Minors AA

Montgomery County Little League (MCLL)

2025 Local Rules

Softball Minors AA Division

MCLL will be governed by the rules set forth by “Little League Baseball Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Policies” unless noted and modified below. Please be familiar with the official LL rules. The rules below are primarily to help clarify common areas of confusion, emphasize safety rules or set a local rule that varies from a Little League rule. Rules related to safety, good sportsmanship and the proper teaching of fundamental baseball skills should receive the highest priority.  All rules below apply to both the regular season and playoffs unless otherwise noted.

Note:  For D2 Games rules may differ from those listed here.  The Division Commissioner will notify teams participating in D2 games of any rule variations.  Coaches should be sure to check-in with the Division Commissioner prior to any D2 games. 

TIME LIMITS: 

a. No new inning shall begin 1 hour 45 minutes after the start time of the game.  If an inning is started it must be completed.  If a shorter time limit is necessary, no new inning will start 15 minutes before the official end time and will be clearly communicated at the home plate pre-game meeting. (Modification of Regulation VII.h) 

b. Mixer Only: 1 hour 30 minutes, drop dead. 

c. Games will be a max of 6 innings, and coaches may mutually agree to end the game even if the time limit or mercy rule has not been met.

UNIFORM: All players shall wear the appropriate Little League patches on their uniforms and MCLL issued uniforms. 

TEAM COMPOSITION: 

a. Each team must field a minimum of seven players for a legal lineup.  This would comprise of the following positions:  1B, 2B, SS, 3B, P, C, OF  (Modification of LL Rule 4.16 and 4.17).

b. Only players on an official league roster in the same Division or below are permitted to to play in a league game.  If teams are short players they may “borrow” from a prior game or have the opposing team place players in the OF.  If borrowing from the opposing team, players placed in the OF would be the players at the end of the lineup for that inning.  If their turn comes to bat they would be rotated out.  

c. If a team knows it will be short players for a game, the manager can make a request to the Softball Player Agent for fill-in players. (Summary of Regulation V) 

EQUIPMENT : 

a. 11” Little League Approved Softballs. 

b.Defensive face guards are required for all infielders.  They are optional for outfielders.  This rule applies ONLY to internal MCLL games.  Games played against other Districts, including D2 may mandate the wearing of defensive face masks and all MCLL players must comply.

c. Players may not wear jewelry such as, but not limited to, rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, nor any hard cosmetic/decorative items. This rule applies regardless of the composition of such jewelry, hard cosmetic item, or hard decorative item. Hard items to control the hair, such as beads, are permitted.  Religious necklaces and medical bracelets may be worn if taped down so they are not dangling. (LLS Rule 1.11(j).

d. All other equipment must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations. (Rule 1.11 Objectives of the Game) 

GAME: 

a. Home team will occupy the 1st base dugout/bench area.  Away team will occupy the 3rd base dugout/bench area. 

b. Each team must supply a scorekeeper with the Home Team keeping the “official book.” 

c. Five-Run Rule is in effect.  The 5th run scored by a team in their half inning before three out as obtained by the defensive team ends the half inning.  The play is allowed to finish with only five runs counting.

d. An 11 run mercy rule is in effect after 4. If after 4 innings, three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of 11 runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. 

e. A 6 run mercy run rule is in effect after five innings.  If after 5 innings, four and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of 6 runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent.  

f. Teams may continue play if the time limit has not been reached, with any runs scored after reaching the mercy rule not counting towards the game total.  

g. If the visiting team has a lead, the home team must bat in its half of the inning before the mercy run rule takes effect.  (LL Rule 4.10e)

OFFENSE: 

a. A continuous batting order that includes all players on the team roster present for the game shall be used. (Variant of LL Rule 4.04).  Teams batting less than 9 players DO NOT take any outs.   

b. Slap hitting and bunting are not permitted.

c. When a player is injured, ill, or must leave the game site after the start of the game, the team will skip over the player when that player’s time at bat comes up without penalty. If the player is able to return at a later point in the game, that player is inserted into their original spot in the batting order. If a player arrives late to the game site, the player would be added to the end of the lineup. (Variant of LL Rule 4.04) 

d. The on-deck position is not permitted in Little League Majors Division and below. (LL Rule 1.08 Note 1) 

e. Batters are OUT on a dropped 3rd strike. (LL Rule 6.05.b.2) 

f. There are no bases on balls.

g. A batter is only considered hit by a pitch if the ball hits the batter on a fly. Bounced pitches that hit the batter are counted as balls.   If a player is hit by a pitch they have the option to stay in the box and bat. 

