Last updated: July 1, 2026
If a situation isn’t covered by these local rules, the official Little League rules apply.
Game length
1 hr 15 min
Run limit
5 per half inning
Pitching
Coach pitch, overhand
At-bat
3 swinging strikes or 5 pitches
Defense
10 players (4 outfielders)
Game format
- Games are 1 hour 15 minutes long.
- Bases are set at 60 feet.
- 5-run limit per half inning during the regular season.
- Playoffs: 5-run limit per half inning, except the 6th inning, which is open scoring (3 outs end the half inning).
Pitching
- The coach pitcher may pitch from the rubber or a reasonable distance closer, but never closer than 35 feet from the back of home plate, and should stay at about the same distance for each batter unless safety or pitchability requires an adjustment.
- The coach pitcher must be 18 or older and an approved league volunteer, must pitch overhand, and must use a consistent delivery that gives the batter a fair chance to hit.
- A coach pitcher must be designated before the game. A substitute may be used if needed (18 or older, approved volunteer).
- The coach pitcher may take a reasonable number of warm-up pitches each half inning. After that, every legal pitch counts toward the batter’s limit unless the umpire declares “no pitch.” There are no called strikes.
- The coach pitcher may talk to the batter but may not coach base runners, and must make a reasonable effort to stay out of defensive plays. Exception: they may speak to the umpire or base coaches about a player-safety concern.
- Penalty: first violation is a warning; second, the coach is ineligible to pitch for the rest of the game.
- If a batted ball unintentionally hits the coach pitcher, the ball is dead, the pitch doesn’t count, the batter hits again, and runners return to their bases.
- If, in the umpire’s judgment, the coach pitcher intentionally touches a batted ball or interferes with any defensive play (including blocking a fielder’s view or path to the ball or a throw), the batter is out and runners return to the last base touched.
- Penalty: first violation is a warning; second, the coach is ineligible to pitch for the rest of the game.
- Pitcher position: the defensive player at pitcher must stand to the left, right or behind the coach pitcher, no closer to home plate, and within 5 feet of the coach pitcher until the ball is hit.
- Penalty: the offensive manager may accept the play or take a complete replay (the replayed pitch doesn’t count).
Batting
- Three swinging strikes or 5 pitches is an out. The batter keeps hitting if the 3rd strike or final pitch is fouled off.
- No bunting (umpire’s judgment). On a violation the ball is dead, the pitch counts, the batter returns to the plate, and no runners advance.
- There are no walks. A batter reaches base only by hitting into fair territory or on catcher’s interference.
- A batter hit by a pitch: dead ball, the pitch counts, and the batter finishes the at-bat.
Base running
- No stealing in Coach Pitch.
- There is no infield fly rule.
- Play stops when any infielder secures the ball and no runners are actively advancing. The umpire may stop play when the ball is secured and runners have stopped or are no longer being pursued.
- When an infielder or the pitcher has the ball and time is called, runners may advance only if past the halfway line. Runners rounding third need only be past the 15-foot hash mark to continue home.
- Runners may advance any number of bases on an overthrow during live play until time is called. No advancing on throws from the catcher back to the pitcher.
Defense
- 10 defensive players per inning (4 outfielders).
- Infielders must stay on the infield dirt and outfielders on the grass until the ball is hit.
- Penalty: the offensive manager may accept the play or take a complete replay (the pitch doesn’t count; runners return).
Coaches & dugout
- No defensive coaches on the field during play.
- One defensive coach stands behind the catcher near the fence to help return missed balls to the coach pitcher and keep the game moving. This coach may not communicate with any player, coach, manager, official or spectator, including hand signals. Exception: helping reposition the catcher between pitches for safety.
- Penalty: first violation is a warning; second, the coach may not stand behind the plate for the rest of the game.