1. SECTION 1 - MISSION STATEMENT  

1. SECTION 2 - AVAILABLE PROGRAMS  

1. SECTION 3 - MANAGERS/COACHES  

1. a. Application & Selection  

1. b. Responsibilities  

1. c. Conduct – What You Should Expect of Our Coaches 

1. SECTION 4 - PARENTS  

1. a. What Our Little League Expects of Our Parents  

1. b. What Our Coaches Expect of Our Parents  

1. SECTION 5 - PARK RULES  

1. SECTION 6 - CONCESSION STAND  

1. SECTION 7 - LOCAL BASEBALL/SOFTBALL RULES  

1. a. General (All Divisions)  

1. i. Equipment  

1. ii. Age Restrictions  

1. iii. Umpires  

1. iv. Fields  

1. v. Rainouts  

1. b. Time Limits on Games  

1. c. Number of Players  

1. d. Minimum Playing Time  

1. e. Keeping Score  

1. f. Excessive Scores  

1. g. Division Playing Rules  

1. h. Base Running Rules  

1. i. Forfeits  

1. j. Protests  

1. k. On-field Conduct  

1. l. Player Eligibility & Selection (Draft)  

1. m. Replacement Players  

1. n. League Champions  

1. SECTION 8 - DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROCEDURE  

1. SECTION 9 - . ALL-STAR SELECTIONS  

1. a. Manager Selection  

1. b. Selecting Players  

1. i. District (Traveling) All-Star Teams  

1. ii. In-House All-Star Teams   

1. SECTION 10 - SAFETY  

Section 1:   MISSION STATEMENT   

• Performance & conduct of the team and its spectators at all team functions  

• Knowledge of all the rules developed by Little League and the LOLLL Board.  Attendance at all required manager/coach meetings, inclusive of safety    clinic, coaching clinic, annual board meetings and any other mandatory meeting as notified by the LOLLL Board  

• Provide a team parent responsible for coordinating team activities 

• Assume responsibility for obtaining and returning all equipment 

• Inspect the fields prior to the game and make necessary repairs  

• Provide a scorekeeper/scoreboard volunteer at each home game  

• Provide a pitch count volunteer at each visitor game  

• Line the field/batter’s box at each home team  

• Wear your LOLLL issued badge at each practice and game  

• Coach utilizing the LOLLL Double Goal Coaching Philosophy  

• Submit Coaches Applications by the second week of practice. 

• Attend your child's games   

• Be a supportive parent for the manager and team   

• Communicate with the manager only in appropriate ways   

• Cheer for all players on both teams   

• Be a positive role model   

• Be there for your child whether successful or struggling for success  

• Respect and support league volunteers and be prepared to “pitch in” when asked  

• Understand that the game is difficult to learn and play   

• Look for opportunities to work your child on the basic skills of the game   

• Be positive and be supportive whether your team wins or loses   

• Be a model of good sportsmanship   

• Never use negative comments towards the players from either team   

• Respect the umpire’s decisions. Refrain from making the umpire’s job more  

difficult than it already is. Be willing to forgive the bad call, the inconsistent strike zone, or the muffed rule. There are no experts in a volunteer Little League organization.  

• Respond to Questionnaires to evaluate Managers/Coaches at end of season.  

WHAT OUR MANAGERS EXPECT OF OUR PARENTS  

• Come and enjoy the games. Help us make this fun for all the players on all teams.  

• Allow the managers to run the team. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS.   

• Please discuss any concerns that you have with the manager after the game and away from the team’s players.  

• Set a good example for our players. Don’t yell at our umpires or opposing players.  

• Volunteer to help us make this a positive experience for your child.   

• There are many small and/or one-time jobs that need to be done both during the season and during the off-season.  

Section 5:  PARK RULES   

• The following actions are cause for ejection from the park: the use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, fighting or harassment, use of tobacco on (or in close proximity to) the playing fields or dugouts, the use of profanity or abusive language.  

• Safety is our primary concern. We therefore prohibit the following: climbing of trees, bleachers or fences, using skateboards, skates, scooters or bikes within the common area of the park, hitting balls into fences or throwing or batting balls in the common area (Wall Ball will not be allowed due to the many injuries that have occurred). Warm-up areas are provided for uniformed players and coaches only.  

• Pets are not permitted.  

