Keystone Little League

Single A Minors (Spring) and Minor B (Fall) Baseball Rules

All “Single A Minors” references shall also mean "Minor B” as rules are the same.

Overview:

The Single A Minor division is a developmental baseball division in the Keystone Little League program. Its focus is to
further develop the basic skills and rules covered T-Ball and Rookie and introduce player pitching and standard ball /
strike counts. The Single A Minor division is for league age7–9-year-olds. Coaches should continue to focus on
developing baseball fundamentals and maintaining a fun, positive environment. Although it is natural to start to keep
score, coaches/teams are prohibited from doing so and there are no standings or recorded wins or losses at this level.

Game Length:

Games are six (6) innings or 1 hour 45 mins in length, whichever comes first, and no new inning can start after 1 hour
30 minutes. There are no forfeits in the Single A Minors division. Players may be borrowed from the opposing team
as necessary. There are no umpires for Single A Minors, so defensive outs will be called by the coaches on the field.
If there is no consensus on the result of a play, the call will defer to the team on defense.

Player Roster:

Each attending player shall be placed in the batting order (continuous batting order). The catcher may not catch more
than two innings in a game. Each player shall play an infield position at least two innings per game (catching counts
as an infield position). Pitch count limits will be followed as outlined in the Little League Rule Book (see Pitching
section). A maximum of 10 players will defense play with only one player per infield position and up to 4 outfielders.

Batting:

There are strikeouts, but no walks. Players will pitch in odd numbered innings and coaches will pitch in even numbered
innings.

In Player Pitch innings, the pitcher needs to be at least 40 feet from home plate. The pitcher shall pitch to each batter
until the batter puts the ball in play, is hit by pitch, or ball four (not the fourth pitch) has been reached. A Coach on the
hitting team will be stationed close by the pitcher and is responsible for calling balls/strikes. After a hit by pitch or ball
4 has been reached, the Coach will finish pitching the at-bat. Any previous strikes from the kid pitch portion of the at
bat will carry over to the coach pitch portion of the at bat.

In Coach Pitch innings, the coach should be at least 36 feet from home plate. The Coach that is pitching is also
responsible for calling Balls/Strikes. For both the Coach Pitch innings and when the Coach comes in to pitch during
the Player Pitch inning, it is acceptable to give one warning to the batter on a called strike 3. But the next taken strike
needs to result in the batter being out. It is not mandatory, but HIGHLY encouraged that coaches pitch from a knee in
order to match the trajectory that batters see during Player Pitch innings.

During Coach Pitch scenarios, the player at the pitcher position needs to have one foot inside the “circle” and/or on the
dirt around the mound. The player should be playing the true pitcher defensive position and not as a shallow short-
stop or second baseman. It is acceptable to swap sides of the mound depending on right/left hitters.

The ball shall be live after it is hit into fair territory and shall remain live until it is possessed in the infield – fair or foul
territory. Once the ball is judged dead, play will stop. Any runners still advancing to a base may continue to that base
if they have advanced at least halfway to that base. If the runner is not halfway to the next base when the ball is
possessed in the infield, then he must return to the previous base. The Coaches should be encouraging the fielders to
cover bases and throw for outs. Runners may not advance on an infield overthrow. Each half-inning concludes when
either (3) defensive outs are recorded or (4) runs have been scored by the offense.

Intentionally bunting is not permitted.

Base Running, Stealing, and Sliding:

Leading off and stealing bases are not permitted. Runners may not leave a base until the ball is put in play (or potentially9
in play in the case of a foul ball). Head first sliding is not permitted except when a runner is returning to a base. Any
runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make
the tag. Infielders, including the pitcher and catcher, cannot block a base or home plate if they do not have the ball
and/or are not in the process of making a tag.

Pitching:

Pitch counts must be strictly followed. In Single A Minors, a player should not pitch more than one inning (a player that
has pitched one inning may play as a defensive pitcher in a Coach Pitch inning).

Please see the Little League Rulebook for current pitch count rules. Per the 2023 LL Rulebook (with clarifying edits):

(a) Any player on a team may pitch.
Exception: Any player, who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game (this means
any portion of four (4) innings), is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher.

(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below,
but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:

League Age
11 – 12 85 pitches per day
9 – 10 75 pitches per day
6 – 8 50 pitches per day

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch
until any one of the following conditions occurs: 1. That batter reaches base; 2. That batter is put out; 3. The third out
is made to complete the half-inning. NOTE: A pitcher who delivers his/her 41st pitch(or more) of the day to start an at
bat cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements**:
- If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 51 - 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 36 - 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 21 - 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed.
- If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

**Days of rest is determined by the pitch count at the beginning of the last batter faced, not total pitches thrown.

The home team is responsible for keeping the official pitch count in Little League play. In Single A Minors, managers
on both teams are encouraged to help monitor pitch counts, fatigue, and/or injury.

On-field Coaches:

The offensive team shall station up to three coaches on the field during play, one occupying the first base coach’s box,
one occupying the third base coach’s box, and one pitching (Coach Pitch) and/or calling Balls / Strikes (Player
Pitch). All other offensive coaches must be in the dugout during play. At least one coach (or team parent) must be in
the dugout at all times. The defensive team may station two coaches (official coaches and/or approved volunteers) in
the outfield during play plus (1) coach / volunteer beside the catcher. All other defensive team coaches must remain in
the dugout at all times unless time is out. All managers, coaches, and approved volunteers must wear their lanyards
for the duration of the game.

Field Preparation:

The home team is responsible for the lining of the field before the game. Both teams shall fill in holes in the batters
box and on the pitchers mound, water the field as necessary, and/or perform any other maintenance needed to
ensure safe playing conditions (including raking the field). Please use courteous common sense as the Away Team
and assist the Home Team if they are short on Coaches/Volunteers.

Post-Game Duties:

Teams must ensure that their dugout and bleacher area are cleaned up after the game. Home team should rake the
areas around the bases and other out high traffic areas of the field.

If you are holding a player meeting after the game, please clear your dugout and move outside the field of play for your
meeting - if there is another game scheduled after your game.

**** If a rule is not addressed herein, please see the Little League Rulebook for the applicable T-Ball, Minors, or
Majors rules.