League Setup

1. The Fairfield Atlantic Little League will be governed according to the approved Constitution.

2. Any rules not specified here within the Bylaws shall be governed by the Official Little League rules.

3. Game site is defined as any area within 100 feet of the Fairfield Atlantic Little League Fences 

4. The Disciplinary committee shall consist of the Vice President, Coaching Coordinator, the appropriate Player Agent, and Umpire in Chief. In the event of a tie the President is the tie breaker.  If any of these individuals have a conflict of interest, another Board Member will take their place. The Secretary will be present to take notes.  The Disciplinary committee will collectively vote on disciplinary decisions for coaches or players.

   1. All protests will be handled by the Disciplinary Committee.

Managers, Coaches, and Player Conduct & Rules

1. Team Managers & Coaching Staff

   1. The determination of each Team Managers will be approved by the President.  The Safety Officer will provide all background and training courses that have to be completed.  All team coaching staff (Team Managers, coaches, and team parents) are required to complete background verifications including Live Scan and necessary training courses.

   2. Managers and Coaches shall be attired as required within the Little League Official Regulation & Playing Rules 1.11 including a cap, shirt, jeans, slacks, or shorts.  No sandals or flip flops will be permitted.

   3. Each practice and/or game shall have a rostered manager or coach present.

   4. Players, Coaches, Managers and spectators will not taunt a player, Manager/Coach, Board Members or Umpire. If this action occurs, the Umpire or Board member on duty may ask the offending individual to leave the Little League premises. Failure to exit the property may result in police notification if the individual was ejected. In the event of poor sportsmanship/parent conduct, the game will be stopped and both teams will go to the dugout. The game will not resume until the behavior stops. If the game resumes and the behavior starts again, the offending team will forfeit the game taking a loss.

   5. In the event a Team Manager, Coach, or Team Parent is ejected from a game for a disciplinary reason, the individual must exit the game site immediately.  Any manager or coach who refuses to comply with Official Regulation & Playing Rules 4.07 following an ejection shall be subject to disciplinary review by the Disciplinary committee. Rule 4.07 is defined as “When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They may not sit in the stands and may not be recalled. A manager or coach ejected from a game must not be present at the game site for the remainder of the game. Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for his or her team’s next physically played game and may not attend the game site from which they were suspended. This includes pregame and postgame activities.” The game site is defined as 100 feet from the fenced in field.

2. Field Expectations

   1. Food and Drinks are prohibited on the playing fields. Beverages in cups or plastic bottles are allowed in the dugout. Each team will sweep their dugout, clean their bullpen, empty the trashcans (if full). Team Managers are responsible for ensuring clean fields.  Violations will be handled by the disciplinary committee. 

   2. The expectation of each team is to set up and clean up before and after every game, including Saturday games. The home team sets up and the visiting team breaks down. This includes raking the dirt and watering the dirt which includes the Batter’s Box, Pitching Mound, Baselines, and Infield. Violations will be handled by the disciplinary committee.  In the case of interleague games, the home team will set up, and tear down.

3. Minimum Play Rules and Absences

   1. Each player is expected to participate in each game for a minimum of six defensive outs.  If a complaint is raised regarding a player’s minimum play, the Disciplinary committee make a determination on a case-by-case basis.  Minimum play rule violations may lead to discipline of the Manager and/or Coaches.  Generally, the 1st offense will result in a warning followed by more serious penalties if infractions continue. 

      1. If a minimum play rule violation occurs whether intentional or not, the affected player will play the complete game (up to 6 innings) of the next game attended by the affected player. 

      2. If the game was shortened for any reason, no penalty will be imposed on the Manager or Coach, however the player(s) who did not achieve minimum play will start the next game and finish the prior games missing outs or at bats in addition to completing the minimum play for that current game. 

   2. Failure by a manager to notify the Player Agent of the continued absence of a player may result in disciplinary action against the manager. (Continued absence is defined as an unexcused absence of 2 consecutive games or 3 consecutive practices).  Notification of player agent must be made within 5 days after the absences have occurred. An unexcused absence is defined as no call/no show/no contact. If a manager fails to inform the Player Agent and a vacancy occurs, the Player Agent and Manger will select the replacement player for that team from the wait list first (if available). In the event of no wait list players available, the player will be selected from the next lower division within two weeks from player agent notification. If the Player Agent and Manger do not select the replacement player, the President will. In the event a player chooses not to move up, the player is ineligible to move to another team or division for the remainder of the season.  If the Manager properly notifies the Player Agent of a vacancy, then the Manager along with the Player Agent will have two weeks to select a replacement player.

4. Player Expectations and Rules

   1. Managers and Coaches are required to make sure players are outfitted in uniform jerseys and caps supplied or approved by Fairfield Atlantic Little League.  

