AA BALL Rules
1. Rules of play will follow those in the current year Little League Baseball Rule book and the District rules for the current year, except where noted in the ground rules. Each manager and coach will be responsible to familiarize themselves with these rules and regulations. AA exception -5 runs in an inning (2013) will end each inning except the last (see exceptions for Home Runs and Ground Rules Double in rule 25 a. and b.) The last inning (and any extra innings) will be open and teams may score unlimited runs. Due to impending darkness or other circumstances, an umpire may declare any inning to be the final or open inning.
2. If a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 4 innings (3 1/2 home team), the losing manager MAY concede the game (Rule book states “MUST”). Please keep players in mind when making this decision.
3. There will be a time limit for all games. No inning will start after 1 hour and 50 minutes from the official start time. The umpire and official score keeper will determine the official starting time for this rule. If no recorded start time, the “official” start time will revert to the “scheduled” start time. Games must start on time. If there is no time to warm up on the field, managers must make other arrangements. “AA” exception: Games will be called due to darkness even if the open inning has not been played. Plan the open inning prudently, considering the pace of the game, the available light and the time. Umpires will call games due to darkness and the score will revert to the score held at the end of the previous inning. The sixth inning is open. There is no limit to the maximum runs scored in this inning. Each team bats until they have made three outs. The exception is when the home team is winning after the visitors have batted, the home team need not bat. If it is clear the game will not go six innings due to time or darkness, the last inning to be played becomes the “open inning” as long as both managers and umpires agree before the inning starts. League umpires will be provided.
4. There is no on-deck circle, therefore players and equipment should not be on the field except while actively engaged in the game. Equipment will be kept in a designated area near or as close to the dugout as possible and in an orderly fashion, but off the field of play.
5. Bunting is not permitted in AA (2012). Fake bunting will not be tolerated and umpires will rule according to LL rule 4.06 distracting the pitcher.
6. Slash Hits with Fake Bunts Minors and below (2014): SLVLL and its umpires will call a batter out who first fakes and bunt and then takes a full swing on a pitch. This is a safety risk for corner infielders, who can race in to cover a bunt and then face a line drive. This rule only affects Minors, because there is no bunting or fake bunting allowed in AA division and
below. SLVLL did not enact this rule for Majors division, where players have more experience and are taught to defend against such swings.
7. For the first quarter of the season (2018) a pitching machine will be used from a distance of 46 feet (2015). Batters will have 5 pitches to either strike out or put the ball in play. A fouled 5th pitch can extend the at-bat. A coach or manager of the team at bat shall operate the machine. If the fifth pitch is fouled, regardless of the count, another pitch will be given. If the fifth pitch is not swung at, then the batter will be ruled out. (Pitching distance for machines will be the standard 46 feet (2013).
8. Player pitch will begin in the second quarter. (2018) Pitching distance will be the standard 46 feet (2013) Mounds will be used when they are available. However, no walks will be allowed. When a player-pitcher reaches a four-ball count, a coach from the team at bat will throw pitches from at least ½ the distance between the pitching mound and home plate. The pitch shall be overhand in motion and is recommended to be similar to the height of a player thrown pitch. (Adopted 2/16/2023) The batter will maintain the same strike count as when the fourth ball was thrown from the player pitcher. If the ball comes in contact with the coach which is pitching, the play will be dead and another pitch will be awarded. A batter hit by a pitch thrown by a player shall be awarded first base and the ball is dead.
9. Limited base stealing will be allowed starting in the fourth quarter. The base runner may not lead off, cannot run until the pitch crosses home plate, and may only steal up to third base. Runners at third may only advance toward home on a ball batted into play. Stealing will not be allowed during the coach pitch portion of the at bat. A base runner cannot no advance to home during a steal where they are originally stealing 3rd base and an overthrow occurs. (Adopted 2/16/2023)
10. During the AA tournament at the end of the season, batters will be awarded first base on four balls thrown by the pitcher instead of coach pitch. (Adopted 2/16/2023)
11. The only offensive personnel allowed out of the dugout are the batter, two base coaches with helmets (both base coaches may be an adult coach or manager as long as there is one player with one of the adult base coaches, wearing a helmet is optional for the coach/manager), and coach- pitcher if necessary. There must always be at least one coach/manager in the dugout at all times. There may be up to one manager and two coaches on the field at any time. With the umpire’s approval, one adult may be stationed at the rear of the backstop to retrieve the ball for the catcher to keep the game moving (THIS ADULT IS NOT ALLOWED TO COACH OR COMMENT AT ALL). The umpire may remove this privilege at any time.
12. The pitcher will be removed upon the fourth visit to the field by the manager to the same pitcher, or three visits in one inning to the same pitcher. Managers may go to the mound after requesting and being granted timeout from the home plate umpire. No adults are allowed on the field at any time, except umpires and one base coach (includes between innings), except to respond to an injured player. Adult coaches must remain close to the dugout openings or in designated coaching box areas. (NOTE: Only one offensive time-out will be permitted each inning.)
13. Pitching eligibility is based on number of pitches and days rest as outlined as referenced in Pitchers Regulation VI. Please familiarize yourself with and observe all pitching rules in the Official Little League Rulebook. Note: No league age 11 year old is eligible to pitch.
14. While warming up the pitcher during the course of the game (relief or replacement pitcher), catchers must wear a helmet, mask with throat guard and cup. The pitcher and spotter must wear batting helmets. The spotter must be facing the field of play and be between the pitcher and the batter. At Highlands Park fields, the acceptable areas for warm-ups are down the left and right field lines in the outfield area. Between innings, managers and coaches can warm up the pitcher on the field. (Adopted 2/16/2023)
15. Regulation IV (i) regarding playing time will be amended to read “each player shall play a minimum of 9 defensive outs (three innings), and shall bat as many times as his/her batting position rotates to the “at bat” position”. All players will bat through the order, including those players not currently playing in the field (Continuous batting order). (Adopted 2/16/2023)
16. There is no special “must slide rule”. The rules will be enforced as stated in the rulebook. Keep in mind that “obstruction” rules may apply in some of these close plays or unsportsmanlike conduct for running into a player. Note: a player that has safely reached a base may dive back to the same base headfirst.