• No food of any kind is allowed in the dugout including gum and sunflower seeds. Players are allowed to drink water or sport drinks in the dugout as long as they are in plastic containers or coolers.   

• Each team is responsible for picking up trash in the dugout after each game.   

• Spectators who must smoke are asked to extinguish cigarette butts and deposit them in the trashcans. Please do not smoke while sitting in the bleachers.  

• There is a 10 pm curfew at the ballpark.  

• Little League rescheduled games may be played on Sundays, and will take priority over all other Little League functions. If there are no Little League games scheduled on a given Sunday, the fields can be used for practices on a first come, first served basis.  

• There is a one-hour time limit for batting cages on the “old” side of the complex. Reservations can be made at the concession stand beginning on Saturday for the following week. Please limit your reservations to one reserved cage per week.  

• The Director on duty, in combination with county employees, is the only one who can call off scheduled games due to rain. Rainouts must be rescheduled during the first available open field date (including Sundays).  

CONCESSION STAND  

• The Land O’ Lakes Little League concession stand is a major source of revenue that we count on heavily to support our program. We are a non-profit organization and our registration fees alone do not cover our expenses. The volunteer spirit of the adult members of this league provides the manpower for the concession stand’s daily operations.   

• The scheduling of volunteers should be handled in advance and communicated to the Concession Manager in a timely fashion.  Failure to have the proper concession coverage/volunteers may result in the concession stand needing to be closed down until coverage is provided.       

1. Only two entities can determine a cancelled game due to weather or field conditions; county officials or a director from the LOLLL Board. Managers canceling their games without proper authorization will be subject to a game forfeiture and possible disciplinary action.  

1. When practices or games are cancelled due to weather or field conditions, a Director from the Board will announce the cancellation via an internet email. Parents should assume the game or practice is still being held until they receive an email indicating otherwise.  

1. The Director from the Board will then notify the Director on Duty, the Director of Umpires, and the Concession Director.  

1. If games or practices are cancelled, no one will be permitted to practice at the LOLLL facility.  

1. Practices will not be rescheduled due to weather conditions. Teams may make up their practices at an off-site facility with proper Board permission..  

1. Games for competitive divisions will be rescheduled on the next available date/field open in the sequence in which they were cancelled.  

1. The Player Agent for the competitive divisions will supervise make-up games and umpires will be coordinated through the Director of Umpires.  

1. The league will do its best to insure that the concession stand will be open for make-up games.  

1. All make-up games rescheduled for weekday evenings will begin at 6:30 PM.  

1. Make-up games rescheduled for Sundays will begin at 1:00 PM and multiple games will run consecutively and immediately following that game. NO EXCEPTIONS.  

Time limits for each of our divisions are listed below. The Little League rulebook will be used to determine the proper handling of suspended and tie games. Park curfews of 10 pm will be enforced.  

• T-BALL & MINOR “D” BASEBALL: T-ball: A one-hour time limit will be used for all games. The game ends regardless of the number of innings completed. Minor D: A one-hour fifteen minute time limit will be used for all games.  The game ends regardless of the number of innings completed. 

• MINOR “C Baseball” A one-hour thirty minute time limit will be used for all games. The game ends regardless of the number of innings completed.  

• BASEBALL MINOR “B” LEAGUES: A one-hour thirty minute time limit will be used for all games. The game ends regardless of the number of innings completed.  

• SOFTBALL MINOR “B” LEAGUE: A one-hour thirty minute time limit will be used for all games.  The game ends regardless of the number of innings completed. 

• BASEBALL & SOFTBALL MINOR “A” LEAGUES: A normal game is six (6)  

innings. A one-hour forty-five minute time limit will be used for all games. No new inning may start after the time limit has been completed   

• BASEBALL AAA & MAJORS & SOFTBALL MAJOR LEAGUES: A normal game for this division is six (6) innings. No new inning may start after two hours.  

• JUNIOR, SENIOR BASEBALL & SOFTBALL LEAGUES: A normal game for this division is seven (7) innings. No new inning may start after two and one half hours from the official start time.   

 NUMBER OF PLAYERS  

• T-BALL LEAGUES: All players should be used in the field. Standard infield baseball positions will be used (including the pitcher position) with extra players used in the outfield. Managers must rotate infielders and outfields every inning.  

