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2008
By-Laws
LEMOORE
LITTLE LEAGUE
Ground
Rules
Revised: March 2008
ARTICLE XII – LOCAL
AMENDMENTS/Ground Rules
SECTION 1:
Constitution Changes.
These By-laws may be amended, repealed or altered in
whole or in part by a majority vote at any duly
organized meeting of the Members provided notice of the
proposed change is included in the notice of such
meeting. A draft of all proposed amendments shall be
submitted to Little League Baseball, Inc., for approval.
SECTION
2:
Selection of Players for all
divisions except T-ball.
Player selection will comply with the Little League
Draft System as detailed in the Operating Manual Plan
A. NOTE: All candidates who are league age twelve (12)
must be drafted to a Little League Major Division team.
Exceptions can only be made with written approval from
the District Administrator, and only if approved at the
local league level by the Board of Directors and the
parent of the candidate.
1. There shall not, at any time, be more than two
players on any team who were protected in the draft, by
Manager/Coach option, unless they are all the Manager's
children.
2. Players protected by options (Manager/Coach or
brother/sister) must be naturally related, adopted, or
under court appointed guardianship of the family in
question and permanently reside with the family. In the
case of a split family, the player/s must reside with
one parent or the other inside the district. Any case
of players living with close relatives, or under some
other temporary or permanent care requires a petition
for consideration of exclusion to this rule to the Board
of Directors.
3. All returning players in the Major Division
only will remain on the same team as the previous
year unless released in accordance with Little League
Rule Book Section III (e). All players in remaining
divisions shall be re-drafted annually.
4. Major Division only - The draft will be based
on the finish position of the team during the previous
season, with the last place team receiving the first
pick, then the next to last receiving the second pick,
and so forth, and will proceed in a manner as described
in the Little League Operations Manual.
The draft order for all remaining divisions will
be determined by random draw..
5. Only players present at a minimum of 1/2 of
the official tryouts will be placed in the draft.
Players who do not meet this minimum will be placed on
teams in order of team draft pick by blind draw.
6. The draft will consist of two parts; 1st,
Draft of players who tryout; and 2nd, placement of
players who do not make the minimum number of tryouts.
7. Prior to tryouts, a count will be made of all
players for each division and the Player Agents and the
President will determine the number of teams and their
size. In AAA Division and higher, if the teams cannot be
balanced in size, nominees, made
by selecting Managers of the drafting division,
of players trying out for the next lower division will
be given the option to move up if they attended the
required number of tryouts for that division (i.e. If
there is need for more players in the 11-12 year old
Majors Division, 10 year olds will be given the option
to move up. This process will be used for the Major
Division and AAA Divisions only).
8. At parents request and board approval, release of
returning players on a Majors team will be at the
Managers option to either release that player back into
the draft, or trade that player immediately following
the draft.
9. Late registrants (any player who registers
after the first day of tryouts and/or does not
make 1/2 of the tryouts) may be placed on a waiting list
until there are either enough players to place 1 player
on each team or until there is an opening on a team and
in either case, players will be placed by blind draw.
10. The draft format for AAA and AA only will be
of the serpentine method.
SECTION 3:
Lemoore Little League By-laws - Major League:
In accordance with Article X, Section 3 of the Lemoore
Little League Constitution, the following By-laws are
adopted to govern play at the Major League level.
1.
Official Regulations and Playing Rules published
annually by Little League, Inc. shall govern play except
as follows:
2.
A split season will be adopted. The winners of the first
and second halves will play a one game playoff to
determine the League Champion. In case of a tie in
either half, the tiebreakers shall be:
(a)
Record in head to head competition (regular
season).
(b) Record against common opponents (regular
season).
(c) Least runs allowed in competition
(regular season).
(d) Most runs scored in competition (regular
season).
(e) Coin-toss.
If one team wins both halves,
that team will be declared the overall champion and the
runner-up will be the team with the second best record.
