2016 Season
Girls Softball Rules
Ages: 9-11
www.leaguelineup.com/ncsoftball
Regular girl’s ASA high school softball rules apply except as modified herein.
1. Eligibility – as of Jan 1st the player must be between the ages of 9 and 11 years old. An 8 year old may be permitted
to participate based on ability, availability and evaluation by 2 coaches and league director. An 11 year old may be
permitted to move up to the 12-14 year old league based on ability, availability and evaluation by two coaches and a
league director. Only registered players are allowed to participate, otherwise a forfeit will occur.
2. Travel team players are allowed to play on 9-11 leagues. All travel team, and school ball (any school where they play
softball) players will be randomly assigned and evenly distributed to team by way of a draw. You may pitch a travel
or school ball player a total of 3 innings. They will be indicated on the roster by the letters (TT-Travel Team, or SBSchool. There will be a maximum of four travel team, or school players per team. Recreational league players will not
be sat out in preference of a travel team, or school player. It will be the coach’s responsibility to insure that no Travel
team player will be allowed to play more innings than a recreation league player. Penalty-- Failure to disclose a travel
team or school player will result in loss of all games played in.
3. Equipment – rubber spikes are encouraged. Sneakers are a mandatory minimum. No sandals, loafers, boots or metal
spikes. Catcher must wear a goalie style mask, chest and shin protectors. Players must wear double ear flap helmets
with approved NOCSAF cage while batting or at the on deck circle. Base runners may wear the double flap helmet
without the cage. Chin straps must be securely fastened. Base Running Helmets must also be worn by any player in
the coaches boxes on first and third .Wearing the helmet improperly or removing the helmet during live play and
judged by the umpire to be a deliberate act shall cause the violator to be declared out immediately. All players must
wear full length or baseball pants or shorts. If shorts are worn, sliding shorts are highly recommended. Each team
will supply a game ball and retain it after the game. Game ball must be of the following specs – 11” ASA softball,
.375 #, .47 core, and yellow with red stitching.
4. Field Condition and Game Cancellations – both coaches must agree to play if the field is questionable due to rain.
No game will start and the game will be stopped if lightning occurs. Coaches must contact the town’s recreation
department and reschedule the game as soon as possible. Amount of innings completed before rain is per ASA
rulebook. No postponements except for rain or lightning. Restarting of lightning delayed game will be in
compliance with ASA & all umpire association guidelines. If you can’t field a team, you must forfeit the game.
Because the girls are already there and if both coaches agree the game may be played for fun and to give the girls an
opportunity to practice. Remember the game is already forfeited and is being played for fun. Home team coach is
responsible for rescheduling any postponed game. They must contact the opposing teams coach and the town’s
recreation department and reschedule the game. Game must be played within two weeks of postponed game weather
permitting. Unfinished games must start with all original players in same position and batters count as it was when
game was stopped.
5. Penalty for not playing a postponed game within two weeks, weather permitting, will result in the game being
declared a tie.
6. Field – bases are 60 feet apart and pitcher’s mound is set 35 feet. Home team takes 3rd base side benches.
Home team will be designated by schedule.
7. Game Time –All games start at 6:00 pm and a forfeit may be declared by the team with a full complement
of players after 6:15 pm. No inning will start after 8:30 pm (except for ties). Warm ups before the game as
follows: Home Team – 5:25-5:40, visitor – 5:40-5:55.
8. Game Length – 6 innings. An inning is complete after 3 outs or 6 runs. A game is official after 4
complete innings due to darkness or rain. Tie games are decided by extra innings and may be played until
darkness occurs. If called, the game will continue on a future date. – No team may score more than 6 runs
in an inning. Once 6 runs have been scored, the teams will switch offensive and defensive positions.
