Minors

1. The “home” coach is expected to be at the field a reasonable amount of time before the game to drag the infield, rake and tamp the pitchers mound and batter’s box, rake the first and third base paths (lengthwise from base-to-base so as to keep the base paths flat) and line the 1^st and 3^rd base lines, the running lane and the coaches’ boxes.
2. A home plate umpire will be provided for each game.  Coaches are encouraged to arrange for a parent to act as base umpire.  If a base umpire is used, the home plate umpire has the authority to overrule the base umpire in his role as crew chief.
3. All teams shall have at least 8 players at the scheduled start of the game or forfeit the game.  If a team begins a game with 8 players, the umpire shall call an automatic out for the ninth batting spot in the order.   This Local Rule amends LLB Rules 4.16 and 4.17 for this division.
4. Every player must play defensively for at least six outs recorded by his/her team.  Except for disciplinary reasons, no player may sit out more than two consecutive defensive innings.
5. Continuous batting order (CBO):  All players bat, in order, throughout the game, whether or not they are inserted in the defensive line up in a particular inning.
6. An inning, except for the sixth inning, is considered complete when there are 3 outs or 5 runs have been scored.  The sixth inning is completed when three outs have been recorded (i.e. unlimited runs will be allowed in the sixth inning).
7. If, in the opinion of the home plate umpire, there will be insufficient time to complete six innings on account of darkness or the time limit before the scheduled start of the next game, the home plate umpire shall so indicate to the coaches of both teams and that inning will be completed when three outs have been recorded (i.e. unlimited runs will be allowed in that inning).

    Field Set Up

8. The distance between each base shall be 55 feet.
9. The distance from home plate to the cones designating the end of the outfield shall be 165 feet.

    Base Running

10. When the player who is to be the catcher in the next inning is on base and two outs have been recorded, the coach shall substitute the last player to have been called out as a “courtesy runner” to enable the catcher to begin putting on the catcher’s protective equipment. In the interests of time, coaches are encouraged to designate their catcher in advance of the next inning, and act accordingly.
11. Coaches are advised to be familiar with the “slide and avoid” rule promulgated by Little League International and to make all their players similarly familiar, as CPLL umpires have been instructed by the Umpire in Chief to strictly enforce this rule.
12. Lead offs are not permitted; the ball must cross the plate before the base runner removes his/her foot from the base.  The umpire shall make the determination as to whether the runner removed his/her foot before the ball crossed home plate.  If the runner left the base early and was put out by the defensive team, the runner is out.  If the runner left the base early and advanced safely to the next base, s/he must return to the original base, as must any other base runners who advanced at the same time unless the batter has hit safely in which case all runners advance an equivalent number of bases..
13. All base runners must return to their bases once the pitcher has control of the ball and both of the pitcher’s feet are touching the dirt portion of the pitcher’s mound, unless the base runner was in the process of attempting to advance to the next base when the pitcher caught the ball, in which case the base runner may continue the attempt to advance to the next base at the runner’s risk.
14. Headfirst slides are not permitted and any runner doing so shall be called out unless the runner is returning to the base from which s/he left. 
15. If a ball thrown by a defensive player leaves the field of play, each base runner shall be allowed to advance to the base to which s/he was running plus one extra base.
16. Stealing (including advancing on a passed ball) is permitted, except a runner may not steal home.  To encourage the fielding team to attempt to put a runner out, the runner may not advance more than one base on a steal/passed ball (i.e. the runner may not continue advancing in the event the catcher overthrows the base when attempting to throw the runner out).
17. The infield fly rule does not apply.

    Pitching and Batting

18. Players will pitch and will be governed by Little League’s pitch count rules.
19. There will be no walks permitted.  Once a batter has a count of 4 balls and 2 or less strikes, the pitcher is replaced by the pitching machine and the batter assumes the same count.  Pitching will continue until the batter puts the ball into play or strikes out.  A coach of the team at bat will operate the pitching machine.  Any pitch from the machine which (1) is NOT struck by the batter fair or foul, and (2) is NOT called a strike by the umpire, the umpire will call “no pitch – dead ball.”  A batter hit by a pitch from either the pitcher or the pitching machine will be awarded first base . The league has provided pitching machines to encourage batters to hit, and avoid multiple “walk” situations.  Coaches should encourage players to swing the bat.  Umpires are instructed to provide for a large strike zone from the chin to the ankles and include 6” width on the outside of the plate.
20. The pitching machine shall be placed on the pitching rubber, and the pitcher will throw from in front of the machine assuring that upon delivery of each pitch, both feet are in contact with the dirt portion of the mound upon completion of the pitch.  The pitching machine is not to be moved under any circumstances.
21. If a batted ball hits the pitching machine or the coach operating the pitching machine (provided the coach has made a reasonable attempt to avoid contact with the ball), the umpire shall call the ball “dead”, the batter shall be awarded first base and all base runners will be awarded one base. SEE PREVIOUS NOTE ON SAME RULE

    Call ups

22. Teams may call up players from a lower division when unable to field a team of at least 10 players from its own roster at the commencement of the game (in other words, call ups are NOT permitted if ten or more players from the team’s own roster are at the field at the commencement of the game), and if a called up player is in the lineup submitted to the home plate umpire and/or opposing team, any 11th or other additional rostered player arriving at the field after the lineup is so submitted cannot participate in the game.  Players may only be called up by the same team for a maximum of 5 games, plus 1 playoff game.

   Call-ups may not pitch

23. Unless the team has less than 10 players, call-ups may only play a maximum of three (3) innings defensively in any one game.
24. In the event of a scheduling conflict between the team inviting a player to be called up and the team for which the player regularly plays, the player shall play for the team for which s/he regularly plays and decline the call up invitation.