Northampton Little League BY-LAWS 2025-2026  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I- League Policy and Official League Information 3

ARTICLE II- League Officials 4

ARTICLE III- Registration and Team Selections 5 Section
1: Registration 5 Section 2: Baseball and Softball Divisions 6

ARTICLE IV- Responsibilities of Managers, Coaches, and Umpires 9
Section 1: Manager/Coach Selection 9 Section 2: Manager/Coach Responsibilities 9 Section 3: Umpires 9

ARTICLE V- Evaluation/Drafts 10
Section 1: Evaluations 10 Section 2: Placement of Players and the Draft 11 Section 3: Options 12 Section 4: Trades 12

ARTICLE VI- Practice and Games 13

ARTICLE VII- Postseason 14

ARTICLE VIII- Disciplinary Actions 15 ARTICLE IX- Safety 16

ARTICLE X- All-Stars 17 Section 1: All-Star Manager Selection 17 Section 2: All-Star Player Selection 18 Section 3: All-Star Season 19

ARTICLE XI- Fall Ball 20

NHLL Ground Rules 21

ARTICLE I - LEAGUE POLICY AND OFFICIAL LEAGUE INFORMATION

Northampton Little League abides by and conforms to all rules as governed by Little League Baseball, Incorporated. The following policy, as it relates to Northampton Little League (NHLL), is approved by Northampton Little League’s Board of Directors for the sole purpose of further defining how Northampton Little League functions and operates. This document may be changed from year to year as deemed necessary and approved by the Board of Directors. This document shall be made available to all recognized members of Northampton Little League and is available on the league’s website at https://www.nhllbaseball.com . A copy will also be available by emailing the league president at [email protected] . 3

ARTICLE II- LEAGUE OFFICIALS

Northampton Little League (NHLL) is a volunteer organization and cannot be run without volunteers. NHLL offers many ways to volunteer such as being a manager or coach, umpire, concession worker, team parent, and/or board member. One of the most crucial volunteer roles is the board member position. NHLL offers a variety of positions, to include President, Vice President, Player Agent, Treasurer, Secretary, Safety Officer, Umpire-in-Chief, Information Officer, Coaching Coordinator, Sponsor Fundraising Manager, and General Board members. Other positions may be established by the Board of Directors yearly depending on the size of the elected Board of Directors.
On a date set forth by the NHLL Constitution that is approved by Little League, a General Membership Meeting is held to approve the Constitution and elect the Board of the Directors.  The date provided by the NHLL Constitution will be the third Thursday of September of each year. Once elected the new board members must meet with 72 hours to establish which members will take on the roles needed for the Board of Directors. The new board members will take office on the first of October of each year.
To join the Board of Directors, a notification to the current President is needed to be placed on the ballot and can be nominated at the General Membership Meeting. A returning board member is not guaranteed to be elected the following year. At the General Membership Meeting, a quorum needs to be present before any official discussions can be started. A person is elected to the Board of Directors with a majority vote of collected in-person and absentee ballots.
Once elected to the Board of Directors, the elected official’s mission is to work with the other elected officials to improve NHLL. There is an expectation that while serving on the Board of Directors that personal interests and agendas will be set aside for the best interest of the league and its participants. As an elected official of the NHLL Board of Directors, it is required to attend at least 50% of board meetings and league functions (registrations, evaluations, etc.). Being an elected official does not guarantee automatic approval for any other position required by the league (i.e. manager or coach). Those positions will continue to be approved using the below guidance in
Article IV.
Separation from Board of Directors can be voluntary, and can be provided either verbally or written to two members of the Board of Directors. One of the two members must be either NHLL President or NHLL Vice President. Once accepted, all NHLL property has to be turned in and accounted for, and the vacant position will be absorbed by 4 current NHLL Board of Directors members. If a current Board of Directors member does not fulfill the requirement of their selected position, nor does a member maintain proper etiquette during Board or League events, they will be removed from the Board of Directors by a 2/3 vote from the Board or Directors. Issues or violations must be in writing and documented by the Secretary.

