Headid Little League 2025
Minors/Majors Division Baseball Rules Summary

1. LL RULES IN EFFECT. Any rule not specifically mentioned in this summary will be played according to the Little League official rulebook.  All rules apply to both MAJORS and MINORS unless otherwise noted.  

2. COMMUNICATION. It is important that we have each head coach’s current e-mail address and that you check it regularly during baseball season. We’ll try and send text messages if there is urgent news, but make sure you’re checking your e-mail. We will often send non-urgent scheduling changes and other important information by email. 

3. SCHEDULE. No changing dates or time of games for any reason. If possible, rainouts will be made up during the same week on Fridays or Saturday. If we would have to play on a Sunday, game times will not be before 1:00 PM. Failure to show for appointed makeup will result in forfeit. 

4. TIME LIMITS & RUN RULES.
MAJORS No inning starts after 1 hour 45 minutes (unless tie game, play extra innings until someone wins).
MINORS No inning starts after 1 hour 35 minutes in (unless tie game, play extra innings until someone wins) .

It is important that the start time of the game is recorded by the umpire and that everyone knows whose clock is being used. If it is one minute over the limit, the game is over. 1 minute under the limit…we play another inning. 

15 run-rule after 3 innings (2½ if home team ahead). 10-run rule after 4 innings (3½ if home team ahead). If a team wins by run rule, score at that point is official final score. 

5. RAINOUTS. A site supervisor will be on hand nightly and will advise umpires on calling of games due to rain and/or lightning. Games stopped by rain before an official game has been played will be resumed from the point of rainout at the earliest date possible. Official games tied will resume at exact point of rainout. Official games not tied, the team leading after last completed inning will be the winner. If home team takes the lead and rain comes before inning is completed, home team wins. 

6. PITCHING AND CATCHING RULES:
Rest Requirements - Pitching: 
1-20 pitches in day, 0 calendar days of rest.
21-35 pitches in a day, 1 calendar day of rest.
36-50 pitches in a day, 2 calendar days of rest. 
51-65 pitches in a day, 3 calendar days of rest.  
66 or more pitches in a day, 4 calendar days of rest. 
If a pitcher reaches a “day of rest threshold” in the middle of a batter, he may 
finish the batter. The pitcher will only be required to observe the day of rest 
threshold he reached during that at bat.
Daily Maximums - Pitching: 
11-12 year olds: 85 pitches maximum per day 
10 and under: 75 pitches maximum per day. 
7-8 year olds: 50 pitches maximum per day. 
A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. 
A pitcher may not re-enter as a pitcher once removed from the game. 
A pitcher may not pitch on three consecutive days no matter how many pitches 
thrown.
Pitching/Catching Limits.
A pitcher that delivers more than 41 pitches cannot play catcher on that day.
Please remember this applies to double header games. If a player pitches more than 41 pitches in game 1, he cannot play catcher in game 1 or 2 that day. If the player pitches less than 41 pitches, the player IS eligible to catch that day. 
The “threshold” exception does apply here. If the pitcher starts pitching to a batter before 40 pitches, the player can finish that batter and play catcher that day.
Players cannot come in to pitch in a game if they have caught more than three full innings that day. A player cannot catch more than three innings and pitch in the same day regardless of the number of pitches. 

7. KEEPING TRACK OF THE PITCH COUNT. IT IS ULTIMATELY THE COACH’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE PITCH COUNT AND REMOVE PITCHERS ACCORDINGLY. THE UMPIRES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR PITCHER IS NEARLY AT THEIR LIMIT. The home team will be the official count. However, someone for each team should keep track of the counts for both teams. It can be a coach or another responsible person. This is done to improve accuracy. But if there is a disagreement that can’t be resolved, the home team’s count is the final word. Pitch counters are encouraged to come to an agreement without delaying the start of the next inning. Coaches will meet umpires at home plate before the game and fill in names of starting pitchers on umpire’s card. At this time, the coin flip for home team will occur.  Also use this time to check the umpire’s watch and see that the starting time is documented on the pitching card. Go to umpire with any pitching changes and spell it out for the umpire to document. Make sure the number of pitches is recorded for previous pitcher on the umpire card. You MUST go to the umpire at the end of the game and review your pitching and your opponent’s pitching information on the umpire card. Then sign the card. That means you reviewed it and it’s correct. Please make sure game scores make the card. But again, it is the coach’s responsibility to know what the status of their pitchers. Any violation of pitch count and/or days of rest rules will result in forfeit, whether intentional or not. The rulebook says the opposing coach must protest any ineligible pitchers. Headid rules are that, at any point, if it is found someone has violated the pitching rules (even if days later) the opposing team will be credited with the win. Multiple offenses could lead to harsher penalties.  Pitcher to catcher (and vice versa) violations will not result in a forfeit, but multiple violations will result in coach suspension. BOTH COACHES ARE EXPECTED TO TRY AND PREVENT FORFEITS. That may mean that you tell the opposing coach if you feel that his pitcher or catcher might be ineligible. 

