Little League Baseball & Softball Beginner Umpire Training
Patrick O’Rourke, Umpire in chief, Redmond West [email protected] George Cannon, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected] Steven Kehrli, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected] Agenda Actions: • 1. Provide your name, email, mobile, League, Division / team Pre-game • e.g., Joe West, [email protected], 425-123-4567, • Safe and out RWLL BB Coast / Braves • • Appeals E.g., Jill East, [email protected], 206-123-4567, KNLL SB AAA / Vision • Obstruction / interference 2. Complete background check by March 11 • Fair ball, foul ball 3. See welcome email from Arbiter and log-in; edit your profile 4. Sign-up to umpire games • Strike and ball 5. Get a hat for your league (RWLL, KALL or KNLL) • Time • Arbiter system • Appendix: 58-71
Version Feb. 27 “It’s about kids and character development using baseball as a tool” Terms • Batter • Batter-Runner (BR) • Runner (R1, R2, R3) • Fielder (F1-F9) • Protest, Appeal, (Gripe)
Websites for learning http://www.littleleagueumpiring101.com/
http://umpirebible.com/rules.htm
http://www.littleleagueu.org/quiz/2016/06/02/LLU+Umpire+Quiz+101
Youtube: search “little league umpire” 3 Pregame: Gear
Home Plate (HP) Umpire Base Umpire • *^ Hat • *^ Ball bag (black, grey) • *^ Hat • *^ Shirt (same • *^ Plate brush • *^ Shirt (same color as HP) color as bases) • *^ Chest protector • Grey slacks • *^ Mask • *^ Shin guards • Black belt • Grey slacks • Cup • *Indicator (optional) • Black belt • Plate shoes (optional) • Water • *^ Indicator • Small pencil • Cleats/Turf shoes • Water • Lineup holder • *^ Red flag (baseball only) (optional) • Plate gear in the car! * RWLL provided ^ KNLL provided 4 Pregame: Partner
• Check the rainout line • Hartman Park: Call (425) 200-0076 (Mon-Fri 3:01pm; Sat-Sun 8:01am). Or use “rainoutline.com 2017” app for iOS and Android • Big Finn Hill Park: 206-205-3893 • Juanita Beach & 132nd Square Park: 425-587-3345 • Meet partner 30 minutes before the game. • Discuss your game plan: • Coverage—who’s looking for what. • Signs: Infield fly, number of outs, 1st-to-3rd rotation • What you’re working on improving; ask your partner to help you watch. • Be done by 20 minutes before game time. 5 • Lineup card, pitching changes, work with scorekeeper • Balls and strikes • Catch / no catch on fly balls Home Plate • Fair / foul (HP) Umpire • Ensure base coaches in position before first pitch Responsibilities • R3 tagging up on fly ball • Runner touching 3rd base on way to home plate • Infield fly • Game management (pace of warm-up pitches; play; manager visits) Keep It Moving!
• Control the time • Returning pitcher only needs 5 pitches • By rule, teams have 1 minute to get ready. • An extra 2 minutes between innings is more than 20 minutes per game. This is a full inning! • If a ball goes foul or out of play, throw another ball to the pitcher and ask the catcher to get the foul ball. • Do not let batter leave batter’s box • Visits to pitcher • Note visit on lineup and scorebook • HP umpire brushes off plate • Then slow walk to mound • When you reach the mound, visit is over
7 • Safe and out at 1st, 2nd and 3rd • Runners touching 1st and 2nd • Runners retouching 1st and 2nd (fly ball) • Batted balls that touch batter in the box (foul!) • Interference (by the runner on the primary Base Umpire fielder) • Obstruction (by a defense player on a Responsibilities runner/batter-runner) • Runner leaving early at 1st, 2nd and 3rd (use peripheral vision; eyes toward batter) • Keep an eye on the dugouts for an adult in the dugout Base Umpire Positioning
• “A” position • Behind first base, in foul territory • No runners • “B” position • Behind second baseman • R1 only • “C” position • Behind shortstop • The rest of the time
9 Base Umpire Rotation • Inside-out: • When the ball stays in the infield, the umpire stays outside the diamond • Outside-in: • When the ball goes to the outfield, the umpire moves inside the diamond
10 Pregame: Field
• Bases • Secured, break-away • Double first for softball • Foul lines • Live ball / dead ball territory (dugout and cement path to dugout) • Pitcher’s mound/rubber distance from point of home plate • 46-feet baseball • 40ft for Majors softball; 35ft for Coast/AAA softball; 42ft for Juniors • Home run fence (gaps)
11 Pregame: Teams
• Adults may not warm up pitchers • Before a game • During a game • After a game • Players standing near the bat during fielding practice must wear a catcher’s helmet. • Teams should leave their gear out of bags ready for inspection while they take infield practice.
