League Rules

Updated

1.      Games begin according to the time on the schedule. The home team should warm-up 1/2 hour before the game time. The visiting team, 15 minutes before game time. Saturday games start at 9:00 AM and only have 15 minutes between consecutive games. Therefore warm-ups times do not apply.

2.      All games for 10U and older age groups shall last no longer than two (2) hours during regular season. 8U games shall last no longer than one hour. The home manager and director are responsible for postponing a game for weather conditions at least one hour prior to game time.

3.      No new 1/2 inning may start after the two (2) hour time limit. The final score reverts back to the last complete inning. There are no time limits for Playoff Games.

4.     Hat and shirt are minimum uniform for play; shirts will be tucked in. Players must wear their hats/visors.

5.      All additions and subtractions to your roster during the season must be brought to the attention of your director as they occur.  If a child is not listed on your roster, he/she is an ineligible player. If the child is allowed to play, the game will be considered a forfeit. (The real issue is the liability exposure we incur.)

6      A team may start a game with a minimum of 8 players. The ninth spot in batting order will be an automatic out (Excluding the 8U teams). If an injury should reduce the number of players below 8, then successive spots in order will be automatic outs.

7.      A player will be ejected from the game for throwing a bat or helmet after being warned the first time. The ejection will take place on the second offense.

8.     Field or bench chatter toward the opposing team is not allowed. Supporting one's own team or players is encouraged.

9.  Position infielders at a safe distance from the batter. A few steps in front of the bases at the most.

10.  NO ARGUING WITH UMPIRES. MAKE SURE ALL ASSISTANT COACHES AND PARENTS KNOW THIS RULE.

11.  Tobacco, alcohol, abusive language, and dogs are not allowed on the premises.

12.  Scheduled games will be played unless weather or other mitigating circumstances occur and approved by league officials.

13.  Season will end by a specified date prior to playoffs starting. Make up dates should be rescheduled within 2 weeks of a canceled game.

14.  Once the game has started, the home plate umpire will postpone or stop play due to weather conditions. DO NOT PLAY IN THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

15.  Only the team players, coaches and scorekeeper will be allowed to sit on the team benches.

16.  Team score books with player’s last name and first initial must be kept, and will be turned into the president at the end of the season. These are required for all-star games.

17.  No limit on practice games. Practice games are independent of league pitching rules.

18. DURING THE REGULAR SEASON: The players MUST get equal playing time as possible during the games that the girls show up to. There can be exceptions based on attendance, behavior, or safety concerns.  A board member needs to be contacted about the exception.   It is a league desire to stress the importance of giving all of the girls the same opportunities to play.  At all age divisions, the batting order will include all the girls that showed up to play (IE - 11 girls came to the game, all 11 are in the batting order for the entire game) This also means that free field substitution is allowed during each inning throughout the game.

     DURING THE END OF THE SEASON TOURNAMENT:  The rule to bat all of the girls is not allowed during tournament play, thus the free substitution rule does not apply.  We will follow the tournament rules in the rule book.  All players must play a minimum of six outs in the field and have one time at bat per game. If a child does not play a minimum of two innings in a game, he/she must start and play the first 4 innings in the next game. The opposing manager should circle the name of that child in the score book so the manager of the next game will know that the child must start the game.

19.  Playoffs shall be held for the 10U, 12U and 16U age groups. Playoff format will be determined in May for each age group.  

AGE LEVEL Rules:

8U Age Level Rules

1.    No more than four runs scored per inning.

2.      All players on the field at traditional positions, including a catcher. One option a coach may utilize is to have a 5th infielder playing at the second base bag.  Only one player at the pitching position. Players will rotate positions each inning.

3.      All Players bat through the line-up.

4.      An inning shall consist of either 3 outs or 4 runs.

5.      The managers or assistant coaches will pitch to his/her team.

6.      No stealing, no intentional bunting, no infield fly rule, no dropped third strike.

7.      Home runs are allowed on well-hit balls to the outfield. Otherwise, use common sense on overthrows. One base on an overthrow.

8.      A maximum of 5 pitches per batter, whether the pitch is in the strike zone or not. Foul balls count as a pitch. If the last pitch is fouled off the batter shall get another pitch.  After five pitches, the batting tee will be used.

9.      A 10" RIF #5 (reduced injury) ball must be used.

General 10U, 12U and 16U Age Level Rules

1.   Ten inning limit per week for all pitchers.

2.      Bunting is allowed at all levels.

3.      Dropped 3rd strike applies to 12U and 16U age levels.

4.   Pitching week is Monday through Sunday.

5.  All players bat through the line-up during the regular season.  During playoffs you can only bat the required number of girls in the line-up.  We will be following the handbook for tournaments.

10U Age Level Rules

 1.  Games are 6 innings; a legal game is four complete innings.

2.      Extra innings allowed as time and darkness permit.

3.      A maximum of 4 runs may be scored per team per inning. The 6^th inning will be an open run inning (not the last inning -  If the game only goes 5 innings, the maximum run rule still applies).

4.      The pitching distance is 35 feet. The softball size is 11 inches.

5.      The pitcher is limited to 3 innings per game.

6.   The pitcher will be removed from pitching if she has hit a total of 2 batters during a game. If a ball hits the ground prior to hitting the batter it shall not count towards removal of the pitcher.

7.      Stealing:  Stealing will be allowed in the 10U age division.  The girls will NOT be allowed to steal 2nd base, but they are allowed to steal 3rd base and home at their own risk to be put out.  The base runner may not leave the base until the pitched ball has crossed home plate.

8.      Ten players in the field. Four of the players must be in outfield positions.

9.   During the playoffs a pitcher may not pitch more than 6 innings in two consecutive games.  (Example - If Debbie pitches 4 innings in game one, she can ONLY pitch 2 innings in game two, but can pitch 4 innings in game 3.)

12U Age Level Rules

1.  The pitcher will be removed from pitching if she has hit a total of 2 batters during a game. If a ball hits the ground prior to hitting the batter it shall not count towards removal of the pitcher.

2.   Games are 6 innings; a legal game is four complete innings.

3.   Extra innings allowed as time and darkness permit.

4.   A maximum of 5 runs may be scored per team per inning. The 6th inning will be an open run inning (not the last inning -  If the game only goes 5 innings, the maximum run rule still applies).

5.   The pitching distance is 40 feet. The softball size is 12 inches.

6.   The pitcher is limited to 3 innings per game for the first half of the season and the date will be 5/11/13. 

7.   Leading and stealing is permitted only after the ball has crossed home plate. This rule is in effect for both the regular season and playoffs. Runner will be called out if she left base early.

8.   During the playoffs a pitcher may not pitch more than 6 innings in two consecutive games.  (Example:  If Debbie pitches 4 innings in game one, she can ONLY pitch 2 innings in game two, but can pitch 4 innings in game 3.) 

16U Age Level Rules

1.  The pitcher will be removed from pitching if she has hit a total of 2 batters during a game. If a ball hits the ground prior to hitting the batter it shall not count towards removal of the pitcher.

2.  Games are 7 innings; a legal game is five complete innings.

3.  Extra innings allowed as time and darkness permit.

4.  A maximum of 5 runs may be scored per team per inning. The 7th inning will he an open run inning (not the last inning -  If the game only goes 6 innings, the maximum run rule still applies).

5.  The pitching distance is 43 feet. The softball size is 12 inches.

6.  The runner may leave the base on the release of the pitch when stealing or leading off.

7.  During the playoffs with the exception of rule 1 and rule 6, there are NO pitching limits for a pitcher.