2010 International Tournament FAQ's

As of 6-26-10

The following is a list of questions a typical league might ask while preparing for the 2010 International Tournament. Following most answers is the topic and page number in the Officials Rules and Regulations, and the Tournament Rules and Guidelines to which officials can turn for more information. If you have additional questions regarding tournament play, please do not hesitate to contact your District Administrator.

PART A – GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE / REGULATION / AFFIDAVIT QUESTIONS

1. Can a President “resign” and then manage or coach a Tournament Team, or would a waiver be required?
   1. A: Any person who is currently the league President or any person who served as the league President at any time during the year/season is required to have a waiver approved by Williamsport to manage/coach a Tournament team. (Tournament Regulation on Managers and Coaches)
2. Can our league appoint a person to manage or coach a team in the International Tournament if that person was not a manager or coach in that division during the regular season?
   1. A: No. The manager/coaches of the Tournament Team must be rostered managers/coaches from that division during the regular season.
      
      Note: A manager or coach, for instance, of a Senior League Softball division regular season team that includes 13-16-year-old players, would be permitted to coach or manage the Junior League Softball Tournament Team. However, that manager or coach could not be appointed as the manager or coach of the Major Softball Tournament Team. If none of the Major Softball managers or coaches are interested in coaching the team, then the local league Board of Directors may request a waiver from the Tournament Committee to name a rostered coach/manager from a different level. The waiver request must include the written statements from each of the Majors managers and coaches, clearly documenting that they are not interested in the position. (Tournament Regulation on Managers and Coaches)
3. What is the minimum number of players that is required on a team affidavit?
   1. A: Nine players is the minimum number of players required for a game to be played. However, Little League encourages all local leagues to carry the maximum number of players allowed in order to give as many children as possible the opportunity to participate and experience the International Tournament. (Rule 1.01, page 45 Baseball; page 43 Softball)
4. If a league age eight (8) player played “up” in a local league 9-10 player pitch division, can that player play on the league’s 9-10 Tournament Team?
   1. A: No. A player must be league age nine (9) or league age ten (10) to participate on the 9-10-Year-Old Tournament Team. Players must be of the proper league age to participate on any Tournament Team. (Tournament Rule, Player Eligibility)
5. Do games played as a Pool Player during the season count towards a player’s 60 percent participation requirement?
   1. A: No. The only games that count towards the 60 percent participation requirement for a player are the regular season games he/she played with his/her regular season team. The Tournament Affidavit documentation requires that the number of games played by each team be listed and that the number of games played by the player while playing for his/her team be recorded. The 60 percent participation level is based on these two numbers. (Tournament Affidavit – Games Played by June 15)
6. If a league charters a regular season Senior League softball program of 13-16 year olds, can the league offer a Junior League Softball tournament team?
   1. A: Yes. The players’ participation in the Senior League qualifies them for the Junior League tournament provided they meet the age, participation, and residency requirements. (Page T-7, NOTE 2)
7. How exactly is the “school exception” documented/calculated towards the 60 percent participation requirement?
   1. A: Registered Little League players who are on the rosters of local school teams are given an exemption from participating in their Little League games that are played while the player is a member of the school team. Many schools do not allow their players to participate in other programs while the school season is in progress. As such, the local league is allowed to only count those games played before or after completion of the school schedule towards the required participation percentage.
      
      For example: A player registers at the start of the season to play Junior Baseball but prior to the start of local league play the player is placed on the roster of the high school Junior Varsity (JV) team. The JV team practices/plays through May 31. To be eligible for the Tournament Team the player would need to play in 60 percent of the team’s scheduled games between June 1 and June 15. However, if the player does not register until after the school season is over, the “school exemption” does not apply. The exemption only applies to the Little League games missed because of school play “while the player was a member” of a Little League team. (Tournament Eligibility Affidavit, page T-3)
      
