STAR LEAGUE RULES -- 2025 SEASON

1. Overview: This level of play is for first graders, generally league age 7 and older.  Player rosters should be limited to 12 players.  It is an instructional league where coaches pitch and play is with a “soft” baseball.  As in the Rookie League, teams do not keep score and there is no standing.  However, at this level, outs count!  Coaches should continue to work on and improve the player’s throwing, catching, and hitting, but also begin to emphasize making plays and a general knowledge of the rules (strikes/balls, strike zone, general base running rules).
2. Game Basics:  Teams should attempt to play four innings per game, with game time limited to a maximum of 75 minutes.  Two adult coaches are allowed in the field, one in the infield and one in the outfield.   One adult coach should manage the dugout and the bats, and one adult coach should play catcher (a catcher’s mask is included with the equipment and it is recommended that it be worn).
3. Defensive Positions:  All players should play in the field and rotate positions each inning.  The suggested defensive arrangement is two pitchers assistants, five infielders, and five outfielders.  No player is allowed to play catcher.  Defensive players should not stand on top of the bases – teach the players the correct place to play their positions.  It is important to ensure that over the course of the season, assignment to defensive positions is balanced so that all players have roughly the same number of opportunities at the various positions.
4. Dugouts: The team at bat must have one adult coach in the dugout at all times.  Only one player is allowed to have a bat in their hands and that is the batter.  NO on-deck swings are permitted.  
5. Helmets:  All hitters and runners must wear a helmet.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  MVLL provides NOCSAE-compliant helmets for players' use.  If a player chooses to use a personal helmet, it must be affixed with the NOCSAE symbol, be free of cracks or other visible damage, and all of the internal padding must not be missing, tattered, torn or frayed.  Helmets with travel ball logos are not permitted.  No stickers may be added to the helmets.

6. BATTING / PITCH COUNT - Only one player is allowed to have a bat in their hands and that is the batter.  No on-deck swings are permitted.  All hitters and runners must wear a helmet.  NO EXCEPTIONS.The batting order is continuous and includes all players who are at the game.  The batting order should not be changed once it is set at the start of the game.  Players bat even if they did not play in the field that inning.  Each batter should not receive more than six hittable pitches during a single at bat.  In an instance where a batter fouls the last pitch, the batter should get additional pitches.  

   Through April 30, the following rules apply for the first two innings:

   ·       Each team will bat through their entire line up one time during the first two innings.

   ·       Each batter is given four strikes.  After four strikes, the batter will hit off a tee.

   ·       The goals are to enable at least 2 at-bats per game and more opportunity for additional fielding plays when players hit off the tee.

   Through April 30, the following rules apply for the third inning and beyond:
   

   ·       The hitting team’s at-bat ends once 3 fielding outs are made or once the hitting team scores 5 runs or once the hitting team has batted through its line-up.

   ·       Each batter is given four swinging strikes (or six hittable pitches).  After four strikes (or six hittable pitches), the batter is retired but the strike out does not count as an out.

   Starting May 1, the following rules apply for the entire game:

   ·       The hitting team’s at-bat ends once 3 fielding outs are made or once the hitting team scores 5 runs or once the hitting team has batted through its line-up.

   ·       Each batter is given three swinging strikes (or six hittable pitches).  After three strikes (or six hittable pitches), the batter is retired but the strike out does not count as an out.

   BATS – USABat Standard bats must be used in the Little League Major Baseball Division and below.

7. Baserunning: Runners should learn not to overrun the bases (except 1st of course), but if they do tagging them out will not count because this happens often. Use it as a teaching moment to explain the rules.   Runners may advance only one base on an over-throw.  Sliding is prohibited at any base.  Walks, bunts, stealing, and leading-off the base are also not allowed.
8. Umpiring: This level of play begins to introduce defensive “outs”.  All calls in the field will be made by the “Pitching” coach.  Please be lenient when making calls.  Close plays should benefit the hitter, with words of encouragement given to the fielders for an outstanding play.  Runners should be taught not to advance on pop-ups and fly balls as these outs will count.
9. Plays at home:  Plays at home will be made by the coach/catcher.  A player is out at home plate if the ball arrives at home and the catcher fields it (or should have) before the player crosses the plate.  The catcher needs to have been able to reasonably field the throw. 
10. Scorekeeping:  No score is kept.  Managers should discourage players and parents from keeping score as well. 
11. Sportsmanship:   Good sportsmanship should be emphasized among players, coaches, and parents. 
12. Field Courtesy:  

• You must clear the field 15 minutes prior to the start of the next game (if there is a next game scheduled).  “Clear the field” means that it is available for the next team to play – players, coaches, equipment, water bottles, etc. must all be off the field and out of the dugout.  Starting late will mean you will have to play a shorter game so as not to interfere with the on-time start of the next game.   
• Arriving squads are entitled to take the field for warm-ups 15 minutes prior to their start time.  If you arrive earlier than this, and the prior game is still underway, your warm-up must be sufficiently away from the ongoing game that there is no chance that your squad will interfere with it.
• It is your responsibility to make sure that you leave the field neat and clean after your game – pick up your trash, collect stray equipment, etc.