2025 SAN RAFAEL LITTLE LEAGUE RULES – UPPER ROOKIE
Commissioner: Crystal Diego - email [email protected]
1. ELIGIBILITY. Player must be at a minimum of 7 or 8-years old little league age and previously played a season at the Rookie level.
2. INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE. Upper Rookie is an instructional league. However, scores will be kept, and playoffs will be held at the end of the season. Every team makes the playoffs.
3. PLAYER POSITIONS. It is mandatory for every player on a team to be scheduled to play and rotate through every position on the field throughout the season.
4. HOME TEAM AND FIELD SETUP. It is the responsibility of the home team to perform field setup before the first game of the day. This includes dragging the field, lining the field, pitching machine setup and installing the bases. It is recommended that the home team coaching staff arrive 1-hour before the game to prep the field.
5. CLEAN-UP. At the conclusion of the last game of the day both teams are responsible for field clean up and locking the storage container.
6. DUGOUTS. The home team will be in the 1st base dugout.
7. GAMEBALLS. The home team should provide the game balls for the game. 8. BASEBALL TYPE. Official little league level 5 baseballs will be used.
9. INFIELD PLAYER SAFETY. Should a player be scheduled to play an infield position (e.g., 1st base, catcher), and the player does not feel comfortable with that position, the manager/coach may replace that player with an alternate infielder for that inning. However, the player chosen to play that position must not have played that position in the game already and may not play that position after that inning.
10.
PLAYERS BATS. If a player brings their own bat to a game, it is encouraged that the bat be shared with a player that doesn’t have one. USA labeled bats only.
11. BATTING SAFETY. Bats may only be used while hitting. Players in the dugout should not handle bats. No on deck batter.
12. PITCHING MACHINE. Machine should be placed between 30-35 mph or at a speed & angle both coaches agree on. If after 7 pitches the ball has failed to be put in play the player is out. If an adjustment is needed during the game due to machine being out of alignment both coaches can agree to adjust. Speed of the pitching machine should not be changed during the inning unless there is a noticeable change and agreed to by both coaches.
13. GAMEPLAY.
a. GAME DURATION / INNINGS. Games are to end after 60 minutes of play, or 6 innings is completed. The goal is to get in as many quality innings as possible (often around 3+). Please have your teams run on and off the field, batters ready to hit, pitching coach does not take too long between pitches, etc. Please do not start a new inning if it will push into the next team’s ability to get the field ready and game started on time.
b. LINEUPS. All players on the team should be included in the batting lineup and bat regardless of whether they were in the field. The batting order may not be changed during the game except for injury. If a player is injured, he is removed from the line up at no penalty. That player may be re-inserted if the coach has determined he can return to the game. He shall be returned to his original spot in the batting order. If a player arrives late, he must be added to the last spot in the lineup.3-OUT RULE. The three out rule is applied. If a defensive team makes 3 outs, the inning is over.
c. BATTING LIMITATION. A team is limited to batting through the order once per inning. A player may not bat twice in one inning. If one team has 9 players and one team has 11 players, then the first team may only bat 9 hitters, the second team may bat 11. With the last batter, the play ends when there is an out made or the ball is tossed back to pitcher, or the catcher and they have secure possession of the ball.
d. 5 RUN PER INNING RULE. No team may score more than 5 runs in an inning. If a team scores 5 runs, the inning is immediately over.
e. PITCHERS CIRCLE. To stop a play or advancement of a runner, the defensive team must throw the ball to the pitchers’ circle. The ball need not be caught, but the ball must simply pass through the circle or deemed catchable ball to cease play. If the runner is not more than halfway to the next base, the runner needs to return to the previous base.
f. DEFENSIVE FIELDERS. There will be a maximum of 10 players fielding positions at a time. There can be 4 outfielders or 3 outfielders and a short fielder. Players not in the game will organize dugout gear & watch the game. No player shall sit more than one inning per game.
g. SHORT FIELDER. The short fielder is located directly behind 2nd base. This player, when involved with a ground ball, may not make an un-assisted force out at second base. It is required the short fielder toss, flip or throw the ball to another player for a force out at 2nd base. Should the short fielder make a force out at 2nd base by him/herself, the runner will be considered safe and not out. The short fielder cannot cover a base for a force out, they may catch a fly ball, field a ground ball, or cover an overthrow.
h. BASERUNNING. There are no leadoffs or base stealing, runners may not advance until the batter makes contact. Runners may slide feet first only and are encouraged to do so on close plays to avoid contact. Runners may not run into the catcher at the plate. If a runner runs into the catcher without sliding, the runner shall be called out. If there are two outs and your catcher is on base, you may pinch run for him to keep the game moving.
i. WALKS/STRIKEOUTS/PITCH LIMIT. There are no walks and no called strikes. There is a 7 pitch per player, per at bat limit. If a player fails to put a ball in play within 7 pitches, he/she shall be recorded as an out. The next batter should come to bat.
