Pawling Little League Local Rules Baseball Farm League (6, 7 & 8 Year Olds)
 Farm Ball/Instructional Level General Philosophy: The children are playing to have fun as well as learn and improve their baseball skills. This level is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game such as playing positions, swinging a bat, throwing properly, running the bases etc…

Key characteristics to instill in players at this level: 1. Giving your best effort every time 2. Continuing to learn and improve 3. Not letting mistakes ( or fear of making a mistake) stop you

Local Rules: Pawling Little League is adopting Little League Rule 4.04 in which all players that are present for a game must be placed in the lineup. Meaning you bat everyone who shows for the entire game. Ten defensive players, four outfielders, 4 infielders, 1 pitcher, 1 catcher and two coaches are allowed on the field at one time. Players are encouraged to play as many positions as possible in every game. No player should play the same position for more than two consecutive innings. No player should sit out more than two innings per game. Managers and/or coaches must not cancel, postpone, or re-schedule a game. Changing the schedule will result in a forfeit for your team and count as a loss in the standings. Each player gets 5 pitches – Not if you swing at the first three and miss you are out. For example, If a player chooses to take a pitch he then only has 4 pitches left to swing at; OR If a player swings at his first 4 pitches (fouling off the last three) he will get a 5th pitch to swing at. If they foul the 5th pitch off, the player gets another pitch until they put it in play or strike out, encouraging success and offering the players more opportunities to make contact and swing the bat. Coaches should exercise proper judgment in cases such as a pitch coming out of the machine wildly and allow the pitch not to be counted. Last inning limit to hitting through the lineup or 3 outs. Umpire should have a bucket of balls to keep game moving. The home team should supply the bucket of balls. The pitching machine will be set at 32. Any ball that hits the pitching machine, either hit or thrown, is considered a dead ball. If a batter hits the machine, it is considered a single with only forced runners advancing to the next base. If a fielder hits the machine on a throw, all runners can advance to the base they were going to. There is NO stealing, bunting, leading off bases, walks or infield fly rule. There is no sliding into first base. Head first sliding is not allowed. A runner must avoid intentional contact with the defensive players. If games are cancelled due to weather, all practices should be cancelled. Managers and coaches should refrain from preempting the umpires’ call. Let the umpire make the call. Remember these are young men/women who are still learning the game. Also, it is a task to get kids/adults to umpire games when fans are acting inappropriately. Base runners will not advance on overthrows from the infield to first, second, or third base. Once a throw from the outfield breaks the plane of the infield playing area, possession is declared, dead ball, and all base runners may not advance past the base they are running toward. However, if the runner is past the base when possession is declared, he/she may advance. If an infielder gains possession of the ball and attempts a throw to second, third, or home, trying to get the runner out, the ball is considered to be live again until possession is declared by another infielder holding the ball. However, all other base runners may not advance during the time when possession has been declared and then a throw to get a runner out. Teams are allowed to play with 8 players.The Opposing team can lend a player or two if they have enough. Scorebooks should be used to keep track of your lineup and the five run max rule per inning.Keeping track of the overall score of the game is not necessary and winning and losing should not to be the main focus at the farm ball level.It is strongly encouraged to have your players compete at their highest level but not make winning a priorty. All games that are being followed by another game have a 2 hour time limit. This means no inning can start after 2 hours. The existing inning can finish out. There are no playoffs at this level but instead will conclude with an end of the season skills clinic/BBQ.

The Official Regulations and Playing Rules for Little League Baseball will be used for the final interpretation of any rule not covered by local rules. When referencing the Official Regulations, Pawling Little League’s ‘Farm’ division is considered ‘Minors’. Rules from the Little League Rule Book that should be noted: Smoking is not permitted by ANYBODY on or near the facility during games or practices. All male catchers must wear an athletic supporter and cup. There is a NO TOLERANCE Policy with Little League Baseball over who has a bat. Only the batter is allowed to hold a bat and only while in the batter’s box or on his/her way to the batter’s box. No batter is allowed on deck with a bat. No player in the dug out is allowed to hold a bat. Slaughter Rule: Once a team scores 5 runs in an inning, the inning is over. If the natural progression of a play results in more runners scoring, only 5 will count. The exception is the last inning or extra innings where you can score until you receive 3 outs. All players must be in full uniform. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Managers signature required : ________________________________________ Sanctions against managers and coaches including removal or suspensions will occur if rules are not followed!