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Baseball Instruction/Questions Answered by Expert Martin Hoover
| Subject | Date Asked |
| FPSB | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: Out or not??? Batter up, runners on 1st and 3rd. Batter hits fair and ball gets intercepted by SS ... A: Tricia; As long as the release of the ball was "deliberate and intentional" then the out should ... | |
| Interference | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: Okay so here's the situation. This is little league 9 year old baseball Bases are loaded 1 out. ... A: Heather, The first question we have to ask is whether the interference was intentional or not. If ... | |
| How would you rule? | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: Level of Play: Little League Majors (All-Star Tournament) The situation: Runners on first and second ... A: John, The umpires got the call correct. Seeing as the batter-runner needs to go somewhere (1st ... | |
| infield pop fly | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: There was a infield pop fly(little league) the pitcher was the closest and tried to catch the ... A: Nathan, If there are runners on first and second, or first, second and third with less than two ... | |
| little league allstars | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know, if my son is playing little league allstars is it still okay to play travel ... A: Norman, He can participate in both. HOWEVER, if the Board of Directors or the manager of the Little ... | |
| All-Star Eligibility for Little League | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I'm getting many conflicting answers regarding the 60% rule for Little League All Star eligibility. ... A: Chris, Contact your District Administrator or the Western Regional Director in this instance. They ... | |
| playing rule! | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: if the home team is ahead at the end of the top of the 6th inning and does not come up to bat is ... A: Todd, This is not considered to be a shortened game in reference to the Mandatory Play Rule. ... | |
| Little League Baserunning Situation | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: Situation is: Runners on second and third with one out. A fly ball is hit to LF who makes a clean ... A: Brian, This is an appeal play. If said appeal is made prior to the next pitch, play or attempted ... | |
| mercy rule in LL | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: Today our Junior division little league played a double header. Each game was to be a five inning ... A: Debra, First, Little League states you cannot impose a time limit, or limited game, so the games ... | |
| Batter/Runner hit by Catcher on way to first | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I ran across an interesting/difficult play during my son's junior major game today. Here's the ... A: Art, The ball remains live and in play if the catcher hits the runner with an thrown ball. As for ... | |
| All Star Eligibility | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: Good evening Martin, If 10 year old boy is playing in the Little League majors division for the ... A: Ray, A 10 year old player SHOULD HAVE NEVER PLAYED IN THE JUNIOR DIVISION. I would say that would ... | |
| Batting out of turn | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: Little league, continuous batting order, regular season. Toward the end of our opponent's lineup, ... A: Jim, In your situation, Batter B would have just been replaced by Batter A, and Batter A would have ... | |
| Half swing and a stolen base | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: I'm a catcher and there is a left handed batter up to bat at home plate and he did a half swing, ... A: Nate, The plate umpire is the one that initiates a check swing call. Even if you want a check, the ... | |
| home plate umpire | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Hoover, can an umpire touch or lean on a catcher? I'm a catcher and our umpire was hit hard in the ... A: Eric, We instruct umpires to never touch a catcher. Umpires in the professional level will keep a ... | |
| Majors Division - Replacement Players | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: I had an eleven year old get injured in the first game of the season. His prognosis is to be out ... A: Mark, If a player is removed from the roster they are considered released from the team, therefore, ... | |
| tie game/extra innings | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: I'm a commissioner for 9-10 & 11-12yo Dixie Youth. Home team showed score of 7v-6h, visitors showed ... A: Randy, I am not familiar with Dixie Youth rules, but I will give you the Umpire Common Sense ... | |
| Tag Up Foul Ball | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: Bases loaded. One out. Pop up in foul territory by third base bag in infield. Caught by third ... A: Kevin, Tagging up is tagging up, regardless of where the ball is hit to. If the runner on third ... | |
| Interference | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: What is the proper call when the on deck batter steps out of the circle, arm raised in an attempt to ... A: Dabs, It would be the judgement of the umpire as whether or not this would be interference. If it ... | |
| little luegue pitchers | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: This question Is in regards to an 11 year old Player in the minor league division.the Saïd Player ... A: Martin, The Little League rules state that a player must try out. I would recommend that you ... | |
| back ground checks | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: What type of guidelines should the league have in place for running background checks on coaches? ... A: Jerry, Each league has to conduct background checks in accordance with Little League regulations ... | |
| Pool players | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: In a recent majors (ages 11,12) game, a team requested a pool player in order to have 9 players. ... A: Jim, If the team had nine of their rostered players in uniform and ready to play prior to the game, ... | |
| Practice Locations for Softball | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: My 7-year old granddaughter just signed up for the 2011 Little League softball program. The coach ... A: It is up to the Local League Board of Directors to decide what facilities to use during the year. ... | |
| help with draft | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I am on the Board of Directors for my city's recreational softball league. Every Spring we have a ... A: Lisa, I can only attest to Little League. There are two ways to conduct a draft. First and ... | |
| Little League Rules | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: If a 10 year old boy opts to "play up" in the 11/12 division of little league. At the end of the ... A: Hey Greg, The issue regarding where the child plays during the regular season is completely up to ... | |
| Little League batter's box | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: How big is the Little League batters box? What is the distance between the front end of the plate ... A: Terry; This response is for the Little league BASEBALL divisions (and below) and do not conform to ... | |
| Fielder's Choice vs. Hit | 10/4/2010 |
| Q: Man on 1st and batter hits fly to right field. Man on first waits to see if ball gets caught but ... A: Tim, Runners cannot receive an error. The question would be whether the fielder gets an error (for ... | |
| force play clarification | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I was playing 3B with runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. A ground ball is hit fair to my right, ... A: Bruce, I'm not arguing the fact, I'm just giving clarification on the rule. Your glove is not an ... | |
| force play clarification | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I was playing 3B with runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out. A ground ball is hit fair to my right, ... A: Bruce, The base must be tagged with body and/or ball. For instance, would I call the runner out if ... | |
| Junior League Softball | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: It is my understanding every player on the team has to play. This did not happen in the title game ... A: Jack, I am not sure if there was or was not a player who did not receive mandatory play (I was not ... | |
| Little League Winning Pitcher. | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: Martin, Lets say a little league game goes 6 innings. One team is ahead of the other team the ... A: Sam, The pitcher must have pitched three complete innings to be listed as the winning pitcher. ... | |
