Ramapo Little League
Major Division Rules
General Rules:
Every player MUST play a minimum of three (3) innings or nine (9) defensive outs in the field.
Each team needs at least 2 coaches to start a game. If necessary find another qualified coach from the stands (or possibly ask your opponent for one if they have more than three)
A maximum of four (4) coaches are allowed in the dugout
All coaches MUST wear a League approved coach shirt during games.
No food allowed in the dugouts. And managers/coaches are responsible for cleaning up the dugout before leaving the field (no bottles should be left around).
Each team needs at least 9 players to start a game. Weekday games start promptly at 5:30pm. There is a 15 minute grace period (till 5:45pm) for the 9th player to arrive. After that - a forfeit will be declared. If you have 9 players – you must start the game. For those games that start at 6:00pm – there will be no 15 minute grace period. So at least 9 players need to be there by 6pm
The HOME team is responsible for bringing TWO new baseballs to be used in the game (handed to the umpire before the game).
Players must clear the field 5 minutes before the official start of the game.
Friday's and Sunday's are make-up days.
Make-up games – the League will schedule your make-up game within four days on either Friday or Sunday.
Rainouts - only Board members can call a game due to weather. Division Commissioner(s) or a board member will call via cell phone to confirm a rain-out. Games called due to rain-outs on Monday and Wednesday will be made up on Friday’s. Rain-outs on Saturday will be played on Sunday.
Loud thunder or lightening - if heard/seen during a game - game must be suspended for 20 minutes until it passes. Ump will call the game if it does not pass.
The following game time limits will be in effect:
There is no time limit on a game (except for darkness – determined by umpire)
If a game is called due to darkness in the middle of an inning, the score will revert back to the previous inning score (ex: if at the end of 5 innings the Visiting team has 6 runs and the Home team has 7 runs, and after 5.5 innings, the Visiting team scores 5 runs and then the ump calls the game due to darkness, the score reverts back to the 5th inning and the home team wins 7-6).
There is a 10 run Mercy rule. The game shall be stopped by the umpire(s) and considered completed after the losing team has batted in at least four (4) full innings of play and is down by 10 or more runs. Note: this rule can only be called after the completion of the 4th or 5th inning.
Base Stealing:
There is no limit on the number of steals per inning.
A passed ball constitutes a “live” ball and thereby allows a runner to advance to any base at their own risk.
Pitchers – there is no limit on the number of players a pitcher unintentionally hits while pitching during a game
In fly rules stands
If a player throws a bat - a warning will be given to BOTH teams. The next player who throws a bat will be given an out and thrown out of the game.
Managers/coaches can visit the mound to speak with a pitcher. The pitcher must be taken out of the game if the manager/coach visits him on the third visit in one inning or the fourth visit in a game.
Only managers can speak with the umps. The only time a coach can speak with a manager is when the manager is not present at the game and has been designated manager for the game.
Little league patches must be on the left sleeve of all player uniforms
Pitchers are allowed a max of 8 warm-up pitches between innings.
Only players are allowed to warm up pitchers - no managers/coaches
During a game, a coach (or player with a helmet) must spot for a pitcher that is warming up along side the 1st base foul line. The pitcher and spotter must be nearest to the dugout and the catcher nearest to outfield alongside the fence.
Scorebooks shall be kept in order and must include both the home and visiting team statistics. This information will be necessary for both monitoring the progress of each player, as well as providing a general guideline of the regular season. It is the responsibility of EVERY manager to provide this information if requested by the League in order to resolve a potential conflict.
A protest must be made to the Division Commissioner and League president in writing and within 24 hours. A valid protest can only be made if it in direct violation of an Official Rule as prescribed in the 2011 Official Regulations and Playing Rules Hand Book. You may not protest a call that is in the umpire(s) best judgment. You can not protest balls and strikes.
Tournament of Champions – the team that wins the Major division Playoff Championship will represent Ramapo Little League at the District Tournament of Champions.
All Star manager - the Manager of the team that wins the Major division Playoff Championship will be, pending League Board of Directors review, given the opportunity to Manage the 12 year old All Star team. Only league age 12 year olds are eligible for All Stars.
Major Division Play-offs – since there are 4 teams, teams will be seeded from 1 to 4 based on regular season record. Match-ups will be as follows: 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. Both the Semi’s and the Championship series will be best out 3 games series.
