Little League Baseball gives youngster the opportunities to play organized baseball with friends, neighbors and school mates under adult supervision. The idea behind Little League Baseball is for the young players to have fun, improve their skills and play with sportsmanship. It is not necessarily about winning, although learning to compete hard is also beneficial. The rules of Little League Baseball are designed to keep players safe and give them a fair opportunity to play.
Playing Time
Little League baseball players have to get a fair opportunity to play. In 12-and-under youth leagues, the games are six innings long. All players must get an opportunity to play three innings per game and at least one of those innings must be in the infield. Every player must get at least one at bat per game. If a player does not get to play three innings and there is no injury or illness, the manager of that team will receive a warning. Two such violations could result in a manager not being allowed to continue in that capacity.
Pitch Count
All pitchers will be limited to 65 pitches per outing. A pitcher who throws between 1 and 25 pitches must rest one day before he can pitch again. If the pitcher throws between 26 and 45 pitches, he must rest two days before he can go back on the mound. If the pitcher throws 46 pitches or more, the pitcher must rest three days. If the pitcher has finished with a batter and has thrown 64 pitches, he may pitch to the next batter but must come out when the following batter comes to the plate.
Safety Equipment
Baseball players must wear protective helmets every time they come up to the plate, get on base or advance to the on-deck circle. The helmets must cover both ears. Face masks on the helmet are not required but they are encouraged. Catchers must wear a catcher's mask, a chest protector and shin guards. The catcher's mask may be a traditional mask with metal struts or a hockey-style goalie mask. Catchers also need to wear a protective cup to cover the player's private area.
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