We are currently updating MWCLL local playing rules for all divisions

MWCLL Tee Ball Local Playing Rules

What follows are the specific local playing rules adopted by the Board of Directors for Tee-Ball Division for 2017 season. 

Since the Tee-Ball Division is instructional in nature, these rules shall suffice.  The general Rules of Play for the game of baseball shall be observed in circumstances not covered in these Local Playing Rules.  All rules interpretation issues shall be decided by the League’s Umpire-in-Chief, and that decision shall be final.

LPR 1)            Each half inning shall be either 3 outs or 8 runs or whichever comes first.

LPR 2)            Each batter shall have 7 attempts in order to either put the ball in play or strikeout.  If the 7th swing is foul, the at bat shall continue until the batter either puts the ball in play or strikes out. Hitting the tee on any swing constitutes a strike.

            LPR 2.1)         A team may elect to have a coach pitch to their batter rather than use the batting tee. This a choice per inning and is at the discretion of the team’s manager. Either option may be used throughout the game, however once a choice is made for the particular half inning, it remains in effect for that half inning.  The same 7 swing rules applies when a pitcher is being used.

LPR 3)            Sliding is permitted into any base.  There is no headfirst sliding to advance a runner and such sliding will result in the runner being called out.  This play shall not affect the results of any other play that may be made on another runner.  The penalty shall be enforced at the end of play.

LPR 4)            Defense will field a “normal” infield of 6 positions with all infielders being positioned within three (3) feet of the traditional defensive position assigned to the player. They shall remain in these positions until the ball is put into play.  The other players are the outfield, and must be positioned in the grass or on the grass line, in an “umbrella” outfield arrangement, until the ball is hit into play.  Once in play the outfielder is no longer restricted to the grass or grass line.

LPR 4.1)         Outfielders are not permitted to field any batted ball on the first play on that ball unless that batted ball was batted into the outfield.  An exception is permitted when an outfielder is backing up an infielder, but the infielder must have attempted the play first.  (PENALTY: A warning is issued at the first violation.  Subsequent violations shall result in the runner who is being played upon being awarded the base, on a delayed-dead ball basis.)

LPR 4.2)         A team may elect to utilize an adult as a catcher.  The adult catcher is present only to catch pitches that are missed.  The playing catcher shall be positioned behind and to side of the adult catcher.  In the event that the ball is in play and a play is possible at the plate, the playing catcher is to make the play.  The adult catcher is to move to the backstop and remain still until play stops.

LPR 5)            There are no protests in Tee-Ball.                  

LPR 6)            The home team shall provide an adult to serve as an umpire.  This umpire shall make all safe and out calls, and foul ball determinations.  These are judgment calls. ALL JUDGMENT DECISIONS MADE BY THE PARENT UMPIRE IS FINAL, AND MAY NOT BE APPEALED.  NO ARGUMENTS FROM MANAGERS, COACHES, PLAYERS OR PARENTS WILL BE TOLERATED.  THE PARENT UMPIRES HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY ON THE PLAYING FIELD AS ANY UMPIRE IN THE OTHER DIVISIONS! The Parent Umpire is to suspend play in the event that play is disrupted by inappropriate behavior.  That suspension is reported to the Umpire-in-Chief who shall consult with the Board of Directors regarding a disposition.

LPR 7)            When on defense, 2 coaches will be permitted in the field, and must be positioned in the outfield at the grass line or deeper in the outfield.  When on offense, coaches will be positioned at the first base coach’s box and at the third base coach’s box.  These base coaches shall be adults only.  Base coaches are not to physically assist any runner while the ball is in play.  PENALTY:  The play is dead and the runner is called out.

            A coach may be used to position the batter in the batter’s box to insure that the batter is positioned “square” in the batter’s box.  Once the batter is positioned this coach MUST IMMEDIATELY leave the playing field and may not return until play is ended.  PENALTY:  This coach may be called for interference resulting in an out being called on the lead runner.

LPR 8)            There shall be a mandatory defensive switch.  Players shall play no more than two (2) total innings in the same position per game.  Each player shall also play in both the infield and the outfield during the course of a game.  It is the manager’s responsibility to insure the compliance with this rule to guarantee a fun and instructive environment for each child. Failure to comply with the mandatory defensive switch may result in the game being suspended with the remainder of the game supervised by the Umpire-in-Chief.

LPR 9)            When batted ball is touched by a defensive player while it is within the foul arc and remains in motion, the ball will be considered to be a ball in play.  When such a batted ball is touched by the batter-runner, the ball is dead and the batter-runner is declared out.

LPR 10)          BATTING CIRCLE:           Any batter who throws his or her bat out of the 10’ batting circle will be called out by the umpire once the proper warning has been issued to both teams. The ball is dead and no runner may advance.  A thrown bat is defined as any bat that leaves the batting circle in flight following any portion of the at bat.  Any bat that rolls from the circle will be adjudged by the umpire as to whether or not it was thrown.  This is a judgment call of the umpire and shall stand.

LPR 10.1)       When a bat is judged to have been thrown from the batting circle for the first time, both teams shall be warned that a “thrown bat” has occurred and any further occurrence will result in that batter being called out.

LPR 11)          A game shall be 6 innings or 90 minutes, whichever occurs first, no new inning shall begin after the 90-minute mark has been reached, but an inning in progress must be completed.  A regulation game is as defined in Rule 4.10 of the Little League Rule Book.  All games start at 6:00PM on weekdays and 11:00 AM on Saturday.  There is a 10-minute minimum “grace period” to allow all players to arrive for the game, but the game may begin as long as there are at least 7 players present. Late arrivals will be added to the end of the batting roster. This “grace period” applies to all games, but the game will not exceed the 90-minute limit once begun.  The 90 minutes do not start until the first batter of the “visiting” team makes the first swing.

LPR 12)          The manager or coaches are not permitted to assist or interfere with the umpire in making any calls.  Please refer to Rule 9.00 and following in the Little League Rulebook.

LPR 14)          There is NO ON DECK BATTER. The player at bat is to be the only batter to have possession of a bat.

LPR 15)          The pitcher is NOT permitted to run down a runner from behind.  The player must make an attempt to throw a runner out. The exception to this is when the pitcher is close enough to make a frontal tag on the runner.  An infraction of this rule will result in the runner being called safe.

LPR 16)          The pitcher is NOT permitted to field the ball and run it to any base (including Home plate).  The pitcher must attempt to make a throw in order to put the runner out.  An infraction of this rule will result in the runner being called safe.

LPR 17)          All runners are expected to run within a 3-feet of the baseline when attempting to avoid being tagged out, per Rule 7.08 (a) (1) of the Little League Rule Book. There is to be some discretion in applying this rule, as it must be adjudged by the umpire that the base runner is intentionally running out of the baseline to avoid the tag.

 NOTE: The baseline is not necessarily a straight line marked directly between two bases, rather the baseline is established by the runner in relation to the base being advanced towards at the time of the “tag play”. (See LL Case Book: Rule 7.08 (a) Rule Interpretation on Establishing the Baseline, pp. 27-28)

LPR 18)          No runner shall advance more than one (1) base at a time, regardless of the distance of the batter’s hit, any overthrow, or any other playing circumstance.

FUN and LEARNING PROPER BASEBALL FUNDAMENTALS is what this League and Division is for and it is the environment that is expected from managers, coaches, parents, players and spectators.