| Base Stealing | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: In youth baseball (9 year olds)is a runner on second allowed to steal third after the catcher has ... A: Keith, The interpretation of the rule is that runners are not allowed to advance one the pitcher ... | |
| running and more | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: 1)If there's a runner on first and ball is hit to shortstop, and shortstop over throws at first base ... A: Heather, 1 & 2) If the ball is the first one thrown, regardless of if the batter-runner reaches ... | |
| Umpire Inteference | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: My situation is this: We have a player advancing from second to third, after a hit ball was put ... A: Keep in mind that in order for a runner to be called out for running out of the baseline there must ... | |
| Umpire Inteference | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: My situation is this: We have a player advancing from second to third, after a hit ball was put ... A: Debrah, It would not be considered umpire interference. The only time an umpire can interfere with ... | |
| All-Star Substitutions | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: I tried put in a substitute (in the batting order) for my first baseman, move my catcher to first ... A: Jerry, Did the substitute pitch in the game at anytime? Players are not tied to defensive ... | |
| LL Baseball - ALL STAR Eligibility | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: One of my player (MAJORS - 12 years old) had gone to play baseball tournament in Cooperstown, NY ... A: Jay, The district manager is correct in his interpretation of the playing rule. The ... | |
| Foul Ball | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: At a Little league game last night a batter popped (up @ 7 ft.) a ball that landed foul along the ... A: Jack, If the ball did not touch anything foreign in foul territory, and the ball hit something like ... | |
| Allstar Eligibility | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: My Son played 12 out 14 games this little league season in the Majors. On the 12th game a pitcher ... A: Ron, While I understand your frustration, please keep in mind I can only comment on Little League ... | |
| Fiberglass brace on non-pitching arm | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: My son broke the thumb on his non-pitching hand. The doctor placed a strip of fiberglass on his ... A: Steve, First, your son would need to have a release from his doctor saying he can fully participate ... | |
| Interference | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: If they're runners on 1st and 2nd, ball hit to shortstop,runner interferes with ... A: Heather, If the umpire feels the runner interfered with the fielder (such as running into them) ... | |
| Fair or Foul | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: If the batter swings and it hits off of home plate which is fair and the catcher field it,but is in ... A: Heather, It does not matter where the fielder is when fielding the ball. Fair/Foul is judged from ... | |
| slide at home | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: Tonight my grandson was on 3rd ball was hit toward 1st base and he broke for home the first baseman ... A: Frank, There is no 'must slide' rule. However, if the catcher is blocking the plate with the ball ... | |
| Basepath | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: My son was recently playing in an 11U tournament sponsored by Triple Crown, supposedly playing by ... A: Rob, To my knowledge of high school rules, the runner establishes their own basepath until a play ... | |
| Accepting 8 1/2 year-old for travel team | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: Our boy is currently in AA and is 8 1/2 years-old. He wants to try out for the LL travel team this ... A: Lori, Little League allows the local leagues to align their divisions according to specific ages. ... | |
| interference | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: In my sons' Little League game with the bases loaded the opposing manager yelled ball 4 on the 3rd ... A: Axel, It would be the judgement of the umpire if there was interference. I would of had my players ... | |
| Roster rules | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a player that has not played in 4-weeks due to discipline from his parents. The father has ... A: Juan, Some leagues will stipulate a deadline of when players can be moved to another team. Little ... | |
| Little League All-Star Tryouts | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: Can a league determine how many players from each team are allowed to tryout for all-star? A: Dawn, Each local league decides on how their All Star teams are structured and chosen. You will ... | |
| third out | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: is the run score, if the runner from 3rd base crosses the plate while the ball at first base has ... A: Arthur, Juggling has nothing to do with if the run scores. If any out is made that is a force out ... | |
| does the run count | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: Scenario: Little league - bases loaded, 2 outs. Ball is his to short stop, short stop chooses to ... A: Greg, It depends on if the runner reached third base safely. If the runner was tagged out prior to ... | |
| Drafting Rules | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: This year we have signed both sons up for baseball. 1 on A (7-8)-no try-outs the other is AA ... A: Heather, The Player Agent is correct in their interpretation. A player must participate in 50% of ... | |
| Runner hit by batted ball | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: There were no outs and the batter hit a line drive that hit the runner who was off of first base. ... A: Christa, The runner is out for getting hit with a live ball. The ball is dead once it touches the ... | |
| Age for Bunting | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Do official little league rules permit bunting for 9-year old players, or is the starting age/player ... A: Keith, The only restriction on bunting according to Little League rules is in the Tee Ball division ... | |
| Base Running/Path | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: Runners on first and third. Runner on first starts to steal when pitcher goes into motion. Catcher ... A: Kelly, If the runner remained three feet within the running lane, there is no call. You could have ... | |
| season games required major lg softball | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: of the 12 games required by june 15, can it include tournament games or some of the players high ... A: White; Players must compete in at least 60% of the REGULAR SEASON games. This does not include ... | |
| Pitching hand injury | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: Is the umpires decision wether or not to let a player pitch with a bandage or a half cast on the ... A: Greg, The pitcher cannot have anything on his pitching hand or arm. The umpire needs to have him ... | |
| rule regarding amount of lay trequired for a player in an allsar tournamen | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: how many innings and at-bats must a player get during an all-star tournament district 1 ... A: Rob, In the regular season, this would be correct. However, during all stars, teams play by a ... | |
| baseball batter interference | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: We are currently in the all stars and had a call that made no sense. We had a runner on 1st and 2nd, ... A: Lori, Chances are, the umpire sees the batter interfering with the throw. If this was the case, he ... | |
| Forced Outs | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: We were playing baseball and we came across weird rule we need some clarification. Runner on first ... A: Mike, It is not a force out because the runner is not being forced to vacate the bag at second ... | |
| coach pitch little league | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: There are players on 1st and 2nd, the coach pitches the ball to his player, the batter line drives ... A: Vicky, You will need to check with your local league for their ground rules in this situation as ... | |
| Little League ruling play at home plate | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: 3rd base-runner in a pickle, running home. 3rd baseman has the ball running the runner toward home ... A: Doug, The runner was probably ejected because he made no attempt to avoid contact. This is a ... | |
| All-Start substitution rules | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: Martin, The all-star rule that a player, who has been replaced by a substitute player, must re-enter ... A: Scot, This applies to the position in the line up, not necessarily the defensive position. Ex: ... | |
