Washington
District 2
Operating
Procedures 2010
Section
6 - Guidelines for Interleague Softball
Organization
- The Interleague Softball programs operate under the guidance of
the District
Administrator (DA) and the Assistant District Administrator (ADA). The ADA may appoint one or more
Deputy Directors to assist in the
operation of the program.
leagues which participate in this interleague
program are responsible to field their own teams. Some
leagues may form combined league teams if their player numbers are not sufficient to form teams of
their own. All leagues participating must charter the appropriate number of teams and ensure that
they have obtained proper insurance coverage.
Contacts - The team
and league contacts are listed later in this document. Other
contacts are:
·
District Administrator (DA)
Pat Ryan, Pat.Ryan@WAD2LLB.org, H (360) 779-1824, C (360)
271-5193
·
Assistant District Administrator (ADA)
Marian
Phillips, Marian.Phillips@WAD2LLB.org, H (360)
697-3847
·
ADA's Deputy Director
Scott Knutsen,
Scott.Knutsen@WAD2LLB.org,H (360)
598-1851, C (360) 620-6347
Protest Committee - The
president of each league, or his/her appointed representative, shall
serve on the Protest Committee. The ADA
shall oversee the committee as appropriate and enlist the
advice of the DA if necessary. Note that the interjection by
the ADA and/or DA into the discussions
and decisions of the Protest Committee is limited to
advice regarding the interpretation of rules
and
regulations. If there is a disagreement within the committee that cannot be resolved, regarding the
resolution of any action brought before
them, then the DA shall have final authority to
make rulings
regarding any such actions. Leagues involved in the protest incident
shall be able to present their
related evidence or information, but will not
participate in the committee action.
Divisions - Interleague play may take place
between Minor, Major, Junior, or Senior softball teams
from leagues in District 2. These rules are intended
for the older Minor divisions only and do not
apply to coach or machine pitch divisions. Interleague
and combined team forms are to be submitted
to the DA for approval prior to the commencement of games. Leagues
wishing to combine teams for
tournament play must indicate such on the interleague/combined form and
approval must be
obtained from the Regional Headquarters.
Rules and Regulations -Interleague
play will be conducted in accordance with the
Official
Regulations and Playing Rules for All Divisions of Little
League Softball, 2010 Edition and as amended
herein.
Rules
for All Divisions:
Accidents - Managers
and coaches will ensure that accident reports are properly
filled out and
the Safety Officer of the Local League is notified immediately in
the case of any injury whether
during practice or game.
Official Scorekeeper / Official Score
book - The home team is responsible for the
official book and scorekeeper. The Official
Scorekeeper will record the innings pitched.
Managers must inform the Official
Scorekeeper and the opposing team manager of disciplinary
action (benching) prior to game time. Both
must be informed of an illness or injury which
incapacitates a player.
a.
Actions such as disqualification, benching, injuries, and absences are to be
recorded in the
official scorebook.
Discipline
- Discipline of a Team Player, Manager, or Coach -
Each umpire has the authority to
disqualify any player, manager, or coach for un-sportsman
like conduct or language. Such
disqualified people shall take no further part in the game and leave the game site.
Our ejection
penalties are severe for un-sportsmanship and can result in being
ineligible for tournament play
because the players cannot get in the required playing time during the regular season. Penalties
for ejection are as follows:
a.
first Offense
- Rule 4.07 except that if a player, the player will sit in dugout in uniform to
complete his/her suspended schedule game. A
manager or coach may not be at the game
site for the next physically played game.
b.
Second Offense - Player, manager, or coach will
be removed for the completion of the game,
plus suspended for the next two (2) physically played games. The player must sit on the
bench
in uniform for the remainder of his/her game
plus serve all suspensions on the bench. A
manager or coach must leave the site and may not be at the game site for the next two (2)
physically played games.
c.
Third Offense - The player, manager,
or coach will be removed from the program for the
remainder of the current season, including all-star
participation.
d.
NOTE: If any manager, coach, player, or spectator is ejected and the incident requires a 911
(police) call for enforcement, that person will be barred from further participation until he/she
files an appeal and presents it to the Protest Committee in person. The Protest Committee
may elect to reinstate participation privileges or not. The Protest Committee's
decision will be
final on the issue.
e.
Ejection Appeal - An appeal must be submitted by the manager in writing to the
Local League
President within 24 hours. The Protest Committee, as noted above, will hear and
resolve any
such appeals. The decision of the Protest Committee is
final.
Note: The minimum suspension for any
ejection will be for the remainder of the game in
which the ejection occurred and for the next physically played game as outlined in Rule 4.07.
