Major Rules

NNLL Major Division Rules

Coach Information

Each year, Managers at the Major level are selected by the NNLL coaching committee and approved by the board.
Coaches must successfully pass the required background check in order to coach.
Coaches who have a child on their team must play their child as they would any other team member, with no preference given for position or playing time.
Coaches must become familiar with coaching techniques, drills and expectations of the skills player should possess upon leaving this division.
Players drafted into the NNLL Majors are titled and return to the same team every season. Open roster spaces are filled via a draft in early Spring each year. Newly drafted players and their families should be contacted in a timely manner.
Coaches will schedule a parent meeting. Coaching philosophy, plans, goals, rules and expectations should be discussed.
Coaches should have formal practice plans for scheduled practices. These plans should be based on their goals for the season.
Coaches should arrive at practice at least 15 minutes early to prepare field. At the end of practice, coaches are responsible to drag or rake the field, trash picked up, trash emptied, bases and equipment stored, and the complex secured.
Coaches are required to umpire other Major Division games during the season.

Division Concept

* The basic concept of this division is competitive baseball. The Major Division consists of 10, 11 & 12 year olds and focuses on the development of baseball skills with the opportunity to advance to tournament play. Score and Team standings are kept in this division. An instructional environment is also promoted and required.

Field Layout

The home team is responsible for preparing the field before the game
The visiting team is responsible for dragging/raking the field after the game
Both teams are responsible for securing the equipment, bases and the complex after the game
Both teams are responsible for ensuring that the field and complex are left in a presentable fashion.
Both teams are responsible for making sure that their concession stand volunteers perform their duties.
Both teams are responsible for making sure the concession stand is secure and that no concession stand volunteer is left alone at the complex.

Player Roster

Roster size is twelve players per team. The amount of teams will be determined by the NNLL Board each year.
Teams will not be redrafted each year. Players are titled and remain on the same team for their entire Major career.
A team will fill vacant roster positions through try outs and a draft process.
Each team will start 9 players on offense and defense. The remaining 3 players will be substituted into the game.
Coaches are encouraged to rotate field positions to allow players to experience different positions and learn different skills. Player ability should be taken into account when players are assigned certain positions, as safety is a primary concern. Coaches have final say on position assignments.

Batting

A 9 player batting order will be used for all games.
Batting helmets must be worn at bat, on deck and when running bases.
Bats are not to be swung outside the batter’s box including outside of the fenced-in area.
No bats are allowed in the dugout.
A player present at the start of a game must get at least one at bat during the game unless the game lasts less than 6 innings.

Pitching

The full and official pitching and catching rules may be found in the Little League baseball rule book .
The basic pitch count and rest days required are as follows:
League age 10 = 75 pitches (+ can finish the batter)
League age 11 = 85 pitches (+ can finish the batter)
League age 12 = 85 pitches (+ can finish the batter)
66 or more pitches – 4 days of rest
51-65 pitches – 3 days of rest
36-50 pitches – 2 days of rest
21-35 pitches – 1 day of rest
1-20 pitches – no days rest
A pitcher that pitched 41 or more pitches may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of the game
A catcher that has caught for more than 3 innings cannot pitch for the remainder of the game.
Each team is responsible to track the pitch count of their current pitcher. It is recommended that each team track both team’s pitchers and then confer between each half inning.
Each team is responsible for recording pitch counts in the Pitching Log after each game.
Balks will not be called.

Fielding

Catchers must have on full gear every time behind the plate including practices.
Coaches are encouraged to rotate players to different positions in the field so that they may learn different positions.
A player present at the start of a must play defensively in the field at least 6 consecutive outs
The Infield fly rule will be enforced.

Running the bases

No leading is allowed.
Stealing is allowed only after a pitched ball reaches the batter’s front shoulder.
Runners may slide feet first only. Head first sliding is allowed only when returning to a base.

Game

A regulation game is 6 innings. A 10 run mercy rule will be in affect and will be enforced after the fourth inning.
Rescheduling of rained out game is the responsibility of the managers. Umpiring crews will need to be contacted and rescheduled.
Coaches should contact all parents of players is a game is cancelled. If a parent cannot be reached, a coach/manager should go to the field in the event the parent/player arrives for a game/practice.
The winning team will report final scores, postponements or cancelled games to the Webmaster within 24 hours of completion.
The home team will supply all official game balls.
Official rules can be found in the current years Little League Rule book.

Sportsmanship

Players and coaches will act in a sportsmanlike manner during practices and games. Taunting or belittling an opposing team in any situation is not to be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in a warning or ejection of the player(s) and/or coach(s).
Coaches are responsible for conduct of his/her team’s parents. Unsportsmanlike behavior by parents will not be tolerated. Coaches should handle the situation in a timely manner.
Players and coaches will act in a sportsmanlike manner toward the umpires. Arguing of calls will not be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in a warning or ejection of the player(s) and/or coach(s).

Goals

Goals for the season should include at a minimum the following:

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