Dubuque Little League

Expectations of coaches:

• Coaches are required to have regular communication with their players and parents via e-mail, via phone or in person. Provide updates on practices, game times and other Little League news and notes. We recommend formal written communication with parents at least twice a month.

• Coaches are required to hold at least one practice per week. (Weather-permitting)

• Coaches are required to provide a base umpire or pitch-counter for every game. Home team provides base umpire and visiting team provides pitch-counter.

• Coaches should involve parents as often as possible- at practice and during games. Ask parents to run drills at practice, help keep the kids sitting on the bench orderly during games, and take part in other duties. Coaches can’t handle every aspect of practices and games and they should make sure parents are involved whenever possible or necessary.

• Coaches are required to use appropriate language and exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. Profanity is never acceptable when talking to your players, parents, umpires or other coaches. As coaches, you are role-models. Preferably tobacco use is limited and not visible.

• Have fun! This is a great opportunity to teach kids the fundamentals of baseball and watch them progress through the season. This is your chance to share your knowledge about the game of baseball and give back to the community.

DLLB General Rules for Minors

• Games will be with 10 players on the field including 4 outfielders. The games will be 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes in length whatever comes first. No new innings are to start after the 1 hour 25 minute mark unless tied. If no decision is reached at the 1 hour 30 minute mark, the game will be suspended and resumed at that point with all the same constraints on the players at an agreed upon time between coaches. Failure to complete game by the end of the season will be forfeited.
• The above time limit of 1hr and 30 minutes will be rigidly enforced on field #1 until the school year ends. This measure will ensure the 2^nd game will start promptly at 7:00 and enable games to conclude by 8:30 on these school nights. If you play the early game on field one, please start on time and keep the pace of the game upbeat.
• All players will be in the batting lineup. Players arriving late will be added to the bottom of the line-up.
• Intentional walks will not be permitted.
• Base stealing and base advancement on passed balls is permitted (excluding home plate).
• Mercy Rule – 10 run rule after 4 innings applies.
• 5 runs scored per inning max until the last inning.
• Coaches may keep a book relative to individual statistics but no summary or breakdown should be displayed or used otherwise.
• No player may play more than 3 innings at the same defensive position in any game. Excludes pitchers which play more relative to pitch count rules
• No metal spikes are permitted.
• No jewelry is permitted on players during the game.
• There is no on deck location on the field for the batter on deck or in the hole. All players must remain in the dugout with the exception of the batter.
• No head first slides are permitted when advancing to a base. Headfirst slides are aloud when returning to the base.
• Every player must play a minimum of 6 defensive outs and bat at least 1 time per game.
• Catcher’s must always were protective facemask when warming up the pitcher.
• A game cannot be started with fewer than 8 players.
• Only players on the team roster, coaches and managers are allowed in the dugout or on the field.
• 11 year olds are not permitted to pitch.

Often-referenced Little League Rules

Rule 2.00 – Infield Fly

Does apply as stated on page 53 of rulebook.

Rule 3.11 – Double Headers

A team may play one (1) doubleheader in a calendar week. No team shall play three games in a day (exception under Rule 4.12).

Rule 4.12 – Starting and Ending Games

Tied games halted due to weather, curfew, or light failure shall be resumed from the exact point at which they were halted in the original game. See details in the rulebook.

Rule 7.07 – Running Base Paths

A runner is out when -

1a) Running more than 3 feet away from a direct line between bases to avoid being tagged, unless such action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball.

2a) After touching first base the runner leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning all effort to touch the next base.

3a) The runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.

4a) The runner slides head first while advancing.

1b) Intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball (NOTE: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not).

Rule 7.13 – Base Stealing

When the pitcher is in contact with the rubber and in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher box ready to receive the pitch, base runners shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter.

The violation by one base runner shall affect all other base runners -

When a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter does not hit the ball, the runner is permitted to continue. If a play is made on the runner and the runner is out, the out stands. If said runner reaches safely the base to which the runner is advancing, the runner must return to the base occupied before pitch was made, and no out results.

When a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter hits the ball, the base runner(s) are permitted to continue. If a play is made and the runner(s) are put out, the out(s) will stand. If not put out, the runner(s) must return to their original base(s) or to the nearest unoccupied base nearest the one they left; In no event shall the batter advance beyond first base on a single or error, second base on a double or third base on a triple. The umpire shall determine the base value of the hit ball.

When any base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter bunts or hits the ball within the infield, no run shall be allowed to score. If three runners were on the bases and the batter reaches first base safely, each runner shall advance one base with the runner on third going to the dugout without scoring a run.

See situations on page 78.

Rule 7.15 – Courtesy Runner

A courtesy runner should be used for the catcher when there are two outs and the catcher is on base. The player who made the last out will be the courtesy runner.

Rule 8.06 – Visits to the Pitchers Mound

Coaches are now permitted to cross the foul line when visiting the pitcher. The coach must always ask for time from the umpire before visiting the pitcher.

Section VI – Pitchers

Any player on the team roster may pitch. EXCEPTION: A player who has attained a league age of thirteen (11) is not able to pitch in the minor league.

A player once removed, as a pitcher may not pitch again in the same game.

No more than five (5) pitchers per team shall be used in one game.

Pitchcount rules are in effect. See section VI on page 35-36 in rulebook. We will be playing this year with Option #2 for Pitchers.