I. A player gets a strike if he/she swings and misses, or fouls the ball (i.e., no called strikes). Foul balls do not count for strike three unless caught. A player can strike out swinging if the player has failed to swing 3 times within a span of the 7 pitches.
j. BALLS HITTING PITCHING MACHINE. If a ball is batted and hits the pitching machine it is considered a dead ball, with the batter being credited with a single and each runner awarded one base.
k. OVERTHROWS. Overthrows to any base will result in players advancing no more than one base past the initial base they were running to at the start of the play (batter can go to 2nd, runner on 1st can go to 3rd, runner on 2nd scores).
l. AUTHORIZED COACHES “OFFENSE”. Each batting team may have a coach pitcher, feeding the machine, a 1st base coach, and a 3rd base coach – for a total of 3 coaches on the field.
m. AUTHORIZED COACHES “DEFENSE”. Each defensive team may have a coach in the outfield to verbally assist the defense and a coach behind / near home plate to help field balls that pass the catcher during the game to help speed up play. Coaches in the field should not stop overthrown balls at any base or interfere with a live play. Parents are not allowed on the field during gameplay.
n. CLOSE CALLS. When there is a close call, the designed coach responsible for calling outs and umpiring for a particular inning, should make the call. If there is no designated umpire, there should be collective judgment between the coaches, and a favorable benefit given to the runner. The default inning umpire should be the coach pitcher and can ask for assistance from other coaches if they did not see the play.
o. DUGOUTS. The dugout is reserved for players of the team only -- no exceptions. Each team is required to have one adult in the dugout each inning. When batting the offensive team needs to have a coach or adult in the dugout managing the batting lineup and behavior of the kids. This coach should also get the catcher ready for the next inning.
p. SCOREKEEPING. Each team needs to designate a scorekeeper to keep track of the outs and runs scored each inning. Scorekeepers should confer at the end of each inning and game conclusion to agree on final score.
14. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT. Any player exhibiting, displaying, verbalizing unsportsmanlike conduct will receive ONE warning. If the unsportsmanlike conduct continues, for the best interest of the team and individual, the Team Manager will remove the player from that game/practice. Should abusive language be used anytime, the player will be removed from the activity immediately and notify the Upper Rookie Commissioner. Types of unfavorable behavior include:
a. Deliberately throwing a bat, glove, and or batting helmet.
b. Talking back or challenging a call made by the umpire or coach.
c. Bullying, teasing, touching, harassing, or intimidating other players.
d. Climbing the dugout fence.
e. Standing on the dugout bench.
15. PROTECTIVE “Cups”. To ensure personal safety, all male players will be required to have a protective cup when playing.
16. 1st AID EQUIPMENT. Basic 1st aid medical supplies are in the equipment locker. Please see where these are located so you can retrieve quickly when needed. There is an AED in the Davidson Gym and in the Minors Snack Shack.
17. PLAYER INJURY. Should a player require medical attention by the Emergency Room, the Team Manager will:
a. Fill out the Player injury form located in the shed or SRLL.net.
b. Notify the Upper Rookie Commissioner.
18. PLAYER APPEARANCE. Players will present a full uniform appearance. The uniform shirts should be tucked in, and baseball caps worn properly.
19. PLAYOFFS. At the conclusion of the season, all teams will make the playoffs. Playoffs will be single elimination. Playoff format as follows (4 teams):
Gameplay rules listed above apply with the exception of items listed below:
a. All playoff games will go 6 innings, or until a winner is determined, whichever is longer (extra innings if required). If a playoff game cannot be completed due to darkness, then a game will be completed at a subsequent date from the point that the game was stopped, (i.e. top of the 5th inning, two outs, runner on 2nd), and will not revert back to the last complete inning.
The 5-run rule will not be in effect in the 6th inning. In the 6th inning, teams may score as many runs as they have batters, or until the 3rd out is recorded.
20. GAME RESULTS. Please finalize game score in Gamechanger as soon as possible at the end of the game. If there are any issues contact Upper Rookie Commissioner, Crystal Diego at [email protected] as soon as possible following the game.