To address the issues associated with teams placing winning above player development, Little League WA requires each charter to implement by-laws to ensure player development and welfare are protected.
The following by-laws are in place.
Perth Metro Centrals
Little League Majors The season shall be split into two halves. The last full round only shall count towards the premiership. The games played before this shall not count towards the premiership.
Little League Minors Machine Pitch
Catchers may catch 2 successive innings before being changed to a different position.
During the season, It is at the coaches discretion, by agreement of all team coaches, if a batter cannot put the ball into play after 3 strikes the teams coach shall soft toss until the ball is batted in play. (This change has been agreed for the players who are struggling, to give them a chance to hit the ball and not strike out every time he comes to the plate. The kids who are capable will be on three strikes)
In addition to BWA Little League By-Laws 2018-2019, the following Swan Hills Little League Charter By-Laws shall apply:
For Little League Major ‐ during the exhibition rounds 35 pitches and finish the batter will apply. For the premiership rounds, the pitcher must be removed as a pitcher at the end of an inning once he/she has pitched more than 49 pitches. This can be sooner if the coaches decides to do so. The pitcher must not start a new inning on 45 pitches or more.
For Little League Major - A player who catches during game day cannot catch more than 2 innings per game.
Above does not apply for Little League Club Championships. Team Make Up Policy Players are expected to play their first game in their primary age group.
Local clubs are to ensure that if they are entering multiple teams within the same league (except Big League) then each team is equally weighted with player abilities and average age for each team. This is to prevent a club from stacking one team over another.
Perth Metro East
Little League Majors A pitcher can only pitch a max of two full innings or a total of 50 pitches whichever comes first in Little League club games.
Intermediate League Intermediate League an offensive inning is complete with a third out or a eighth run. The offensive inning will end at the completion of the play where the eighth run was scored. More than the maximum of eight runs may have been scored during the final play, however only eight runs will be recorded for the inning.
Intermediate League above shall apply for the first five innings except in the bottom of fifth to avoid the mercy rule. No run restriction is applied to the sixth or seventh inning. These rules do not apply to finals.
Team Make Up Policy Teams can be comprised of any number of players, up to the maximum team squad size allowed as per Little League WA by-laws, within that league age.
Teams will be created with a view of distributing talent evenly across each Little League age group. Consideration will be given to teams that retain players as they move into older age groups to allow those players to continue to play together.
Perth Metro North
Team Make up Policy There is no limit on the number of twelve year olds playing in each Little League team within the Northern Metros Charter.
Little League Majors For the duration of the exhibition rounds, the following by-laws will apply:
A pitcher may pitch for a maximum of 50 pitches or two innings whichever comes first, two innings to be the equivalent of 6 defensive outs.
A catcher may catch a maximum of 2 innings.
A player may not pitch and catch in the same game.
Intermediate League
Intermediate League innings shall be complete with three outs or eight runs whichever comes first, if more that 8 runs are scored in the final play only 8 runs will be recorded.
Above rule to apply to first 5 innings only, no restrictions on 6 and 7th innings.
These by-laws are to encourage coaches to develop more pitches.
Little League Minors Machine Pitch
Shall be run as per the Little League WA State Tournament rules and Guidelines.
Team Make Up Policy Each local club team roster can be comprised of any number of players, up to the maximum team squad size allowed as per Little League WA by-laws, within that league age. IE - A little league team can have a maximum squad size of 15 players and can be of age 9 to 12 years old. Local clubs are to ensure that if they are entering multiple teams within the same league then each team is equally weighted with player abilities and average age for each team. This is to prevent a club from stacking one team over another.
Perth Metro South Team Make up Policy Team make up for Little League - Each club in the Perth Metro South Charter must aim for a range of ages in each league.