      1. All players are required to wear appropriate safety gear including cups during practices and games.

Division Rules

General Division Rules

1. Divisions will consist of the following age groups:  

• T-Ball: Ages 4-7 

  • (*7-year-olds must be their first year of playing) 

• Farm (Coach pitch): Ages 5-9 

  • (5 and 6 years olds must have played a minimum of 1 Spring Season of T-ball)

• Minors: Ages 7-11 

  • (7-year-olds must have played a minimum of 1 Spring Season in Farm)

• Majors: Ages 9-12

• Intermediate 50/70: Ages 11-13

2. To be deemed a safety issue and remain in a lower division, the player agent will assess the child and meet with the parent to come to an agreement on the player’s division. Once a child has completed a spring season in a division, they may not be moved back down.

3. Majors and Minor Division must adhere to rule 4.05 for base coaches. Each team will have 1 manager and 2 coaches of record. Those are the only adults allowed on the field or in the dugout during games. Rule 4.05 is defined as “The offensive team shall station two base coaches on the field during its time at bat, one near first base and one near third base. The coaches shall not leave their respective dugouts until the pitcher has completed his/her preparatory pitches to the catchers. Base coaches shall (1) Be eligible players in the uniform of their team; a manager and/or coach. Both base coaches may be managers or coaches. (2) Be a manager or coach only if there is at least one other adult manager or coach in the dugout. (3) Always remain within the base coaches’ boxes, except as provided in Rule 7.11 (4) Talk to members of their team only. An offending base coach shall be removed from the base coach’s box.

4. Are adopting Rule 4.00 Starting and Ending the Game. 

5. In the event of a suspended game, the Board will maintain the original official score sheet pending resumption of the game.

Tee Ball & Farm Divisions

1. General Rules

   1. Tee Ball and Farm Divisions are highly instructional & may have a maximum of 6 members on the coaching staff (including Team Manager, coaches, and Team parent), background checked with a combination of four coaches/managers.  

   2. When the team is playing offense a coach/manager will be in each coach’s box. A coach/manager/team parent must always be in the dugout. While on defense you can have up to 4 coach/managers in the field of play (one must be stationed at catcher) for instructional purposes. When a team is playing defense a coach/manager will be stationed behind the catcher to speed up the game but must not aide in a play or touch a live ball.  The last coaching staff member must always be in the dugout helping with game play and player conduct. The coach/managers in the field of play may not touch players to aid them in a play or touch a live ball.

   3. Each manager is required to designate a scorekeeper for each game. Applies only for Farm, Minor, Major and 50/70.

   4. For farm teams, the first part of the season games is considered instructional and training games for players and scorekeepers.  The last 10 in-league games will be counted towards the season record for seeding, and games will be tracked by team scorekeepers.  During the second part of the season & Tournament games, the 5-run inning rule will apply for the entire game.

   5. For T-Ball and Farm Games, a member of the coaching staff is required to escort players to the restroom for player safety or hand off directly to a parent or guardian for escort.

2. Game Positions

   1. Every Player must play any infield position at least 2 innings per game in the regular season and at least 1 inning per game in tournament play.

   2. Infield Positions: 1B, 2B, 3B, SS and Pitcher.

   3. Outfield Positions: Catcher, LF, LC, RC and Right Field.

   4. Outfielders must be positioned at the cut of the grass at the transition from the infield dirt at the time of each pitch.

   5. Infielders must be positioned on the infield dirt or no more than two steps onto the infield grass at the time of each pitch.

3. Game Play

   1. When a team is playing offense, a coach/manager will pitch overhand from the bottom of the mound.  The pitcher must have at least one foot on the dirt around the mound while the ball is being pitched.  Pitching machines will not be used.

   2. Continuous batting order will be used in the game.  Half inning change will be made at 3 outs, 5 runs scored, or all players have batted.

   3. If base runner(s) are not more than halfway to the next base when the pitcher (Player not Coach) obtains possession of the ball and within the infield grass, the runner(s) must return to the previous base(s).  Coaches must agree to this decision.  In the event an agreement cannot be reached, a coin toss will determine if the player should return to the base.

   4. On the throwback to the pitcher the ball is overthrown, the runner is allowed to advance at their own risk.

   5. On an overthrow to any base runners of home plate runners will advance 1 base at their own risk.  

   6. Batters will have 5 pitches to put the ball into play.  Strikes are only foul balls or swing and misses.  3 strikes and the batter is out.  On the 5th pitch, if they foul the ball off, they continue to hit until they put the ball into play, swing and miss or do not swing at all batter is out.