ATICLE III- REGISTRATION AND TEAM SELECTIONS

SECTION I- Registration

All players interested in playing for NHLL must register to play each year for the upcoming season. Any player who registers after posted sign up dates will be put on a waiting list. The league cannot guarantee team placement or the availability of uniforms for late registrants. In order to register in the Northampton Little League program, the following steps must be completed:
1. Provide the league with proofs you are a resident within the NHLL boundaries. This is accomplished by providing an approved document as listed in the Little League Baseball or Softball Official Regulation and Playing Rules Book, under “Residence Eligibility Requirements.” If you do not live within the boundaries of NHLL, you are not able to participate in NHLL unless you apply for a waiver. An alternate method is providing a certified copy of the Little League school enrollment form that is signed by the parent and a certified school official at the school the player attends within NHLL boundaries
2. Provide the league with proof of age documents for the player being registered. A certified (original) (raised embossment with original ink certification) birth certificate is the only document that is acceptable. However, other documents may be acceptable for players not born in the United States. These documents are defined in the Little League Baseball or Softball Official Regulations and Playing Rules, under “Proof-of-Age Requirements”.
3. Pay the necessary fee for the division you desire your child to play in; plus, any fundraising which may be in effect. These fees may change from year to year. Financial aid is available upon request. In the effect that your child is placed in another division, a refund or additional payment is possible. All fees must be submitted to the NHLL Treasurer and/or NHLL Player Agent. No other board member shall collect a fee without the approval of the NHLL President or Treasurer, and the approved board member collecting such fees must present those fees and any associated paperwork to the NHLL Treasurer as soon as practical.
4. Refunds will be provided in full if there is no league offered by NHLL and the parent of the player does not wish to waive to one of the other District 7 leagues. If NHLL has a team to offer the player and the uniform has been ordered by the league; however, the parent wishes to have the child removed from the NHLL team, a refund of $75.00 dollars will be paid to the parent, in the spring. A refund in the fall will be the total amount paid, minus the cost of uniforms. Once the uniforms have been placed and practices have started there will be no refunds issued, without an approval from the Board of Directors. These requests must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors, and have paper showing a medical reason for not playing or moving out of the Eligibility Requirements.

Registration will occur in person at pre-determined dates set by the league. During registration, the league will provide information regarding the League, evaluations, fundraising, and take the opportunity to answer questions from parents and players.

SECTION II- Baseball and Softball Divisions

NHLL offers the following divisions: T-Ball, Coach Pitch Baseball and Softball, Minor Baseball and Softball, Major Baseball and Softball, 50/70 Baseball, Junior Baseball, and Senior Baseball and Softball. After registration occurs, the NHLL Player Agent will review the number of registrants in each division. In the event that any division does not have enough players to make a team, NHLL will accept late registrations or pull players off the waitlist in order to make teams. If a team cannot be established due to a lack of players, the league will see if neighboring leagues can accommodate additional players. 6

If players are not placed on a team, a refund will be issued, within the guidelines provided above. A player’s League Age is determined by Little League International based on the month and year the child was born in. A complete age chart is available online at www.littleleague.org.
Division League Age(s)
T-Ball  4 and 5 Exceptions 6-year-olds may play down
Coach Pitch Baseball 6, 7 and 8  Exceptions 5-year-olds w/ one season of T-Ball
Coach Pitch Softball 6, 7 and 8 Exceptions 5-year-olds w/ one season of T-Ball
Minor Baseball 8, 9, 10, and 11 Exceptions 7-year-olds w/ three seasons of CP
Minor Softball 8, 9, and 10 Exceptions 7-year-olds w/ three seasons of CP
Major Baseball 10,11, and 12 Exceptions12-year-olds may play down w/waiver 
Major Softball 10,11, and 12 Exceptions 12-year-olds may play down w/waiver 
50/70 Baseball 11,12, and 13
Junior Baseball 12, 13 and 14 Exceptions 15-year-olds may play down w/ waiver
Senior Baseball 13, 14, 15, and 16 Exceptions 12-year-olds may play up
Senior Softball 13, 14, 15, and 16 Exceptions12-year-olds may play up 

T-Ball Division: Players of League Age 4, 5, and 6 are eligible to play in the T-Ball Division.

Coach Pitch Baseball & Softball Division: Players of League Age 5 and League Age 6 with one year of T-Ball experience and players League Age 6 and 7 are eligible to play in the Coach Pitch Division. Any players League Age 8 in Baseball and Softball registered for the Minors Division must be evaluated during player evaluations before being allowed to play in a lower division.

Minor Baseball & Softball Division: Players of League Age 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to be drafted in the Minor Division. All eligible 12-year-olds must play in the Major (or higher) Division unless there is a safety concern that is addressed to the Board of Directors. A waiver will need to be submitted to allow a 12-year-old to play Minors.

Major Baseball & Softball Division: Players of League Age 10, 11, and 12 are eligible to be drafted in the Major Division. All eligible 12-year-olds must play in the Major (or higher) Division unless there is a safety concern that is addressed to the Board of Directors. A waiver will need to be submitted to allow a 12-year-old to play Minors.

50/70 Baseball Division: Players of League Age 11, 12, and 13 are eligible to be drafted in the 50/70 Divisions.

