Listed below are some of the upcoming Rules Changes taking affect for the 2008 Little League season.

1. REGULATION V IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
The selection... "NOTE: All candidates who are league age twelve (12) must be drafted to a Major Division Team. Exceptions can only be made with written approval from the DA, and only if approved at the local league level by the Board of Directors and the parent of the candidate."

[The intent is to assure that very few 12 year olds are playing in the minor leagues. If a child plays in the minor league as a 12 year old, it's very difficult to make the jump from the minor league to the junior league. He/she will likely quit playing baseball and move on to other things.]

2. REGULATION VI IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
(c)..........League Age
17 – 18: 105 pitches per day
13 – 16: 95 pitches per day
11 – 12: 85 pitches per day
9 – 10: 75 pitches per day
7 – 8: 50 pitches per day"

[The intent is to add an additional age group to reduce the number of pitches thrown by 7 & 8 year olds.]

VI(c) Exception when pitcher reaches max limit while pitching to a batter:
...may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base, "is put out or third out is recorded on a base."

[This rule change was made early in the 2007 season after the books were printed. This change simply adds it to the 2008 book.]

VI(c) NOTE 1, which used to read:
'Before a pitch is delivered to the batter, the catcher must inform the umpire-in-chief that the defensive team wishes to give the batter an intentional base-on-balls. The umpire-in-chief waves the batter to first base. The ball is dead.'
Has been deleted.

[The "No-Pitch Intentional Walk" was eliminated. The defense must use the conventional means of intentionally walking the batter. (By pitching four balls to him/her.) This returns to the rule prior to the pitch count regulation and falls more in line with other OBR based programs.]

VI(d) on rest requirements:
Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
If a player pitches 61 or more pitches......three (3) calendar days of rest, "and a game"......
If a player pitches 41 - 60 pitches..........two (2) calendar days of rest, "and a game".......
If a player pitches 21 - 40 pitches...........one (1) calendar day of rest.........
If a player pitches 1-20 pitches...............no (0) calendar day of rest.........

Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
If a player pitches 76 or more pitches......three (3) calendar days of rest, "and a game"..........
If a player pitches 51 - 75 pitches.............two (2) calendar days of rest, "and a game"...........
If a player pitches 26 - 50 pitches.............one (1) calendar day of rest.............
If a player pitches 1-25 pitches..................no (0) calendar day of rest.............

[The "and a game" rest requirement was added for anyone throwing over 40 pitches (50 for 17 & 18 year olds) because it was learned that the coaches were manipulating the schedules so that the same one or two pitchers were being used all season long. This will force the development of more pitchers.]

New Note following the rest requirements: "Note: A pitcher removed from a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day."

[The intent of this change is to limit the use of the child's arm after he is removed from the pitcher's position.]

VI(e) "A player may not pitch in consecutive games.
Exception - League Age 16 and under - A player may pitch in consecutive games if 40 or less were pitched in the previous game.
League Age 17 - 18 - A player may pitch in consecutive games if 50 or less were pitched in the previous game."

[The one game rest requirement was added for anyone throwing over 40 pitches (50 for 17 & 18 year olds) because it was learned that the coaches were manipulating the schedules so that the same one or two pitchers were being used all season long. This will force the development of more pitchers.]

3. RULE 1.06 IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
"Leagues are required to ensure that first, second and third bases will disengage their anchor."

[This requirement was listed in previous versions of the LGB. 2008 is the posted deadline. Disengageable bases are now required.]

4. RULE 1.10 IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
"Senior/Big League Baseball non wood bats shall meet the BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ratio) performance standard, and such bats shall be
printed with a permanent certification mark."

[The 2007 book said this would go into affect in 2009, the same year as the BPF change of 1.15 for Majors/below. The change is now in effect for 2008, and falls in line with other programs for players of this age group.]

"White bats are prohibited effective immediately."

[This rule change returns to the rule previous to the 2001 season when white bats were prohibited.]

5. RULE 2.00 DEFINITION OF INNING IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
An INNING is that portion.......... "(Minor League Only - A five-run limit is to be imposed, which would complete the half inning.)"

[This rule change was voted on and passed at the 2007 International Congress. It will move the minor league games along, and give the game more of a change of becoming a regulation game.]

6. RULE 6.02(c) IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
If the batter refuses to take his/her position in the batter's box during a time at bat, "the umpire shall call a strike on the batter. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance." After the penalty, the batter may take a proper position and the regular ball and strike count shall continue.............

[The previous rule required the pitcher to actually deliver a pitch. It was a strike, by rule, regardless of the pitch's lcation. This change simply eliminates the delivery of a pitch that wasn't needed, and counted against the pitcher's overall pitch count. OBR changed the rule last year.]

7. RULE 7.05 IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
"(j) One base, if a fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his/her cap, mask or any part of his/her uniform detached from its proper place on his/her person. The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched."

[This addition falls in line with the other penalties listed in 7.05 (b) & (d). The penalty was listed in several authortative opinion manuals (i.e. J/R, JEA) but was never listed in the LGB.]

8. RULE 8.01 IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
(a) The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, the "pivot foot in contact with" the pitcher's plate, and the other foot free.............
(b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by thepitcher when the pitcher stands facing the batter with the "pivot foot in contact with,"............

[This rule change simply falls in line with the recent OBR change requiring only contact with the plate.]

9. TOURNAMENT RULE 10 IS CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:
"SENIOR LEAGUE/BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL: Any player in the starting line-up, including the designated hitter, who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game ONCE, provided such player occupies the same batting position as he/she did in the starting line-up. A substitute (non-starter) may not reenter the game in any position once they are removed from the line-up."

[The coaches were using the free substitution rule to create several designated hitter positions. This rule change will eliminate that practice.]