2026 Abington Little League Rules

Farm League Rules

• Time allowance- two hours: this means a new inning cannot be started after two hours from the first pitch.
• Darkness: if a new inning Is started and due to darkness, rain, or any other factor and the inning is not completed, the score will revert to previous inning
• Continuous batting will be used, and all players will be allowed to play on the field.
• USA certified bats are the only bats allowed to be used by any player.
• NO ON DECK CIRCLE; The only player with a bat in hand will be batter.
• Baserunners may not advance on passed balls.
• 5 runs or batting around the lineup will end the inning, whichever comes first.
• 8-year-olds must throw from the rubber at 46’ 6”
• 7-year-olds that cannot reach the plate may move up 3’ to the portable rubber. If a 7- year-old player can reach from the regulation mound they must throw from the mound.
• If a pitcher throws 4 balls to a hitter, the coach will throw to player with the strikes remaining. Strikes will be called by the umpire with coach pitching.
• If a pitcher hits 3 batters in an inning, or 5 in a game they must be removed as a pitcher.
• If a batter gets hit by a pitch, they have the option of taking 1st base or staying at bat and the coach comes out to pitch; coaches will encourage the player to hit unless they are hurt.
• All pitching rules that are established by Little League International for the number of pitches per game, and days of rest must be followed. (Please see bottom of the page)
• Pitchers will not exceed 3 innings per game to encourage more players to pitch and develop.
• During the regular season play the ball is dead when the ball gets back to the infield (use your judgement)

Minor League Rules

• A complete game consists of six (6) innings or 2 hours, whichever comes first. No inning may start after the time limit has been reached or after 8 p.m. A game is considered an official game after four (4) innings, three and one-half (3 1Ú2) (if the HOME team is ahead) are played. Tie games, weather-delayed games, or non-official games will be rescheduled/resumed at the discretion of the Board.
• A continuous batting order and the five-run rule per half inning will be in effect.
• Any player refusing to bat is an out.
• The Ten-Run Rule is in effect. If after four (4) complete innings, three and one-half (3 1Ú2) innings (if the HOME team is ahead), one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least number of runs shall concede the victory to the team in the lead. Does not apply to the last inning.
• Little League Pitch count rules for baseball must be followed. (Please see bottom of the page)
• A batter cannot square to bunt, pull back, and then either hit or bunt the ball. If the batter does this, he will be called out, and no runners may advance.
• The catcher must have a “dangling throat protector” attached to the mask.
• The “Dropped Third Strike” rule is NOT in effect.
• The “In Field Fly Rule” is in effect.
• No on-Deck circle
• All Bats must be USA certified. All others will not be allowed.
• All pitchers will throw from the 46’ 6” mound.
• If a pitcher hits 3 batters in an inning or 5 in a game, they must be removed as a pitcher
• All pitching rules as established by Little League International for the number of pitches per game, and days of rest must be followed.
• Pitchers can’t exceed more than 3 innings per game, regardless of pitch count rules, to encourage more players to pitch and develop.
• Base runners may advance on a steal (pass balls) 3 times per inning. Runners will not be allowed to score from third on an overthrow during the regular season to encourage the catcher making the throw down to third base. Overthrows to second base will result in one extra base being taken which would count towards a steal for the inning.
• All pitching and playing rules will follow the rules established by Little League International in any instance not addressed herein.
• restrict a player from catching and pitching in the same game if they throw 41+ pitches, as they cannot move to catcher. A player catching 4+ innings cannot pitch that day.

Major League Rules

• A complete game consists of six (6) innings or two hours, whichever comes first. No inning may start after the time limit has been reached or after 8 p.m. A game is considered an official game after four (4) innings, three and one-half (3 1/2) (the HOME team is ahead) Tie games, weather-delayed games, or non-official games will be rescheduled/resumed at the discretion of the Board.
• The Ten-Run Rule is in effect. If after four (4) complete innings, three and one-half (3 1Ú2) innings (if the HOME team is ahead), one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least number of runs shall concede the victory to the team in the lead.
• A batter cannot square to bunt, pull back, and then either hit or bunt the ball. If the batter does this, he will be called out, and no runners may advance.
• The catcher must have a “dangling throat protector” attached to the mask.
• The “Dropped Third Strike” rule is NOT in effect.
• The “In Field Fly” rule is in effect.
• No on-Deck circle
• All Bats must be USA certified. All others will not be allowed.
• All pitchers will throw from the 46’ 6” mound.
• If a pitcher hits 3 batters in an inning or 5 in a game, they must be removed as a pitcher.
• All pitching and playing rules will follow the rules established by Little League International in any instance not addressed herein.
• restrict a player from catching and pitching in the same game if they throw 41+ pitches, as they cannot move to catcher. A player catching 4+ innings cannot pitch that day.

Little League Baseball Pitch Count Rules

• 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.

Farm League and Minor League - pitchers can throw no more than 3 innings in a given day and must abide by rest rules before pitching again. All pitch counts should be entered into the shared spreadsheet for each league before the next game begins.

NOTE 1: Under no circumstance shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

NOTE 2: A pitcher’s pitch count for the purposes of day(s) rest threshold is determined by the first pitch thrown to a batter. The pitcher may not start a new batter once the limit imposed in Regulation VI(c) has been met.

Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI(c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:

• The batter reaches base;
• The batter is put out;
• The third out is made to complete the half-inning of the game;
• The pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at bat.

NOTE: If a pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch, and maintain their eligibility to play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day, until any one of the following conditions occurs:(1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat. The pitcher would be allowed to play the catcher position provided that pitcher is moved, removed, or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another batter. If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not 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.

NOTE 1: Under no circumstance shall a player pitch in three (3) consecutive days.

NOTE 2: A pitcher’s pitch count for the purposes of day(s) rest threshold is determined by the first pitch thrown to a batter. The pitcher may not start a new batter once the limit imposed in Regulation VI(c) has been met.