Softball Rules

Bases Loaded Softball General Rules

 

The HOME TEAM shall furnish a scorekeeper (age 16 or older) for each game. This is considered the OFFICIAL BOOK. In the event there is any question as to the score, location of runners or batting lineup, this is the OFFICIAL BOOK and the Umpire will look to this book and scorekeeper for any clarification. The scorekeeper shall sit in the scorekeeper's box. The HOST park shall provide an Official (15 Player) Scorebook to be used for the recording of all games. The Scorekeeper must enter the game data in this Official Scorebook.  Each team shall furnish an adult scoreboard operator (16 or older). The scorekeepers shall be treated with the same respect as any other game official. The umpire may remove any fan displaying unsportsmanlike behavior towards a scorekeeper. Rosters should be on hand with the official book and shall only be inspected by an umpire or tournament director.

 

Any call by an umpire that is solely a matter of judgement is final and not subject to protest. Only rule interpretation and player eligibility questions are subject to protest.

 

All protests concerning player eligibility or rule interpretation must be accompanied by a $100.00 cash protest fee. This fee will be returned if the protest is upheld.

 

Player eligibility may be settled after a game if made during the game, but must be settled before the game if protested before the start of play. Furnishing of a birth certificate (original or copy) at time of protest shall be sufficient to rule a player eligible or not, if age of player is protested.

 

Rule interpretation protests will be made to the home plate umpire at the time of the occurrence, and before play is resumed. The home plate umpire will notify the official scorekeeper who will notify the Tournament Director or his designee. The tournament director will rule on the protest.

 

PLAYER AND TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Each player’s age shall be the age she was as of December 31st, the year before the Tournament. (Example: If the tournament is held in 2008 it would be the players age on December 31st, 2007, at 11:59:59 PM) This follows the ASA Rule book for a player’s

 

EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS

1. The home team (s) shall furnish ASA approved softballs for each division level as follows:

Minor      11-inch, yellow-red stitch, .47 core, .375 compression

             

2. All players must wear shoes and numbered jerseys. Team jerseys shall be the same color. Two (2) players on the same team cannot wear the same number.

3.  No player may wear metal cleats, jewelry, metal hair clips, or hair beads.

4. The wearing of caps or visors and headbands will be optional for each player, not each team. If worn they may be mixed, but must be worn properly. If one type or more than one type is worn, they all must be of the same color. Handkerchiefs DO NOT qualify as headbands and cannot be worn around the head or neck.. Plastic visors are not allowed.

 5.  Batters may not sling the bat as they swing at the pitch. Batters will be warned once, after which, they will be called out for slinging the bat. When a batter is called out for slinging the bat, an immediate dead ball will be called and all runners will be required to return to the base previously occupied at the time of the pitch.

 6. All batters, including on deck batters and base runners in all age divisions, must wear a batting helmet with chinstrap. All age divisions are also required to have a facemask on all helmets.

 7.     10U pitchers must wear a face mask and heart (chest) protection.

 8.     In all age groups bats must meet the ASA requirements for legal bats.

 

PLAYING FIELD SPECIFICATIONS

10 & Under

Bases Distance 60 Feet

Pitching Distance 35 Feet
 
Inclement Weather

 In the event a game has to be called due to Rain or Inclement Weather at least half the game would have to be played to be considered a complete game. As in Rule 5.04 the following number of completed innings will determine if the game was a complete regulation game. If the game is called at some point beyond this point the winner of the game will be determined by the score of the last complete inning. Example: If a 6 & Under game was in the 5^th inning and the game was called due to Rain or Inclement Weather the winner would be determined by the score at the end of the completed 4^th inning.

Fast Pitch Regulation Game
                         

   10 & Under   

   Time Limit          1 hr. 20 min.        

   3 Runs - First 3 innings

   5 Runs - 4 and beyond

 

1.10 & UNDER DIVISION RULES

1.   Stealing of home is allowed. Whether passed ball or delayed.

2.  A maximum of one base can be stolen by each runner per pitch (no additional advance on an overthrow).

3.  The batter may not advance on a dropped 3rd strike.

4.  There is no infield-fly rule.

5.  Batter is allowed to steal 2nd base on a walk. Runner can advance (steal) to 2nd base on a walk when their forward motion is not interrupted. Look back rule is in effect.