22nd LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
Congress History and Purpose
More than a thousand Little League volunteers from around the globe attend the
Little League Baseball International Congress, held once every three years. The
purpose of the Congress is to chart the course of the world’s largest
organized youth sports program.
Nearly 500 of those attending are volunteer
District Administrators, who serve as liaisons between the local leagues and
International Headquarters. District Administrators are elected by their
constituent leagues to provide support, and to represent their interests as
delegates to the International Congress.
The primary purpose of the Congress is to amend
Rules and Regulations and Tournament Rules and Guidelines. In the years leading
up to each Congress, volunteers from dozens of nations submit their ideas for
changes to a steering committee, and an agenda is prepared.
The delegates meet in round table discussions,
making any necessary changes in the proposed amendments, then vote on the
changes on the final day of the Congress. A two-thirds vote is required for
passage. Those amendments receiving the necessary vote are then presented to the
International Board of Directors (Rules and Regulations) or the Tournament
Committee (Tournament Rules and Guidelines) for final approval.
Delegates and their Assistant District
Administrators will also attend training seminars and informational assemblies
at the Congress. Little League provides transportation to and from the Congress
for all U.S. delegates, as well as half of each delegate’s room rate and a per
diem.
Also at the Congress, delegates from the eight
regions in the world (four U.S. regions and four international regions) vote on
a representative nominee for election to the Little League International Board
of Directors. These eight field representatives will serve on the board for
three years until the next Congress.
AGENDA OF PROPOSED CHANGES
TO RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULES
Item 1 – Would affect Rule
1.11(h) – Junior and Senior Baseball
Should Rule 1.11(h) – Junior and Senior
Baseball be amended to read:
Shoes with metal spikes or cleats are permitted.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to allow Junior and Senior Baseball players to
utilize metal spikes.
Item 2 – Would affect Rule
3.03(c) – Junior and Senior Baseball
Should Rule 3.03(c) – Junior and Senior
Baseball be amended to read:
A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return
as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same
inning as he/she was removed. NOTE: This change would affect tournament play as
well.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to bring the Junior and Senior League Baseball rule
in line with the Big League Baseball rule.
Item 3 – Would affect Rule 4.04
– Little League Baseball and Softball
Should Rule 4.04 – Little League Baseball
and Softball be amended to read:
The batting order shall be followed throughout the game unless a player is
substituted for another. Substitutes must take the place of the replaced player’s
position in the batting order except as covered by Rule 3.03. Little League
(Majors) Division: 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. If this option is adopted, each player would be required to bat in
his/her respective spot in the batting order. However, a player may be entered
and/or re-entered defensively into the game anytime provided he/she meets the
requirements of mandatory play.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to allow individual leagues to adopt a policy to
utilize a continuous batting order and substitute without restriction in the
field. Substitution of a pitcher during the game would be governed by rule 3.03.
Item 4 – Would affect Rule 4.05
– All Levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Rule 4.05 – All Levels of Baseball
and Softball be amended to read:
The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time
at bat, one near first base and one near third base. Base coaches shall be
eligible players in the uniform of their team; or one (1) adult manager or
coach. An adult manager or coach is only
permitted to occupy the first or third base coaches box if there is at least one
other adult manager or coach in the dugout.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to require one adult to remain in the dugout with
the game participants at all times at all levels.
Item 5 – Would affect Rule 4.05
– All Levels of Baseball and Softball except Big League
Should Rule 4.05 – All Levels of Baseball
and Softball except Big League be amended to read:
The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time
at bat, one near first base and one near third base. Base coaches shall be
eligible players in the uniform of their team; or one (1) adult manager or
coach; or both base coaches may be adult managers or coaches.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to allow two adult base coaches at all levels of
play within the program.
Item 6 - Would affect Rule 4.07
– All Levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Rule 4.07 – All Levels of Baseball
and Softball be amended to read:
When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, he/she shall leave the
field immediately and take no further part in that game. He/she may not sit in
the stands and may not be recalled. Any
manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for the next scheduled
game.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to require a manager, coach or player to be
automatically penalized with a one-game suspension for an ejection.
Item 7 - Would affect Rule 6.06
– Little League Baseball and Softball
Should Rule 6.06 – Little League Baseball
and Softball be amended to read:
A batter is out for illegal action when –
(d) he/she fakes a bunt and then takes a full
swing.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to eliminate a player from fake bunting for safety
purposes.
