The Norwell Little League division is made up of five leagues.  Our age requirements are dictated by the National Little League Rules.  For more information on the National Little League Rules of play please visit their website at http://www.littleleague.org/. 

Norwell Little League makes every effort to ensure that individual players are in a division where they will be able to learn, have fun and compete.

The following is a brief description of each of the leagues within Norwell Little League as well as a link to the respective leagues rules. The General Rules of Play can be found after the table below.

Contact information for Little League Board Members and Level Directors can be found on the Board of Directors page.

The Little League® A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) is a part of the organization's Child Protection program and provides local leagues with direction for best practices designed to make the Little League experience enjoyable and healthy for all participants.

RULES OF PLAY

The rules followed by Norwell Little League are intended to promote fair play and safety of all participants.  For the most part, Norwell Little League adheres to the National Little League Official Regulations and Playing Rules. There are some rules variations (such as the times for the last innings to start) which are not enumerated in the National Little League Official Regulations but are in the local rules for the purposes of promoting safety and fair play.  The following are the General Rules of Play for Norwell Little League and are by no means a comprehensive list. For individual Leagues within Norwell Little League, please refer to the appropriate document listed below. For Summer Travel and/or Tournament Teams, please see applicable league or tournament rules as provided by their directors.

SAFETY

1. All players are required to wear helmets when at bat, on deck or on the bases during a game or practice.  If players are used as base coaches (first base only), a helmet must be worn.  Protective headgear must cover the top and back of the head. 

2. Catchers must wear protective headgear and mask, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and an athletic supporter with cup.  Protective gear must be worn while either catching in a game or practice.  If a player is warming up a pitcher either on or off the field a mask must be worn.

3. The umpire will stop play when someone is hurt and decide where the base runner(s) should be.

 SPORTMANSHIP

1.  Any player throwing a bat, helmet or other equipment may be removed by the umpire for the remainder of the game.  Any player using profanity, gestures or fighting will be ejected by the umpire for the remainder of the game, plus a 1 game suspension.  The manager and umpire must notify the League Board immediately after an ejection (within 24 hours).  A second offense by the same player, in the same season, may cause a player’s removal from the league for the remainder of the season.

2.  Umpires at every level have the final say on any play.  Only the Manager may ask the Home Plate Umpire for clarification on a call that is in question. 

3.  Coaches, players and Parents are required to follow the Code of Conduct during games.

4.  Only Team Manager and Assistant Manager are allowed in the dugout during the game.  Our insurance agreements specify that adults who have not filed a CORI will not be allowed on the fields or in the dugout.

COACHES

1.  The Coach or Assistant Coach may coach either first of third base during the game.  A player may coach first base, BUT must wear a helmet.

2.  Coaches or Managers cannot exceed one trip, per inning, to the pitcher.  The second trip will automatically remove the pitcher from the pitching position for the remainder of the game.

3.  The Coaches are responsible for providing the names of the pitchers, uniform numbers, team name and innings pitched to the concession stand following each game. 

4.  The Home team is responsible for cleaning the infield following the game.  Bases must be returned to the concessions stand after the game.

5.  Coaches must keep the players in the dugout unless a player is: on deck, pitcher/catcher warm up.

 PITCHING

Major and Minor League Pitching Rules

Both Major and Minor pitchers will be allowed to throw fast-balls and change-ups only. Curve-balls, sliders, knuckle-balls, and/or any other pitch where the ball changes direction on the way to the plate is not allowed.

Both Major and Minor pitchers will adhere to innings pitched restrictions using the following guidelines:

Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 6 innings in a week.

Any appearance as pitcher in a game is noted as an inning, regardless if they finish the inning.  This includes warming up on the mound for the inning.

• 1 inning pitched in a day requires no (0) days rest

• 2 innings pitched in a day requires one (1) day rest

• 3+ innings pitched in a day requires three (3) days rest

The week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday.

Required days of rest stay in effect for playoffs, they do not re-set with start of playoffs.

Three days of rest mean the player can pitch on the fourth day. Example: Pitcher throws 3 innings on Sunday would then be eligible to pitch on Thursday.  That pitcher would then have 3 innings remaining for the week ending Saturday.

Note:

•   For 11 & 12 yr olds, the maximum number of innings pitched in a day is 4.

•   For 10 yr olds, the maximum number of innings pitched in a day is 3.

·         Both teams should track the number of innings pitched for each team to confirm accuracy. Number of innings pitched should be included in the communication of the game result by the home team to the Level Directors.

• If there are 2 hit batsman in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed.

• If there are 3 hit batsman in 1 game, that pitcher must be removed.

The home team will provide 3 game balls to the umpire

Other:

1. Games will begin as close to 5:45 p.m. as possible (week night games).  Teams may play with a minimum of 8 kids

2. During the first half of the season, (May 20th) an inning cannot be started after 7:30 p.m.  An inning cannot be started after 7:45 p.m. during the second half of the season.  The games will end at 8:00 p.m. or on the umpire’s decision.

3. Sunday shall be considered the start of the calendar week.

4. Each player must play a minimum of six consecutive outs and at least one at bat.  If free substitution in involved, a player must be involved in 2 innings of defensive play (6 outs) and one at bat.

5. Intentional walking is not allowed.

6. There is a one base advancement on any throw which goes out of play, except stolen bases.

7. There is no leading off the base.

8. Base runners can only leave the base after the pitched ball reaches the catcher’s glove.

9. MAJOR LEAGUE: Runners may steal every base including home plate.

10. MINOR LEAGUE: Runners may steal every base except for Home Plate.  If a play is made on the runner at third and an error occurs, that runner may try for home plate.

11. Tagging on a fly ball is allowed, after the field catches the fly ball.

12. The infield fly rule is in effect.

13. Slide or Avoid Rule: Base runners are required to slide directly into a base, when a play is being made on them (except to avoid contact or when advancing from home to first) or if they choose not to slide then they must make an effort to avoid contact with the player making the play on them or leave the base path.  If the base runner does not slide and contact with the defensive player results, the base runner will be declared OUT.  If in the view of the umpire, this contact hindered the fielder from completing a second play, the umpire can call the second play an automatic OUT.  If the contact with the defensive player is made with force, rule by the umpire to be dangerous or un-sportsman like, the umpire can remove the offensive player for the remainder of the game.

14. HEAD FIRST sliding is prohibited.

15. No player may play for more than one team.

16. Free substitution (between innings) except for the pitcher who cannot reenter the game as a pitcher.

17. FIVE run rule: The inning is over after 5 runs are scored by a team except if it is the last inning.  Coaches must agree prior to the inning that it will be considered the last inning.

18. Slaughter rule: The game is over after the third inning if a team leads by twelve runs.

19. No stealing or advancing on passed balls by a team leading by eight (8) or more runs.  If the leading team gets below this 8 run limit, than stealing and advancing on passed balls will go back into effect.  The team up by 8 runs must notify the opposing coach.

20. No hidden ball allowed on base runners.

21. Re-entry rule will be followed as discussed in the Little League rules.

22. Protest Rule: A notice must be made with the umpire in chief before the next pitch is thrown to the batter.  Complete information must be submitted to the President within 48 hours and ruling will then be made by the Board.

23. Pinch runner and pinch hitter rules will be Little League rules.

24. Home team will occupy the first base dugout unless otherwise specified

25. The game of baseball is a great sport for the children, so let’s make sure that the game is played by the children, enjoyed by the parents and children and taught by the coaches.  Remember, following each game, the children are returning to a home - not trying to catch a bus or airplane for their next Major League Baseball Game on television (and that goes for the coaches as well).