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The 2024 SFLL playoffs will begin in late April (Juniors) and May (small diamonds) and conclude with Championship Games on June 1 & 2 (small diamonds) and a best of three game championship series on May 18, 19, and 22 (Juniors). Exact dates will vary by division and will be listed on the playoff schedules and brackets.
Please remind your players and parents and spectators to demonstrate proper behavior during the playoffs. Playoff games are more competitive, and we always want to follow the Coach and Parent Codes of Conduct that are posted at https://www.sfll.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1713691.
Remind parents to never yell at, criticize or even offer advice to an umpire (even in a polite manner). Comments should be directed to the coach or a league administrator after the game.
Enthusiastic cheering is encouraged. However, cheers should focus on encouraging your players and not deriding the opposition. Cheering should stop as soon as the pitcher starts their motion to the plate.
PLAYOFF COMMITTEE
Rookie Players Agents:
Tony Berning (646-492-0180)
Eric Flemming (503-449-2952)
AA Players Agent: James Nash (415-518-5144)
AAA Players Agent:
Cory Acree (415-385-1760)
Hale Walker (707-287-5404)
Majors Players Agents:
Bob Hillman (415-203-1611)
Sumner Estes (415-283-6889)
Juniors Players Agents:
David Hammonds (415-671-7686)
Howard Holderness (415-244-0344)
Umpire-in-Chief: Brian Sauer (415-225-6618)
VP Players Agents: Josh Bagley (415-994-0535)
SFLL President: Katherine Gillespie (415-812-7099)
PLAYOFF FORMAT
The playoffs will be a two-stage format. The first stage will be pool play. The second stage will be a single elimination bracket.
FIRST STAGE – POOL PLAY
All teams will advance to pool play. American League teams will play in the American League pool and National League teams will play in the National League pool. During pool play, each team will play every other team in their pool once. For pool play, home and away will be preset by the schedule (these games are already scheduled). The regular season standings will have no impact on pool play. Pool play begins the last week of April (Juniors) and the weekend of May 4 (small diamonds).
Ties
Ties are allowed in pool play games.
If teams within a pool are tied with the same record at the completion of pool play, then ties will be broken using the following criteria:
1. Head-to-head record in pool play
2. The total number of runs allowed per inning for all pool play games (for shortened games count actual number of innings played). Lower is better.
3. Coin flip as administered by the Player Agent
The top four teams from the American League pool and the top four teams from the National League pool will advance to the second stage.
SECOND STAGE – SINGLE ELIMINATION
Rookie - Majors Divisions: The top four teams from the American League and the top four teams from the National League will advance to a single elimination bracket. There will be four quarterfinal games and two semifinal games. The four teams from the American League will play in the American League quarterfinals and the four teams from the National League will play in the National League quarterfinals. The teams in the quarterfinals will be seeded #1 through #4 based on their standings following pool play. The #1 seed will play the #4 seed in one quarterfinal game and the #2 seed will play the #3 seed in the other quarterfinal game.
The winning teams from the American League quarterfinals will face off in the American League semifinals. The winning teams from the National League quarterfinals will face off in the National League semifinals. The winning semifinalists will advance to an American League versus National League championship game.
Juniors Division: All three teams from the American League and all three teams from the National League will advance to a single elimination bracket. The teams will be seeded #1 through #3 based on their standings following pool play. There will be two quarterfinal games and two semifinal games. The #2 and #3 seed teams from the American League will play in the American League quarterfinal round and the #2 and #3 seed from the National League will play in the National League quarterfinal round.
The #1 American League seed will play the winner of the American League quarterfinal in the American League semifinal round, and the #1 National League seed will play the winner of the National League quarterfinal in the National League semifinal round.
All Divisions: Throughout the single elimination bracket, the higher seeded team (based on pool play results) will be the home team. If two identically seeded teams meet, then the home team will be determined by a coin flip conducted by the VP of Player Agents and observed by the Division’s Player Agent.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
The championship games will be scheduled as follows:
RULES
Coaches should be familiar with the Green Book, Local Rules, and these Playoff Rules. The Green Book and SFLL Local Rules apply UNLESS superseded by the Playoff Rules.
Mandatory Play
In Majors and below, a player may not sit out consecutive innings or sit out a second inning before every other player has sat out once. No player can sit out three innings until every other player has sat out two, etc.
Short on Players
There will be no Pool Players available during the playoffs. A game may not be started nor continued with fewer than eight players on each team. A completed game will be deemed official if one or both teams have only 8 players. SFLL is eliminating the “automatic out in the 5-hole” rule. The team that is short on players may not borrow a player to fill a spot on the field, but rather must compete with their available players. Teams may wait up to 15 minutes past the scheduled field time for an 8th player who is running late. If both teams have fewer than 8 players during pool play, the game will be reported as a double forfeit. If during the Single Elimination stage, both teams have less than 8 players, the higher seeded team will be awarded the win (no game will be played).
Adult Participation
Teams are allowed only three (3) approved, background-checked coaches and/or adult volunteers in the dugout or acting as base coaches during a game. Umpires will be instructed to stop play if more than three adults are with the team. One adult must always be in the dugout when players are present. Coaches need to assist umpires in keeping family members off the field. All non-coaches or approved volunteers must be outside the fenced areas.