8. PLAYER USAGE. 
Calling Up Players: Players from the next age group down can only “called up” when you don’t have nine players. If you have only nine and want an extra to sit on your bench, that’s fine. That player is only there as an emergency and shouldn’t be inserted for even a token appearance unless needed. Called up players from lower age groups should wear their team uniform, not yours. 
MAJORS teams can call up 9 & 10 year old Minors kids, 
MINORS can call up 7 & 8 year old Coach Pitch players to fill in if your team is 
short on players. 
Minimum Playing Time: (MAJORS and MINORS) 
DEFENSIVE PLAY: All players must play 6 defensive outs per game. If not, the player starts next game and fills requirements from last game and current game before being removed. Multiple violations of this rule will lead to coach suspensions. Players can enter the game defensively however you want as long as it’s 2 innings total. (Exception: pitchers cannot re-enter as pitchers).
BATTING: The batting order must consist of all players present (continuous batting order). If you have 11 and the 12th comes late, the player inserted in the 12th spot immediately. 

Minimum Number of Players: (MAJORS and MINORS) A team can play with 8 and take an automatic out in the 9 spot. If a team does not have 8 players, it is an automatic forfeit. Teams can scrimmage if the coaches agree, and in such event, pitch counts from the scrimmage will go on record.

9. UMPIRES 
ANY TIME THE HEAD COACH WANTS TO DISCUSS A RULING OR RULE INTERPRETATION WITH AN UMPIRE, BOTH COACHES SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION. 
There is a very good chance that a young person will be umpiring your game. At Headid, we feel that this is an important part of our league, and coaches should behave accordingly and treat such young person with care and understanding just as they would their players.
Judgment calls made by an umpire cannot be reversed. However, if there is a rule that the umpire didn’t know or forgot about, it is OK for the coaches to get with the umpire and make sure the call is right. So, a call involving a rules issue can be reversed, but judgment calls should stand. 

10.  MISCELLANEOUS RULES: 
No leading off.  Runners must keep one foot on the base until the ball crosses home plate, at which time the runner may leave the base to lead off and/or steal. 
Batters must keep one foot in the batter’s box unless there is a play at the plate and certain other exceptions in the Little League Rulebook. If a violation occurs, the umpire is to issue the batter a warning. For a second offense during the same at bat the umpire will call a strike on the batter. 
If a team wants to intentionally walk a batter, the defensive coach so shall inform the umpire and the batter shall take first base. The pitch count for the pitcher is increased by four pitches for the intentional walk. (See also New Rules section).
Please ask your players and fans to clean-up the dugouts and bleachers area after your game. 
No infield before games and no warming up your pitcher on the mound.  
Coin flip will determine home team. 
No batboys allowed. 
No more than 3 coaches in the dugout during games. 
Coaches may stand in the doorway of the dugout but should not be in front of the dugout fence or more than a step or so outside the doorway. The umpires will be asked to ensure that that players and coaches are in the dugout.
Warm Up Batters:
Between innings:  Only the batter next up to bat is allowed to warm up.  In other words, only one batter is outside of the dugout between innings.
During innings: No warmup batters are allowed. In other words, on deck batter cannot warm up swinging a bat. 
IN NO CASE SHOULD ANY PLAYER BE SWINGING A BAT OUTSIDE OF THE DUG-OUT IN THE COMMON/PUBLIC AREAS OF THE BALLPARK EITHER DURING, BEFORE OR AFTER GAMES.  ALL WARMUP AND PRACTICE MUST TAKE PLACE ON THE FIELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES ABOVE OR AT THE DESIGNATING BATTING CAGE AREAS. 
No headfirst slides, except when returning to a previous base. Runner will be called out if they try to advance sliding headfirst. 
Special pinch runners (courtesy runners) can be used according to the LL rulebook section 7.14. You cannot use courtesy runners if you have continuous batting order.
There is no such thing as “the hand being part of the bat”. If a batter is hit, it doesn’t matter where the batter was hit. If the batter is hit, but the batter swings at the ball… the hit by pitch is not in effect. There does need to be INTENT to swing, however. 
Players are not required to slide at home-plate but they must avoid a collision at home. 

11.  MAJORS ONLY RULES:  
The batter can run on a dropped third strike.
Home plate is open.  Runners can score at any time during play in accordance with the LL rules.  

