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Your League's Rules, All in One Place

Every league is different — minimum play, pitch counts, rest days, position restrictions. Toggle on the rules your league enforces, adjust the values, and see your complete rulebook. Start with a preset or build from scratch.

Presets are sourced from publicly available league guidelines and may not reflect the latest rules. Always verify with your league. All values are fully configurable per team inside your account.

4 Outfielders
Use 10-player defense with LF, LCF, RCF, RF
Minimum Innings Per Game
Every player must play at least this many defensive innings
Minimum Defensive Outs
Players must record at least this many defensive outs
No Consecutive Bench Innings
A player can't sit on the bench two innings in a row
Equal Bench Time
No player sits a second inning until all have sat once
Minimum Infield Innings
Each player must play at least this many infield innings
Minimum Outfield Innings
Each player must play at least this many outfield innings

How Baseball Lineup Rules Work

Baseball and softball leagues enforce rules to protect player safety, ensure fair playing time, and keep games competitive. But there is no universal rulebook — rules vary by organization (Little League, USSSA, USA Baseball, NFHS), age group, and local league preferences. A rec league for 8-year-olds will look very different from a high school varsity program.

The most common categories are minimum play requirements (how much each player must play), pitching limits (pitch counts and innings restrictions), rest day rules (mandatory recovery time between pitching appearances), and position restrictions (catcher-pitcher safety limits). You're responsible for knowing and following your league's rules — violations can result in game forfeits or suspensions.

The best approach is to set up your specific rules once, then let software enforce them automatically while you focus on coaching. That's exactly what Who's on Second does — toggle on your rules, and the lineup builder handles the rest.

Common League Rule Configurations

Rec leagues tend to be the most fairness-heavy: continuous batting order (everyone bats), minimum innings, equal bench time, no consecutive bench innings, and moderate pitch count limits. The priority is making sure every player gets meaningful time on the field.

Little League International mandates specific pitch count thresholds with rest day requirements, minimum defensive play (6 outs per game), and catcher-pitcher restrictions. These are among the most detailed rules in youth baseball.

Travel ball (USSSA) is more competitive — traditional batting orders, fewer minimum play requirements, but still enforces pitching limits. Innings pitched per game is the primary control alongside pitch counts.

High school (NFHS) follows state-specific guidelines. Most states enforce pitch count limits (typically 105–110 per day), mandatory rest days, and no pitcher re-entry. Playing time rules are generally left to coaches.

Adult leagues are the most relaxed — often just a batting order preference and sometimes 4-outfielder mode for larger rosters. Pitching limits are uncommon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What youth baseball rules does this tool cover?
This tool covers the most common lineup and pitching rules across Little League, USA Baseball, USSSA, NFHS (high school), and recreational leagues — including minimum play requirements, pitch count limits, rest day thresholds, consecutive bench restrictions, position restrictions (catcher-pitcher), and batting order rules. Toggle on exactly the rules your league enforces.
Do all youth baseball leagues have the same rules?
No — rules vary significantly between leagues, age groups, and organizations. Little League International has specific pitch count thresholds and mandatory play rules. Travel ball (USSSA) is more relaxed on playing time but strict on pitching. High school follows state-specific NFHS guidelines. Rec leagues often add extra fairness rules. That's why configurability matters — there is no single "correct" rulebook.
What is the minimum play rule in youth baseball?
Minimum play rules require every player to play a minimum amount of defensive time per game. In Little League, every player must play at least 6 defensive outs (roughly 2 innings). Many rec leagues go further with minimum infield innings, no consecutive bench innings, and equal bench time rules. The specifics depend on your league.
How do pitch count rest days work?
After pitching a certain number of pitches, a player must rest for a specified number of calendar days before pitching again. The rest days increase as the pitch count goes up. For example, in Little League, 1–20 pitches require no rest, 21–35 require 1 day, 36–50 require 2 days, and so on up to 4 days of rest for 86+ pitches. The day of the game does not count as a rest day.
Can I enforce these rules automatically in my lineups?
Yes — Who's on Second lets you toggle on these exact rules for your team, then auto-generates lineups that comply with all of them. The lineup builder shows real-time warnings if any rule is violated, tracks pitch counts and rest days across games, and flags ineligible pitchers before you build the next lineup. Your first 3 lineups are free, no credit card required.

Build your first lineup with these rules

Add your roster, toggle on your rules, and the lineup builder handles the rest. Fair lineups in minutes, not hours. 3 free lineups, no credit card required.

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