h. Pursuant to LL Rule 7.00(b) a "courtesy runner" shall be permitted for a player who is on base with two outs and is the designated catcher or pitcher in the next half inning.  The courtesy runner will be the player that made the last out (i.e., the player that made the second out of the inning).  No courtesy runner is allowed in the last inning of the game (i.e., the 6th inning or as may be designated by the umpire) or during extra innings.

i. Runners may not take a lead and cannot leave the base until the ball has crossed home plate. (LL Rule 7.13) 

j. There is no traditional stealing in Minors AA.  The following restrictions on stealing apply: 

1) Runners may advance from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd ONLY on passed balls, defined as a ball not in immediate vicinity and catcher has to move more than two steps to retrieve.  If the catcher blocks a ball which remains in front or to the side of the catcher, this is NOT considered a passed ball. 

3) There is only one steal of home per inning at the Minors level.  Runners on 3rd may only advance home on a batted ball put in play or a defensive play made on the runner at 3rd base.

4) Runners may NOT advance on an errant throw back to the pitcher. 

5) Runners may not advance on an overthrow by the catcher attempting to throw out a runner while stealing.

k. There is no “must slide” rule. However, the runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag. (LL Rule 7.08.a.3)

l. A play is considered over when the pitcher has the ball in possession of the player pitcher inside the pitcher's circle (or within 10 feet of the mound if no circle and ball raised in the air) or when the umpire calls time.  

DEFENSE: 

a. Teams are allowed to use 10 players on defense by adding a fourth outfielder. 

b. Every player must play at least 3 innings by the fifth inning and both infield and outfield by that time.

c. Infield fly rule is not  in effect. 

d. No one player can play a single position for more than 3 consecutive innings. The exceptions are pitcher and catcher.  Though teams are encouraged to give all players a chance to play both positions.

e. Outfielders must play approximately 20 feet or more beyond the base path which typically means that players must be stationed on the outfield grass. (Modification of LL Rule 4.03(c)) 

f. Outfielders may not make an unassisted out at a base.  

PITCHING: 

a.The pitcher’s mound is set at 35 feet from home. 

b.A pitcher is allowed 8 warm-up pitches between innings or 1 minute, whichever comes first. (LL Rule 8.03) 

c.Managers/Coaches are permitted to warm-up pitchers between innings if the catcher is not ready. 

d.No pitcher will be allowed to wear long sleeve yellow shirts. Any pitcher doing so will be asked to remove the shirt/sleeve, or will be removed from the pitcher’s position. (LL Rule 1.11.a.3) 

e.There are illegal pitches but no balks in the Minors Division. (LL Rule 8.05) Leaping is allowed. 

f.If a pitcher hits 3 batters above the waist in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed from the game and is not eligible to return to the pitcher position for the remainder of the game.

g.Minors AA will use a hybrid player-coach pitch format, unless otherwise specified by the Division Commissioner: 

1) Player will pitch to a batter. 

2) If the batter receives 4 balls, a Coach from the team hitting will come in and finish the batter. Any strikes on the batter will remain when the Coach comes in. 

3) A maximum of 4 pitches should be delivered unless there is a foul tip on the forth pitch which continues the at-bat at 1-pitch intervals.  The batter is out if they have received four pitches or strikeout.

4) Baserunners may only advance on a batted ball.  There is no runner advancement on a passed ball when the Coach is pitching. 

5) Coach Pitcher is not a play-maker, and should move out of the field of play as much as possible.  If the Coach is struck by the batted ball, the ball is dead, batter is awarded first base and only runners that would be forced may advance. 

Umpire Summary for Minors Softball 

Game Format 

- 6 innings 

- 11-run mercy rule after 4 innings 

- 6 run mercy rule after 5 innings

- If mercy rule is reached game may continue under a two hour hard stop.  Final score will be that at the time of the mercy rule.  

- No new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes from scheduled start time.

- There is no hard stop unless the mercy rule is reached.  Any inning started is completed.

- 5 run limit per inning.

Field Rules 

- Infield Fly Rule is not in effect

- Dropped 3rd strike is an OUT 

- Runners may only “steal” on a passed ball (more than two steps from catcher). - One successful steal of home per half inning

- No runner advance on a catcher’s return throw to the pitcher (i.e., no delayed steals). 

- One base on an overthrow per runner per play. 

Pitching rules:

- Player pitcher pitches until they get an out or their are four balls.  

- After 4 balls the coach comes in to finish off the batter, there are no walks. Strikes are carried over from the player pitchers. 

Coach can pitch a maximum of 4 additional pitches that results in a batted ball or strike out (unless there is a foul tip, then batter will receive an additional pitch).

-Pitch must hit the batter in the air to be considered HBP.

-- Balks are not called but there can be illegal pitches. Leaping is allowed.