Can a player wear any jewelry on the field?

Players are not permitted to wear jewelry such as, but not limited to, rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. The only exception is jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition. Sunglasses are permitted.

Are pitchers allowed to wear arm sleeves?

A baseball pitcher can wear an arm sleeve, but it must be fully covered by an undershirt. And, any part of the pitcher’s undershirt that can be seen must be a solid color, and the sleeves cannot be white or gray. A softball pitcher may wear and arm sleeve, but is not required to cover it. Also, a pitcher cannot wear any items on his/her hands, wrists, or arms which may be distracting to the hitter. So, if your child plays baseball and wants to use an arm sleeve on the mound, keep a long-sleeved dark-color undershirt on hand.

Can my son or daughter use a bat weight on the bat to prepare for an at-bat?

No. The traditional batting donut is not permissible, but a weighted bat sleeve is. In addition, the on-deck position is not permitted in the Little League (Major) Division and below.

Why does Little League have pitch count regulations for baseball?

The answer is simple – to protect young arms. Player safety is paramount, and we’re proud of the regulations we’ve put in place. The healthier Little Leaguers® are, the more games they’ll play, which results in them having more fun with their friends. Pitch count rules differ for several divisions. Please visit Regular Season Pitching Rules for more information, and be sure to alert your team’s manager if your child pitches in youth baseball programs other that Little League.

What does an uncaught third strike mean?

Mistakenly called a “Dropped Third Strike,” this is when a batter becomes a runner after the third strike called by an umpire, or a pitch is swung on and missed by a batter, is not caught by the catcher. For the hitter to be eligible as a runner, however, first base must be unoccupied or first base is occupied with two outs. To put the batter-runner out, the defense must tag the batter or first base before the batter touches first base. An uncaught third strike does not apply to play below the Little League (Major) Division.

During a play at home plate, does a runner have to avoid the catcher, whether he or she is sliding or not?

A play at the plate is no different than a play at any other base. A player must slide or attempt to avoid the defensive player. There is no “must-slide rule” in Little League.

Can players wear sunglasses on the top of their hat?

Yes.

In softball, is a face guard necessary on a helmet?

A face guard on a helmet, whether worn at the plate or as a safety precaution in the field, is optional.

Does the catcher need to wear a long-model chest protector?

In 2014, Little League International amended its regulations, allowing catchers to wear either a long or short-model chest protector.