• MINOR “B, C, D BASEBALL & MINOR B SOFTBALL: A maximum of ten (10) players can be used in the field.  If ten (10) players are used, four (4) must be in the outfield. To accelerate the learning process, players should be rotated to play in several positions.  

• BASEBALL & SOFTBALL A, AAA, MAJORS AND ABOVE: The Little League rulebook applies.   

• MINIMUM PLAYING TIME    

• T-BALL LEAGUE: Each player shall play the entire game.  

• MINOR “B, C, D BASEBALL & MINOR B SOFTBALL: All players will be in the batting order. In an effort to standardize defensive playing time for all teams, no player can sit out two times before every player on that team has sat out one inning.  

• MINOR A, AAA, MAJOR BASEBALL/SOFTBALL & ABOVE: Little League Rule 4.04 will be adopted for all divisions. A continuous batting order will include all players on the team roster present for the game batting in order. Each player will be required to bat in his/her respective spot in the batting order. However, a player may be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game anytime provided he/she meets the requirements of mandatory play. NOTE: If a player is injured, becomes ill or must leave the game after the start of play, the team will skip over him/her when his/her time at bat comes up without penalty. If the injured, ill or absent player returns, he/she is merely inserted into the original spot in the batting order and the game continues. Also, if a child arrives late to the game site, he/she will be added to the end of the current lineup without penalty (Rule 4.01).  

The Little League batting rules are specified in Little League Baseball/Softball Rules & Regulations Section 7.00.  In past years, there has been some confusion as to when the ball is “dead” and when the runners must return to their bases. The following rules shall be enforced in all of the divisions (Minor B level and above).  

• BASEBALL LITTLE LEAGUE RULEBOOK (SEC 7.13) – When a pitcher is in  contact with the pitcher’s plate, and in possession of the ball, and the catcher is in the catcher’s box and ready to receive delivery of the ball, base runners shall return to their bases and not lead off until the pitch is delivered and the ball reaches the batter.   

• SOFTBALL LITTLE LEAGUE RULEBOOK (SEC 7.08A) – When a runner is off a base after a pitch or as a result of a batter completing a turn at bat and while the pitcher has the ball within the eight (8) foot radius circle, the runner must immediately attempt to advance to the next base or return to the base the runner is entitled.  

ALL DIVISIONS: Since we will be using a continuous batting format, Rule 7.14 (Special Pinch Runner) will not be in effect during the regular season. If a base runner becomes ill or injured, the opposing manager may select a pinch runner to complete the inning.  

EXCEPTIONS:  

• T-BALL & MINOR “D” BASEBALL: No stealing permitted.  Runners must stop advancing once the ball enters the infield (i.e. crosses the base path), any runner over halfway to the next base when the ball enters the infield, may continue on to that base.  

• BASEBALL MINOR “C” DIVISION: No stealing permitted. Base runners may advance one base on an overthrow to first base. Base runners may not advance once the ball is in possession of an infielder or pitcher positioned in front of the lead runner.  

• BASEBALL MINOR “B” DIVISION: Base runners may advance one base on an overthrow to first base. Base runners may not advance once the ball is in possession of an infielder or pitcher positioned in front of the lead runner.  

• SOFTBALL MINOR “B” DIVISION: No stealing permitted for the first half of the season. Base runners may advance one base on an overthrow to first base. Base runners may not advance once the ball is in possession of an infielder or pitcher positioned in front of the lead runner.  

• MINOR “A”, “AAA”, & MAJOR DIVISIONS: No lead off is permitted.  The runner may steal only after the ball has crossed home plate. Headfirst sliding is not allowed. Runners trying to score must attempt to avoid contact with the catcher. Defensive players covering home plate after a wild pitch or passed ball must have the ball in their possession before blocking home plate.  

FORFEITS  

• T-BALL, MINOR D, C & B BASEBALL & MINOR B SOFTBALL DIVISIONS: It is the intention of the LOL Board of Directors to have the children in our noncompetitive divisions play all of the games listed on the schedule. Therefore, there will be no forfeits of games due to teams having too few players. If a team cannot field ten players on the date and time of the scheduled game, the game will be played with the available players.  

• BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL MINOR A, AAA, MAJOR LEAGUE & ABOVE: A 15-minute grace period will be granted for the start of the game if a team cannot field nine (9) players. After 15 minutes from the official start time, a forfeit will occur. The winning team will be awarded a win but the game should be played as a “practice” game with available players. An incomplete or delayed game must be played on the next available date (Sunday included). The only acceptable reasons for rescheduling a game is for school or church functions and those reasons are only valid if the manager cannot field a nine-player team. A 72-hour notification to the League President is required to reschedule games.  

