Coolidge Little League House Rules

All playing rules for the normal season games and end of season playoffs will be in accordance with the Official Little League Rule Book or App provided by Coolidge Little League with the following exceptions, additions and clarifications that have been approved by the Coolidge Little League Board of Directors.

Division Definitions

1. All Ages listed are League Ages as defined by Little League International.
2. Players that are league age 7 years old will play Minors Baseball or Softball.
3. Players that are league ages 7-12 years old will be evaluated and drafted as defined in the Draft section of this document.
4. President and Player Agent will evaluate any player that is league age 6 years old that wishes to play Minors Baseball or Softball.
5. President and Player Agent are authorized to make final decision on any player placement.

Practices

1. Practice times and locations will be determined by Team Manager.
2. Practices will be held at locations within Coolidge City Limits.
3. Practices will end no later than 8:30 pm during weekdays.
4. Team Managers are responsible for checking availability of location with appropriate entity.

Umpire Interaction

1. Only Managers shall interact with Adult Umpires per Little League Regulations.
2. Junior Umpires (15-17 years old) will be selected by the Board of Directors and Umpire In Chief.
3. No person, including a Manager, shall interact with Junior Umpires without an Adult Umpire or Board Member Present. Managers will not coach or attempt to correct Junior Umpires.
4. Each game should have at least one Umpire 18 or older present. If no Adult Umpire is available, and neither team can produce an umpire, a board member must be present at the game for the entirety of the game. If no board member is available, the game can still be played unofficially and will not count for official statistics or scoring.

Pre-Game

1. When available, Board President will place temporary fencing for minors and above.
2. Umpires must check helmets and bats, and verbally check to ensure that all male players are wearing a cup.
3. Both teams shall have official scorekeepers for their teams. Home Team will keep the official book for the game.
4. Managers shall turn in one copy of their line up to the official scorekeeper, no less than ten minutes prior to the scheduled game time.
5. Managers will bring a copy of their line up to the plate meeting to be given to the home plate umpire.
6. The Manager or coach that is at the plate meeting shall be considered the Manager for that game and will be the only member of the coaching staff allowed to appeal to the umpires and make changes.
7. Each team must physically identify their CPR-trained adult before the start of each game.

Time Limits

1. The Minors and Majors Baseball and Softball shall start no new inning after 1 hour and 45 minutes of play.
2. An inning starts the moment the third out is made. One minute is allowed in between innings.
3. Lights at Kenilworth Sports Complex are on an automatic timer and will shut off at 10:00 pm.
4. Exceptions:

a. Majors Softball and Majors Baseball games may have a time limit if the game is followed by another regularly scheduled game. The Scheduler shall make a best effort to allow these games to complete under normal terms.

b. In the Majors Baseball, Majors Softball, Junior and Senior Leagues regular season and tournament games there is no time limit. Exception: A game that is terminated by weather, lack of light or curfew (see above) will not be continued if it has become a regulation game per Rule 4.10(c) unless the game is tied. See Rule 4.11(d) for reverting to previous inning.

7. Rainout games may be rescheduled for the Minor divisions and above if time permits and fields are available. Whether or not to reschedule will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Board of Directors based on the recommendation of the Protest committee and Scheduling Coordinator.

All Divisions, Baseball and Softball
(See each division for division specific rules.)

1. The 15, 10, 8 run rule will be in effect for all divisions. (See Rule 4.10 (e))
2. Little League Rule 4.00- Starting and Ending the Game will be in effect for all divisions.
3. Coolidge League will enforce Rule 4.04 Note 3 and allow teams to play with 8 players. When the 9^th position comes up to bat it will be considered an automatic out.
4. Only Managers and assistant coaches with approved volunteer form that have been approved by the Board of Directors can be on the field during practices and games, including the dugout during games. (Rule 3.15)
5. In order to maintain a strong league and provide the best experience for the kids all managers and coaches must complete league approved training prior to season start.
6. CPR training for at least one coach on each team is required to be certified per Little League International.
7. During a game, there can be two adult base coaches on the field in all divisions providing that there is at least one other adult coach in the dugout. Rule 4.05
8. All protests must be in accordance with Rule 4.19 in the Official Regulations and Playing rules handbook. (See Rule 4.19(g)) Complaints should be communicated to the Umpire-In-Chief and will be addressed by the Board of Directors if necessary. Protests should be avoided as much as possible. There are no protests in Minors divisions; the umpire’s decision will stand. The focus should be more on player skills development than rules at the Minors division.
9. At any time during games and practices the possession of firearms and the use of tobacco, marijuana, and alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited on the playing field, benches, stands, or dugouts. Vaping in or around the dugouts is also prohibited. Parents and players may not attend any event while under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Anyone found to be in violation, by either sight, smell or actions, will be asked to adhere to this rule or will be required to leave the field and may face suspension from future events. (LL Regulation XIV(e))
10. Managers must inform the Player Agent if any player misses more than seven consecutive days for any reason (See Regulation III (d)).
11. Coolidge Little League will NOT use the Major Division rule for uncaught third strike in the Minors Division baseball and softball. (See rule 6.09b)
12. A batter who, in the umpire’s judgment, throws their bat during at bat, shall be given a warning. If it happens a second time the batter will be called out. In the event the batter hits the ball, the play shall finish, then the umpire shall call Time, then declare “Batter threw the bat. The batter is out”.
13. Lightning Strike Rule - If lightning strikes within 10 miles of your game or practice the field must be cleared for 30 minutes. The 30 minute starts once the last lightning moves because electrical charges can linger in clouds after a thunderstorm has passed. Experts agree people should wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike before play resumes. Please use any weather app to track the distance of the lightning strikes.

