What do we need to host a competition? - Little League Home Run Derby

Q: What do we need to host a competition?

Participating leagues will need a baseball/softball field with either a permanent fence, temporary fence, chalk or cone line at the distances of 170’ for baseball and 130’ for softball. These distances are typically shorter than standard fence dimensions – we recommend a chalk line on the field at each distance, cones or the use of a temporary fence. All equipment including baseballs/softballs will need to be provided by hosting leagues and should meet Little League specifications.

Q: What do we need to host a competition?

Participating leagues will need a baseball/softball field with either a permanent fence, temporary fence, chalk or cone line at the distances of 170’ for baseball and 130’ for softball. These distances are typically shorter than standard fence dimensions – we recommend a chalk line on the field at each distance, cones or the use of a temporary fence. All equipment including baseballs/softballs will need to be provided by hosting leagues and should meet Little League specifications.

Local Little League Competition Host Rules & Regulations

Download a Printable Copy Here

*All participating leagues should follow their state and local government’s guidelines surrounding youth sports participation, public gatherings, and mitigation recommendations prior to hosting a local event. All rules within the Little League^® Rulebook are to be implemented.

Participant Eligibility

Only chartered Little Leagues are eligible to host a local competition.
Participants must currently be registered and meet all eligibility requirements within their chartered Little League for the 2024 season.
The Baseball competition is open to athletes league age 9 – 12 years old.
The Softball competition is limited to female athletes league age 9 – 12 years old.
All Home Run Derby Local Little League Hosts must agree to comply with the following before registering1) all of the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby Rules and Regulations; 2) Terms & Conditions; 3) Privacy Policy; and 4) will collect and ensure submission of all required releases and event documents.
The Local Little League Host must further certify that they are fully eligible to enroll their league in this competition as a member of the local league Board of Directors. If the local league takes insurance coverage locally and not through the national Little League insurance coverage program, the local host must have verified with their local insurance carrier and can confirm that the required insurance coverage will be in effect for the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby
All Participants are required to submit the Participant Release signed by their legal guardian prior to participating. Any participant that is found to have not submitted their Participant Release or other required documents prior to participating in their Local Home Run Derby will be disqualified and their results will not be accepted.
There is no minimum number of participants.

Operations

Field Dimensions: Baseball: Fence Distance 170’ / Softball: Fence Distance 130’
- To create a shortened fence distance, draw a chalk line through the outfield 170’ feet for baseball and 130’ for softball from home plate or use cones.
Judges: At least three evaluators must be stationed near the outfield fence to judge if ball landed over or on chalk/cones.
Pitching:
- Adult pitcher(s) to be designated by the League Host. Where possible, the same pitcher should be used for a minimum of five (5) batters in each round before rotating pitchers.

- - The pitcher is not permitted to throw the next pitch until the last batted ball hits the ground

The pitcher must be positioned and pitching from behind an L-Screen for the baseball competition or square screen for the softball competition.
- The screen is to be positioned no closer than 30ft from home plate for the baseball and 20 ft for softball competition.
- Live arm pitching is preferred. Pitching machines may be used if necessary. The use of side toss is not permitted. The same pitching method should be used for all participants.

Dates & Timing: Local Home Run Derby date and times must be submitted, updated if weather delay, and finalized within the Home Run Derby portal two-weeks prior to the Local Home Run Derby taking place.
- The contest can take place any time during the day as long as it is completed before 10:00 PM.
Results: Results must be submitted within one (1) week of the local contest taking place and no later than June 23, 2024 (date subject to change). Results will be submitted by Local Little League Host via online portal at littleleague.org/HomeRunDerby.
Admission: No admission charge is permitted.
- Fans should only be encouraged to attend as permitted and in accordance with local and state guidelines.
Field Decorum: Batboys and/or batgirls are not permitted. All players shall be on their benches in the dugouts or in the bullpen.
Equipment: Should be inspected prior to the start of the competition
- Balls – The balls used must be licensed and meet Little League specifications and standards. Baseballs shall weigh not less than five (5) ounces nor more than five and one fourth (5 ¼) ounces, and measure not less than nine (9) nor more than nine and one-fourth (9 ¼) inches in circumference. A 12” Little League licensed softball must be used for the softball competition. The ball shall be not less than eleven and seven-eight (11 7/8) inches nor more than twelve and one-eight (12 1/8) inches in circumference and shall weigh not less than six and one quarter (6 ¼) ounces nor more than seven (7) ounces.
- Bats –
  - Prior to the start of the competition, participants must declare any bat they might use, and all bats should be inspected by a competition judge to ensure that they meet the requirements listed below:

- - Baseball Rule – The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).
  - Softball Rule – The bat must be a softball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or a material tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards. The bat shall be no more than 33 inches in length, not more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenth (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30 inches) at its smallest part. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.20.
  - Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that have cracks or sharp edges, or that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play.
  - If the certification mark/s on a bat are not legible, that bat cannot be used and shall be removed from competition.
  - Use of an illegal bat will result in disqualification of the participant from the competition.
Helmets –
- Use of the helmet by the batter is mandatory. Each helmet shall have an exterior warning label. Helmets must have a non-glare surface and cannot be mirror-like in nature. Each helmet must meet NOCSAE specifications and bear the NOCSAE stamp as well as an exterior warning label as noted above. Warning! Manufacturers have advised that altering helmets in any way can be dangerous. Altering the helmet in any form, including painting or adding decals (by anyone other than the manufacturer or authorized dealer) may void the helmet warranty. Helmets may not be re-painted and may not contain tape or re-applied decals unless approved in writing by the helmet manufacturer or authorized dealer.
Uniforms –
- All players shall wear their local league jersey for the competition at the local level following uniform guidance from Little League.
Catcher –
- The catcher must wear a catcher’s mitt (not a first baseman’s mitt or fielder’s (glove) of any shape, size, or weight consistent with protecting the hand.
- Male catchers must wear a metal, fiber, or plastic type cup, and approved long or short-model chest protector. Female catchers must wear long or short model chest protectors. All catchers must wear chest protectors with neck collar, throat guard, shin guards, and catcher’s helmet, all of which must meet Little League specifications and standards. The catcher’s helmet must meet NOCSAE specifications and standards and bear the NOCSAE stamp. All catchers must wear a mask, “dangling” type throat protector, and catcher’s helmet during infield/outfield practice, pitcher warm-up, and games. NOTE: Skull caps are not permitted. Warning! Manufacturers have advised that altering helmets in any way can be dangerous. Altering the helmet in any form, including painting or adding decals (by anyone other than the manufacturer or authorized dealer) may void the helmet warranty. Helmets may not be re-painted and may not contain tape or re-applied decals unless approved in writing by the helmet manufacturer or authorized dealer.
- A square screen or catch net can be used in place of a catcher.
L-Screen/Square Screen –
- An L-Screen for baseball pitchers or square screen for softball pitchers is to be used for the safety of all pitchers and is to be positioned no closer than 30ft from home plate for the baseball and 20 ft for softball competitions.
On-field:
The only Little Leaguers permitted on the field are the batter and shaggers (max of 5) all of which should remain in the outfield. Shaggers must allow all balls to land (no catching).
- Other participants should remain in the dugouts or bullpen with an adult.
- A square screen is recommended behind second base, manned by an adult, to gather all baseballs or softballs.
- A First Aid Kit should be present and must be in accordance with the league’s ASAP Plan and safety code.
- Appropriate adjustments must be made for softball e.g., using softballs and square screens for pitchers.
Sportsmanship: It is expected that those who participate in local competitions and ultimately advance to the Regionals and Championship will display positive sportsmanship. Those who do not, may be removed from the competition at any time at the discretion of the competition agency.

