Little League rules follow regular baseball with changes sized for kids. In the Major Division, games run six innings on a 60 foot diamond with a 46 foot pitching distance. Daily pitch limits range from 50 to 95 by age, every player bats at least once, and runners must wait until the pitch reaches the batter before leaving a base.
Key Takeaways
- League age is your child’s age on August 31 of the current year, and it sets the divisions they can join.
- Majors games are six innings. Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior League games are seven.
- Daily pitch limits run from 50 pitches at league age 6 to 95 at 13 to 16, with rest days tied to the count.
- Regular season run rules apply unless your local league opts out. Tournaments always use the 15 and 10 run rules.
- The official rulebook is free in the Little League Rulebook App.
What Is Little League Baseball?
Little League is a youth baseball and softball organization founded by Carl E. Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The first game was played on June 6, 1939, in a league of three teams and 30 players.
Today about two million boys and girls ages 4 to 16 play in all 50 states and more than 80 countries. Every chartered league uses the same official Little League rules, but a local board can choose some options, such as time limits and the run rule.
Little League Divisions by Age
League age is your child’s actual age on August 31 of the current year. A child born in September 2016 is league age 9 for 2026, because the tenth birthday falls after the cutoff.
| Division | League ages | Bases and mound |
|---|---|---|
| Tee Ball | 4 to 7 | 60 ft bases (50 ft option) |
| Minor League | 7 to 12 | 60 ft bases, 46 ft pitching |
| Little League (Majors) | 9 to 12 | 60 ft bases, 46 ft pitching |
| Intermediate (50/70) | 11 to 13 | 70 ft bases, 50 ft pitching |
| Junior League | 12 to 14 | 90 ft bases, 60 ft 6 in pitching |
| Senior League | 13 to 16 | 90 ft bases, 60 ft 6 in pitching |
League age 5 and 6 players who have finished a Tee Ball season may join a coach pitch or machine pitch Minor League team. In the regular season, Junior League programs may shorten the field to 75 foot bases and a 54 foot mound. For a home practice field, see our guide to measuring a baseball diamond.
Minor League rules that differ from the Majors
- Pitching. Teams may use player pitch, coach pitch or machine pitch.
- Strike three. The dropped third strike does not apply, so strike three is always an out.
- Scheduling. A team cannot be scheduled for two games in one day.
- Time limits. A league may cap game time no matter how many innings are done.
How Long Are Little League Games?
Little League rules set six innings for Major Division games and seven for Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior League.
A local league may use a time limit instead. In the Majors, that limit must be at least 1 hour and 45 minutes. An inning that starts before time expires is finished, and no new inning begins after it.
In tournament play, a game stopped by weather is official once four innings are done with one team ahead, or three and a half if the home team leads. The seven inning divisions need five, or four and a half.
Do Little League games go to extra innings?
Yes. In tournament play, a game tied after six innings starts every half inning from the seventh with a runner on second base. That runner is the player due to bat last. The seven inning divisions start this in the eighth.
Little League Pitch Count Rules and Rest Days
A pitcher at the daily limit for their league age leaves the mound, but Little League rules let them play another position.
- League age 6 to 8: 50 pitches per day.
- League age 9 and 10: 75 pitches per day.
- League age 11 and 12: 85 pitches per day.
- League age 13 to 16: 95 pitches per day.
A pitcher who hits the limit mid at bat may finish that hitter. They leave once the batter reaches base or is put out, or the third out ends the half inning.
| Rest required | League age 14 and under | League age 15 and 16 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | 66 or more pitches | 76 or more pitches |
| 3 days | 51 to 65 | 61 to 75 |
| 2 days | 36 to 50 | 46 to 60 |
| 1 day | 21 to 35 | 31 to 45 |
| None | 1 to 20 | 1 to 30 |
Tip: Rest counts in calendar days. A 12 year old who throws 70 pitches on Saturday rests Sunday through Wednesday and can pitch again Thursday.
Catcher, multi-game and return rules
- Catcher to pitcher. Catching four or more innings in a game rules a player out of pitching that day.
- Pitcher to catcher. Throwing 41 or more pitches rules a player out of catching for the rest of that day.
- Three days in a row. No player may pitch on three consecutive days.
- Games per day. Minor, Major and Intermediate pitchers get one game a day. Junior and Senior pitchers may pitch in two, except league age 12 players.
- Returning. A Majors pitcher once removed cannot pitch again that game. Intermediate, Junior and Senior pitchers who move to another position may return once.
The full Little League pitching rules list every threshold exception.
Mandatory Play, Batting Order and Walks
In the regular season, Little League rules say every rostered player present at the start must play at least six defensive outs and bat at least once. Those six outs do not have to come in a row. Senior League dropped this requirement in 2025.
