Majors
Overview: Competitive program open to all 12 year olds and stronger 11 and 10 year old players on a 60ft diamond
Eligibility: In order to be eligible for Majors, players must attend tryouts held in the fall. At tryouts, all Little League Age 12 year olds will automatically be placed in Majors; nevertheless, for purposes of forming and balancing teams, all Little League Age 12 year olds must attend tryouts in order to be eligible to participate in the Majors division Any Little League Age 10 year old who opts to try out for Majors but does not qualify for the Majors division will be assigned to AA or AAA, and any Little League Age 11 year old who opts to try out for Majors but does not qualify for the Majors divisiuon will be assigned to AAA.
All issues should be raised to the Director of Majors - Corey Wilk (cwilk@goulstonstorrs.com).
Whenever there is a conflict between the Rule Book and Home Rules, the Home Rules prevail.
1) Home Rules - in direct conflict with LL National Rules
- Intentional Walks– Intentional walks are not permitted.
- Mercy Rule 4.10 - (This rule is included because Little League allows optional enforcement.) If after four (4) innings (or three (3) and one half innings if the home team is ahead), one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the game shall be declared a "mercy" victory for the leading team. If the visiting team has the lead, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
Note: LL Rules provide an option at the League level, not individual Managers/games.
- Curfew/ Time Limit - No inning is to start 2 hours after scheduled game start; no game may last more then 2.5 hours. If a game is ended prior to its natural conclusion, the score reverts to the end of the prior full inning played.
- On Deck: In accordance with section 1.08 NOTE 1: “The on-deck position is not permitted…”
THERE IS NO ON DECK SWINGING AT ANY LEVEL AT ANY FIELD. THE UMPIRE (AA and above) WILL ASSESS A WARNING ON THE FIRST OFFENSE TO BOTH BENCHES (ONE WARNING PER GAME, NOT PER TEAM) AND WILL ASSESS AN OUT TO ANY TEAM WHOSE PLAYER IS SWINGING A BAT WHILE NOT AT THE PLATE ON ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS.
Note: Little League Rules do not permit on-deck swinging at ANY Little League level.
- Dropped third strike – there is no advancement to 1st base if the catcher drops the third strike.
Note: LL Rules allows advancement to 1st base on the dropped third strike but also allows programs to adopt the minor league rule at the Majors level that the player may NOT advance to 1st on the dropped third strike.
- Continuous batting order - Needham Little league adopts the use of a continuous batting order for Majors. This allows for free substitution provided a player plays a minimum of 3 innings in the field. Exception - once a player is removed as a pitcher, they may NOT return to the pitcher position in that game.
Note: LL Rules allows programs to adopt the minor league rule of a continuous batting order for Majors.
2) Home Rules - not addressed in LL National Rules
- Comferring with Umpires - There is no arguing or conferring with an umpire on ANY ruling by an umpire, even for an interpretation of a rule.
- Dugouts-The Home team occupies the 1st base dugout/bench.
- Game balls-The Home team is responsible for supplying 3 new game balls for each game.
- Hit batsmen - A pitcher who hits two batters in one inning or three batters in one game shall be removed as a pitcher for the remainder of the game.
- Bunting - The slash bunt is prohibited
A, AAA and Majors: In accordance with section 2.00: “a BUNT is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat and tapped slowly… Batters are not permitted to take a half-swing.” HOME RULE: At all Little League levels, the ‘slash bunt’ is forbidden. The ‘slash bunt’ is defined as a half or full swing or an attempt at a half or full swing after the player assumes a bunting stance (either squaring or pivoting).If at anytime while in the batter’s box the batter squares or pivots as if to bunt, he either must bunt or attempt to bunt the ball or let the pitch go. A drag bunt is acceptable. The umpire MUST call the batter out if in his judgment the batter was attempting a slash bunt.
Note: LL Rules do not address the slash bunt.
- Scheduling/Rainouts/Rescheduling - The Division Director makes the ultimate determination on the timing and location of rescheduled games. The game schedule stands and may not be altered at the discretion of individual managers. If a game is called or cancelled due to bad weather, the manager must contact the Division Director for the time and location of the makeup game. Individual managers may not schedule or reschedule makeup games at their own discretion.
- Regularly scheduled games - Neither individual managers nor groups of managers may relocate or reschedule games at their own discretion.
