Mission Statement
Havelock Little League (HLL) is a non-profit organization run by volunteers whose mission is to provide an opportunity for our community’s children to learn the game of baseball in a safe and friendly environment. Havelock Little League will assist youth in developing the qualities of discipline, teamwork, courage, integrity, character and loyalty. Havelock Little League recognizes that the Little League Baseball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes.
Local Rules
Local rules are in addition to regular Little League rules to reflect the playing rules, conduct, safety conditions, special field conditions, and other league management issues. If a situation is not discussed herein, it shall be handled in a manner consistent with the Little League Regulations and Rules.
Any Little League functions including practices where a female player is present an adult female, age eighteen (18) or older must be present.
I. Division Alignment
• Tee Ball Division (T-Ball): Operates a program for league age 4 through 6-year-olds. All efforts should be made to maintain rosters with a maximum of 10 players per team
• Minor League Machine Pitch Division (Rookies): Operates as a program for league age 6 through 8-year-old players under Little League Minor League Baseball Rules and Regulations. Note: 6-year-olds may only play if they have played one season of Tee Ball.
• Minor League Machine / Coach / Player Pitch Division (Minors): Operates as a Minor league program for league age 9 through 12-year-old players under Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations. Note: League age 12-year-olds may only participate under certain circumstances.
• Little League Major Division (Majors): Operates as a major league program for league age 11 through 12-year-old players under Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations. Teams have no more than 12 players per team.
II. Player & Other Fees, Refund & Fundraising Policy
• All player fees are due at the time of registration unless prior arrangement and approval is made. A refund will be granted up to the point that the season has started (except for any reduced or special registration fees offered). Any refunds after this point will need the Board of Directors approval and will be at a reduced rate (any costs already assumed by the league will be deducted from any refunds given). The league will charge an amount equal to that which has been charged to HLL by the bank for any NSF check returned.
• Late player registration, those registrations occurring after the registration days held by the league, for Havelock Little League will continue until the end of player draft and team assignments. Late registrations are subject to a $10 late registration fee. Registration for all (twelve) 12-year old’s will be terminated prior to the final day of tryout.
a. Players wishing to be placed on a waitlist may still sign up via Sport Connect. No payment will be processed until that player is placed on a team. The waitlist is on a first come serve basis. A spot is not guaranteed.
b. If an opening becomes available in the Little League Majors Division the manager of the team will be briefed that there is a player on the waitlist, he/she has the option to select this player. If not selected the player remains on the waitlist.
c. If an opening becomes available in the Minor League Player Pitch Division the manager of the team will be briefed that there is a player on the waitlist, he/she has the option to select this player. If not selected the player remains on the waitlist.
III. League Structure
• To promote good competition between all teams in a wholesome atmosphere, in all divisions, of Havelock Little League where children learn the fundamentals of baseball and good sportsmanship.
IV. Player Selection
• All eligible players, as defined by Little League rules, shall make up the player pool.
• Tee Ball Division (T-Ball): All players will be placed on teams by the Player Agent. Teams will be dissolved at the end of the current season.
• Minor League Machine Pitch Division (Rookies): All players in this Division will return to the player pool at the end of the current season and will be subject to the draft each season. Only managers are allowed at the Minor League draft. The draft will utilize Local Draft Methods First Year of Operation “Plan A – Serpentine Draft Plan”. Teams will be dissolved at the end of the current season.
• Minor League Machine / Coach / Player Pitch Division (Minors): All players in this Division will return to the player pool at the end of the current season and will be subject to the draft each season. Only managers are allowed at the Minor League draft. The draft will utilize Local Draft Methods First Year of Operation “Plan A – Serpentine Draft Plan”. Teams will be dissolved at the end of the current season.
• Little League Major Division (Majors): If a returning player has not been released from a team, then that team has rights to the player and the player is placed back on that team. No overdrafting is allowed. There can be one manager and one returning coach at every Major League draft. The Draft will utilize Local Draft Methods Existing Leagues “Plan A – Conventional Draft Plan”.
a. If a player re-enters the draft, they cannot be drafted by the team they played on the previous season until after the 3rd Round of the draft. These players do not have to be retained in the Little League Majors Division unless they are a 12-year-old.
