All,

Based on our last email, we have already gotten some questions. Here is the biggest question we get:

Every year the District staff gets … “Why is this game different than when we play in League play?”… and that answer is simple, not all leagues follow all Little League rules during the regular season, and there ARE different rules for the International Tournament, which the District Tournament is the first stage of that.

One example is that there are NO time limit in Tournament play. This throws many people for a loop because in their league they have time limits… This is not a Little League rule. There are no time limits in Little League except for local curfews. In tournament play they have only the “mercy rule” that may cause a game to end before the required number of innings are played, not time. Be prepared to see different rules in some cases than what you are used to in your home leagues.

You can find the Tournament Rules in the Little League Rule Book. Tournament notes can be found here: https://www.littleleague.org/downloads/tournament-rules-baseball/

This is the abbreviated version, but the longer version is in the Little League Official Rule Book, which is available in your favorite app store.

There are other rules that are enforced at Tournament Time. These are:

No adults may warm up players once they take the field for warmups or game, or occupy the dugout, this is focused on pitchers.
No adults may be on the field with the players other than the managers and coaches officially on the team affidavit.
The official scorebook is the only scorebook that counts. Not one that a parent keeps in the stands. Same for the official pitch count. That comes from the scorers table not the count off the clicker of the coach or fan.
There is no communication with the players by parents or adults once they are in the dugout or take the field for warmups.
There is no communication with the players, coaches, or managers once the game starts by any persons outside of the dugout or field. This includes “electronic” communication (like texting, or through Game Changer).
There is only cheering from the stands and fans. Any “razzing”, disruptions, cowbells, horns, noisemakers etc are not allowed. Only positive cheering is allowed. Opposing fans “attempting to disrupt the batter or pitcher” will be removed from the facility.
There is no “walkup music” unless provided by the Tournament host.
No alcohol on or in the stands, parking lot, or facility.
No Smoking except in the parking lot, or outside the facility.
No profanity, disparaging remarks to staff, umpires, etc will be cause for removal from the facility.

All rules for Little League are there to promote fair play, good sportsmanship, and safety. Let’s have a great tournament and we’ll see you around the fields!

Sincerely,

District Administrator (DA)

Washington Little League – District 13

E: dadist13@wadist13ll.org

T:509-995-4200

http://www.wadist13ll.org