Little league baseball consists of millions of young athletes spread across six continents and numerous countries. The minor league division of Little League Baseball includes 7- and 8-year-old athletes and includes a specific set of federation rules to match the ability levels of the players. Rules used for this age group, however, are subject to additional rules from league to league.
Innings
The duration of a little league game for 7- and 8-year-olds is limited to six innings. A regulation game can finish after four innings if the home team leads. For example, if the game is suspended due to weather after the fourth inning, the game can be considered official with the home team winning. Some leagues may also restrict the game to a specific time frame such as two hours. Another rule is considered a "mercy" rule and states that the game ends if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs after 3 1/2 innings.
Batting
The minor league Little League rules allow for "machine pitch," "coach pitch" or "player pitch." Regardless of who performs the pitching, the strike zone is from the armpits to the knees. While batting, if the third strike is dropped, the batter cannot advance to first base. Some leagues may also allow each team to bat every player with a "continuous batting order" before switching offense and defense.
Playing Field
The playing field for minor league games is about two-thirds the size of a full baseball field. Bases are spaced 60 feet apart with the pitcher's rubber placed 46 feet from the tip of home plate. The outfield fence is recommended to be at least 165 feet from home plate with the outfield grass about 50 feet behind the pitcher's rubber.
Equipment
Rules for equipment in the minor league division include specific regulations for bat size, weight, length and material. The bat is limited to 33 inches in length with a maximum barrel width of 2 1/4 inches. Bats can be made from aluminum alloys and must be approved for use by the Little League Federation.
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