International Congress
Little League Baseball’s 23rd International Congress in Virginia Beach, Va., resulted in seven changes to the rules and regulations under which the game is played. Ten additional modifications were considered by the 498 delegates attending the congress, but failed to garner the required two-thirds majority required for consideration by the Little League Baseball International Board of Directors, or in the case of tournament rule, the Tournament Committee in Williamsport, Pa. Below are the modifications and the voting results.
Item 1 – Affects Rule 3.03
- Little League Softball
3. a pitcher remaining
in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher
any time in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same
inning as he/she was removed
Item 1 Voting
Yes 272 No 76 Abstain
6
76.8% 21.5%
1.7%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2005
Item 2 – Affects Rule 3.03
- Little League (Major division), Junior League, Senior League Baseball
and Softball
(d) Each League has the
option of requiring teams to designate an extra hitter in the starting
lineup, at any spot in the batting order.
1. 1. The extra hitter
in the starting lineup may be removed for a substitute, and may re-enter
the game once in any position in the batting order, provided his or her
substitute completes one time at bat as the extra hitter.
2. 2. As with all
players present and eligible, the extra hitter also must play defensively
for at least six (6) defensive outs.
3. 3. When the player
designated as the extra hitter assumes a defensive position, he or she
must remain in his/her original position in the batting order. In this
case, the position in the batting order that was occupied by the player
who was replaced defensively will then be designated as the extra hitter.
NOTE: (1) When two or more
substitute players of the defensive team enter the game at the same time,
the manager shall, immediately before they take their positions as fielders,
designate to the umpire-in-chief such player’s positions in the team’s
batting order and the umpire-in-chief shall notify the official scorer.
The umpire-in-chief shall have authority to designate the substitute’s
places in the batting order, if this information is not immediately provided.
NOTE: (2) If during a game
either team is unable to place nine (9) players on the field, or ten (10)
players in the batting order, due to illness, injury or ejection, the opposing
manager shall select a player to re-enter the lineup. A player ejected
from
the game is not eligible
for re-entry.
Item 2 Voting
Yes 222 No 230
Abstain 0
49.1% 50.9%
This item failed.
Item 3 – Affects Rule 4.04
– Minor League and Tee Ball Baseball and Softball The batting order shall
be followed throughout the game. The batting order shall be all players
on the team roster present for the game batting in order. Each player
will be required to bat in his/her respective spot in the batting order.
However, a player may be entered and /or re-entered defensively in the
game anytime provided he/she meets the requirements of mandatory play.
NOTE: If a child is injured, becomes ill or must leave the game site after
the start of the game, the team will skip over him/her when his/her time
at bat comes up without penalty. If the injured, ill or absent player
returns, he/she is merely inserted into their original spot in the batting
order and the game continues. Also, if a child arrives late to a
game site, if the manager chooses to enter him/her in the lineup
(See Rule 4.01 NOTE), he/she
would be added to the end of the current lineup.
Item 3 Voting
Yes 271 No165 Abstain 0
62.2% 37.8%
This item failed.
Item 4 – Affects Rule 7.13
– Little League Baseball - Majors and Minor Divisions Local League
Option:
When a pitcher is in contact
with the pitcher’s plate and in possession of the ball and the catcher
is in the catcher’s box ready to receive delivery of the ball, base runners
shall not leave their bases until the ball has been delivered and has reached
the batter.
Penalty: The ball is dead.
“No Pitch” is declared, and the runner is out.
Item 4 Voting
Yes 143 No 309 Abstain 0 31.6% 68.4%
This item failed.
Item 5 – Affects Rule 8.06
- Little League Baseball and Softball - Majors and Minor Divisions
This rule, which applies
to each pitcher who enters a game, governs the visits of the
manager or coach to the
pitcher at the mound.
Item 5 Voting
Yes 351 No 100 Abstain 1
77.7% 22.1%
0.2%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2004
Item 6 – Affects Regulation
I(b) – THE LEAGUE – All Levels of Play President may manage, coach or umpire
provided he/she does not serve on the Item 7 – Affects Regulation I(c)
5 – THE LEAGUE – All Levels of Play
Protest Committee nor serve
as Tournament Team manager or coach.
Item 6 Voting
Yes 311 No 139 Abstain
2
68.8% 30.8%
0.4%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR
IMPLEMENTATION IN 2005
Adopt and play a separate
schedule of games as provided for in Regulation VII. Interleague play and
practice with another league(s) is permitted during the regular season
with the approval of the district administrator. The district administrator
must verify that all leagues involved in the interleague combination are
properly chartered and insured. Interleague play during the regular season
between leagues from two districts must be approved by the regional office.
Leagues involved in interleague play will field separate tournament teams.
Players shall not be transferred from one league to another. Requests to
combine for tournament play must be submitted through the district to the
regional offices for approval per guidelines established by Little League.
Districts will be required to submit
interleague play forms with
all insurance claims that result from interleague play.
Item 7 Voting
Yes 436 No 16
Abstain
96.5% 3.5%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2004
Item 8 – Affects Regulation
I – THE LEAGUE - All Levels of Baseball - New age structure Tee Ball (5-8),
Minor (7/6-12), Major (9-12), Junior (13-14), Senior (13-16), Big (14-18)
Note: This refers to the
Tournament Committee’s intent to review the age structure of tournament
teenage divisions (Junior, Senior, Big League). This would not apply to
9-10,
11 and 11-12 year old tournament
teams.
Item 8 Voting
Yes 147 No 304
Abstain 1
32.5% 67.3%
0.2%
This item failed.