9. Playing Time – all players must play a minimum of two innings.
10. Number of Players Allowed – 6 players in the infield and 4 players in the outfield. Outfielders must play
in the grass area beyond the infield. A game may be played if a team only has 8 players. 7 players or less
constitutes a forfeit. You may play with ten defensive players. The tenth player must be an “outfielder”.
Note!!! No player showing up after the end of the second inning will be allowed to play.
11. Call-up players – A player can be called up to play in the 12-14 league provided they are placed on a
rotating call-up list provided to the Recreation Department by the coach.
12. Substitution – unlimited free substitution at any position without notifying the opposing team. – Starting
Pitcher may return once to the mound.
13. Courtesy Runner – Limit of 3 per game using the last out. Catcher can be substituted at any time.
14. Speed-up Substitution – after 2 outs the batter making the last out may substitute for a catcher who is on
base.
15. Batting Order – all players present for a game must be placed in the batting lineup and bat in that order for
the entire game regardless of whether they are in the field or not. Batting order remains unchanged
regardless of position substitutions. Batting out of order is an automatic out and that batter loses her turn. If
a player is injured, the team will not take an out. This is an honor system and I trust no coach will take a
girl out of the game to get to the next batter.
16. Sliding – is allowed and should be used to avoid contact. An umpire may call the base runner out for not
sliding to avoid a collision with an opposing player.
17. Stealing – is NOT permitted at all.
18. Dropped Third Strike-Not used for this age group
19.
Bunting – is NOT permitted.
20. Leaving a Base Early – No Leadoffs! If a runner is caught leaving any base early by the umpire, the
umpire will give the head coach or acting head coach of that team a verbal warning and the next time any
runner is caught leaving any base early by the umpire the runner will be called out.
21. Fly Balls – runner may advance at their own risk after tagging-up….after a ball is caught in fair or foul
territory.
22. Overthrows – if a ball is overthrown from anywhere in the field of play, the runner may advance one (1)
base from the base where the overthrow took place. An example would be if an overthrow happened at
second base the runner would be awarded third base. There will only be one overthrow per play. Runners
already on base will move forwarded as needed to make room for the extra base awarded. The ball is
returned to the pitcher and play resumes. This intended to keep the score from getting out of hand because
of multiple overthrows.
23. Dead Ball / Play—For the purpose of determining when a play is ended and when the pitcher has
control, a circle will be painted extending out 8’ from the center of the pitcher’s mound. If the pitcher has
the ball inside of the circle the play is dead. One foot inside the pitching circle constitutes control. If the
pitcher has the ball anywhere outside the circle it is a live ball.
24. Pitching – A maximum of 4 innings per game or 9 innings per week. Pitch count must be turned in to
Tracy @ [email protected] following each game. If the game goes into overtime either pitcher
may resume pitching. Violation of this rule is loss of game.
a.
Double Header—In the event of a double header on the same night a pitcher will be allowed to pitch a maximum
of 6 innings per night—example…..3 innings first game and 3 innings the second game…or 4 innings the first
game and 2 innings the second game …etc. The 9 innings per week rule remains in effect.
25. A total of 6 warm up pitches allowed per inning. NO 12 year old player staying down from the 12-14 age
groups may pitch in any game. Any player “turning” 12 during the regular season, including playoffs
may continue to pitch. Pitcher must start with both feet on the rubber. Pitcher’s mound is set at 35 feet.
Windmill pitching is not allowed at this age level to prevent shoulder and elbow damage to young players.
This is basically an underhand pitching league. Pitchers hand may be brought back to shoulder height and
then forward to release the ball. Player must have 1 foot in contact with the rubber when releasing the ball.
If a pitcher hits two batters in one inning or a total of three batters in the games, that pitcher cannot pitch
anymore in that game.
26. Infield Fly Rule – will not be used.
27. Ejection – automatic ejection for a player, coach or parent throwing equipment in anger, use of profanity
and physical confrontation. An umpire may ask a coach or spectator to leave the ballpark for heckling or
use of profanity – no warnings. Game will be forfeited if offender refuses to leave. 1 game additional
suspension for first ejection and three game suspension for 2nd offense.
