RYE LITTLE LEAGUE, INC



RYE LITTLE LEAGUE, INC.

RYE, NH

League ID# 02290207

The Board of Directors has approved the following local rules with respect to league play in 2012 (Please note: In the event Little League International Regular Season Rules conflict with any of the Rye Little League, Inc., Local League Rules herein and/or with Little League International Tournament Rules, the Regular Season Rules shall apply during all Rye Little League, Inc., Major League Regular Season and Post Season play):

I. Rules Governing Practice and Regular Season Games

Team Games and Practices

All games and practices involving teams in Rye Little League can only be conducted on properties owned or insured by the league or identified as “other insureds” on the LL insurance policy. For the 2012 season this includes fields at Rye Recreation Area, Rye School Fields, Parson’s Field, and indoor facilities owned by the Town of Rye and USA Training Center.

Preseason Practice Policy

All teams are to meet the minimum number of practice times per week as specified in the practice ranges per division. Once the maximum number of practices per week has been held all additional practices are optional. Practices per week: A League (T-Ball) = No Requirement; AA League = 1 day; AAA League = 2 days, Major League 4-6 days.

Use of Batting Cage

Batting cage will be available for 30 minutes per team prior to the start of each game. The visiting team shall enter the batting cage 75 minutes prior to the start of the game; the home team shall enter the cage 45 minutes prior to the start of the game. Managers and coaches will be expected to abide by these times.

Field Conditions for Start of Game

As per Little League rule 3.10(a) team managers shall agree on the fitness of the playing field one hour prior to the start of the game. If the managers cannot agree on field fitness, the decision regarding play will be made by the VP of the appropriate division or his/her designee. The overriding concern regarding field conditions shall be the safety of the playing environment for the players. No game shall be started until all standing water has been removed or absorbed on the playing field.

Field Preparation for Each Game

It shall be the responsibility of the home team to prepare the field for play prior to the game and the responsibility of the visiting team to close the field at the end of the game. This shall include placing and removing the bases; lining the foul lines and batter’s box; raking the pitcher’s mound, home plate area, and infield dirt; placing and removing street barriers; raising and lowering flags; opening and closing of scorer’s booth and assuring that each team has cleaned and swept out their dugout. Accountability for proper and timely fieldwork lies at all times with the team managers or in his/her absence, the coach/parent acting as team manager.

Public Address System for Announcing Games and Scoreboard Use During Games

It shall be the responsibility of the visiting team parents to provide direct supervision in the announcing booth for any game in which the PA system or scoreboard is in use. Direct supervision means at least one adult parent or guardian is in the booth at all times while the game is progress. No food or beverages are permitted on the scoring counter/table or near any electronic equipment to avoid electrical hazards and equipment malfunction. At the end of the game, it is the responsibility of the supervising adult to be sure that the booth is cleaned, all garbage has been removed, all electronic equipment is turned off, windows are closed, and lights are off. Announcing and scoreboard use will not be permitted for any game in which an adult is not available to provide direct supervision in the announcing booth.

Concession Coverage

All parents are required to provide concession stand coverage as assigned by the League Snack Shack Representative. The Snack Shack Representative will make every effort to design a schedule that avoids conflicts however, each family must meet their concession volunteer responsibility – there are no exceptions. Those families that have hardships because of work, illness/injury, or young children must make arrangements with other families on their child’s team to cover assigned concession shifts – covering assigned shifts is not the responsibility of concession managers. No one under the age of 16 is permitted in the concession stand during concession operations. Parents assigned to the concession stand may not privately pay another person to cover their concession duty as to do so would violate labor and worker compensation laws.

Player Behavior in Dugouts

During the regular season and in all post-season play, players are to remain in the dugout from the time appointed by the manager until the game has ended and all equipment has been stored and the dugout area cleaned. Players may leave the dugout only with permission of the manager or a coach. All spectators are to remain away from the dugout area and pursuant to Little League rules are asked not to engage in conversation with the players unless permitted by the manager [Rule 3.09]. Players must completely clean their dugout at the completion of each game and prior to leaving the field.

Reduced Injury Factor [RIF] Baseballs

RIF balls (soft spongy core balls) shall be used in T-Ball and AA Leagues for game and practice environments.

Helmets

If a helmet purchased by the league fails to meet safety standards, replacement will be the responsibility of the League. Each team will have an ample supply helmets for use by players for practices and games and these helmets are to be disinfected by the coaching staff after use. Disinfectant spray will be provided in each team’s equipment bags.

Parent Umpiring @ Home Plate

In order to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, no parent may fill the role of home plate umpire in any Major League game or in 11/12 All Star and 9/10 All Star Tournaments. In extenuating circumstances, with consent of both team managers, and after notification of the umpire-in-chief an exception to this rule can be made when lack of an umpire or umpire illness/injury would result in game suspension or postponement.