| Substitutions in Little League All Stars | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: Player A starts the game, and in the 3rd inning, player B comes in to substitute Player A, he plays ... A: Sarah, A starter can reenter the game, but only in the position they occupied previously. However, ... | |
| Out at first base? | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: If the first baseman fumbles a ground ball, picks up the ball but touches first base with his mitt ... A: Julie, It is very difficult to call this an out, as it does not show the fielder has control of the ... | |
| Slide rule | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I coach in a youth baseball league ( 8 to 12 yrs) and we have the slide or avoid rule. The one ... A: Steve, It depends on what set of rules you are following. Many organizations now require the ... | |
| all star little league | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I one player missed 1 game and the player number 2 played less then 60 percent. who has the right ... A: Sandra, Little League Regulations state that for a player to be eligible for all stars they must ... | |
| Baseball pitcher balking to third | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: Can a right handed pitcher fake a throw to third base with a runner on third while his foot is still ... A: The rule states that the pitcher must step to the base in which he is throwing. The rule also ... | |
| Pitchers pitching hand | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Can a pitcher have athletic tape, bandages, or any other dressing on a pitching hand? Even if they ... A: Michael, By book rule, the pitcher shall have nothing on his hands. However, if the pitcher has a ... | |
| all stars | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: if a parent cannot afford to pay for their child(ren) to play for the season and they make it to all ... A: Nicole, Little League Baseball requires no fee for participation for regular season and all stars. ... | |
| Baseball pitcher balking to third | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: Can a right handed pitcher fake a throw to third base with a runner on third while his foot is still ... A: Terry, Yes, the pitcher can. According to the rules, the only base the pitcher cannot feint a ... | |
| intentional walk | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: A little league pitcher is intentionally walking a batter by pitching outside pitches to the catcher ... A: Bob, If the batter is swinging, and is doing this with the intent to prolong the game and/or to ... | |
| ASA slowpitch | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: What is call for hit ball that hits umpire in front of fielder? behind fielder? What is call if ... A: Jan, It has been a while since I have found myself in a slow pitch game, but I am sure the rule is ... | |
| Baseball Rules | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: Scenario: 1 out, tie game in the bottom of 9th, runners on 2nd & 3rd. The batter hits a fly ball to ... A: Jack, This is what we call a timing play. If the run crosses the plate prior to the third out ... | |
| Batter hit by fair ball? | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: We had an incident the other day where a Majors (12 year old) player bunted a ball that bounced off ... A: Tim, If a batter remains in the box and is hit by a fair ball, it is a foul ball. However, should ... | |
| Little League Mandatory Play rule when game is shortened | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: We had a playoff game today and our league adopted the non-continuous batting, but our substitute ... A: Rick, The player must start the next game and play what he missed (1 at bat), and play what he is ... | |
| pitching | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Is it illegal in L.L.to take a step back with the pivot leg and then step forward pushing off the ... A: Rob, The "free foot" in that rule is the foot not in contact with the rubber, or the non-pivot ... | |
| Batter interference | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: It seems to me there is no safe haven for a batter when there is a play at the plate under Rule ... A: Brant, The batter has interfered. It sucks, but the batter has an option of where to go to get out ... | |
| Manger pulls kid from LL game for behavior | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: Manager pulls own player from LL or Ripken game for a behavior problem. Continuous batting order. ... A: Stewart, Little League rules state that a player must receive mandatory play (6 consecutive outs ... | |
| Legal catch by first baseman - "pulled off the bag" | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: Martin, Question is: is the batter/runner considered out at first base when the throw to first ... A: Stewart, They only reason I would call the runner safe is if the first baseman did not have secure ... | |
| Softball Rule 3.09 | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Does softball rule 3.09 (or any other in the Official Regulations and Playing Rules, for that ... A: Dawn, Check with your local regional center. Depending on the state that you live in, depends on ... | |
| defining possession on a force out | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: We had a runner on first when a ground ball went to short, the shortsop threw it to the 2nd baseman ... A: Mike, This is a judgement call. The umpire must decide whether the fielder has secure possession ... | |
| softball umpire | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: 2 questions 1.Is it a official visit when a coach visit the mound between innings,during warm up? ... A: Nolan, If the coach at the mound during the warmups is delaying the game, I will warn the coach ... | |
| Softball Rule 3.09 | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: Does softball rule 3.09 (or any other in the Official Regulations and Playing Rules, for that ... A: Dawn, I would interpret this run as for during a game situation. However, should the manager ... | |
| Infielders standing in runners path | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: Martin, in little league I instruct the infielders to stay off the running line if there is a runner ... A: Craig, This would be considered obstruction, both in the base path and on a base with no ball. ... | |
| contact at home plate | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: today my 12 year old son was running home and the other teams catcher was in front of the plate ... A: Juanita, A player must slide or attempt to avoid contact with a fielder who is in possession of the ... | |
| Stealing Home | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I am odds with some members of the league my son plays in, and I am the manager of my son's team. ... A: Craig, Having been a coach, umpire and now league official, I have seen no solid evidence that ... | |
| Baseball after 15 | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: We home school and my son is now 15 and cannot play on the city league any more. What other options ... A: Emily, You can contact your local high school and see what the policy is on home schooled students ... | |
| 2 little league questions | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 questions involving little league rules.is it legal for a player to catch a grounder in her ... A: Jim, You can find the rule to your first question in 7.08(e). The rule states that a runner is put ... | |
| Coach Pitch - Where does the coach have to stand? | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: My son is playing Little League in the Minor Leagues as a 8 year old. Tonight the question was ... A: Joey, If there is no local league rule stating where the coach must stand, then if become the ... | |
| Softball pitching regulations | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: My daughter plays in the 9-10 age softball division. She is a pitcher. I am wondering by rules and ... A: Your league should have a set of By-Laws that stipulates the age structure of their divisions. ... | |
| On Deck Interferance | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: What is the obligation for the on-deck batter or the base coach for when a pop up is bit in their ... A: Ken, Rule 7.11 covers this problem. "The players, coaches, or any member of an offensive team ... | |
| Medical Exemption All-Star Eligibility | 4/29/2009 |
| Q: My son was an all-star last year and "probably" would have been selected again this year. He played ... A: Sean, Your local league Board of Directors can request a waiver of this rule to the Charter ... | |
