AA Ball Division Rules

Revision History

V1 2023-02-27 Initial 2023 Draft

V2 2023-04-28 Revised rules on base advancement on overthrows, including pitcher to catcher (section Ball in Play)

V1   2024-02-15      Revised Walks; up to 3 batters will take their free base, then Coach Pitch to occur after 3 BB/HPB.  Revised   Base Running.

V2   2024-03-15 Added additional base running rules, using * (asterisks) where changes were made.

League Contacts:
League President: Justin Christensen([email protected])
Lower Level Player Agent: Clay Kaaveh Letafat([email protected])
Mid Level Player Agent: Jon Cardenas([email protected])
Upper Level Player Agent: Clay Woosley ([email protected])
UIC: Brett Staples & Youth Umpire Director Todd Weber([email protected])

Team Size: 12-13 players, 10 players may play in the field, (four outfielders).

Playing Time: Continuous Batting Order and 3 defensive innings per game required per player.

Game Length: 6 Innings. No new inning can start after 90 mins. Darkness is considered 15 minutes after official Willow Glen sunset. Game is stopped at darkness or earlier.

Umpires: If umpire is missing, Home team is in charge of supplying umps. In interlock game with SJA at WGLL home team will supply plate ump and SJA will supply base ump. WGLL will schedule umps during playoffs.  Will incorporate youth (11+) umpires after completing required umpire training.

Pitching Rules: Little League Green Book rules apply to pitching rules. 

50 pitches for 7-8 year olds. 

75 pitches for 9-10 year olds. 

These are referencing little league ages.

Coach Pitching, Walks, & HBP:

New this year, after 4 balls the batter will be awarded a free base.  If a pitcher reaches any combined total of 3 walks or HBPs (Hit By Pitch) in a single inning (can be 3 walks, or 2 walks/1 HBP, or 1 walk/2 HBP, or 3 HBP), then becomes Coach Pitch. 

No runners can score on a bases loaded walk, if a 4th ball is thrown with bases loaded, (regardless of the amount of walks/HBP in an inning), then becomes coach pitch. 

*If kid pitcher is relieved during a bases loaded walk, Coach Pitcher will come in to finish the at bat; and let’s say there has only been 2 combined walks/HBP or less, after that at bat (for the batter who gets walked during bases loaded), kid pitcher will enter back into the game to face the next batter.* 

When Coach Pitcher enters a game (either after a combined 3 walks/HBP, or after a bases loaded walk), the number of strikes carry over from prior at bat when shifting from kid pitch-to coach pitch.  For example, if the count was 3-1, and if a 4th ball is thrown, pitching goes to coach pitch with 1 strike, or with an 0-1 count.  Coach Pitcher may throw up to 4 pitches.  The batter will strike out after either the 3rd strike or after 4 pitches are thrown.  There are no called strikes during coach pitch. The batter will be out after 4th pitch unless he/she fouls off the pitch, then they will continue their as bat, Coach Pitcher can throw an unlimited number of pitches if the batter continues to foul off the ball.  There is no limit of pitches if a batter continues to foul off the ball. 

The pitcher being relieved by a coach pitch (after a combination of 3 walks/HBP) is allowed to pitch in the next inning.  A HBP will count the same as a walk as far as reaching that combined number of 3 which turns pitching into coach pitch for the remainder of the inning. 

A batter who gets HBP-Hit By Pitch will have the choice (Manager or Coach can assist in making the choice) to either take their free base or can choose to hit off the Coach Pitcher.   If the batter chooses to hit off Coach Pitcher after a HBP, the count becomes new at 0-0, and the batter is given its normal 4 pitches, as in a normal coach pitch situation.  *If the situation is bases loaded, and a HBP occurs, the HBP batter still has the choice to take either the free base (a run would be scored if the batter chooses the free base) or they can choose to hit off Coach Pitcher, with a new count, and bases remain loaded, with no run being scored as a result of HBP-with Coach Pitcher option selected.*

Base running:  Base runners are not allowed to take a lead or steal a base.  Base runners must have at least one foot touching the base and cannot take off to the next base until the pitch/ball has crossed home plate.  If a runner leaves early/prior to the pitch/ball crossing home plate, then the umpire can choose to send the runner back one base lesser than where they end up.  *No secondary leads are allowed & runners can only take both feet off the base, and are allowed to advance to the next base if one of the following occurs: there is contact off the bat it becomes a live ball, or on a passed ball.  No runner/s can advance a base on an otherthrow-being made from Catcher to Pitcher.*

Ball that is Hit in Play (live ball):  *Runners may advance an unlimited number of bases on overthrows during a live ball; it is considered a live ball when a ball is hit off of the bat, or also is considered a live ball if the defense continues throwing the ball around, and not establishing ‘Control’ (see control section for details).  For example, a base hit can become an inside the park home run if throwing errors/plays continue to where ‘Control’ has not been established.*

Passed Balls & Overthrows:

***A Passed Ball is defined as any ball that gets past the catcher during a pitch made from the pitcher.  If the catcher blocks the ball, and prevents the pitch from getting by him, (umpire’s call) then base runners are not allowed to attempt to advance to the next base.  If a pitch gets past the catcher, and the ball gets behind him/her, then runners can advance one base. On a Passed Ball, runners are allowed to advance one base (if there are multiple runners on base each runner can advance one base). 

