NORTHAMPTON LITTLE LEAGUE (NHLL)

2023-2024 LOCAL RULES

These are the Local Rules as voted on by the NHLL Board of Directors. These rules reiterate, or are in addition to, the rules found in the Little League rule-book. Please see your division Commissioner if you have any questions concerning any rules not included in this document.


ALL DIVISIONS
 Any representative of Northampton Little League (board member, manager, coach, and umpire) or spectator, etc. that displays conduct detrimental to the league and Little League Baseball, Inc. will be subject to disciplinary action by the board.
 Any persons who wish to volunteer must submit a volunteer application along with a pictured ID for background check purposes and Board approval.
 Any manager of coach abandoning a team in unsportsmanlike conduct during a game will have his/her NHLL membership position terminated.
 Any manager or player who does not return NHLL property (equipment, uniforms, etc.) at the end of the playing season will not be in good standing with the league. Absent board approval.
 A minimum of one (1) coach from each team and umpire are required to walk the field and check for hazards prior to the start of the game.
 All teams are required to police their dugouts and bleachers, empty trash, and rake the field before leaving the field or risk losing the use of batting cages and/or practice fields. Note: This applies to games and practices.
 Announcers must be at least fourteen (14) years of age.
 Score keepers and pitch counters must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. They shall:
 Observe the game from a position in or near the announcing booth. The scorer shall have sole authority to make all decisions involving judgment, such as whether a batter’s advance to first base is the result of a hit or an error.
 Record the official game start time announced by the umpire-in-chief.
 Report the final score and, if applicable, complete signed pitching records for both teams.
 Score keepers and pitch counters shall not publicly cheer for a particular team from the announcing booth area.
 The field umpire must be at least fourteen (14) years of age for Major leagues and below. The field umpire must be at least seventeen (17) years of age for Junior and Senior divisions. Field umpires under the age of eighteen (18) years of age must have a permission slip signed by their parent(s).
 The home team from the previous game played within each division, A League and B League, will provide field umpires. For Instructional Minor (C League), the managers and coaches will be the field umpires. For Softball, home team will provide umpires. Does not apply to inter-league teams.
 Games that are postponed (for any reason) shall be made up in order and on the first available date. No exceptions will be made. Does not apply to inter-league teams.
 Any player who must seek professional medical attention due to an illness or any injury, regardless of severity or the location that injury occurred (school, home, playground, etc.) is required to submit a physician-signed medical release form (to a Board member) in order to return to play or practice. Ongoing medical conditions require a doctor’s release to participate.
 Playing season is defined as a division’s opening regular season game through its last
regular season game.
 Managers must immediately notify the player agent regarding the loss of a player. If a player misses three consecutive games and/or practices without notifying their manager, the manager should contact the Player Agent who will contact the player’s parents/guardians.
 Any player on a waiting list is on a first come, first served basis to be put on a team.
 All players must remain on the bench, without a bat, until it is time to take their turn in the batter’s box or the “on deck circle,” if applicable.


T-BALL DIVISION (Ages 4-6)
 A game will last the lesser of three innings or 1 ½ hours.
 Only one (1) player will play the position of pitcher.
 The pitcher must remain with the 10’ radius circle and cannot leave the circle until the ball is put in play.
 Runners should only advance one (1) base per batted ball. Exception: When the last batter hits the ball, play will end when the ball is under control in the infield.
 Players will follow baseball rule, if the runner gets out, they are out and will not advance to the next base.


INSTRUCTIONAL MINOR DIVISION (Ages 7-8)
 There will be an evaluation and draft system for all players.
 A six (6) year old with one (1) year of T-Ball experience may try out for this division based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the T-Ball Division.
 Coach pitch only.
 Each player will receive up to six (6) pitches and three (3) strikes will constitute an out. A player cannot strike out on a foul ball.
 The inning will not change before there are three (3) outs or every player on the batting team has batted.
 A game will last the lesser of six (6) innings or one hour forty-five minutes (1 ¾ hrs.). At the end of the time limit, the current inning will be completed. Game stopping based on pitching machine difficulties, the home team score keeper will be in charge of keeping the one hour forty-five minutes (1 ¾ hrs.) time limit on game.
 There will be no base stealing.
 The Board of Directors elects not to suspend the 5 run rule for either team in the last inning.
 Each player shall play a minimum of every other inning on defense. Unlimited substitutions are allowed.
 Once a batted ball is returned to the infield and breaks the plane of the inside of the base path, the umpire will declare the ball dead and no runners will advance beyond the base to which they were running at that time.
 A player may advance no more than 1 base on an overthrow at their own risk.
 Runners running out of the base lines to avoid a tag will be called out.
 1 manager, 2 coaches and 1 team parent are allowed in the dugout (no bat-boys or bat-girls). [As per LL Coach Pitch Rules]
 The home team is responsible for field preparations (lining field, placing bases, putting out trash cans, etc…) and clean-up (removing trash, putting away bases, raking field, etc.)
 The visiting team is responsible for keeping score.


