The Front Office

2008 League Rules & Playing Regulations

Click here to download a PDF of the 2008 League Rules and Playing Regulations.

The Little Chenango Valley League shall operate under the “Official Regulations and Playing Rules” established by Little League Baseball Incorporated as amended annually by the Little Chenango Valley League, and the following additional regulations.

Organization

1. Each team will be assessed fees annually payable prior to opening day. The amount will be determined by the League Director to pay for all expenses incurred.

2. In the event of a protest, a committee of 4 members will be appointed from different communities with the League Director having a vote. In the event that the League Director feels that the protest would be a conflict of interest for him, his vote would be then handed to the Assistant Director.

3. When voting on amendments to the league rules, each organization has one vote regardless to how many teams an organization may have in the league. (i.e., Chenango Bridge may have two teams in the league but only one vote.)

Games

1. Regularly scheduled games may be rescheduled for community purposes (example - school concert or school play). If this situation arises, the coach must call the League Director for approval. The League Director has the authority to approve the change or deny it. If approved, the coach must then call the opposing coach to inform him of the change. The coach must also reschedule the umpire(s).

2. Game time for games on weeknights will be at 6:15. Game times on weekends will be determined. A team must have 8 players to start a game. Fifteen minutes after game time is a forfeit.

3. The home team coach is responsible for notifying the umpires by 5:00 of a game to be canceled on a weeknight due to poor field conditions or weather.

4. The home team coach is responsible for notifying the umpires of the rescheduled date for a canceled game or the moving of a game to a different field. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit for the home team.

5. It is the home team's responsibility to notify the League Secretary of the results of their home games as well as report the pitchers used and number of innings pitched.

6. The home team shall furnish 2 new game balls.

7. The home team will be responsible for lining the foul lines and the batter's box in accordance with Little League rules 3 feet x 6 feet.

8. The field shall be turned over to the visiting team no later than 15 minutes before game time unless prevented by poor field conditions.

9. It is the goal of the league to finish the regular season on time, to get the playoffs completed on time, and the travel teams to get ready for tournaments. In order to accomplish these goals the League Director may be forced to move teams off their home fields to play a game elsewhere. The League Director has the power to do so. The Director will make every effort to be as fair as possible for all parties involved.

10. If a game is called on account of rain, a game will be deemed complete after (4) completed innings if the visiting team is winning, and 3 1/2 innings if the home team is winning. Little League rules apply after this point.

Pitching Rules

1. A maximum of 12 innings of pitching by 12 year olds is permitted per week. Only (3) 12 year olds may be used per week. Any one pitcher is permitted to pitch a maximum of 6 innings per week regardless of age. The calendar week runs from Monday to Sunday.

2. If a pitcher pitches 3 innings or less, he may pitch the next day.

3. If a pitcher pitches more than 3 innings he will require 3 days rest and be eligible to pitch on the fourth day. Example - player "A" pitches four innings on Friday. He is not eligible to pitch again until Tuesday of the following week.

4. On pitch constitutes an inning. Example - Player "A" pitches 3 complete innings. He pitches to one batter in the fourth inning but does not retire him. He has pitched 4 innings.

5. A pitcher removed from pitching during the game cannot pitch in that game again.

6. No balks.Intentional walks are waived on.

Rosters

1. Each team will turn in a roster consisting of not less than 10 players and not more than 15 players. Each team can roster no more than (8) 12 year olds with 12 players, (7) with 10 or 11 players. A player is eligible to play if he is not 13 years old before May 1st. If a player is 12 years old on April 30th , he is eligible to play. If he is 13 on May 1st he is eligible to play.

2. Players can be added to a roster previous to completing 6 games. After that, they are not eligible for playoff without approval of League Director.

3. Each roster will have the player's name, birthday, and age.

4. No rostered Modified Baseball player is eligible to play in the Little Chenango Valley League.

Re-Entry Rule

1. Starters must play a minimum of 6 consecutive defensive outs in order to be eligible to re-enter.

2. A starter that was removed from the game may re-enter anywhere in the batting lineup only after he has sat out a minimum of 6 defensive outs.

3. Only a starter may re-enter

4. All players must play at least 6 defensive outs or bat at least once.

5. At the coach's option, an extra hitter may be added to the lineup. The extra hitter may be inserted into the game defensively and the player replaced by the extra hitter becomes the extra hitter. This does NOT change the batting order. One (1) switch is allowed per game. If the extra hitter is injured and no eligible sub is available, his spot will be skipped and no out will be counted. If the extra hitter is ejected for any reason, his spot is counted as an out when his spot comes to bat.

Playoffs

Playoff format is a double elimination tournament; the draw for the tournament will be a blind draw; home field will be determined by regular season record, but may be changed due to conflicts of fields.

Ties for home field will be determined by:
1. Head to head
2. Runs allowed
3. Runs scored
4. Flip of coin

Boundaries

Although this has not been a problem as of late, the League established boundaries for each association in the late 1950's. These have been followed throughout the Leagues' 40 plus year history. In the event that someone wants to play in another association, they must apply for a waiver from their association and then obtain approval from the League and new association.