EXCEPTIONS:  

• T-BALL, MINOR D, C, & B BASEBALL & MINOR B SOFTBALL DIVISIONS: Formal protests are NOT allowed; Protests must be resolved on the field at the time of play.  The managers are encouraged to resolve the disagreements immediately. If necessary, the Director on Duty will make the final decision regarding a dispute.  Letters describing an ongoing problem should be submitted to the League President with copies to the Player Agent.  

• BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL MINOR A, AAA, MAJOR LEAGUE & ABOVE: If a formal protest is lodged, the protesting manager should request that the official scorekeeper enter the time, inning, team at bat and number of outs at the time of the protest on the official score sheet.  The game is to continue "under protest" and the protesting manager must submit a written description of the play and the basis of the protest to the League President, or his/her designate, within 24 hours of completion of the game. The opposition manager and the home plate umpire must submit rebuttal letters regarding the protest within 24 hours of notification by the League President that the written protest has been received.  The Umpire-in-Chief, the Player Agent, the League President and other designated LOLLL Board members will resolve the protest.   

ON-FIELD CONDUCT  

Sportsmanship is one of the most important lessons we teach to our children. Improper on field conduct by our managers, coaches, players, parents, or spectators will not be condoned. As a general rule, the LOLLL Board will have a zero-tolerance policy towards rule violations. Any violation of Little League or LOLLL Park Rules, as witnessed and documented by others, will be subject to the following penalties:   

• MINOR INFRACTIONS: including but not limited to the use of profanity or the abuse of equipment (i.e. throwing batting helmets or bats in anger) or park facilities (i.e. intentionally damaging fences (soft toss), restrooms, batting cages, dugouts, bleachers, tools, etc.)   PENALTIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:  

• FIRST OFFENSE:    

• PLAYERS: The player will be ejected from the game. The player will sit in the stands, in uniform, for the next game or until the penalty has been served.   

• MANAGERS/COACHES: The person will be ejected from the park. He/she must meet with the LOLLL Board’s disciplinary committee before they can return to their team.  

• ADULT SPECTATOR: The person will be ejected from the park.  

• SECOND OFFENSE:  

• PLAYERS, MANAGERS OR COACHES: Referred to the LOLLL Board’s disciplinary committee. Permanent expulsion from Little League is possible.   

• MAJOR INFRACTIONS: including but not limited to physical contact with umpires or opposing players, abusive behavior, etc.  PENALTIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:  

• FIRST OFFENSE:  

• PLAYERS: The player will be ejected from the game. The player will sit in the stands, in uniform, until the penalty determined by the LOLLL Board’s disciplinary committee has been served. Permanent expulsion is possible.  

• MANAGERS/COACHES: The manager/coach is ejected from the park.  Referred to the LOLL Board’s disciplinary committee. Permanent expulsion from Little League is possible.  

• ADULT SPECTATOR: Ejected from the park and Referred to the Pasco Sheriff’s Department.  

REPLACEMENT PLAYERS   

• If a player is injured, moves from the area, or cannot continue playing for a valid reason (determined by the Player Agent for that division), the team will be assigned a replacement player as follows:  

• ALL DIVISIONS: The team that is missing a player will be assigned the next available player from the wait list based on registration date and the age of the player.   

• No replacement players will be assigned to teams within the final two weeks of the season.   

• If a player misses two consecutive scheduled games without notification, the manager must notify the Player Agent within 24 hours from the completion of the second game.  Failure to comply with this rule will result in disciplinary actions.  

POOL PLAY RULES 

• Managers must go to a Player Agent for a pool player  

*Phone calls will be the best source of contact 

• Managers cannot get pool players on their own 

• Notifications must be at least 24 hours in advance no exceptions 

• Pool players can only play outfield and bat last in batting order   

• Maximum of 3 pool players bringing your total of players to 9 for the game 

• If your teams 9th player shows up then your assigned pool player is still required to play the game.  

• Both managers will be notified of the pool player prior to the game by email 

• If you were not notified that a pool player is being utilized for your game please notify Director on duty immediately 

• If we have exhausted all pool players then it will result in a forfeit  

• Pool players cannot pitch at all.  Additionally, no catching on Saturdays.  Batter order is manager’s discretion 

• Type the list according to the date and time of being turned into director on duty. 