No schedule shall be circulated or proposed until
approved by the majority vote of the Board of Directors.
3.
Awards will be given to the first and second place
teams. All team players will receive a Little League
pin.
4.
Team names will be designated and approved annually by
the officers and directors of the Lemoore Little League.
5.
The time limit of all games will be one and
three-quarter hours from the scheduled start time.
No inning will be started after 7:00 PM (early
game) or 9:45PM (late game).
An inning starts when the third out is made with the
home team at bat.
6.
To protest any incident, the Little League procedure as
presented in the rulebook must be followed exactly and a
formal written protest shall be submitted to the League
President within 24 hours of the incident.
7. The League will supply players with jersey and
hat.
No change in uniform will be
allowed without the approval of the officers and
directors of the League.
8.
Major league age is 11 and 12 years of age.
Players that are league age 10 years old may try out for
the Majors Division, but may only be placed on a team if
there is a vacancy after all 11 and 12 year olds are
accounted for. Players must then receive approval of
2/3 of the Major Division Manager’s to be drafted into
the Majors Division.
9. A player may be intentionally walked only
one time per game.
10.
No change shall be made to these bylaws except by
procedures outlined in the Lemoore Little League
Constitution.
SECTION
4:
Lemoore Little League By-laws - AAA League:
In accordance with Article X, Section 3 of the Lemoore
Little League Constitution, the following By-laws are
adopted to govern play at the AAA League level.
1.
Official Regulations and
Playing Rules published annually by Little League, Inc.
shall govern play except as follows:
2.
A split season will be
adopted. The winners of the first and second halves will
play a one game playoff to determine the League
Champion. In case of a tie in either half, the
tiebreakers shall be:
(a)
Record in head to head competition (regular
season).
(b) Record against common opponents (regular
season).
(c) Least runs allowed in competition
(regular season).
(d) Most runs scored in competition (regular
season).
(e) Coin-toss.
If one
team wins both halves, that team will be declared the
overall champion and the runner-up will be the team with
the second best record. No schedule shall be circulated
or proposed until approved by the majority vote of the
Board of Directors.
3.
Awards will be given to the first and second place
teams. All team players will receive a Little League
pin.
4.
Team names will be designated and approved annually by
the officers and directors of the Lemoore Little League.
5.
The time limit of all games will be one and
three-quarter hours from the scheduled start time.
No inning will be started after 7:00 PM (early
game) or 9:45 PM (late game).
An inning starts when the five (5) run limit is reached,
or the third out is made with the home team at bat.
There will be no limit of runs in the 6th
inning, Teams must bat their entire roster and minimum
play per player is six (6) defensive outs.
6.
To protest any incident, the Little League procedure as
presented in the rule book must be followed exactly and
the Little League procedure as presented in the rule
book must be followed exactly and a formal written
protest shall be submitted to the League President
within 24 hours of the incident.
7. The league will furnish Jerseys and hats.
Players are allowed the option of purchasing their own
baseball pants and stirrups, but all players must dress
uniformly. No change in shirt or hat is allowed without
prior approval of the league.
8.
AAA league age is 9 and 10
years of age. Players that are league age 7 or 8
years old, and have played at least one year in the AA
division, may try out for the AAA Division, but may only
be placed on a team if there is a vacancy after all 9
and 10 year olds are accounted for. Players must then
receive approval of 2/3 of the AAA Division Manager’s to
be drafted into the AAA Division.
9. A player may be intentionally walked only one
time per game.
10.
No change shall be made to these bylaws except by
procedures outlined in the Lemoore Little League
Constitution.
SECTION
5:
Lemoore Little League By-laws
– AA League: In accordance with Article X,
Section 3 of the Lemoore Little League Constitution, the
following By-laws are adopted to govern play at the
AA-Minor League Division level.
