9U and 11U Division Rules

                          WESTERN FALL BALL-- “RULES & REGULATIONS”

9 & Under/11 Under Divisions– Specific Rules

LINEUP OPTIONS:  Keeping in mind that it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you meet the mandatory play rules (6 defensive outs, one plate appearance) and since this is “fall ball” and instruction/teaching is very important, you have a couple of lineup options from which to choose:

·        Option #1 – Regular Lineup:  Nine players in the batting order … once a substitution has been made, then the starter and the sub are “locked into” that position in the batting order and are considered one player … after that happens, then a player may be used to play defense and the other may hit or vice-versa … basically it is unlimited “re-entry” after the players have been determined to occupy a particular spot in the order.

·        Option #2 – Bat-the-Roster Rule:  All players on the roster may be placed in the batting order (1-thru-12, etc.).  That means that the manager may freely substitute the defensive alignment throughout the game at all positions other than pitcher.  Once a pitcher is removed from the mound and he/she has not fulfilled the “pitching” limit (covered later in pitching rules), then he/she may re-enter on the mound one time to finish their “pitching limit”.  Please alert the official book when a pitching change is made.

Note:  All managers must inform the other team of their lineup decision prior to the start of the game and that option must be adhered to throughout the game … it is a game-by-game and team-by-team decision … both teams DO NOT have to use the same option.

RE-ENTRY RULES: ANY PITCHER MAY RE-ENTER ON THE MOUND ONE TIME AFTER BEING REMOVED – THE INDIVIDUAL PITCHER MAY PITCH FOR ONLY “NINE” OUTS (or fulfilling pitch count rules) IN A GAME, HOWEVER!!!

COURTESY RUNNER: Teams may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher at any time during an inning … they may both be run for in the same inning, but there must be different runners in each case … the courtesy runner can be either a player not in the lineup (a sub) or it can be the last person who made an out for that team if teams are batting the roster.  This is a speed-up rule and is not mandatory.

PITCHING RULES:  (EXCLUSIVELY FOR FALL BALL) We will observe the following pitching rules for fall ball:

IN ALL DIVISIONS THE FOLLOWING WILL APPLY WITH REGARD TO PITCHING RULES:

• No pitcher in the 9U and 11U division may throw more than 60 pitches in a game or pitch for a total of 9 outs before being removed, whichever comes first … if the 60^th pitch comes during a batter’s turn at bat, then the pitcher may finish pitching to that batter. 

• In the 9U and 11U Divisions, no pitcher may make more than two consecutive appearances (pitch in more than two consecutive games) … an appearance is constituted by one pitch in a game up to the 60 pitches/9 outs restriction.

• A pitcher may re-enter once removed from the mound in any game – if returning to the mound that pitcher may only pitch up to the 60 pitch/9 outs restriction for that particular game (this still constitutes one appearance).

• Managers/designated person should keep pitching availability charts and pitch count charts at each game.

• Protests for pitching discrepancies should be kept to a minimum!!!

Note:  In all games the two teams must agree on an official “pitch count recorder” to monitor pitches for both teams and alert the home plate umpire when a player has reached the allowable total (remember, if that total comes during an at-bat, then the batter may be completed before the pitcher is removed) … it is also incumbent upon each manager to know his/her pitcher’s count.

PITCHING LOG:  All teams must exchange pitching ledger logs with the opposing team prior to the game starting … each team will keep the pitching log of the other team and then each team signs the other team’s ledger at the conclusion of the game.

VISITS TO THE MOUND:  Managers may make two visits to the mound per pitcher in an individual inning.  If they make a third visit in an inning, the pitcher must be removed.  If a manager makes a fourth visit over the course of the game to one pitcher, then that pitcher must be removed.  Note:  when making a mound visit the manager may go to the mound and the entire infield may be part of the mound visit if so desired.

LEAD OFFS & HEAD-FIRST SLIDES:  No lead offs are allowed in 9’s & 11’s.  Runners may not leave the bag until the ball crosses home plate.  No runner advancing to a base may slide head first, however they may “dive/slide” head first back to a base from which they came.

DROPPED THIRD STRIKE RULE:  The “dropped third strike” rule will be in effect in the 11U division only.

BAT RESTRICTIONS:  Big barrel bats are prohibited in all divisions.

INFIELD FLY:  The normal infield fly rule is in effect for these divisions.

FOUL BALLS:  Please help us with foul balls as much as you can … foul balls can be turned into the concession stand for a free snow cone, but amazingly they don’t always end up there … if you see a foul ball near your dugout, please get it back to the field as quickly as possible … this is a big help, so any and all you can do will be appreciated!!!

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ABOUT CLEANING YOUR DUGOUTS AND ASK FANS TO HELP WITH TRASH AROUND THE STANDS!!!

Any rules not covered in these handouts will fall under the general rules of baseball as ruled upon by the league’s umpires with the 2012 Little League Rule Book being used as the reference material.