2025 SAN RAFAEL LITTLE LEAGUE RULES - MINORS
GENERAL LEAGUE RULES:
All National Little League rules are in effect per 2025 “Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies” which can be downloaded from Little League, except as noted below. All managers and coaches are responsible for knowing the Official Regulations and Playing Rules and for following those rules without need for reminder or correction. Violations of the rules mentioned and included here will result in disciplinary action, including possibly being removed as a coach. Previous disciplinary records will be considered.
Recording of Players, Fans, and Games:
In order to maintain compliance with applicable California state laws, Little League International rules, and San Rafael City Schools rules the San Rafael Little League board has resolved:
- All audio and video game recordings must be made exclusively through the GameChanger app, and posted on the app for all family members of recorded teams to access, with unauthorized recordings prohibited and may be subject to disciplinary action.
- An exception is made for photos and short video recordings taken by family members for personal use.
- No video or audio can be used to influence or decide umpire calls during a game.
1. Minors Commissioner: Rob Ganister – [email protected]
2. Minors Division is an instructional league and is a maximum of 6 innings.
3. All coaches must be approved by the SRLL board and have passed all background checks and SRLL requirements. A minimum of two approved coaches must be present at all practices and games.
4. At any level, on the day of the game, there is no batting practice by any team at its scheduled game site prior to or during the game.
a. Batting practice defined: Any player swinging a bat at a ball of any type or description. This includes ‐ but not limited to ‐ Soft Toss, T’s and/or Pepper. Batting sticks are permitted as long as it is held by an approved coach, players are wearing helmets, and all players and coaches are clear of the field of play and not disrupting the other team’s infield/outfield.
b. Game site defined: The entirety of the school site on which games are being played for that Division.
5. On game day, only approved coaches or players may warm up pitchers or players before the game and in between innings. Parents or friends are not allowed to play catch with a player during warmups or during the game.
6. Only (3) approved coaches are allowed on the field or in the dugout for games. Friends, scorekeepers, parents, etc. are not allowed in the dugout. Players and (3) approved coaches only.
7. All male players must wear protective cups.
8. Pitching helmets are not permitted. A player may pitch with a batting helmet or use a pitching Halo but it is not required.
9. USA stamped bats only.
10. The Home team is the official scorekeeper during the regular season and the playoffs and is responsible for running the snack shack. An adult must always be present in the snack shack.
11. Adult Game Coordinator “AGC”: In any game where the umpires are minors, the Away team shall appoint an AGC. NO GAME WILL BE PLAYED WITHOUT AN ADULT GAME COORDINATOR. The AGC may NOT overrule an umpire’s call or remove any umpire from the game. The AGC will apply Rule 9.03:
a. If no adult umpire is available for a game, and non-adult umpires are used exclusively for that game, the local Little League must assign an AGC, or the game cannot be played. The AGC must not be a manager or coach of either team in the game and cannot be assigned as AGC for more than one game at a time. The AGC duties shall include:
i. To be included in the pre-game meeting as noted in Rule 4.01.
ii. To remain at the game at all times, including between half-innings, in a position to see all actions on the field and in close proximity to the field (not in any enclosure). If, for some reason, the AGC is not present or is unable to perform his/her duties for any reason, the game must be suspended until the AGC returns, or until a new AGC is present and assumes the duties of AGC for the remainder of the game.
iii. To oversee the conduct of all players, managers, coaches and umpires in the game
iv. To have the authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to the decisions of an umpire, for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, or for any reasons enumerated in these playing rules, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If the AGC disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.
v. To have the sole ability to judge as to whether and when play shall be suspended during a game because of inclement weather conditions or the unfit condition of the playing field. As to whether and when play shall be resumed after such suspension and as to whether and when a game shall be terminated after such suspension. AGC shall not call the game until at least thirty minutes after play is suspended. The AGC may continue suspension as long as there is any chance to resume play.
PREGAME / FIELD SETUP RULES:
1. Field Prep. The home team is responsible for preparing the field of play, including marking the base lines and batter’s box, and taking all steps necessary to make sure the field is ready for play.
2. Field Cleanup. The Away Team is responsible for cleaning up after the game, including putting away the bases, dragging and covering the field and all other steps necessary to secure the field and leave it in proper condition for the next game or practice.
3. For games in the middle of the day on Saturday the home team coaches should evaluate existing field conditions and touch up as needed (i.e. rake and re-chalk around home plate). The away team should clean up as necessary to make the field ready for the subsequent game. 4. Sample Pregame Schedule (5pm Game Start):
a. 4:30PM: Field of play must be prepared no less than 30 minutes before game time. i. For interleague games, the field must be prepared 1 hour before game time.
b. 4:35PM: The home team may take infield for 10 minutes starting at 25 minutes before game time.
c. 4:45PM: The away team may take infield for 10 minutes starting at 15 minutes before game time.
i. When any team is taking infield, the other team must remain in their dugout or outside the field of play in a location that does not disrupt or interfere with the team taking infield/outfield. The team should move to this location before the other team starts infield/outfield.
d. 4:40PM: Managers should meet at home plate with the umpires 20 minutes before the game to exchange lineups and go over ground rules.
