A couple questions

[T-Rav]

Fall ball started up for my local little league and I am getting some games in. There has been an issue, another LL's umpires do not allow the players on the opposing teams dugout on deck area, which my LL allows. We believe for the safety of the children that they should be allowed to go behind the batter to not get hit by a foul ball. We have had coaches nearly nailed multiple times with foul balls, so we feel it is necessary. My question is, is there any rule in regards to this- what is generally practiced and accepted for these LL juniors/seniors?

Also tonight my game rained out in the bottom of the 1st with the visitors winning 4-0 with 2 strikes on the home teams 1st batter. I am unsure of the rule and know that it will be contended by the visiting coach, I misplaced my LL rulebook, does the game restart or continue tomorrow?

Thanks in advanced.

[UmpJM]

T-RAV,

I don't "do" LL, so I'm not the best source.

This is what the 2007 LL RIM has to say with regard to your 2nd question:

(d) If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, but after one (1) or more innings have been

played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. NOTE: All records, including pitching, shall be

counted.

On your 1st question, the 2007 RIM is mute. What I do in HS games, which explicitly say the on-deck batter must be in his team's batter box is...

A. If neither team objects, I'll allow the on-deck batter to go "behind" the batter.

B. If one team DOES object, I judge whether the batter box is the minimum distance specified in the rulebook specifications. If it is, I require he stay on "his" side and allow him to go to the "far" end of the dugout if he feels "unsafe" there.

C. If the batter's box is "closer" than the minimum specified distance, I allow him to use the other team's on-deck circle to get "behind" the batter.

If Rich Ives chimes in on this thread, I'd go with what HE says, even if it contradicts what I suggest.

JM

[mstaylor]

LL follows OBR in respect to the ondeck circle. They are to use their ondeck circle only. There are some leagues that make a local rule allowing being behind the batter. I personally hate it, something that travel ball has picked up from softball. I have never seen an injury from being hit while ondeck. To me it is fixing a problem that doesn't exist. However, I allow it if the leagues says do it. I put it in the bubblewrap realm.

[ukce1861]

Also tonight my game rained out in the bottom of the 1st with the visitors winning 4-0 with 2 strikes on the home teams 1st batter. I am unsure of the rule and know that it will be contended by the visiting coach, I misplaced my LL rulebook, does the game restart or continue tomorrow?

Unless there's a local rule that says differently, LL rules would have you restart this game, disregarding all records. This means the home team pitcher is eligible to pitch, no matter how many pitches he threw yesterday. Officially, he didn't pitch at all.

[Rich Ives]

MLB players have been hit in the on deck circle. Not common but it happens. One I remember because I was there was Paul O'Neill

LL doesn't officially care. So go with what the locals want.

The LL field diagrams do not specify a dimension for the on deck circle size or location.

FYI in LL majors and under there is no on deck batter and circle.

If a LL game doesn't complete the first inning it officially never happened. Start over. NO records count including pitching

[cyclonehokiece]

T-RAV,

I don't "do" LL, so I'm not the best source.

This is what the 2007 LL RIM has to say with regard to your 2nd question:

(d) If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, but after one (1) or more innings have been

played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. NOTE: All records, including pitching, shall be

counted.

On your 1st question, the 2007 RIM is mute. What I do in HS games, which explicitly say the on-deck batter must be in his team's batter box is...

A. If neither team objects, I'll allow the on-deck batter to go "behind" the batter.

B. If one team DOES object, I judge whether the batter box is the minimum distance specified in the rulebook specifications. If it is, I require he stay on "his" side and allow him to go to the "far" end of the dugout if he feels "unsafe" there.

C. If the batter's box is "closer" than the minimum specified distance, I allow him to use the other team's on-deck circle to get "behind" the batter.

If Rich Ives chimes in on this thread, I'd go with what HE says, even if it contradicts what I suggest.

JM

I agree with your use on below high school age for travel ball, but at high school, every state I have worked in (Wisconsin, Iowa, and Virginia) have emphasized for baseball and in Iowa and Virginia (Wisconsin is officially trialing having on deck go behind the batter in SB) for softball that the on deck batter stays on their side. Just don't go against local directives if they exist.

[Rich Ives]

T-RAV,

I don't "do" LL, so I'm not the best source.

This is what the 2007 LL RIM has to say with regard to your 2nd question:

(d) If a game is called before it has become a regulation game, but after one (1) or more innings have been

played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off. NOTE: All records, including pitching, shall be

counted.

On your 1st question, the 2007 RIM is mute. What I do in HS games, which explicitly say the on-deck batter must be in his team's batter box is...

A. If neither team objects, I'll allow the on-deck batter to go "behind" the batter.

B. If one team DOES object, I judge whether the batter box is the minimum distance specified in the rulebook specifications. If it is, I require he stay on "his" side and allow him to go to the "far" end of the dugout if he feels "unsafe" there.

C. If the batter's box is "closer" than the minimum specified distance, I allow him to use the other team's on-deck circle to get "behind" the batter.

If Rich Ives chimes in on this thread, I'd go with what HE says, even if it contradicts what I suggest.

JM

I agree with your use on below high school age for travel ball, but at high school, every state I have worked in (Wisconsin, Iowa, and Virginia) have emphasized for baseball and in Iowa and Virginia (Wisconsin is officially trialing having on deck go behind the batter in SB) for softball that the on deck batter stays on their side. Just don't go against local directives if they exist.

Thw question was about LL rules and the answers for those rules are correct.

[T-Rav]

Thanks guys, you really helped me out allot for my game tonight.