The Protest Committee may not reduce this suspension further but may increase it.
The ADA and Local
League President must be notified within 24 hours if
a player, manager, or
coach is disqualified from a game (Rule 9.05c will be enforced).
Cancelling of Games - The team
manager or coach must notify the Local League President
or Vice President at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled start of a
game if the team cannot be
fielded because of school functions or other justifiable reasons. The reason must be adjudged
justifiable by the League President or Vice President. At that time the League President or Vice
President shall notify the ADA.
Games that are
necessary to be replayed, in part (suspended) or whole, shall be rescheduled
within seven (7) days. If both managers fail to reschedule within the seven (7)
days, two (2) losses
(one for each team) will be recorded in the official
league standings. Should one (1) of the
managers fail to reschedule then a forfeit will be recorded. It is the responsibility of each manager
to call the ADA within the seven (7) days on the status of the reschedule.
If managers cannot
agree to a date, they shall inform the ADA before the seven (7) days
expire.
The ADA shall then resolve the matter. His/her decision shall be final. The manager who was the
home team of the originally scheduled
game must cancel and reschedule the umpires.
NOTE: The game must be rescheduled with seven (7) days, not
necessarily played within the
seven (7) days.
Rescheduling
- After the League schedule is published both managers must agree to any
rescheduling. If one manager is unable or unwilling to reschedule, the game must be played. A
no-show will constitute a forfeit. A no-show is deemed when one manager states he will not be at
the game with his/her team. In the event a no-show is indicated
managers are to notify their
League President. He/she will then confirm the no-show and notify the ADA.
Roster
Size - Team roster sizes will be in accordance with the
rulebook and will be set at the
discretion of each League.
Dress
Code -
a.
Managers and coaches will be neatly attired. They
may not wear tank tops/sleeveless shirts or
cutoff shorts.
b.
Players will wear their uniform jerseys tucked into their pants and pants shall be
pulled up.
c.
Caps or visors, if worn, will be worn properly at all times by players and coaches on
the field.
Umpires - Umpires will be provided by
the home team. The visiting team may assist in
umpiring the game if necessary. Any umpire, whether from the
home or visiting team or from
District 2 shall have complete authority to officiate the game
according to the rules. Respect for
the officials and good sportsmanship shall
be followed at all times .
Softballs - Softballs will be
supplied by the host team. Minor league games will use the 11 inch softball. The Major division and up
will use the 12" softball. Softballs may
be white or optic
yellow.
Field Preparation / Cleanup - The host team will prepare the
field before each game
and rake the field following. Both team's players and parents will help clean up after the game
including stands and dugouts. No glass containers are allowed in any team
field dugouts. No
food or drinks, with the exception of water or sports drinks, will be allowed in
the dugouts or on
the field.
Game Reporting - Each
team will notify their league after each game providing the game
results and notification of any ejections of player,
manager, or coach. The ADA and Local League
President must be notified within 24 hours of any altercations or
ejections.
Time limit - No new inning will
start after 2-hours have elapsed. Time will start when the
Umpire-in-Chief calls "play" to start the game. A new inning starts the moment the third out is
made in the previous inning.
Notes:
(1) If a
game is scheduled on the same field following the game in progress, Minor League games
shall abide by the time limit no matter what the score or the number of innings completed. Major,
Junior, and Senior League games must be regulation games.
(2) If a Minor League game
is tied when the time limit is reached and there is NOT a game
scheduled on the same field following the game in progress, play shall continue until a winner is
determined or until the umpires terminate play due to darkness, rain, or similar cause. In a Minor
League game, if the umpires terminate play before a winner can be determined in accordance
with Rule 4.10, then the game ends with the scored tied and it will not be resumed later.
(3) Games played at
the Gig Harbor Little League complex will end no later than 2 hours 10
minutes from the start of the game regardless of the game situation.
On-Deck Position (Majors & Minors)
-
a.
Rule 1.08 Note 1 states that the on-deck position is not permitted. This means that no player
is allowed to pick up a bat and take practice swings
anywhere. Anywhere means not in the
dugout, nor in the enclosed space near the dugout, nor on the field outside the dugout. The
batter will be allowed a few practice swings prior to
stepping into the batter's box when it is
he r ti me to bat.
b.
Rule 1.08 Note 2 is deleted. The first batter of each half-inning will NOT be permitted
outside the dugout between
half-innings. When the pitcher has completed her warm-up
pitches the batter and base coaches are then allowed out of their dugout.
Minor
league (Upper Minors, Intermediates, AM,
etc.):
1.
