Tustin Eastern Little League
Rules & Regulations
Rules apply to all games including INTER-LEAGUE.
2026 Little League rule book/app will govern all games except for the supplemental rules listed below. These will govern all games between any leagues within District 30 regular season.
Download the Little League Rule Book APP
ALL GAMES WILL COUNT IN ALL LEAGUE STANDINGS ALL SEASON LONG. NO EXCEPTION.
Table of Contents
General Rules All Divisions:
T-Ball & Coach Pitch Only:
Single A (Machine Pitch / Rookie)
Double A Division (AA):
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
General Rules
1) AAA & Majors will play strictly by the rule book/app unless noted in the General Rules.
2) Starting a game with 8 players (rule 4.16, 4.17) – Interleague games can played with 8 players. Player arriving late is added to bottom of the order when he/she arrives. If their batting position comes up before they arrive it is NOT an out.
3) All mercy rules in the rule book/app apply for AA, AAA & Major only
4) Courtesy Runner (rule 7.14b) – The option to run for pitcher and/or catcher of record is in effect.
5) Sign Stealing (9.01d) – Considered unsportsmanlike conduct. • 1st Offense (per player) – warning to player and manager
• 2nd Offence (per player) – Player & Manager ejected from game.
6) Time Limits on all games
• T-Ball – 1 hour DROP DEAD
• Coach Pitch – 1 hour 30 minutes DROP DEAD
• A - AAA – no new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes
• Majors – no new inning after 2 hours
7) Pitching Affidavits:
• All Managers in AA through Majors MUST carry a pitching affidavit to be filled out by the official scorekeeper and signed off by the
managers after the game. Game Changer records do NOT count as pitching records.
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
8) Protests:
A – AAA = Protest must be settled before next pitch. Game is to stop and President and UIC are to be notified to rule on protest BEFORE next pitch. Once a pitch has been delivered then a protest is null and void.
Majors – Protests is handled in accordance to the LL Rule Book/App (4.19). The protest committee of the following will proceed over the protest and make a ruling.
Committee – Both league Presidents & UICs & Player Agent (If any one of the 3 are managers they cannot serve on the protest committee and can be replaced by another non-manager board member (rule 4.19(f))
9) 5 Run Rule applies for the A – AAA divisions (rule 5.07)
10) Major division only: Batter must remain with one foot in the box between pitches. (rule 6.02c)
11) Major division only: The dropped 3rd strike rule applies (rule 6.05b2)
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
1) T-Ball & Coach Pitch Only
Batting
• T-Ball - Each batter will hit the ball off a batting tee.
NO coach pitch is allowed at the T-Ball level.
• Coach Pitch - The coach is to pitch overhand no more than 6 pitches (good or bad). If the batter is unable to hit the ball, then the ball will be placed on the tee.
• Each team will bat its entire lineup each inning. At this level, outs are not counted but if a play is made on a batter or runner and they are out, they do go back to the “dugout” and the next batter is up.
• A batted ball must travel 15 feet from home plate to be considered a ball in play. This will be determined by a painted arc on the field, or the judgment of the offensive coach if no arc is painted.
Infield
• Each team is to position 6 players in the infield. One at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and pitcher. The 6th infielder can be placed in front, or behind the second base.
• Players should have the opportunity to play in all positions. No player shall be allowed to play the same position for more than two innings in the same game. Please do be careful, for safety’s sake, not to place a child in a position such as first base or pitcher where a hard hit or thrown ball could injure them.
Outfield
• Outfielders are to always be placed a “minimum” of 10 feet beyond the base paths.
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
Base Running
• There are no lead offs or base stealing. A player who steals a base will be sent back to their original base.
• No running on overthrows. The runner is only awarded the base that they would have gained had there been no throw.
• Base runners may continue to advance when a ball is hit to the outfield but must stop advancing when the ball re-enters the infield on the ground or in the air. (This means once the ball is back inside the base path, please use discretion).
• If a runner is on base and a fielder catches a fly ball the batter is out, the runners may not advance or be tagged out if they do. Send them back to their original base.
• Only defensive coaches on the field (outside of the base paths).
• Offensive coaches may place themselves at first, third, and home plate.