V. Eligibility / Draft
• All players participating in the draft must be registered prior to the draft and participate in a minimum of 50% of the assessments. Players in the Minors & Majors Division, AND those listed below must participate in tryouts:
a. Any players new to the division. This typically involves moving from a lower division to a higher division, for instance Machine Pitch to Coach / Player Pitch and / or Coach / Player Pitch to Majors, etc.
b. Any player that is new to HLL. Any player who did not play on an HLL team the prior year will be considered a new player.
c. If a written excuse is provided AND approved by the board, a player MAY be excused from assessments. If a player is excused, they will not be eligible to be drafted, they will be assigned to a team once the draft has been completed.
• If a player does not attend at least 50% of the assessments he / she shall not be eligible to be drafted to any team. They will be assigned to a team consistent with their age and experience level. All 12-year old’s must be assigned to Little League Majors Division. After the start of the season, if a Major League team loses a player, and an assigned player is suited for a replacement, he / she may be selected for that major team with Board of Directors approval. HLL Player Agent will create a pool of players from the minor league upon conclusion of the draft.
• The draft method for the Little League Major Division will be Plan A – Conventional Draft Plan from the current Little League Baseball Rulebook. The draft method for Minor League Machine / Coach / Player Pitch Division will be Plan A – Serpentine Draft Plan Method of First Year Operation. The draft sequence will be determined by draw. The draft sequence shall alternate each round as follows: 1-2-3-4-5, 5-4-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-5, etc. No team in any division will draft more than 8 players of any one age.
• If a parent{s} wants a player to be Minor League only; they will need to sign a waiver. This means the player will not be eligible to be moved to the next higher division at any time during the current season.
• If a player is removed from a Major League team and a player from a Minor League team declines to move up, this player cannot be brought up to the Majors for the remainder of the season.
VI. Losing / Dropping / Replacing Players
• Managers must make the Player Agent aware if any player misses more than two consecutive games for any reason.
• A team may lose a player for any of the following reasons:
a. He/she moves out of the district.
b. Injury.
c. Personal reasons.
d. Any other justifiable reason reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.
• Players may be dropped for the following reasons with the approval of the Board of Directors during a formal hearing with the player, parents and manager/coach present:
a. If a player misses three (3) consecutive practices without a valid excuse
b. Detrimental actions of a player towards other teammates or coaches
c. Unruly behavior
d. Fighting
e. Disrespect of managers, coaches or other team members
f. Any player removed for disciplinary reasons will be removed for the remainder of the season but may return the following year with the approval of the Board of Directors.
• Managers who have lost a player must contact the Player Agent for a replacement player immediately.
• The manager must provide 3 names in preferential order to the Player Agent within 2 days of notification of loss of player.
• The manager is not to discuss his/her desire for the player with anyone except the Player Agent or his representative in case of his absence.
• Contact with the player or his/her parents will constitute that player ineligible to move up to that team. Failure to comply with this rule will be cause for corrective action against the manager.
VII. Expansion and Reduction Major Division Teams
• Expansion of teams will be done in accordance with the current Little League Baseball Rulebook (Local League Maintenance of Rosters).
• Reduction of will be done in accordance with the current Little League Baseball Rulebook (Local League Maintenance of Rosters).
a. The board of directors shall determine the Major League team with the fewest returning players registered at the time of the decision.
b. The team with the fewest returning players will be eliminated for that season.
c. All current Major League players affected must be reassigned to the Major League Team by one of the two Methods Listed in the Current Little League Baseball Rulebook (Policies: Local League Maintenance of Rosters / Team Reduction)
d. These players are NOT required to be at assessments.
VIII. Game Day Ground Rules All Divisions (except where noted):
• The home team shall occupy the third base dugout; the visitors shall occupy the first base dugout.
• Managers must provide the official scorer (other manager in Tee Ball) a lineup sheet at least ten (10) minutes prior to game start.
• Managers are responsible for getting their coolers prior to each game and returning emptied coolers to the concession stand after the game.
• Managers are responsible for the cleanliness of the dugouts after their games.
• Managers are responsible for raking the fields immediately after their games; if playing the last game of day.
• Managers are responsible for securing bases, returning them to the equipment room and installing field plugs.
• Home team managers shall be required to supply an official scorekeeper in the Press Box. (Except Tee Ball)
• Home & Away team managers are required to ensure that there is representation in the concession during ALL games.
• Visiting team is required to supply an official pitch counter in the Press Box (Minor & Majors Only). Visiting team is required to supply an umpire (Tee Ball only).
• Blatant or habitual violations of Game Day Ground Rules will result in League imposed Disciplinary action against offending Manager(‘s) and/or coaches up to and including suspension or removal from League.
Tee Ball:
• Tee used all season
• Field of play shall consist at least four players in the outfield and not more than six in the infield
• Completion of the batting lineup will end each half inning.