1. Official Regulations and Playing Rules
published annually by Little League, Inc. shall govern
play except as follows:
2. (4.04) Lemoore Little League adopts a format
using the complete roster as the batting order. The side
will be retired after five (5) runs or when three (3)
outs occur.
3. Lemoore Little League adopts the use of a
pitching machine. The ball-feeder will be a rostered
coach. Prior to the start of the game and at the end of
each half inning, the ball feeder may make adjustments
to the pitching machine at the request of either
Manager. During any at bat, the ball feeder may replace
a ball or declare a "no pitch" if it is obvious that the
ball was not hittable.
In the event a rostered coach is not available to serve
as ball-feeder, the Manager/Coach for the team at bat
will provide an approved parent volunteer to feed the
ball. In the case of non-availability, Manager/Coach
pitching is allowed (overhand only).
4. The pitching machine will be placed on the
mound and a 6’ radius will be chalked around it. If a
hit ball stops inside the circle, it is considered a
dead ball. If it hits the pitching machine and ends up
outside the circle, it is a live ball. If it hits the
machine and goes foul without being touched, it is a
foul ball. If a player enters the circle to make a play
on the ball it will be considered a dead ball.
5. The ball is considered live until an effort is
made by the pitcher to pass it to the ball feeder.
6. The ball is dead when it is in the
ball-feeder’s possession, the fielding teams pitcher is
in the process of passing the ball to the ball-feeder.
7. Strikes will be called if the batter
swings & misses.
8. The batter will receive a maximum five
hittable pitches. The umpire will determine if the
pitches are hittable. If the batter hits a foul ball on
the 5th pitch, he/she will receive more
pitches until they either swing & miss or hit the ball
into play.
9. Bunting will be allowed.
10. Stealing will be allowed.
There will be no leading off. Runners may advance
only after the pitch has crossed home plate.
11. The league will furnish Jerseys and hats.
Players are allowed the option of purchasing their own
baseball pants and stirrups, but all players must dress
uniformly. No change in shirt or hat is allowed without
prior approval of the league.
12. (4.10E) If after four innings or three and
one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has
a lead of ten or more runs, the Manager of the team with
the least amount of runs may concede the victory
to the opponent. At 15 runs, the team shall
concede victory to the opponent.
13. All players will receive participation
awards.
14. Team names will be designated and approved
annually by the officers and directors of the Lemoore
Little League.
15. The time limit of all games will be one
and three quarter hours from the scheduled start time.
No inning will be started after 7:45PM. An inning starts
when the third out is made with the home team at bat.
16. To protest any incident, the Little League
procedure as presented in the rulebook must be followed
exactly and a formal written protest shall be submitted
to the League President within 24 hours of the incident.
17. AA League age is 7 and 8 years of age.
Players that are league age 6 years old may try out for
the AA Division, but may only be placed on a team if
there is a vacancy after all 7 and 8 year olds are
accounted for. Players must then receive approval of
2/3 of the AA Division Manager’s to be drafted into the
AA Division.
18. No change shall be made to these bylaws
except by procedures outlined in the Lemoore Little
League Constitution.
Lemoore Little League AA Modified Kid Pitch Rules:
To be used at the half way point in the season.
1. There will be NO walks. Once a pitcher throws
four balls, the coach from the batter's team will come
out to pitch (the pitcher will stand off to the side
just as he/she does now with the pitching machine) until
the batter strikes out or puts the ball in play.
2. Players age 7 and 8 are limited by little
league to 50 pitches per game. See pitching rules for
required number of days rest needed. It is recommended
you limit your pitchers to less than 40 so you
don't over use the pitchers and so they will be
available to pitch in their next game as long as they
have had the required number of days rest.
3. An inning will end when three outs have been
made or five runs have been scored.
4. There will be open scoring in the 6th inning
of the game.
5. The managers from both teams will decide
whether or not to allow stealing. This decision should
be made prior to the start of the game. If stealing is
allowed, a player may advance one base per play and they
may not steal home.
