GASTINEAU CHANNEL LITTLE LEAGUE

Juneau, Alaska

LOCAL RULES – 2002*

 

It is the policy of the Board of Directors of Gastineau Channel Little League, Inc.("League") to adhere to the rules and regulations of Little League Baseball® Inc. From time to time, it is necessary to modify those rules and regulations to allow for the efficient operation of the League. Modifications to these rules and regulations shall be only by Board action, or by petition requesting the modification, signed by a majority of the Managers affected by the change.

 

MANAGER - PARENT GUIDELINES

 

1.         The Home Team will use the dugout or bench on the third (3rd) base side of the field.

 

2.         The Home Team is responsible for marking the field, setting the bases, and other field preparation necessary to commence play. On fields with lights the Home Team Manager is responsible for turning off the lights at the conclusion of the game.

 

3.         The Home Team shall supply all game balls and shall receive them back at the conclusion of the game.

 

4.         The Home Team scorekeeper will be the official scorekeeper unless a staff scorekeeper is present. At the conclusion of each game, the plate umpire will sign the official scorebook. (Competitive Divisions Only)

 

5.         The Visiting Team in Non-Competitive Divisions shall provide a volunteer Parent Home Plate Umpire. The Parent Home Plate Umpire shall ask for a volunteer from the stands. Both Managers must agree to this volunteer. The League will provide a Home Plate and Field Umpire for the Minor Divisions and above.

 

6.         Managers are responsible to see that their team picks up litter from their portion of the field and stands after each game.

 

7.         Managers MUST notify the League President, IN WRITING, of any injury that requires medical attention, as soon as realistically possible, but no later than twenty-four (24) hours from the occurrence.

 

8.         Any changes in game schedules, other than those caused by weather, must have the approval of the President, Vice President, or Chief Player Agent prior to the game being rescheduled.

 

9.         In Competitive Divisions, the winning team’s manager must call the daily score hot line number (463-GAME) with the final score of the game that day. Managers must include the score, the Team Sponsor name, and may include highlights and special information pertaining to the game.

 

10.       At the end of the Season, Managers are responsible for returning all League equipment to the League Equipment Manager. Managers must replace equipment not returned at the end of the Season.

 

REGULATIONS

III – THE TEAMS

All rosters will be kept full in Competitive Divisions. A Manager will contact the Player Agent within 48 hours of losing a Player. If two Teams have vacancies, the Team that notified the Player Agent first will have the first opportunity to fill the vacancy.

 

If a Player misses four (4) consecutive games without the approval of the Manager and Player Agent, or eight (8) games in the season, the Player shall be released from the team, at the discretion of the Chief Player Agent, unless the Board permits the Player to remain on the Team. In addition, if a Player misses 50% or more of the Team's scheduled practices without approval of the Manager, the Player may be released from the Team, at the discretion of the Chief Player Agent, unless the Board permits the Player to remain on the Team. It shall be "an other justifiable reason" under REGULATION III d. if a manager looses a Player during the season for any of these reasons.

 

Reason: This addition to the regulation further defines the mutual responsibility of the Manager and Player to make a commitment to the team and the game. It also defines penalties for lack of commitment to the team to which they are drafted.

 

IV – THE PLAYERS

Managers may protect Players selected to the High School Teams for the duration of the High School season. Schedules will be arranged to allow minimum conflict among teams.

 

Reason: This addition to the regulation further defines the mutual responsibility of the Manager and Player to make a commitment to the team and game.

          

V - SELECTION OF PLAYERS

Only those Players who have registered and have attended tryouts are eligible for initial drafts. Player Agents will maintain tryout lists for further drafts throughout the Season.

 

Managers or Coaches of a Team who are interested in drafting a Player may not contact the Player or their parent until notified by the Player Agent that the candidate has accepted the draft. No inference can be made to candidate Players, or their parents, that a candidate may be drafted or become a member of a particular Team until the Player is actually drafted by that Team, with approval of the Player Agent. The Player becomes a member of the drafting Team at the time they accept the draft and is no longer on the Team from which they were drafted. No Manager or Coach of a Farm, Minor or Junior Division Team will in any way attempt to influence a decision by a Player candidate or their parents to be drafted.

 

Reason: The Board considers actions affecting the drafting of Players to be very serious. If a Manager violates these rules, it can be very detrimental to the Player and the Player’s family.

 

Players who register after the Draft will be placed onto a waiting list maintained by the Player Agent.

 

Parents or guardians of Players are urged to allow their players to play at a higher level if chosen to do so. Should a Players guardian complete and sign a request for their Player to play at a lower level, that Player will not be eligible to be drafted to a higher Division for the entire season.

 

VI - PITCHERS

A calendar week shall be considered Monday through Sunday. (Modifies Regulation VI (b).

 

Reason: Due to the high percentage of rainouts the league schedules make-up games on Fridays and Sundays to stay with the pitching week. No pitching rules are changed. [waiver pending]                                                    

 

VIII – MINOR LEAGUES

Farm Division and Tee Ball Division

 

The rules for the Farm Division (i.e. 7,8 & 9 year olds) shall be the same as those for the Minors Division with the following exceptions:

 

·         All games will be played with a pitching machine throwing the ball to the batter at home plate, or a Coach pitching if weather or equipment problems prevent the use of the machine. During the month of June, Player Pitchers may pitch up to two innings in a game. The objective is to have a complete player pitched game by the end of the season.