GAMEPLAY RULES:
1. There is no 10-run or “mercy” rule in Minors.
2. There is no Infield Fly Rule in Minors.
3. Player limits. Teams can start and finish with as few as eight players. Teams cannot have more than nine players on defense. If a team has only 8 players in the line-up, the 9 spot in the batting order is skipped and no out is taken.
4. No Questioning Umpire Judgment Calls. Questioning, objecting to or appealing judgment calls by umpires is not permitted, and a coach is not permitted to ask an umpire to confer with another umpire about a judgement call. This includes calls such as ball, strike, fair ball, foul ball, catch/control, safe/out, etc. This behavior, whether direct or indirect, will not be tolerated. SRLL has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy in this regard and there are no exceptions.
a. Appeal: A manager can only appeal a call in the event of the umpire’s misapplication of a rule, in which case the issue must be raised in a courteous manner only with the umpire that made the call at issue. The manager must call for time, and once granted must approach the umpire and cite the specific Little League rule the manager believes was misapplied. Managers should bring their rulebook to this discussion. That umpire may, but is not obligated to, discuss the appealed call with the other umpire. Subject to a manager making a formal protest, the umpire’s final call shall be respected.
b. Managers may not ask the umpire to check with the other umpire to confirm a call.
5. Protests must be resolved before the next pitch or play (4.19‐g, Local rule). a. Call President, Doug Sprague (719) 289-1124 or Vice President, Travis McCray (415) 716- 5088.
6. 6-Inning games. No extra innings, except for playoffs. 4 innings must be completed to count as a regulation game.
7. Time Limits. During the regular season and playoffs, no new inning for a game can start more than 1 hour and 45 minutes from the scheduled start time on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. There are no exceptions to this rule so start your games on time. If you start your game prior to the scheduled start time, the 1 hour and 45 minute and 2-hour time limits run from the time you start your game. Time limits apply to playoff games. No intentional delays or slow playing. This can be appealed to the Division Commissioner, President, or Vice President.
8. An inning that has begun before the start time limitation can be completed for both halves of the inning. A new inning begins the moment the previous inning is completed (i.e., when the last out occurs).
9. Each half‐inning is completed after 3 outs or 5 runs.
a. Playoffs: There is not limit on runs in the 6th inning (both bottom and top of inning). 10. Tied Games: During the regular season, if the game ends tied after 6 innings or due to a time limitation then it ends in a tie. No extra innings.
11. Batting Order.
a. A fixed and rolling batting order shall be utilized for all regular season and playoff games (i.e., the same batting order shall be used for all games and the batter who is next to bat when the final out of a game is made shall be the first batter in the next game). For example, if your batting order is A, B, C, D and E, and player B was the last batter in your most recent game, then your batting order for the next game is C, D, E, A and B.
b. Batting order may be reset prior to the start of the 7th regular season game and prior to the start of the first Playoff game and is fixed and rolling thereafter.
c. There shall be no voluntary sitting of a player in the batting order. If a player is skipped in the batting order but is playing in the field then their spot in the batting order is considered and out. If a player is injured during the game and is no longer able to continue then they will be skipped in the batting order but not considered an out. Coordinate with the opposing coach so all are aware of the situation.
12. There will be no mid-inning substitution of catcher to pitcher or pitcher to catcher at any time during the game.
13. Baserunning:
a. Stealing. Base runners can steal only after the ball has crossed home plate. A base runner cannot leave a base on a pitch until the ball has crossed home plate. No leadoffs.
b. Advancing on pass ball, games 1 – 6. No stealing of home. No extra bases after a successful stolen base (i.e. a runner who steals second must remain there even if the throw goes into the outfield). A runner on third base at the start of a play may only score when a ball is batted into play, or on a walk or hit by pitch with the bases loaded and may not advance to home on a passed ball or any play associated with an attempt by a runner to steal second base.
c. Advancing on pass ball, games 7 - end of season; All stealing and advancing on passed balls allowed. Minors’ commissioner to announce with this rule goes into effect.
d. After a pitch, a base runner on third is not permitted to take an excessive lead (more than 12‐15 feet) for the purposes of taunting the catcher and/or pitcher into baiting them to throw to third.
e. Once the pitcher has the ball and is standing on the mound, all runners are required to return to their original base.
f. A batter may NOT attempt to run to first base on a 3rd strike if the ball is dropped or is a passed ball.
g. No headfirst slides into bases. The only time headfirst slides are allowed are when a runner is diving back into a base (i.e. pickoff attempt).
h. Runners are encouraged but not required to slide into home.