12 • Bats • Baseball: USA Bat logo for aluminum or composite only, or a wood bat; 2 5/8" diameter or less; 33” or less in length • Softball: BPF 1.20, 2 1/4" diameter, 33” or less in length • No dents or splits in bats Pregame: • Illegal bat must be removed from play • No bat rings (donuts)! Check player • Batting helmets: look for cracks • Catcher’s gear equipment • Mask with dangling throat guard • Uniforms • Pitchers can’t have white sleeves showing • No neoprene sleeve on pitching arm; arm sleeves must be uniform color • Jewelry: no watches, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc.
13 Pregame: Plate meeting
• Umpires and 2 managers only. • Use managers’ first names • Start 5 minutes before game time • Provide heads-up to managers 5 minutes prior to plate meeting • Collect lineups • Umpires control the game starting at this point • Time limits • Generally, no new inning after 2 hours; stop at 2hr, 15 mins • Brief synopsis of ground rules (specific to the field) • Player with mask/catcher’s mit to warm-up pitcher • If the field is too wet to play the game, umpire decision from this point forward to suspend play. • Get game balls (2-3; more on a wet day) • Confirm that all players are legal and properly equipped • Confirm which players aren’t eligible to pitch 14 Starting the game
• 9 or more players on each team. • Fielders (except catcher) in fair territory. • Batter in the box. • No one on deck. All other offensive players in dugout. • Base coaches • Can be players with helmets • One adult in the dugout always! • Limit of 1 manager plus 2 coaches
15 Agenda
• Pre-game • Safe and out • Appeals • Obstruction / interference • Fair ball, foul ball • Strike and ball • Time • Arbiter system How to call safe and out
Order is important! 1. Move into position [angle more important than distance] 2. Play is about to happen: stop moving. 3. Play happens: watch. 4. Think about what you saw. 5. Find the ball. Make sure it’s where you think it is. 6. Decide what your call is going to be. 7. Announce + signal the result to everybody (if not obvious)
17 • Runner is tagged while off a base. • Runner or next base is tagged when runner is forced. • Runner passes a preceding runner. • With a fielder attempting to make a tag, runner goes more than 3-feet to the side of a line from the runner to the base. How a Runner • Runner abandons the bases. Can Be Put Out • Runner slides headfirst while advancing a base • Runner fails to either slide or attempt to get around a fielder waiting to make a tag • Missed touching a base (appeal play: later). • Failing to retouch after a catch (appeal play: later). • Batter-runner touches the ball outside of the batter’s box (usually running to 1B) • Interference (see later slide). Catch or No-Catch?
• It’s a catch when the ball is in flight and the fielder shows: • Secure possession of the ball in the hand or glove. • Complete control of the ball. • Voluntary release of the ball. • It’s a no-catch once the ball is no longer in flight: • It has hit the ground. • It has hit the fence or any other object. • It has touched any person other than a fielder. • When it’s a catch, the batter is out. • It can be a catch in foul territory (ball stays live).
19 Tag plays
• Unless forced, runners can only be put out by being tagged when off a bag. • A tag requires control of the ball by the fielder. • A tag may be made with the ball itself or with the glove when the ball is inside the glove. • If the ball comes out during the tag, the fielder didn’t have control.
20 Force Plays
• A force starts when a batter hits a fair ball. • A runner is forced if he/she must advance to make room for the Batter-runner (BR) going to 1st, or for another runner who is forced. • A force ends when the runner in question reaches the next base or when a following runner is put out. • Example: R1, R3. When the batter hits the ball, R1 is forced to 2nd, but R3 is not forced. If the BR tries for 2nd, R1 is not forced to 3rd. If the BR is put out at 1st, the force on R1 is removed. • A forced runner can be put out either by tagging the runner or by tagging his next base before the force ends. • To tag the base, the fielder needs possession of the ball (in hand or glove) and contact with the base.
