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Umpire Resources - Rulebooks, Local Rules


Umpires - The third team on the field at every Little League game.

Little League Rules and Regulations - The Little League Rulebook App is Now Free! The Rulebook app contains the Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies for all divisions of Baseball, Softball, and Challenger in one location. The app includes all three rulebooks, exclusive rule interpretation videos, automatic updates for future seasons and is approved for use in the dugout! Download the FREE Rulebook app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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Little League University - Umpires - Tips, Articles, Videos and More

Little League Bat Rules 



10 Commonly Misinterpreted Little League Rules

Below is a list of 10 current Little League® misinterpreted rules that have caused a consistent level confusion for umpires, coaches, and fans.

1. The hands are considered part of the bat. If a pitch hits the batter’s hands it is either fair or foul.

Approved Ruling: The hands are part of the batter’s body. Therefore, an umpire must judge if the ball hit the bat or the batter first. This scenario is covered by Little League rule 6.08(b).

2. If the batter “breaks his wrists” when swinging, it’s a strike.

Approved Ruling: The term “breaks his/her wrists” does not appear in the Little League rulebook. The umpire must judge whether, or not, the batter attempted to swing at the pitch as stated in the definition of a strike in Rule 2.00.

3. If a batted ball hits the plate first it’s a foul ball.

Approved Ruling: Home plate, first, second, and third base are all completely within fair territory. The foul lines are also within fair territory. In order to rule the ball foul, it must have come to rest in foul territory or be touched in foul territory.  See Rule 2.00.

4. The batter cannot be called out for interference if he is in the batter’s box.

Approved Ruling: Offensive/Batter Interference is defined in Rule 2.00, and there is no specific exception for the batter’s box. The batter’s actions are what causes interference and not necessarily where he is, as defined in Rule 6.06(c) (1), (2) and (3).

5. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.

Approved Ruling: As defined in Rule 2.00, the ball is always live on a foul tip. Therefore runners may be put out or advance at their own risk.

6. The batter may not switch batter’s boxes after two strikes.

Approved Ruling: The batter may switch batter’s boxes at any time while the ball is dead. According to Rule 6.06(b), the batter may only be called out for stepping from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position ready to pitch. The number of balls or strikes on the batter is not relevant.

7. The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.

Approved Ruling: According to Rule 6.07, the batter that is supposed to bat (the proper batter) is the one that is declared out, when the defensive properly appeals the infraction.

8. The batter is considered “out” if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first base after an uncaught third strike.

Approved Ruling: In order to declare the batter “out” for abandoning his/her effort to advance, he/she must step into “dead ball” territory.

9. The batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball.

Approved Ruling: The batter-runner may be called out for interference if he fails to run within the runner’s lane for the last half of the distance to first base. Furthermore, the defensive team must throw the ball in order for the interference to occur Rule 6.05(j).

10. If a batter swings at a pitch, and the pitch hits the batter in the batter’s box, the batter is awarded first base.

Approved Ruling: The batter is not awarded first base. A strike is defined in Rule 2.00(e). Since the batter swung, a strike is recorded, and, if it was the third strike, the batter is out. No uncaught strike situation occurred since the ball is dead once it contacts the batter.


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Gig Harbor Little League

 P.O. Box 2176
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

Email: [email protected]

Contact Us

Gig Harbor Little League

 P.O. Box 2176
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

Email: [email protected]

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