TURLOCK LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL

2023 LOCAL GROUND RULES

 

These Local Rules are required by regulation 1-c-1 of the 2023 Little League Softball Official Regulations, Playing Rules and Operating Policies.  All rules and regulations below are superseded by the 2023 TNLL Health and Safety Guidelines where applicable.

 

Age Divisions: 

 

AA Minors – 6-8 year olds:  Any player who will be 6 years old by January 1, 2023 and who will not be over 8 years old by December 31, 2022 shall be eligible to compete in the AA Minor League Coach Pitch Division.  A 5 or 6 year-old may play in the AA division provided they will turn 6 years old by August 31, 2023 AND they have completed playing a season of tee ball (whether Little League or a locally run program, like the City of Turlock).  There are situations where due to safety concerns a 9 year old can play in this division.

 

AAA Minors – 9-11 year olds:  Any player who will be 9 years old by January 1, 2023 and who will not be over 11 years old by December  31, 2022 shall be eligible to compete in the AAA Minor League Player Pitch Division.  A waiver of Regulation V(a) must be obtained to allow any 12 year old to play in this league, in accordance with Little League International regulations.  8 year olds allowed at the discretion of the Board.

 

Majors – 10-12 year olds:  Any player who will be 10 years old by January 1, 2023 and who will not be over 12 years old by December 31, 2022 shall be eligible to compete in the Major League Division.  Draft requirements apply.  9 year olds allowed at the discretion of the Board.

 

Seniors – 13-16 year olds:  Any player who will be 13 years old by January 1, 2023 and who will not be over 16 years old by December 31, 2022 shall be eligible to compete in the Senior League Division.  Draft requirements apply.  12 year old allowed at the discretion of the Board.  

 

Draft Requirements: 

 

1. All Players age 9 thru 16 years must participate in the appropriate Division evaluations, unless they are a returning player from the Major League Division and will continue to play in the Major League Division during 2023.
2. Any player who fails to attend at least 1 of the try-out evaluation sessions will forfeit league eligibility unless waiver is granted by a majority vote by the Board of Directors.  If there are 3 or more evaluation dates provided they must attend a minimum of 2 of the 3 dates. 
3. Due to COVID restrictions, evaluations may be altered to accommodate less players at a time and less required days. This decision will be made and voted on by the Board of Directors if/when COVID restrictions are known for the 2023 season.

Draft Policy:

 

1. Draft Order: The team that wins the League Championship in the prior year, drafts last.  The remaining teams draft in reverse order of last season’s overall record.  Teams with the same record will determine draft order according to head-to-head results.  The team with the most losses in head-to-head competition drafts first.  If head-to-head results do not break a tie, a coin flip will determine the draft order.  
2. Options: All options will be observed according to draft procedures outlined in the Little League International Softball Rulebook and will only be observed for one manager (no coaches).
3. Adding new teams:  When new teams are added to the existing league the new team/s will draft in order determined by coin flip until they have an equal number of players as the existing teams at which time the Draft Order rules would apply.  
4. Starting a new division drafting:  When a new division begins the draft order will be determined based on a lottery (blind team name pull from a hat).  It will then follow regular draft rules.
5. Draft Participants:  All players NOT returning to a Major League, Junior League, or Senior League team are eligible for the draft unless the Board of Directors exercises their options to redraft the entire league.  If the League options to redraft the entire division, all returning players and players who have met the draft requirements will then be eligible to be drafted.  The returning players must be drafted during the draft.  Only approved managers will be allowed to participate in the draft selections.  
6. Returning player draft re-entry:  If a returning Major, Junior, or Senior League Division player opts to, they can reenter the draft.  The player must meet all draft requirements to reenter the draft.  A player opting to be redrafted cannot be drafted by the team they are choosing to leave. 
7. When a returning Majors player has a sibling entering the draft (12 year olds only) they will automatically be assigned to the returners team.  
8. If siblings are entering the draft for the first time they must be drafted together in the same round.  The Manager choosing the siblings would then skip their next draft pick (or more based on the number of siblings drafted together).  For example, if a 9-11 year old is drafted and they have a 12 year old sibling they must be taken together.  However, if the sibling player is under 12 years old, they must either be drafted along with their sibling OR not drafted into the Majors division by any team, unless the parents have given permission for this to occur – the 9-11 year old non-drafted sibling would then play in the AAA division.

