Texas District 33 Little League Rules Junior Minor (6-8) Baseball
A. General
1. Little League Baseball Rules and Regulations for Minor Leagues will be observed unless specified in these rules. Refer to your 2025 Rulebook and download Rulebook app.
2. All players must meet mandatory play (6 defensive outs and 1-continous batting order at-bat) regardless of number of players on a team.
3. A team must start a game with a minimum of 8 players. If injures or absences cause a team to have fewer than 8 players once the game is in progress, the game will continue. If any team has fewer than 8 players at the scheduled start time of the game, it will be rescheduled and is NOT a forfeit. ** We try to avoid re-scheduling. Ask players to utilize the Player Agent for a player pool to obtain needed players.
4. Home team –(1st base dugout) is responsible for getting the pitching machine, plugging it up and setting it up to be game ready BEFORE THE GAME. A bucket of balls is also in wheel barrel with pitching machine and you should have 6 balls.
5. Visitor team – (3rd base dugout) is responsible for unplugging the pitching machine, disassembling the machine and putting it back AFTER THE GAME. Make sure that all pitching machine balls (6) are returned to the bucket.
6. Any discussion with the umpire shall be with the manager and time should be requested and granted before entering the field.
7. Umpires have jurisdiction over conduct of players, coaches, and managers on the field. Manager and any current United Board Member has jurisdiction over the fans and acts in the stands. If a fan becomes unruly, it will be brought to the attention of manager(s) and the Board Member on duty will be notified to handle it. Continuing issues will result in suspension of play of the game.
B. Pregame
1. When teams arrive to game site, they will have all equipment (batting helmets, bats, and catching equipment) out in front of their dug out for inspection by the umpire.
2. Batting order lineups with player first name, last name, number and starting defensive position shall be turned in to the Umpire at least 5 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch.
3. Home team will be responsible for official score book. ** Both teams are encouraged to keep book and track the batting order and score.
4. Visiting team will be responsible for official pitch counts for both teams. **Both teams are encouraged to keep track of their pitcher’s count.
C. Game Time Limits
1. There will be 1:15 (75 minutes) time limit. No new inning will start after this time limit. A game will last no longer than 6 innings (NO EXTRA INNINGS) – This can result in a tie game. Finish the inning with home team having their last at bat.
During regular season, you may end in a tie. **Remember a team is waiting to play after you.
2. The suspension of play shall be League President or Vice President’s decision before the beginning of the game and the umpire’s during the game.
D. Offense (Batting)
1. Every player present at the beginning of the game is listed in the batting order (continuous batting order). If a player leaves during the game (due to injury or sickness), his position is skipped without penalty. Any player showing up late for a game will be added to the end of the batting order. Notify the Umpire and opposing coach of added player.
2. The back leg of the pitching machine will be resting against the pitching rubber. Any alteration of the speed will be done AFTER a FULL - inning (NOT during). If the machine has a digital read-out, speed should be approximately 37 MPH. If the machine becomes unplayable due to bumping or malfunction, umpire can authorize alteration to get it working properly.
3. An inning is over and a new one starts when: 3 outs are made, or 5 offensive runs are scored. There will be no continuation over 5 runs unless the hit is a HR that is “out-of-the-park”.
4. Each batter will receive 6 pitches from the coach/pitching machine. If the batter swings and misses 3 times before they reach 6 pitches, they are out.
If the batter fouls the 6th pitch, they will continue to receive pitches until they hit the ball fairly, swing and miss, or do not swing.
5. No bunting is allowed.
6. There are no walks nor hit by pitch in this division.
7. The offensive team (batting) will be allowed a first base coach, a third base coach, a pitcher coach feeding the pitching machine. Little League rules require an adult must be in the dugout with the players at all times. (4 ADULT MAXIMUM PER TEAM). The pitcher coach may coach the batter before the pitch is thrown. After the pitch is thrown, the players are to receive coaching from base coaches only. Continued coaching from pitcher’s position while play is occurring will result in removal/replacement (but not ejection) of the offending coach.
**All volunteers; Manager, Coach, Assistant Coach, and Team Parents must wear a Bryan United Little League official name badge. This badge must be issued to you. Do not give your ID badge to another volunteer. No volunteers other than 4 assigned to this team should be on the field or in the dugout during games. (Note: All parent volunteers can assist with practices IF the Manager needs additional assistance- and you have your badge on).
8. If the batted ball hits the pitching machine or the coach, the ball is DEAD and ALL runners will receive a one base award.
This also includes a ball that is underneath the machine within the confines of the legs of the machine. Example: Runner on second, batter hits the pitch and it strikes the machine. The ball is dead and the runners will be placed at 1st and 3rd base.
E. Base Running
1. No base stealing – even if there is a passed ball (catcher does not stop the pitch or errant throw back to the pitcher).
2. On overthrows, the runner may advance ONE base on ONE overthrow per play. However, while advancing, the runner is at risk of being put out. This does not mean that the players should not attempt to throw out the runner as he advances. *Teach them how to make outs.
EXAMPLE: The batter is running to first, when the second baseman over-throws the first baseman. Runner touches first and heads to second. First baseman can pick up the ball and throw out the runner. However, if the 2B/SS does not catch the ball and it rolls into the outfield, the runner must stop at second base and cannot advance further.
3. Once the ball is in possession of any player on the infield (on the dirt or grass inside of dirt) AND NO PLAY IS BEING MADE, the runners must stop at the base they last acquired. TIME WILL BE CALLED BY THE UMPIRE (this is a judgement call and no arguing of these calls will be acceptable). If advancing, they must stop at the next base. If the runner continues beyond the base last acquired, he is liable to being put out. The players do not need to call TIME, put their hands up, or do anything. It is the umpire’s judgement as to when no play is being made.
Possible plays include: running towards runners for purposes of tagging, pump fakes to stop runners, throws to other players. If it is adjudged that the PLAYER ON THE INFIELD was throwing it to the coach pitcher on the mound, play will be stopped.
If outfielder throws it towards pitcher coach, it is considered a possible overthrow.
F. Defense (Outfield)
1. 10 defensive players may play. They will occupy the regular nine positions and there will be a fourth outfielder. All outfielders must be on the outfield grass when the ball is pitched.
2. There is no infield fly rule.
3. The catcher-player should throw the ball back to the pitcher-player.
3. The defensive team will position a coach behind the catcher to facilitate game time by retrieving the ball if it gets past the catcher. **Please begin training catcher’s how to properly block balls and keep fingers/arms from being hit by placing throwing arm behind their back.
4. The pitcher (coach) should check with the defensive team’s coach before the first pitch of an inning to confirm that his players are placed correctly and ready to play.
5. If the defensive team’s manager requests “time’’, they should tell the UMPIRE, not the pitcher-coach. It is at the umpire’s discretion to GRANT time, so don’t assume just because manager requests it. Wait for umpire to confirm and grant the time out.