Team Parent Representative [Team Mom or Dad]

The spouse, partner, or significant other of the team manager in all divisions of play except T-Ball may not serve as the team parent rep unless specifically approved by action of the Board of Directors.

Rescheduling Games

Missed games will be scheduled for the first open spot available and the Major League make-up games take precedence over games previously schedule on the Major League Field for AA League and/or AAA League games. Every effort should be made not to disrupt the schedule of any other league.

Game Site

It is the goal of the league to avoid the need to eject managers, coaches, players, or spectators from league games. In accordance with Little League rule 4.07, the Rye Little League game site shall be defined as any area within the visual field of the umpires or a league official. Persons ejected from a game must leave the game site immediately and may not return until the game is completed and the field is closed. In the event a player, coach, or manager is ejected not only must he/she leave the game site immediately [a player must remain supervised until released to an adult following ejection] but also he/she must remain away from the game site for the next physically played game of the team.

Protest Committee

As per Little League rule 4.19, a protest committee consisting of the player agent, umpire-in-chief, and league president shall hear and resolve any protest filed in accordance with this rule (all elements of bringing a protest forward must be met as specified in rule 4.19). It is emphasized that all efforts should be taken to avoid protests; failure to act in a way to avoid a protested situation when the situation is known in advance may negate the validity of the filed protest. Protests are not allowed in the minor league or/or T-Ball league.

Minimum Mandatory Play

As stated hereinabove, per Regular Season Little League rules, a substitute player must meet the minimum mandatory play requirement of 6 consecutive defensive outs and 1 at-bat before that player can be removed from the game. Once removed, that substitute can reenter the game in the same position in the batting order. The same rule applies for all Tournament Play. Please see Regular Season Rule 3.03 and Tournament Play Rule 9 (d) and 10 (c) – Mandatory Play (as amended 2012).

Rule regarding game start times with inclement weather

 In order for a weekday game to be played as scheduled when inclement weather delays the start the game's first pitch must be thrown no later than 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the game.  The umpires will cancel for rescheduling any game in which the first pitch is not thrown within the required time frame.  For weekend games a game in which the first pitch is not thrown within 30 minutes of the scheduled start will be moved to precede the first or follow the last scheduled game.

II. Rules Governing Ending Regular Season Games

10 Run Rule

Once a game becomes a regulation game following Little League Rule 4.10, a team that has fallen behind by greater than or equal to 10 runs shall concede the game. In the event that the 10 run rule is in effect the game may continue on as a scrimmage, if both managers are in agreement and time allows, This scrimmage will not affect the win/loss standings of either team. Any pitches thrown during this scrimmage will count towards a player’s pitch count total.

III. Rules Governing Player Replacement/Placement

Player Placement Requests

Parents of players participating in T-Ball, AA and AAA Leagues may request that their child be placed on a team with a sibling for carpooling purposes. Every attempt will be made to honor the request provided it does not result in teams that are unbalanced with regard to skill. Similar requests can be made in the Major League, however, if the placement of a player would create an inequity for that team, the Board of Directors may deny the request. Additionally, only the natural or adopted sibling of a child already on a team shall apply. Cousins, Second Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, Grand kids, and the like do not apply to Player Placement Request.

Registration Fees

Registration fees are assessed in the amount determined annually by the Board of Directors. If a child/family pays for a more expensive league but fails to make that league the family will be due a refund of the difference in registration costs between the two leagues.

IV. Rules Governing Pitching

Pitch Count

In those AAA or Major League games in which an official scorekeeper is present, maintaining the pitch count will be the responsibility of the official scorekeeper. If an official scorekeeper is not present, the team manager has the responsibility for either keeping or delegating the actual counting of pitches and recording of the count for each pitcher on the pitching affidavit. At the end of each half inning, the person keeping the pitch count will confirm each pitcher’s count with each manager and with the home plate umpire. If a discrepancy exists and an official scorekeeper is present his/her pitch count will be the official count; if an official scorekeeper is not present, the home team count will be the official count unless the home plate umpire rules differently.

Intentional Walks

In all divisions of play should a team manager elect to use an intentional walk, a player can only be given an intentional walk once per game.

V. Rules Governing the Coaching Staff

Managerial Responsibilities

Team managers in all divisions of play are responsible for assuring that all members of the coaching staff adhere to league rules at all times. Managers are responsible for: website score reporting following every game, proper field preparation, conducting a pre-season team meeting, assuring that all coaches wear the team cap during games and meet other uniform requirements of LLB, meeting league coach training requirements, holding Double-Goal Coaching certification and identifying and regularly communicating with a team parent representative. Where appropriate, managerial responsibilities may be delegated to a coach or parent but the accountability for adhering to the rules of the league lies with the team manager. Managers in AAA and Major Leagues are responsible for keeping an accurate scorebook for every game.

