Baseball Instruction/Junior League Softball

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Expert: - 8/23/2010


Question
It is my understanding every player on the team has to play. This did not happen in the title game and the ending results were allowed to stand.. Is there no penalty for ignoring this rule?  As it turns out from the recent ruling, evidently not so the rule should be removed.

Answer
Jack,

I am not sure if there was or was not a player who did not receive mandatory play (I was not in town and did not see the game on ESPN2).  What I can tell you is if this was the case, the results would probably stand. Here's why:

A few years ago Little League changed the penalty phase in regards to mandatory play. It used to be that if you didn't play a child their mandatory play and it was caught, that game was disqualified. Little League didn't want to penalize the players because the manager can't follow the rules, so now, instead of a disqualification, the team wins, but the manager receives a two-game suspension.

Also, it is up to the opposing manager to catch the fact.  If the opposing manager did not catch it and did not protest, then the results would stand.

I hope this has helped.

-Martin Hoover

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Martin Hoover

Expertise

Questions regarding the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball and Softball. Questions regarding the history and organization of Little League Baseball at local, state, regional, and international levels. Advise regarding certain operational procedures and recommendations to Local League representatives.

Experience

Volunteer Little League Umpire since 2000; 2003 Little League, Junior League, Senior League and Big League Softball European Regional Umpire; 2005 Little League Softball Western Regional Umpire; Member- Hesperia National(Hesperia, CA) Little League Board of Directors(2003-2004); President- Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors(2005-Present); 2007 Junior Softball Western Regional Umpire

Organizations
Little League Baseball, Inc is the main operational center. I fall under Little League Western Region, and California District 49. I currently serve as President of the Hesperia National Little League Board of Directors.

Education/Credentials
Western Regional Junior Umpire School(2000)(Named Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Region Area); Instructor - Little League Baseball Western Regional Outreach Clinics

Awards and Honors
Outstanding Junior Umpire of the Western Regional Area(2000)

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