Greater Naples Little League AAA 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 (9) having (3) outfielders. Nine (9) fielders minimum are required. Note if a team does not meet the minimum number of players, the game must be forfeited by that team after 10 minutes of the official start time. VII 4.15
5. Each team is allowed four Coaches: Manager plus 3 Coaches in the dugout. The maximum number of coaches in the field is two (2) for each team. The batting team should have one Coach in the first base box and another Coach in the third base box. If there is not an umpire present, the fielding team should have one Coach in the infield positioned behind the pitcher’s mound calling balls and strikes the umpire,
when his pitcher is throwing.
6. The Home Team shall occupy the third base dugout and the Visiting Team the first base dugout.
7. The Manager of each team must designate a Pitch Count Recorder for his team. Pitch counts must be recorded on the official Pitch Log form provided by the League. 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. On the next scheduled game prior to the start of the game each manager will provide the opposing manager with your prior games pitch count form including the pitchers name, age, and their limits and / or pitches left to throw.
8. Score shall be kept for each game. 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.
10. Each player must play at least two innings totaling 6 defensive outs in the field.
11. No team shall be scheduled to play two games in one day.
12. GNLL Local League Rules apply that no child at league age 7 or 12 may play in Triple A unless approved by the Board of Directors.
13. If a player gets injured or quits, the league must be notified immediately. Injuries are reported to the Safety Officer, all other issues are reported to the commissioner and player agent.
14. If a player is repeatedly absent from a team for any reason, it is the Manager's responsibility to inform the Commissioner and the Player Agent immediately so that a replacement player can be chosen.
15. Catchers must wear a cup and a dangling throat protector during warm up, practice & games. II.
II. Starting and Ending the Game
1. Games shall start promptly at the time listed on the Triple A Game Schedule. Time starts when the first pitch is thrown. Each team’s Pitch Count Recorder or the umpire shall record the start time. The time limit for games shall be one hour and forty-five minutes (1:45). A new inning shall not be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes – No exceptions.
2. Any inning started prior to the time limit lapsing shall be completed, and games shall not be called prior to the time limit expiring unless the Ten Run Rule applies. If the home team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of 3 and ½ innings or the visiting team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of 4 innings, then the game shall be declared completed due to the 10 run mercy rule. There are no extra
innings during the regular season. Therefore, it is possible for games to end in a tie.
III. The Batter
1. All players on the roster 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.
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 45 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. The Dropped Third Strike Rule is not in effect. The Batter shall not attempt to get to 1st base on a dropped third strike.
IV. The Runner
1. If the Pitcher is in control of the ball at the mound, and the catcher is in the catcher’s box, the play is dead, unless the Pitcher throws the ball to another base in an attempt to make an out. The runner cannot run or steal nor leave the base until the next pitch has passed the batter.
2. The runner shall not leadoff the base or attempt to steal bases until the pitched ball has reached the batter. One warning will be given per team per game if a runner leaves base before the pitched ball has reached the batter. After first warning the runner will be called out if the runner leaves early.
3. No head first slides are allowed when advancing bases. The runner will be called out.
4. The batter /runner may turn left or right when overrunning first base. Only when the batter/ runner makes an attempt toward second base have they lost their overrun protection.
5. The runner shall not slide into first base. Runners who attempt to slide into first base shall be called out. The runner is permitted to slide back after overrunning first base.
V. The Pitcher
1. The Manager must adhere to the GNLL Pitching rules posted on the GNLL website. 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. The pitching distance in the AAA Division is 46 feet. This distance is measured from the back tip of home plate to the front edge of the pitching rubber.
4. The AAA 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.
5. Intentional walks are highly discouraged!! The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age:
11-12 -85 pitches per day (12 year old’s cannot pitch in AAA)
9-10 -75 pitches per day
8 -50 pitches per day
Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, 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.
Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Note 2: Any player who has played the position of catcher in four or more innings in a game is not
eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
6. Pitchers league age 14 and under 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.
VI. The Umpire
1. Greater Naples Little League will provide Umpires for the AAA Division during the regular season. Therefore, the Umpires are asked to perform this duty and should fully understand the AAA Rules and Regulations.
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. 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.