14. The batter must always keep one foot in the batter’s box unless any of the following apply:
a. On a swing, slap, or check swing.
b. When forced out of the box on a pitch.
c. When the batter attempts a “drag bunt”.
d. When the catcher does not catch the pitched ball.
e. When a play has been attempted (i.e. steal, foul ball, etc.).
f. When time has been called and given by the umpire.
g. When the pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound or takes a position more than five feet from the pitching rubber after receiving the ball or the catcher leaves the catcher’s box.
h. On a three-ball count pitch that is called a strike, but the batter thought it was a ball. 15. Each player must play at least 2 innings (6 outs) of infield. This rule is designed to create an even rotation of playing infield and outfield. These 6 outs should not happen the last 2 innings of the game.
16. No player is allowed to sit out more than 2 innings (6 outs) during a game.
17. There shall be no voluntary sitting of a player in the batting order. If a player is skipped in the batting order but is playing in the field, then their spot in the batting order is considered and out. If a player is injured during the game and is no longer able to continue then they will be skipped in the batting order but not considered an out. Coordinate with the opposing coach so all are aware of the situation.
18. If a player is late or going to be late to a game, the Manager may place the player in the last spot in the batting order for that game only. The Manager must notify the opposing manager of any such change. The Manager must return the player to their regular spot in the rotating batting order for the next game.
PITCH COUNT AND PITCHER RULES (LITTLE AND LOCAL LEAGUE):
1. Pitchers are allowed 5 warm up pitches at start of innings.
2. A pitcher that is pulled from the game cannot return to the mound in the same game.
3. A pitcher who pitches (41) or more pitches cannot move to catcher for the rest of the game.
a. NOTE: If a pitcher reaches (40) pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day, until any one of the following conditions occurs:
i. That batter reaches base.
ii. That batter is retired.
iii. The third out is made to complete the half inning or the game.
iv. The pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat. The pitcher would be allowed to play the catcher position provided that the pitcher is moved, removed, or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. If a player delivers (41) or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
4. A catcher who catches for 4 innings in a game cannot move to pitcher in that game. 5. Maximum pitch count in a game is as follows, however, a pitcher may finish the batter if he reaches this pitch count during the at‐bat.
a. LL8 - 50 pitches
b. LL9 & LL10 - 75 pitches
5. A pitcher can pitch for a maximum of 9 outs. If a pitcher comes in with 2 outs in the top of the 2nd and retires that batter, they may only continue for another 8 outs (or 2 outs in the top of the 5th), unless they have reached a pitch limit per rules above.
6. Pitchers little league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
a. If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
b. If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
c. If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
d. If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be observed.
e. If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.
f. You cannot pitch 3 days in a row.
7. Rest day pitch count is determined by the first pitch of the last batter faced. (i.e., If a pitcher starts his last batter with 34 pitches, throws 10 pitches for a total of 44. Rest Day pitch count is determined with pitch 35 so his days rest is 1.).
8. On the 2nd mound visit in an inning or 3rd in the game the pitcher must be removed from the mound.
9. Any league age 12-year-old player who is playing Minors on a waiver is not allowed to pitch in Minors.
Player Pool Rules (Optional – Season by Season):
1. For the 2025 season, Minors may choose to use a player pool. The following player pool rules apply:
a. If a team chooses not to utilize the player pool, and only has 8 players in the lineup, they MUST take an out in the 9th spot of the batting order. If a team attempts to use the player pool in accordance with the rules, and a player is not available, then the team does NOT take an out in the 9th spot.
b) A pool player request is made by the manager or coach of the team directly to the Player Agent NO LESS THAN 24 HOURS before the game. Please email David Sierra, the Player Agent, at [email protected].
c) The Player Agent will make the decision as to which player from the pool is selected to play on any given day.
d) Managers may not request specific players and should never reach out to players from other teams seeking pool players.
e) With fewer than (8) players available, Managers MUST make a Pool Player request.
f) With (8-9) players available, Managers CAN make a Pool Player request but are not required to.
g) With (10) ore more players available, no Pool Player requests should be made. h) All requests are final.
i) Pool players are required to meet play 12 defensive outs and bat in the continuous batting order
j) Pool players may not pitch and must bat at the end of the batting order.
k) No more than three pool players may be requested for any one game.
l) Pool players must wear their own team’s uniforms.
m) Pool play helps SRLL run smoothly and provides a great opportunity for the player. If you are asked to be a pool player, the expectation is that you will accept.
n) Pool players may not play more innings than any rostered players present during a game.