Minor AAA Division Information (excerpt from the 2018 Folsom American Little League By-Laws)
Games:
Teams must have 8 dressed players (able to play offense and defense) to start and finish a game. If there are 7 players or less to start or finish a game, that team will forfeit the game. Both teams may continue to play however; the result will be the forfeit.
No new inning shall start after two hours and fifteen minutes or at the conclusion of the 6th inning. If there is time for an inning to begin, then the entire inning must be played unless the game is called on account of darkness, inclement weather, or the team designated as the home team leads the game after the first half of the final inning.
The ten (10) run rule shall not apply to the regular season games in the AAA Division. For the first five (5) innings, each team may bat until three (3) outs or five (5) runs are scored, whichever comes first. After the completion of the 5th inning, there shall be no limit to the number of runs a team may score.
All games that end in a tie will be considered a tie and shall not be played out.
All games will be played using the Local League provided ball.
Distance between bases is sixty (60) feet. Distance between home plate and the pitching mound rubber is forty (46) feet.
Each team will strive to have a designated Manager and two additional Coaches.
A Manager/Coach or approved volunteer must be in the dugout at all times during the game.
Game scores are kept during the game and the final score of each game must be posted to the Local League web-site before midnight the day of the game by the home team Manager/Coach.
The pitch counts, and game Umpires must be submitted by the Home team Manager/ Coach by midnight the day of the game.
The home team in each game shall be the official score keeper for a game. The scoring will include the number of runs by each team, numbers of outs in each half inning, and the balls and strikes pitched to each batter. Each team is encouraged to keep score during the game and to compare what they have recorded with the other team several times during the game. If there is a discrepancy and a mutual agreement can’t be reached then the home team’s scoring shall be used.
Standings will be published only on the Local League web-site and shall be used to set the brackets in the End of Year Tournament.
Managers may keep, but shall not publish or disseminate, under any condition or for any reason, without the prior written consent of the President and Player Agent, statistics of Player performance.
Umpires shall be provided by the Local League. If there is ever a time when no umpire is available, the defensive team Manager or one of his/her coaches will call balls and strikes from a safe location behind the pitcher’s rubber while that Manager's team is on the field. The offensive team's first and third base coaches will serve as the base umpires, calling fair and foul balls and plays at all bases. The “umpire" who is (in the opinion of the defensive team's "umpire”) in the best position, and/or has the best view of a play at home plate shall make the call at home plate.
League age eight (8) year old players are not allowed to play in the AAA Division.
Offensive Play/Batting:
The Offensive team shall supply first and third base adult coaches who will assist the runners on base. A player may assist an adult coach or act as a first base coach, but no player is allowed to assist or act as a base coach at 3rd base. All players assisting the adult base coach at first base must wear a batting helmet.
Teams shall bat their entire roster. The batting order shall not be changed during the game however, each inning shall start with the person who was on deck from the previous inning unless the third out was made by a base runner, in which case the current batter would begin the next offensive inning. If a Player arrives late to a game, but in time to bat in his/her original slot, then that Player will bat in the original slot shown on the line-up. If a Player arrives late and is unable to bat in his/her original lineup slot, that Player will be placed at the end of the batting lineup.
Any batter who throws the bat will be warned that if he/she throws the bat a second time in the game he/she will be called out. The batter shall be called out the first time the bat is thrown if it hits anyone.
Bunting is allowed.
Leading off is not allowed.
The infield fly rule does apply.
A runner may steal 2nd, 3rd and home, but shall not leave the base they are on until the pitched ball crosses home plate.
A runner may steal home on a passed ball by the catcher.
A batted ball that hits the top (yellow guard) of an outfield fence in fair territory, at any field so equipped, and then continues over the fence and out of the field of play beyond such fence, shall be called a home run. Any batted ball that strikes any portion of a foul pole, at any field so equipped, shall be called a home run.
Runners may advance to the next base on any overthrown balls, but are subject to being put out. If the ball goes out of the field of play then the runner may advance to the next base.
A player may slide into any base, other than first, on any close play. A runner may only slide feet first. No head first sliding is permitted. Any player who slides head first shall be called out.
Defensive Play:
No defensive coaches are permitted on the field to assist the players unless the defensive Manager/Coach calls time with the Umpire.
Each team will field players at traditional defensive infield positions, with a Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, Short Stop, 3rd Base, and three (3) outfielders, so as to have nine (9) defensive players on the field at any one time.
The dropped third strike rule shall apply.
Catcher play limitations shall be followed as outlined in Appendix I – Local League Pitching and Catching Limitations.
A Catcher must wear all the proper protective equipment (Helmet, Mask, Throat Guard, Chest Protector, Leg Protection, and Little League Approved Catcher’s Glove). The catcher is to play in the normal position behind home plate.
Each Player, in every game, must play at least three (3) full defensive innings, with at least two of those innings (6 defensive outs) at an infield position. Infield positions include Pitcher, Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, Short Stop, and 3rd Base. There will be no exceptions unless a player is injured and leaves the game or the Manager makes alternative arrangements with the consent of the President, Vice President of Divisions, or Player Agent. Parents shall be notified of any change made to the application of this rule.
No player shall sit out more than three (3) innings per game unless requested by the player’s parent, due to illness, or injury.
Pitching:
Pitching will be facilitated by use of player pitch only.
The pitcher must pitch from the pitching mound rubber.
No balks will be called in this division.
The maximum pitch count per player is 60 pitches, regardless of league age. A pitcher may exceed 60 pitches only to finish the batter that they are currently facing. Every player that pitches in a game must not pitch again until they have completed the prescribed days of rest as outlined in Appendix I – Local League Pitching Days of Rest Requirements.
The manager is responsible for keeping a pitch count log book for each game documenting pitches thrown for each team’s pitchers. Pitch counts should be compared between opposing teams each half inning to limit the chances of discrepancies. If a mutual agreement can’t be reached in the event of a pitch count discrepancy then the home team pitch count book will be the official pitch count used. The manager must use the pitch count book supplied by the Local League. The pitch count book must be presented upon request to an opposing manager or any Board Member from the Local League for inspection 15 minutes before the beginning of a game, during the game, or for 15 minutes after any game. All pitch counts must be posted on the Local League’s web-site no later than 24 hours after the game has concluded.
Any player pitcher who hits three (3) batters in a game must be replaced by another pitcher.
Coaches that willfully violate any of rules set forth in the AAA Division playing rules are subject to disciplinary action including suspension.
Any Tournament games with another league will revert to the International Little League Green book of rules (and/or a mixture of FALL’s local rules the other League’s rules)
APPENDIX I:
LOCAL LEAGUE PITCHING AND CATCHING LIMITATIONS
Divisions Effected:
Singe A, AA, AAA, and Majors.
Pitching Limitations:
Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher in the same game.
A pitcher may not pitch in more than one game in a day.
Days of Rest Limitations:
Pitchers League age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
- If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar days of rest is required.