SLL Local Rules
This page, as well as the individual Division Local Rules are provided in abridged summary form. Division Directors maintain latitude to make adjustments as warranted by the level of play during a specific season.
Official Rules
Official Regulations and Playing Rules Shall Apply
The Official Regulations and Playing Rules for Little League Baseball & Softball shall apply unless otherwise indicated in the Local Rules. All Managers and Coaches are encouraged to download the free Little League Rules app.
Equipment
Helmets
Helmets will be provided if players do not own helmets. Farm A, Farm AA, and AAA players must wear helmets with a face cage at times while hitting and baserunning. Majors players must wear a helmet with either a face cage or jaw protection ("C-flap"). Face or jaw protection is not required for Tee Ball. Players in Farm A and Farm AA must wear a helmet with a face cage when playing the pitcher position when a pitching machine is in use.
Player Participation
Participation
It is a goal of SLL to create a positive experience for all players. Thus, the following Player Participation requirements set forth the minimum requirement. Particularly during the regular season, managers are strongly encouraged to provide more than the minimum required playing time to all players.
Defensive Innings
Every player shall play four (4) complete defensive innings. No player shall sit two defensive innings unless every other player has sat for one defensive inning). If a playoff game goes into extra innings, no player can sit 3 defensive innings unless every other player has sat for one defensive inning. No player shall sit for consecutive innings.
Batting Order
All members of the team reporting for a game shall form a continuous batting order. Each player will participate for the entire game on offense. Once the batting order is formed, it cannot be altered. Tardy members will be placed at the end of the batting order.
Infield Positioning
Every player is required to play an infield position for at least two (2) complete defensive innings when six defensive innings are played (1 inning if less than six defensive innings). This rule may be waived by the applicable Division Director when appropriate. This rule applies in the Regular Season only (for clarity – players are not required to play any infield innings in the post-season, but all other playing requirements do apply)
Pregame Activity
Time Limits
The following time limits shall be applicable to pre-game activity if the scheduled starting time of the game will not be impacted. The home team may have the field for 15 minutes for infield practice beginning 20 minutes prior to game. The visiting team may have the field for 15 minutes for infield practice beginning 35 minutes prior to the scheduled game. If time is not available for both participating teams to take infield practice, neither team may practice on the field prior to the scheduled game time. All games shall begin as near as possible to their scheduled time.
Pre-game Activity Allowed
Under the supervision of a manager or coach, the only activities allowed on the field prior to the game shall include infield practice, outfield practice, and warming up of the pitchers. Under no circumstances shall players take batting practice on the field prior to the game.
Time Limits
T-Ball Game Time Limits
T-ball games shall be no more than 4 innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes in duration.
Farm A Time Limits
Farm A games shall be the earlier of 6 innings or 90 minutes. Any inning in progress at the expiration of 90 minutes shall be completed.
Farm AA Time Limits
Farm AA games shall be the earlier of 6 innings or 105 minutes (one hour, forty-five minutes). Any inning in progress at the expiration of 105 minutes shall be completed.
AAA Game Time Limits
No regular season game in AAA may exceed two hours and fifteen minutes in duration; however, any inning in progress at the expiration of two hours and fifteen minutes shall be completed.
Weekend Night Games (Non-School Nights)
No full inning shall start after 10:00PM. An inning starts the moment the third out is made in the preceding inning. Games will be scheduled to start no later than 7:45PM. If there is a delay or an extra-inning game prior to the night game, the night game must start by 8:20PM.
Weekday Night Games (School Nights)
No full inning shall begin after 9:15PM. Games will be scheduled to start no later than 7:30PM. If there is a delay or an extra-inning game prior to the night game, the night game must start by 8:05PM.