 

Draft Procedure:

 

1. Drafting into the Major League Division will be for ages 9 through 12 only and to the Senior League Division for ages 12-16.  
2. Prior to the draft, the number of 12 year olds (Majors) and 16 year olds (seniors) in the draft, plus the number of 12 year olds returning to the Major teams will be averaged.  This sum (or quotient) will be the number of 12 year olds/16 year olds required to be on each Major/Senior League team.  Returning players will not be forced to trade or switch teams for age related reasons.
3. The draft will be monitored to ensure that all 12&16 year olds will be drafted prior to close of draft.  In the event of Major league teams being reduced, the returning players from those teams must be drafted on to the remaining teams. This will also be monitored to ensure that they are all drafted prior to the end of draft.
4. When the numbers of the draft picks left are equal to the number of eligible 12 year olds and/or returning Major League players who are in the draft due to reduction of team(s), those players will then become the only eligible players to be drafted. 

 

Player Replacement Policy:

 

1. Before the Draft: If for any reason, a returning player wants to change teams or a manager wishes to release a player, the   

following process will be followed:  

a. A written notice from the parents or manager must be submitted to the Player Agent. 

b. In the case of a parent request, the Player Agent shall notify the Manager of the team that the player wishes to leave the team.  

c. If this is the parent’s request, the Manager of the team will decide if he wishes to release the player, trade the player, or retain the player on his team.  

d. If this is the manager’s request, the request must it must be made between the conclusion of 1 season and seven days prior to the evaluation period of the second season.  

e. The Player Agent will notify the League President and the Board of Directors of the parents and manager’s wishes.  

f. If the manager decided to release the player, and upon approval by the Board of Directors, that player shall be removed from the team roster and then go through the evaluation and draft process as previously noted.  

g. Once a decision is made, the Player Agent, acting for the League President will notify the player of the decision.  

 

2. Trades: If a returning player wishes to change teams, the following process will be followed:  

a. Steps A through D above will be followed.  

b. The manager decides to trade the player.  

c. Only players participating in the draft process are eligible to be traded.  

d. All trades will be final at the conclusion of the draft.  

e. The Player Agent will monitor any attempts by managers and parents to manipulate the draft system and thus create an imbalance in the league. 

f. Once a decision is made, the Player Agent, acting for the League President will notify the player of the decision.  

 

3. After the Draft: If for any reason a player refuses, or is unable to play for a major league team;  

a. Notice must be given to the Player Agent by the manager within 24 hours. 

b. The Player Agent shall notify the League President and the Board of Directors.  

c. Upon approval of the Board of Directors, the Player Agent shall send a letter of release to the player and parents.

1. The letter of release of player from major league team will contain the policy of refusal, which is once a player refuses to play for a major league team, that player will be frozen to the Minor leagues for the remainder of that season, but shall remain All-Star eligible. 
2. The Player Agent and Manager have seven days from the time of notification to replace the player. If the manager has not selected a replacement at the end of seven days, the Player Agent shall assign a player to the team. 
3. Failure of the manager to notify the Player Agent of a players' continued absence shall result in disciplinary action by the Board of Directors. A continued absence is seven continuous days of missed practice or games, NOT seven practices and games. Excused absences include medical, church and/or school related absences. 
4. Players who have missed games and/or practices due to an injury cannot return to play without medical release. Absence must still be reported and monitored by the Player Agent. See Rule 17 of Ground Rules for All Levels. 
5. No players may be called-up in the final two weeks of the AAA schedule. 

 

Rosters: 

1. LL Majors: At no time shall a team have on its roster more than eight players of 12 year olds or more than seven players of either age 10 or 11. All teams MUST have 12 players on each team.
2. LL Seniors: The League will strive to have no more than eight players from one age group per team if possible with registration numbers.
3. The Board reserves the right to adjust rosters to accommodate the number of draft eligible players. 

 

LOCAL RULES FOR ALL DIVISIONS

 

1. Managers, coaches, players, parents, and spectators shall abide by the League’s Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Guidelines. 

 

1. Umpires will be directed to begin play at the scheduled time. In an effort to speed up the game, the umpire will observe the “1 minute rule” between innings. 