 

·         Farm Divisions and the Tee Ball Division defensive teams shall consist of ten (10) Players. The infield shall consist of the six traditional positions, and the outfield shall consist of four positions, one being a rover. [waiver pending]

 

·         In the Tee Ball Division and Farm Division, every Player will play three innings per game and be rotated through and played in all positions. The Batting Order shall contain the complete roster of Players.

 

·         The Offensive Team shall retire when three outs or six runs are scored, whichever occurs first. No base stealing is allowed.

 

·         In the Tee Ball Division and Farm Division, during defensive play, two coaches may be placed in the outfield to assist the Players.

 

0.0 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES -LOCAL

 

0.01 If the Player Agent deems it feasible, games called because of weather will be made up in the order cancelled. The Player Agent shall schedule the time and field for the game to be considered a legal game.

 

0.02 In the Farm Division, when a Player Pitcher is used, the Player Pitcher throws the first 4 pitches to each Batter. If the batter does not hit the ball or strike out, the Coach will pitch 3 more balls to the Batter (total of 7 hittable pitches). If the batter does not hit one of the 3 pitches or strike out, the batter is out. There will be called strikes when the Player Pitcher is pitching. The strike count will carry over to the Coach pitch. There are no walks. Any Player Pitcher who pitches two innings in a game must rest 6 days before pitching again.

 

0.03 In all Baseball Divisions below Majors and in all Softball Divisions below Seniors the "six-run" rule is in effect and the Offensive Team shall retire when three outs occur or six runs are scored, whichever occurs first. The "six-run" rule shall apply to every inning played including the last inning played. The Official Scorekeeper will note this agreement in the official scorebook. The home team for the Farm Baseball program shall provide an umpire behind the pitcher if possible.

 

0.04 Managers shall discipline Players in the following manner. Any time a Manager disciplines a Player, other than conducting a discussion with that Player, the Manager shall notify the President, Vice-President, or Chief Player Agent within 24 hours of the incident:

·         If the Manager determines the behavior of a Player is unacceptable, they shall discuss the situation with the Player, and parents if possible, and reach agreement as to the expectations.

 

·         If the unacceptable behavior continues, or is of such a nature that it warrants more profound action, the Manager shall "bench" the Player. This shall consist of removing the Player from any additional play during that game and remaining in the dugout. The Manager shall notify the Umpire of such action, but no one else. The intent is not to embarrass the Player, but to correct the behavior.

 

·         If the unacceptable behavior further continues, or if it is of such a serious nature, the Manager shall remove the Player from the game and from the field. The Manager shall notify the Umpire of such action, but no one else.

 

 

 

 

3.10 – Rain Outs

Only under extreme weather conditions will the President of the League, through the local media, cancel games. Teams will show up at the fields as scheduled; any delay of game or suspension will be per this section. Games in the competitive divisions cancelled due to weather may be rescheduled through the Player Agent. Games in the divisions below Majors cancelled due to weather are not rescheduled.

 

4.04 – The batting order

The league adopts the policy of a continuous batting order that includes all players on the team roster present for the game batting in order. Other provisions of the section stand.

 

4.10 Regulation Game – Time Limits

 

Tee Ball                                   1-1/2 hours

 

Baseball:

Farm & Minor                         No new inning to begin after 2 hours

Majors, Jr. & Sr. BB                No new inning to begin after 2 hrs 15 min.*

Big League                              No new inning to begin after 2 hrs 30 min.

 

Softball:

Farm & Minors                       No new inning to begin after 1 hr 30 min.

Majors, Juniors, Seniors        No new inning to begin after 1 hr 45 min.

 

*[during June, when school is out, games may be played to completion in Senior BB; if there is a game following no new inning to begin 30 minutes prior to the next scheduled game]

 

          Special Rules For Games Played Under Lights:

 

Managers and coaches will ensure that the lights are shut-off upon game completion at Adair Kennedy and Melvin Park fields that have lights.

 

4.10 (e) The board has adopted the option of not using the "10 run rule" addressed in this section in any Division of play.

 

Post-Season Local Tournaments

Tournament pitching rules contained in the 2002 Tournament Rules and Guidelines shall be utilized for all local post-season tournaments. [special games form submitted]

 

Reason: The relaxed pitching rest rules allow the local post-season tournaments to be completed in as few days as is reasonably possible.

 

TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES

Selection of Tournament Teams

GCLL utilizes the recommended method of selection to tournament teams with the following exceptions: the league officers and umpires do not vote; the board selects the final roster in consultation with the appointed manager for the last two positions on the roster. On-field tryouts may be held when players cross age groups. Coaches are appointed following an indication of interest and screening. Their names on the ballot are advisory to the board’s appointment. The board will announce roster size prior to balloting. Balloting and announcement of teams is according to Little League regulations.

 

Availability: Players selected to teams must be available for practices and travel no less than 10 days prior to the first scheduled game. In order to be selected to a tournament team a player must be available to “go all the way” to the World Series.