Runners are allowed to score on a Passed Ball.  A runner can also score during a bases loaded passed ball situation.  If a Catcher makes an errant throw back to the Pitcher, runner/s may Not advance any base.  On Passed balls, Base runners are allowed one base advancement per runner-for each at bat.  For example, if there are runners at 1st and 2nd base, with the #3 batter at bat, and if a Pass ball occurs, base runners (from 1st & 2nd) are allowed to advance to 2nd and 3rd base.  Those base runners must remain at 2nd and 3rd base as long as the #3 batter is still at bat.  During any other occurrence (of another Passed ball) if the same batter (#3 Batter) is still up at the plate, the base runner/s are not allowed to advance until the next batter (#4 Batter is up).  We will allow for only one base advancement per batter, regardless of how many times a Passed ball occurs. 

However, if an attempt is made to try to throw out the runner, then it is considered a live ball & during live-ball play, there is no limit on the number of bases that runners may advance on errors/overthrows.  If any of the following throwing errors are made on a Passed ball situation, where the Catcher tries to throw out a runner going from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, or from 3rd to Home, ball is considered live on any of these types of errors.  For example if it is bases loaded, and there is a Passed Ball, all runners are allowed one base advancement (one run could score). 

Additionally, if there is an attempt to make an out any base (at home, 3rd, or 2nd base) such as catcher attempts to throw a runner out at home or 3rd base, and makes another throwing error, then ball is live, & runners are allowed to advance an unlimited number of bases-as an additional errant throw/or toss-after a Passed Ball is made is considered a live ball.  Catchers may be encouraged not to make a throw attempt/or toss attempt to get a runner out who is trying to advance a base on a passed ball-to prevent any additional bases being taken on live-ball throwing errors. 

**If the Catcher makes an  overthrow while trying to throw the ball back to the Pitcher, then base runners are Not allowed to advance.  It is the Umpire’s call to determine whether or not a throwing attempt was made at a base runner who may be trying to advance on a Passed ball.**

Ball Out of Play: Should a ball go out of play, one extra base will be given.  A ball is considered to be out of play if any of the following happens: the ball leaves the field play, ball gets stuck in between/or under a fence, ball passes the imaginary line from the fence-line from each Bullpen down to each foul pole.  It is the Umpire's call to make if he/she thinks a ball goes past the fence line from each Bullpen down to each foul pole.

Control:   Play stops when the ball is returned by any defensive player that has at least one foot inside the circular chalk-around the pitcher’s mound.  Once ‘Control’ has been established (Umpire’s call), the runners who have crossed the mid-way line on the base paths may advance to the next base.  If the runners have not crossed the mid-way line by the time ‘Control’ is made, they must return to the prior base.  Base runners are live and can advance to the next base until ‘Control’ is established. When   ‘Control’ is established, runners are frozen and cannot attempt to advance to the next base.  Note-if a pitcher receives the ball from another fielder and makes no pause in his/her actions, and continues to throw the ball around to another fielder-then ball and play is live.  Pitcher must have a pause in his/her action/s but does not necessarily need to hold his hands up in the air in order for ‘Control’ to be in effect. 

Bats: Only USA Baseball bats for little league are approved bats. See https://usabat.com/ for list of non wood bats.

Throwing of bat: 1st time results in warning for batter. 2nd time it is penalized as an out.

End of Inning: Innings end with either 3 outs, or 5 runs scored, or all batters have hit in the inning. The 5 run rule is waived only during the last inning but no batter may ever bat twice in any inning, including the last inning of a game.

Miscellaneous: No Bunting (also No Fake bunting), No Infield Fly Rule, and No Mercy Rule, No head first slides/dives-unless runner is diving/returning back to a base.  For example, if a player has rounded 2nd base (has gone past 2nd base), then attempts to run back to 2nd; runner is allowed to dive back.  

Minimum Defensive Requirements:  All players must play at least one defensive inning of infield in every game by the 3rd inning-except during the playoffs-there are no infield requirements.  In any given game, No player can sit on the bench for more than 2 innings-including playoffs.