 

1. Only the manager and two adult coaches will be permitted in the dugout with the players. Managers and coaches must have been approved by the Board of Directors. All managers and coaches who are not functioning as base coaches will remain inside the dugout. There must be at least one adult in the dugout at all times. A player in uniform may be used as a base coach, provided the player is wearing a batting helmet. Two adult base coaches are permitted at all levels provided one adult coach/manager is present in the dugout. No more than three adults can be in the dugout or on the field at any time with the exception of AA whom can have 4 (1 adult in the dugout, 2 base coaches, and a “pitcher”). 

 

1. Only the manager, or designee, will be recognized by the umpire in the event of a dispute. The manager, or designee, must obtain permission to discuss a possible violation of the rules. Arguing an umpire’s judgment can result in the manager being ejected from the game and serving a one game suspension. 

 

1. All divisions have a mandatory play rule. All players must play six consecutive defensive outs and bat one time before the starter can return to the game. Only the starter may re-enter the game in the Major League. 

 

1. A Continuous Batting Order (CBO) will be used for all Divisions.

 

1. The manager or designee must sign the game cards and pitching eligibility forms at the conclusion of each game. 
1. NOTE: Failure to sign the game cards and pitching eligibility forms will result in each pitcher appearing in the game to be charged with the maximum inning count per game. The managers or team representatives’ signature indicates that the lineup card is correct, and shows an accurate representation of the game. This lineup card will be used to determine if players have played the minimum time, if pitchers have pitched the correct amount.  

 

1. There is no “on-deck” hitter from LL majors down. All players must stay inside the dugout until their turn to bat. 

 

1. No player in the Little League majors, AAA, or AA divisions shall have a bat in their hand until they are ready to go up to home plate to bat. Players may not stand in the dugout with a bat in their hand. 

 

1. No batboy or batgirl is permitted at any level. 

 

1. The HOME team scorekeeper will maintain the Official Scorebook of the game. The Official Scorekeeper must be stationed in the press box behind the home plate area if the field has one available. If the field has no press box then they must be stationed in the stands nearest the plate umpire. The Official Scorekeeper is not permitted in the dugout or on the field. Pitcher inning counts shall be kept by this scorekeeper. This scorekeeper shall advise the umpire of the score and innings pitched at the end of each inning. The team manager is responsible for knowing the innings pitched for their respective pitchers. 

 

1. Any player warming up the pitcher must be wearing a mask with a dangling throat guard. Any player warming up an outfielder must wear a batting helmet. Managers and coaches are permitted to warm up players. Player must wear catcher’s mask with a dangling throat guard during any type of pregame warm ups when a player is used to catch for the Manager or coach. PENALTY – The first incident will constitute a warning to the manager. A second incident will result in the manager’s ejection from the game. 

 

1. Umpires: 
1. AA managers/coaches will be responsible to umpire their own games. 
2. AAA, Majors, Juniors/Seniors managers and coaches will be scheduled to umpire games as needed by the League UIC. 
3. Major league managers & coaching staffs will be responsible to umpire AAA games as scheduled by the League UIC. 
4. Senior League managers & coaching staffs will be responsible to umpire games as scheduled by the League UIC.
5. NO GAMES at any level of play shall be delayed or rescheduled due to an absent or tardy umpire. Managers, Coaches, Parents shall be enlisted as umpires so the players can play the game as scheduled, but must be background checked prior to entering the field. 
6. No umpires will be paid by the league for their service. – We do pay junior umpires $25 a game bases or $35 plate this season.
7. No League Officials shall umpire a game unless it is an emergency and both Managers agree to it.

 

1. Players, coaches, and or managers that leave the field without the umpire’s permission may not be allowed to reenter the game at the umpires discretion. 

 

15,  The manager shall hold his/her team responsible for the condition of the dugout area at the end of each game. No sunflower 

       seeds/food are permitted on the field/in the dugout, unless needed for medical condition/situation. 

 

1. Field Preparation and Clean up: 

The home team of the first game is responsible for the "opening" of the field: 

1. This includes unlocking of the field, bathrooms, and storage container. 
2. Prepping the field – lining/putting bases out etc 

 

The home team of the last game of the night is responsible of locking up: 

1. Locking up the bathrooms and the field. 
2. This includes putting the bases and any other equipment away in the storage container.

 

1. “POOL PLAY” will be available in Majors, Intermediate, Junior, and Senior Leagues. The manager or coach of the team needing players must notify the Player Agent no later than 24 hours prior to game time. This is detailed under the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules in Section V (c). Pool players can only be used to bring a team to 9 total players.

