| January 14, 2020 |
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| 1. Report any problems that may occur to your league director as soon as possible. |
| A copy of these rules should be with you at every game. |
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| 2. 6U An inning consists of one time through the batter order. |
| No new inning may start after 60 minutes. |
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| 8U 5 innings or no new inning starts after 75 minutes. |
| An inning consists of 3 outs or 6 runs, whichever comes first. |
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| 10U 6 innings or no new inning starts after 75 minutes |
| an inning consists of 3 outs or 6 runs, whichever comes first |
| after 1st walk (runner may not go to 2nd base) of each inning, coach pitch, 2 pitches |
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| 12U 7 innings or no new inning starts after 75 minutes |
| 7 runs max per inning |
| after the 3rd walk of each inning, batter gets 2 pitches from a coach |
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| 16U 7 innings or no new inning starts after 75 minutes |
| 7 runs max per inning |
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| Games should be played until the time has expired, even if one team has no chance of |
| winning. However, the umpire will stop the game when time has expired after the |
| player batting has finished her turn at bat. |
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| 3. If a game starts after the scheduled time due to a shortage of players (less than 7), the |
| elapsed time is subtracted from the total game time. If the required minimum number of |
| players can't be fielded within 10 minutes of the scheduled game time, a forfeit shall be |
| declared. |
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| 4. A minimum of 7 players and a maximum of 10 players may play the field at one time |
| for each team. Once a game is started, a team cannot forfeit because it is unable |
| to field the required minimum of 7 players. |
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| 5. If a game start is delayed due to inclement weather, or any reason other than a |
| shortage of players, the elapsed time of the delay shall be added to the total game |
| time. Any scheduled regular season Monday thru Thursday (school night) game that |
| is delayed by more than 30 minutes will be rescheduled. |
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| 6. There will be no rescheduling of games other than for inclement weather. |
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| 7. The umpire is the official time keeper. |
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| 8. The team listed last on the schedule will be the home team and shall occupy the |
| 3rd base dugout. The home team will supply 1 new and 1 used ball for each game. |
| After the game, both balls will be returned to the home team by the umpire. The |
| home team scorebook is the official scorebook. After each game, each team must |
| report the game score within 24 hours. Report using team numbers. |
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| 9. Once an inning has started, it must be completed, with the exception of inclement weather. |
| An inning officially begins at the time of the 3rd out of the preceding inning. |
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| 10. Games may end in a tie. Extra innings will be allowed if there is time remaining. |
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| 11. Late arriving players must be reported to the umpire and the opposing coach. |
| Late arriving players must be added to the bottom of the batting order and will |
| be allowed to play regardless of when they arrive. A player is late if not there |
| for the 1st pitch of the game. |
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| 12. A coach is allowed one charged conference per inning. On the second conference, |
| the pitcher must be removed for that inning. |
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| 13. When the pitcher is on the rubber in the set position, no more than six defensive |
| players including the pitcher and catcher, may be positioned in the infield. The |
| infield is defined as the clay area in front of the outfield grass. |
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| 14. The catcher speed up rule is in effect and mandatory with 2 outs. The player |
| replacing the catcher shall be the player who made the last batted out. |
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| 15. Bases & Pitching Rubbers: division bases rubber ball |
| 6U, 8U, 10U 60' 35' 11" |
| 12U 60' 40' 12" |
| 16U 60' 43' 12" |
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| 16. In the event of an injury during a player's time at bat or while running the bases, |
| a courtesy runner may be used to replace the injured player only at the discretion |
| of the umpire. A courtesy runner can only be used when the injured player is not |
| physically able to continue playing the game. This courtesy runner must be the |
| player who made the previous out. The injured player may later re-enter the game |
| only at the discretion of the umpire. |
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| 17. If for any reason, including injury, a player leaves the game early, her place in |
| the batting order is deleted (not resulting in an out) and the batters to follow |
| move up. This is not up to the discretion of the coaches. It is the offensive |
| team's responsibility to notify the umpire and the opposing team of this situation. |
| However, if a player for any reason, including injury, leaves the game after the |
| completion of the 5th inning or the last 5 minutes of the game, that player's |
| position in the batting order will result in an out should that position come up |
| to bat. The game cannot end on that player's out. |
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| 18. Metal cleats are not allowed |
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| 19. There will be no intentional walks allowed. |
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| 20. Stealing; base runners may leave the base when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. When a |
| coach is pitching, base runners can't leave the base until the ball reaches home plate. |
| 8U & 6U can't leave the base until the ball reaches home plate. |