      NOTE: As specified above, a player must be a registered member of the local Little League during his/her participation on the school baseball/softball team in order to take advantage of the “school exception.” However, in this specific instance in 2010, the Tournament Committee in Williamsport will continue to consider a request for a waiver. To apply for the waiver, the local league Board of Directors would be requesting to make a player eligible for selection to a Tournament Team when such player failed to register for the league before he/she had a chance to meet the 60 percent requirement. The request may only be submitted if the player, 1. Was a member of the school team; and, 2. Would otherwise have been able to take advantage of the “school exception” if he/she had registered in the league on time.
8. Under the heading of Residence Eligibility Requirements in the rule books, there is a sentence that says, “...Residency documents must illustrate that the residence (as defined above) was inside the league’s boundaries for at least one-half of the regular season (as of June 15 of the year in question).” Does this also apply to players that are claimed under Regulation II (d) and Regulation IV (h)?
   1. A: No. These waivers allow the players to participate while residing outside the league’s boundaries, but only under specific, documented, and verifiable situations. (Residence Eligibility Requirements, pages 14 and 15 Baseball; pages 14 and 15 Softball)
9. For Regulation II (d) and Regulation IV (h) waivers, what addresses are we required to verify or certify?
   1. A: The league President must verify and document the eligibility of a child who is claimed under Regulation II (d) or Regulation IV (h) by producing documentation proving that the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian previously lived in the league’s boundaries during the specific dates required for eligibility. For a Regulation IV (h) Waiver, the league President will be required to document that the parent(s) or legal guardian lived in the boundaries and was a board member, manager or coach for the two years or more when they lived in the boundaries, and was a board member, manager or coach, and has remained so since that time without breaking service. For a Regulation II (d) Waiver, the league President will be required to document that the parent(s) or legal guardian lived in the boundaries while the child was a rostered player in the league, then moved out of the boundaries, but the child has maintained a rostered position in the league since that time. (Regulation II [d] and Regulation IV [h])
10. What type of map (required to be carried by the tournament team manager) is acceptable? Can it be hand-drawn? Does it have to show streets, highways, etc.?
    1. A: The Tournament Team manager must obtain the league boundary map, signed by the District Administrator and the league president, prior to the start of the tournament. The map may be hand drawn and must use physical structures (such as a road), or a geographic feature (such as a river) to determine boundaries. A team without a map is subject to protest. (Tournament Eligibility Affidavit, Page T-4 Softball T-5 Baseball)
11. What forms or documents are required to be carried by the manager with the team while playing in tournament games?
    1. A: Copies of birth documents for all players, completed affidavits with all required signatures, eligibility waivers for participants otherwise ineligible, three forms of residency documentation and the league’s boundary map are all required. (Tournament Eligibility Affidavit, page T-4 Softball T-5 Baseball)
12. After June 15 but before their first tournament game, our 9-10 Tournament team wants to practice/scrimmage with a team of the same age group from a neighboring league. Is that legal?
    1. A: Yes. The 2010 Little League Congress supported, and the Tournament Committee approved, the amendment that now allows leagues to practice against leagues in the same and contiguous districts, after June 15. The regulation printed on page T-9 of the 2010 Official Regulations and Playing Rules has been superseded by this action.
       
13. Our team is losing a player right after the third game of the tournament. This player will not be back for any more tournament games. Who can authorize the replacement player and what documentation do we have to produce to get the replacement player on the team’s affidavit?
    1. A: The District Administrator or Tournament Director can authorize the addition of the replacement player to the team’s affidavit. The league would be required to produce:
    2. 1. A birth certificate that meets the current criteria;
    3. 2. Three forms of proof that meet residency requirements;
    4. 3. The league’s boundary map, annotated with residence of the new player, and;
    5. 4. Verification by the league president that the player participated in at least 60 percent of the regular season games as of June 15. (Replacement of Player, Manager or Coach, page T-8)
14. Can a player on a Tournament Team be moved up to play with a different Tournament Team providing he/she is eligible? For example, can a league age eleven (11) player who played majors during the season and was on the 10-11 Tournament team be moved up to the 11-12 Tournament team if there is an injury to one of the 11-12 players?
    1. A: No. Players may only be selected for one (1) Tournament team in a season. (Page T-7, CONDITION 3)
15. In 9-10, 10-11, Majors and Juniors, is each child on a tournament team affidavit required to participate in each and every game during tournament play? What about a player who is not at the game?
    1. A: Every player on a team roster and present at the start of a game shall participate in that game for a minimum of three (3) consecutive defensive outs AND bat at least one (1) time.
       