Base Coaches
We encourage the use of a player as one of your base coaches because it helps keep them involved in the game. However, at a coach’s discretion, two adult base coaches may be used provided they are both registered coaches and there is an approved third adult inside the dugout. NOTE: Coaches are NOT allowed on the field during live play, except within base-coach boxes (please use good judgment and stay within base coach’s area whether or not the boxes are chalked/lined) or when the umpire grants time after a coach requests permission.
Rookie, Minors AA/AAA – Rule 5.07
Rule 5.07: A half-inning inning ends when the defensive team records three outs or the offensive team scores five runs, whichever comes first. The five-run rule is suspended for the entirety of the final inning, whether that’s the 6th or another inning as determined by the umpire in consultation with both coaches prior to the first pitch of the final inning.
Game Time Requirement:
1 hour 45 minutes or 6 (7 Jrs) innings. Games should start no later than 30 minutes after the field permit start time. If two teams start but do not finish an inning due to time expiring or the sunset, the score reverts back to the end of the previous inning.
Game Termination: Pool Play
SF Rec & Park/Fort Scott Fields: No new inning may start less than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the expiration of the field permit. If a game is on a permitted field, there is a hard stop at the listed time on the permit.
No new inning may start after 8pm unless the game is being played on a lighted field. If the game is on a field that is not on a lighted field, there is a hard stop at sunset. Anytime an inning is not completed, the score reverts to the last completed inning.
Treasure Island: If you’re on TI and there’s another game, you may finish the inning you started but please be sensitive to the time window you’re encroaching on. If there’s no next game, play may continue through six innings or until sunset or until the umpire deems play to be unsafe. Anytime an inning is not completed, the score reverts to the last completed inning.
Once the first pitch of a game has been thrown, the umpires have full and unilateral discretion
to decide when a game must be terminated early because darkness, rain, or other field conditions make continued play unsafe. Anytime an inning is not complete, the score reverts to the last completed inning.
Game Termination: Single Elimination
Rookie and Juniors: Single elimination games that take place on a SFRPD, FS or PG field will follow the Pool Play rules above.
AA/AAA and Majors: Single elimination games that take place on a SFRPD or FS fields will follow the Pool Play rules above. Single elimination games that take place on on Treasure Island are expected to go the full 6 innings, so coaches should ensure that players are at the field and ready to play at the scheduled start time. In the event of a delay or unforeseen situation and six innings cannot be completed in the allotted time, the pool play rules will apply.
Mercy Rules (Green Book Rule)
For all divisions Majors and below, the game ends if one team has a 15 run lead after 3 innings or a 10 run lead after 4 or 5 innings. SFLL suspends the 8 runs after 5 innings rule (Rule 4.00)
Stealing Signs
Sign stealing is not permitted in SFLL and penalties will be assessed to offending parties, potentially including ejection and suspension (see Rule 9.01(d)). Concerns about unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind should be directed to the division’s Player Agent and/or SFLL President.
Player Conduct
Players are not allowed to disrupt the game with excessive cheering/chanting while a pitcher is delivering the pitch. Coaches are responsible for keeping players in check.
PROTESTS
If there is a valid protest pursuant to the Green Book, please immediately call the Player Agent
for your division. The Player Agent has the authority to immediately resolve all valid protests. If the Player agent cannot be reached, please call the Chief Umpire Brian Sauer. If you cannot reach the Player Agent or the Chief Umpire, continue playing the game under protest and the league will rule on the protest after the game has concluded.
POSTING RESULTS
All game results need to be entered into Sports Connect by the home team on the same day the game is played – no exceptions. All game results must be entered accurately (pitch counts, runs, and innings) and confirmed by both coaches. All coaches should understand how to correctly report the pitch count when a pitcher crosses a days rest threshold during the pitcher’s final batter. The coaches should confer at the completion of the game to confirm pitch counts to be recorded. There will be no changes to game results after they are entered into Sports Connect.
PITCH COUNT AND DAYS REST
All coaches should review and understand Green Book Regulation VI regarding pitch count rules, days of rest requirements, and restrictions relating to a player pitching and catching in the same game. The Green Book Regulation VI will apply to all divisions during the playoffs, with the following exceptions:
Rookie: A pitcher may pitch no more than six consecutive outs in a game. For example, if a pitcher records the final out of their first inning pitched, they will only be able to pitch two outs in their final inning (for a total of six consecutive outs). Green Book pitch count rules supersede the number of consecutive outs.
AA: A pitcher may pitch no more than nine consecutive outs in a game. For example, if a pitcher records the final out of their first inning pitched, they will only be able to pitch two outs in their final inning (for a total of nine consecutive outs). Green Book pitch count rules supersede the number of consecutive outs.
AAA: A pitcher may pitch no more than nine consecutive outs in a game. For example, if a pitcher records the final out of their first inning pitched, they will only be able to pitch two outs in their final inning (for a total of nine consecutive outs). Green Book pitch count rules supersede the number of consecutive outs.
Majors: None
Juniors: None