Baseball-Softball-Basketball

Updated 05/27/24

Summer RULES – 9/10YOSoftball & 11/13YO Softball
In case of rain, see our Rain out Policy link for how games are completed.

See our Required Behavior for requirements for all participants.

Equipment
1. Our club provides game balls and catcher's gear. Any use of non-league provided catcher's gear must follow what we supply - one piece catcher's helmet, chest protector and shin guards.
2. ALL bats must comply with USA Softball Bat Performance Standard as used in the spring and fall county league governed by WCPR. Use of any other bat results in an out called. This is treated as a dead ball where runners return to the base prior to the struck ball.

Before the Game
1. Games and practices will be cancelled due to weather on the decision of the league. We will provide 48-hour notice on rescheduled games.
2. Teams are to warm up in the outfield prior to the game with no use of the infield – fair or foul territory – before the game. We do this to preserve the game prep that occurs to the field.
3. Teams are to be in the dugout area ready to start the game 5 minutes prior to the scheduled game start.
4. The coach that attends the plate meeting prior to the game will be the only coach that communicates with the umpire throughout the game concerning rule interpretations. Judgement calls may not be disputed.

Field & Game Limits
1. Base paths are 60'.
2.  Pitcher rubber to home plate is 35' for the 9/10YO division and 40' for the 11/13YO division.
3. Music is not allowed to be played during or prior to games.
4.  The infield fly rule does not apply.
5.  The dropped third strike rule applies only for the 11/13YO division.
6. Fake bunting and swinging for a pitch are not allowed and the batter will be called out.
7. There are no bunting limits.
8. There are 4 outfielders, 4 infielders, a pitcher and a catcher on defense. Players must be in their position as shifting is not allowed.
9. While we do not keep score, an inning is complete when a team scores 5 runs or 3 outs are recorded, whichever occurs first.
10. Games end at 90 minutes.
11.  A team receives a warning for any player slinging the bat and any slinging of a bat after the warning results in an out for anyone on the team receiving the warning.

Player Participation
1. All players must be in the batting order to bat.
2. Players are not to sit consecutive innings in the field meaning a player can play 1B in the 1st, sit in the 2nd, play 1B in the 3rd but cannot sit the 1st and 2nd.
3. Players arriving after game time are to be placed at the bottom of the order.
4. Courtesy runners are encouraged to be used for catchers. Use the last batted out as the courtesy runner. The 'catcher of record' is the only player that can have a courtesy runner used. The 'catcher of record' would be the player in the catcher position when the team was last in the field, not the planned catcher for the next inning.

Stoppage of Play
1. This is a stop the runner format.

Coach Participation & Positioning
1.   No more than 4 coaches can participate to coach during a game.
2. When on offense, teams can have a 1st base coach, a 3rd base coach and one coach in front of the dugout. All other coaches must be in the dugout.
3. When on defense, teams are limited to one coach being in front of the dugout. All other coaches must be in the dugout. The one coach standing in front of the dugout must remain in front of the dugout and not towards home plate or a base or the outfield.

9/10YO Pitching Rule
1. After three (3) consecutive or four (4) batters per inning, have been awarded base by either four balls or being hit by pitch, the offensive team’s manager or coach comes in to pitch the rest of the inning.
a. The pitches from the offensive fast pitch coach must be at minimum a modified fast pitch. No slow pitches/lobbing off ball will be allowed. The coach pitcher must pitch from the 35’ pitching rubber. The defensive pitcher must remain even with or behind the 35’ rubber, with at least one foot in the pitching circle.
b. On a walk, runner may steal second, as long as time has not been called/pitcher is not in control of the ball within the circle.
c. Once a coach comes in to pitch the same coach will have to remain pitching for the completion of the inning.
d. Coach will perform modified fast pitch and not exceed height of shoulders. First violation is a warning and second and further infractions will result in loss of pitch.

Player Shortage & Sub Rules
1. Only players registered in our league may serve as a sub and those subs must be registered in the current age division or younger. What division the player is registered to is what division they are classified from.
2. Teams using a player outside of our league results in a forfeit and head coach suspension for next two games.
3. A sub may play any position except pitcher and catcher and a sub must bat in the lineup as 5th or later. Subs must wear their team's uniform and not the uniform of the team they are subbing for.
4. Subs cannot be added to the lineup card once the game starts.
5. Teams may start a game with no less than 8 players. There is no grace period to wait for players. The game is stopped if there are less than 8 players at any point and recorded as a forfeit. If a team has 8 players in the batting lineup in the regular season, the 9th spot is not recorded as an out. During the tournament, it would be an out.
6.  If a player starts the game and leaves for any reason, they will be skipped in the order
7. Teams are only allowed to add a sub if they have fewer than 10 players.

Base running
1.  Lead offs are not allowed 9/10YO play. The runner cannot advance off the base until a thrown pitch passes home plate. If a player leaves early, a team gets one player warning, and then each player thereafter is called out. This is a judgement call by the umpire and not a call that can be challenged.
2.  Any base can be stolen. Once the pitcher is on the mound, the play is considered stopped until the next pitch.
3.  Players must attempt to avoid contact. A Player can be called out if contact is not avoided; this is a judgment call by the umpire.
4. On any play at home plate, players must slide feet first, if sliding and avoid a collision with the catcher. If not sliding, they must also avoid a collision. The catcher may block the plate only if he has the ball. A head-first slide at home is recorded as an out.
5.  A base runner is required to do whatever is needed to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. A runner is out for running out of the baseline, only when attempting to avoid a tag.