   7. NO BUNTING ALLOWED 

   8. A new inning cannot be started after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the start of the game.

4. Farm Tournament

   1. For farm teams, the first part of games during the Spring Season are considered instructional and training games for players and scorekeepers.  These games will not count towards the season record.  The last 10 in league (only against Atlantic Teams) games will be counted towards the season record for tournament seeding and games will be tracked by team scorekeepers.   

   2. Tournament Seeding: Once all team records have been compiled, the Tournament seeding will be created. Any ties will be determined by the Head-to-head record (best record between the tied teams).  If the head-to-head record is tied, a coin toss will determine the higher seed.  

Minors, Majors, & Intermediate (50/70) Divisions

1. Official Scoring

   1. For Majors, Minors, & 50/70 Divisions, both teams need to have a scorekeeper for all games.  The home team will serve as the official scorebook for the game. The scorekeepers will use the league provided book and sit inside the scorekeeper’s booth. The home team will provide the official pitch counter.  A third individual may be used to update the scoreboard. Special circumstances can allow a change of responsibility. At the end of each half inning the two will compare and balance the pitch count. For any discrepancies that can’t be reconciled, the game should be stopped, the umpire and both managers should be notified of the issue. If no agreement can be reached a protest can be submitted. When play is resumed it shall continue under the agreed upon pitch count or that of the pitch counter/scorekeeper. Once the next half inning begins and no issues are brought to the attention of the umpires and managers, the reconciled pitch count becomes official and may not be protested.

      1. Additional requirements: Each team must track both the score and the Pitch Count for every game.  However, only the official signed scoresheet and pitch count will be used for scores and stats.

   2. Spectators are not allowed to stand behind the dugouts, backstops, distract or interfere with Scorekeepers inside the scorekeeper’s booth. Pitch Counter and Scorekeeper are game officials and must remain impartial. Warnings will be issued on the first offense to the team Manager, after 1 warning, disciplinary action will be taken against the Manager.

   3. The official pitch counter has an obligation to report a pitcher that has reached their maximum pitches. 

      1. Failure to remove a pitcher who has reached their maximum number of pitches required by league age or use of an ineligible pitcher is basis for protest.  All protests must occur during the half inning of the violation and the scorekeeper and umpire must be notified.  Violations will be reported to the disciplinary Committee to determine the appropriate corrective action.

   4. Both managers and one umpire must sign the official score book and pitch count sheet.  For interleague games, the Fairfield Atlantic team playing will track the score and pitch count.  The Fairfield Atlantic pitch count sheet must also be signed by both managers and one umpire, and a copy of the official opposing league’s score sheets and pitch count sheets are required to be sent to the head scorekeeper as soon as possible following the completion of the game.    

   5. If a player is not playing during a game on a Minors, Majors, or 50/70 team, the reason must be written in the official scorebook. 

2. Substitutions and Player Changes

1. No movement or replacement of players after May 1 is permitted unless the affected team drops below 10 players due to relocation, injury, or personal reasons.  Personal reasons will be discussed between the Parents and Coaching Committee as appropriate. 

2. Managers will make defensive substitutions no later than the top of the fourth inning. 

3. All substitutions must be communicated to the Umpire and official scorekeeper prior to inning start.

4. A manager may not bench (when a player does not meet minimum play requirement) a player for a disciplinary reason without appropriate approval from the Board member on duty and the opposing manager must be notified and given a reason why. If a player is removed from the game for a disciplinary reason, an out will be recorded for each time the player would have been at bat and the player may not re-enter that game.  If a player is removed for an injury or illness, the initial out only will be counted when they exit the game.

3. Additional Rules

   1. The Minors, Majors, and Intermediate 50/70 Divisions shall allow each team in the 6th inning the opportunity to continuously bat until 3 outs are made.

   2. For Minors, Majors, and Intermediate 50/70 divisions, interleague games count towards official record for tournament qualification and stats. 

   3. The Majors and Intermediate 50/70 divisions will be utilizing the drop third strike rule 6.05b. To clarify this rule, a batter becomes eligible to advance to first base on a dropped third strike when there are less than two outs, and first base is not occupied. If there are two outs, first base can be occupied.

      1. For the drop third strike rule, it is the umpires’ discretion to call the batter out when the player does not attempt to advance to first.

4. Intermediate 50/70 Rules

   1. 50/70 Teams will follow Little League rules and will use a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths. 

   2. Regular season players in the Intermediate 50/70 Baseball Division have the opportunity to dual roster, meaning the player can play in both the 50/70 and Major League Divisions during the same season.

      1. Tournament eligibility is possible in either division, but a player may choose to play in both divisions as long as the 50/70 team is eliminated from the Tournament. 

