Minors

Rules

Trout Lake Little League – Minors Division House Rules

Tenets of TL Minors 

1. Development
2. Fun
3. Experience all facets of the game (pitching, stealing, hitting vs. a pitcher, fielding interactions, walks)
4. Collaboration as we are all “on the same team”

Fun and development is the focus for the Minors division. It is the first year that players are required to pitch and where base stealing is allowed. That means that this is very much a developmental division that allows for all to experience pitching, stealing and all infield positions in order to better understand the interactions necessary to defend in the field and begin to develop higher levels of understanding in the field. It is through this lens that the Trout Lake Minors Rules have been created for our House Teams.

The TL Minors Division has 2 Seasons:

1. Exhibition Season
2. Double Round Robin Playoff Season

Minors House Exhibition Season Rules:   

• No Regular Season Trophy: There is no regular season trophy, therefore the focus is on the development of all the players on your team. All players should get opportunities to play every position on the field. Each team will be required to follow our TL Minors Fair Play, Rotation Guidelines, Sitting out, Batting order, Pitch/Catching, Baserunning and Safety Rules (see below for further descriptions) – All coaches are expected to follow these rules 

1. 1. 1. Fair Play: All players should have the opportunity to play every position during the regular season (unless they do not wish to pitch, catch or there is a *danger with playing first base). *Please note that if a player can not play first base due to a skill deficit the team’s Head Coach must talk to both the parents and player agent (Lawrence Yau, tlplayeragent@gmail.com) in order to set up a program so the child can earn an opportunity to play ALL positions. 
      2. Fair Play Rotations: All must play a minimum of 2 innings in the infield and 1 in the outfield. If this is not satisfied during the game because of time or weather or a mercy rule, the following actions must be taken: those players who are at a deficit will carry those innings over to the next game during exhibition season and games during the playoff season. For example, if a game was 4 innings long and a player had not played in the outfield yet, then they would be at a deficit of 1 OF appearance. For the next game that player MUST play in the outfield twice by the 4th inning or the game could be forfeited. This rule, during the regular season, must be satisfied by the next game. In the playoffs ALL PLAYERS must satisfy this requirement by the 4th inning which means there will be no carry-overs. Failure to do so could result in forfeiture of the game.

• Sitting-out: At Trout Lake sitting out is a team concept not a game concept. For all games (including playoffs) – no player shall sit out two innings until all players have sat out 1 inning. This rule carries forward (for example – 5 players sit out in game 1 because there are 11 players, then the next game there are 10 players so no one sits… then game 3 there are 11 players again – this means those first 5 players CANNOT sit until players 6-11 have sat out an inning).

• Batting Order Rotation: During the exhibition season it is expected that each game there will be a rotation of the batting order and everyone experiences batting in every spot in the order. During the playoffs the coach does not have to abide by the regular season expectation. If a coach does not follow this rule there will be a meeting held with the player agent and league president to ensure that the TL philosophy is being followed.

1. 1. 1. Pitch Counts and Catching: For the exhibition season – No pitcher can throw more than 40 pitches or 2 innings – whichever happens first (they can go over 40 pitches if they are finishing a batter who began the at bat when the pitch count was below 40). After this we will use the Little League rule book for pitching and catching rules. Please KNOW these rules (use the Little League app or get a rulebook from the clubhouse). Also make sure you keep track of your pitch counts and plan for successive games accordingly. Also, be keenly aware of the catching/pitching rules especially a pitcher who has pitched more than 40 pitches because they cannot catch for the rest of the game. Failure to follow pitching & catching rules could result in direct conversations with the player agent and president and may lead to forfeiture of your game. All players should have an opportunity to pitch in the regular season. Players in their first season of Minors and are 9 and under may pitch from 42 feet from home plate. During the playoff season ALL players must pitch from the pitching rubber. A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Pitching changes must be announced to the Plate Umpire. Pitch counts as per the Little League rule book will be in effect. The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the pitch count limit for his/her league age as follows: 11 years old – 85 pitches per day; 9-10 years old – 75 pitches per day; the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1) That batter reaches base; 2) That batter is put out; 3) The third out is made to complete the half-inning. A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day. Any player who has played the position of catcher in 4 or more innings in a game is NOT eligible to pitch on that calendar day. Pitchers must adhere to the following rest requirements: • If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed. • If a player pitches 51 – 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed. • If a player pitches 36 – 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed. • If a player pitches 21 – 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed. • If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required. The scorekeeper or another game official must be designated as the official pitch count recorder. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. 4) Pitchers who hit three batters in one inning or four times in one game will be removed as pitcher but not from the game.

• Base Running: 

• Passed Balls: No stealing home or 2nd base on a passed ball during the exhibition season. During the playoff season passed balls are live and in-play.

• Overthrow: Only 1 base on the FIRST overthrow error; but the runner is still at risk of being put out. If there is a second overthrow error the runners CANNOT advance and the play is called “Dead”. During the exhibition season, If there is an overthrow of a player trying to steal 3rd base or an overthrow of 2nd Base with a runner on 3rd base, the runner on 3rd base cannot go home. This rule changes for the playoffs when stealing home and second is allowed in all innings. (running home on baseball plays. For example, if the lead runner is on 2nd Base and the ball is put into play, with the out made at 1st Base, then that baseball play has ended; any further advancement by the lead runner now on 3rd Base would be considered trying to steal the extra base (home) which is not allowed in the exhibition season. This rule changes in the playoffs to allow stealing of home at own risk during all innings.

