All play shall be governed by the current Official Regulations and Playing Rules as published by Little League Baseball, Inc., and the following Ground Rules adopted by the EMNLL Board of Directors:

1. Batting Order

All players shall be in the batting order and shall take their turn at bat regardless of whether the player has an assigned defensive position or is a substitute.

2. Late Arrivals

Late arriving ballplayers may be added to the batting order in the last spot of the original order. A player arriving after his team has played two innings on defense shall play a minimum of half the remaining scheduled innings.

3. Minimum Play

All players shall play a minimum of three innings in each game in a defensive position with two of the innings being consecutive. During regular season play each player must play an equal amount of full games as every other player on the team. A full game is a game where a player starts and plays continuously until that game is concluded. In the event of an odd number of regular season games, there may not be a discrepancy of more than one full game between players.

4. Time Limit

There will be a “drop dead” time limit of 1 hour 25 minutes from scheduled start of the game. The game will end at this time no matter what the current condition. No inning may start after 9:00 P.M. If a game is late starting, priority should be given to playing immediately rather than warming up. (Managers shall not agree to a start time other than the scheduled start time without Board approval)

5. Clock Agreement

Both coaches will meet with the home plate umpire before the start of every game to “read” the umpire’s watch, and to determine the ending time according to his/her watch. The home plate umpire’s watch, and no other will determine the ending of the game.

6. Run Limit

All innings are limited to five runs per team except the last inning. In that inning, the home or visiting team may score more than five runs to tie the score. (They cannot score more than five runs to go ahead or win).

7. Coaches

Both base coaches may be adults.

8. Base Running-Stealing

Stealing is not allowed. Base runners may not leave their bases until the batter hits the ball. If a base runner leaves the base before the ball is hit, and safely advances one or more bases, all runners shall be returned as in Rule 7.13.

9. Infield Fly Rule

The infield fly rule shall not be in effect.

10. Bunting

There shall be NO Bunting. Any batted ball that fails to travel 15 feet into fair territory shall be a foul ball unless caught before it touches the ground. If the ball is touching the 15-foot line, it is a fair ball.

11. Bat Throwing

Players shall be instructed by their coaches not to throw or sling their bat. Each team will receive one warning on their first offense. On subsequent violation, the batter will be called out and no runners will be allowed to advance.

12. Ball

The Southern League will use an Official Little League Baseball. Each team is responsible for supplying one ball for each game played.

13. Pitching Machine Rules

A batted ball that hits the pitching machine or stops underneath the pitching machine is a dead ball. The base runner is awarded first base. All other runners advance one base ONLY if forced. The person feeding the pitching machine, and the electric cord NOT on the ground are part of the pitching machine. The angle of the pitching machine may be adjusted at the half inning. Practice pitches may be given anytime a series of pitches are considered “unhittable”. At least 3 “unhittable” pitches must occur before adjustments are made. In the event of a series of 3 “unhittable “ pitches in a row occurs, the last pitch will be called a no-pitch witch will not effect the batters at bat. The speed of the pitching machine shall be set at 37 mph. At no time will the speed be adjusted to make pitches hittable. (Examples of an unhittable pitch is a pitch in the dirt in front of the plate or above a batters head)

14. Adult Pitcher Requirements

The adult pitcher will be required to wear a baseball glove and will be directed to receive the ball from the catcher in any case where the attempt to throw back to the pitcher will cause a slowing of the game. It will be the responsibility of the home plate umpire to tell the defensive coach to direct the catcher to do so.

15. Adult Pitcher Intentional Ball Touching

The adult pitcher shall not coach or assist the batter or any runners nor alert them, their coaches or managers to any game situations except safety related conditions. Cheering, and not coaching, in a positive manner is allowed by the adult pitcher. The umpire in his/her sole discretion may declare the batter and any runners out, and/or eject this person from the playing field for continued violation of this rule. The adult pitching machine operator must alert the coaches if a batter is taking a position that may cause such batter to be hit by the ball.

16. Adult Pitcher Interference

Should the adult pitcher interfere in any way with a defensive play, the umpire shall call offensive interference and take such action necessary to nullify this act of interference. The adult pitcher must remain kneeled down in the circle behind the pitching machine, until the umpire calls time.

17. Balls and Strikes

Balls and strikes shall not be called. Each batter shall be limited to three swinging strikes or five pitches, whichever occurs first. If the fifth pitch is hit foul, the batter shall receive additional pitches.

18. Overthrows

If a play is being made on a runner at a base and the ball is overthrown, or dropped, missed, or otherwise mishandled by the defensive player at the base, the runner may advance, at his own risk, one base only beyond the base at which the play is directed. When the runner reaches the next base, the umpire will immediately call time. Any other runner who, in the umpires’ judgment, has advanced more than halfway to the next base when time is called shall be permitted to continue to that base. Otherwise, runners must return to the last base legally touched. Compound over throws are not allowed!!!!

19. Stopping Of Runner’s Advancement

Play will stop when the defensive team has showed obvious intent to stop the lead runner from advancing and the umpire calls ”TIME.” A defensive player should demonstrate obvious intent by:
A) Forcing a runner back to his last touched base
B) Standing in front of the runner as the runner is on base and making an attempt to stop the runner from advancing.

When “TIME” is called by the Umpire, any runners behind the lead runner that has traveled more than halfway to the next base will be given that base. This will happen only if the base is unoccupied.

20. On Deck Circle

There is no On-Deck Circle in Little League and will not be permitted. All players must remain in the dugout, and may not swing a bat to warm-up until they reach the batter’s box for their turn at bat.

21. Head First Slides

A runner is out when the runner slides head first while moving forward. NOTE: A runner may slide headfirst when returning to a base the runner previously occupied.

22. Umpires

The home plate umpire will be located behind home plate and facing the back of the batter to avoid injury. The home team shall supply the home plate umpire and score keepers for their own home games. The visiting team shall supply two base umpires for their own visiting games. All umpires must be adults or age 17 or older

23. Rain Policy

Unless your league Commissioner has contacted you, come to the park expecting to play. If it has been raining during the day, please arrive early to work on the field. It is the responsibility of the managers, coaches, and parents to get the field in shape and ready to play.

24. Makeup Games

The EMNLL Board of Directors will schedule all makeup games. Managers should not reschedule games themselves due to possible conflicts and field usage.

Coaches Rules:

Stress Safety Play Fairly Lead By Example Respect and Appreciate Parent Volunteers Do everything that you can do to develop a positive atmosphere for every child.

Failure to adhere to the Coaches Rules listed in the previous paragraph will result in the Manager and or offending Coach having to appear before the EMNLL Board of Directors disciplinary committee. The committee will determine if discipline is warranted. If discipline is warranted the offending party may be placed on probation, or given a one or multiple game suspension, or removed.