Games & Practices

1. Practices should be a minimum of 1 hour.

2. During game days, there is no practicing/warming up in the grass near the restrooms or between the fields.

3. Games will have a two-hour time limit on the weekend starting from the first pitch being thrown. A game will be called at sunset for darkness. No new inning will start after one hour and 45 minutes time limit and any started inning will be completed unless umpire calls the game. If the umpire calls the game the score will revert back to the last complete inning.

4. Ties: If a game is still tied after 2 hours or darkness is reached, the game shall continue to be played another time if needed to determine standings.  This does not include interleague play.

5. The First-place team in the Majors and Minors division will automatically move on to Tournament of Champions (TOCs). Teams will be seeded according to their finish in the regular season standings. In the event of a tie, head-to-head record will break the tie. If there is still a tie, a Playoff game will be played if time is available.  A coin flip will determine the winner if there is not time for the Playoff game.

6. Make up games will be scheduled as soon as possible by the Scheduler.  A team that agrees to a date but fails to show for the make-up game will forfeit that game.

7. To ensure maximum participation in league events, teams shall not practice 1 hour prior to and/or after a league event. Events include but are not limited to: Fundraisers, Ceremonies, Clinics, Field Maintenance Days; or any other event designated by the board.

8. Official and complete games are defined by division as follows:

Divisional Drafts

1. All interested players must tryout at a league approved tryout session based on the player’s league age and the applicable divisions (e.g., Teeball:4-7, Farm: 5-9, Minors: 7-11, Majors 9-12, 50/70: 11-13). Team formation will begin with the Team Manager and up to 2 Coaches. 

2. The 50/70 Division will conduct the first draft according to Appendix A.  

3. The Majors Division will conduct the second draft according to Appendix A.  After 50/70 draft is completed.  

4. The Minor Division will conduct the third draft according to Appendix A.  After the Major draft is completed. 

5. All teams will be considered complete when all players (parents or guardians) have agreed to have their players in the designated division. 

6. Franchising Players are permitted to returning managers.  6 players will be allowed to be franchise tagged. Franchise players will need to have played for that manager the previous spring season in the same division.  These players will include any Managers or coaches’ players. 

7. New Managers will have the first 6 consecutive picks after franchise players are selected. These players will include any Managers, coaches’ players and siblings.

8. In the event a parent asked for a franchised tagged player to be released from a team.  The manager will have the final say to keep or release the player from the team.  If the player is released a drop form provided by Player Agent must be filled out.  

9. In the event of a manager or coaches children are not franchise tagged they will be entered into the draft pool will be able to be drafted by other teams.

10. If a player declines a spot, the Team manager will be permitted to draft another player from the unassigned players (available player pool) that are league age appropriate within 24 hours.  The player agent must be informed of any declined spots.    

11. When selecting a replacement player, they must be selected from the wait list.  In this event there is no wait list then from the lower division.  A team can only lose two players pulled up to a higher division until all other teams have lost a player. 

12. Drafts are HIGHLY confidential. During the Draft there is NO Media, Phones, Photos or hard copy to leave the room. There is to be no discussion outside of the draft room about events that took place. Discussion of the actual draft may result in disciplinary action. No trades will be made once the managers leave the draft room. Any violation of the rules will result in Managers suspension of the 1st game.

All Star Selection

1. Team Assignment: During the month of May, the Coaching committee will present a recommendation to the board on how many All-Star teams should be created.  Managers that win their divisions will have the first choice of managing the All-Star Teams.  With the approval of the President. Teams will be created based on the following age groups: 8-10, 9-11, 10-12, and 50/70 Intermediate (11-13).  Final Team rosters must be determined prior to the Fairfield Atlantic Little League Closing Ceremonies.    

2. Coaching Selection: Once Team Managers are approved, the oldest age group Team Manager will select their Coaching Staff and players and present their proposed team to the Coaching Committee for final approval.  approved, the next oldest age group Team Manager will select their coaching staff and players and present for approval, and so on.   In the event of a new manger or coach that did not coach during the current spring season.  Must receive approval from the President.      

3. Minium Game Play: To be eligible for All Start Selection player must play a minimum of 12 little league games.  Players must play 12 games against other little league teams.  Games played against non-little league teams will not count towards the 12-game minimum requirement.  

4. Player selection: The All-Star teams are intended to represent the best players available to put together competitive team to play in post season play. A max of 14 players will be assigned to each team (12 primary players and 2 alternates). The final All-Star rosters must be approved by the Board and may not be announced until the time Little League Rule Book allows. If an early announcement is made, the entire All-Star team could be disqualified by District 53 and Little League International.  

5. Alternate Player: Players that are selected to be an alternate may practice with the team.  Alternate player(s) may not participate in the games or dress in uniform during the games.  Alternates may be added to the roster after District approval.  Once player is approved by District 53 then they will be able to participate in games.  

Appendix A

Player Draft Selection Chart