Minimum Playing
Time - Regulation IV(i)
is modified as follows. Every rostered player
who
is present at the start of the game will participate for a
minimum of nine (9) defensive outs and bat
at least one (1) time during a six-inning game. In a
game that concludes in less than six innings,
each player will participate for a minimum of six (6) defensive
outs and bat one (1) time.
2.
Pitching - Twelve (12) year aids
may not pitch in this division. Individual pitchers are limited to
a maximum of four innings per game.
Delivery of a single pitch constitutes
having pitched in an
inning. One calendar day of rest is required prior to
pitching again on another day. A player
may pitch in a maximum of six (6) innings
in a calendar week.
3.
Baiting Order - A continuous
batting order and free substitution on defense as outlined in
Rule 4.04 is to be used throughout the game
4.
Five Run Rule - The
offensive team's time at bat will end when three players
are put out, OR five (5) runs are scored, which ever occurs first.
5.
10 Run Rule - Games will NOT be
played with a ten (10) run rule (Rule 4.10 (e)). It is
intended that the games continue for the full six innings (5 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead)
OR until the time limit is reached, whichever occurs first. If the score is
tied at the end of six
complete innings, play shall continue as prescribed in Rule 4.10 (b) except as limited by the time
limit as stated above.
6. Time
limit - The time limit rule applies to this level of play.
Major
league:
1.
Minimum Playing Time - Regulation IV(i) is modified as follows. Every rostered player who
is present at the start of the game will participate for a minimum of nine (9) defensive outs and bat
at least one (1) time during a six-inning game. In a game that concludes in less than six innings,
each player will participate for a minimum of six (6) defensive
outs and bat one (1) time.
2.
Pitching - Individual
pitchers are limited to a maximum of four innings per
game. If a player
pitches in more than one (1) inning,
one calendar day of rest is mandatory. A player
may pitch in
a maximum of nine (9) innings per day and a maximum of
eighteen (18) innings in a calendar
week, Sunday through Saturday. Delivery
of a single pitch constitutes having pitched
in an inning.
3.
Baiting Order - A continuous batting order and free substitution on defense as outlined in
Rule 4.04 is to be used throughout the game
4.
Five Run Rule - The offensive team's time at bat will end when three players are put out, OR
when all players on the roster have batted one time, OR five (5) runs are scored, which ever
occurs first. However, the inning run count does not automatically
stop at five runs per inning.
The value of the hit (umpire's judgment) determines how many runs are
counted. For example; if
a team has already scored four runs and a batter comes to the plate with bases loaded and hits a
clean double, the counted score for that inning would be six. If the batter hit a home run in the
same scenario, the counted score for that inning would be eight
runs. Runs beyond 5 are only
counted if the runner is forced to advance by the batter's clean hit. Example: Runners on 2nd and
3rd; batter hits a clean double; one run scores.
5.
10 Run Rule - All
games will be played with the ten (10) run rule
{Rule 4.10 {ell. If after the
game has been played enough innings to become a regulation
game and one team has a lead of
ten (1 0) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to
the
opponent.
6.
Time limit - When a
game is scheduled on the same field following the
game in progress, the
time limit rule applies to this level of play. However, the game must meet the requirements for a
regulation game (Rules 4.1 0 and 4.11)
7. Dropped
3rd Strike – New in 2010 is the dropped 3rd
strike rule passed by the LL congress.
The
batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by the umpire is not
caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied or (2) first base is occupied
with two outs. NOTE: A batter forfeits
the opportunity to advance to first base when she enters the dugout or any
other dead ball area.
8. Runners
Leaving Base - New in 2010 is when runners can
leave a base. Runners now can leave the
base when the ball leaves the pitchers hand.
Junior
& Senior League:
1.
Minimum Playing Time - Regulation
IV(i) is modified as follows.
Every rostered player who
is present at the start of the game will participate for a
minimum of nine (9) defensive outs and bat
at least one (1) time during a seven-inning game.
In a game that concludes in less than seven
innings, each player will participate for a minimum of
six (6) defensive outs and bat one (1) time.
2.
Pitching - Individual
pitchers are limited to a maximum of five (5)
innings per game.
3.
10 Run Rule - All
games will be played with the ten (1 0) run rule (Rule 4.10 (e)). If after the
game has been played enough innings to
become a regulation game and one team has a lead of
ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with
the least runs shall concede the victory to the
opponent.
4.
Time limit - When a game is scheduled
on the same field following the game in progress, the
time limit rule applies to this level of play. However, the
game must meet the requirements for a
regulation game (Rules 4.10 and 4.11)