Rule Change -- Consecutive Innings

Our Little League is considering a variation from normal league rules for this upcoming season in our boys divisions.

We have always followed the official Little League rule of each player having to play 6 consecutive defensive outs.

This rule is in place so that each kid will get an opportunity to bat based on only the nine players in the lineup batting.

However, our league bats all players thru so every kid bats at least 2 or 3 times per game.

In our fall instructional league we suspended this rule to read that each kid had to play defensively 3 or 4 innings each game but not consecutively. The result was fantastic!

No kid did "2 and out"...and since they never knew when they would be sent back in, their attention to the game increased.

I found myself experimenting more with "lesser skilled" players (putting them into more important situations) and we had many many MAGIC moments when they performed well!

Anyway, my team went .500 on the season and we all had fun. But when the end of season tournament came we went undefeated because we had total team play and could count on the "lesser players" to carry their load!

Does anyone else use this sort of rule for play?

I'd appreciate any feedback!

thanx,
Paul Burris
Fall Creek Little League
Indianapolis, Indiana