Local League Options
This is a summary of the options that local leagues may adopt, according to the 2022 Little League Rulebooks for Baseball and Softball. This is not an official LL document.
Updated on January 22, 2022.
Divisions of Play - Junior League Baseball and Junior League Softball
"The local league may allow 15-year-olds to participate in the Junior League Division for the regular season only if the player's skill level is assessed appropriate to that division. A local league Board may prohibit the 15-year-olds from pitching in the Junior Division."
Divisions of Play - Senior League Baseball and Senior League Baseball
"The local league may allow 12-year-olds to participate in or dual roster in the Senior League Division. Players must be assessed by the league as capable of participation at that level."
Regulation I - The League - Minor League Division
"Leagues may allow league age 5- and 6-year-olds with one year of Tee Ball experience to register for Coach Pitch or Machine Pitch Minor Division."
Regulation VI (b): Pitching restrictions (Softball: All Divisions)
The local league Board of Directors or District may impose additional pitching limitations during the Regular Season and interleague.
Regulation VII (h): Time limits (Baseball & Softball: Tee Ball & Minor League)
A local league may impose a time limit on games regardless of the number of innings played.
Regulation VIII (d): Coach Pitch & Machine Pitch (Baseball & Softball: Minor League)
A local league may elect to utilize adult pitch (“Minor League Coach Pitch”) or machine pitch (“Minor League Machine Pitch”) in Minor League games involving players league ages 7-12.
Rule 1.01: Number of players on a team (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
A game may not be started with less than eight (8) players on each team.
Rule 2.00: Definition of a Strike (Baseball & Softball: Tee Ball)
In Tee Ball, the local league will determine whether strikeouts will be permitted.
Rule 3.04: Courtesy Runners (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
A local league may permit a "courtesy runner" for the catcher and/or pitcher of record when there are two (2) outs. Exception: If the continuous batting order is used, the "courtesy runner" may be in the team's batting order and must be the player in the batting order who made the last out. See 7.14(b).
Rule 3.13: Ground Rules (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
The local league will establish ground rules to be followed by all teams in the league.
Rule 4.01 (d): Defensive players (Baseball & Softball: Tee Ball and non-competitive Minor Leagues)
In Tee Ball and non-competitive Minor Leagues, all players on the roster may be given a defensive position. Only one player may occupy the catcher’s position.
Rule 4.04: Batting Order (Baseball & Softball: Major League and above)
A league may adopt a policy of a continuous batting order that will include all players on the team roster present for the game batting in order.
Rule 4.04 Note 3 - Batting Order (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
When a league permits teams to start and play games with eight (8) players, the Board of Directors will determine if an out is called for the ninth (9th) position in the batting line-up each turn at bat or if the team may skip over the ninth (9th) position without penalty.
Rule 4.10 (c)(2): Game Time Limit (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
"If the game has been played for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Any inning which has been started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed. No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired."
Rule 4.10 (e) NOTE: 15-Run and 10-Run Rules (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
The local league may adopt the option of not utilizing this rule.
Rule 4.10 (f): Game length (Baseball & Softball: Tee Ball)
"The local league may determine appropriate game length but shall not exceed 6 innings. It is recommended that Tee Ball games be 4 innings or 1½ hour time limit."
Rule 4.11 (d): Game Time Limit (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
"A game will be regulation if the game has been played for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Any inning which as been started prior to the time limit expiring will be completed. No new inning will begin once the time limit has expired. See Rule 4.10."
Rule 4.16 (a): Minimum number of players on a team (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
"Local League Option: A game may not be started with less than eight (8) players on each team."
Rule 4.17: Minimum number of players on the field to continue a game (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
"Local League Option: A game may not be continued with less than eight (8) players on each team."
Rule 4.19 (g): Protesting a Game (Baseball & Softball: Minor League)
A local league may adopt a rule that protests must be resolved before the next play.
Rule 5.07: 5-run rule (Baseball & Softball: Minor League)
The local league board of directors may suspend the five-run rule on the last half-inning for either team.
Rule 6.02 (c): Batter remaining in the box (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
"Local League Option: After entering the batter’s box, the batter must remain in the box with at least one foot throughout the at bat." [See the rule for a list of exceptions.]
Rule 6.05 (b) (2): Third strike not caught (Baseball & Softball: Minor League)
A local league may elect to apply the Minor and Tee Ball rule for the Little League (Major Division) for the regular season.
Rule 7.08 (a) (5) (a): Leaving base early (Softball: Major Division)
A local league may adopt a rule that requires the runner to keep in contact with the base to which that runner is entitled until the ball has been batted or reaches the batter, or be called out.
Rule 7.14: Special Pinch Runner (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
A local league may adopt Tournament Rule 3(e) for 7.14. NOTE: Does not apply if the local league adopts the continuous batting order. See Rule 4.04.
Rule 9.01 (d): Stealing pitch selection signals (Baseball & Softball: All Divisions)
The local league has the option to adopt this rule application. The stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and/or location is unsportsmanlike behavior. If, in the judgment of the umpire, this behavior is occurring, the team manager and those responsible including any player(s) and/or coach(es) shall be warned after the first offense. Those responsible including any player(s), coach(es), and/or manager shall be ejected from the game for a team’s subsequent offense.