1. 1. 1. Stealing: Stealing of 2nd base and Home is NOT allowed during the exhibition season. If the pitcher has the ball while standing on the rubber and the catcher is in the receiving position, all runners must return to their bases. Players can steal 3rd base. However, to encourage plays and to enhance defensive coverage – only one base is allowed to be stolen at a time (so if there is an overthrow on a stolen base the runner can not advance – if they do so they will be sent back). For example: if a player is attempting to steal 3rd base and there is an overthrow, that player will not be allowed to attempt to steal home. There is no stealing of homebase on passed balls or an erroneous throw to the pitcher during the exhibition season. 
      2. Safety: For any play at home plate – all players must slide. This is to be taught during the regular season and will be treated like a bat warning where the umpire will formally warn players throughout the season. During the postseason on the third team offense where there was no slide at home when there was a play the base runner will be called “out” as determined by the umpire.

Minors House Playoff Double-Round Robin Rules:

• Warm-up: If possible the teams will have the field 30 minutes prior to the game (if this is not possible the teams will be asked to warm-up on the outside so they are ready to start the game on time). Due to field preparation there will be no infield practice prior to games (except in foul territory).

• Team Minimums: A team minimum to play is eight players, however the 9th spot will be an automatic out. If a team has seven players or fewer – they may borrow players from the other team in order to play the game, however the game will be declared a forfeit. 

• Coaches Meeting: The Head Coaches (and any of the coaches who wish to attend) will be asked to a “plate” meeting by the umpires. A copy of the Line-up forms are to be given to the Umpires, scorekeepers and opposition at this time. The Umpires will then go over the ground rules and it is at this time any clarifications are to be made. If there are players who are coming to the game, however they are late, please include them on the line-up sheet and if they come-up in the order they will be skipped without penalty during regular season league play. 

• Coaches: There are only 3 official coaches for each game. Other parents/coaches can warm-up the team, however for the offensive game portion there will be only 1 dugout coach and two base coaches (who stand within the coaches box beside 1b & 3b). All defensive coaches must be in the dugout OR on the teams dugout-side on the grass and off the infield. There is NO sitting on buckets outside the dugout (in the dugout door is fine).

• Defensive Line Up: There can be up to 10 players in the field (maximum 6 in the infield and 4 in the outfield – with the outfield being designated as the grass). 

• Batting Order: The batting order is set when the line-up is submitted and players are to bat in this order. If there is an injury or a player has to leave the umpires and opposition will be informed and that player will be skipped in the order without penalty. If a player is late this player will be skipped in the order without penalty.

• Run Limits: Run limits per inning are 3 for each inning with the last inning (5th or 6th depending on light) being 3 outs. 

• Mercy Rule: 10 run mercy rule after four innings (3 ½ if the home team is ahead).

• Game Time Length: No inning shall start after 1 hour and 50 minutes of play. Please note that the time limit starts from the scheduled start time and not the first pitch.

• Protests: There will be no official protests during the regular season that result in a forfeit, however during the playoffs protests will require official procedures. During the regular season all conflicts or clarifications should be resolved via a collaboration between the coaches and umpires. During the postseason protests must be made at the time of the infraction and a decision must be made prior to continuing the game by the umpire or a non-partial 3rd party observer (preferably Ross Ballard or Kyle Sanderson).

i.) If it is a clarification of base-running and the protest is upheld then the runner shall be returned to the previous base – however, if the runner was sent outside the context of the rule but was put-out, the put-out shall stand.

ii.) For a protest on positional play (i.e. complying with player rotations, pitcher/catcher regulations) the non-complying coach should be warned by the opposition coach and do everything in their power to rectify the situation.

iii.) Other protests shall be determined at the time of the protest by the umpires or a 

As stealing home is becoming a “thing” please instruct players to slide at home base when there is a play at the plate for safety reasons. The umpires will be asked to reinforce this with official warnings on close plays at the plate (if one player receives three warnings in a game they will be declared “out” on that play).

• Call-Ups: If a team is short players, they may only call-up 7 & 8 year olds from the Rookie division. A Rookie player may not be called-up more than 3 times to play on a Minor team. Coaches are to connect with the Rookies Coordinator who facilitates and determines the “call-up” so that the opportunities are equitable. 

• Rainouts:  Umpires in consultation with the league President will make the decision on rainouts. If a game is rained out before a full three innings (2 ½ if Home team is ahead); the game is considered canceled and does not register in the standings.

• Additional Game Rules: 1) Coaches may catch for pitchers between innings. 2) An adult must be in the dugout at all times. 3) No food allowed in the dugouts unless a defined medical condition has been identified. 4) When a team is on defense, the coaches are to remain in the dugout or at minimum in the doorway or on the grass in foul territory. 5) In order to maximize the number of innings played per game coaches are encouraged to move quickly to set-up their teams between innings. This means that defensive positions for the next inning should be assigned in advance.