• The pitcher must stand to the left or right of the pitcher’s mound
• Time is called when the ball is returned to the player inside the pitcher’s circle
• Each batter gets five swings, a coach will assist on sixth swing **During the final 2 games of the season players/Managers will have the option to toss batter 3 over or under handed pitches. Failure to hit 1 of the 3 pitches will require batter to use Tee for the remainder of that “At Bat”
• Bunting is not allowed. Stealing bases is not allowed.
• Mandatory Play: All players present must play 2 defensive innings and bat once as per Little League Rulebook
• Mandatory Substitution Rule: Each team will be required to enter substitutes at the top of the third inning.
• Score will not be kept. Standings will not be kept.
• Each game will consist of a time limit of one hour. The half inning currently in progress may be finished.
• Three offensive coaches will be allowed on the field and three defensive coaches will be allowed on the field.
• Teams are limited to 4 events per week. If there is a game that week, this allows for 2 practices and 2 games. If there is no game, this allows for 4 practices.
• All practices must end by 7:00 PM and be no more than one hour in duration.
Minor League Machine Pitch Division (Rookies):
• Machine pitch all season
• Umpires will deliver each pitch of the game.
• Ten players on the field, with four players in the outfield and six in the infield.
• 10-batters or 3 outs will end each half inning. This rule will be in effect for every game of the second half of the season. For the first half of the season, there will be a five run rule in effect to end each half inning.
a. Assume there are 2 outs when the 10th batter comes to the plate at all times.
b. If there are less than 2 outs when 10th batter comes to the plate, then the outs will be changed to two outs.
• The pitcher must stand to the left or right of the pitcher’s mound and must stay there until the ball reaches the batter.
• Stopping play: Teams must stop the lead runner or get the third out. If there are runners still moving towards the base, time will not be called until the end of the play. Time will be called by the umpire at the end of each play
• Each batter will get a maximum of six pitches or three swinging strikes (including foul balls) with no walks. (Exception: foul ball on sixth pitch or any pitch after).
a. If a batter does not swing at 6th pitch or any other pitch after the 6th pitch then he/she will automatically be called out on strikes.
• Louisville Slugger Black Flame Pitching Machine will be used.
• The pitching machine should be set at 8-3-3 for the 4 weeks of the season at a distance of 40 feet from the back of home plate. The managers can work up to this through the season as long as they all agree.
• Bunting is not allowed. Stealing bases is not allowed.
• Batted ball hitting pitching machine results in a dead ball, batter and all runners on base will be awarded one base.
• Batted ball hitting the offensive coach feeding the pitching machine, dead ball no pitch.
• Mandatory play: All players present must play six consecutive defensive outs and 1 at bat per Current Little League Baseball Rulebook.
• Mandatory Substitution Rule: Each team will be required to enter substitutes at the top of the third inning.
• The Official Scorekeeper will be the home team’s scorekeeper, all substitutions will be made through the Official Scorekeeper.
• Each game will consist of six innings or a time limit of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
a. Cannot start a new inning after 1 hour and 45 minutes. The inning you are in at 1 hour and 45 minutes will be finished but no new inning can begin.
• Two offensive coaches will be allowed to be on the field: one in each coach’s box; one defensive coach will be positioned at the fence behind the catcher in order to keep the game moving.
a. A maximum of 3 adults allowed in dugouts
• Special Pinch Runner Rule is allowed: See rule 7.14(a)
Minor League Machine / Coach / Player Pitch Division:
• Game time limit: There will be a two-hour Drop-Dead Limit on all regular season games.
• Machine Pitch 3 weeks, Coach/Player Pitch 3 weeks, Player Pitch for the remainder of the season
a. Louisville Slugger Black Flame Pitching Machine should be set at 10-3-3 at a distance of 40 feet from the back of home plate and progress 1 level every week ending at 12-3-3. (3 Weeks)
NO STEALING BASES WHILE MACHINE IS BEING USED.
b. Coach Pitch for the Innings 1-3 Player Pitch for the reminder of the game. (3 Weeks)
c. Player Pitch to finish their reminder of the season to include the End of Season Tournament.
• Anyone may pitch except 12-year-olds.
• All regular season Little League pitch count rules apply.
• Mandatory play: All players present must play six consecutive defensive outs and 1 at bat per Current Little League Baseball Rulebook.
• Mandatory Substitution Rule: Each team will be required to enter substitutes at the top of the third inning.
• Five runs maximum will be allowed per inning.
a. If a player has already started his or her at bat when the 5th run scores, that batter may finish the at bat.
