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A common complaint in past years from our Major League Managers is that players entering the Majors are still unable to execute certain basic skills of the game. This year, each Manager and Coach in our junior leagues is being challenged to ensure that players are being taught the necessary skills, techniques and understanding of the game of baseball so that when they enter the Major League level through the draft they possess and will have demonstrated sufficient performance of the fundamentals to allow for a truly competitive environment. With respect to teaching your Major League players, your focus should be towards refining the skills and talents of individual players with a strong emphasis on consistency. Often the difference between an average player and a good player is the ability to consistently execute the required fundamentals. A few basic examples of this are: Player consistently being in the "ready position" just prior to the pitcher's delivery. Outfielders consistently backing up the infield and each other. Making sure infielders consistently break towards their respective bags after the pitch has been delivered and caught by the catcher. While many of your players will have been taught these basic skills, what they often lack is the discipline to consistently execute them. As a Major League Manager and Coach, developing your players to the point where they consistently execute the fundamentals should be on the top of your priority list. Accomplishing this will without question provide you with a more competitive team. As a final point of reference, it is an objective of the Great Falls Little League Board to provide a training session to all Manager's and Coaches prior to the start of the season for each of our levels of play (Tee Ball through Majors) which will provide a basis for - What and How - to teach the numerous skills, techniques and fundamentals of the game. Our goal is to ensure that in our role as "Instructors" we are all delivering the same message to our players. This is not intended to restrict the individual contributions of our talented Managers and Coaches. It is however, intended to serve as a baseline for providing a consistent reinforcement of the necessary fundamentals.
1. Hitting
2. Base Running
3. Fielding
4. Throwing
5. Catching
6. Pitching
No new inning will begin after two hours and fifteen minutes (2:15) have elapsed from the scheduled start time of the game unless, in the sole judgment of the umpire in charge, a delay in the start of the game is unavoidable. In the case of a delay in the start of the game, this time limit is extended to no more than two hours and thirty minutes (2:30) from the scheduled "START TIME." A new inning begins immediately after the third out in the bottom of the prior inning. Any inning starting prior to this time limit will be played in full subject to darkness or weather as determined by the umpire in charge. Umpires will enforce the 60-second rule between innings for all games. This limit will apply to all weekend games regardless of whether there is a game following. Weeknight games will have no time limit other than the "no new inning" limit of 10:00 p.m. prescribed by Little League Official Playing Rules. Face Protection All batting helmets (including personal helmets) MUST bear the NOCSAE stamp and be equipped with face protection (either cage or C-flap) and worn at all times while batting, on the base paths and by players coaching bases. The NOCSAE requirements of Rule 1.16 are explicitly associated with helmets provided by the league while this rule, for sound safety reasons, also includes and applies to "personal" helmets. Pitching Week The pitching week will be Monday thru Sunday. Batting Order The batting order will consist of the nine players in the game at any one time. Substitutes must take the place of the replaced player’s position in the batting order except as covered by Rule 3.03. Three Inning Minimum All players will play a minimum of 3 full innings in the field (9 outs) and will bat at least once. The 3 innings minimum is a local GFLL rule (the national rule is a minimum of 2 innings in the field and one at-bat). Re-entry: When a starting player is removed from the game for a substitute, the starter may not re-enter the game until his/her substitute has played 6 outs in the field and has batted at least once. A non-starter, once in the game, must meet the minimum playing requirement (3 innings in the field, one at-bat) before he/she may be removed from the game. Once a non-starter is removed from the game, he/she may not re-enter the game. Only starting players, once substituted for, may re-enter the game; but they may re-enter only once. A starter who has been substituted for in accordance with the above rule (substitute played 6 outs, 1 at-bat), may re-enter the game as a substitute for the following players: Another starter who had not been substituted for yet. A non-starter who has fulfilled his/her minimum playing requirement of 3 full innings in the field and one at-bat. A starter who has re-entered the game as a substitute and has fulfilled his/her minimum playing requirement of 3 full innings in the field and one at-bat. Slaughter Rule - 10 Runs This rule is in force in our league as described in Rule 4.10(e). In the event the slaughter rule takes effect, the 3 inning minimum participation rule will be reduced for each inning not played. On-field Coaches The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time at bat, one occupying the first base coach’s box and one occupying the third base coach’s box. One or both coaches may be roster team members, or they may be the manager and/or roster coaches – as long as one roster adult is