Babylon Little League Fair Play Rules
The fair play guidelines must be applied to the 2025 spring season games involving all 5-12 year-old players. These guidelines do not apply to tournament play.
These guidelines are intended to serve as minimum standards for ensuring that all players get an equitable share of playing time. Coaches are required to meet these guidelines and strongly encouraged to exceed them to ensure balance in participation among players regardless of skill level. Coaches, especially at the lower skill levels, also need to ensure that players do not play positions where they lack the skills and experience to protect themselves or other players. Coaches are required to supply league director within 48 hours, after each game, with a copy of team’s field positions, batting order, number of pitches thrown by each pitcher, and score (this requirement is mandated by Little League Baseball). First offense is forfeit of game; second offense is suspension of the manager for next game; third offense is expulsion of coaching privileges. Coaches are also required to sign a document stating their agreement to abide by the fair play rules.
Field Rule
Each player must play at least two innings in an infield position during a game. One inning constitutes three consecutive outs. Infield can be any of the following positions: catcher, pitcher, first base, second base, third base or shortstop. Regardless of the amount of innings played during the game this rule must be adhered to. Also, it is recommended that all players play the position of outfielder.
Bench Rule
In some situations, one or two players may have to sit for 2 innings in a game due to the number of players on the team. Consequently, all players on a team must sit for one inning before any player is asked to sit for a second inning during the game. One inning constitutes three consecutive outs. The starting pitcher is the ONLY player exempt from this rule. BUT when the starting pitcher is removed from the game he/she becomes subject to this rule. Also, if a player shows up after the first inning is completed that player may be exempt from this rule. If a player is hurt during the game that player is exempt from this rule. This rule must be adhered to if 10 or more players begin the game. Also, it is recommended that coaches rotate the starting fielding positions and not have the same players on the bench at the start of each game.
Batting Order
Each player must bat in one of the top four spots in the batting order in at least three games.
Borrowing Players
At times a team may be short a player or players for a game. When this occurs you have the following options:
Option 1: Select a player from a lower division to be called up for that game. A list of eligible players will be supplied to you by your league director that you can choose from. These players will be 2nd year players in their respective division. The same child should not be called up each and every time. A player cannot be called up more than 2 games for one team or a total of 3 games. The only time a borrowed player can be the 10th on the team is when the coach is not sure a player is going to make the game or has to leave early. At no time should a borrowed player be pulled up to be the 11th player. Borrowed or called up players may not play the position of pitcher or catcher.
Option 2: Play the game with a minimum of 7 of your own players and borrow no more than 2 players from the opposing team to play the field. These players are to be the last batted outs in the previous inning. These players are to be instructed to play defense as if it was their own team and cannot play the position of pitcher.
At no time can a T Ball player play in a Farms game, they are not covered by insurance and you are putting yourself and the league at risk.
If any of the rules are not followed, at the discretion of the board, it will result in a warning and/or forfeit of the game and/or game(s) suspension of the manager.