Little League International Pitching Rules:
The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher
reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below.
The pitcher may remain in the game at another position
except catcher).
League Age
11-12 85 pitches per day
9-10 75 pitches per day
7-8 50 pitches
per day
Pitchers must adhere to the following rest requirements:
If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, they
must have three calendar days of rest and may NOT
pitch in their team’s next game.
If a player pitches 41-60 pitches in a day, they must
have two calendar days of rest and may NOT pitch
in their team’s next game.
If a player pitches 21-40 pitches in a day, they must
have one calendar day of rest. They may pitch in their
team’s next game.
If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, they may
pitch the next calendar day. They may pitch in their
team’s next game.
SECTION
6:
Lemoore Little League By-laws
- T-Ball League: In accordance with Article X,
Section 3 of the Lemoore Little League Constitution, the
following By-laws are adopted to govern play at the
T-ball Division level.
1. Any child reaching the age of 5 yrs as of
April 30th and no older than 6 yrs old shall be eligible
for T-Ball. In exceptions where the child has not be
exposed to the fundamentals of the game and there is a
clear and present danger the child will be injured in
the higher division of play, a 7 yr old may play down
only at the REQUEST of the parent and the APPROVAL of
the Board of Directors.
2. Eligible players will be placed on a team by
the player agent and/or T-ball Division Representative.
3. No game will exceed 2 innings or 1 1/2 hour
time limit from the scheduled start time of the game, no
inning shall start after 6:30 PM. Each team shall bat
through the roster in each inning.
4. All scheduled games shall meet all
requirements of current rulebook (page 26, VII-schedules
(d)).
5. The Complete Roster shall be the Batting
order with all players batting through the roster each
inning, and all players shall play Defense.
6. No League standings will be held nor will
championship games be played.
7. The batting tee shall be used in all games
and practice, as per Section I-(a) 3, page 20 of the
Official Regulations and Playing Rules, Coach or Adult
pitch will be allowed.
8. The Catcher must wear all protective gear as
required by Little League Regulations.
9. The Coach/Manager shall be present in the
Field to instruct the Players.
10. The Offensive team shall have a 1st and 3rd
base Coach to instruct players around the bases, and NO
OUTS shall be counted during the 1st half of
the season. Players who are called out during the 2nd
half of the season shall vacate the bases in preparation
of standard rules.
11. Stealing home base on a passed ball will not
be allowed, the ball shall be considered fair when it
passes the 3 ft chalked line in front of the batter.
This is to protect a child from running up on a batter
with the bat still in hand.
12. No warm up batters will be allowed on deck.
Players must remain in dugout until it is their turn to
bat.
13. The league will furnish uniform shirts and
hats. (Team names will be designated and approved
annually by the officers and directors of the Lemoore
Little League).
14. Awards will be given to players. All
players will receive a Little League Pin.
15. The purpose of T-Ball is to instruct the
very basic fundamentals of baseball and make it FUN for
the children.
16. No change shall be
made to these bylaws except by procedures outlined in
the Lemoore Little League Constitution.
SECTION 7:
All
Star / Tournament Team Issues all Divisions.
Lemoore Little League post-season play on All Star or
Tournament Team is a privilege afforded to only a few of
our player members in each Division. Lemoore Little
League will support these individuals as follows:
1. Special All-Star Uniforms may be provided for
official Little League Tournaments (10's, 11’s, and
12's). The league will pay for hats.
2. Lemoore Little League will pay tournament
fees for official Little League Tournaments (10's, 11’s,
and 12's). .
3. The Board of Directors may elect to pay for a
maximum of one tournament entry fee per team for Lemoore
Little League’s 9 year old Tournament Team. (Lemoore
teams shall play for free in the Lemoore 9 year old
Tournament, if hosted). .
4. The Board upon recommendation by the
Treasurer may agree to help offset certain travel
expenses for players, Managers, and Coaches only.