Minors Division

1. Players meeting team practice attendance requirements shall be given mandatory playing time: Every player must have at least one complete at bat and play two innings on the field. Any player not receiving their mandatory playing time will play the entire next played game and will be put on top of the batting order.
2. Players meeting team practice attendance requirements: Players may only sit on the bench one inning at a time.
3. Each half inning will end when three (3) offensive players are legally called out or when the offensive team scores five (5) runs. (See rule 5.07 baseball and softball)
4. The batting lineup shall be the entire roster.
5. Standings will be kept for Minor League.
6. If a pitcher hits three batters in a game, and it is determined to be intentional by the umpire, they must be removed from the game as a pitcher.
7. Players may perform the duties as a base coach but are required to wear a helmet.
8. Rule 6.08a2 shall be enforced to allow a Manager to declare an intentional walk.
9. Rule 6.02c shall be enforced requiring a Batter to keep one foot in the batter’s box during their At-bat.

Majors Division

1. Players meeting team practice attendance requirements shall be given mandatory playing time: Every player must have at least one complete at bat and play two innings on the field. Any player not receiving their mandatory playing time will play the entire next played game and will be put on top of the batting order.
2. Players meeting team practice attendance requirements: Players may only sit on the bench one inning at a time.
3. The batting lineup may be the entire roster.
4. Rule 6.08a2 shall be enforced to allow a Manager to declare an intentional walk.
5. Rule 6.02c shall be enforced requiring a Batter to keep one foot in the batter’s box during their At-bat.

Junior/Senior Division

1. League age 15-year-olds may pitch in Juniors

Sportsmanship

1. All Players, managers and coaches will shake hands with the opposing team after each game. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action from the Board of Directors.
2. Foul language from players, managers, and coaches, or any negative remarks at any time may result in a disciplinary action from the Board of Directors.
3. Negative cheering is not allowed in Coolidge Little League. Cheer for your team, not against or about your opponents. Negative cheers or chants referring to the other team will not be permitted. Once the pitcher takes a position on the plate all chanting must stop. Exception of softball, where chants may continue throughout the pitcher’s pitch as long as the volume remains constant. The use of the word swing is prohibited after the release of the pitch. Reference to the opposing player’s name or number in an attempt to distract or disrupt that player is prohibited. Offenders will be warned and/or removed by an Umpire on the field or by any board member. (See Rule 4.06(2 and 3) & Rule 9.01(d))
4. Any act of non-sportsmanship may result in a disciplinary action from the Board of Directors, up to expulsion from the league for the remainder of the year.

Draft Process

1. Players that are league ages 7-12 years old will be evaluated and drafted.
2. Once a thorough evaluation of players has been completed, players will be drafted to teams, via blind draft by the Bard of Directions.
3. Parents may request to not have their player play for a certain Manager. This request must be submitted to the Player Agent before the evaluation.
4. Coach requests will be honored if available.
5. A coaches meeting will be held after the draft and coaches will be given one hour to make trades. After the one hour window, rosters will be finalized and no further trades will be allowed.
6. Coaches not registered at the time of the meeting will forfeit their right to trades.

Amending the House Rules

1. The Coolidge Little League Executive Board reserves the right to amend House Rules at any time during the regular season.
2. Any member of Coolidge Little League can ask for an amendment.
3. An amendment can be, but not limited to, a rule addition, a rule subtraction, and modification of a rule. Corrections of typos and or spelling mistakes do not require board approval.
4. To request an amendment.

a. Ask the Executive Board in writing to review or consider a rule amendment. Must give justification for amendment.

c. The board of directors must then approve the amendment.

Disciplinary action for any misconduct or house rules violations

1. First offense

a. Conversation to review code of conduct and request a change of behavior. In the event the behavior does not change offender will be asked to leave property.

i. Second offense

b. Removal from the property

i. Denial to leave property

1. Local law enforcement will be called to remove the offender.

2. As a result of an offender being removed from the property, a written letter is required from the offense to explain what they will do differently before re-entry is granted. Board of directors to make decision for re-entry