17. The home team will:
a. Use the first base dugout.
b. Provide the impartial official scorekeeper.
18. BOTH teams will:
a. Ready the field for play. After the game BOTH teams will return all gear to the proper storage and rake the field. Managers and Coaches who do not participate in cleaning the fields after the game will be warned on the 1st offense. On the 2nd offense the offending team will have their Little League Field at the High School Saturday games moved to Highlands. This will in turn affect the opposing teams
b. Provide snack bar workers, one from each team, when playing at the High School fields. Note: visitors work the BBQ. No children under the age of 14 will be allowed to work in the snack bar.
c. For AA games played at the Little League Field at the High School, no team may take the field until snack bar workers are present. A delayed game will not get extra time added due to lack of snack bar workers. (NOTE: Snack Bar duties only apply for games scheduled at the High School Field)
d. CLEAN UP TRASH AROUND FIELD AND BLEACHERS AFTER EVERY GAME.
19. No excessive defensive coaching during play (2013). Excessive defensive coaching will be determined by the umpire as that which causes a distraction in the opposing batter, or is distracting to base runners, umpires, or offensive coaches’ communication with players. Umpires will give a defensive coach a warning, but continued excessive defensive coaching can result in a manager’s ejection. (2013)
20. NO ARGUING WITH UMPIRES AT ANY TIME. Only a Manager (2013) (or acting manager) may request time or ask for an appeal. The appeal is made to the umpire who made the call. That umpire MAY make an appeal to the other umpire. If the umpire refuses the appeal, no further discussion is allowed. If the manager wants to discuss a call with the umpire, he must ask for a time out and be granted a time out before any discussion is to take place. If a manager feels that a call is in violation of the rules (judgment calls excluded) he/she must state the intention of protest as outlined in the rule book and continue the game with no further discussion of the matter. This restriction on managers only calling time out for purposes of discussion with the umpire does not prevent a coach from requesting time to give a batter instruction, which is an acceptable reason.
21. No manager or coach may leave the dugout area or the coaching box to discuss an umpire’s call.
22. There are no dogs allowed on school property or at any facility where dogs are clearly prohibited. Dogs are permitted at a game or practice provided they are 1) Leashed, and 2) Kept clear of traveled walkways and paths. Failure to clean up after one’s dog or abide by the above- mentioned rules will result in a revocation of allowing dogs at Little League games.
23. Poor sportsmanship by managers, coaches, parents, and/or players, derogatory language towards an opposing team or towards a player on the manager’s own team, or harassment of players will result in a warning, followed a second time during a game, by forfeiture of the game. Chatter (e.g. "hey batter, batter" or "pitcher has a rubber arm") especially designed to disrupt, at any time is not permitted by players, coaches or parents. It is the manager’s responsibility to inform their parents of this.
24. 7-year-olds may be drafted into “AA.”
25. Standings: standings in AA will be kept for the whole season (2012). At the end of the season, the teams will be seeded into a post-season tournament. The tournament will be single or double elimination to be determined by field and umpire availability. Regular Season champions and tournament winners will be recognized separately. Ties in standings to determine tournament seeds will be determined by 1. head to head results between teams tied 2. coin flip
26. After entering the batter’s box, the batter must remain in the box with at least one foot throughout the at bat.
Exceptions:
On a swing, slap, or check swing.
When forced out of the box by a pitch.
When the batter attempts a “drag bunt” in Baseball [or attempts a “slap” or
“slap bunt” in Softball.
When the catcher does not catch the pitched ball.
When a play has been attempted.
When time has been called.
BASEBALL: When the pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound or
takes a position more than five feet from the pitcher’s plate after receiving the ball or the catcher leaves the catcher’s box. SOFTBALL: When the pitcher leaves the eight foot circle or the catcher leaves the catcher’s box.
On a three ball count pitch that is a strike that the batter thinks is a ball.
Penalty:
If the batter leaves the batter’s box or delays play and none of the exceptions apply, the umpire shall warn the batter. After one warning on a batter, the umpire shall call a strike. Any number of strikes can be called on each batter.
Minor/Major Division Baseball and All Softball Divisions: No pitch has to be thrown, the ball is dead, and no runners may advance.
NOTE: The batter may return their position in the batter’s box and assume the new count at any time during the at-bat, unless such enforced penalty is the third strike.
27. Winning is secondary to the concept of sportsmanship, fair play and the instruction of the fundamental skills and rules of baseball. Managers and coaches who continue to lose sight of this fundamental goal will be dismissed and replaced by those who don’t.
“AA” Exceptions:
a. INFIELD FLY: will not apply.
b. PLAY STOPPAGE: One base on an overthrow, one overthrow per runner per play. Play stops when the ball is in the possession and under control of an infield player in the infield area. A runner who has not passed half-way to the next base will be required to return to the previous base. A runner past half-way at stoppage continues at his/her own risk.(2013)
c. SLIDING: Feet-first sliding only, runner will be called out for headfirst slide.
d. BALL: the official ball for “AA” League will be soft core “RIFF 5” provided by the league. No other balls will be used for games/practices.
Remember, we are here to facilitate a good time, a love of baseball, to teach and to demonstrate the kind of behavior we wish our children to model in society. Please try not to forget this during the course of a close game.
Revised 2/13/2023