5. The Board recommends that player parents,
Coaches and players conduct a fundraiser to support
travel expenses for players, Managers, and Coaches in
case Lemoore Little League expenses prohibit any league
contribution.
6. Funds raised by the Team or Division shall be
properly accounted for by the Lemoore Little League
Treasurer. Any unused money will remain in the Lemoore
Little League Treasury for use in offsetting All Star /
Tournament expenses.
SECTION 8:
All-Star / Tournament Team
Selection:
10, 11 and 12 Year-Old All Star
Selection:
1. All-Star players will be
selected in an open draft format. Any player that has
been ejected from a game during the regular season for
unsportsmanlike conduct may not be eligible for
participation in post-season / All-Star team selection.
2. Manager’s will nominate players from their
own team to be included in the All-Star Draft. The
Player Agent shall conduct the All-Star Draft.
3. Each team will be allowed only the Manager
present during the draft. If the Manager cannot be
present during the draft, He/She shall notify in writing
to the Player Agent or President his request to have one
Coach be present in their place. Each Manager will have
a maximum of one vote per player.
4. Nominated players will be voted on by a show
of hands that should include open & honest discussion.
During the draft, the top 12 vote getters will
constitute the All-Star team. The Player Agent will
keep track of total votes for all nominated
players.
5. In the event of a tie in the last few draft
positions, a re-vote on those players will be conducted
until the tie is broken.
6. The All-Star Team Manager may elect to have
13-players on the All-Star Team. This option must be
declared prior to the end of the All-Star Draft. If so,
the player with the 13th highest vote total
will become the 13th rostered player.
7. In the event that a player is unable to play
on the team, the highest voted player not on the team
will become the substitute player.
8. The 11 year old and 12 year old All-Star
Manager selection will be as follows: An All Star Team
Manager/Coach Selection Committee will consider all
interested and eligible Managers/Coaches for
recommendation to the board based on the Managers
ability to represent their given team during the regular
season, their ability to represent Lemoore Little League
in a positive and public manner, and their teams
placement in their division. The Selection Committee
will then give a recommendation to the Board of
Directors for approval.
9. The 10 year old All-Star Manager will be
selected as follows: An All Star Team Manager/Coach
Selection Committee will consider all interested and
eligible Managers for recommendation to the board based
on the Managers/Coaches ability to represent their given
team during the regular season, their ability to
represent Lemoore Little League in a positive and public
manner, and their teams placement in their division. The
Selection Committee will then give a recommendation to
the Board of Directors for approval
9 year old Tournament Team
Selection:
1. Tournament team players
will be selected in an open draft format.
2. Manager’s will nominate players from their
own team to be included in the All-Star Draft. The
Player Agent shall conduct the Tournament Team Draft.
3. Each team will be allowed only the Manager
present during the draft. If the Manager cannot be
present during the draft, He/She shall notify in writing
to the Player Agent or President his request to have one
Coach be present in their place. Each Manager will have
a maximum of one vote per player.
4. Nominated players will be voted on by a show
of hands that should include open & honest discussion.
The Player Agent will keep track of total votes for
all nominated players.
5. In the event of a tie in the last few draft
positions, a re-vote on those players will be conducted
until the tie is broken.
6. The 9 year old Tournament Team Manager may
elect to have 12 or 13 players (check with Tournament
Officials to ensure 13 players are allowed), on the 9
year old Tournament Team. This option must be declared
prior to the end of the All-Star Draft. If so, the
player with the next highest vote total will be
selected.
7. In the event that a player is unable to play
on the team, the highest voted player not on the team
will become the substitute player.
8. Lemoore Little League will form one 9 year
old Kid Pitch Tournament Team. The team will be
selected as follows: AAA Managers and Coaches will
select twelve or thirteen 9 year-old players with the
highest number of votes from their division.