Positive Coaching Alliance

The league has adopted the Double-Goal program of the Positive Coaching Alliance as the standard of behavior for all parents, players, and volunteers in the league. Coaches are required to complete league approved PCA programs within the time frame specified. Failure to complete the program by the required deadline will result in automatic removal as a coach. The league will reimburse coaches the cost of completing the program. Parents will be informed about the goals and elements of the Double-Goal program at the Annual Parent meeting and in team meetings. The league’s goal is to provide a positive culture at all league events focused on honoring the Game.

Coaching Clinics

All managers and coaches are required to attend a coaching clinic focused on planning practices and teaching the fundamental skills of baseball prior to assuming their position. The clinic can be sponsored by LLB, by the league, or approved by the Board as a comparable clinic. To facilitate clinic attendance, no practices shall be held during the time the clinic is scheduled unless the coaches on a team have already met this requirement.

Penalty for Rule Violations

The Little League rulebook provides mandatory remedies for violations of the minimum mandatory play rule [Regulation IV i], for violating pitching eligibility rules [Regulation VI h], for use of illegal bats, and for actions that result in ejection [Rule 4.07]. In circumstances where mandatory remedies are not provided or when the local rules of the league either supersede LLB rules or are violated, the Director of Coaching shall be responsible for providing an oral warning for the 1st offense; any subsequent violation of the same rule will result in a written reprimand and may require an appearance before the Complaint Committee or full Board. Only the Board of Directors can impose a penalty, which may include game suspension, game forfeit, or termination.

Penalty for Failure to Meet Minimum Mandatory Play: In order to assure that all players meet the minimum mandatory play requirement, managers should enter all substitute players in the game in the top of the 3rd inning in a position that assures an at-bat if a game is at risk of ending early from the 10 run rule. In all circumstances, a player who does not get his/her minimum mandatory play must start the next regularly scheduled game. In addition, on a 2nd team offense, the team manager will be suspended for one game. On the 3rd team offense the manager will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and appropriate action taken including possible removal from the team for the remainder of the playing season and not being eligible for post season appointment.

VI. Rules Governing the Post-Season

Post Season Coaching Staff

The process for manager and coach selection in Little League Baseball is specified in tournament playing rules and regulations. This process places responsibility for manager and coach appointment with the local league President and approval with the local league Board of Directors.

All Star Voting Process and Post Season Tournament Play

The process for player selection to post season tournament teams will be determined by the Board of Directors at a meeting to be held prior to the start of the regular season. The Board, at a meeting to be held prior to announcing the names of selected players, will approve the final team roster for all post-season teams. Team managers are responsible for contacting each player to notify them of team selection; this contact is to be done by telephone call to the player’s home.

It is expected that a player will not have more than one (1) unexcused absence from a practice or game on the tournament schedule for any reason. A player will automatically be deleted from the roster in the event of a second (2) unexcused absence by action of the Board of Directors. Requests for exceptions to removal can be made to the League President, Vice-Presidents, or Player Agent for action by the full Board of Directors. The decision of the Board with regard to requests for exceptions will be final.

VII. Miscellaneous Rules

Board Meeting Attendance

Chronic absence at board meetings by any board member may result in removal of said board member per action of the board, consistent with the RLL Constitution.

Social Media

Rye Little League strongly discourages Board members, coaches, umpires, and other regular volunteers from using social media to communicate with players outside of league sanctioned information and postings on the league Facebook site.

No Smoking Policy

Little League Baseball prohibits smoking on the playing fields, benches, or in the dugouts. Parents, volunteers, managers, coaches, and spectators are requested to refrain from smoking at the game site. .

Uniform Return

Each year, the Board of Directors will determine the process for uniform return and the penalty for failing to return uniforms by the specified deadline. The penalty may include actions up to and including payment of the full replacement cost of the uniform.

Complaint Committee

In order to provide a clear process for bringing complaints to the attention of the Board of Directors the following procedure shall be used. Complaints may include alleged violations of LLB or RLL rules or guidelines.

1. Any person who has a complaint shall bring the complaint to the attention of the president at the time of occurrence. In order for the complaint to be considered it must be received in writing and accompanied by factual documentation of the incident or concern.

2. If the league president cannot satisfactorily resolve the complaint it will be considered by a committee of the Board of Directors to be composed of the president, player agent, and one manager. If the complaint involves a member of this committee then that member will be recused and the president shall appoint a replacement. The committee will hear the complaint within 72 hours of notification. The committee may resolve the complaint or may elect to bring it to the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors; however, if the resolution involves the discipline of a Board member, manager, coach, umpire, player, or league member, the matter must be referred to the full Board for action.

3. The person(s) registering the complaint and the person(s) targeted in the complaint have the right to be present for all deliberations on any action to be taken. However, should the Board enter Executive Session any person who is not a voting member of the Board must leave for the duration of the Executive Session.

4. The final decision regarding any complaint will be communicated in writing to all parties involved and will be binding. Appeal can be made to the district administrator.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download