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 East Marietta National Little League (EMNLL) Board of Directors:

1. Duration of Games

The duration of games shall be determined by the following chart. No new inning may begin after the time specified, regardless of the actual starting time (Note: A new inning begins the moment the third out is made completing the preceding inning):

Day of Week	Scheduled Start Time	No New Inning After	Drop Dead At
Weeknight	6:00pm		7:55pm
	8:00pm		9:55pm
Saturday	1:00pm	3:15pm
	3:00pm	5:30pm
	5:00pm	7:45pm
	7:00pm	10:00pm
Sunday	1:00pm	2:55pm
	3:00pm	4:55pm
	5:00pm	6:55pm
	3:00pm	5:30pm
	7:00pm	8:55pm

2. Delayed Start Time

If the start of a game is delayed beyond its scheduled start time due to a preceding game, said game shall be started in no more than 10 minutes after the conclusion of the preceding game. Infield practice will not be allowed. During this period, pitchers shall warm-up in their respective bullpens (not the mound) and other players may warm-up along their respective outfield foul lines beyond the infield dirt.

If the start of a game is delayed beyond its scheduled start time due to weather or field conditions, said game shall be started in no more than 10 minutes after the field is declared playable. Infield practice will not be allowed. During this period, pitchers shall warm-up in their respective bullpens (not the mound) and other players may warm-up along their respective outfield foul lines beyond the infield dirt.

If a preceding game, weather, or field conditions leaves less than one-hour and twenty minutes (1:20) remaining until the time to begin a last inning, either manager may refuse to start the game; However, managers are encouraged to begin every game, if possible, since Rule 4.10(d) allows for the game to be resumed (if it has not become a regulation game) at a later date, exactly where it left off.

3. Rain/ Field Preparation

If it rains on the day of a game, only the President or the VP-Major League may cancel a game in advance of the scheduled start time. Every effort will be made to play all games as scheduled, therefore, if it rains, the Managers and Coaches of the first affected teams are expected to arrive as early as possible and to make every reasonable effort to put the field into a playable condition. This is the responsibility of both Managers, regardless of the potential advantage or disadvantage it may pose to their teams, therefore, the Board of Directors may take disciplinary action against a Manager who fails to provide adequate help to prepare the field.

Prior to the start of a game, if the two managers cannot agree on the fitness of the playing field, or the expectation that the field can be put into playing condition with reasonable effort, the President, VP-Major League or the Board Member on Duty (whichever is first available) shall make the determination whether to play, try to put the field into a playable condition or to cancel the game.

4. Make-Up Games

Rained out games, and all other make-up games will be played on the first available date on Field 3. The first available date will be Friday nights and Sunday afternoons at 1:30 and 3:30 (Later game times on Sunday are reserved in the event of double headers or extreme weather conditions).

Exceptions
- No team will be required to play more than four (4) games in a calendar week;
- No team will be required to play games on more than three (3) consecutive calendar days.

Games will be made-up in the order missed, unless a team has a conflict as noted in the exceptions above. In such case, the next missed game will move up into the first available make-up date. Playing a make-up game out of order will not be considered a justifiable reason for missing an available make-up date.

The VP-Major League will schedule all make-up games in accordance with the above. The managers of the teams involved shall not make any other agreements or arrangements regarding the scheduling of make-up games.

5. Courtesy

The teams of any preceding game shall clear their dugouts immediately upon the conclusion of their game. Any post game meetings should take place away from the dugout, so as to avoid interference with teams entering and preparing for the next game.

The teams for the next game should not put their gear into the dugouts until the preceding teams have had an opportunity to gather their gear and exit the dugouts. Traditionally, the teams for the next game are allowed to carry their gear onto the playing field, so they can begin warming-up while the preceding team is packing their gear.

6. Official Game Time

The umpire-in-chief shall keep the official game time on the field.

7. Umpires

A home plate umpire will be provided by the league. Each team shall provide one (1) field umpire for each game. Home team provides first base umpire and Visiting team provides third base umpire.

8. Game Preliminaries

Approximately 10 minutes before the start of the game, the managers of both teams shall give the official scorekeeper a copy of their "Line-up" with batting order (uniform numbers and names) and starting defensive positions, along with the uniform numbers of any eligible substitutes. As a courtesy, a copy shall be given to the opposing manager.

Immediately before the start of every game, all eligible players in uniform, the managers and coaches shall gather along their respective infield foul lines for a recitation of "The Little League Pledge."

Immediately after the recitation of "The Little League Pledge" , both managers shall meet with the umpire-in-chief at Home Plate. Any last minute changes to the line-up must be reported to the umpire-in-chief and the scorekeeper at this time. Both line-ups will be official upon the conclusion of this pre-game meeting.

9. Scorebook Review

Immediately following the conclusion of the game, the manager of each team shall review the official scorebook, paying particular attention to the pitching records and substitutions, and shall sign the scorebook. If a manager fails to immediately review and sign the scorebook, it shall be considered correct as recorded.

10. Player Lineup and Substitutions

Each player can play a maximum of three (3) innings as catcher and two (2) innings at any other position per game. No player shall be on the bench for more than two (2) innings during a game except due to injury.

Free in-the-field substitutions are allowed.

Each team must bat through a continuous batting order during each game. Players arriving late shall be added to the bottom of the batting lineup.

11. Run Limits

Rule 4.10(e) is amended as follows:

There will be a four (4) run limit per inning.

If after 4 innings (3 and 1/2 if the Home team is ahead) a team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede victory to the opponent.

If after 5 innings (4 and 1/2 if the Home team is ahead) a team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede victory to the opponent.

12. Time Outs

Rule 8.06(c) is amended as follows:

A fourth visit in the game to the same pitcher will cause this pitcher’s automatic removal as a pitcher.

Note: Rule 5.10(d) allows for only one (1) offensive time-out in each inning.

13. Ejection

Any manager or coach ejected from a game must immediately leave the park and may not return to the park on that game day. The manager or coach must meet with a committee of the Board of Directors, appointed by the President, prior to participating in another game.

Any player ejected from a game must be placed into the custody of his parents, who shall take him home immediately. If the parents are not present, the player will be paced under the supervision of a Board Member until his parents can be contacted. The ejected player, his parent(s) and the team manager shall meet with a committee of the Board of Directors, appointed by the President, prior to his participation in another game.

14. Field Maintenance

The maintenance of Field 3 is the responsibility of the Major League managers. The teams of the last game of the day are responsible for closing Field 3 as follows:

Visitor (3rd base Dugout)
- Pick up bases and magnets, and put in storage box in 3rd base dugout;
- Install base plugs (kept in the storage box in 3rd base dugout);
- Rake or drag infield dirt (rake or sweep dirt on edges of grass back into dirt area)
- Place all trash in dugout in trash cans.

Home (1st base Dugout)
- Fill holes, tamp and rake Home Plate area;
- Fill holes, tamp and rake Pitcher’s Mound area;
- Tarp on Pitcher’s Mound, if rain is forecast;
- Place all trash in dugout in trash cans.

NOTE: Any team that receives permission to practice on Field 3 is responsible for doing all of the above before leaving, unless another team has arrived and is waiting to use the field. Failure to comply will result in loss of privilege for future practice on Field 3.

15. Forfeits Due To Player Shortage

There is no automatic rescheduling of forfeited games due to shortage of players.

Approved for 2007 by East Marietta National Little League Board of Directors