       Definition: Three (3) consecutive defensive outs is when a player enters the field in one of nine defensive positions when his/her team is on defense and occupies such position while three consecutive outs are made; bat at least one (1) time is when a player enters the batter’s box with no count and completes that time at bat by being put out or by reaching base safely. (Mandatory Play, Baseball, T-17. Softball, T-15)
16. In Little League Baseball and Softball, how many doubleheaders can a District Administrator schedule for my teams during any level of tournament play?
    1. A: The District Administrator must receive approval from their respective Regional Office to schedule any doubleheaders in the 9-10, 10-11, or Little League Major Division. The Region may limit SCHEDULED doubleheaders to not more than two per team, per tournament level. This means that no team should be SCHEDULED to play more than two doubleheaders in a given tournament level. Doubleheaders may not be scheduled for 9-10 and 10-11 Baseball and 9-10 and 10-11 Softball unless forced by weather or some other unavoidable occurrence. (Schedules, page T-8 Softball T-9 Baseball
17. The manager of the tournament team files a protest with the tournament director that the other team has a player that is ineligible. The manager provides some documentation that a player is ineligible. What happens at this point?
    1. A: The Tournament Director, after reviewing the documentation, contacts the Regional Office, which then contacts the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee would consider the protest and provide direction to the Regional Office and Tournament Director. (Protests, pages T-10, -12 Softball, and T-11- 13 Baseball)
18. May an opposing team request to see documentation for another team?
    1. A: No. Each team must carry proper documentation such as copies of birth certificates and league boundary maps, but this information should only be made available to the Tournament Director in the case of a protest, at the direction of the Tournament Committee. (Tournament Eligibility Affidavit, page T-4 Softball T-5 Baseball)
19. What happens when one team is at the tournament site with enough players to start the game, and the other team does not show up for game time, or does not have at least nine players present?
    1. A: First, it is NOT an automatic forfeiture. Only the Tournament Committee can decree a forfeit, and ONLY AFTER the circumstances of the situation are known. The District Administrator or Tournament Director should determine why the team cannot field nine players. The DA/TD should then call and report the information to the applicable Regional Office. (Tournament Regulation on Starting Time of Games)
20. Downtown Little League has 13 players on its affidavit, and all are present and in uniform for a game against Neartown Little League. Downtown Little League is thus permitted to have one manager and two coaches. The manager for Downtown Little League gets ejected during the game, leaving the two coaches to supervise the team for the balance of that game (with one acting as manager for that game). Because of the ejection, the manager is suspended from the team’s next game. Can Downtown Little League name another person as a temporary replacement for the manager for their next game?
    1. A: No. Even if Downtown Little League meets the requirement for having 13 or more players present at the start of the next game, part of the penalty for ejection is to reduce by one the number of adults leading the team. In this case, Downtown Little League’s team must play their next game with only two adults, one acting as manager. (Rule T-8)
21. The manager of a tournament team is ejected from the first game of the tournament. Again, in the third game of the tournament, the same manager is ejected. This second ejection, however, is for making contact with an umpire during a verbal altercation. Can the Tournament Director remove the manager from the team for the rest of the tournament?
    1. A: No. Rule 4.07 disqualifies any manager, coach or player from the next physically played game if he/she is ejected from a game. Rule 16 allows the District Administrator or Tournament Director to refer physical or verbal altercations at the game site to the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee may remove or suspend any individual from tournament play, and its decision is final and binding. However, in this situation, the manager’s own local league Board of Directors also could remove the manager from the team. (Altercations, Baseball page T-19. Softball T-18)
22. Can a District Administrator or Tournament Director forfeit a tournament game?
    1. A: No. Only the Tournament Committee in Williamsport can decree a forfeit. (Tournament Regulation on Forfeits)