Leagues may also use a continuous batting order, where every player bats in turn. Tournament teams must use one in every division except Senior League.
Intentional walks need no pitches. The defensive manager tells the umpire, the batter takes first, and the balls needed go on the pitcher’s count. Since 2023, a batter can be walked this way only once per game.
The Little League Run Rule Explained
Little League asks everyone to call it the run rule, not the mercy rule. In the regular season it has three levels, and a local league may choose not to use it.
| Lead | Minor and Majors | Intermediate, Junior, Senior |
|---|---|---|
| 15 runs | After 3 innings | After 4 innings |
| 10 runs | After 4 innings | After 5 innings |
| 8 runs | After 5 innings | After 6 innings |
Each level applies half an inning sooner when the home team is ahead. If the visitors lead, the home team still bats.
Tournaments drop the 8 run rule and end a game at a 15 run lead after three innings (four for older divisions) or a 10 run lead at the end of a regulation game. Little League’s run rule guide covers every version.
Stealing, Leading Off and the Dropped Third Strike
Little League rules bar leading off in the Majors. Once the pitcher is on the rubber with the ball and the catcher is set, runners stay on base until the pitch reaches the batter. After that, they may try to steal.
Intermediate (50/70) borrows Junior League rules: runners may lead off and steal at any time, and an on-deck batter is allowed.
The uncaught third strike, often called the dropped third strike, applies in the Majors and above. If the catcher misses strike three with first base open, or with two outs, the batter may run. The defense must tag the batter or first base for the out.
Little League Bat Rules for 2026
Under Little League rules, non-wood bats from Tee Ball through the Majors must carry the USA Baseball (USABat) mark. Older divisions add or switch to BBCOR.
| Division | Approved bats | Max length |
|---|---|---|
| Tee Ball | USABat | 26 in |
| Minor and Majors | USABat | 33 in |
| Intermediate and Junior | USABat or BBCOR | 34 in |
| Senior League | BBCOR or wood | 36 in |
From Minor League up, the barrel can be no wider than 2 5/8 inches. Check the official bat rules before you buy. New for 2026, pine tar is legal at every level and thumb protectors are allowed, but choke-up assists are not.
All-Star and Tournament Rules
All-Star teams play in the International Tournament, which runs from district play to the World Series. So the Little League Baseball World Series uses these same tournament rules.
- Eligibility. Players must meet Little League’s residency or school attendance rules. Except in Senior League, they also need eight regular season games before the tournament starts.
- Batting order. Every player present bats in a continuous order, except in Senior League.
- Mound visits. From the 9 to 11 division up, a second visit to a pitcher in one inning, or a third in a game, means a new pitcher.
- Illegal bats. The batter is out, and both that batter and the manager are ejected.
Where to Get the Official Little League Rule Book
The official rule book, titled Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies, is free in the Little League Rulebook App on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is approved for use in the dugout.
Little League posts its significant rule changes each year. The Little League rules here were checked against the 2026 updates and official pages in September 2026.
Practice Little League Skills at Home
Short games mean few swings per player. A backyard batting cage adds reps without chasing balls across the yard. We build cages, sports turf and multi-sport backyard courts. Playing both games? See how softball and baseball differ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Little League Rules
How many innings are in a Little League game?
A Major Division game is six innings, and Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior League games are seven. A local league may use a time limit instead, but in the Majors it must allow at least 1 hour and 45 minutes, and any inning already started gets finished.
What is the pitch count limit for a 10 year old in Little League?
A league age 10 pitcher may throw 75 pitches per day, the same cap as a 9 year old, and may finish the batter they are facing at the limit. Throwing 66 or more pitches requires four calendar days of rest, while 20 or fewer requires none.
Can you lead off or steal in Little League?
In the Major Division, runners can steal but cannot lead off. They must stay on base until the pitch reaches the batter. In Intermediate (50/70), runners can lead off and steal at any time, following Junior League rules. Check your league’s local rules for the younger divisions.
Does Little League have a mercy rule?
Yes, though Little League rules call it the run rule. In the Minor and Major divisions, a regular season game ends with a 15 run lead after three innings, 10 after four, or 8 after five. Older divisions add one inning. Local leagues may opt out, and tournaments use only the 15 and 10 run rules.
Where can I find the official Little League rule book?
The complete rule book is free in the Little League Rulebook App on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It holds the baseball, softball and Challenger rules, adds interpretation videos and updates itself each season. Ask your league for any local options it has adopted.
Give Your Little Leaguer a Place to Practice
My Backyard Sports designs and builds backyard batting cages, turf practice areas and multi-sport courts in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Austin and Houston. Tell us about your yard, and our team will measure it and recommend a layout.