Item 8 - Would affect Rule 7.14
– Little League Baseball
Should Rule 7.14 – Little League Baseball
be amended to read:
Once each inning a player who has not appeared in the batting order may be used
as a special pinch runner for any offensive player. The player for whom the
pinch runner runs is not subject to removal from the lineup. If the pinch runner
remains in the game as a substitute offensive player, or batter, the player may
not be used again as a pinch runner.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to add the flexibility of using a special pinch
runner at the Little League level. The special pinch runner is currently used in
Junior, Senior, and Big League Baseball. Additionally, this change allows
managers more opportunities to get players in the game.
REGULATIONS
Item 9 - Regulation I – The
League - Would affect Junior, Senior and Big League Girls Softball
Should Regulation I (a) be amended to
read:
Junior League is an extension of the local Little League to accommodate girls
league ages 13 and 14; Senior League is an extension of the local Little League
to accommodate girls league ages 13 –16; Big League is an extension of the
local Little League to accommodate girls league ages 14-18.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to provide greater flexibility in the teenage
divisions of the softball program.
Item 10 - Regulation I – The
League – Would affect all levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Regulation I (b) be amended to
read:
President may manage, coach or umpire provided he/she does not serve on the
Protest Committee nor serve as Tournament Team manager or coach.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to allow the league president to manage, coach or
umpire with restrictions.
Item 11 - Regulation I – The
League – Would affect all levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Regulation I (d) be amended to
read:
Remove the 10-team limit restriction. (Maintain 20,000-population limit and
1,000-students-per-league limit.)
Clarification
The intent of this rule lifts the 10-team limit in the major league divisions.
The current population limits will remain in place.
Item 12 - Regulation II –
League Boundaries - Would affect all levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Regulation II (d) be revised to
read:
(d) The Board of Directors of the Local League, with the approval of the player
involved, reserves the right to continue as a player, any individual (1) whose
residence changes or (2) who lives outside the league’s boundaries because of
a revision of such boundaries even if the child then resides in the territory of
another league. Current Major League, Minor League or Tee Ball players or any
sibling whose brother or sister meets the criteria under II (d) may also be
retained. Any player meeting (1) or (2) above may be retained for the remainder
of his/her career, including Little League, Senior and Big League competition.
NOTE: A player who qualifies under this regulation and elects not to participate
for a playing season is not eligible to be retained for the subsequent season.
Additional information: Approval of this change would eliminate paragraph IV
(h).
Clarification
The intent of this change is to allow all players, major or minor, to qualify
under regulation II(d). All qualified players’ siblings would also be included
in the waiver. The intent is to eliminate the need for a IV(h) waiver.
Item 13 - Regulation III – The
Teams – Would affect all levels of Baseball and Softball
Should Regulation III(d) be amended to
read:
(d) NOTE: (2) If a player is not going to be replaced on the team roster because
of illness or injury of a temporary nature, and the player receives medical
treatment from a licensed physician, that player must supply written
authorization to the player agent from the treating physician that the player
can resume participating with or without restrictions.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to require injured participants to be cleared by a
physician before returning to practice or games.
TOURNAMENT
NOTE: Agenda items receiving 66 2/3 percent of
the delegates’ votes will be forwarded to the International Tournament
Committee for consideration.
Item 14 - Release of Names –
Would affect Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League
tournament play.
Should "Release of Names" be
amended to read:
The release of names of players selected for the tournament team shall not be
made before June 21 and not until the availability and eligibility of all
prospective team members have been established. (Little League accident
insurance for Tournament Teams will not go into effect until June 21, or
the announcement of Tournament Team members, whichever is later).
Release of Names – 9 & 10 Year Old Division
of tournament play
The release of names of players selected for the tournament team shall not be
made before June 21, or two weeks prior to the start of the tournament
(whichever is earlier), not until the availability and eligibility of all
prospective team members have been established. (Little League accident
insurance for Tournament Teams will not go into effect until June 21, or
the announcement of Tournament Team members, whichever is earlier).
Clarification
The intent of this change is to shorten the time between the announcement of the
tournament team and the beginning of tournament play. This change will also
allow leagues to extend their regular seasons. The date to begin tournament team
practice would be affected by this change.