Junior Baseball Division: Players of League Age 13 and 14 are eligible to be drafted in the Junior Division. 12-year-olds are also allowed to move up at the guardians’ request. 15-year-olds can also play in this division if there is not enough to field a Senior Division team. A waiver must be completed and submitted to Southern Region for a League Age 15 players to play in this division. 7

Senior Baseball & Softball Division: Players of League Age 13, 14, 15, and 16 are eligible to be drafted in the Senior Division. 12-year-olds are also allowed to move up at the guardians’ request.
Dual Division Play (Baseball): A player who is able to participate in two programs will be required to pay the cost of one Divisions he/she registered for and $50 of the second division to cover the uniform cost. It is to be understand that there may be overlap between the two teams and the player may need to make a choice of which team to play for on that given night.
League Age 11-year-olds can dual roster between Majors & 50/70 divisions.
League Age 12-year-olds can dual roster between Majors, 50/70, Junior & Senior divisions.
League Age 13-year-olds can dual roster between 50/70, Junior & Senior divisions.
League Age 14-year-olds can dual roster between Junior & Senior divisions.

Dual Division Play (Softball): A League Age 12-year-old can participate in both the Major & Senior Softball division. The player will be required to pay the cost of one Division he/she registered for and $50 of the second division to cover the uniform cost. It is to be understood that there may be overlap between the two teams and the player may need to make a choice of which team to play for on that given night.
High School Players: Any player on a high school (JV or Varsity) can participate in Little League and can be eligible for All-Stars provided they meet eligibility requirements.

*These rules may have exceptions at the President, Player Agent, and Safety Officer’s discretion with the regard to safety. 8

ARTICLE IV- RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGERS, COACHES, AND UMPIRES
SECTION I- Manager/Coach Selection
Any person who is interested in becoming a Manager or a Coach MUST submit a Volunteer Application. noting intent to Manage or Coach, and consent to a background check. Applications will be presented to the Board of Directors for selection and approval. Appointees are responsible to the President for the conduct of league affairs, both on and off the field. Importantly, the President is the Officer with whom Little League Headquarters maintains conduct and who represents the league in the council of the District Organization.
T-Ball, Coach Pitch Baseball & Softball, Minors Baseball & Softball – A team may have one manager and three approved coaches on the field of play. All managers and coaches must be approved by the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. Only approved coaches may be on the field during games. There is not a limit of how many practice coaches a team can have but all practice coaches must submit a volunteer form.

Majors Baseball & Softball, Juniors Baseball & Softball, Seniors Baseball & Softball – A team must have one manager and two approved coaches on the field of play. All managers and coaches must be approved by the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. Only approved coaches may be on the field during games. There is not a limit of how many practice coaches a team can have but all practice coaches must submit a volunteer form.

SECTION II- Manager and/or Coach Responsibilities
All Managers and Coaches, upon completing and signing the Volunteer Application and submitting a Background Check, agree to follow a set of rules which include, but may not be limited to, the following:
A. Attend all mandatory Managers meetings (if you cannot attend the meeting, a coach or representative may be sent in your place).
B. Attend Concussion Training and complete training exam required by Little League.
C. Conduct regularly scheduled practice sessions and attend games as set forth by the League, based on the assigned practice schedule prior to the game season and at least once a week after the season starts, weather permitting.
D. Attend coaching, safety, and umpiring clinics provided by NHLL and District 7.
E. Read thoroughly and abide by the Little League Playing Rules, Northampton Little League Constitution, and Northampton Little League By-Laws and Playing Rules.
F. Report all final game scores and pitch counts to the specified individual (place on the District 7 game summary), in the designated manner, within 24 hours of the end of each game for Minor Kid-pitch division and above
G. Respect all Umpires, Coaches, Spectators, Volunteers, and Players in a considerate manner.
H. Ensure that the league provided equipment is returned at the conclusion of the season.
I. Work with all team members to ensure there is umpire coverage when team is assigned.
J. Complete mandatory abuse awareness training by accessing USABDevelops.co/page/3532/courses after obtaining an USAB account. 
K. In the case of an injury or incident, the manager is required to contact the Northampton Little League (NHLL) League President at [email protected], League Vice President of Baseball at [email protected] , and Safety Officer at [email protected] immediately and fill out all appropriate forms. These forms are essential for financial assistance from the league’s insurance carrier!

Failure to abide by these rules will cause the Manger to face disciplinary action by the League. Compliance with these rules can be used in future decisions when selecting managers.