in the dugout at all times. On-field coaches will not leave the dugout and occupy their positions until all warm-ups are fully completed. The defensive team’s manager and coaches must remain in the dugout at all times unless time is out and they are invited to leave the dugout by an umpire. Base Coaches Making "Safe" Call on a Play A Base Coach (adult or player) making a "safe" call in an attempt to influence the outcome of a play is considered by Little League Rules to be in violation of the Unsportsmanlike Conduct rule and therefore is subject to ejection. It is the objective of this local rule modification to create awareness among the Coaches so that this behavior is eliminated. An Umpire witnessing this act will provide one warning to that Base Coach. On the second offense during that game, the Umpire will require that Coach be replaced. The offending Coach must perform his or her coaching responsibilities from the bench for the remainder of that game. All 2nd offenses will be reported to the Board of Directors for review. Reschedules and Forfeits A manager has up to 72 hours prior to the scheduled start of any game to notify the League Commissioner that he expects a problem fielding the minimum nine (9) players for that game. In that case the game can be rescheduled. The League Commissioner will make the determination. The manager can appeal the League Commissioner’s decision to the Board. After the 72 hour point, any team which cannot field nine (9) players, unless due to player injury or illness, will forfeit that game. Except in the last two weeks of the season (and even then with restrictions), a lower division player cannot be "brought up" to fill out a roster to avoid a forfeit (see "Roster Changes" below). It is incumbent on each player and his/her parents to notify the manager as soon as possible when there is a possibility that a player may not be able to participate in a game. Roster Changes No roster changes may take place without the expressed, prior, written consent of the Player Agent and approval from the Board of Directors. No manager, coach, or individual acting on behalf of any manager or team shall contact other managers, coaches, players, or parents of players of any other team, regardless of division, with the intent to replace or recruit for said individual’s team. When a team opening occurs, other than during the last two weeks of the season and during the playoffs, which causes a team roster to fall below the twelve player minimum, the manager shall notify the Player Agent of the opening. The Player Agent will provide an appropriate number of replacement players from a lower league from which the manager may choose a player to fill the roster opening. This must occur within one week from the Player Agent being notified of the roster opening. The replacement candidates will be a recommendation of that player’s manager based on age and ability considerations. The player moving up may not return to his/her previous division. During the last two weeks of the regular season and the playoffs only, managers will be allowed to "bring up and borrow" players, as follows. The Player Agent will develop a list of players eligible for "bring up and borrow." That list will include players of league age 10, 11 and 12 only. In the event a manager needs a player, that manager must contact the Player Agent. The Player Agent will assign the top player on the list to that team for the game in question. The manager will not have the opportunity to choose the player. Any player assigned in this manner will be a full member of the team for that game, and as such that player will be subject to the minimum participation rules. Once used in a game, the assigned player returns to the bottom of the list. Field Preparation Diligence in field maintenance by all those involved with Little League is critical to the safety of the children and playability of the fields. The home team is responsible for pre-game field preparation. This consists of raking the dirt portions of the infield, filling in any holes (especially the pitchers rubber, mound, and batters box areas), and lining the batters box and foul lines. Following the game, the visiting team is responsible for filling in any holes (especially the pitcher's rubber, mound, and batters box areas) and raking the dirt off the grass lip of the infield back onto the infield. Official Scorebook The scorebook kept by the designated home team shall be the official book. Exchange of Pitching Information Prior to the start of the game, Managers will exchange pitcher information, detailing who has used eligible innings in that pitching week and who has eligible innings remaining. Catcher Head/Face Protection on Field At any time a Catcher is practicing or playing their defensive position (including during pre-game warm-ups and Bull-pen) the Catcher must wear his or her Helmet/Mask, including the "dangling" type throat protector. Pitching Bull-Pen Warm-ups During Game If a Pitcher is to warm up in the Bull-Pen during a game, only another Roster player wearing proper protection may catch. Additionally, a Roster Player with a glove and wearing a Batting Helmet must be stationed as a "protector" to prevent batted or thrown balls from accidentally hitting the Pitcher/Catcher in the Bull-Pen. On-Deck Batters Between Innings, the offensive team is allowed only ONE Batter with a Bat to be outside the dugout preparing to Bat. Operation of Field Lights If the Timer is not functioning properly at Nike Field and the field lights do not come on, it is the responsibility of the Home Team to turn on the Lights and the Visiting Team to turn the lights off.
 © 2006 Great Falls Little League, All Rights Reserved
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