9. If the 9 year old Tournament Team Manager
wishes to have 13 players on the team, the 9 year-old
with the next highest votes not already on the team will
be selected. This option shall only be completed after a
team roster of 12 players has been completed.
SECTION 9:
Parental Obligations
all Divisions: Lemoore
Little League is not a baby-sitting service and requires
active participation and cooperation of all parents
involved. All parents should be prepared to support
their kids and teams in a positive and productive
manner. Parents will be asked to help Lemoore Little
League in areas such as fund raising, field
up-keep/maintenance, after game clean-up of the
premises, score-keeping, announcing games, assisting on
work-days, umpiring games, working the snack bar
and generally providing a
positive example for the kids. Lemoore Little League in
accordance with Article IV, Section 3 above, can assess
up to $50.00 per family if the need arises, so please
don't hesitate to help make the Little League experience
for your child a good one, officers, Managers, Coaches,
and umpires are all volunteers too.
SECTION 10:
Manager / Coaches Obligations all Divisions:
Managers and Coaches are leaders and role models for
each and every child in our league. The Manager
ultimately will be held accountable for the actions of
their Coaching staff, parents and players.
1.
The league will assign every team
responsibilities pertaining to working in the snack bar,
umpiring games, field cleanup days, etc. If teams are
not properly represented at the assigned functions, the
following course of action will be followed: (1st
infraction) the Manager will be suspended for his/her
team’s next game and may not be allowed to manage or
Coach an All-Star / Tournament team that season. (2nd
infraction) The Manager will be suspended for the
remainder of the season.
2.
The league issued equipment/uniforms must
be turned in to the Equipment Manager no later than 7
calendar days following closing ceremonies. If
equipment/uniforms are not turned in at that time, the
league will send the team Manager an invoice for the
equipment via USPS Certified Mail. If the proper,
league issued equipment is not turned in, or paid for
with 30 calendar days of
receipt of the invoice, the team Managers’ name will be
sent to a local collections agency (no exceptions).
All-Star & Tournament team Managers will be re-issued
equipment prior to their first practice.
3.
Managers and Coaches will not be allowed to
change titles before, during or after the season,
no exceptions. If a Manager chooses to
step-down, the President, Coaching Coordinator and
Divisional Rep will appoint an alternative Manager as a
replacement. The Manager that has given up his title
will not be allowed to Coach or manage for the remainder
of the season.
SECTION 11:
Rescheduling of Games: There are No
Forfeits in Little League. No game shall be
re-scheduled unless weather conditions, time
constraints, un-controllable acts of nature, or
inability of a team to field the minimum (9) players,
prevent the game from being played. In such cases,
Managers, the Head Umpire, and the Board Member in
charge of the field shall re-schedule the game to be
played in the next available opening on any field that
is of proper size for the division regardless of any
other games scheduled for either team for that week.
The only exception is that no team will be re-scheduled
to play a game, which results in a double-header.
Absent Managers, Coaches, or particular players shall
not be a reason for rescheduling a game. Managers who
attempt to re-schedule games without due cause as
expressed above will receive a letter of reprimand and
may not be considered as Tournament Managers or Coaches
as a result.
SECTION 12:
Practice Facilities: Practice
facilities (schools, parks, etc.) must be covered under
Lemoore Little Leagues insurance prior to the beginning
of practice. Teams will not be allowed to practice on
the fields at the Lemoore Little League complex, except
All-Star / Tournament teams. The determination of which
team will practice at a given field (school, park, etc.)
will be conducted by the league in the following
manner:
1.
The league from random draw will determine order
selection by team by division.
2.
The priority level by division will be: Majors,
AAA, AA, T-Ball.
3.
The team drawn 1st will be allowed to
select which field they wish to practice at and so forth
until all the teams in the division / League have
selected a practice field.
Note: Practice facilities must be
left clean and orderly when practice is complete. Teams
that receive complaints may be reprimanded.
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