1. Introduction & Guiding Principles

Purpose & Philosophy

Glendale Little League (GLL) exists to teach baseball fundamentals, promote teamwork and sportsmanship, and provide a safe, fun environment for all participants. The goal is to make sure players stay safe, have fun, improve, and want to sign up for GLL and Knights next year.

Rule #1 = No Coaching Your Own Kid

Being a coach’s child is tough enough. Coaches should avoid exclusively coaching their own child. Whenever possible, let another coach provide instruction to reduce perceived double standards and help every player feel fairly treated.

Make the ride home a good one. Keep post-game conversations positive, and do not criticize your player. If your player asks for help, prompt them to break down the problem, think through possible solutions, and ask the assistant coaches for help at the next practice.

Rule #2 = No Coaching Your Own Kid, Seriously

Coach the team, not just your own player. GLL is a development league, and every player deserves attention, encouragement, and instruction.

Development League = Everyone Learns & Plays Multiple Positions

Emphasize skill-building. Encourage players to try multiple positions as long as it is safe for them to do so. For example, if a player struggles to catch the ball when it is thrown to them, do not place that player at first base until they are ready.

Everyone pitches: Teach all players the basics of pitching. The more pitchers you develop, the better your team will be.

Everyone learns catcher fundamentals: Teach all players the basics of receiving, blocking, and safe catcher positioning when age-appropriate.

Strive to ensure each player gets meaningful playing opportunities.

Safety Emphasis

Pitch counts: Following pitch-count rules is mandatory. Coaches must track and report pitch counts, including cumulative counts if a player also pitches in Knights.

Proper gear: All required equipment, including helmets, protective cups for catchers, catcher’s gear with dangling throat guard, and other required protective equipment, must be worn correctly.

Field and weather: Monitor for unsafe field conditions and lightning.

Player health and allergies: Make sure you are aware of any health issues or allergies players may have.

Respect & Sportsmanship

Treat umpires, opponents, players, and fans with courtesy.

Zero Tolerance Policy: Harassment of umpires by coaches, players, or parents is strictly prohibited. This rule is covered in safety training, and coaches sign an agreement to uphold it. Violations may result in Board review and disciplinary action.

2. League Structure & Divisions

Division Overview & Field Distances

3. Uniforms & Equipment

Required Uniform Items

• League-issued jersey, pants, belt, socks, and hat
• Footwear: Molded cleats or athletic sneakers. Metal cleats are allowed only in Juniors.
• Protective cup: Little League rules require all male catchers to wear a protective cup. Use of pelvic protectors for female catchers is optional.

Pitcher's Attire

No white sleeves or white/light batting glove on the pitching arm or glove hand, as these can distract batters.

Bat Requirements

Protective Gear

• Batters must wear NOCSAE-approved helmets.
• Catchers must wear standard catcher’s gear, including helmet, dangling throat guard, chest protector, and shin guards. Little League rules require a dangling throat guard even for hockey-style masks.

Additional Equipment Notes

• Bat knobs and ProHitter-style thumb guards: Permitted in all divisions during spring and fall ball seasons. Not permitted for postseason tournament play unless expressly allowed by tournament rules.
• Sliding mitts: Not permitted in any division. Headfirst sliding is not allowed in lower divisions, and sliding mitts slow the pace of play.
• Bat donuts and weighted sleeves are not permitted.

4. Scheduling & Weather Policies

Game Scheduling

Games are assigned by the GLL Scheduler. Teams must use their allotted field and time.

If a team cancels a game in advance due to attendance issues or other conflicts, the team must notify its Division VP and/or the League President. This ensures that umpires, concessions, and grounds crews are notified of the change.

Weather Cancellations

• Pre-game: GLL Grounds Crew may cancel if the field is unsafe.
• In-game: The umpire, coaches, or Grounds Crew can suspend or end a game if conditions worsen.
• Lightning: Stop immediately. Play may resume only after 30 minutes have passed since the last lightning strike. If lightning recurs while waiting, the 30-minute clock restarts.
• Notifications of cancellations will be sent via GameChanger and posted on the GLL website.

Postponed Games

Only the Division VP and GLL Board, not coaches, have authority to postpone any game due to weather, darkness, field conditions, or other safety/fairness concerns.

Once postponed, each team’s scorekeeper must record score, inning, base runners, outs, ball-strike count, and lineup positions.

Resumption of Postponed Game

The Division VP sets the date, time, and location to continue a postponed game. Resumption picks up exactly where the game left off, including inning, score, runners, outs, count, and lineup positions.

Make-Up Games

Cancelled games will not be rescheduled unless approved by the Division VP. The VP assigns the date, time, and location for the make-up game.

5. Pre-Game Procedures

Field & Dugout Assignment

• Home Team: First-base dugout
• Visiting Team: Third-base dugout
• Assignments appear on the master schedule and GameChanger.

Batting Cages

One cage per field is split between the two teams.

• Visiting Team: 60–30 minutes before game
• Home Team: Final 30 minutes before game start
• Rookies: Both teams each use one cage 30 minutes prior to a game

Cage Safety

• One batter at a time, helmet required
• Use an L-screen for coach pitching
• No on-deck swings outside the cage

Pitching Mound Warm-Ups

One mound per team; use the mound adjacent to your side of the field.

Safety: Catchers must wear a catcher’s facemask when warming up pitchers.

Additional Outfielders (Rookies Only)

Teams may use up to 10 defenders, including 4 outfielders, by mutual agreement at the pregame plate meeting. This is for more playing time, not a defensive advantage.