SECTION III- Umpires
The recommended minimum age to umpire in NHLL is sixteen (16) years old unless approved by the Board of Directors and Umpire-in-Chief. NHLL uses volunteer umpires. If no volunteer umpires can be located, NHLL will pay umpires upon an agreed amount, which has to be agreed upon by the Board of Directors, and will be paid through league funds. A Board member will pay the umpire at the conclusion of the game. Umpires will also be offered food or drink from the concession stand for free.

ARTICLE V- Evaluations and Draft

Section I- Evaluations ALL PLAYERS MUST ATTEND EVALUATION FOR ACCURATE DIVISION PLACEMENT. All players (with the exception of T-Ball) must be evaluated during player evaluations before being allowed to play in a lower or higher division. A player MUST attend the evaluation to be eligible to be drafted. If a player does not attend, then they are entered into the blind draft.

Conducting Evaluations: All players are generally observed but not limited to five categories: batting/bunting, fielding ground balls, fielding fly balls, throwing, pitching and running.

Player Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the player to attend at least one of the evaluations and must actively participate in all phases of the evaluation process. A player not meeting these requirements shall not be eligible for the draft, will be entered into the blind draft.

Manager Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the Manager to attend all the evaluations sessions for their age groups. The Manager shall evaluate the skill level of player candidates during each phase of the evaluation process. Managers may ask a player trying out to perform tasks such as running, throwing, catching, or pitching, to better evaluate their ability.

Conclusion of Evaluation: The Player Agent determines how many players need to be drafted throughout each Division. Only players placed on the Draft-Eligible List can be drafted to the teams. The remaining players who did not attend the evaluation will be placed in the blind draft based upon age. 10

SECTION II- The Placement of Players and the Draft
The purpose of the player draft in competitive divisions is for managers to pick players they deem appropriate to play in the division in which they are managing. The selection of players will take place at a date and time approved by the Board of Directors, and take place after the conclusion of evaluations. Those persons allowed to attend the player draft in all divisions shall be limited to the President, Player Agent and the Managers of the respective division. Additional persons may be appointed as appropriate by the President and/or Player Agent. The Player Agent controls the draft unless otherwise directed by the President. All questions, concerns, or requests must be directed to the Player Agent or designated person conducting the draft.

Intermediate Baseball Division Draft: The Major Baseball Division Draft will be in accordance with the “Method in First Year of Operation, Plan A” of the LLB Operating Manual. Teams will draw as to the order they pick. This draft will use the “Snake Method”. All players drafted to a Intermediate Baseball team in the previous year are considered “returning players” and must be drafted into the division by the conclusion of the draft. In the Intermediate Baseball Division Draft, there is a Draft-Eligible List. Managers can only select from the Draft-Eligible List. Managers will select only from the Draft-Eligible List until all teams have reached the maximum number of players as specified by the Player Agent. The remaining players on the Draft-Eligible List that were not selected will be eligible for the Minor Division. In case of a release of a Intermediate Baseball player, a player who was not drafted to a Intermediate Baseball team and was on the Draft-Eligible List shall be a replacement candidate on the Major Baseball team.

Major Baseball Division Draft: The Major Baseball Division Draft will be in accordance with the “Method in First Year of Operation, Plan A” of the LLB Operating Manual. Teams will draw as to the order they pick. This draft will use the “Snake Method”. All players drafted to a Major Baseball team in the previous year are considered “returning players” and must be drafted into the division by the conclusion of the draft. In the Major Baseball Division Draft, there is a Draft-Eligible List. Managers can only select from the Draft-Eligible List. Managers will select only from the Draft-Eligible List until all teams have reached the maximum number of players as specified by the Player Agent. The remaining players on 11 the Draft-Eligible List that were not selected will be eligible for the Minor Division. In case of a release of a Major Baseball player, a player who was not drafted to a Major Baseball team and was on the Draft-Eligible List shall be a replacement candidate on the Major Baseball team.

Minor Baseball Draft: The Minor Baseball Division Draft will be in accordance with the “Method in First Year of Operation, Plan A” of the LLB Operating Manual. This Draft will be held following the Minor Evaluation. Teams will draw as to the order they pick. This draft will use the “Snake Draft Method” in order to fill the teams. Managers should keep in mind that players who were named to the Draft-Eligible List and not selected to the Majors Division can be eligible to be called up as a replacement at any point during the season. No players are considered “returning players” In the Minor Baseball Division and they are eligible to be placed on any Minor Baseball team. Players may not drop down a division in minors from the previous year’s play.