| Extra Base Question | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: The play was the right fielder caught a fly ball and tried to double up the runner at 1B. The throw ... A: Towson, Each runner, without liability to be put out, advances two bases when a thrown ball goes ... | |
| Softball pitching regulations | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: My daughter plays in the 9-10 age softball division. She is a pitcher. I am wondering by rules and ... A: Shannon, It depends on how you league structures each division. If your daughter is in the Minor ... | |
| Little league mandatory participation | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: At a recent little league game, minor's division, the visiting team waited until the bottom of the ... A: Vince, A game that is shortened for any reason (including time) the team and the manager cannot be ... | |
| base running | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: A runner is on second. The ball goes past the batter, but not the catcher, so the runner heads ... A: Doug, The key words: READY TO DELIVER THE PITCH. It does not sound like the pitcher is ready to ... | |
| minimum age requirements | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: As a board member of our local little league I am struggling with an age issue. While I realize ... A: Christi, The Little League Regulations state that a player league age 8 cannot participate in the ... | |
| Drafts and late sign ups | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: Mr Hoover: A recreational Little League Baseball League is looking to improve its drafting ... A: Don, It sounds to me like your league has had trouble in past years during the draft. I think it ... | |
| base running | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: A runner is on second. The ball goes past the batter, but not the catcher, so the runner heads ... A: Doug, The runner may return to the base or advance at any time until the pitcher has possession of ... | |
| basepath interference | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: say a fielder runs in the basepath to step on second to get an out on the runner advancing from ... A: Jim, These plays you discuss are difficult to give answers to, because you would have to be there ... | |
| Little League Baseball Rule | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: My son plays in the division for 8-11. There are 5 teams of 11 kids and 1 with 12. I know that if ... A: Diana, A team cannot play with less than 9 players. There is no such rule pertaining to pulling a ... | |
| Appeal timing on drop 3rd strike | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: 2 strikes on the batter, no one on base. The batter checks his swing, no call by the umpire, the ... A: Joel, First, there is no restriction on the time an appeal is made. In this instance, the plate ... | |
| eligibility | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: My son plays on a travel team as well as a Little League team. There are 13 kids on the travel team. ... A: Julie, They must have participated in at least 60% of regular season games (in Little League of ... | |
| baseball clinic | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: Can a coach for a little league team. Meet with a few boys from that team (not the entire team), to ... A: Ernie, You will need to talk to your local Board of Directors for the restriction of team ... | |
| 7 and 8 draft in little league | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: i have coached in the little league for many years and have recently because of the age of one of ... A: Steve, Little League Baseball, Inc. gives the responsibility to the Board of Directors on how to ... | |
| brothers rule | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: i drafted a boy in the third round who has a brother,im the manager and was told i had to draft my ... A: Kenny, With a brother option, you need to pick up the second brother in the next successive round. ... | |
| Tball practice and games | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is 5 now and I have decided to coach her Tball little league team. Since her attention ... A: Lianna, I would ask your league to limit the number of players on your team. About 9-10 players ... | |
| girls softball ages 12-14 | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: my daughter has been given the postision of alternate on her middle school team. she altready plays ... A: Sharon, Honestly, I have never heard of an alternate. In our area, you either make a school team ... | |
| Major Softball 11-12 | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two questions: Can a non starter or sub pitch? When running through first on an infield ... A: Brian, Question #1: Yes, anyone who is eligible (based on rest rules) may pitch in a game. There ... | |
| Is there a rule about a fielder kicking a ball to first base to complete a putout | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: The batter hits a slow dribbler between the pitcher and first base. The pitcher moves toward the ... A: Wayne, There is no rule that says a fielder cannot kick the ball to the first baseman. However, if ... | |
| Varsity Tryouts | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm a bit in a twist. I've been playing rec. baseball for I don't know how long and I've mostly been ... A: James, Yes, it sounds like a political matter. I would recommend going to an open tryout at a ... | |
| Draft | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: We have a brother pick that was used as 10 year olds. One of the brothers went to travel ball last ... A: James, Your question was a little confusing, but I will give an explanation on how brother options ... | |
| Little league vs Cal Ripken | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: My question is to why do you think a town program would switch from one to the other. In my ... A: Mark, Honestly, I cannot pinpoint one reason as why someone would change. Usually, you will have ... | |
| Little League softball equipment | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: Does Little League International mandate the use of batting helmets with faceguards for all softball ... A: Sandy, Little League International does not regulate that batting faceguards be placed on batting ... | |
| metal cleats | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: Do you have an opinion about boys playing in an U15 age group being allowed to wear metal cleats. ... A: Liz, It has been my experience with children that are 13-15 years old to know how to use metal ... | |
| Hit or No Hit? | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: If the batter hits a fair ball, run to the base, turns to go to second, runs back to first, called ... A: Terry, Yes, it counts as a hit because he reached 1st base safely (he was tagged out advancing to ... | |
| 3rd strike drop | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: On a 3rd strike drop and bases are loaded is the batter out, because 1st base has a runner.. Why is ... A: Kristi, The batter may advance to first base on a dropped third strike if first base is open with ... | |
| Run Scoring | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: Mr Hoover, My question is about whether the run counts in the following situation. There are 2 ... A: Jason, This sounds like a force out, regardless if the runner left to the dugout or not. If the ... | |
| Obstruction | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: Runner on first, little league. Firstbaseman is a step back of the base line and two steps toward ... A: Greg, As an umpire, we must remember that these kids are not very familiar with the ballfield, and ... | |
| Little League All Stars | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: Some parents in a local Little League district have discussed naming the all star roster at the ... A: Gregg, According to Little League Tournament rules, Tournament teams may not be announced until ... | |
| Little League Baseball | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: Right handed batter goes into bunt position. Pitcher throws the ball, batter realizes the pitch is ... A: Frank, The only way this will be considered a strike is if the ball is in the strike zone when the ... | |
| 1st Baseman Blocking the Bag, Youth Level | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: As a follow-up to a question asked recently, where Mr. McInnis advised that Little League rules ... A: Buzz, As an umpire, I would recommend trying to touch the outside of first base, while trying to ... | |
| dropped 3rd strike | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: following up on your answer of a dropped 3rd strike. Man on 3rd two outs. A passed ball occurs on ... A: John, Yes... it is an earned run. MLB Rule 10.16 (a): "The official scorer shall charge an earned ... | |