 

1. The Player Agent must be notified if a player misses more than one week (7 days) of scheduled practices or games for any reason. A continued absence is seven continuous days of missed practice or games, NOT seven practices and games. Excused absence is medical and/or school related absence. Players who have missed games and/or practices due to an injury cannot return to play without medical release.
2. A player must participate in 50% of regular season games, or be replaced on the roster. 

 

1. All injuries sustained during practice or a game must be reported to the Safety Officer on an accident form. ANY hit to the players head MUST be reported, even if the player continues to practice/play.  This must be done within 24 hours of injury.  Reporting of injuries during a practice or game is the responsibility of the team Manager.

 

1.   If a parent seeks medical treatment for the injury, they have 20 days to initiate a claim with the League Safety Officer for use of the Little League International insurance program.  While the League will assist in this process, it is the responsibility of the parent to initiate the claim. 

 

1. The mercy rules from Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rule 4.10 (e) shall be in effect during regular season games – add one additional inning for junior/senior games.

8 runs at 5 or beyond innings

1. 10 runs at 4 innings

1. 15 runs at 3 innings

 

1. Regulation Game – A game is considered a regulation game if: 1) at least 4 innings have been completed (Junior/Senior League 5 innings), 2) If the game meets any of our local rules standards due to lighting and/or curfew, 3) all innings have been played even with a tie score (LL Majors/AAA 6 innings/Seniors 7 innings), if a mercy rule applies

                   a game shall end if:

1. The umpire will announce the official game time after the plate meeting is completed and the Home team scorekeeper will document the time in the scorebook.
2. a game shall end if:
1. AAA game has played 4 innings and near 1.5 hours has elapsed
2. Majors game has played 4 innings and near 1.75 hours has elapsed
3. AAA game or Majors game has played at least 1 hour 45 minutes no new inning shall begin
4. If there is no way for a team to win in the bottom half of an inning, after time has elapsed, the umpire will call a plate meeting with the two managers to discuss stopping the game

 

1. Batting with an Illegal bat: If prior to the next batter entering the batter’s box, it is determined that batter is using or did use an illegal bat, the batter who used the bat shall be called out. The illegal bat will be handed to the official scorekeeper in the score booth, and will not be given back to the player, or player's family or the manager or coach until the end of the game. The umpire will make a report of the use of the illegal bat on the back of the lineup card, and if the player attempts to use the bat a second time, the batter will be brought before the discipline committee. 

 

1. All players within 10 feet of a batter swinging a bat for any reason must wear a helmet. This is to prevent injuries caused by the bat hitting any unprotected player.

 

1. The “Inning Count” pitching regulation will be in effect for all pitchers. LL Majors and down a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 12 innings in a day.  If a player pitches in 7 or more innings in a day, one calendar day of rest is mandatory.  Senior League has no inning count restrictions.

 

1. A courtesy runner can be used in AAA and above divisions for a pitcher or a catcher if there are 2 outs and the player has met their mandatory play for running the bases requirement.  A player whose name is on the team’s batting order may not become the runner.  Exception: if a CBO is used the courtesy runner must be the player in the batting order who made the last out or the team is fielding only 9 or fewer players at the time the runner is needed.  

 

1. If a batted ball is caught under a banner on the outfield fence it will be ruled a double. 

 

AA/AAA Minors:

1. Pitching: 
1. AA will be coach pitch. A maximum of three (3) pitches will be delivered to each batter. If the batter has not hit the ball in the first three pitches a tee will be placed at home plate to allow the batter to hit the ball from the tee.  Each manager shall designate an adult to pitch while their team is at bat. This adult shall perform the duties of umpire for that half inning.  Coaches will pitch from a safe distance from the batter.
2. Intentional walking will not be permitted.

 

1. AAA will be player pitch. 
1. 12 year olds are not eligible to pitch in this division. 
2. LL inning count rules shall be followed. Managers and League Officials shall maintain pitching records throughout the season.  
3. Pitchers can use a slingshot pitching style, but should be working towards a windmill pitching style.
4. There is no balk/illegal pitch rule. 

 

1. Base stealing: 
1. AA – No base stealing. 
2. AAA – Stealing allowed after the ball crosses the plate.

 

1. Defensive Alignment: 
1. AA teams may use all players on defense. The 10^th+ defensive player/s shall only be used as an outfielder/rover. 
2. AAA can only have 9 on defense, but may play a regulation game with only 8 players.

