CASA GRANDE LITTLE LEAGUE
MACHINE PITCH
RULES AND REGULATION

Casa Grande Little League aspires to be an outstanding educational-athletic organization that provides a high-quality experience, in which every athlete:

• I coached to learn the fundamentals of the game and the importance of sportsmanship
• Feels like an important part of the team regardless of performance
• Learns “life lessons” that have value beyond the playing field
• Learns the skills, tactics, and strategies of the game and improves as a player; and
• Has fun playing the game.

Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, the Little League program assists youth in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork, and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues of character, courage, and loyalty, the Little League Baseball and Softball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than simply create superior athletes.

To meet these objectives, Casa Grande Little League provides a supervised program under the Official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball (the “Official Rules”).  In addition to the Official Rules, Casa Grande Little League uses the following local rules, which are meant to complement and augment the Official Rules.  In the event of any conflict between these local rules and the Official Rules, the Official Rules will control.

Please read and familiarize yourself with the local rules and regulations of Casa Grande Little League.  If you have any questions, please contact a Board Member

PRACTICES

• The Casa Grande Little League will try to schedule times for teams to practice at the Little League fields at the best of their ability and tentatively.
• Teams may also practice in public open space areas.  Many teams also choose to practice in HOA owned or maintained parks.  If you are practicing in a private park, it is your responsibility to obtain any permission necessary from the HOA.
• Teams may not practice at the O’Neil Softball Complex, Kiwanis Field, or the Paul Mason Sportsplex without reserving through the City of Casa Grande. 

COACHES AND MANAGERS

Each team will have a manager and may have additional assistant coaches or volunteers to help with practices and games.  Any person who will have player contact - whether a manager, a coach, a parent, or a friend – MUST HAVE COMPLETED A VOLUNTEER FORM AND SUBMITTED ONLINE at www.CasaGrandeLittleLeague.com  No adult may have any player interaction until the President has conducted the appropriate background check and approved his/her volunteer application.  Please give us the names of any persons asking to be an assistant coach as soon as possible.

Any manager, coach, or volunteer that displays poor life skills or inappropriate behavior on the practice or game field in front of players may be suspended or removed from duty by the Board.  Profanity of any kind will not be tolerated. Please understand and help remind others that these rules are in place in order to help promote the safety and well-being of all players.

At this age, managers, coaches, and other volunteers should collectively encourage the constructive development of players’ sportsmanship, baseball knowledge, and skills.  You may stop playing for instructional purposes when appropriate - and for safety purposes at any time - keeping in mind the level of play.  It is the League’s policy, however, that such stoppages should not unduly slow play.

Managers are expected to ensure that any handouts, materials, or information given to the Manager is passed along to all parents.  Managers are expected to ensure that they, and their team, are at all scheduled League events, including but not limited to opening day, games, pictures, and the League’s annual celebration (which serves as “Closing Ceremonies” for these divisions).

FIELD AND GAME GUIDELINES

• The team designated as the VISITING TEAM on the schedule will use the 1^stbase dugout and will be responsible for setting out bases and pitching rubber for the game if needed, as well as picking up the game balls from the concession stand.
• The team designated as the HOME TEAM on the schedule will use the 3^rd base dugout and will be responsible for picking up and returning the bases (and pitching rubber, if any) to the clubhouse at the end of the final game of the day for that field.
• Sports drinks and water are allowed in the dugout to help ensure players remain hydrated during games.  At the discretion of the manager, players may be permitted to have snacks in the dugout, but clean-up of the dugout at the end of the game is the responsibility of the manager and coaches of that team.
• Please remember that, except for water and sports drinks for players, Casa Grande Little League does not allow outside food or drink to be brought into the Little League complex.  Our League relies heavily on concession stands to help provide funds to support the League so your help in reminding families of this rule is important.
• Hitting a baseball into the chain link screens at any time, such as by “soft toss” or off a batting tee, is prohibited except if using plastic balls.
• Each team will be provided with a new game ball for each scheduled game, which must be picked up from the concession stand by the Visiting Team.  Teams should also have additional balls on hand to help speed up play. Game balls should be returned to teams at the end of each game to use as practice balls or handed out as a “Game Ball” to a player. The most effective way to give a player a game ball is to go through players alphabetically or by jersey numbers.
• Persons on the field of play or in the dugout will not use cell phones or electronic devices.
• Any time limits on game times (on weekday nights) are measured from the scheduled start time.  Managers and coaches should arrive early to ensure the field is ready for play and that the game can start on time.  Children should be at the fields at the time set by the Manager but should always be at the field at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game time (most Managers will ask their children to arrive earlier in order to properly warm up).

UNIFORMS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

• Each player should wear a complete uniform, including a hat, jersey/shirt, socks, and appropriate pants.  Players are not permitted to use metal cleats.  Please have your players look like baseball players while wearing their uniforms: Caps will not be worn backwards or tilted to the side, and players shirts will be always tucked in.

