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GENERAL RULES
- All Players present for the game must bat in the lineup. Any player who shows up late for a game shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. Defensive substitutions can be made freely throughout the game.
- All players who are not playing the field, coaching the bases or at bat must remain in the dugout. Any player who leaves the dugout to argue a call with an umpire or to argue with a player on another team will be thrown out of the game.
- Any team, while batting, may use two (2) adult coaches on the bases. However, there must always be a coach in the dugout. Therefore, there must always be three (3) coaches present in order to put to adults on the bases.
- All managers and coaches must be pre-approved by the League Board of Directors to manage or coach in Ramapo Little League.
- Games may be called due to weather or field conditions by either the League President or Division Commissioner (or Assistant Commissioner). If neither the President nor the Division Commissioner (or Assistant Commissioner) is available then the game may be called by any Board member present who is not a manager or coach in that Division or has any interest in that Division.
UMPIRES
- All managers must be on their best behavior when dealing with umpires.
- Excessive arguing with umpires is to be avoided. The League Board of Directors will take whatever action it deems appropriate in dealing with excessive arguing. Excessive arguing is any argument which goes beyond a reasonable disagreement with an umpire’s ruling on the field.
- Any manager or coach who makes, or attempts to make, “hostile” physical contact with an umpire will be subject to review by the Little League Board of Directors and may result in dismissal from their duties as manager or coach.
- Any manager or coach who curses or threatens or tries to intimidate an umpire will be subject to review by the League Board of Directors and may be suspended from the League.
- The managers and coaches are responsible for controlling the parents and fans of the players on their team. It is your responsibility to prevent hostility or intimidation by the parents of the kids on your team which is directed at either the umpire or the other team. If such behavior causes the game to be suspended your team may (subject to Board review) be caused to forfeit.
SAFETY RULES
- If a batter throws a bat both benches will receive a warning for the first infraction. The next batter who throws a bat will be called out.
- If a player throws any equipment during the course of a game both benches will receive a warning for the first infraction and will be ejected from the game for a second infraction.
- All male players must wear cups.
- No player in the T-Ball, Pony, Rookie, Minor or Major Divisions may, at any time hold a bat while standing in the dugout unless it is his/her turn to bat and they are walking out to the batters box.
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
- The home team is primarily responsible to make sure that the field is in playing shape prior to the start of the game. The visiting team is required to help.
- No food is allowed on the field or in the dugout. Sports drinks or water is permitted.
- NO SMOKING OR ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED IN THE FIELD AREA. A VIOLATION OF THIS RULE MAY (UPON REVIEW BY THE LEAGUE) RESULT IN SUSPENSION AND/OR EJECTION FROM THE LEAGUE.
- Use of foul language is forbidden at all times.
- All managers and coaches must wear their coach’s shirt to be permitted on the field or in the dugout. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the manager or coach being removed from the field.
- No parents or coaches are allowed on the field or in the dugout during the game or during pre-game warm-ups. Only approved managers and coaches are permitted on the field or in the dugout. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in the manager’s suspension for 1 game. Repeated violations of this rule may result in longer suspensions.
- Umpire equipment, bases, helmet racks, bat racks which belong to the league must be returned and placed in the containers located at every Ramapo field upon completion of a game.
- Dugouts shall remain free of trash and extraneous equipment, papers, clothing etc. and it is the responsibility of the manager and coaches to ensure that the dugouts are kept clean at all times.
LITTLE LEAGUE OF AMERICA RULES HIGHLIGHTED
The following are some of the more important Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League of America which will be strictly enforced by the Ramapo Little League. They are included herein for the purpose of highlighting these rules:
- No game may start or continue with with less than nine (9) players on each team. However, there are no automatic forfeits. Rule 4.16 and 4.17.
- There is no “on deck” circle. Rule 1.08, Note 1.
- Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game must leave the field area. They may not sit in the stands. Any manager, coach or player who is ejected is automatically suspended from his or her team’s next game. Rule 4.07.
- All batters, runners and kid coaches must wear batting helmets. Rule 1.16.
- No jewelry shall be worn by any player that is in a game at any time. EXCEPTION: Jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific medical condition is permissible. Rule 1.11(j)
- All players must wear The Official Little League Patch on their left sleeve. Rule 1.11(a)(2). Any player not wearing a patch will be removed from the dugout and/or field.
- The catcher must wear a catcher’s mitt. He or she may not use a firstbaseman’s mitt or a fielder’s glove. Rule 1.12
- Casts may not be worn during a game. Rule 1.11(k)
- Batting donuts are not permissible. Rule 1.10, Note 1.
Failure to comply with any of the above rules may result in further action that the League
Board of Directors deems appropriate.