Coach Pitch: The Coach Pitch Division Draft will be in accordance with the “Method in First Year of Operation, Plan A” of the LLB Operating Manual. This Draft will be held following the Coach Pitch Division Evaluation. Teams will draw as to the order they pick. This draft will use the “Snake Draft Method” in order to fill the teams. Managers should keep in mind that players who were named to the Draft-Eligible List and not selected to the Majors Division can be eligible to be called up as a replacement at any point during the season. No players are considered “returning players” In the Coach Pitch Division and they are eligible to be placed on any Coach Pitch Division Baseball team. Players may not drop down a division in minors from the previous year’s play.

T-Ball: All T-Ball players will be assigned to a team by the Player Agent at random. Request for one “friend” will be honored only if both players request each other on the same team. T-Ball does not participate in evaluations.

Junior Baseball Draft: This draft will usually be held immediately following the evaluation. The managers will select in accordance with the “Method in First Year of Operation, Plan A” in the LLB Operating Manual. Softball Draft: Operation, Plan A” in the LLB Operating Manual. Following the evaluation, the Player Agent and the respective Managers will select which players will be eligible for the Major Softball Division and which players will be eligible for the Minor Softball Division. This process is if NHLL only has one team. If there are enough players for several teams, Softball will follow the same draft process as Baseball Divisions.

SECTION III- Options Sibling Options: This option takes place when there are brothers, sisters, or siblings in the draft. Parents will be allowed to request this option. However, the League will strongly urge the option to be exercised by the Managers. If a team during the draft should select a player candidate who has a brother or sister 12 also in the draft, that team will invoke the brother/sister option. This option must be taken at that time and will be charged as a team’s next round draft selection.
Manager Option: This option takes place when the Manager has a son or daughter in the draft. They will be protected in the draft prior to the close of a specific draft round depending on the league age. If (s)he is not selected by his/her guardian by that specific round, (s)he is free to be drafted by any other teams.
SECTION IV- Trades
Following the draft, managers may, if they desire, trade players immediately. All trades must be finalized before leaving the drafting room. All trades shall be made through and with the approval of the Player Agent and President. All trades must be player for player only. The Player Agent must monitor any attempts by managers to manipulate the system and thus create an imbalance in the league. At no time should a manager contact another team or the parents of a player of another team about a trade. If it comes to the Player Agent’s attention that this rule has been broken, the trade will not be considered and disciplinary action against the Manager may result. In the event that a player is not placed in the division they are originally registered for, notification will be made to the parent/guardian prior to the rosters being finalized. If there is a price structure difference, the league will issue the refund for the difference in price.

ARTICLE VI – PRACTICE AND GAMES
All practice and games will set by NHLL. Scrimmages can only be conducted before the season begins, and it can only be between teams in the same division. Any additional practices must be scheduled through the Player Agent. NOTE: The Player Agent has the right to revise the schedule at any point during the season. All teams will be scheduled a minimum of 12 games. For All-Star eligible divisions, each team must play a minimum of ten (10) games and each player must have amateur status, and have participated as an eligible player in eight (8) regular season games by the beginning of the International Tournament All players qualifying under the school exception, must participate 60% of the games available to them. In the event of cancellations and reschedules, NHLL will attempt to make up as many T-Ball and Coach Pitch games as possible since they do not have a specific game requirement like All-Star divisions. If games are cancelled and need to be rescheduled, the Player Agent will provide a makeup location for the teams depending on availability. The managers are responsible for coordinating a date that works for both teams and send the request to the player agent. All home games will take place at the Northampton Little League Fields, located to the rear of 1406 Todds Lane, Hampton, Virginia, 23666. Specific field assignments will be provided on the schedule. 13 If there are less than four teams in a particular division, the league can opt to participate in Interleague Play with surrounding leagues within District 7 Little League. In Interleague Play, teams will be required to play games outside of Northampton. All rules will be followed by the Little League Rulebook and District 7’s Interleague Ground Rules, if applicable.

Home Team Responsibilities: a. Be assigned the dugout designated as ‘home’ or the 1st base dugout if there is no designation. 1) Will prepare the field before the game, including placing and securing all equipment before and after each game. 2) Pick up all trash in their dugout and after the game. 3) Shall supply one new and one playable ball. ONLY baseballs/softballs, as supplied by the league, will be used during all games. 4) Rake or drag the field after completion of the game. 5) Turn of lights at completion of game if applicable. 6) Please keep storage units closed and locked before, during and after games. 7) Please do not leave any league equipment on the field after your game. Please leave the field in better condition than you found it.

