LSW Sports

Majors Rules

Majors Sportsmanship Rule 1.0

Sportsmanship Rule 1.0 Majors Division

 

Majors Division:

To keep the game moving along at an even pace we have the bat around as stated in the league rules. During the regular season depending on the score you as the team leading in the game may use the sportsmanship rule to end the inning at any point you feel shows sportsmanship to the other team. Please let your fellow major manager know that you will be ending the inning after so and so bats or after a final run comes in. Again any point during an inning just let them know you will be doing this prior to making that decision. Please understand you can teach your team what sportsmanship is when they ask why you are ending an inning early and that even if the other team comes back it is not the end of the world as a competitive game is better then a blowout. You as an opposing manager should welcome a comeback as it will help improve your team when playing defense and how to stop them in the future. In this regard the team making the comeback is still regulated to the max batting around in an inning so it should help with evening out the score when necessary.

If you so choose when you are playing a fellow coach you may implement a 4-5 run rule per inning before you start the game. We are not mandating this but if you wish you may do so in the spirit of this rule. If you do implement this rule the last inning does not apply as it would rule out any final comeback for a victory on either side. Since time is always an issue you must designate the last inning before it starts preferably at the end of the 4th inning where you should know if you are going to play 5 or 6 innings.

Stealing bases when leading by a large number of runs can be considered unsportsmanlike and thus is under the discretion of each individual manager. A coach’s decision on the field will reflect on the team manager so please instruct them accordingly when you feel it is not necessary to steal bases. You may send a runner back to a previous base if you deem it necessary just let the other coach and umpire know what you are doing prior to doing it.

Scoring extra runs falls into this same category when leading by a sufficient amount of runs during the game. Managers are responsible to teach sportsmanship and cannot blame the runner or coach when they disregard this, it will and does reflect badly on each manager.

 

 

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Majors Division Guide Lines. These are in conjunction with the LSW Rules and Guide Lines below this list.

LSW Majors DIVISION RULES

 

  1. Before the game, one representative per team will discuss ground rules with the umpire including, dead balls and age-specific rules.
  2. Each team will supply one new baseball to the umpire.
  3. An umpires decision is final. There is a ZERO tolerance rule for disagreement. Under no circumstances will a verbal or physical confrontation between players, coaches, umpires, and/or spectators be tolerated. Anyone doing so will be asked to leave the field of play and will do so before the game can resume. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit. All incidents will be reported to the Division Director who will deal out possible repercussions.
  4. Score books must be kept with the players last name included.
  5. ALL participants should receive EQUAL playing time.
  6. Every player must play 2 innings in the infield, 1 during the 1st 3 innings, and 1 during the 2nd 3 innings. A complete game is 6 innings with a 2 hour time limit. No inning will start after 1:50 min. The home team does not bat if leading in the bottom of the last inning. Four innings will be an official game if called for weather or darkness. No regular season game will extend beyond 2:10 min. Extra innings are permissible if time limit allows.
  7. Only umpires can grant time.
  8. Only the Manager can DISCUSS a call.
  9. A team may protest a game at which point both books should be clearly marked.
  10. After lightning, the field will be cleared for a min of 15 min before play can resume, weather permitting.
  11. There is an ten run mercy rule after 4 innings and equal at bats.
  12. SPORTSMANSHIP is strongly urged, DO NOT take advantage of less experienced players or run up the score.
  13. Leading allowed.
  14. Balks given 1 warning before being awarded a stolen base.
  15. Division Director must reschedule all games.
  16. If umpire does not show (10 minutes Grace) try to agree on a suitable volunteer.
  17. Bases set at 75 feet, pitching distance set at 51 feet.
  18. A player may pitch a max of 6 innings per week including travel. One pitch equals 1 inning.
  19. 2 innings max per game. updated 6-6-24
  20. After 2nd visit to mound in an inning, pitcher must be removed and can not return. An injury will not result in a charged visit, as determined by the umpire.
  21. A pitcher cannot be put back in once they have been taken out.
  22. Travel pitching rules apply see your division director for clarification.
  23. One 11 year old must pitch at least 1 complete inning. If they need to be removed you must substitute with another 11 year old. If you wish to substitute with a 12 year old you must still have an 11 yr old pitch 1 complete inning.
  24. An inning also ends when you have gone through your entire lineup with equal at bats to the opponent.(does not apply to the 6th inning)
  25. A pitcher must be replaced after 2nd hit batsmen in an inning or 3rd in a game.
  26. Injured batters may be replaced with the last batted out, at bat resumes as is. Injured player may return to line up next at bat. If they cannot continue the spot is skipped with no penalty. If a player leaves it is not an out in the order, the position is skipped.
  27. Batting out of order can be challenged before the next pitch.
  28. 9 fielders min of 8 but you can have the other team supply players during the regular season so you can still play the game. 
  29. If a team lacks the min amount of players, they must refer to division director who will offer a list of eligible players to “call up”.
  30. Call ups Minors to Majors only. Call ups should be spread from team to team. Comparable player skill wise should be called. If game day necessary the division director may authorize another minors player to play.
  31. A call up can not miss their game to play up.
  32. Please use call up rules gone over by your division director.
  33. ONLY coach, umpire, or suited player can warm up a pitcher.
  34. All runners MUST slide FEET first, except when returning to base. Head first slides are an OUT.
  35. Bunting.
  36. Infield fly.
  37. Tag ups.
  38. Ball in Dead territory results in awarding one base plus +1 additional at umpires discretion.
  39. Catcher can be removed from base path and replaced with the last batted out after 2 outs in the inning.
  40. NO REPOSITIONING of players once the inning has begun, except when due to an injury.
  41. No player may sit MORE than 2 innings. REMEMBER EQUAL PLAYING TIME. Rule #5.
  42. No player may play the outfield more than 3 consecutive innings
  43. No dropped third strike.
  44. Bat size: USA Standard 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max: USSA Standard 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max: BPF1.15 2 3/4 Max 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 bats must be -10 or heavier no Wood/Bamboo or BB Cor Bats Allowed.
  45. ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE CUP. NO CUP NO PLAY.
  46. All outfielders should be at least 20 feet back from end of the infield dirt. This is a constant battle but necessary to start to teach them the correct position to play when playing the outfield. 
  47. Final Rule please read thru these and the official guild lines to ensure there is no ambiguous rules that conflict with each other. We use these as guild lines to help improve the flow of the game and sportsmanship during the game.
  48. Sportsmanship Rule 1.0 is online for review. Please read thru it and work with your fellow managers to implement it when you feel necessary to improve the game and experience for the players and families each game