Duties & Obligations of Local Little League Host

The Local Host acknowledges and agrees to follow all rules, regulations, and guidelines set forth in the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby Rules.
The Local Host of the local T-Mobile Home Run Derby competition is responsible for setting the date, time, and location of their local competition.
The Local Host of the local T-Mobile Home Run Derby competition must determine an appropriate way to include league age eligible participants in accordance with the Little League mission while promoting an inclusive environment and encouraging positive sportsmanship.
The Local Host of the local T-Mobile Home Run Derby agrees to collect completed Participant Releases from all participants prior to the participant taking part in the local competition and providing these forms and waivers by uploading to website when submitting results. Failure to collect and provide completed Participant Releases will lead to immediate disqualification from the competition.
The Local Host of the local T-Mobile Home Run Derby agrees to upload a photo of the Champion to official website. Local Host will be asked to complete the following steps to ensure a successful photo submission:

- Take photo of champion in front of event banner after the event concludes
- Log in to the online portal at LittleLeague.org/HomeRunDerby
- Drop photo into the designated area on league dashboard
- Click “Submit”

Equipment donations including baseballs and/or softballs, and buckets will be released to participating leagues only if event results and photo of event winner are submitted via online portal while supplies last.
Upon completion of the local T-Mobile Home Run Derby competition, the Local Host must submit final total results and completed Participant Waivers via LittleLeague.org/HomeRunDerby
Note: The Local Host may host a competition for multiple Little League programs within the same or contiguous Little League districts.
- Each additional league must be identified through the registration process.
- Additional participating leagues can be added and removed in the league dashboard at LittleLeague.org/HomeRunDerby.
- One T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby kit provided to the host league.

Event Fundraising

Leagues are welcome to utilize the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby as a league fundraisers long as all Little League guidelines and policies surrounding fundraising are followed.

Please review Little League fundraising guidelines at LittleLeague.org/fundraising

Event Structure

1^stRound

All participants receive 1:30 to hit as many home runs as possible.
Any fair ball that lands over the fence in fair territory is a home run. A ball that lands on the chalk/cone line is NOT counted as a home run

- ALL home runs MUST land before the next pitch is thrown – Any pitch thrown prior to the previous batted ball landing will NOT be counted as a home run

At the end of the 1^stRound, the 10 participants with the most home runs will advance to the 2^ndRound (*if event has less than 10 participants, all participants advance to 2^nd round)

2^ndRound

The 10 participants receive 1:30 to hit as many home runs as possible.
Batting order will be determined by number of Home Runs hit in first round with the lowest total number hitting first.
Any fair ball that lands over the fence in fair territory is a home run. A ball that lands on the chalk/cone line is NOT counted as a home run

- ALL home runs MUST land before the next pitch is thrown – Any pitch thrown prior to the previous batted ball landing will NOT be counted as a home run

At the end of the 2^ndRound, the 5 participants with the most total home runs (combined totals from 1^stand 2^ndrounds) will advance to the Final Round (*if event has less than 5 participants, all participants advance to the Final Round)

Final Round

The 5 participants receive 1:30 to hit as many home runs as possible.
Batting order will be determined by total Home Runs hit in first and second rounds with the lowest total number hitting first.
Any fair ball that lands over the fence in fair territory is a home run. A ball that lands on the chalk/cone line is NOT counted as a home run

- ALL home runs MUST land before the next pitch is thrown – Any pitch thrown prior to the previous batted ball landing will NOT be counted as a home run

At the end of the Final Round, the participant with the most total home runs (combined totals from 1^st, 2^nd, and Final rounds) is the league’s T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby Champion

Tie-Breakers

Should there be a tie between two participants at the end of any round that would determine advancement to the next round or the final champion, the following tie breaking procedure will be used:

In the event of a tie at the end of the first, second, or final round, there will be a swing-off between the participants who are tied that will determine which participant advance (after 1^st or 2^nd rounds) or wins (after final round). Each participant will receive three (3) additional swings at a time, the contestant with the most home runs after the three (3) additional swings will advance or be crowned the champion. The additional swings will repeat until the tie is broken. Tie-breaking home runs do not count towards total home runs.