| Cal ripken vs. Little League | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: What are the differences between Cal Ripken and Little League rules when playing on same size field ... A: Helen, There are not much difference between the two programs. One of the major differences ... | |
| hit by thrown ball | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: little league baseball. a runner is heading home he is hit by a thrown ball in the back it makes ... A: Brian, If, in the umpires judgement, the runner slid head first, then the runner should be called ... | |
| little league baseball | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: In a little league baseball game called after the first inning because of rain and rescheduled for a ... A: Vince, The only way a Little League game can be replayed from the start is if there was less than ... | |
| Game winning runs disallowed | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Here is the little league situation. We are the home team batting in the bottom of the 6th inning ... A: If the proper appeal had been made, the runner from third would be declared out, and the runner from ... | |
| Game winning runs disallowed | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Here is the little league situation. We are the home team batting in the bottom of the 6th inning ... A: Larry, In this situation, the defensive team must make the appeal BEFORE the defensive team leaves ... | |
| False end of inning | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Here is the little league situation. We are the home team and in the field. Our pitcher strikes ... A: Larry, The official scorekeeper should have alerted the umpire that there were only two outs. I ... | |
| offical softball | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: While playing in our local and distric games we used a solid poly/graphite center with a .47 core ... A: Scott, The simple way of finding out what ball is approved for tournament play is going straight to ... | |
| Stealing | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I'm an average athletic but my sister is awesome. She's a sports freak. Baseball is her favorite. ... A: Samuel, I will let you know first off that I am not familiar with Cal Ripkin Rules, but I would ... | |
| Position in batte'rs box | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: In junior league or any other league for that matter is there a rule that states that the batter ... A: Jerry, Rule 6.03 states that "the batter’s legal position shall be both feet within the batter's ... | |
| Senior league All Star Tournaments | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: In a Senior League state All Star tournament is there any rules as to how many innings you have to ... A: Ashley, There is no mandatory play requirement for Senior and Big League divisions during ... | |
| umpires | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: For All Star games are the Umpires suppose to be adults in proper atire or can they be teenagers ... A: Dawn, This is from the Little League Tournament Rules: UMPIRES The Tournament Director shall have ... | |
| missing player from line up card | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: 8 under boys--my son's team was home team and coach neglected to put a child on line up card.This ... A: Kelli, Let line it up like this... Adam Berry Carl David Berry comes to bat, but it was Adam's ... | |
| Mens Slow Pitch eligibility | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Martin, This is similiar to the question and answer below, but a little different. We play in a ... A: With the rules I am familiar with, any player, who is present at a game that is being resumed, my ... | |
| Rules published by the National Baseball Congress | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Our league rules are in accordance with National Baseball Congress for 13 year olds. Our league ... A: Denis, I am not familiar with NBC rules, however, I can tell you that every level of baseball I've ... | |
| Mens Slow Pitch eligibility | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: Martin, This is similiar to the question and answer below, but a little different. We play in a ... A: Dave, In Little League, this would constitute a game. However, you might want to contact your ... | |
| Catcher obstruction - scoring | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: My son plays Little League. During an at-bat, he was obstructed by the catcher, hitting the ... A: Randy, For Little League purposes, this would count as an at bat. However, it is not considered a ... | |
| Dropped Third Strike Question | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I need your input on this play. In the 15 year old level, with the bases loaded, 2 outs, the batter ... A: Mike, On an appeal, the ball is still live. Chances are, if the batter ran, as an umpire, I would ... | |
| Balk | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: We play in a league that does not allow leading off. The pitcher was starting his windup and ... A: Jacob, If this is a Little League, then the runners would not advance in this situation. It would ... | |
| Batting out of order | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: In the 3rd inning of a game, my #3 batter is supposed to be at the plate, but my #4 batter is in the ... A: Bill, If a player is caught batting out of order before they have reached 1st base, then that ... | |
| minor league - machine pitch vs. player pitch | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: Several parents, like myself, with children in our little league minor division (6-9 year olds) here ... A: I've answered a question like this before. I've added the question and my response for your ... | |
| Follow-Up Question | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: You previously answered a question about eligibilty and travel teams (your answer is below). Where ... A: Gary, You can visit the Little League website link that talks about it: ... | |
| infield fly | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Bases loaded with one out. Our batter hit a ball that reached about 9 feet in height (a weak line ... A: Tom, An infield fly should be called at the apex(the top of the arc) of the flyball. However, the ... | |
| Player stepping off base when pitcher is on mound | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I have been an ASA Umpire for the past 5 years. Recently I have been asked to help with our local ... A: Tom, I am taking this as being a baseball game (the ASA threw me off, thinking it was a softball ... | |
| Rules question | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: In our instructional league - ages 7-9 boys, the ball has to be hit on to the outfield grass in ... A: Abe, I would recommend that you present this problem to your Board of Directors. Since they were ... | |
| little league baseball | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: if there are runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. a ball is hit to the infield. throws the runner ... A: Jamie, If a runner is out due to a force play (as with at runner from 2nd being forced to advance ... | |
| ruling | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: A batter hits a ball foul as it rolls the ball then rolls fair and comes to a rest in fair territory ... A: John, We judge the ball as where it is when first touched or when it comes to rest when determining ... | |
| Little League Redrafting | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: Our Board considered this option pre season and decided to stay with "property" teams as many of the ... A: Kathleen, My league uses property teams. Here are the benefits that we have noticed: First and ... | |
| Dropped 3rd Strikes | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: If there are 2 outs and a runner reaches base on a dropped 3rd strike and scores. How does that ... A: Jim, The official scorer shall charge an earned run against a pitcher every time a runner reaches ... | |
| pitch out | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: dual question. 11-12 boys LL baseball A. In little league were there is no balks, just illegal ... A: William, A. Please keep in mind that an illegal pitch IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC DEAD BALL. Illegal ... | |
| LL Rule 6.07 | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: Little League 12 and under. #3 Runner on 3rd. #5 batter bats out of turn and gets a base on balls. ... A: CT, I have a couple questions to ask you to make sure I give you an accurate answer. If you can ... | |