21 Plays on the Batter- Runner (BR) at 1st
• She’s out if she’s tagged before reaching 1st base. • With ball securely held in a hand • With a glove securely holding the ball • He’s out if 1st is tagged before he reaches it. • With any part of the fielder’s body with the ball securely held in the fielder’s hand or glove. • He’s protected if he runs straight through 1st and returns. • He can turn either way!
st • He loses protection if he makes a move Note: batter-runner is past 1 base and the umpire toward 2nd still hasn’t made a call. That’s good timing!
22 Plays at the plate
• Timing! – wait until players stop moving • Can be a force play • Positioning: 3rd base line extended • Mask and indicator in left hand • Does the catcher have the ball? • Wait for the dust to clear
23 Double first base
• Allowed but not required at any level • Typically used in softball only • Most of the time, the colored side doesn’t exist • Fielder forcing out the BR • Runner returning to 1st • Runner touching the base before the pitch • When there’s a play on the BR at 1st base, the BR must use the colored side. • When there’s not a play on the BR, he may use either side.
24 Leaving Early
• On 60’ diamonds, runners must maintain contact with their bases during a pitch. • Requirement starts when ALL of these are true: • Pitcher has ball and is in contact with the rubber (softball: in the circle, not threatening) • Catcher has his mask on and is behind the plate facing the pitcher • The runner is not currently advancing. • Requirement ends when EITHER: • The pitcher disengages the mound • The pitch reaches the batter (baseball, AAA and Coast softball) • The ball leaves the pitcher’s hand (Majors softball)
25 Leaving Early: Softball
• Immediate dead ball (no pitch) – call “time” • The runner is out. • If two or more runners left early, you can only call one out. • Pick the most advanced runner. • Majors and higher: • Runners may leave when the pitcher releases the ball
26 Leaving Early: Baseball
• If any runner leaves early, all runners left early. • When the play is over and nothing else is going to happen, call time. • If the batter hit the ball, the plate umpire judges the base value of the hit. • Don’t give the batter extra bases because of errant throws or because he advanced while a play happened. • Be guided by where the batter was when the ball was thrown back to the infield. • All outs stand. • Return all runners to their starting bases unless this would push the batter further back than the value of his hit.
27 Angle over distance! • Being “straightlined” to the play is bad; get 45-degree angle • Being too far away is bad, but not very bad. • If you have to choose between them, opt for angle
28 Appeals it’s an “unmistakable action” and must be specific Runner Non-runner • The ball must be “live” to make an appeal • Batting out of order (appeal by the on a runner. defense) • Failed to tag-up on a fly ball • Checked-swing by batter (appeal can be • Failed to touch a base made by catcher or manager) • After overrunning or oversliding first base, • Umpire’s improper application of the rule. the batter-runner fails to return The affected team's manager (and only immediately to the base the manager) may request time and • At home plate an advancing runner approach the umpire to appeal the (running or sliding) fails to touch home base decision. This does not apply to and makes no attempt to return to touch judgement calls. the base; the fielder can appeal by touching either the runner or home plate
http://umpirebible.com/rules/appeals.htm 29 The Manager Appeal on a non-runner appeal
• If there is reasonable doubt, a manager can appeal the decision. Rule 9.02(b). • Ask for help from another umpire. Rule 9.02(c). • You cannot be overruled or criticized by another umpire. Rule 9.02(c). • No one can object to a judgement by an umpire. Rule 9.02(a). Start with “In my opinion…” • You have the authority to rule on any point not covered. Rule 9.01(c).