Visiting Team Responsibilities: a. Be assigned the dugout designated as ‘visitor’ or the 3rd base dugout if there is no designation. 1) Picking up all trash in their dugout after the game. 2) Please keep storage units closed and locked before, during, and after games. 3) Please do not leave any league equipment on the field after your game. Please leave the field in better condition than you found it. 4. Game Postponements and Curfews a. Take extreme precaution before potential lightning storms to avoid being caught on the field during the storm. Seek the protection of a substantial building (NOT dugouts or picnic shelters) until the storm passes. Activities cannot be resumed for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder and/or lightning occurrence. b. For Saturday games, there is no time limit. Tie games will go into extra innings up and until 8:30. No inning will begin after 8:30 p.m., after which the game will be suspended and completed at a later date. Major BB games CANNOT end in a tie. 14 c. On weekday evenings (Monday – Friday), there is no time limit. Tie games will go into extra innings up and until 8:30. No inning will begin after 8:30, after which the game will be suspended and completed at a later date. Major BB games CANNOT end in a tie. d. If the first game of the day cannot begin within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled start time due to field conditions, it should be postponed, and the Home Manager shall notify the League Commissioner so that the Home Manager for the following game (if scheduled) can be notified. 7. During any game: a. No food shall be allowed in the dugout, except as provided for the team under the manager’s discretion. b. No player from a playing team shall be allowed to leave the dugout or designated team area, except in an emergency, without the umpire’s permission. Any player leaving the dugout without the umpire’s permission may, at the umpire’s discretion, not be allowed to return. c. Shirt tails for all players shall be tucked in at all times. d. Managers and coaches shall remain in their dugout at all times. Exceptions: Base coaches and conferences with players or umpires. They must have the umpire’s permission to leave the dugout for a conference. 8. If play is suspended due to weather or light failure, the umpire may waive the 30-minute waiting period to resume play if, in his/her judgment, conditions will not permit resuming play within that time. 9. Teams may not use any field for games or practices if the field has been determined unfit for play and off-limits. Plan to play unless otherwise notified. 11. Substitutions a. All players present will appear in the batting order. Field substitutions will not affect the batting order. This means that players may be substituted freely during a game, but must still meet minimum play requirements. b. Minimum Play Requirements: Since NHLL players are “batting the bench”, all players are considered starters and will be in the batting line-up. c. All players must play a minimum of two (2) complete defensive innings per game. A player may not be substituted for defensively in the middle of an inning and have it count towards his two full defensive innings. d. Substitution policy for all is that all players must play in the field at least half of every game (example - 2 of 4 innings or 3 of 6 innings) and players DO NOT sit for more than two consecutive innings. 15 12. Specific Ground rules for each division are provided to managers at the beginning of each season. In the event a division participates in Interleague, teams will be required to adhere to the following:
A. All rules will be followed by the Little League Rulebook and District 7’s Interleague Ground Rules.
B. All scores and pitch counts need to be reported to the District 7 representatives. 
All games will be immediately suspended when there is lightning and thunder in the vicinity and everyone shall be directed to their vehicles for at least thirty (30) minutes. Northampton Little League strongly urges every adult to remember that the safety of our children is far more important than a ballgame. If players and adults do not go to their vehicles, the right to declare the game over exists.

Article VII – Postseason
NHLL wants players to have a full experience of baseball and softball. Some divisions play Interleague (playing other leagues within in the districts). Northampton Little League reserves the right to offer an End-of-the-Year Tournament for the Minors and Majors Baseball Division and/or Future Stars Tournament at the end of the regular season if time allows or if it is in the best interest of the League. All Special Games requests must be approved by Little League International. End-of-the-Year Tournament: The EOY Tournament is a special games tournament that follows the NHLL regular season. There are two EOY Tournaments, one for Major Baseball and one for Minor Baseball. The format will be determined by the NHLL Board of Directors prior to the start of the tournaments.
Future Stars Tournament: Future Stars is a special games tournament for the younger ones to experience an All-Star like atmosphere. It is typically a week-long tournament with practices, games, and fun activities to help prepare the child for a higher level of competition. Participants will engage in practices, games, and special events to facilitate a fun and learning experience. Teams are made by the Player Agent, respective Commissioners, and any Board of Director volunteer available to assist. In the event that the program is offered, there is an additional fee for Future Stars player to cover uniform and tournament costs. NOTE: In case of weather or any other reason that the regular season needs to be pushed back, an End-of-the-Year or Future Stars Tournament does not have to be played. It is only to further the instruction of baseball and softball and is not required. Playing out the regular season takes precedence. 17

