At its annual fall meeting this November, the Little League® International Board of Directors approved new updates to the Little League Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Policies that will take effect starting in the 2018 season. On this page, you will find a full breakdown of all the changes to the rules and regulations, including a summary of each and where it is located in the Little League Rulebooks.
*Please note that all rule and regulation changes and clarifications are reflected in the 2018 Little League Rulebooks. The information provided below is strictly a summary of the changes.
OPERATING POLICIES:Permits leagues to stream/web-cast games through their league-owned website, official social media account, or other digital platforms granted they follow all Little League policies regarding commercialization and trademarks. (Page 201 in Baseball, 189 in Softball, 114 in Challenger).
Summary:With live-streaming becoming much easier to accomplish, local leagues may be interested in web-casting or live-streaming games through their own local league website, official social media account, or other digital platform. Leagues are permitted to stream/ web-cast games through these league-owned platforms granted they follow all Little League policies regarding commercialization and trademarks.
Little League International in South Williamsport, Pa., is the only body that can authorize or disallow the live streaming, webcasting, televising, or radio broadcasting of any game(s) for regular season or tournament play through any outlet that is not fully owned and/or operated by a local league. A contract (provided by Little League International) must originate with the local District Administrator, tournament director, or local Little League president. (See Regulation XV.)
Provides an age chart for Little League Challenger Divisions. (Page 89).
Summary:Similar to the baseball and softball divisions, an age chart was created for the Little League Challenger program to identify league age.
Little League International Charter Committee will waive Regulation I(d) and Regulation III(c) with respect to the maximum number of 12-year-olds on a team for the 2018 season for this division to provide leagues flexibility this season to structure their Little League (Major) Division to accommodate more than 10 teams; waiving Regulation I(d).
Summary:As Little League Baseball fully transitions to the new Age Determination Date of August 31, grandfathering the four months of children born between May 1 and August 31, 2005, for the 2018 season, leagues will have 16 months of league age 12-year-olds. To assist leagues in the placement of players league age 12 on Little League Baseball (Major) Division teams, the Little League International Charter Committee will waive both Regulation I(d) and Regulation III(c) with respect to the maximum number of 12-year-olds on a team for the 2018 season for this division. This will provide leagues flexibility this season to structure their Little League (Major) Division to accommodate more than 10 teams; waiving Regulation I(d). Leagues that were previously required to operate in Divisional Format must maintain that format and will not have this regulation waived for the 2018 season. Leagues may also place more than eight league age 12-year-olds on a Little League (Major) Division team, waiving Regulation III(c). It is recommended that the local Little League set a maximum and/or minimum number of participants of a particular league age per team.
With the potential increase in the number of league age 12-year-olds, these waivers will give the flexibility to provide Little League (Major) League Division opportunities without changing the structure of their leagues. Leagues are encouraged to use these waivers to maintain or expand their Major Division offerings and continue to provide their current level or an increased level of opportunities for children to play in the Little League Baseball Major Division. Please note that these waivers are not intended for Little League Softball. Following the 2018 season, both Regulation I(d) and III(c) will be in full effect for the 2019 season.
Provides guidance on background checks and results from background checks shall remain confidential. (Page 28 in Baseball and Softball; 31 in Challenger).
Summary:NOTE: Information regarding background checks is available at LittleLeague.org/background. Information gathered for background checks and results should be considered confidential, protected from public disclosure, and not used for any purpose beyond determining volunteer eligibility.
Provides additional clarification when a residency waiver is needed. (Page 34).
Summary:NOTE 1: This waiver is not needed if the player lives in an area outside of the league’s boundaries, but within the league’s district or an adjacent district, as defined in Regulation II(a), that does not offer the Challenger program.
Revises language to allow Board of Directors to act on behavior on or off the field and including social media. (Page 55 in Baseball and Softball, 42 in Challenger).
Summary:The actions, on or off the field, of players, managers, coaches, umpires, and league officials must be above reproach. Any player, manager, coach, umpire, or league representative who is involved in a verbal or physical altercation, or an incident of unsportsmanlike conduct, at the game site or any other Little League activity including through online or social media, is subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors.
Includes International Tournament marks as licensed and registered Little League marks. (Page 57 in Baseball and Softball; 42 in Challenger).
Summary:Use of the Official Emblem and/or words “Little League,” “Little League Baseball,” “LL,” “LLB,” “Dugout,” “Little Leaguer,” “Senior League Little League,” “Big League Little League,” “Little League Softball,” “Little League Challenger Division,” related International Tournament trademarks, etc. registered under Federal Certificate in U.S. Patent Office, is granted to chartered leagues and cannot be extended by local leagues to any other organization for any purpose whatsoever.
Updated the bat rule for all baseball and challenger divisions to comply with the USABat standard. (Pages 66-67 in Baseball, 49-50 in Challenger).
Summary:For Junior League Baseball divisions and below, as well as all Challenger divisions, the bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).
Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, and Junior League divisions, as well as the Little League Challenger Division, shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat - USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2-5/8 inches for these divisions of play. Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.
Tee Ball [Baseball]: Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26” and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017.
Minor/Major Divisions: It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed sixteen (16) inches from the small end. NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.
Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League: It shall not be more than 34” inches in length; nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end. NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.
Senior League: It shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All bats not made of a single piece of wood shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color. Aluminum/alloy and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum/alloy or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side, and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.
Little League Challenger Division: It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed sixteen (16) inches from the small end. NOTE: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.
Senior League Challenger Division: It shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All bats not made of a single piece of wood shall meet either 1) the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark which shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side, and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color, or 2) the USA Bat standard and shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. Aluminum/alloy and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum/alloy or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side, and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.
An approved ruling was added regarding continuous batting order. (Pages 83-84 in Baseball, 79-80 in Softball).
Summary:A.R. – For the purpose of continuous batting order, all players listed in the batting order shall be considered starters.
The phrase “from which they were suspended” was removed from the rule. (Pages 84-85 in Baseball, 80-81 in Softball, 61 in Challenger).
Summary:When the manager, coach, or a player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled. A manager or coach ejected from a game must not be present at the game site for the remainder of that game. Any manager, coach, or player ejected from a game is suspended for his or her team’s next physically played game and may not be in attendance at the game site. This includes pregame and postgame activities.
Clarifies that any parties caught stealing and relaying pitch selection will be ejected – local league option. (Page 117 in Baseball, 111 in Softball, 76 in Challenger)
Summary:Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager, or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field. If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play.
NOTE: 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, those responsible including any player(s), coach(es), and/or manager shall be ejected from the game.