• The last batter in the lineup “may” run the entire bases to end that half of the inning.
There is NO score kept in Tee Ball or Coach Pitch
There is NO counting of outs in Tee Ball or Coach Pitch
There is NO batting practice before a game.
Orange cones will be placed in the outfield for homerun boundaries.
• A hit ball traveling on the ground past the cones will be a ground rule double.
• A ball traveling over the cones in the air is a homerun.
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
2) Single A (Machine Pitch / Rookie) Division
Teams that are scheduled as “Home” shall occupy the third base dugout. “Away” or “Visitor” team will occupy the first base dugout.
Each Single A team will need to provide an umpire for games, home team will be umpire behind the plate, and the visiting team will umpire in the field. This is coordinated by the Managers.
Each player must be on the field for a minimum of four full defensive innings (12 defensive outs), which do not have to be consecutive.
Managers may substitute freely at the beginning of each inning defensively, but once an inning has begun, any defensive changes must be a result of an injury to a player.
No player shall play more than three innings at any given position in a single game.
Every player who is in attendance at the start of the game shall play a MINIMUM of two defensive innings in an infield position.
Any player not playing the required time or infield innings will start the next regularly scheduled game as a starting player and follow the same defensive play time rules stated above.
No player shall remain out of the defensive lineup for more than 1 complete inning
Teams will play with ten players on the field, four of whom must be in the outfield. If a team can field only 8 or 9 players, that team may play with two or three outfielders. The opposing team will still play with ten fielders.
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
A pitching machine (Blue Flame) shall be used for all Single A games. • Managers will agree on speed setting before the game • The pitching machine will be placed at 42’ from home plate.
• The batter will be allowed six pitches unless the batter hits a ball in fair territory or strikes out.
• The batter’s turn shall not end on a foul ball. Exception: unless it is a foul fly which is caught.
• Errant pitches will not be counted, including the sixth pitch. Exception: If the batter has two strikes and swings at an errant pitch, this is not the sixth pitch, it will be strike three and the batter will be out.
• Umpires shall determine all errant pitches.
Pitching Machine Interference
• A batted ball hitting any part of the pitching machine or stopping underneath the machine shall be declared a dead ball and an automatic single. Runners will advance one base.
• A thrown ball getting stuck in the machine or stopping under the machine shall be declared a dead ball. If a player reaches underneath the machine for a ball, the ball shall be declared a dead ball (players should be taught not to reach under the machine). The runners are allowed to advance only one base
• If the coach operating the pitching machine interferes with a play, intentional or not, the batter/runner is out, and all base runners return to their original position before the play
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
Base Running
• The batter and runner are limited to a maximum of two bases per batted ball. Unless it’s an over the fence home run.
• A base runner on third base may advance to home plate only as a result of a batted ball.
In all situations, safety is our number one concern. The umpire has full discretion to call time if he/she deems there is a safety concern.
A play is over when the defensive team stops the offensive team from advancing and the umpire calls timeout. The umpire shall not grant time until the ball is controlled.
No Infield Fly, No Stealing, No Bunting
Each team may have 4 coaches in the dugout (including coach running pitching machine).
Outfielders must start each play 15’ behind the infield.
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2026 District 30 Interleague Rules T-Ball Through Majors
3) Double A Division (AA)
Infield fly rule: Shall not be in effect. (Does NOT apply)
Dropped Third Strike: Shall not be in effect.
No intentional walks are allowed.
Each player must be on the field for a minimum of three full defensive innings (9 outs), which do not have to be consecutive. A player may be entered and/or re-entered defensively in the game any time. Except for the pitcher.
Any player not playing the required time or infield innings will start the next regularly scheduled game as a starting player and follow the same defensive play time rules stated above. .
Teams will play with ten players on the field, four of whom must be in the outfield.
Outfielders must start each play 15’ behind the infield
Base running
• Baserunners are not allowed to advance home from third base on wild pitches or passed balls Baserunners must be batted-in or forced in by a walk, hit batter, or a ruling by an umpire allowing the runner to advance and score. In the event a defensive player attempts to make a putout on any baserunner, all baserunners may advance at their own peril until such time as the play is ruled dead by the umpire.