has occurred for the replacement.
D. Pitching: (See Little League Rule Book).
E. Duration of Games: No Time limit. Each game will be six innings.
F. PNLL does NOT adhere to the ten (10) run rule. All games shall continue as scheduled, regardless of score. See each division special rules, as applicable.