30 Type A Obstruction Play is being made on runner trying to score, and defensive player doesn’t have the ball. • Fielder, not in possession of the ball or act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of a runner • Type A: play is being made on obstructed runner. Example: Catcher waiting for throw as runner trying to score. • Action: immediate dead ball – “time, that’s obstruction.” • Penalty: at least 1 base beyond the last base touched
• Type B: play isn’t being made on obstructed Type B runner. Example: 1B gets in the way of batter- Catcher attempts to throw out runner at 3B, but ball gets past fielder and runner going to 2nd base into left field. The defensive player obstructs R3 from running to home. • Action: delayed dead ball; yell “that’s obstruction” Base umpire yells “that’s obstruction” and lets play continue. and pointer to offender When R3 is thrown out at home plate, the HP umpire points to base umpire • Penalty: umpire judgement to place runner who made the call, and that umpire makes the call – R3 is safe at home. at advanced base or not Interference Offensive interference
• Offensive interference: an act by the team at bat that interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders, or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play. • Example: base runner hit by batted ball • Example: base runner impedes defense from fielding a ball • Example: base coach interference • Action: immediate dead ball – “time, that’s interference” • Penalty: runner is out, and move other runners back to previous base • Batter’s interference • Interfere with a catcher’s throw, play at the plate, hits catcher with backswing Defensive (catcher’s) interference • Defensive (catcher’s) interference • Catcher’s mitt interferes with swing • If dead ball, delayed dead ball – “time, that’s interference” and batter is awarded 1B • If ball put in play, wait to see what happens. Call time after play ends, and offensive coach chooses to accept play or penalty http://www.littleleagueumpiring101.com/obstruction-and-interference/ Agenda
• Pre-game • Safe and out • Fair ball, foul ball • Strike and ball • Time • Arbiter system Fair or Foul?
Where is the ball when… • It is touched or settles before 1st/3rd • “Touched” means by a person. • It first touches a person, an object or the ground after passing 1st/3rd in the air • It passes the front edge of 1st/3rd after bouncing
34 Fair or Foul?
• When it’s not obvious a foul, say “foul” and push the door open to signal foul • When it is an obvious foul ball (e.g., hits the fence, goes out of play), just push the door open • Never say “fair” – just point.
35 Agenda
• Pre-game • Safe and out • Fair ball, foul ball • Strike and ball • Time • Arbiter system The Pitcher
• Two legal pitching positions: set and windup. • Softball has one legal position/motion. • Illegal pitches: • Quick pitch (batter not reasonably ready) • Pitching while not in contact with the rubber • SOFTBALL ONLY: back foot comes off the ground; ball not shown to batter; crow hop • Penalty for illegal pitch: Ball. • Ignored if batter reaches 1st and all runners advance. • The pitcher does not have to come to a stop (60’ diamond)
37 The Pitch
• It’s a strike if: • The batter attempts to hit the ball and misses. • The batter hits a foul with less than two strikes. • Any part of the ball crosses any part of the strike zone before hitting the ground. • Otherwise, it’s a ball
38 How to call balls and strikes
• Be completely still during the pitch • Track the ball with your eyes • Evaluate the trajectory and the zone • Decide what you’re going to call • Stay down to call balls, come up to call strikes • Provide pitcher the count when needed, or on an “action count” (3 balls, or 2 strikes)
39 How to call balls and strikes
40 Working the slot
• Set up with head between the batter and the catcher • Slot foot (batter’s side): toe even with batter’s heels AND catcher’s heels • Drop foot: toe even with slot foot heel • Head: chin no lower than catcher’s helmet • Back: straight—be sitting on a stool, not leaning over • Nose: pointed at the strike zone • Chin: pointed toward opposite front of plate • Eyes: are the only things to move
41 Foul tips: don’t confuse this with a foul ball
Only occurs when… • Bat hits the ball and the ball travels sharp and direct into the catcher’s hand or glove, and catcher catches the ball. It’s a live ball • Runners can steal bases • It’s as if the batter missed the ball • It’s a strike • It can be strike 3 Base umpire: can help HP umpire with catch/no catch, if requested
42 Bunts
• A bunt is a batted ball not swung at, but intentionally met with the bat. • If a bunt goes fair, it’s just like any other batted ball. • If a bunt goes foul, it’s a foul ball. If there were two strikes on the batter, then the batter is out. • If the batter holds the bat out to bunt but doesn’t move it toward the ball, it’s not an attempt in baseball (and thus not a swinging strike). This is an attempt in softball.
43 End of an at-bat
• Three strikes: an out • Four balls: a walk • Hit by pitch (then awarded 1st base) • Batter interferes with play at plate or throw by catcher: batter is out • Defensive interference: batter is awarded 1st base • Hits the ball into play: the fun stuff starts happening!
