Greater Naples Little League Double A Rules and Regulations – 2021
I. Game Preliminaries
1. All players must be registered with Greater Naples Little League. Only registered coaches
and players are permitted to be in the dugout or on the field during the games.
2. A batting order with all players' names and numbers shall be exchanged between Managers
prior to each game.
3. Free substitution of all players and positions except pitcher [see Section V (2) below].
4. The maximum number of players on the field is ten (10) having four outfielders (i.e. right,
right-center, left-center and left). The minimum number of players is nine (9) having three outfielders
(i.e. right, center and left). If a team does not have enough players to field a team, the opposing team will supply them with DEFENSIVE players so that the game will be played and not forfeited. THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER SHALL BE THE PLAYER WHO MADE THE LAST OFFENSIVE OUT THE PREVIOUS INNING, AND MUST PLAY THE OUTFIELD.
5. The maximum number of coaches on the field is three (3) for each team. The batting team
should have one Coach in the first base box and another Coach in the third base box. The fielding
team may have one Coach in the infield behind the pitcher, another Coach in the outfield and one Coach positioned behind home plate to help retrieve past balls to keep the game moving.
6. The Home Team shall occupy the third base dugout, and the Visiting Team shall occupy the first base dugout.
7. The Manager of each team must designate a Pitch Count Recorder for his or her team. Pitch counts
must be recorded on the official Pitch Log form provided by the League, or designated document.
Each team's Pitch Count Recorder shall record the number of pitches thrown by their team, as well as the number of pitches thrown by the opposing team. Pitch counts shall be confirmed by both teams' Pitch Count Recorders after every inning. In the case of a discrepancy, the Home Team's Pitch Count Recorder's Pitch Log shall be the official pitch count of record. The team's Pitch Count Recorder shall inform the Manager when his pitcher has delivered the maximum limit of pitches for a game. However, it is the Manager's responsibility for knowing when his pitcher must be removed. After each game, the team's Pitch Log forms shall be retained by the Manager for his records. Each Manager shall enter the pitch count into GNLL's
website pitch count tracker within 24 hours of the conclusion of each game.
8. Score shall be kept for each game. However, the Minors Division does not keep standings during the regular season. Teams are encouraged to keep a scorebook to use as reference throughout the season.
9. Each team shall provide one game ball for each game. It is a Little League tradition for each team to award its game ball one of its players after the game.
II. Starting and Ending the Game
1. Games shall start promptly at the time listed on the Double A Game Schedule.
2. Time starts when the first pitch is thrown. The start time shall be recorded by each team's Pitch Count
Recorder.
3. The time limit for games shall be one hour and thirty minutes (1P30). A new inning shall not be started after one hour and thirty. Any inning started prior to the time limit lapsing shall be completed, and games shall not be called prior to the time limit expiring. (THERE ARE NODROP DEAD TIMES.) There are no extra innings during the regular season. Therefore, it is possible for games to end in a tie.
4. It is important that the final inning is declared BEFORE the final inning begins. (See III.3. and 4.) Managers should meet with umpire before starting any new innings that are over the one hour mark to discuss if the final inning should be declared. (use this or see below)
5. The umpire shall call “last inning”. If the game is being umpired by Managers then they shall work together to call the final inning.
III. The Batter
1. All players on the roster are to bat in the same batting order position throughout the entire game.
2. Teams can only bat through their entire batting order once per inning regardless of the number
of outs.
3. A 5 run limit per team per inning will be instituted. Once a team scores 5 runs, their turn at bat is over. (HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE IS NO 10 RUN MERCY RULE TO END A GAME BEFORE THE 1P30 TIME GUIDELINES.)
4. The exception to the 5 run limit is the last inning. Teams will get to bat through their entire batting
order until the final out. The Final Inning is to start either at the top of the 6th inning (final inning per Little League rules) or within 15 minutes of the 1hour 30 minutes time limit.
5. All players must bat with helmets that have face protection.
6. On-deck batters are not permitted. Players should not swing or touch a bat until he comes out of the protective dugout area to take his turn at the plate. Please do not allow players to swing a bat in the dugout areas.
7. Players are not permitted to bunt.
8. Infield fly rule does not apply; the batter is not automatically out if he hits a pop-up in the infield.
9. Players are not permitted to throw their bat at the end of their swing. If a player does this
they will receive a warning from the umpire. If player does this a second time they will be called out. If it continues the umpire may remove the player from the game at their discretion.
IV. The Runner
1. The runner shall not lead-off the base or attempt to steal bases (even on passed balls).
2. The runner shall not slide into first base. During the regular season, if a runner slides into first base, the entire team will be warned. After the warning, any runners from the team that was warned, who attempt to slide into first base shall be called out. The runner is permitted to slide back after overrunning first base. In the playoffs, any runner who slides into first will be called out.
