Fall Rules for Minors, Majors and Intermediate

New Hampshire Little League Fall Baseball Program Rules (subject to update before the 2025 season)

Intermediate:

• Player ages 11-13 years old allowed 
• Leading / stealing allowed
• Balks called (Umpires give 1 warning per pitcher before calling)
• Roster batting
• Every rostered batter required to play minimum of two innings in the field (doesn't need to be consecutive)
• 5 run max rule per inning, uncapped 6th inning
  • If not 6th inning, managers and umpire need to meet and confirm last inning prior to start of inning
  • If the visiting team is leading and gets through the top of the inning without scoring 5 runs, the discussion can be had before the bottom half. Visiting team with have “had the opportunity to score limited runs”
• No max # of innings for pitchers
• Dropped 3rd strike
• Infield fly
• Standard Little League rules for days rest for pitchers
• Catcher/ pitcher rules follow regular Little League restrictions
  • 4 innings caught = no pitching that day (1 pitch = 1 inning)
  • Over 40 pitches thrown = no catching that day
• 5 run max per inning, except for 6th inning, where it's unlimited for both teams 
• Standard Little League Mercy rules in effect (Lead of 15 runs after 3 full innings ends game, Lead of 10 runs after 4 or 5 full innings ends game)
• 3 full innings required for game to count toward reg season record
• Winning managers email Fall Coordinator with game score (honor system for pitch cts)
• If resuming after a rain delay or darkness, game resumes with same batter, count, & outs; Previous pitcher only eligible to resume pitching if required days rest allows
• Home team responsible for providing umpire

Intermediate Playoffs Only:

• Top 3 teams make it into the playoffs (Week 6 - last week of season, Wk of 10/13/23)
• Seeding will be determined based on reg season winning % (in case of rainouts, some teams might not play 5 reg season games)
        *Seeding Tie breakers in order are (Head to Head record, Runs scored against per inning, Total Runs scored, coin flip)
• Week 6 (Fri/Sat):  2 Games for championship (Game 1-#2 seed vs #3; #1seed has bye; Championship game is #1 Seed vs Winner of Game 1)
• Home team determined by seeding and will host where possible
• Championship Schedule will shift out to week 7 in the case of rainouts. 
• Winning managers should email Fall Coordinator with game score & pitch counts the night the game concludes
• No time limit on Intermediate playoff games
• Runner placed on second base for both teams if game tied in 8th inning or later

• 4 full innings required for game to count toward playoffs

Majors:

• Player ages 10-12 years old allowed 
• Standard Little League rules for days rest for pitchers
• Majors pitchers limited to 2 innings or 6 outs per game in reg season
• Roster batting
• Every rostered batter required to play minimum of two innings in the field (doesn't need to be consecutive)
• 5 run max rule per inning, uncapped 6th inning
  • If not 6th inning, managers and umpire need to meet and confirm last inning prior to start of inning
  • If the visiting team is leading and gets through the top of the inning without scoring 5 runs, the discussion can be had before the bottom half. Visiting team with have "had the opportunity to score limited runs"
• No new full inning can start after 1 hour and 45 minutes from first pitch
• Dropped 3rd strike
• Infield fly
• Pitching
  • 2 inning max per game reg season, 3 inning max in playoffs
  • Standard Little League rules for days rest applies
• Catcher/ pitcher rules follow regular Little League restrictions
  • 4 innings caught = no pitching that day (1 pitch = 1 inning)
  • Over 40 pitches thrown = no catching that day
• Runners must return to base when the pitcher is in contact with rubber and the catcher is in place (Delayed steals allowed)
• Home team responsible for providing umpire.
• Standard Little League Mercy rules in effect (Lead of 15 runs after 3 full innings ends game, Lead of 10 runs after 4 or 5 full innings ends game)
• 3 full innings required for game to count toward reg season record
• If resuming after a rain delay or darkness, game resumes with same batter, count, & outs; Previous pitcher only eligible to resume pitching if required days rest allows

Majors Playoffs Only:

• Top 3 teams make it into the playoffs (Week 6 - last week of season, Wk of 10/13/23)
• Seeding will be determined based on reg season winning % (in case of rainouts, some teams might not play 5 reg season games)
        *Seeding Tie breakers in order are (Head to Head record, Runs scored against per inning, Total Runs scored, coin flip)
• Week 6 (Fri/Sat):  2 Games for championship (Game 1-#2 seed vs #3; #1seed has bye; Championship game is #1 Seed vs Winner of Game 1)
• Home team determined by seeding and will host where possible
• Championship Schedule will shift out to week 7 in the case of rainouts. 
• Majors pitchers limited to 3 innings (or 9 outs) per game in playoffs
• Winning managers should email Fall Coordinator with game score & pitch counts the night the game concludes
• No time limit on Majors playoff games
• Runner placed on second base for both teams if game tied in 8th inning or later
• 4 full innings required for game to count toward playoffs

Minors:

• Player ages 8-10 years old allowed 
• Standard Little League rules for days rest for pitchers
• Roster batting
• Every rostered batter required to play minimum of two innings in the field (doesn't need to be consecutive)
• 5 run max rule per inning, uncapped 6th inning
  • If not 6th inning, managers and umpire need to meet and confirm last inning prior to start of inning
  • If the visiting team is leading and gets through the top of the inning without scoring 5 runs, the discussion can be had before the bottom half. Visiting team with have "had the opportunity to score limited runs"
• No new full inning can start after 1 hour and 45 minutes from first pitch.
• Stealing home allowed
• No Dropped 3rd strike
• Infield fly
• Standard Little League rules for pitchers’ days rest applies
• Catcher/ pitcher rules follow regular Little League restrictions
  • 4 innings caught = no pitching that day (1 pitch = 1 inning)
  • Over 40 pitches thrown = no catching that day
• Runners must return to base when the pitcher is in the circle (teams will need to make sure umpires know before the game)
  • Delayed steals not allowed
• Home team responsible for providing umpire.
• Standard Little League Mercy rules in effect (Lead of 15 runs after 3 full innings ends game, Lead of 10 runs after 4 or 5 full innings ends game)
• 3 full innings required for game to count toward reg season record+
• No new full inning can start after 1 hour and 45 minutes from first pitch.
• If resuming after a rain delay or darkness, game resumes with same batter, count, & outs; Previous pitcher only eligible to resume pitching if required days rest allows

Minors Playoffs Only:

• Top 3 teams make it into the playoffs (Week 6 - last week of season, Wk of 10/13/23)
• Seeding will be determined based on reg season winning % (in case of rainouts, some teams might not play 5 reg season games)
        *Seeding Tie breakers in order are (Head to Head record, Runs scored against per inning, Total Runs scored, coin flip)
• Week 6 (Fri/Sat):  2 Games for championship (Game 1-#2 seed vs #3; #1seed has bye; Championship game is #1 Seed vs Winner of Game 1)
• Home team determined by seeding and will host where possible
• Championship Schedule will shift out to week 7 in the case of rainouts. 
• Winning managers should email Fall Coordinator with game score & pitch counts the night the game concludes
• No time limit on Minors playoff games
• Runner placed on second base for both teams if game tied in 8th inning or later
• 4 full innings required for game to count toward playoffs
• Playoff games can’t end in a tie