12.  MINORS ONLY RULES:  
It is mandatory for players to wear helmets with facemasks while batting. No exceptions. failure to do so will lead to the batter being called “out” for that at-bat. 
A team cannot score more than 5 runs in an inning. That half inning is over when the 5th run of the inning is scored. 
Runners may not score unless the ball is batted into play by the batter. This relates to any overthrow by a pitcher or catcher on an attempted pick-off or steal attempt. Runners may not score on a passed ball or a wild pitch. Simply put, if the play starts with a batted ball, all runners can run until they are put out. But if there are overthrows related to steal attempts or wild pitches, a runner can run until reaching 3rd base, but cannot score on that play. 
A pitcher cannot walk a run in. 
New Rule Minors 2024, Updated for 2025 – Coach Pitch instead of Tee Ball.  
When the bases are loaded and ball four is called on the batter at the plate, the offensive coach (the batter’s coach) comes out and pitches to the batter. 
The coach should stand approximately within 10 feet of the rubber and may deliver the pitch either overhand or underhand. 
Regardless of the count on the batter, the batter will have a maximum of 3 pitches to put the ball in play. 
The 3-pitch maximum applies whether or not the coach pitches a strike or a ball. The batter is not allowed to advance if they are hit by a pitch thrown by their coach.  
As soon as the ball is put it play, the ball is live and the batter can be put out, whether this occurs on pitch 1, 2 or 3. Batters must be prepared to run after every pitch. 
Runners are not allowed to advance during coach pitch unless the ball is put in play. 
Foul balls:
Foul balls are counted in the 3-pitch maximum. For example, if the batter fouls-off all three pitches, the batter is out.
Caught foul balls result in an immediate out, regardless of whether it is pitch 1, 2 or 3.
However, a foul tip caught by the catcher only results in an out on pitch 3.  The definition of foul tip is controlled by LL rules and is a discretionary call by the umpire. 
All other circumstances of play that may affect whether the batter is out, whether the ball is put in play, whether the batter may advance, or whether or not the batter is entitled to an additional pitch, shall be within the discretion of the umpire.  
For example:
If the coach throws 3 pitches that would be called balls, even if they are “unhittable” by the batter, if the batter does not put the ball in play, the batter is out. 
If the batter had 2 strikes before the coach pitch, and a strike is thrown as pitch 1, the batter still has 2 more pitches available.  

NEW PLAYING RULES 2023-2025 (MAJORS and MINORS):  
Alterations or Modifications made to the Bat: Clarifies that products, such as, but not limited to, choke-knobs, choke-up assists, or thumb protectors are considered alterations to the bat and are not permitted. 
Undershirts, Arm Bands, Neoprene Sleeves and Play Calling Bands: Outlines the use of arm bands for on-the-field play. Any part of the pitcher’s undershirt or T-shirt exposed to view shall be of a solid color. The pitcher’s undershirt sleeves, if exposed, shall not be white or gray. Neoprene sleeves may be worn without being covered by an undershirt, provided the neoprene sleeve is a solid color and not white or gray. The use of play calling bands by defensive players is permitted under the following conditions: The equipment must be worn as the manufacturer intended (i.e. on either the wrist or forearm) The play calling band may not be attached to the belt or any other location on the player’s person. Pitchers are permitted to wear a play calling band on their non-pitching (glove) arm, provided it is a solid color and not white, gray, or optic yellow. If the umpire considers it distracting to the batter, he/she may have it removed
Jewelry: Jewelry is now permitted.  
Helmet Stickers: Permits the use of helmet stickers or decals, provided that such usage is not excessive, is not offensive, and does not make inappropriate references, such as that to drugs or alcohol. 
Courtesy Runner Rule 3.04, Rule 7.14(b): This change provides clarifications for using a courtesy runner with both the traditional batting order and the continuous batting order. It also clarifies that when using the continuous batting order, the offense may use a courtesy runner for both the pitcher and catcher of record at the same time when there are two outs. 
Pregame Equipment Inspection: Removes the requirement for umpires to check equipment prior to the start of the game by placing responsibility for legal and proper equipment on the manager. 
Electronic Devices: This change permits a team to use one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense. 
Use of an Illegal Bat: This change updates the penalty for the usage of an illegal bat as listed in 6.06(d) to remain consistent with the penalty included in the change to Rule 3.01. 
Warming Up Pitchers:  Coaches can now warm up pitchers.  This would aid in efforts to improve the pace of play by allowing adult coaches to warm up pitchers for regular season only. Managers or coaches are permitted to warm up a pitcher at home plate or in the bullpen or elsewhere at any time including in-game warm-up, pre-game warm-up, and in other instances. They may also stand by to observe a pitcher during warm-up in the bullpen.
Intentional Walks: The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided said runner advances to and touches first base) when the defense elects to “Intentionally Walk” the batter by announcing such decision to the plate umpire. The request may be made prior to or during the at-bat. Such notification must be made by the defensive manager. The manager must request and be granted “time” by the umpire and then inform the umpire of the defense’s intent to walk the batter. The ball is dead, and no other runners may advance unless forced by the batter’s award. The appropriate number of “balls” needed based on the count on the batter at the time of the manager’s request to complete the Intentional Walk will be added to the pitch count. A player may only be intentionally walked by announcing such decision to the plate umpire one time during the course of the game. This would not restrict a team from throwing four balls outside of the strike zone to this batter at another time during the game.