• Special Pinch Runner Rule is allowed: See rule 7.14
Little League Major Division:
• Major League games will be in accordance with the official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball.
IX. Pitching Eligibility and Rest
• Havelock Little League pitching eligibility will be in accordance with the official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball.
X. Safety
• Stoppage of play due to an injury on the field is an umpire’s judgment however no team, manager, or coach will be penalized for rendering immediate assistance as necessary. Any time a player is struck in the head by an object such as a bat or a ball, concussion protocol MUST be completed.
Bats:
• Havelock Little League will comply with the official Regulations and Playing Rules of Little League Baseball regarding baseball bats to include, but not be limited to:
a. Rule 1.10 - Bat Specifications*
b. Rule 2.00 - Definition of Illegal Bat
c. Rule 6.06 – Penalty
• A list of approved and licensed composite bats can be found on the Little League website at www.littleleague.org.
Volunteers:
• All Havelock Little League volunteers will fill out a volunteer application form and turn into the League President for background check. Background check must be performed and volunteers approved prior to participating in any Havelock Little League functions.
XI. Rain Outs
• All rain out games will be played at the first available slot in the schedule or on Saturday unless there is a conflict. A conflict is defined as:
a. Team already scheduled for a regular season game.
b. A rain out game scheduled for that Saturday.
• If a team cannot play its rescheduled game for any reason other than 1 thru 2 above, the game will be forfeited.
• When Managers receive their game schedules a rain out schedule will be attached based on the number of teams in the division and availability of umpires and fields.
• Rain out game times will be as follows:
a. Rookies- 9am
b. Minors- 11am
c. Majors- 1pm and 3pm
• The evening games can be moved to earlier time slots provided there are no other games scheduled and both coaches agree to the time change.
XII. Field Maintenance
• Managers are responsible for the cleanliness of the dugouts after their games.
• Managers are responsible for raking the fields immediately after their games; secure bases, return them to the equipment room and install field plugs.
• All teams are expected to have a representative at field workdays.
XIII. Tie Breaker
• If two or more teams are tied at the end of the season, the following tie-breaker procedure shall be used to determine the League’s final standings:
a. Best record head-to-head.
b. Fewest runs allowed head-to-head.
c. Most runs scored head-to-head.
d. Fewest runs allowed total schedule. (If one team has played more games than the other team, start with the last game played and go backward until the number of games equals that of the team with fewer games. Only those games will be used for computation)
e. Most runs scored total schedule. (If one team has played more games than the other team, start with the last game played and go backward until the number of games equals that of the team with fewer games. Only those games will be used for computation)
f. Coin Toss.
XIV. Managers and Coaches
Selection of Managers:
• During the period of player registrations, anyone interested in being selected as a League manager shall complete a volunteer application form and Manager’s/Coaches application. Once all applications have been received, the President along with the Coaching Coordinator will review all applications and nominate managers for all four divisions of play (Tee Ball, Rookies, Minors, & Majors) for Board approval
Selection of Coaches:
• Coaches should be selected by the Team Manager and approved by the Coaching Coordinator upon a completion of a background check.
Duties of Managers and Coaches (to include but not limited to:
• Each team must have one manager and at least two coaches.
• Managers and coaches are volunteers and must be over the age of 18.
• Managers are responsible for the training, safety and welfare of their team and equipment assigned to their team.
• Managers are responsible for the conduct of their coaches, team parents and team members.
• Managers and coaches may be removed by majority vote by the League officers for un-sportsman like conduct.
XV. Havelock Little League Code of Conduct
All persons participating in Havelock Little League (HLL) must abide by a Code of Conduct, which includes the provisions that follow:
• No one shall use tobacco, vapes, alcohol or drugs at the Havelock Little League facility.
• No one shall provoke a manager, coach, player, umpire or spectator.
• No one shall use profane or abusive language or gestures.
• No one shall show repetitive or violent disapproval of an umpire’s decision such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out. This includes but is not limited to unduly yelling or screaming at participants, coaches, or officials.
• No one shall threaten the public or show any attempt at physical violence.
• All decisions of the umpires or other game officials shall be accepted as being fair and called to the best of their abilities.
Any violation of the above brought to the attention of the Havelock Little League Board of Directors in a timely manner, will be reviewed and voted on within 7 days for appropriate action up to and including permanent suspension.
NOTE: Havelock Little League follows the Havelock Parks and Recreation Code of Conduct.
These By-Laws were approved by the Havelock Little League Board of Directors on January 21st, 2024.