Little League Rules

Here is a list of myths and urban legends that permeate the Little League baseball world. I have personally encountered many of these untruths in one form or another in Pantano Little League over the last several years. If you have any to add, please send them to me at kengibes@earthlink.net. Thanks!

• You can't slide into first base
• A caught foul ball has to go over the batter's head for it to be an out
• If there's a play at home, the runner must slide
• A batter is out if he throws his bat
• A batter in the batter's box cannot be called out for interference
• Once the pitcher steps on the pitcher's plate (the "rubber") with the ball, runners must stop
• It's a strike if a batter leaves the bat out over the plate while showing bunt
• It's a strike if the bat goes the strike zone during a pitch
• A batter is out if he's caught using an illegal bat
• A fly ball has to be in the infield for it to be called an infield fly
• Runners can't advance on an infield fly
• The position of the fielder's feet determines if a ball is fair or foul
• A fly ball is foul if it hits the foul pole as it leaves the field
• A ground ball is foul if it hits foul territory on its first bounce past the base
• A runner is out if he leaves the baseline
• A batter who bats out-of-turn is automatically out
• The umpire is part of the field and cannot cause interference
• A batter-runner must "turn out" when overrunning first base or he can be tagged out
• The batter's hands are part of the bat
• A batter is out if he steps on home plate
• A runner hit by a batted ball is not out if he's touching a base