The Player Positioning Sheets and Score book must always be kept up to date during the game. Executive Board Members and Division Directors can ask to see this at any time during the game. If it is not kept up to date the Manager will be given a firs warning. Second time could result in losing your team. This is a record, so every child receives fair playing time

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LSW Rules for Farms, Minors, Majors

LSW RULES 

  

                                 Note: These rules supersede previously written versions.            

  

League Phone: 616-3107   Website: www.lswsports.org

  

Farms Division

Minors Division

Majors Division

  

Director

Director 

Director 

  

Phone

Phone 

Phone 

  

Before the game, one representative per team will discuss ground rules with the umpire

 

including dead balls and age-specific league rules.

  

Each team will supply one new baseball to the umpire.

  

An umpire's decision is final.  There is a zero-tolerance rule for disagreement.    

 

Under no circumstance will a verbal or physical confrontation between players, coaches, umpires

 

and/or spectators be tolerated. Anyone doing so will be asked to leave the field of play,

 

and will do so before the game can resume. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.  All incidents

 

will be reported to the Division Director who will handle the situation according to our code of conduct.

  

Scorebooks must be kept with the players last name included

  

 

Position sheets must be filled out and kept every game

 

  

All participants should receive equal playing time

  

Every player must play 2 innings in the infield, 1 during the 1st 3 innings, and 1 during the 2nd 3.

  

No player can play the outfield more than 3 consecutive innings

  

A complete game is 6 innings with a two-hour time limit.  No inning will start after 1:50 Minutes. 

 

The home team does not bat if leading in the bottom of the last inning.  Four innings will be an official

 

game if called for weather or darkness.  No regular season game will extend beyond 2:10 minutes. 

 

Extra innings are permissible if the time limit allows.

  

Only the umpire can grant time

  

Only the Manager can discuss a call

  

A team may protest a game at which point both books should be clearly marked.

  

After lightning, the field will be cleared for a minimum of 15 minutes. 

 

Ten (10) run mercy rule after 4 innings and equal at bats.

  

Sportsmanship is expected, do not take advantage of less experienced players or run up the score.

  

Do not run on overthrows. Can not

Do not run on overthrows. Can not

Advance at own risk

  

advance when ball is in infield.

advance when ball is in infield.