3. Runner must slide into home if there is a play at the plate. During the regular season if the runner does not slide during a play at the plate and runs into the catcher, the entire team will be warned. If anyone from that team does this again during the game they will be called out. During the playoffs there will be no warning and the player will be called out. Catcher cannot block home plate, if he does the runner will be called safe.
4. Runners shall be restricted to advance one (1) base on an overthrow (the base the runners were attempting to obtain plus one base). The fielding team should be instructed by their Coaches to get the ball back to an Infielder. If an Infielder is in control of the ball in the infield the play is dead, unless the Infielder throws the ball to another base in an attempt to make an out. Runners who advance more than one base on an overthrow when the fielding team returns the ball back to an Infielder shall be instructed to return to the appropriate base.
5. After a hit to the outfield, if an Infielder is in control of the ball in the infield the play is dead, unless the Infielder throws the ball to another base in an attempt to make an out. Runners shall not continue to advance once the ball is in control of an Infielder. Runners will be instructed to return to the previous base unless more than half way to the next base. Coaches should not encourage or instruct their players to keep running around the bases once the ball is possession of an infielder and the play is dead.
V. The Pitcher
1. Any player on a regular season team may pitch. There is no limit to the number of pitchers a team may use in a game.
2. A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Also, a pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
3. A player may not pitch in a game after having played in the Catcher position for four or more
innings. In addition, any player that catches 3 innings or less, and then comes into pitch, and
deliver more than 21 pitches, may not return to the catcher position for that game. The only exceptions
are if the pitcher starts the batter under the pitch count threshold; they are allowed to
finish that batter without penalty and then must immediately be removed from the pitching position.
4. The Manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the daily limit for his age
group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age 9-10 75 pitches per day
League Age 6-8 50 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the daily limit imposed above for his league age while facing a
batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs: (a) That
batter reaches base; (b) That batter is put out; (c) The third out is made to complete the half-inning.
5. Pitchers league age 16 and under must also adhere to the following requirements:
If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest and a game (see
note below) must be observed.
If a player pitches 41 – 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest and a game (see note
below) must be observed.
If a player pitches 21 – 40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
If a player pitches 1 – 20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
Note: A player cannot pitch in the next game (regardless of calendar days rest) if 41 or more
pitches were delivered in the previous game.
6. The pitching distance in the Minors Division is 39 feet. This distance is measured from the
back tip of home plate to the front edge of the pitching rubber.
7. The Minors Division “strike zone” shall be defined as that space over home plate which is between the batter's armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The Umpire calling the “balls” and “strikes shall determine the strike zone according to the batter's usual stance when that batter
swings at a pitch.
8. There are no walks or a free base when a player is Hit by a Pitch in the Minors Division DURING
THE COACH PITCH PORTION OF THE SEASON. (NOTE: DURING THE PLAYER PITCH
ONLY PORTION OF THE SEASON, BATTERS THAT ARE HIT BY A PITCH WILL BE AWARDED
FIRST BASE.) Coaches shall pitch to their own batters if the opposing pitcher throws four (4) balls or if the batter is Hit by a Pitch (the batter has the option to continue to bat off the opposing player after being
Hit by Pitch). Strike count shall remain the same when the Coach comes in to pitch. When
the Coach comes in to pitch, the batter gets one (1) “free pitch” (ball or strike) to get used to the
Coach. If the batter swings at the “free pitch” and hits the ball, the ball is in play. If the batter
swings at the “free pitch” and misses the ball, the pitch is a strike.
9. Between innings, a pitcher will have 5 warmup pitches before the batter comes to the plate. Coaches MAY warm up the pitcher if the catcher is delayed in getting gear on and onto the field. If the catcher is delayed beyond the 5 pitch warmup time, the pitcher may continue to throw warmup pitches.
VI. The Umpire
1. Greater Naples Little League will provide Umpires for the Minors Division for the player pitch
only portion of the regular season and playoffs. In the event that a game must be played without an umpire during the regular season, managers and coaches should act as the Umpire for their own team. Balls and strikes should be called from behind the pitcher's mound during regular season games.
2. If any dispute arises during the game, the Umpire will resolve the dispute on the field by conducting
a Managers only conference. A conference may be called for only by the Umpire or one of the Managers. Assistant Coaches must address any concerns directly with their Manager (in private), and are not permitted to attempt to resolve any dispute on the field.
3. Managers may not argue calls. They may ask for clarification on calls. Unless a clarification is urgently needed, managers should wait until an inning change to discuss with umpire.
4. Coaches and players shall not yell any negative comments about the umpire or any calls from
the bench or field.
5. Before the beginning of the season managers should communicate “Respect to Umpires” to all parents.
6. There is a zero tolerance for physical or verbal harassment by the players, coaches or spectators
towards the Umpire. Such harassment will result in the immediate ejection and possible suspension from the League.
2021 Double A Rules & Regulations – Revised 2/27/2021