 

 

1. Batting Order: 
1. The batting order shall consist of the entire roster (CBO). With Continuous Batting Order; the batting order will not change when players have been substituted on defense. Please see rule 4.04 in the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules, and Operating Policies for clarification. 
2. If a player leaves the game for injury or illness, the batting order will skip that spot in the line-up without penalty.
3. There shall be no intentional walks in AAA.

 

1. Run Limits: 
1. After five runs have scored, the half-inning shall end. 
2. The final inning is a closed inning – only 5 runs may be scored.

 

1. Tie Scores: All ties will be recorded as a tie for each team. 

 

1. Champions: 
1. AA – Score should NOT be kept.  There will be no first place trophies at the AA League level. All AA players will receive an award to recognize the accomplishment of playing a team sport. This award will be awarded during the league championships at the end of the season.  
2. AAA Champion: The league champion will be decided in a double elimination tournament between the four AAA league teams with the best records. The best record will play the fourth best record, the second best record will play the third best record, the winning teams will meet to determine the Champion, at the TOC. 

 

L.L. Majors/Seniors:

1. Pitching:
1. Intentional walking will only be permitted at the Senior Division.

 

1. Base stealing: 
1. Runners may steal a base when the ball leaves the pitchers hand.

 

1. Defensive Alignment: 
1. Can only have 9 on defense, but may play a regulation game with only 8 players.

 

1. Batting Order: 
1. Majors: The batting order shall consist of the entire roster (CBO). With Continuous Batting Order; the batting order will not change when players have been substituted on defense. Please see rule 4.04 in the Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules, and Operating Policies for clarification. 
2. If a player leaves the game for injury or illness, the batting order will skip that spot in the line-up without penalty. 

 

1. Run Limits: 

All innings are open unless both managers and the umpire agree to a different system – for example a 5 run inning rule.

 

1. Time Limits: Each team will be limited to 10 minutes of infield/outfield warm-up. 
2. Tied Games: Will be entered into Sports Connect as a tie

 

1. Champion: The league champion will be decided in a double elimination tournament between the four major league teams with the best records. The best record will play the fourth best record, the second best record will play the third best record, the winning teams will meet to determine the Champion, at the TOC. 

 

All-Star Selection

 

1. At all times, All Star selection must be kept confidential. 

 

Player Selection: 

 

1. Players must participate in a minimum of 8 (6 for Juniors/Seniors) regular season games. Note the LL rule that allows for a medical excuse in the case of a player who does not meet the play requirement. Players must be in good standing (Guidelines found in the current Little League Baseball Rulebook in the Tournament Rules and Guidelines Section).

 

1. The teams that TNLL shall have are:

1. Major or Little League All Stars (10-12 year olds)
2. An 8-10 year old division team
3. A 9-11 year old team will be decided based on availability of other teams in our section
4. Seniors/Juniors will be determined on the number of eligible players and the quality of pitching/play of the League compared to the skill of the Tournament entry (district/sections/regional, etc.).  This decision shall be made by the beginning of June 2022.

1. The managers of the division shall select by written or electronic ballot the members of the All Star Team.

 

1. The method of the All Star draft shall be as follows; 

1. Managers shall nominate players from their regular season team. 
2. Once all players are nominated by the managers all managers will be able to discuss any players that have not been nominated. 
3. A paper or electronic ballot will then be used for voting. Players receiving the most votes will be placed on the team. The voting procedure will continue until all positions are filled. 

1. The team will be composed of a minimum of 12 players. 
2. A majority vote of all managers will determine if more than 12 players will be placed on the team. 
3. The managers shall also determine the order of replacement players. 

 

Manager and Coaches Selection: 

 

1. The Managers of the All Star teams will be selected by the Board of Directors, but shall be considered in order of regular season team rankings. 
2. The All-Star manager will then select the coaches of the All-Star team. 
3. All-Star Managers and coaches must be approved by the Board of Directors. 
4. Managers and Coaches must participate in a minimum of 60% of the regular season games and be in good 

          standing. 

1. Managers and Coaches will be selected from those names submitted to Little League International off the official Roster forms. 
2. At the discretion of the Board try-outs may be used to help select the all star teams.

 

Approved by Board of Directors on 12-5-22: ______Regina Coletto______________________________________

Regina Coletto, League President