 

  

Steal third 3 steals max per inning

Steal 2nd and 3rd one at a time 3 steals max per inning

Advance at own risk. Home plate must be earned

  

No leading until after ball crosses

No leading until after ball crosses

May lead; Balks given 1 warning

 

plate; 1 warning per player.

plate; 1 warning per player.

before awarding a stolen base

  

Division Director must reschedule all games.

  

If umpire does not show (10 Min Grace) try to agree on a suitable volunteer.

  

Bases set at 60 feet

bases set at 65 feet

bases set at 75 feet

  

Pitching distance-42 feet

pitching distance-46 feet

pitching distance-51 feet

  

 Pitch max 4 innings per week

Pitch max of 6 Innings per week including travel

  

One pitch equals one inning

  

2 innings max per game

2 innings max per game updated 6-6-24

2 innings max per game updated 6-6-24

  

 

Spring Travel pitching rules will be enforced

 

  

 

Once a pitcher is taken out, they cannot be put back in

 

  

An injury will not result in a charged visit, as determined by the umpire.

  

Max of 5 walks/inning, except in last inning when pitcher

N/A

  

must be changed.  Hit batsmen count as walks. Pitchers may not re-enter once they have given up 5 walks in any one inning

 

  

An inning also ends when you have gone through your entire 

 

lineup with equal at bats to the opponent. (Does not apply to the 6th inning.)

  

A pitcher must be replaced after 2nd hit batsmen in an inning, or

One (1) 11-Year-old must pitch

  

 3rd in a game.  Minors- one (1) 9-Year-old must pitch at least 1 complete inning

 at least 1 complete inning

  

Injured batters may be replaced with the last batted out; at bat resumes as is. Injured player may return

  

to line up next at bat.  If they cannot continue, the spot is skipped with no penalty.

 

 If a player leaves it is not an out in the order, the position is skipped.

  

Batting out of order is a mistake;

Batting out of order can be challenged before the next pitch;

 

scheduled batter should resume

if determined to be right, the incorrect batter is out, and runners return to

 

 

correct places and correct batter are up.  If a pitch is thrown

  

 

 then the play stands and next scheduled batter is due.

  

10 Fielders min of 8

10 Fielders, min of 8

9 Fielders, min of 8

  

If a team lacks the minimum number of players, they must refer to Division Director who will offer

 

a list of eligible players to "call up".  However, the decision will remain with the director to call up the player.

  

Call Ups: Rookies to Farms, Farms to Minors, Minors to Majors.  Call ups should be spread team to

 

team.  Players of comparable should be called.  Only 10 Yr olds can be called up to Majors.

  

A call up can not miss their own game to play up

  

Only a coach, umpire, or suited catcher can warm up a pitcher.

  

All runners must slide feet 1st, except when returning to base.  Head 1st slides are an out.

  

No bunting

Bunting allowed

Bunting allowed

  

No infield fly

Infield fly in effect

Infield fly in effect

  

no tag ups

no tag ups

tag ups

  

Ball in dead territory results in awarding the last base touched plus 1 additional at the discretion of the umpire.

Ball in dead Territory results in awarding a base +1 at the discretion of the Ump

  
 

Catcher can be removed from base path and replaced with last batted out when there are 2 outs in the inning.

  

No repositioning players once the inning has begun except when due to an injury.

  

No player may sit more than two innings

  

No dropped third strike

  

USA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max

No USSA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max

No Wood/Bamboo or BB Core Bats

USA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max

USSA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4  Max

No Wood/Bamboo or BB Core Bats

USA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max

USSA Standards 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 Max

BPF1.15 2 3/4 Max

2 5/8 or 2 3/4 bats must be -10 or heavier

No Wood/Bamboo or BB Core Bats

  

All players must wear protective cup, NO CUP-NO PLAY!!!!!

  

LSWAA's Code of Conduct will be enforced. (available online) 

 

You are responsible for your Players and Parents conduct

  

* Farms Division reminder - We use Umpires who are 14 - 15 years old. They are kids and should be treated with respect. We will not tolerate Parents/Players/Coaches yelling, tormenting or confronting them. There is a Zero-Tolerance rule.

 

The Player Positioning Sheets and Scorebook must always be kept up to date during the game. Executive Board Members and Division Directors can ask to see this at any time during the game. If it is not kept up to date the Manager will be given a firs warning. Second time could result in losing your team. This is a record, so every child receives fair playing time.

 

 

  
 
 

 

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