• Any player with a bat in his/her hand MUST have a batting helmet on his/her head.
  •  Helmets may not have decals applied or be painted by someone other than the manufacturer unless accompanied by written certification from the helmet manufacturer that the decal or paint does not affect the playability of the helmet.
• All bats must have the USA baseball logo on them unless they are a solid one-piece wood bat. It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2⅝ inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30″) at its smallest part.
• Players are not permitted to swing a bat in the dugout or dugout area. 
• Little League also does not use an “on-deck” circle and hitters shall remain in the dugout area until it is their turn to bat.
• Other than using the restroom, all players shall remain in the dugout when not otherwise engaged in play on the field.
• No child may be left unattended in the dugout.  If you are short a coach or coaches for a game, please ask a Board Member for help in finding a qualified volunteer (who has filled out a form) for help.
• Please make sure your players (especially your catcher) are wearing a protective cup and neck guard (neck guard is required for the catcher).

Game Play Guidelines

Machine pitch games will play 6 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes. A new inning starts when the last out of the previous inning is made.

1. Machine pitch games CAN end in a tie game.   
2. The 10-run rule is in effect after 4 innings (3 1/2 if the home team is ahead).
3. Each team must have at least 8 players to begin an official game.   
4. You must have a catcher.  
5. Pitching machine shall be set with the back leg right in front of the pitching rubber. 
   1. The pitching rubber is 46’ from the back corner of the home plate. 
   2. The speed shall be set at 30-36 mph. 
   3. It is the responsibility of the coaches to set up the machine before the game.
   4.  If necessary, coaches can call time to adjust the machine to ensure the ball is passing through the strike zone.  However, coaches are not allowed to adjust the machine from batter to batter. 

   Example: Your second batter is tall, but your third batter is short.  Have the batter adjust themselves in the batter’s box. Both head coaches must mutually agree that the machine needs to be adjusted. Before a pitch is made the coach will raise their arm in the air to let the batter know a pitch is being delivered.

6. The run limit will be five (5) per inning.
   1. Teams will play using a full-roster (continuous) batting order.
   2. Innings are three (3) outs or five (5) runs. Whichever comes first.
   3.  Defensive substitutions do not need to be reported.
   4. There are no walks in machine pitch.
   5. Maximum of six(6) pitches allowed. If the 6th pitch is fouled off the batter will be considered out.
   6. There are no minimum or maximum bases for a batter on a batted ball. Once the ball is thrown by the fielder to make a play is when then overthrown rule comes into effect.
7. Batted balls that hit the machine or pitching coach are considered “dead balls”.  The batter is awarded 1st base (regardless of if the batter is put out) and runners will advance one (1) base only.
     
8. Base stealing or advancing on a pitch that gets by the catcher is NOT permitted in machine pitch. 
   1. Also, there is NO bunting in machine pitch.
   2. A baserunner may only leave their base one the ball is hit by the batter.
9. There is no swinging of bats outside the batter’s box, dugout, and NO on-deck circle.
   1. A player should not handle a bat, even inside the dugout, until it is their time to bat. 
   2. Please do not allow players to swing the bat outside of the dugouts either.
10. Runners may only advance one (1) base on an overthrow. No advance is allowed on a reasonable attempt to throw back to the pitcher in the pitcher’s circle.
    1.  Example1: Runner on 1st and ground ball is hit and overthrow to 2nd base, runner can advance to 3rd base.
    2. Example2: No runners on base, batter hits ground ball and overthrown to 1st base, runner can advance to 2nd base.
        
11. There is no “must slide” rule in Little League.  However, any runner is out when he/she does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.  Runners cannot slide headfirst while advancing but are allowed to slide headfirst when retreating to a base.  See Rule 7.08 (a) – (k) in the rule book for more info.
     
12. Teams are allowed four (4) coaches allowed before and during games.  One adult must always remain in the dugout during the game. All coaches must be in the dugout while their team is on defense.  On offense, only the base coaches can coach the batter and runners.  The pitching coach should take a knee after the ball is hit and try to protect the pitcher from running into the machine. Coaches will not be allowed on the field during defense.
    
    
13. There will be no penalty in the batting order if a player is injured and removed from the game.  The new batter does not inherit the count of the previous batter, no out is recorded, and the new batter assumes a fresh count.  If a player is using the restroom when it’s their time to bat, that player loses his/her at bat, but no out is recorded, just move on to the next batter in the lineup.
    
    
14. NO infield fly rule in machine pitch.
    
    
15. All rostered players will play defense.  Play with a regulation infield and the remainder of players will be staggered in the outfield. Outfielders must be positioned in the grass.
    
    
16. Machine pitch is an instructional division.  No player shall play the same position for more than two (2) consecutive innings. If safety is a concern, please communicate that to the parents and try to work them in.  No player, unless sick, injured, removed from the game by the parents, or displaying conduct not fit for Little League shall sit more than two (2) innings defensively during a regulation six (6) inning game.  Players may not sit defensively for more than one (1) inning during the first four (4) innings.
    
    

17. To end a play the defense will get the ball to the pitcher who will take the ball to the pitching machine area and hold the ball in the air to simulate the end of their attempts to make a play.

    1. If a runner is not touching the base they are advancing to by the time the pitcher holds the ball in the air near the pitching machine, then the runner will retreat to their last touched base without being put out by the defense.
    2. Any close calls will be awarded to the runner to obtain the base they reached and there will be no argument between coaches.