Pitching Regulation Highlights for 2011:
See attachment for details
Pitcher Limits (League Age):
11-12 85 pitches per day
9-10 75 pitches per day
Rest Requirements:
66+ pitches in a day Four (4) calendar days
51 - 65 pitches in a day Three (3) calendar days
36 - 50 pitches in a day Two (2) calendar days
21 – 35 pitches in a day One (1) calendar days of rest
1 – 20 pitches in a day Zero (0) calendar days of rest
A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of the day.
A player may NOT pitch in more than one game in a day.
A catcher who plays catcher in 4 or more innings, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
Safety Regulations:
Pitchers shall not wear a batting glove, wrist or arm bands, or long sleeve white shirts while on the pitchers mound.
All players must wear an athletic supporter (i.e., cup)
Although not a LL requirement, it is STRONGLY suggested that all players wear heart guards (especially pitchers).
All injuries must be reported, in writing, by the Manager to the Commissioner and League Safety Officer (Dr. Jason Shatkin) within 24 hours of incident.
Manager and Coaches Obligation:
Upon conclusion of every game, each manager (or coach in the absence of a manager), MUST email the Division Commissioner, Jeff Jacomowitz and cc ALL managers with the following information: Final score of game, pitchers names and ages, and number of pitches thrown per pitcher for BOTH teams.
Any incidents or concerns regarding players, parents, managers/coaches or umpires, shall be promptly reported to the Commissioner(s) and/or League President.
All Managers/coaches shall familiarize themselves with the Official Regulations and Playing Rules, as well as Ramapo Little League local rules.
Managers must come prepared with inning by inning line-ups to speed up the game. Must have relief pitchers warming up. If catcher is on base with two outs – he can be swapped out for a pinch runner (the batter that made last out).
Don’t try to influence or intimidate kid umpires.
Code of Conduct:
SMOKING and the use of ALCOHOL anywhere within the field or dugout area is PROHIBITED.
No Manager, coach, player, parent or spectator, may use foul language and/or engage in unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior.
Parents, relatives, siblings or friends, and NOT allowed in the dugout or field during the course of the game or pre-game warm-ups. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in the suspension of the manager for one (1) game. Repeated violations may incur a longer suspension.
Any Manager, coach or player ejected from a game MUST leave the field area.
Excessive arguing with umpires, players, opposing managers/coaches, parents and spectators is to be avoided.
Under NO circumstances shall a manager/coach intimidate a player or umpire, or threaten the same by means of physical harm. This will be grounds for dismissal from their duties as a manager or coach.
Managers and coaches are responsible for controlling parents, spectators and players. It is the complete and total responsibility of the manager and coaches to prevent any altercation(s) which may result in the suspension of players and the entire team (subject to League Board of Directors review).
Violation of the League Code of Conduct may result in suspension and/or termination from Ramapo Little League as deemed necessary by the Ramapo Little League Board of Directors.
Miscellaneous:
Help promote fundraising and merchandising efforts.
In season practices – a schedule is being put together and will be sent out shortly (the plan is to allow practices on Sunday’s at Rella)
If a player arrives late to a game – where does he go in the batting order :
If you have NOT gone through the line-up one time – you can insert the player anywhere after the next batter is up. Example: Batter #4 is up, and player A arrives (and was supposed to bat 1st), then player A can bat in any spot between the #4 and #12 batter.
If you have gone through the line-up one time – the player must be inserted at the BOTTOM of the batting line-up
If you know you won’t have enough players what do you do?
If you know 24 hours or more before your game – immediately contact your opposing Manager and Division Commissioner(s) – and options will be discussed. IDEALLY – ALL managers MUST be pooling their teams on a weekly basis to verify their kids will or won’t be playing for each game each particular week. If no notice is given and both teams show up to play and one team is short players, then the team short players will receive a forfeit.
If inside 24 hours, contact your opposing Manager and Divison Commissioner(s) IMMEDIATELY. No promises can be made that a forfeit won’t be imposed.
If a runner gets hurt, the batter that made the last out will pinch run for that runner.
First aid kits will be available in every gang box at every field.
Field maintenance – the fields will typically be groomed by the Town of Ramapo prior to each game. If additional grooming is required, managers/coaches can use the rakes in the storage facilities. Quick dry will also be available. DO NOT sweep dirt and clay into the grass areas! Do NOT use kitty litter.
Gang boxes will have catchers gear.