1. What are the curfews for the various age groups?
   1. A: The 2010 Little League Congress supported, and the Tournament Committee approved, revising curfews to the following:
      
      Majors and below - 12 p.m. (midnight); Juniors - 12:30 a.m.; Seniors and Big League - 1 a.m.
2. Juniors and below: Can a starter be removed from a game before he/she completes his/her mandatory play requirements.
   1. A: A starter may be removed before he/she meets the mandatory play requirements. However, that player still must meet the minimum requirement to play three consecutive defensive outs and one at bat prior to the completion of the game. This is the responsibility of the manager. However, a substitute may not be removed prior to completion of his/her mandatory play requirements. (Rule T-10)
3. Major Baseball and below: Our team has a doubleheader, can my pitcher deliver five pitches in the first game and then come back to pitch in the second game?
   1. A: No. A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (T-14 [f])
      
      NOTE: Regional Office approval is required for a doubleheader in the 9-10, 10-11, and Major Division Tournaments.
4. All Divisions: Rule 1.10 was rewritten for both baseball and softball to include the wording “The bat must be a baseball bat.....” or “The bat must be a softball bat....” What should the umpires be looking for when they check equipment prior to the start of the game?
   1. A: The umpire should be looking for the words “baseball” on a bat being used in a baseball game and “softball” on a bat being used in a softball game. The umpires will have to use their judgment on bats with no markings on them. Bats that say “baseball” must not be used in a softball game, and bats marked “softball” must not be used in a baseball game. See rule 4.19 concerning the use of illegal equipment in games.
5. All Divisions: It is the bottom of the fifth inning when the skies open up and a torrential downpour washes out the rest of the fifth inning and the entire sixth inning. What do we do now?
   1. A: If a natural occurrence (rain, darkness if no lights are available, etc.) halts a game, and it cannot be restarted that day, and it has reached the point of a regulation game when a winner can be determined, the game is over. However, if the game is halted by light failure, a locally imposed curfew on the lights, sprinkler malfunction, or some other human-error condition, it must be suspended and resumed the next available day. Tournament Directors should be advised to allow enough time to complete all games by the curfew imposed locally, if earlier than Little League’s curfew, but that such local curfew will not end the game. (Regulation Game, Baseball, page T-19. Softball, page T-18)
      
      Example 1: Team A is winning 9-0 after five full innings on a lighted field at night, and because of a locally imposed curfew, the lights must be turned out. In this case, the teams must return the next available day to complete the game.
      