- Parades - No vehicles of any kind will be permitted to transport teams in either the Little League Opening Day Parade or Fourth of July Parade. The following teams and their managers and coaches will march in the fourth of July Parade in the following order:
1. Majors Town Champs
2. Major League Playoff Champs (town runner up).
3/4. Major League All Stars (E/W)
5. AAA Town Champs
6. AAA League Playoff Champs (town runner up).
7/8. AAA All Stars (E/W).
9. AA Town Champs
10. AA Runners Up
3) Restatement of LL Rules
- Substitutions - In the event that a team expects 9 or fewer players for a game, the Major League manager may bring enough players from Triple A (or Double A if no Triple A players are available) to make up to 10. Players brought up must be in the same league affiliation (AL or NL), and must be brought up in conjunction with the League Director. No player under the age of 10 may be “brought up.” If the rostered Major League player does in fact show up on time* for the game, the rostered Major League player will start. However, the call up player(s) brought up in such instance must play according to the Minimum Requirements of Mandatory Play rule above. In the event that the rostered Major League player shows up late*, the call up player(s) will start. The call up player(s) may not pitch and must bat at the bottom of the lineup.
*All players must be in the dugout and available to play when the lineups are exchanged at the beginning of the game. If the player is not in the dugout and available to play when the lineups are exchanged, this player is considered ‘late’.
A team may play with an 8-player roster but will take an automatic out for the empty "9th" spot during the playoffs only. If only 7 players are available, the game will be played but will be an automatic 8-0 forfeit for scorekeeping purposes.
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The only players allowed on the field of play are defense, batter, base runners and player base coaches. No other player is allowed on the field of play and must remain in the dugout or in special circumstances (e.g. warming-up in a bull-pen area), outside the playing field. Players must not stand in the dugout door area at Mills, these doors must remain closed during play.
At all Levels: If lightning is sighted during a practice or game, play must stop immediately and can only resume after fifteen minutes free of lightning. Players must immediately take appropriate and safe shelter while waiting for the game to resume.
The following are not home rules but are included to reinforce their importance. ALL OTHER RULINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED HERE ARE GOVERNED BY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND PLAYING RULES.IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COPY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY.
At all Little League Levels:
In accordance with section 1.08 NOTE 2: “Only the first batter of each half-inning will be permitted outside the dugout between half-innings.”
In accordance with section 7.08 (a) (3): “Any runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.” Needham Little League Note: This will be at the umpire’s discretion. Runner is only required to slide into the base when there is a play at that base, otherwise, the runner may ‘stay up’.
In accordance with section 1.17: “Male catchers must wear the metal, fiber or plastic type cup and a long-model chest protector. Female catchers must wear long or short model chest protectors. All catchers must wear chest protector with neck, throat guard, shin guards and catcher’s helmet.” Needham Little League Note: There must not be a gap between the throat protector and the mask, which would permit a baseball to hit the throat.
In accordance with section 1.11 (h): At all Little League Levels, “Shoes with metal spikes or cleats are not permitted. Shoes with molded cleats are permissible.”
In accordance with section 1.11 (j): “Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry or other metallic items.”
In accordance with section 1.16: “Use of the helmet by the batter, all base runners and base coaches is mandatory. Use of a helmet by an adult base coach is optional.”
- Pitch Counts – adopts Little League rules as follows:
Maximum Number of Pitches in one day:
Age 11 & 12 – maximum of 85 pitches
Age 10 (and under) – maximum of 75 pitches per dayException: If a pitcher reaches the limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out.
Days of Rest:
If a player pitches more than 66 pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest
51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest
36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest.
21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest must be observed
Note: Calendar days are complete days with no pitching (i.e. from midnight to midnight).
Example: A player throws 44 pitches on Saturday morning; he/she is next eligible to pitch on Tuesday.
Note: No player may ever pitch on three (3) consecutive calendar days.
- Catching – adopted Little League rule that a pitcher cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of the day after they have thrown 41 or more pitches. If a player throws 40 or fewer pitches in a day, they may play the position of catcher.
Also a player may not pitch if they have caught 4 innings in a game. The 4th inning is achieved after the first pitch where that player is in the defensive position as catcher. The innings do not need to be consecutive for this rule to apply.
ALL OTHER RULINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED HERE ARE GOVERNED BY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND PLAYING RULES.IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COPY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY.