Outfield Borrowing

If a team is short on players, coaches may agree to borrow outfielders from the opponent so kids can still play.

• Decide at the pregame plate meeting.
• The borrowed player is typically the last out, plays outfield, and should give 100% effort.
• When the borrowed player is due to bat for their own team, they step out of the borrowed role.

Umpire-Coach Meeting at Home Plate

This meeting happens before every game. Both managers confirm rules, discuss field and safety concerns, and finalize any special agreements.

6. Game Start and Stop Rules

Time Limits & Defining a New Inning

Tie Games

All divisions: If time expires in a tie, record it as a tie.

Special events: The Division VP may allow extra innings. If so, each half-inning begins with the last batted out on second base.

Mercy Rule

7. Gameplay General Rules

Field Access

Once a game begins, only the following are allowed on the field:

• Coaches
• Players
• Umpires
• Volunteers registered on the GLL website

Dugout Safety

• One coach must remain in the dugout at all times.
• All players must remain in the dugout unless batting or playing defense.
• All equipment must be kept inside the dugout.
• No swinging bats or throwing baseballs in or around the dugout.
• No climbing on dugout fences or hanging from overhead bars.
• The dugout gate must remain closed during play.

Coach Safety

• Offensive side: One coach at first base, one at third base; others remain in the dugout.
• Defensive side: Coaches remain in the dugout, gate closed.
• Rookies exception: One coach may be in the outfield for safety/development, and another may be behind the catcher to retrieve passed balls.

Fair Play Requirements

Intention: Ensure all kids learn and play without excessive bench time. If a game ends unexpectedly and a player does not meet fair-play rules, coaches should adjust the next game’s lineup accordingly.

Run Limits per Inning

*Subject to time limits, darkness, weather, and umpire/Division VP direction.

8. Defensive Rules

Strike Zone

Rookies – Majors: Width = plate plus one baseball on each side; Height = shoulders to knees.

Juniors: Width = plate only; Height = shoulders to knees.

Adjustments are allowed, with coaches/umpire agreement, to encourage more swinging.

Called Strikes (Rookies Only)

No called strikes initially. After two non-swings on strike-worthy pitches, the umpire warns the player/coach that called strikes will begin if the batter keeps taking.

On-Field Pitcher Warm-Ups

• Returning pitcher: Up to 3 pitches between innings.
• New pitcher: Up to 5 pitches.

Intentional Walk & Pitch Count

• Intentional walks are permitted but limited to once per game per batter.
• Manager notifies the plate umpire; 4 pitches are added to the pitcher’s tally automatically.
• Ball is dead; batter goes straight to first base.

End of Play

9. Offensive Rules

Batting Order

Continuous Batting Order (All Divisions): Every rostered player bats.

No mid-game removal unless due to injury or emergency.

If a player arrives late, add them to the end of the order and discuss at the plate meeting.

The continuous order resets each game.

On-Deck Batter Warm-Up Is Prohibited

GLL prohibits on-deck batters. No player should handle a bat until it is their turn to bat.

Bunting

Thrown Bat

1st offense by team: Warning.

2nd offense by same batter: Batter is out, ball is dead, runners return.

Dropped Third Strike

Minors: Batter is out on strikes even if the catcher drops the third strike.

Majors & Above: Standard Little League rules apply. The batter may advance if first base is unoccupied or if there are 2 outs.

Hit By Pitch While Swinging

If the batter is hit while swinging, it counts as a strike.

Batted Ball Contacts Pitching Machine

Dead ball; batter gets a single, and other runners advance one base.

Stealing & Lead-Offs

Leaving Base Early (Minors & Majors)

Runners must wait until the ball crosses the plate or is batted. If they leave early, the umpire may send them back.

Stealing Second Base on a Walk

Minors: No automatic “continuation” to second if it becomes a delayed steal. If there is an overthrow, the runner advances at their own risk.

Majors: Ball is live at all times. Advancing to second after a walk is a stolen base, and the runner advances at their own risk.

Sliding Rules

Rookies, Minors, Majors:

• Runner must allow the fielder to make a throw by sliding or avoiding the throwing lane.
• No headfirst slides while advancing. Headfirst slides are allowed only when returning to a base.
• Significant contact without sliding may result in the runner being called out.
• There is no “must slide” rule.

Juniors:

• Standard Little League sliding rules apply; headfirst slides are allowed on advances.

Courtesy Runner

Allowed for the catcher with 2 outs, or for an injured player. The courtesy runner is the last recorded out. The same courtesy runner may not be used twice in the same inning.

10. Umpire Interactions, Disputes & Protests

Coaches Protect the Umpire

Coaches are responsible for protecting the umpire from harassment by players, coaches, parents, or volunteers.

Zero Tolerance

Harassment or verbal abuse of an umpire by any coach, player, or spectator can result in ejection or further disciplinary action.

Rule Clarifications

You may request time and calmly ask about the umpire’s interpretation of a rule, with both managers present. Judgment calls are never reviewable.

Judgment Calls

Judgment calls are not reviewable. This includes balls/strikes, safe/out, and fair/foul. The umpire’s call stands.

Between Innings

The best time to address non-urgent questions with the umpire is between innings.

Protest Process

Ejections

Anyone ejected must leave the vicinity of the field, including the stands, and may not attend the suspended game. It is recommended that a player serve suspension on the bench out of uniform.

Automatic suspensions of 1–2 games cannot be appealed. Additional penalties may be appealed via the GLL Board by submitting a written request to the Player Agent.

11. Score Reporting & Administration

Post-Game Reporting