Advancement

In order to be eligible to advance to a regional competition, the participant must have won their local competition. (WINNING A LOCAL COMPETITION DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY QUALIFY A PARTICIPANT FOR ADVANCEMENT)
If there are any ties based on local competition results, a random lottery system will be used and conducted by the Competition Agency (Position Sports, Inc.).
Regional Competitions: The two (2) participants in each sub-region defined below with the most home runs hit during their local competition will advance onto their respective regional competition.
- Should there not be adequate participation from any sub-region, the next highest score from the overall region will be used to complete the competition field for Regional events.
- Regional Competition locations are TBD and will be announced at a later date
Championship: The four (4) participants with the most total home runs hit in their respective regional competitions will advance onto the championship in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Sub-Regions

East

Region 1: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Region 2: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island
Region 3: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.
Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico
Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio

West

Region 6: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Region 7: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Region 8: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii
Region 10: Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming

Regional Finals/ Championship Rules & Regulations

For the Regional Finals and Championship, there will be a separate set of rules & regulations that will be released prior to the events taking place.

*T-Mobile, Little League and the competition agency reserve the right to alter, update, and modify these rules prior to these events taking place.

2024 T-Mobile Little League® Home Run Derby Local Little League Host Release

For purposes of this “Local Little League Host Release” document, “Event” means all “T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby” events being held at various locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and any and all transportation to, from and between Event locations, and all other activities related to the Event. In consideration of the opportunity to host a local competition (“Local Competition”), I agree to the following on behalf of myself and my local Little League (“Local Host”):

ASSUMPTION OF RISK OF PERSONAL/BODILY INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY LOSS/DAMAGE. I fully understand that hosting the Event involves inherent risks and dangers of accidents, personal and bodily injury (including death) and property loss or damage, and severe social and economic losses. These may result from my own actions or inactions or negligence, as well as the actions or inactions or negligence of others, the rules of play, and the condition of the facilities and equipment or vehicles. Further, there may be other risks not known to me and that are not reasonably foreseeable at this time. I understand and I have considered and evaluated the nature, scope and extent of the risks involved, and I voluntarily choose to assume all such risks, both known and unknown, even those risks that result from the negligence of the Released Parties (defined below) or others and assume full responsibility for my and Local Host’s participation in the Event.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE. This section is an acknowledgement and express assumption of risk and release of liability in any way related to me being exposed to or contracting COVID-19 (as defined by the World Health Organization) and any strains, variants, or mutations thereof, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and/or any other airborne, aerosolized or surface transmissible communicable and/or infectious diseases, viruses, bacteria or illnesses or the causes thereof (collectively, “Communicable Disease”), during or in connection with hosting and/or participating in the Event and/or my presence at the Event Premises (as defined below). By hosting and/or participating in the Event and/or being present at the Event Premises, I acknowledge and expressly assume the risk that I may be exposed to Communicable Disease. I expressly understand that the risks of exposure to Communicable Disease include contracting Communicable Disease and the associated dangers, medical complications (including death) and physical and mental injuries, both foreseen and unforeseen, that may result from contracting Communicable Disease. I further acknowledge and understand that my interaction with Event staff, participants and any other individuals present at the Event Premises poses an elevated, inherent risk of being exposed to and contracting Communicable Disease, that it cannot be guaranteed that I will not be exposed to Communicable Disease, and that potential exposure to or contraction of Communicable Disease while hosting and/or participating in the Event and/or being present at the Event Premises are risks that cannot be eliminated. If infected with Communicable Disease, I acknowledge and understand that I may subsequently infect others, even if I don’t experience or display any symptoms.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPRESENTATIONS. I agree that I will neither host the Event, participate in the Event nor be present at the Event Premises if, within ten (10) days preceding the Event, I (a) tested positive or presumptively positive for Communicable Disease or was identified as a potential carrier of Communicable Disease, (b) experienced any symptoms commonly associated with Communicable Disease, including, without limitation, fever, cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath, and/or (c) was in direct contact with or the immediate vicinity of any person who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with Communicable Disease. I further agree that I will submit to any health screening, vaccination requirements and/or Communicable Disease testing that may be required as a condition of hosting and/or participating in the Event and/or being present at the Event Premises.