Item 9 – Affects Regulation
I – THE LEAGUE - All Levels of Softball - New age structure Tee Ball (5-8),
Minor (7/6-12), Major (8-12), Junior (12-14), Senior (12-16), Big (13-18)
Note: This refers to the
Tournament Committee’s intent to review the age structure of tournament
teenage divisions (Junior, Senior, Big League). This would not apply to
9-10,
11 and 11-12 year old tournament
teams.
Item 9 Voting
Yes 157 No 200
Abstain 8
43.0% 54.8%
2.2%
This item failed.
Item 10 – Affects Regulation
III – THE TEAMS – Minor League and Tee Ball Baseball and Softball
(a) The league shall,
at least 10 days prior to the first regular game, establish the number
of players on each team. There will be no minimum or maximum
established at the Minor
League and Tee Ball levels.
Item 10 Voting
Yes 335 No 101
Abstain 0
76.8% 23.2%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2005
Item 11 – Affects Regulation
V – SELECTION OF PLAYERS – Little League Baseball and Softball
The selection of players
for the various teams within a league shall be in compliance with the Little
League Draft Selection System as detailed in the Operating Manual. 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
District Administrator, and only if approved at the local league level
by the Board of
Directors and the parent
of the candidate.
Item 11 Voting
Yes 266 No 183
Abstain 3
58.8% 40.5%
0.7%
This item failed.
Item 12 – Affects Regulation
V – SELECTION OF PLAYERS - All Levels of Play
Operating Manual Plan B
The draft is conducted two
separate parts. The first part includes those players who:
A. are returning from a
Major team in the same division, AND;
B. have registered for the
current season.
This first draft of returning
players must be completed before the second part of the draft, and all
returning players who qualify under both conditions above must be drafted.
Managers are not permitted to waive a draft choice.
The second part of the draft
includes all players who are eligible for selection and have attended the
required number of tryout sessions.
The draft rotation follows
the reverse order of finish from the previous season, with the last place
team’s manager receiving the first pick, then the second-to-last place
team, and so on. For instance, in a four-team league, the manager of the
last place team from the previous season makes the following player selections:
1st choice, 8th,9th,16th,17th,24th,25th, etc; The manager of the team that
finished in third place makes the 2nd choice, 7th,10th,18th,23rd, etc.;
The manager of the team that finished second in the previous season makes
the 3rd choice, 6th,11th,14th,19th,22nd; The manager of the team that finished
in first place gets 4th choice, 5th,12th,13th,20th,21st, etc., until selections
are completed.
NOTE 1: Because there are
no players returning to a particular team, and because coaches cannot be
named until the draft is completed, Options 2 and 4 (see “options On Sons,
Daughters And Siblings” in this chapter) do NOT apply when using this draft
selection plan.
NOTE 2: When the second
part of this draft method begins, the draft order starts over, regardless
of which team drafted last in the first round.
Item 12 Voting
Yes 120 No 330
Abstain 2
26.5% 73.0%
0.4%
This item failed.
Item 13 – Affects Regulation
IX (c) – SPECIAL GAMES – All Levels of Softball and Baseball
With the approval of the
Charter Committee of Little League Headquarters, and on recommendation
of the Regional Director and District Administrator, chartered leagues
may engage in Special Games during and after the regular season but prior
to the opening of the school term or September 1st, whichever comes sooner.
Removed terms – same and
contiguous districts
Item 13 Voting
Yes 414 No 32
Abstain 6
91.6% 7.1%
1.3%
BOARD ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2004
ITEMS FOR REFERRAL TO TOURNAMENT
COMMITTEE
Item 14 – Affects Tournament
– Player Eligibility – All Levels of Play
Any player who has participated
as an eligible player in 60% of the regular season games as of June 15,
with the exception of the school season.
Item 14 Voting
Yes 168 No 282
Abstain 2
37.2% 62.4%
0.4%
This item failed.
Item 15 – Affects Tournament
- Player Eligibility - Big League Baseball and Softball
Any player League Age 16,
17 or 18, with amateur status, who has participated as an eligible player
in one-half the regular season games (Special Games may be counted toward
this requirement) by the start of Tournament Play in their respective District,
with the exception of the high school or college baseball/softball season,
on a:
1. 1. Big League Baseball/Softball
Team, or;
2. 2. Senior League Baseball/Softball
Team.
Item 15 Voting
Yes 243 No 51
Abstain 11
79.7% 16.7%
3.6%
TOURN. COMMITTEE ACTION: APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2005
Item 16 – Affects Tournament
- Regulation Game – All Levels of Play
.a. Each tournament
game must be played to the point of being a complete game: Complete game
is one that is played a full six (6) innings (five and one-half (5 1/2)
if the home team is ahead); seven (7) innings (six and one-half (6 1/2)
if the home team is ahead in Junior/Senior/Big League.
.b. Suspended games
(a winner cannot be determined when six (6) full innings have been played;
seven (7) full innings for Junior/Senior/Big League) terminated because
of weather, darkness or curfew must be resumed. A game suspended or delayed
by weather that may still be resumed before darkness or curfew on the same
day should be continued until the game is completed.
Item 16 Voting
Yes 98 No 354
Abstain 0
21.7% 78.3%
This item failed.
Item 17 – Affects Tournament
– Leaving the Base Early – Little League Baseball, 11 Year old, and 9 and
10 year old. When a pitcher is in contact with the pitcher’s plate
and in possession of the ball and the catcher is in the catcher’s box ready
to receive delivery of the ball, base runners shall not leave their bases
until the ball has been delivered and has reached the batter.
Penalty: The ball is dead.
“No Pitch” is declared, and the runner is out.
Item 17 Voting
Yes 153 No 299
Abstain
33.8% 66.2%
This item failed.