44 Agenda
• Pre-game • Safe and out • Fair ball, foul ball • Strike and ball • Time • Arbiter system Hit by a pitch
• Ouch! • The ball is always dead (“Time!”) • Usually, the batter goes to first • If the batter swung, it’s a strike • If the ball was in the strike zone, it’s a strike • The batter was born with hands. The bat wasn’t. • If the batter didn’t attempt to avoid the ball, it’s a ball
46 Live ball/Dead ball
• Ball becomes live when the umpire points at the pitcher and says “Play!” • Wait until the pitcher has the ball on the rubber. • Wait until fielders are in fair territory. • Wait until runners are on the correct bases. • Usually wait for a batter to be ready. • Ball becomes dead when the umpire says “Time” or “Foul.” • Sometimes it’s implied or obvious. • Nothing can happen when the ball is dead. • No one except the umpire can call time. • The offense will not be granted time-out to confer with a player more than once per inning (except for injury).
47 Thrown balls out of play
• Thrown by a fielder (or a batted ball intentionally deflected): two bases from Time-of-Throw. • First play by an infielder, Time-of-Pitch. Unless the batter and all runners have advanced a base. • Pitched: one base from Time-of-Pitch. If it’s ball four, the batter gets 1st only. • A fielder with the ball falls in dead-ball territory: one base
48 Batted balls out of play
• When a ball enters dead ball territory or becomes lodged (in catcher’s or umpire’s gear), the umpire calls “Time” and moves runners depending on how the ball got there. • Foul ball: runners return to their base from time-of-pitch. • Fair ball and it goes over the home run fence before touching anything except a fielder: four bases. • Any other batted, fair ball: two bases from time-of-pitch
49 Pitching substitutions
• A new pitcher gets 8 warm-up pitches, or 1+ minutes. • Returning pitchers only need 5, depending on hustle. • Each pitcher must face at least one batter before being removed, including the starting pitcher on the lineup. • The pitcher must be replaced after the 3rd visit by the manager to the same pitcher in an inning (2nd visit for Majors and above) or the 4th visit in a game. (3rd visit for Majors and above) • A visit is a time-out granted for the manager or a coach to confer with any defensive player. • When the pitcher is being replaced, a visit is not charged to the new pitcher. • In case of injury, the umpire should monitor the discussion and not charge a visit as long as the only topic is the injury.
50 Who Can Call Time?
• Only an umpire can call time • A manager or player may ask for time. The umpire may or may not grant the request. • Wait until all action is complete (unless for safety) and there is a reason to do so. • When judging safety, use common sense. Does the player need an ice pack or an ambulance. For the latter, call time right away. • Remember, time creates a dead ball
51 Agenda
• Pre-game • Safe and out • Fair ball, foul ball • Strike and ball • Time • Arbiter system: self-assign to umpire games Arbiter system – home page
#1: District 9
#2: self-assign and review your schedule
#3: Contact info for other umps
#4: Insert mobile and recognizable photo
#5: check box
#6: message from D9 umps Arbiter: self-assign
#1: Self-assign
#2: Filter by site: RWLL uses Hartman Park; KNLL uses Big Finn Hill, Juanita Beach, 132nd Square
#3: Can also filter by date
#4: Tournaments only Arbiter: see your schedule with calendar
#1: Filter: next 30 days
#2: click apply Arbiter: see your schedule, partner
#1: Filter: show all
#2: Each game has a #
#3: choose plate (HP) or bases
See field, home (3rd base dugout) and away (1st base dugout) teams Complete volunteer form, background check by March 11
Field training: attend one of them Bring water Dress warm Stretch Bring umpire hat (mask if you have it) You’ll receive umpire shirt
Sunday, March 4 Saturday, March 10 1:00 - 3:30pm or 1:30pm – 4:00pm Kamiakin Middle School Hartman Park (Redmond) gym (Kirkland) Field 6 (turf) Appendix and Extras
Patrick O’Rourke, Umpire in chief, Redmond West [email protected] George Cannon, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected] Steven Kehrli, Umpire in chief, Kirkland National [email protected] Little League baseball myths the following are all false statements
1. The hands are considered part of the bat.
Keep One Foot In Batter’s Box • RWLL enforced Majors baseball and softball only • KNLL enforced Majors and AAA baseball, Softball Coast and Major • Local leagues will have the option to mandate batters keep one foot in the batter’s box throughout their at-bat, barring 8 exceptions provided in the rule book, during regular season games. • If the batter leaves the batter’s box or delays play and none of the exceptions apply, the umpire shall warn the batter. • After one warning on a batter, the umpire shall call a strike. Any number of strikes can be called on each batter.