RELEASE FROM LIABILITY. I fully and forever release and discharge T-Mobile (the “Sponsor”), Little League Baseball, Incorporated (“Little League”), the MLB Entities (defined below) and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, distributors, representatives, contractors, successors, assigns, and insurers, all Event sponsors, advertisers, volunteers, and staff, and all owners or lessors of premises used in connection with the Event (“Event Premises”) (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all injuries (including death), losses, damages, claims (including negligence claims, excluding gross negligence and intentional misconduct claims), demands, lawsuits, expenses, and any other liability of any kind, of or to me, my or Local Host’s property, or any other person, directly or indirectly arising out of or in connection with the Event, including transportation related to the Event, including, without limitation, all claims for personal injuries, wrongful death or exposure to or contraction of Communicable Disease by me or other individuals exposed to Communicable Disease by me, even if it is due to the negligence of the Released Parties, to the fullest extent permitted by law. As used herein, the “MLB Entities” shall mean MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (“MLB”), the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball (“BOC”), its Bureaus, Committees, Subcommittees and Councils, the Major League Baseball Clubs (“Clubs”), Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., Tickets.com, LLC, The MLB Network, LLC, each of their parent, subsidiary, affiliated and related entities, any entity which, now or in the future, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Clubs or the BOC and the owners, general and limited partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing entities. [FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: I ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH AND DO HEREBY WAIVE THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE (AND SIMILAR PROVISIONS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS) WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.”]

AUTHORIZATION TO RECORD AND TO USE RECORDINGS AND NAME. I hereby grant to T-Mobile, Little League, any host league, and the MLB Entities, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns and licensees (including production companies) (collectively “Event Entities”) permission to film, photograph, video record, use social media information and otherwise record my and Local Host’s (as applicable) image, voice, avatar, name, biographical data, silhouette, body dimension, shape, posture, or any other aspect of me or Local Host at the Event (collectively the “Recording”) and the right, throughout the world, in perpetuity, to register for copyright, to use and to assign and/or license others to use all or any portion of the Recording and results thereof (or a reproduction thereof, including within any documentary production related to the Event), in all media and in any manner now known or hereafter developed, in connection with the Event or otherwise without any additional consideration. I shall have no right of approval and no legal claim arising out of any use or editing of the Recording. The Event Entities shall have no obligation to use any of the rights I grant. I represent that it is not necessary for the Event Entities to obtain permission from or to pay any third party in connection with the rights granted in this

GENERAL The Released Parties are not responsible for late, lost, delayed, illegible, damaged, corrupted or incomplete entries or e-mails, incorrect or inaccurate capture of, or loss of entry information, any delay or interruption in the launch, accessibility or operation of the Event website or any entry or any other human or technical errors of any kind relating to the submission, collection, storage or processing of entries or the administration of the Event. The Released Parties are not responsible for undeliverable e-mails resulting from any form of active or passive e-mail filtering by a user’s Internet service provider and/or e-mail client or for insufficient space in user’s e- mail account to receive e-mail. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE EVENT IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, EVENT ENTITIES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. The Event Entities reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify or prohibit from participating in the Event any individual who the Event Entities determine or believe, in their sole discretion, (a) has tampered with the entry process or has undermined the legitimate operation of the Event by cheating, hacking, deception or other unfair playing practices, or (b) has engaged in conduct that annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other participant or any representative of any Released Party, or (c) has attempted or intends to attempt any of the foregoing. The Event Entities reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to modify the official rules of the Event provided to all participants in the Event (the “Official Rules”) (including without limitation by adjusting any of the dates and/or timeframes stipulated in the Official Rules).

The Event Entities may, in their sole discretion, cancel, modify or suspend the Event at any time in their discretion if the Event Entities are not able to, or decide not to, conduct the Event as planned (for any reason, including without limitation in the event the operation of the Event is canceled or suspended as a result of protective measures in place to prevent the spread of Communicable Disease, any governmental regulation or recommendation, including restrictions regarding group gatherings, any fire, flood, epidemic, pandemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or of public enemy, communications failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, federal, state or local law, order or court order). In the event of termination, cancellation or postponement of the Event, a notice will be posted on the Event website and no Event Entity shall be held liable in connection therewith. Any legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Local Little League Host Release shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts located in Pennsylvania, and the parties consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to the Event and this Local Little League Host