      Example 2: Team A is winning at dusk 9-0 after five full innings on a field that has lights, which were presumed to be working and available for the game. However, the lights cannot be turned on because lightning hit them earlier in the day (a malfunction). In this case, the teams must return the next available day to complete the game.
6. All Divisions: At the end of the fifth inning, the home team is leading 5-4. The visiting team scores three runs to take the lead, 7-5 in the top of the sixth. The umpire calls the game because of darkness before the home team completes its turn at bat in the bottom of the sixth, and the home team has not retaken the lead. What is the outcome of the game?
   1. A: The game must be resumed if the visiting team ties the game or takes the lead in their half of the inning and the home team does not complete their at bat or take the lead in an incomplete inning. (Note Congress Rule change - Rule T-13[d])
7. All Divisions: The manager of the offensive team has requested a “time out” to discuss strategy with the batter. Two batters later in the same inning, he again wants “time out” to discuss strategy with a base runner.
   1. A: This should not be permitted. Only ONE offensive time out is permitted each half inning. However, a manager could have more than one time out in an inning for offensive substitutions, or to tend to an injured player. The rule’s intent is to limit time spent in offensive conferences. (Visits, Baseball page T-17. Softball, page T-15.)
8. All Divisions: The defensive manager requests and is granted a time out to talk to his pitcher. Can the offensive manager, talk to the batter or runner during this time out?
   1. A: If one team calls for and receives a time out to confer with a player, it will be charged with a time out or visit. At this time, the opposing team may also confer without being charged with a time out or visit, provided the team is ready when the opponent concludes the time out or visit. (Visits, Baseball page T-17. Softball, page T-15)
9. All Baseball Divisions: Player A catches the 1st, 2nd and one pitch in the 3rd inning. Player A is moved to pitcher and pitches a total of 40 pitches in the 3rd and 4th innings and is removed. Can Player A be moved back to catcher for the remainder of the game?
   1. A: Yes. Player A only caught for three (3) innings prior to moving to pitcher (which is legal). Player A then threw 40 or less pitches (which allows the pitcher to be moved to catcher). As such, the player is now eligible to be moved back to catcher for the remainder of the game. (NEW Tournament Regulation VI [a] and VI [c] Note 1)
10. All Divisions: A player is injured and is removed from the game. There is no doctor or medical personnel at the game site. Can the player be re-entered into the game later?
    1. A: Yes, provided the player who replaced the injured player has met the Minimum Play requirement before being removed and the injured player is being re-entered into the same place in the batting order. If there is no doctor/medical personnel available, the decision on whether or not an injured player is able to return to the game is up to the team manager. (Tournament Rule T-8)
11. All Divisions: In the third inning the defensive manager enters #35 into the game for #10. In the fifth inning the same manager re-enters #10 back into the game for #35. Then in the sixth inning the manager now wants to enter #35 into the game for #55 at second base. Can he legally do this?
    1. A: This would be considered an improper substitution and cannot be allowed to happen. The umpires, scorekeepers, game officials all should not allow this to happen. Player #35 cannot re-enter in a different batting spot in the lineup, he/she it “tied” to his/her original spot in the order. Remember that an improper substitution is basis for a protest, but will not result in a forfeit. The solution is to correct the situation, and play on. All actions by the substitute up to that point are legal.
       
       This is different from an ineligible pitcher, which can result in forfeiture. ALL Little League personnel, including all managers and coaches, the Tournament Director, scorekeeper and umpires, should PREVENT such a situation before it happens.
       
       NOTE 1: Batting out of order, which can result in an “out” being declared on the proper batter, the batter-runner being removed from the base, and the next batter in order coming up to bat, should NOT be reported by any Little League official to either team’s managers or coaches.
       
