Batting Order
Substitutes SUBS
Little League Tournament Rules
Mandatory Play: every player must have one at-bat and play six consecutive defensive outs before the game ends.
Continuous batting order is optional; if used, all present players bat in a fixed rotation.
A player removed on defense may re-enter once, at the same or later batting position.
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Little League All-Star & tournament lineups: mandatory play and the continuous order
All-Star and tournament play is where Little League's rules get strict. There are no local modifications during the tournament — you follow the official rules completely — and mandatory-play violations can be protested. That raises the stakes on your lineup card, because a well-meaning rotation that leaves a player short of their required time can cost you the game after the fact.
The All-Stars builder handles tournament mandatory play for you: it tracks each player against their minimum-play requirement and warns you before a substitution creates a violation, so you can fix it while you still have innings to work with.
Tournament mandatory play
Under the tournament rules, if you have thirteen or more players in uniform, each player must bat at least once. With twelve or fewer, every player must play at least six consecutive defensive outs and bat at least once. Those are firm minimums with no local exceptions, so plan the bench rotation before the game rather than improvising it inning to inning.
Continuous batting order
Junior Division and below use a continuous batting order in tournament play — every present player bats in a fixed round-robin. That makes the batting card simple, but it does not remove the defensive minimum: a player who bats but never reaches the required defensive outs is still a violation with twelve or fewer in uniform.
Free defensive substitution
On defense you can move players freely between positions from inning to inning, which is what makes fair rotation possible. The builder's job is to make sure that freedom does not accidentally leave someone short — it flags a player trending toward the bench who has not yet met their minimum.
Pitching eligibility
Tournament pitching is governed by pitch-count limits and mandatory rest days, tracked separately from the lineup. Keep an eye on availability when you plan who covers the mound across a multi-game bracket — a pitcher who throws over a threshold owes rest days before they can pitch again.
Coaching tips
- Write your bench rotation down before the first pitch. In a bracket you rarely have the spare innings to fix a mandatory-play miss late.
- With twelve or fewer, count defensive outs, not just innings — six consecutive outs is the standard, and it is easy to miscount across substitutions.
- Keep pitch counts and required rest in view when planning multi-game days, so you are not out of eligible arms in an elimination game.
Frequently asked questions
What is the mandatory-play rule in an All-Star tournament?
Thirteen or more players in uniform: each bats at least once. Twelve or fewer: each plays six consecutive defensive outs and bats at least once. There are no local modifications in tournament play.
Do All-Stars bat the whole lineup?
Junior Division and below use a continuous batting order in the tournament, so every present player bats.
This is general guidance for coaches. Playing-time and substitution rules change season to season and vary by local league — always confirm against the current official rulebook before you finalize a lineup.