| Little League All-Stars and Travel Team | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: But I just saw a posting you made on May 8 that a new rule had gone into effect a few weeks earlier ... A: Terri, Yes, as long as their participation in the travel team is not hampering the Little League ... | |
| illegal bat played in game | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: My 12 y.o. son plays in the LL Majors. Last nights game was a jaw dropping experience. In the top of ... A: Reagan, The penalty for use of a bat that does not meet specifications is to remove it from the ... | |
| Batter Interference | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: Last night in my son's little league game there was a runner on third base and ball 4 was thrown to ... A: Kevin, I agree with the umpires call if there were two outs. 7.08 (g)- attempting to score on a ... | |
| Fair or foul | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: A right handed batter strikes a ball that travels directly down and comes to rest in the left handed ... A: Tim, When determining fair or foul, you have to judge the ball where is lies between home plate and ... | |
| pitching and day/vs game rest | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: It states under tournament rules that a if a player exceeds 40 pitches in one game, then he must sit ... A: Little League has done years of research in regards to overuse and burnout on pitchers. Pitcher are ... | |
| pitching and day/vs game rest | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: It states under tournament rules that a if a player exceeds 40 pitches in one game, then he must sit ... A: I'm sorry, I misread your question. Yes, starting in 2008, regular season rules started the ... | |
| Force out situation | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: Martin, There is bases loaded two outs. Batter hits a ground ball to the short stop, the short stop ... A: Tim, When a play is being made on a runner, the runner establishes the base line as a straight line ... | |
| Pinch Runner | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: In LL boys baseball age 11-12, can a pinch runner be used if you are using a continuous batting ... A: Roger, If your league elects to use a continuous batting order, then Rule 7.14 (Special Pinch ... | |
| ERA | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: If a batter gets to first base with no errors, but errors such as overthrows or committed as they ... A: Brenda, An earned run is a run for which a pitcher is held accountable. In determining earned runs, ... | |
| Illegal pitch penalty | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: What is the penalty for a little league pitcher putting his fingers to his mouth before pitching the ... A: Tracy, The penalty is an illegal pitch (ball to the batter), and the ball is removed from play. ... | |
| pitching and day/vs game rest | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: It states under tournament rules that a if a player exceeds 40 pitches in one game, then he must sit ... A: Richard, I would interpret this by looking at regular season and tournament play as two separate ... | |
| ball hit by the bat in fair territory | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: The batter bunts the ball into the field of play (right in front of the plate). As he leaves the ... A: Michael, Rule 6.05 (g) states: A batter is out when... after hitting or bunting a fair ball, the ... | |
| Player leaves the game | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: 12 yr old majors division, we bat the bench. if a player leaves the game say in the 5th inning ... A: The pitcher would be an ineligible pitcher, and is grounds for a protest. If the Protest Committee ... | |
| Help my son is very discouraged | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: Im a single Mom of a bright 12 yr old son. My concerns for my son this year in baseball, are that ... A: Carrie, I would suggest that you take any issues straight to the head coach or manager of the team. ... | |
| Player leaves the game | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: 12 yr old majors division, we bat the bench. if a player leaves the game say in the 5th inning ... A: Michael, It is not an out. I have added the rule so you may reference it at your next game. Rule ... | |
| Baseball Sweetspots | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a brand new product on the market called "Baseball Sweetspots". Its a training aid for youth ... A: Kelly, The only player restricted from wearing this would be the pitcher. However, some officials ... | |
| softball roster rules | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I just learned that a player can play on the allstar team for little leage even if they are on a ... A: Mark, Little League has just announced (only two weeks ago I believe) that players may play on a ... | |
| little league softball regulations | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: if a 11 yr old girls plays 2 innings a game for three in park games and is humilated by the coach ... A: Chet, It sounds like you have a problem in regards to Playing Regulations. Little League requires ... | |
| illegal pitch | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: Last nite an umpire in little league called an illegal pitch because the pitcher stopped his pitch ... A: Bridget, In this case, depending on the level of play, I might warn everyone, or call an illegal ... | |
| FAIR VS FOUL | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: THE QUESTION ABOUT FAIR OR FOUL: THE RULE STILL APPLIES WHEN TALKING ABOUT A FLY BALL HIT JUST ... A: Parrish, Fair and foul is based on the position of the ball when touched. If the ball is in foul ... | |
| pitching | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: A major league pitcher in little league baseball goes through the motions of throwing a pitch, but ... A: Don, If the pitcher is intentionally delivering an illegal pitch, I will warn him and the manager ... | |
| Obstruction | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: Little league level: if player is stealing from first to second, second baseman moves to bag but is ... A: Bruce, First thing you need to remember: obstruction and interference is a judgement call. Which ... | |
| little league illegal pitch? | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: I know there is no balk rule in the Majors division but are there not illegal pitch rules? An ... A: Gary, Let's look at this as an illegal pitch and a balk as two separate things: A balk is called ... | |
| little league illegal pitch? | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: I know there is no balk rule in the Majors division but are there not illegal pitch rules? An ... A: Gary, Rule 8.05 should answer your question. What you discuss is covered specifically in rule ... | |
| high school baseball | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: OK, here is the scenario for a high school game: Man on first. Batter hits a fly ball. Man on ... A: Deanna, I am not familiar with high school rules, however, if a runner tries to deceive a fielder ... | |
| appeals ruling | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: In a recent Little League(Majors)game at our park, with one out, and a runner on first, the batter ... A: Al, Below is an excerpt from the Rules Instruction Manual for Little League clinics: "No umpire ... | |
| Drafting in Little League | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: My son is 9 years old and is entering Little League for the first time. If he goes to a try out and ... A: Michelle, Little League rules require that all 12 year olds play in the Major Baseball division. ... | |
| scroekeeping | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: Does a fielder choice count in as an at bat for the person? or is it like a BB or sac.? A: Mart, In Little League Baseball, it would count as an at bat. In Major League Baseball, it is ... | |
| baserunner | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: Men on first and second. Batter drops a bunt in front of home plate that is fielded by the catcher ... A: Bill, If the batter-runner did not interfere with the throw, and was in the running lane, which it ... | |
| Draft - supplemental draft | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: In drafting for our Coach Pitch (ages7-8) league we spread ourselves/teams too thin....expecting ... A: Melissa, I would recommend that you randomly pick the draft order, as this would seem to be the ... | |
| pitching | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: is the pitchers foot allowed to be outside of the rubber.for instance pitchers heel is against the ... A: William, The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, the entire pivot foot on, or in front of and ... | |
