BRSLL Rules Overview – Advanced

This overview for training and reference in Belmont-Redwood Shores Little League contains key rules summaries and interpretations and an umpire checklist for game time situations.

 

For full rules information see the current Little League Rule Book, BRSLL Supplemental Rules, and other docs such as LL Rules Reference Guide and BRSLL Local Rules Chart.

 

BRSLL Rules Overview – Advanced. 1

Pitching. 1

Infield Fly. 2

Interference. 2

Obstruction. 2

Overthrows. 3

Appealed Calls. 3

Not out / not safe situations. 3

Miscellaneous. 3

Disputes. 4

 

Pitching

Rules:

·         2.00 – Balk (never in LL), Ball, Base on Balls, Strike

·         3.05 (replacing pitchers)

·         8.00

·         Section VI (p.34-36, 2008) – Pitch count

 

NOTE: For pitching machine information, see the Farm & AA Supplemental Rules.

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Wind-up & Set positions, pivot foot

ü      No balks in Little League (2.00, 8.01, 8.05)

ü      Wind-up and Set positions both allowed

ü      Touching up ball (8.02)

ü      Intentionally throw at the batterè1) warning, 2) ejection (8.02c)

ü      8 pitches in one minute between innings (8.03)

ü      No long delays in pitching (8.04)

ü      Manager/Coach visits to the mound (8.06)

o        2 per inning per pitcher, 3rd time out must replace pitcher

o        3 per game per pitcher, 4th time out must replace pitcher

o        2 visits per batter, 3rd not allowed

o        ANY time out granted to defensive team = visit to the mound

o        Manager/Coach may confer with any fielders

ü      Pitchers removed from position may not return as pitcher same game – VI(a)

ü      Pitch count – VI(c/d/e/f/g/h/i/k) (p.34-35)

ü      No 12-year old pitchers in Minors (AAA) – VI(j)

 

Infield Fly

The point: Prevent fielding team from turning double or even triple plays based on dropped, easily catchable pop up and getting held runners in force situations.

 

Rules: 2.00, 6.05(d)

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Before pitch:

o        Runners on 1st AND 2nd (3rd ok either way)

o        Fewer than 2 outs

o        Signal to partner umpire(s) – point up on cap brim

o        If the Infield Fly situation is removed signal to partner, sweep arm

ü      During play:

o        Fly ball reasonably catchable by infielder?

o        X

o        Signal: Point up and say “Infield Fly” or “Infield Fly IF FAIR”

o        If foul, just like any other foul ball, out and live if caught, o.w. Foul Ball

o        If fair, the batter is OUT and the force is removed

o        Tagging up is required only if ball is actually caught, o.w. can advance any time

 

Interference

The point: Interference means someone on the batting team messed up a defenders fair chance to make a play or the catcher messed up the batter’s swing at a pitch.

 

Rules:

  • 2.00
  • 3.16 (spectator interference)
  • 5.08
  • 5.09(b)
  • 6.05(g/h/i/l)
  • 6.06(c) batter interfere with catcher, 6.08(c/d)
  • 7.08(b/f) Runner intentionally interferes with thrown ball or interferes with fielding of batted ball (touches ball, fielder, etc) – Dead ball, Runner is out, Batter safe
  • 7.08(g) Runner trying to score is out if batter interferes with the play at home
  • 7.09(a-k) Batter and Runner interference – The runner is out, the ball is dead

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Listen and watch for catcher’s glove contacting bat in swing

ü      Watch for batter failing to get out of way of catcher’s throw

ü      Check batter-runner in lane for plays up1B line

ü      Determine if runner intentionally contacted thrown ball

ü      Doesn’t matter whether intentional or not if runner contacted batted ball

ü      Check if batted ball is past a defender already

ü      Understand who should be called out and whether play live or dead

 

Obstruction

The point: Fielders not involved in any play may not get in the way of a runner.

 

Rules: 2.00, 7.06(a/b)

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      If play is being made on obstructed runner, stop play and signal obstruction

ü      If no play being made on obstructed runner, let play continue and award bases after

ü      It is legal for fielders to stand in the base path but not necessarily advisable; explain to fielder (esp. 1B) that if they’re in the way of the runner and not playing the ball that you will give that runner the next base free after the play

ü      It can still be obstruction even if there was no contact – runner stopping short of the base because of the fielder crowd around 2B was obstructed even though stopped of his own volition

ü      Award bases: All runners are sent to the bases the umpires believe they would have reached without the obstruction – at least one base past last legally touched base

 

Overthrows

The point: a ball thrown by a fielder out of play does not allow runners to keep advancing at will, but they will be awarded some bases.

 

Rules: 7.05(g) two bases on overthrow, 7.05(h) one base on pitcher overthrow

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Where were all runners at the time the ball went out of the field of play

ü      Award bases according to runner positions and rules penalties

 

Appealed Calls

The point: At the end of a play the fielding team may try to make an out at a base that was missed by a runner.

 

Rules: 7.10(a) didn’t tag up or tagged up before catch, 7.10(b) missed a base,

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Did runner miss base or fail to tag up properly on a caught fly ball?

ü      Does fielding team have ball in hand or glove and touch that base for the appeal?

 

Not out / not safe situations

The point: Some action does not result in an out or safe, therefore no signal

 

Umpire checklist:

ü      Did runner miss base? No call. If no appeal, not out

ü      Did runner miss home plate? No call. If no appeal, run scores

ü      On overslide of a base, player is in jeopardy but not out or safe until tagged or on base

 

Miscellaneous

Additional rules:

ü      The yellow stripe at top of the Marina outfield fence is part of Fair Territory

ü      Coaches may contact runner if it does not help them run or stop (high 5’s ok)

ü      6.05(e) Batter hit by pitch in strike zone = strike

ü      6.05(f/g/h) Batted ball touches batter or bat intentionally (before touching a fielder)

ü      6.05(j), 7.08(a) Batter-Runner outside lane on play up 1B line

ü      6.05(k) Intentionally dropped infield fly ball

ü      6.05()

ü      6.07 Batting out of turn

ü      7.03 Two runners on one base (tag è following runner is out)

ü      7.08(a)(3) Runner must slide or avoid fielder waiting to tag Runner

ü      7.08(h) Runner is out if passes another runner (who is not out)

ü      7.11 Batter, runners, base coaches must get out of fielders’ way making defensive play

 

Disputes

 

Game Time Disputes

 

 

Ejections

Rules: 4.07

 

Protests

Rule: 4.19