ARTICLE VIII – DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
In the event of a potential complaint, the following steps should occur: STEP ONE: Discuss the issue with the person responsible for the complaint and attempt to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to the concern. STEP TWO: Explore any other possibilities that might reasonably be expected to resolve a situation in a satisfactory manner. STEP THREE: File a written complaint. If a member of Northampton Little League feels that they have no alternative but to raise a formal complaint with the league, the following procedure should be used: 1. To be considered, a formal complaint MUST be in writing. 2. The formal complaint should be addressed to the President of Northampton Little League. 3. When the President receives a properly made formal complaint, it shall be investigated. The investigation should include, but is not limited to discussing the issue with all involved parties and others who may have knowledge of the situation. 4. If the complaining party wishes or if the President deems it necessary, the formal complaint will be brought to the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. 5. In presenting the complaint to the Northampton Little League Board of Directors, the President will present the situation, as he/she understands it. 6. The complainant and the subject(s) of the complaint (if any) will be notified when the complaint will be presented to the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. The above parties will be invited to hear the presentation of the complaint and will be given the opportunity to comment if they wish; however, the complainant and any such subjects will be asked to leave prior to the discussion of the issue by the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. 7. After appropriate discussion, the Northampton Little League Board of Directors will take whatever action it deems appropriate. The complainant will be notified of the decision of the Northampton Little League Board of Directors in a timely manner. If unsatisfied with the outcome, the complainant has forty-eight (48) hours from the time of the notification to file a formal appeal to the President. 18

ARTICLE IX- SAFETY
NHLL participates in the Little League ASAP Program. The ASAP paperwork should be completed by the League Safety Officer and submitted to the District 7 Staff by the assigned date of each year. Proof of Insurance from our charter shall be provided to all entities that Northampton Little League does business with. The Safety Officer shall coordinate First Aid Training with the League Vice President and President. A Safety Class and a Concussion Training Exam must be offered and completed to all managers and coaches before any team can practice. The purpose of the class is to train Managers and Coaches in proper First Aid Training. Players and parents will be involved in the League safety training and prevention program also. With proper training, the league hopes to prevent injuries from occurring. With all of us working together, our players will be safer. Per Little League Rules, all volunteers who have repeated contact with the players MUST submit a Volunteer Form and consent to a Background Check.

 ARTICLE X- ALL STARS
NHLL will abide by the following selection process for selecting All-Star players, managers and coaches that will represent NHLL at All-Star tournaments played at the district level, as well as state, regionals, and possibly World Series levels. The All-Star Executive Committee (ASEC) will oversee all processes involving All-Stars, including selections of managers, coaches, and players. The NHLL ASEC will be composed of four members and a record keeper. The voting members consist of the following: The President, Vice President of Baseball/Softball, and the Player Agent. Another board member can be selected by the President if positions are shared or if there is potential bias. In cases in which there is a conflict of interest, the member shall recuse themselves, and the President shall select a replacement committee member. All registered players of NHLL, who have met age and eligibility requirements per the Little League rulebook, will be eligible for All-Stars. The parent/guardian of any player wishing to be considered for the All-Star teams must declare by the date set forth by the NHLL Board of Directors. The parent/guardian(s) declaration is no guarantee that said child will be chosen for their respective division All-Star team. Northampton Little League will provide notification to parent/guardian(s) of all deadline. The parents must declare if they would accept or if they decline from having their child take part in All-Stars. Prior to the All-Star season, NHLL will determine what teams will be represented at the district level based on available managers, player commitment forms, and what is in the best interest of the league. If enough interest is available and at the discretion of the NHLL Board of Directors, the tournament baseball and softball teams will be composed of eligible players selected by the voting method described below. Players who meet the minimum requirements and have submitted a commitment form are eligible for selection. A spot on an All-Star team is not guaranteed. The teams will be selected in this order: 8-10 and 9-11, 10-12, Intermediate, Juniors, Seniors.

SECTION I: All-Star Manager Selection
The ASEC will have the deciding vote on the final list of managers and coaches. Any approved regular season manager/coach interested in managing an All-Star team in their respective age group, must declare their intention to the All-Star Director by deadline set forth by the Board of Directors as well as signing a letter of intent form to confirm intentions of managing a team.

Selection Process: - All managers for each Northampton Little League All-Star team will be selected using the same process. - The All-Star Executive Committee will interview manager candidates following the deadline.  - Any manager or coach from the Little League season will be able to nominate themselves for a manager position. The manager or coach must: a) Be approved by the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. b) Have turned in a Volunteer Form and passed a background check. c) Must have the ability to represent themselves and the league well. d) Must complete the Diamond Leader Training, through Little League The manager candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria (other criteria not listed here may be used): - Northampton Little League history, including feedback received - Knowledge of the game - Knowledge of players - Input from non-All-Star coaches, managers, and board members - Personal commitment The ASEC will select managers by majority vote of the NHLL BOD. The approved manager of each tournament will be allowed to select their coaches with the approval of the Northampton Little League Board of Directors. League Presidents may be eligible to be selected by local league Board of Directors as tournament team manager or coach with written approval from their respective District Administrator.