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| 21. 10U Stealing: only 1 base can be stolen at a time. If the catcher throws down to 2nd |
| or 3rd base and the ball heads to the outfield the runner must remain at that base. Home |
| cannot be stolen, it must be earned on a hit or a walk if it's the 1st walk of the inning. |
| Runner can steal home only if the catcher or pitcher throws the ball to 3rd base. |
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| 22. Coaches for the team in the field are not allowed outside their team's assigned |
| dugout area during live play. Coaches may stand in the opening to the dugout or |
| in the area directly in front of the dugout. There is a maximum of 4 adult |
| coaches allowed on the field or in the dugout. |
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| 23. There is no bunting or stealing when the coach is pitching in the 10U & 12U divisions. |
| The adult coach must pitch from the pitching rubber. When there is a coach pitch |
| situation, the coach is to be the pitcher only and may not coach from that position. |
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| 24. No jewelry is to be worn by any player. |
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| 25. No player may sit two or more innings in a row. No player may sit a second inning |
| until every other player has sat once. |
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| 26. All team members and coaches are required to shake hands with the opposing team after |
| the game. Teams start at 1st & 3rd base and meet near the pitcher's circle. |
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| 27. Batters may not show bunt, bringing in the fielders and then swing away. |
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| 28. On ball 4 that brings in the coach to pitch, the ball is dead and runners cannot advance. |
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| 29. Player's age will be determined by the current USSSA age eligibility chart. |
| Age is as of 12/31/19. |
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| 6U & 8U Divisions |
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| 1. 6U is a non-competitive age group. |
| All coaches should work together to help develop all of the players. Players should |
| be encouraged to play a variety of positions. |
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| 2. There are no walks, no stealing, no bunting, no infield fly rule, and no mercy rule. |
| There are no win/loss records in the 6U. |
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| 3. 6U: Every player bats and plays in the field. |
| 8U: 12 players max in the field. Players should be rotated between the infield & outfield. |
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| 4. 6U will have a 5’ mark in front of home indicating a fair ball |
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| 5. The pitcher and 1st baseman must wear a helmet or facemask. |
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| 6. Seven players constitute a team. The opposing team can supply players to help even out the |
| teams. A maximum of 6 players may be positioned in the infield (pitcher, catcher, 1B, 2B, |
| 3B, SS). Outfielders must be 10' or more behind the baseline. (Edge of grass at |
| Betti Stradling, Cypress Park, and Sabal 2.) |
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| 7. A catcher must be used in 8U. It is optional in 6U. The catcher must wear a helmet, mask, |
| chest protector,and shin guards. A parent or coach may be positioned behind the catcher to |
| assist in retrieving the ball. The catcher should be positioned no more than 6' behind |
| home plate. |
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| 8. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field. They should be positioned behind the |
| outfielders. There are four offensive coaches. 1st base coach, 3rd base coach, pitcher, and |
| catcher. The adult pitcher is to attend to the batter only and not coach from there. |
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| 9. 8U: 5 pitches maximum to each batter (exception: if 5th pitch is fouled off,keep batting) |
| Batter who throws the bat will be given a warning. The second time will be called out. |
| 6U: 4 pitches from a coach, then 3 tries off a batting tee |
| 6U has the option to use the batting tee 100% of the time |
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| 10. The pitch will be a flat pitch. The coach may move out of the pitcher's circle |
| to get closer (minimum of 25’) to the batter. The player / fielder must remain in |
| the pitcher's circle. In 8U, only one player may be in the pitcher's circle. |
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| 11. A batted ball that hits the coach who is pitching shall be called a dead ball. |
| The ball is dead. Pitch doesn't count. The batter gets up again. |
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| 12. 6U: No extra base on any overthrow. |
| 8U: Runners may advance 1 base on any overthrow to any base or a ball in foul territory. |
| Playing one base at a time on any routine play. |
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| 13. There will be no leads on the bases. |
| Base runner is allowed to leave the base only after the ball crosses the plate. |
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| 14. If a runner is not more than half way to the next base at the time of any of the |
| above, the runner must return to the previous base. |
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| 15. Time is called (8U) when one of the following occurs; ***** |
| *When the umpire calls time |
| *Pitcher has the ball in the circle |
| *When the ball is held in the base line in front of the lead runner |
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| ***** In an effort to better teach softball base running, the umpires will be asked to make |
| more judgement calls on extra bases taken by the runners. They will be asking themselves |
| would a runner be going to the next base if this was a 16U game. |
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| some examples; |
| 1. ball is dropped by 1st baseman, runner takes off to 2nd runner will be sent back |
| 2. pitcher drops the ball and it rolls out of the circle runner will be sent back |
| 3. ground ball to the ss and batter goes to 2nd without stopping runner will be sent back |