• Player Agent will not disclose the team name to the parents or player only the date, time and which dugout to report to for the game 

• Keep list confidential 

• Player Agent will  track who was contacted and who has accepted to pool play in the games 

• T-BALL & MINOR “B”, “C & D” Divisions:  There will be no designated division champion.   

• SOFTBALL MINOR “A” & ABOVE, AND BASEBALL MINOR A, AAA, MAJOR LEAGUE & ABOVE: Standings will be kept for all regular season games. A tournament will be held at the conclusion of the regular season to determine the division championship. Team seeding will be assigned according to league standings. Ties will be resolved by a coin flip to determine final seeding. All tournament games will be played without time limits and using the Little League Tournament Rules. The continuous batting rule will not apply during the Tournament. Regular season pitch count & rest rules will be in effect during our tournaments.  

• A team’s regular season record shall be determined by the games played with other LOLLL teams within their division. Interleague games played with neighboring communities will not be counted for the divisional standings.    

• If the District 25 rules only allow one team per division, the tournament winner will be the team to be entered into the District Tournament. If two teams are allowed, the first place team from the tournament and the first place team from the regular season will be entered. If the same team wins the tournament and the regular season, the second place team from the tournament will be entered.  

• Disciplinary action may be commenced against any person involved in the Land O’Lakes Little League program, including, but not limited to LOLLL officers, directors, umpires, managers, coaches, parents, players and those attending Little League Baseball or Softball games and/or functions.  Activities that may be subject to disciplinary action shall include any violation of any Little League rules or regulations, any LOLLL local league rule or policy, or any park rule or policy. Any activity or conduct unbecoming of an individual who is in any way involved in LOLLL may also be subject to disciplinary action.   

• Complaints as to improper conduct should be documented (in writing), signed, and handed to the president of the league (or his/her designate). THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT TAKE ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION UNLESS THERE IS A FORMAL, WRITTEN COMPLAINT. The president shall call a meeting of the LOLLL Disciplinary Committee to determine if the complaint is legitimate and if a disciplinary hearing is appropriate.  In the event that a member of the LOLLL Disciplinary Committee is the complainant, that person shall not be present at this initial determination phase.    

  When the Disciplinary Committee makes a determination on whether there is reasonable cause as to the validity of the complaint, the committee chair shall provide written notice to the complainant and the alleged violator stating the substance of the charge and shall request that both parties attend a hearing. The written notice shall state that failure of either party to appear at this meeting will constitute default and such default shall allow the Disciplinary Committee to take appropriate actions. The decision of the committee shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal.  

 Section 8:   ALL STAR SELECTION  

PLAYER SELECTION   

• Players are eligible for all-star teams if they have participated in at least 60% of the team’s regularly scheduled games since they were added to the roster  

• The Player Agent (or the designate) will organize the balloting and will maintain team rosters, including alternates. If after selection, a player is unable to participate, the first alternate will be assigned to the team. At no time shall any player know how they were selected to the all-star team, nor should they know how many votes that they received.   

• All division players and all division managers will be required to vote for eligible players.  The ballots will be collected and counted by the Tally Committee (two or three people who are not Board members or league managers and who do not have children in the leagues to be counted) assigned by the League President.  The Tally Committee will prepare two lists: the first containing the total number of the manager’s votes (hereafter referred to as the manager’s listing), the second containing the players who received the highest number of the player votes. After the vote is tallied, and before the results are announced, an independent review will be conducted by the President (or his/her designate) to verify that all League rules have been followed.  

• Each manager’s vote will count as one point. A child, who appears on the player’s listing top twelve, will receive an additional point. The total point count will determine the twelve players on the All-Star team roster.  Ties will go to the player(s) with the highest number of Manager votes. If after all ties have been exercised, the player with the highest number of kid votes will be appointed to the team. The All-Star manager will not be able to substitute players.  

• The Tally Committee will identify two alternates. The Tally Committee will not divulge the names of the alternates. If after selection, a player is unable to participate, the first alternate will be assigned to the team. At no time shall any player know how they were selected to the all-star team, nor should they know how many votes that they received.  

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS   

Land O’ Lakes All Star teams will be comprised as follows (as Little League dictates based on League registration numbers):