SECTION II: All-Star Player Selection The ASEC will have the final vote on the final list of approved players, managers, and coaches. Depending of the number of players desired on the roster by the selected All-Star manager, the top votes in numerical order shall be selected with the only exceptions allowed: - Said player will miss tournament action due to previous engagements listed on the commitment form - Said player suffered an injury since the ballots were submitted - Said player faced disciplinary action enforced by the league Voting for the All-Star teams is extremely confidential. Only the player agent will have access to the count of the votes should see the results in the balloting. Manager Vote: Each regular season manager will be presented with a ballot with the names of every eligible player listed alphabetically by team. Each manager voting will be required to put their name on the ballot in the event of any question from the ASEC. Each manager shall vote up to 12 players. Managers can select players that play on his or her regular season team. Each player selected by a manager receives ten vote towards the All-Star selection. Assistant Coach Vote: Each regular season team will receive two ballots per team for assistant coaches. Two assistant coaches shall vote up to 12 players. Assistant coaches can select players on his or her regular season team. Each player selected by an assistant coach receives 3 votes toward the All-Star selection.

SECTION III: All-Stars Season After being selected to the All-Star team, practices can start on the date that is determined by Little League International. Practices will be scheduled by the Manager of the team through the Player Agent. It is up to the Manager’s discretion of how many times he/she wants to practice throughout the season. In the first couple of practices, each parent/guardian(s) will get a list of requirements that must be fulfilled in order to have their son/daughter eligible to play. An affidavit will also be filled out by the Player Agent with the information. Without the affidavit, that team cannot play in a tournament. Players/Parents must provide the following: - Pay a fee to Northampton Little League to cover All-Star costs such as uniforms, equipment, and banners. The fee will vary each year and is set by the Board of Directors. - Provide the original birth certificate. The Player Agent will keep the birth certificate until it is approved by the District 7 Staff, it will then be returned to the parents. - Provide three proofs of residence showing that the player is a resident of Northampton. These proofs must be from February 1 of the previous year to February 1 of the current year. If a player has participated in All-Stars in previous seasons, filled out a Player Verification Form and has not moved from their address on the form, they do not need to provide any further information other than a new medical release. After the affidavit has been checked by the District 7 Staff, the team is eligible to play in their respective tournament. If the team wins Districts and advances, the team might have to travel to other districts in Virginia. Travel, hotels, and reimbursements will be dependent upon the Board of Directors approved amount per team per level advancement. Teams are encouraged to conduct fundraisers, raffles, car wash, etc. to raise additional team funs. All money raised is the property of NHLL and should be provided to the Treasure or President for distribution back to the corresponding All-Star team.

ARTICLE XI – FALL BALL Fall Ball registration opens in August of each year. Practices begin in early September and games run through the end of October/early November. The purpose of Fall Ball is to focus on player development to prepare for the spring Little League season. 22 A) For Fall Ball – all League Ages will be determined by the following year’s age chart (i.e. Fall of 2023 will be based on the 2024 Little League Age Chart) as a guide. B) There is no formal evaluation process for the Fall. The Player Agent, along with various board members, will assign fair and balanced teams. In the event a player is placed in a different division than he/she originally registered, a board member will notify the parent/guardian. C) Fall Ball may require interleague play based on the number of teams in a division. The Player Agent will notify managers once a decision has been made. D) Once registration has closed, late registrations may be allowed based on division openings. Timely uniforms cannot be guaranteed for late registrants. 23

Additional NORTHAMPTON LITTLE LEAGUE GROUND RULES
All rules described in the current season’s Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules apply unless noted otherwise herein. GENERAL POLICIES: 1. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and smoking devices are strictly forbidden from all fields that a NHLL function is occurring. 2. Pets are not allowed at the NHLL facilities. Service animals are not considered pets. 3.Unsportsmanlike conduct by players, managers, coaches and spectators will not be tolerated. Umpires shall follow the appropriate Little League rules to disqualify or eject any player, manager, coach or for objecting to umpire decisions in an unsportsmanlike manner. 2. 1. Unsportsmanlike conduct by players, managers, coaches and spectators will not be tolerated. Umpires shall follow the appropriate Little League rules to disqualify or eject any player, manager, or coach for objecting to umpire decisions in an unsportsmanlike manner. 24 

Approved on Nov 23, 2025