| umpire error | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: official scorebook count is two strikes on the batter. upon the next pitch the umpire again calls ... A: Gary, The umpire is responsible for keeping the count. If an umpire missed the third strike, and ... | |
| softball | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: runner on first and batter hits a sharp grounder to the first baseman who tags the runner at first ... A: Kenny, The runner is forced to vacate the bag, and is not protected by staying on the base. The ... | |
| MOUND HEIGHT | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: HOW ELEVATED IS A PITCHERS MOUND FOR PROS A: Jacob, I'm not to familiar with the pitching rules for MLB, however, the Official Rules of MLB ... | |
| youth league pitching rules | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: Pitching rules state that once a pitcher is removed he can not pitch again. But my question is if a ... A: Billy, Please keep in mind that this is an interpretation of Little League Baseball rules. Very ... | |
| draft question | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: we have decided to rank head coaches and assistant coaches kids to make the draft as fair as ... A: Jock, Little League advises that coaches not be selected until AFTER drafts, to help redshirting of ... | |
| DRAFTS | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: I am a parent of a 6 year old on a coach pitch team. I found out that we have a fourth grader which ... A: Codie, Little League rules allow different leagues to arrange the ages for each division to their ... | |
| Follow up on redraft question | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: Martin, you posted the answer below recently in response to a question about redrafting. If you ... A: Buzz, I don't think that you can lump leagues into "redrafting" just because they are small. In ... | |
| Another Draft Question | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a draft question. I am currently serving on a Board of Directors for the local Dixie Youth ... A: Daniel, Off the bat, I am not familiar with Dixie Baseball Regulations, so I will give you my ... | |
| LITTLE LEAGUE DRAFTS | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: My question is about leagues keeping players on the same team. Our league is going to re-draft all ... A: Kevin, This was a discussion that come up in our league this year. The main reason was due to the ... | |
| scorekeeping | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I will be keeping the books this year for my son's USSSA U8 team. Although I played as a kid and ... A: Mike, I have used this website before as a reference to people keeping scorebooks in baseball and ... | |
| yelling "fair" or "foul" | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: I thought an umpire is to yell "foul" and not yell but only point fair for a fair ball. Is an ... A: Brian, Umpires should only give a verbal command if the ball is foul. However, there is nothing in ... | |
| instructional league 6-8 league set up | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: here is the problem I 'm coaching an instructional little(6-8) league team and there is another ... A: Derek, Please keep in mind that what I'm going to say is what my league does, and what I have stood ... | |
| How many feet in fair territory? | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: If the 1st baseman is holding a runner on 1st base, is he considered to be in fair territory if he ... A: Martin, If that one foot is completely outside of fair territory, the player is not considered to ... | |
| runner hit by thrown ball | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: Bases loaded. Batter hits the ball. First basement field the ball and throws home. At the throw to ... A: Kevin, The runner is not forced to slide, he has a right to home plate. It sounds to me like he ... | |
| batting out of order | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: In a 9-10 boys baseball game a player batted out of order and had a 2-0 count before it was caught. ... A: Matt, If the problem is caught before the batter is out or become a runner, he is just replaced ... | |
| Hit by pitch | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: While in the batters box in a proper batting stance, the pitch comes inside and hits the batters ... A: Mike, First, it is in the umpire's judgement on whether the batter made an attempt to get out of ... | |
| ALLSTAR DRAFT | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: IF A CHILD PLAYED ALL YEAR IN AN AGE GROUP OLDER (MAJORS) ARE THEY ELIGIBLE TO BE ON THE ALLSTAR ... A: Randi, The only regulation Little League Baseball has for All Stars is that the players fall within ... | |
| catching a foul tip | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I have coached for many years. In several different leagues and it always seems that this rule ... A: Don, First let's look at the definition of a "Foul Ball". Rule 2.00- FOUL BALL: Is a batted ball ... | |
| DROPPED THIRD STRIKE | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: NO OUTS BASES EMPTY BATTER WITH TWO STRIKES. PITCH HITS GROUND IN FRONT OF PLATE, BATTER SWINGS ... A: Rodney, Rule 6.09 (b) says that the batter becomes a runner when "the third strike called by the ... | |
| tagging base with baseball | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: It says in the Little League rulebook that a player may tag the base base on a force play with any ... A: Andrew, in Rule 2.00-TAG it says a tag is "the action of a fielder in touching a base with the body ... | |
| Intentional walk | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: Juniors Division-"Intentional Walk" Question Batter has 0-2, runner on 2nd, no outs. Pitcher and ... A: Joe, 1. There are two types of intentional walks. Before a pitch has been thrown, the catcher may ... | |
| Baseball rule | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: When a batter is in the batter's box and the pitcher has decided to throw an intentional walk can ... A: Kayla, The entire foot must be outside of the batters box for the umpire to rule the batter out. ... | |
| fair v. foul ball | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: A ball is hit infront of the plate fair and is a high hopper going over the line into foul territory ... A: Michael, When ruling fair or foul, we look at the position of the ball and not the fielder. If the ... | |
| Play at home plate | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Runner rounds third and heads for home, catcher receives ball about 5 ft. in front of home plate ... A: Kim, As long as the runner did not slide headfirst(Major Division and Below), then leaping over a ... | |
| Force Out & Tagging Runner | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: There was one out and the bases were loaded. The batter hit a ground ball which the 1st baseman ... A: Nikki, Yes, even though the batter runner was called out, the runner from 3rd base is still forced ... | |
| dead ball | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Minor league- (9-10) A runner is on third. After the pitch, he takes a long lead off third. The ... A: Demetrio, To your first question in regards to calling time, that is up to the umpire's judgement ... | |
| rule clarification | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: A runner is on 3rd with two outs. The batter foul tips a ball. The catcher throws the ball back to ... A: Brendan, There is a difference between a "foul ball" and a "foul tip". A foul tip is a ball that ... | |
| umpiring question | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: We had a situation in a majors game where two district umpires made a decision about inserting a ... A: KB, The other manager was correct in telling the two umpires that they were incorrect in their ... | |
| batting glove while pitching | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I'm the chief umpire for our league but I spend most of my time in our Little League. We have a ... A: Brent, Rule 1.15 (b) states that the pitcher may wear a batting glove on his non pitching hand, as ... | |
| Batter interference at home plate | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: Is the batter required the leave the batter's box when a player is stealing home on a fast pitch? ... A: Tom, The batter has a right to remain in the batter's box. However, if the batter is intentionally ... | |
| Replacement Player Eligibility | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: I coach in the (9-12) minors division, and we picked up an 11 yr old replacement player who took the ... A: Bryant, I actually had to look in my Rule Book for this one. I've never had this situation come ... | |