       NOTE 2: It is possible to have an improper substitution AND batting out of order, if a batter (who is already in the batting order elsewhere) is sent to the plate as an improper substitution for another player. In this event, the batting out of order penalty is applied, but the protest should be avoided, if possible, before the batter takes a pitch. (Substitutions, Baseball page T-18. Softball, page T-16) (This was updated on June 27, 2010.)
12. All Divisions: In the third inning the defensive manager enters #35 into the game for #10. In the fifth inning the same manager enters #12 back into the game for #35. That would result in three players in the same spot in the batting order, is that allowed?
    1. A: This is allowed. There is no restriction on how many players can legally be tied to the same place in the batting order. Depending on the number of players on a roster and each meeting the Minimum Play requirement it is possible to have three or more players tied to the same spot in the batting order. (Substitutions, Baseball page T-18. Softball, page T-16)
13. ALL Divisions: Going into the bottom of the 4th, Andy, Brian, and Carl are scheduled to bat. The manager informs the plate umpire/official scorekeeper at the start of the half inning that when Carl comes to bat, Zach will be entering for Carl. Andy bats and singles. The manager wants to use Carl as a Special Pinch Runner. Can he do that?
    1. A: No. Offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base. Carl is still in the line-up as his turn to bat has yet to come up. Therefore, he cannot be utilized as a Special Pinch Runner. (Tournament Rule 10.d and Special Pinch Runner Rule 7.14)
14. Junior/Senior/Big League Baseball and all divisions of Softball: In the second inning the manager of the defensive team moves the pitcher into left field and brings the left fielder in to pitch. Then in the fifth inning the manager wants to reverse the procedure and bring back the original pitcher. Can this be done?
    1. A: A pitcher could pitch to the first batter in the third inning, then be moved to left field for the rest of that inning and two more innings, then return to the mound to pitch the sixth inning. It is not necessary that the pitcher be returned to the mound in the same inning in which he/she was removed. Provided he/she is not removed from the game for a substitute, he/she could return to the mound any time, but not more than once per game for baseball and once per inning for softball. (Substitutions, page T-16 and T-18 or pitching, Baseball T-13 and T-14, Softball T-13 and T-14)
15. Juniors and below: If my starting pitcher (“Player A”) is due to bat, can I replace him/her with another player (“Player B”), only for the purpose of batting, then bring “Player A” back in to pitch in the next half-inning?
    1. A: No. In those divisions, “Player B” is a substitute and must complete one at bat and must play defensively for three consecutive outs before being removed. After that, “Player A” could re-enter the game, in the same position in the batting order. (Rule T-10(c))
16. Juniors and below: “Player A” was in the starting lineup (not a pitcher) and completed the mandatory play requirement before being removed for “Player B” in the third inning. “Player B” is moved to the mound and pitches the third and fourth innings, and bats in the fourth as well. In the fifth inning, it is “Player B’s” turn at bat. Could “Player A” be inserted as a batter, and could “Player B” then return to the mound as pitcher in the next half-inning?
    1. A: Yes. Because “Player B” was not physically replaced on the mound, and because both “Player A” and “Player B” had previously met the requirements of mandatory play during the game, “Player A” could re-enter as a batter (or pinch-runner) for Player B. (Rule T-10(c) NOTE 2)
17. Juniors and below: “Player A” is the starting shortstop and completes the mandatory play requirement before being removed for “Player B” in the third inning. “Player B” completes his mandatory play. In the fourth inning, the manager uses Rule 7.14 (Special Pinch Runner) to replace “Player B” on the basepaths with “Player C,” which can only happen once for “Player B” in the game. Now, in the sixth inning, could “Player A” again run for “Player B” without having to remain in the game defensively?
    1. A: Yes, although it is very limiting because it allows only “Player A” to run for “Player B.” (Rule T-10(b) and (d))
18. Junior and Senior Baseball: What are the pitching requirements for a league age 14 year old?
    1. A: Fourteen year olds on a Junior team are subject to the pitching requirements for the Junior League (page T-13)
       Fourteen year olds playing on a Senior team are subject to the pitching requirements for the Senior League. (page T-15)
19. All Divisions: If our team wins our District Tournament on a Wednesday and our Sectional Tournament starts on that Friday can a pitcher who pitched Wednesday in the District Tournament pitch on Friday in the Sectional Tournament?
    1. A: In order for a pitcher to pitch in any game in the Tournament, he/she must meet the days rest requirement based on his/her league age and the number of pitches (baseball) or innings (softball) pitched in his/her last game pitched. The answer to the above would be “Yes” if the pitcher requires one or no days rest and “No” if two or more days rest is required. (Tournament Pitching Regulation)
20. All Divisions: If a manager lodges a protest and he/she does not agree with the ruling of the umpire(s) can the manager refuse to allow his/her team to continue to play?
    1. A: A manager may lodge a protest in accordance with the Tournament Rules and Guidelines. If the manager does not agree with the ruling of the umpire(s) then his/her team can refuse to continue playing until such protest has been resolved, (A) to the satisfaction of the manager, or, (B) by the Tournament Committee in Williamsport, the decision of which shall be final and binding. However, if the manager, FOR ANY REASON, allows the game to continue without having the matter referred to the Regional Office or the Tournament Committee in Williamsport, the manager has accepted the decision that was made at the local level. (Tournament Affidavit)