Intentional Walk • For Minor and Major Divisions of Baseball, defensive teams will now be able to elect to intentionally walk a batter by announcing the decision to the plate umpire. • After appropriate notification is made by the defensive manager, the ball is ruled dead and no other runners may advance unless forced by the batter’s award of first base. • Once the award is granted, four pitches will be added to the defensive pitcher’s official pitch count. Batting Out of Order
• This is an appeal play. The umpires and scorekeeper never call attention to this situation. • Question 1: Who is the proper batter? • Hint: He is the one after the last batter • Question 2: When did the appeal happen? • While the improper batter is still at bat? The proper batter takes his place in the batter’s box with the current count • After a first pitch (or other play) to another batter? Too late • After the improper batter has completed the at-bat but before the next pitch (or play)? The proper batter is out. Whatever happened on the final pitch is nullified. The batter after the proper batter (who is now out) is due up.
62 Batting Out of Order – Examples
Example 1: Order is A-B-C-D-E-F. A on 3rd. B on 1st. No outs. • C is the proper batter. But D bats instead. • If appealed, C becomes batter. • D flies out. No runners advance. C bats. • If defense appeals: C is out. D’s out is erased. D is next. • C swings and misses at first pitch. B steals 2nd. • If appealed, E becomes batter. D was legalized.
Example 2: same scenarios as #1. • C walks. E bats. • If defense appeals: E is out. F is next. B remains at 2nd. • E takes first pitch. • If appealed, D becomes batter. • E hits a single to center. A scores. B on 3rd. C on 2nd. E on 1st.
• If the defense appeals, D is out. A’s run is erased. A returns to 3rd. B returns to 2nd. C returns to 1st. 63 RWLL appendix Run limits for RWLL
• In AAA/Coast baseball and softball • 5 runs per inning: if the offense scores 5 runs before committing 3 outs in innings 1-5, then the inning is over. The scorekeeper will tell the umpire if 5 runs have been scored. No run limit in the 6th inning. • 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over. • Majors baseball and softball • 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over. Time limits for RWLL • No new inning may start after 2 hours and the game must be stopped at 2 hours and 15 minutes, except as noted below. • The scorekeeper shall record the official start time of the current game, and may notify the plate umpire at the precise moment that time limits are reached if requested by the plate umpire. A new inning begins at the moment the third out is made on the home team. • MAJORS / COAST - Time limits shall not apply when there is no following game. On fields with lights, time limits shall apply even when there is no following game if the game is played on a weeknight (Sun-Thurs) and the scheduled starting time of the game is after 6:30 p.m. • AAA - No new inning will start after 2 hours. With no game following, the last inning may be played until completion. • The final inning may have unlimited runs scored for both teams if the plate umpire declares an inning prior to the 6th inning the final inning. [Note: This is an umpire decision, not a manager discussion.] • All teams: Tuesday/Thursday games schedule for 5:00pm on Hartman #5 and Harman #6 will be played as follows: No new inning may begin after 7:00pm; Drop dead at 7:10pm. At 7:15pm the teams must immediately leave the fields. Complete a volunteer form / background check www.redwestll.org/background-check KNLL appendix KNLL Local Rules: http://www.kirklandnational.com/rules KNLL Umpire Links: http://www.kirklandnational.com/umpires Run limits for KNLL
• In AA/AAA baseball and softball • 5 runs per inning: if the offense scores 5 runs before committing 3 outs in innings 1-5, then the inning is over. The scorekeeper will tell the umpire if 5 runs have been scored. No run limit in the 6th inning. • 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over. • Majors baseball and softball • 10-run rule for game: if the home team is winning by 10 runs after 3.5 innings completed, or the visitor team is winning by 10 runs after 4 complete innings, then the game is over. Time limits for KNLL
• AA is hard-stop after 2 hours from scheduled start time. • AAA is hard-stop after 2 hours 10 minutes from scheduled start time. • Majors is hard-stop after 2 hours 20 minutes from scheduled start time unless the last scheduled game of the day. Complete a volunteer form / background check http://www.kirklandnational.com/forms