INTERMEDIATE DIVISION (Ages 9-11)
 There will be an evaluation and draft system for all players.
 An eight (8) year old may try out for this division in baseball based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the Instructional Minor Division. A seven (7) or eight (8) year old girl may elect to tryout for this division in softball.
 Each player must play a minimum of two (2) innings and must start at least every other game. At the top of the 3rd inning, all substitutions will be made. The penalty rule, per Little League Regulation IV (i), will be enforced for managers.
 The Board of Directors elects not to suspend the 5 run rule for either team in the last
inning. (Little League Regulation 5.07)
 A game will last the lesser of six (6) innings or one hour forty-five minutes (1 ¾ hrs.). At the end of the time limit, the current inning will be completed.
 The home team is responsible for preparing the field for that day (lining field, placing bases, putting out trash cans, etc.).
 The visiting team is responsible for providing the official scorekeeper and announcer as well as for keeping the official pitch count.
 Managers should approve the official score book by signing it immediately after a game. Not signing the official score book is considered “acceptance as written”. Errors in score keeping records must be noted and brought to the attention of league officials immediately. Protests must be noted in the official score book.
 END OF SEASON TIES:
 If two (2) teams tie for first place there will be a playoff game to break the tie.
 If more than two (2) teams tie, a formula of runs allowed divided by innings played will be used to determine the top two teams that allowed the fewest runs.
 Second place ties will be settled by Head-to-Head record. If that doesn’t settle the tie, then a formula of runs allowed divided by innings played will be used to determine the team that allowed the fewest runs and that team will be awarded second place.


MAJOR DIVISION (Ages 11-12)
 A try-out evaluation and draft system is mandatory for this division.
 A ten (10) year old may try out for this division in baseball based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the Intermediate Minor Division.
 Managers must immediately notify the Player Agent after the loss of a player and must report his/her choice for a replacement player within 48 hours.
 Any Major Division player who is inactive for four (4) consecutive weeks due to illness, injury, absences, etc…during the playing season will be released.
 Intermediate Minor division players cannot be called up to the Major Division during the
last two weeks of the Major Division regular season. (Little League Regulation III (d))


INTERMEDIATE 50/70 (Ages 11-13)
 A try-out evaluation and draft system is used for this division.
 An eleven (11) year old may try out for this division in baseball based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the Major Division.


JUNIOR DIVISION (Ages 13-14)
 A try-out evaluation and draft system is used for this division.


SENIOR DIVISION (Ages 15-16)
 A try-out evaluation and draft system is used for these divisions.
 A fourteen (14) year old may try out for this division in baseball based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the Junior Division.


ALL-STARS
 There will be twelve (12) or thirteen (13) players selected for the 9/10 baseball and softball All-Stars teams by the division managers and an All-Stars Selection Committee.
 There will be twelve (12) or thirteen (13) players selected for the 10/11 baseball and
softball All-Stars team by the division managers and an All-Stars Selection Committee.
 There will be twelve (12) or thirteen (13) players selected for the 11/12 major baseball and softball All-Stars teams.
 There will be twelve (12) to sixteen (16) players selected for the Jr. and Sr. baseball and softball All-Stars teams.
 The option for managing an All-Stars team will be granted in the following order:
 Division managers, beginning with team that finished in first place (regular season)
 Or best record in inter-league division, if applicable.
 Division coaches, beginning with team that finished in first place (regular season) or best record in inter-league division, if applicable.
 NOTE: All-Stars team managers will select their own coaches from the applicable leagues and divisions, per Little League rules.
 NOTE: To qualify for an All-Stars manager position, you must not have received more than one written warning from the Board of Directors.
 The following persons will count All-Stars ballot votes: league President, divisional
Commissioner, league Player Agent, and an additional non-partisan Board member.
 Players who wish to be placed on the ballot for an All-Stars team must be in good standing with the league and must not owe any monies to the league.


SOFTBALL MINORS (Ages 7-10)
 A try-out evaluation and draft system is used for these divisions.
 The Board of Directors elects not to suspend the 5 run rule for either team in the last inning.
 No local rules must adhere and play by the rules set for District 7.


SOFTBALL MAJORS (Ages 9-12)
 A ten (10) year old may try out for this division in softball based on available space. If the player is not selected for this division, then the player will play in the Softball Minors Division.
 No local rules must adhere and play by the rules set for District 7.