Charter By-Laws

To address the issues associated with teams placing winning above player development, Little League WA requires each charter to implement by-laws to ensure player development and welfare are protected.

​The following by-laws are in place.

Charter Bylaws are to be read in conjunction with the Baseball WA Bylaws and Little League International rule book.

1. For Little League Major ‐ during the Exhibition Rounds a Pitcher may pitch for a maximum of 2 innings or 35 pitches (whichever comes first) and finish the batter will apply.
2. For the Championship Rounds, the BWA Pitching and Age Limits shall apply.
3. For Little League Major – during Exhibition Rounds, a player cannot play in the position of Catcher for more than 2 innings per game.

The above restrictions do not apply for Little League Club Championships.

Team Make Up Policy

1. Players are to play in their age group as defined by the Little League Age chart.
2. Local clubs are to ensure that if they are entering multiple teams within the same league (except Big League) then each team is equally weighted with player abilities and average age for each team. This is to prevent a club from stacking one team over another.

Little League Minors Machine Pitch

• Catchers may catch 2 successive innings before being changed to a different position.
• During the season, It is at the coaches discretion, by agreement of all team coaches, if a batter cannot put the ball into play after 3 strikes the teams coach shall soft toss until the ball is batted in play.  (This change has been agreed for the players who are struggling, to give them a chance to hit the ball and not strike out every time he comes to the plate. The kids who are capable will be on three strikes)

Please note that all by-laws below have been reviewed and are approved by the Coastal Bay Sharks Baseball Charter committee (‘the committee’) as of Tuesday 12th October 2020, and are in addition to those produced by LLWA and the ‘Green Book’. These are for LL Minors & Majors league aged players ONLY (8-12).

1. All Little League players must attempt to pitch a minimum of 30 pitches throughout the course of the exhibition and regular minor/major season.
2. Little League Exhibition Series – players can only pitch a maximum of 40 pitches per game during the exhibition series. Catchers will only catch a maximum of 2 innings per game.
3. Little League Regular season – players can only pitch a maximum of 60 pitches per game during the regular season. Catchers will only catch a maximum of 3 innings per game.
4. Little League Finals series – pitch limits and catching restrictions limits as per LLWA by-laws.
5. No catcher may catch more than a total of 6 innings in a day (where they also play Intermediate League).
6. At least 4 players from each team must play the position of catcher for 4 or more innings throughout the course of the season

Charter Disclaimer:

1. Coaches must make every effort to encourage all players to pitch a minimum of 30 pitches throughout the season. Whilst it is understandable some players lack the confidence and/or ability to pitch, every attempt must be made to provide sufficient instruction and encouragement that enables all players to pitch at various times throughout the exhibition series and regular season. The committee will monitor player development and pitch counts and provide engagement to ensure consistency across the charter clubs.

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Little League Majors
A pitcher can only pitch a max of two full innings or a total of 50 pitches whichever comes first in Little League club games.

Intermediate League
Intermediate League an offensive inning is complete with a third out or a eighth run. The offensive inning will end at the completion of the play where the eighth run was scored. More than the maximum of eight runs may have been scored during the final play, however only eight runs will be recorded for the inning.

Intermediate League above shall apply for the first five innings except in the bottom of fifth to avoid the mercy rule. No run restriction is applied to the sixth or seventh inning.
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These rules do not apply to finals.

Team Make Up Policy
Teams can be comprised of any number of players, up to the maximum team squad size allowed as per Little League WA by-laws, within that league age.

Teams will be created with a view of distributing talent evenly across each Little League age group.  Consideration will be given to teams that retain players as they move into older age groups to allow those players to continue to play together.

1. A pitcher may pitch for a maximum of 50 pitches or two innings whichever comes first, two innings to be the equivalent of 6 defensive outs.
2. A catcher may catch a maximum of 2 innings.
3. A player may not pitch and catch in the same game.

Intermediate League

1. Intermediate League innings shall be complete with three outs or eight runs whichever comes first, if more that 8 runs are scored in the final play only 8 runs will be recorded.
2. Above rule to apply to first 5 innings only, no restrictions on 6 and 7th innings.

Above rules do not apply for finals

Before Christmas:

• A pitcher may pitch up to 40 pitches per game and may continue to pitch and finish the batter they are facing. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold they reached during that at-bat.
• Once removed from the mound the pitcher cannot return to pitch.
• Pitchers are required to be on a rotation and cannot pitch 2 weeks in a row.

After Christmas:

• A Pitcher may pitch up to 70 pitchers per game and may continue to pitch and finish the batter they are facing. The pitcher will only be required to observe the calendar day(s) of rest for the threshold they reached during that at-bat.
• Once removed from the mound the pitcher cannot return to pitch.

CATCHING:

• Before Christmas: A Catcher can only be in the catching position for 2 innings in a game.
• After Christmas: A Catcher may Catch 4 innings. Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game, is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.

PENALTIES:
Coaches who breach regulations will be reported to Baseball WA. Baseball WA will advise the club on the Penalty.

Little League Minors Machine Pitch

• Shall be run as per the Little League WA State Tournament rules and Guidelines.

​Team Make Up Policy
Each local club team roster can be comprised of any number of players, up to the maximum team squad size allowed as per Little League WA by-laws, within that league age. IE – A little league team can have a maximum squad size of 15 players and can be of League Age 9 to 12 years old.