| Outfield fencing | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: Are there any regulations requiring protective tubing along the top of a chain link outfield fence? A: Dan, Little League Baseball does not have a regulation regarding fence toppers. However, if ... | |
| force out | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: runner on 1st, 1 out, a lefty hits a hot 1 hop grounder to our 1st baseman. Runner on 1st doesn't ... A: Marty, I'm not familiar with slow pitch, but let me just give you my opinion on this play. The ... | |
| Pitch bounces/rolls before reaching the plate | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: If the pitcher throws a wild pitch that for whatever reason bounces or rolls toward the plate, can ... A: Buzz, If the batter swings and misses, it's a strike. If the batter lets it continue to ... | |
| Pitch bounces/rolls before reaching the plate | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: If the pitcher throws a wild pitch that for whatever reason bounces or rolls toward the plate, can ... A: Buzz, Yes. Hitting the ball that has bounced would be the same as hitting it in flight. This is ... | |
| walking a batter | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: In our game today, the other team wanted to walk our player and instead of throwing 4 pitch outs ... A: Stephanie, Regulation VI, Section (c) Note 1 covers this question. Before a pitch is delivered to ... | |
| Scoring the batter when 3rd out is runner caught stealing | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: This might seem obvious to most, but I can't find it in the rulebook. Two outs, count is 1-1 on the ... A: Buzz, The Little League rule is 6.01(b) NOTE. Is states that: In the event that while a batter is ... | |
| Pinto League (Coach Pitch) Baseball | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: Does run count if bases are loaded, the ball is hit to 3rd, the runners are safe, however the runner ... A: Larry, I'm taking that this is two outs. Well, because the play is no longer a force play, the run ... | |
| little league baseball/play at the plate | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: Ball is coming into home plate. Runner coming around third,as the ball comes in, it ricashades off ... A: Don, First, there is no "must slide" rule in baseball, PERIOD!(As an umpire, we try to squash ... | |
| Back ground checks on coaches? | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: What type of guidelines should the league have in place for running background checks on coaches? ... A: Kevin, Little League Baseball has a page at their website dedicated to background checks, you can ... | |
| Infield Fly Non Call | 5/6/2007 |
| Q: Here is the set up: I am coaching first base. Runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. The ball is ... A: Mark, Okay, here's what I would have done in this situation. First and foremost, an infield fly is ... | |
| Base running rule | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: There is a runner on 1st and the batter hits a ground ball. The batter is thrown out at 1st. Since ... A: Roger, Rule 7.08(e) covers your question. Any runner, who is forced to advance, must vacate that ... | |
| Youth Baseball Tournament | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: we're setting up our end-of-season rec youth baseball tournament (Babe Ruth League, Ripken ... A: Buzz, I have always found that double elimination works best with the situation you are faced with. ... | |
| Batter Fails to Touch First Base in Little League Game | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: Situation: Home Team half of last inning. Tie Score- One out. One runner on 1st base. Batter ... A: Jennifer, The rule I will cite is 7.10. "Any appeal under this rule must be made before the next ... | |
| batting | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: My son has played 2 games so far he says he is considered a sub and has only got to bat 1 time per ... A: Teresa, Before I go into great discussion regarding this situation, I would like to cite the rule ... | |
| slugging percentage | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: I don't remember if I asked this question or not, so if I repeated myself, I appologize. What is ... A: Bret, It's okay. I would rather you understand it. If that means telling you again, than I will ... | |
| slugging percentage | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: what is slugging percentage? how is it calculated, and what is it's purpose? A: Bret, In baseball statistics, slugging average (abbreviated SLG) is the most popular measure of the ... | |
| runner interference | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about whether or not a runner hit by a ball that is thrown by a player is ... A: Bret, According to (Little League)rule 7.08 (a), a runner is entitled to that bag to which they are ... | |
| batter interference | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I manage in my town's little league majors division. In our last game the opposing team had a ... A: Saverio, This is a difficult question to answer without being there to see the play. So let me ... | |
| softball | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a question, actually two. If the head umpire calls a game because it is over then meets with ... A: Kelli, I am going to give you Little League interpretations on these situations. An umpire may, at ... | |
| little league minors | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: What is the distance from home plate to pitchers mound? Thank You A: Pat, The pitcher's plate shall be set in the ground so that the front side of the pitcher's plate ... | |
| call in minor baseball game | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: When a runner is going to first and the firstbaseman has one foot on the bag and the other in the ... A: Marcel, At the minor level we must understand that the players are still getting used to playing ... | |
| Rule 7.13 | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: Does the runner have to go back to his base once the pitcher is on the rubber with the ball and the ... A: Bill, When a runner is legitimately off his/her base, the pitcher cannot stop the runner by taking ... | |
| Umpire call | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: during our last game, bases were loaded, the count was 3 balls 2 strikes, on the next pitch, the ... A: Melissa, There is no specific space of time that the umpire must call a pitch. In this case, if ... | |
| Pitching Rules | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: I'm going to be pitching for a spring rec league and a travel baseball team. I'm 14 years old and ... A: Ray, Rules differ in each level and division of baseball. Some restrictions you might run into ... | |
| baseball cleats | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: Is it bad or dangerous to wear metal cleats or is it ok to wear for the juniors little league? A: Marc, Little League Baseball Rules state that "shoes with metal spikes or cleats are not permitted" ... | |
| umpires | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: I KNOW A UMPIRE CAN REFUSE TO ASK FOR HELP ON MANY JUDGEMENT CALLS, BUT WHEN OUR CATCHER ASKED THE ... A: Eddie, Judgement is the strongest thing an umpire has when working a game. However, there are ... | |
| baseball rules | 3/2/2007 |
| Q: Question#1 In little league baseball minor division rule 7.13 states When a pitcher is in contact ... A: Ron, Question #1: You must look at the spirit and intention of the rules. Yes, runners must stay ... | |
| is there little league in Victorville? | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: We have just moved here, and cannot find any info on Little League Baseball in Victorville, Ca. I ... A: Carin, There are three leagues in Victorville. I have the contact information for Victorville ... | |
| baseball season | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: I am planning on trying out for a travel team this weekend and it says don't tryout if your going to ... A: Ray, You seem to be asking more of a guidance question than a baseball questions, so I will try to ... | |
| fair or foul | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: a ball hit in the air down the leftfeild line would have landed in foul territory but the left ... A: Cliff, It is the position of the ball, and NOT the fielder that determins whether the ball is fair ... | |
Baseball Instruction
Answers by Expert:
Martin Hoover
Top Expert on this page
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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