Item 15 - Protests – Rule (C).
2. and 3. – Would affect 9 & 10 Divisions of Baseball and Softball
tournament play
Should Protests – Tournament Rule (C). 2.
and 3. be amended to read:
2. If the facts establishing or verifying the ineligibility of a player become
known DURING a game, and the ineligible player participates in the game, that
player’s team shall forfeit the game in question, subject to the following
conditions:
3. If the facts establishing or verifying the
ineligibility of a player become known AFTER a game, and the ineligible player
participated in the game, that player’s team shall forfeit the game in
question, subject to the following conditions:
Clarification
The intent of this change is to bring the 9 and 10 Division protest rules in
line with the other levels of play. This change would allow a protest to be
lodged up until the beginning of the next game involving either team.
Item 16 - Rule 4. PITCHING RULES
– Would affect 9 & 10 Divisions of Baseball and Softball tournament play
Should Tournament Rule 4. PITCHING RULES
be amended to read:
f. A player may not pitch in more than six (6) innings in a game.
g. A player may not pitch on consecutive calendar
days. This also applies between
regular season games and opening of the Tournament as well as resumption of regular season games following the
Tournament elimination or Special Games following the Tournament.
EXAMPLE: (1) A player may pitch on Saturday in
regular season play, then after one (1) calendar day’s rest, pitch again in
the first game of the district playoffs on Monday.
EXAMPLE: (2) A player may pitch on Saturday in
the final district game, then after one (1) calendar day’s rest, pitch again
in the next level of tournament play on Monday.
EXCEPTIONS:
A player may pitch on consecutive calendar days
if only one (1) inning was pitched in the previous calendar day.
In a game suspended by darkness, weather or other
causes and resumed the following calendar day, the pitchers of record at the
time the game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of the remaining
eligibility for that game.
h. A player may not pitch in consecutive games
within any level of tournament play. Levels are District, Section, Division,
State, Region and World Series. Note: A contest decided by forfeit does not
constitute a "game" for the purposes of this rule, unless at least one
complete inning was physically played before the game was forfeited. (Forfeits
are only by decree of the Tournament Committee in Williamsport).
EXCEPTION: A player may pitch in consecutive
games if only one (1) inning was pitched in the previous game.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to bring the 9 and 10 Division pitching rules in
line with the other levels of play. However, 9 and 10 year olds would be limited
to 6 innings per game.
Item 17 – Rule 9. MANDATORY
PLAY – Would affect Junior and Senior Baseball and Softball tournament play
Should Tournament Rule 9. MANDATORY PLAY be
amended to read:
Every player on a team roster shall participate in each game for a minimum of
three (3) consecutive defensive outs OR bat at least one (1) time.
Clarification
The intent of this change is to require mandatory play at the Junior and Senior
tournament level.
Item 18 - Rule 10. SUBSTITUTIONS
– Would affect Junior, Senior and Big League Baseball and Softball tournament
play.
Should Tournament Rule 10. SUBSTITUTIONS
be amended to read:
c. Any player who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game
once, in the SAME position in the batting order.
Clarification
This change allows substitutes to re-enter the game in Junior, Senior and Big
League. Additionally, managers will have more opportunity to get players in the
game.
Item 19 - Rule 13. REGULATION
GAME – Would affect all levels of baseball and softball tournament play
Should Tournament Rule 13. REGULATION GAME
be amended to read:
Each tournament game must be played to the point of being a complete game:
Complete game is one that is played a full six
(6) innings [five and one-half (5 ½) if the home team is ahead]; seven (7)
innings [six and one-half (6 ½) if the home team is ahead in Junior/Senior/Big
League].
b. Suspended games [a winner cannot be determined
when six (6) full innings have been played; seven (7) full innings for
Junior/Senior/Big League] terminated because of weather, darkness or curfew,
must be resumed. A game suspended or delayed by weather that may still be
resumed before darkness or curfew on the same day should be continued until the
game is completed.
Clarification
This change requires all games to be played to the point of a complete game. A
complete game is a full six (6) innings [five and one-half (5 ½)
if the home team is ahead] in Little League; seven (7) innings [six and one-half
(6 ½) if the home team is ahead] in Junior, Senior and Big League.
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