SCLL 2025 Coach Pitch Local Playing Rules
The SCLL Coach Pitch Division will be operated in accordance with the Little League Rules and Regulations as modified by these local playing rules and the rules of conduct issued by SCLL. Although teams can keep game scores, the coach pitch division is intended to be instructional. SCLL’s goals of encouraging player skill development and fostering player enthusiasm should be considered in interpreting these rules.
Conduct of Managers and Coaches
The manager and coaches shall direct their players on-field in a manner appropriate for an instructional league and refrain from coaching players in a manner specifically intended solely to take advantage of the fact that some players’ skill levels will be insufficient to make what would be considered to be a routine play in the higher divisions.
General Rules of Play
· 5-run limit per inning shall be imposed.
· All teams shall play with a 4th outfielder (assuming ten players are present).
· Runners are not allowed to make head-first slides into a base, unless they are returning to the base. Runners will be called out for head-first slides.
· Base stealing is not permitted.
· Lead-offs are not permitted. A base runner must remain in contact with the bag until the hitter makes contact with the pitch.
· If there are two outs, a manager may pinch run for any player scheduled to play the position of catcher the following inning. In such case, the most recent batter to have made an out must be the substitute runner.
Coach Pitch Offensive Play Rules
· Hitters will get 6 pitches or three swings. A foul tip or ball on the sixth pitch or 3rd swing will result in additional pitches until a ball is put in play or the hitter strikes out. There are no walks or free bases awarded to a batter hit by a pitch.
· There are no on-deck batters allowed inside or outside the gates.
· There will be a continuous batting order that includes all players on the team roster present for the game. Each player is required to bat in his/her respective spot in the batting order. If a player arrives late to a game, they are added to the end of the current lineup.
· An adult pitcher and no more than two adult base coaches are allowed on the field, and one adult coach must remain in the dugout. No more than four coaches (including the manager) shall be permitted on the field/dugout on game day. Base coaches shall not touch any player while the ball is in play. Any such contact shall result in the runner being called out.
· The adult pitcher must pitch from a position 40' from home plate. The adult pitcher may not issue instructions to baserunners. The adult pitcher may issue instructions to the then-current hitter between pitches. The adult pitcher must make a diligent effort to avoid balls in play and obstructing defensive players. The adult pitcher should promptly exit the field of play once a hit ball is put in play and remain in foul territory until time is called.
Coach Pitch Defensive Play Rules
· The team manager shall be responsible for ensuring that its team follows the defensive player rotation rules in every game and as they may carry over from game to game.
· The defensive manager must make a concerted effort to keep infielders positioned out of the baselines when runners are on base.
· The defensive player pitcher must start each play with at least one foot within an eight-foot circle surrounding the pitching rubber (meaning a circle with an eight-foot diameter).
· When an overthrow occurs to any base, baserunners may advance one base further only (at the runners’ risk). Play stops once the runner safely reaches the next base. This rule shall apply to any base where there is a play being made.
· A defensive play is concluded when the ball is returned and controlled in the infield by an infielder.
· When time is called by the umpire/coach by the rules set forth above, all baserunners are deemed halted at the moment time is to be called. Any runner then being more than halfway to the next base shall be advanced to the next base. Any runner less than halfway to the next base shall be returned to the previous base. The determination of any runner’s position at the conclusion of a play shall be based upon the umpire/coach's sole judgment.
Coach Pitch Defensive Rotation Rules
· Every player must play an infield position (P, 1B, 2B, SS or 3B, but not including catcher) at least three (3) consecutive outs (one inning) within the first four innings of the game.
· No player shall be allowed to play the same position each of the first 4 innings of the game.
· No player will sit out more than one (1) inning per game unless all other players have already sat out once.
· Mercy Rule - when a team is (i) down 11 or more runs after having completed four offensive innings or (ii) down six or more runs after having completed five offensive innings, then, in either such case, the trailing team shall be deemed to have conceded and the game shall end. In the event the mercy rule is invoked within the one and one half hour game time limitation, the managers may mutually agree to continue to play until time limit is hit.