Recent rule changes adopted by the Little League International Board of Directors will bring pitching rules for tournament baseball in line with the regular season rules.  The changes were made after many district administrators and local Little League volunteers had requested the pitching rules become more consistent.

BULLETIN: Additional changes to those listed below, announced on Nov. 17, 2009, can be found at:

PitchingRegulationChanges_BB_11-13-09.pdf
TournPitchingRuleChanges_BB_11-13-09.pdf

For decades, Little League International in South Williamsport, Pa., has strived to make Little League Baseball and Softball a safe and enjoyable experience for all of its players and volunteers.

Each year, the Little League International Rules and Charter Committees, and members of the Little League International Operations Division collect a wide assortment of opinions and input regarding the rules and regulations that govern its programs.

Below is a synopsis of the significant changes to the regular season playing rules and regulations for 2010 in the divisions noted. Also included are modifications to the 2010 Tournament Rules and Guidelines, as well as additions regarding safety and other points of note.

The exact wording of the Rules and Regulations noted will be provided in the coming weeks. It is expected that rule books will be available soon as well.

(Note: Unless noted otherwise, these changes apply to all divisions)

REGULATIONS:
Regulation I (c) 8 - Note 1: Added a sentence stating that if a league elects to operate a Tee Ball baseball program only, it must use the league age determination date that is noted in the regulation. (Baseball only.)

Regulation IV (a) - Junior League: Added language making it clear that when a 12-year-old player is found to be ineligible under this regulation, that player and/or his/her team are subject to removal from the International Tournament by action of the Tournament Committee.

Regulation VI - Note 4: Added language making it clear that a resumed game or contest decided by forfeit does not constitute a "game" for the purpose of this regulation, unless one completed inning was played before the game ended or the game was forfeited.

Regulation XIV (e): Added language making it clear that alcohol is prohibited at the game site.

PLAYING RULES:
Rule 1.10: Added language making it clear that any bat that has been altered must be removed from play.

Rule 1.11 (h): Added language making it acceptable for Junior, Senior and Big League players to wear metal spikes or cleats. (Added for softball only. This rule already applies to these divisions in baseball.)

Rule 1.11 (k): Added language making it clear that casts may not be worn by players and umpires during the game, and that persons wearing casts, including managers and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.

Rule 1.14: Standardized the limits on the size of fielders' gloves.

Rule 2.00 Definition of Pitch: Added language making it clear that a balk or illegal pitch, whether or not a pitch is actually delivered to a batter, counts as a pitch in determining the pitch count for that pitcher. (Baseball only.)

Rule 3.03 - No. 6: Added language making it clear defensive substitutions must be made while the team is on defense, and offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base. (Also added to Rule 3.03 for Big League.)

Rule 5.07, Minor League: Added language providing that the five-run rule may be suspended in the last half inning for either team, by option of the local league.

TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES:
Responsibility and Chain of Command: Added language making it clear that the Tournament Committee may impose penalties it deems appropriate, or may take action to correct a situation, regardless of the source of information.

Conditions of Tournament Play - Protests - C. Use of an ineligible player: Added language making it clear that any violation of Regulations may result in a team having an ineligible player.

SAFETY:
Appendix A: Added Lightning Safety Guidelines.
Appendix D: Added Bat Modifications and Alterations Policy.

NOTES:
Various Regulations, Regular Season Rules, and Tournament Rules: The deadline for submitting forms that deal with Tournament Eligibility - i.e., regular season player roster forms, Regulation II (d) and Regulation IV (h) forms, waiver requests, chartering, fee payments, combined teams and interleague play forms, etc. - is June 8, 2010.

Adults and Minors in Positions of Authority: Changes were made to Rule 2.00, Rule 4.1, Rule 9.01, Rule 9.03, Rule 9.04, and the Tournament Rules and Guidelines, making it clear that Minors may serve as coach or umpire under specific and limited circumstances as noted in each rule. (Summary: A coach who is 16 or 17 may only serve as a coach if the adult manager and another adult coach are appointed. A person who is not an adult (no age limit) may serve in a game as an umpire, including as plate umpire, provided one or more other adults are also umpires for that game. However, that non-adult umpire cannot be designated as umpire-in-chief for that game. The umpire-in-chief is not required to be the plate umpire.)

“A few years ago, scientific studies showed epidemic increases in youth pitching injuries and pointed to overuse as the primary factor,” Dr. James Andrews, Chairman of the American Sports Medicine Institute and a member of the Little League International Board of Directors, said.  “Little League baseball should be congratulated as the leader in addressing this issue by introducing pitch count limits.  This has led to increased awareness at all levels including players, parents, coaches, and other youth league organizations, and hopefully, a decrease in number of injuries. The current changes adopted by Little League should help further the ability of kids to enjoy and advance in baseball without serious overuse injuries.”

The most noticeable change to the rules was adopted in the area of rest required between pitching appearances, for tournament play.  The new rule eliminates the game required in between pitching appearances while increasing the number of days of rest.  Adoption of the new rules makes the pitching regulations the same for tournament and regular season play.

Previously, for example, a 12-year-old pitcher in the regular season who threw the maximum 85 pitches in a day was required to have either three calendar days of rest and one game (or four days of rest and no game, at the option of the local league), before pitching again. In 2010, that same pitcher will simply be required to have four days of rest.

Previously, for tournament play including the Little League Baseball World Series, a 12-year-old pitcher who threw 85 pitches would need two days of rest, and one game, before pitching again. In 2010, that pitcher will be required to have four days of rest, same as during the regular season.
As in previous years, as the number of pitches decreases, the number of days of rest also decreases incrementally.

Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.6 million players and 1 million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.

2010 Little League Baseball Regular Season and Tournament Pitching Rules

Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:

• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

Pitchers league age 15-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:

• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 61 - 75 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 46 - 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 31 -45 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
• If a player pitches 1-30 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.