28. Intentional Distraction – No players, coaches or spectators are allowed anywhere behind the backstop
area. A tarp will be used if possible directly behind home plate. Coaches and assistant coaches will not be
permitted to stand inside the fencing by the backstop area or along the baseline unless acting as a coach at
first or third base. Only listed players and coaches will be allowed in the dugout area. If a person will not
leave they will be ejected.(see rule #29)
29. Chanting -Coordinated chanting, name calling, heckling, singing, or screaming in a manner such
as
to demeanor, insult, or degrade, a batter, player from either team, official, coach, or spectator will not be
tolerated. This is a recreational league and is designed to be a fun competition. This type of behavior only
aggravates the person it is directed at and encourages retaliation from the other team. It is each team coach’s
responsibility to insure that both team players and spectators are aware of the rule. The team bench and or
coach will be given one warning. If the infraction occurs a second time, those players or coaches will be
removed from the rotation for the rest of the game. Unruly spectators will be asked to leave the field before
play will resume.
30. Base Coaches – the coaches will have final decision on who is allowed to coach bases and be in the dugout
area. Although it is recommended for everyone, anyone acting as a base coach under the age of 18 is
required to use a batting helmet.
31. Game Scores – both team coaches coach must report game score to Tracy @ [email protected]
within 48 hours. If a score is not reported within 48 hours, the game will be recorded as a tie. No
Exceptions! First and last names must be in scorebooks.
32. Protest Policy – judgment calls are not grounds for a protest. Game must be stopped at the moment of the
protest. No play continues until the umpire and other coach are notified and the umpire signs both coaches’
scorebooks at the time of the protest. All protests must be made by 4:00 pm of the next business day by
email to the Tracy @ [email protected] and in writing to your recreation director. The protest
must follow the ASA policy as dictated in the current rule book. We also request that the umpire sign the
book at the time of the protest. Ineligible player protests must follow the policy listed and before the last
pitch. A decision will be rendered in writing within 72 hours of the protest by the “protest committee”. The
umpire and both coaches may be present at the meeting. If you protest and it is not ruled in your favor you
will be suspended for 1 game. - Protest Committee will be made up of a director from your town and 2 other
directors from the NC Softball league. It will be the protest and rules committee who determine the final
decision on a rules infraction.
33. Injury – in the event of a serious injury, the recreation director must be notified immediately. The coach is
required to submit a written accident report to the Recreation Department within 24 hours for any injury.
34. Jewelry – no jewelry period, is to worn by any player during the softball game. This includes scrounges,
fund raising bracelets, earrings, etc; Only medical alert jewelry may be worn.
35. Safety – all players must be seated in the dugout area, not hanging on the fence, wandering about, etc.
Restroom privileges must be given by a coach. All bats must be in bat racks, or neatly stacked against the
fence, all balls in a ball bag, or out of the path that players traverse. No equipment on the ground where it
may cause a tripping hazard. If any equipment is abused, team will be assessed a fee equal to replacement
cost.
36. No drinking of alcoholic beverages anywhere near the Bench or Diamond Area. Soft drink cans only are
allowed, no glass, and you must clean up after yourself.
37. Switching Teams – any girl wishing to switch teams must have the okay of both coaches, the parents, and
the Recreation Director as long as the season has not yet started. After the season has started, only hardship
cases will be considered and must have approval from both coaches and Recreation Director. Use of a
coaches committee & Recreation Director may be called upon if a decision cannot be reached.
38. Playoffs – Only one playoff game will be scheduled per team per night. Unfinished games will be
completed on the first available open night and must start with all original players in same position and
batters count as it was when game was stopped. Season record will determine home field advantage. In the
event of a tie, head to head record will be used. If still tied, a coin flip will be used. Players must play in
greater than 50% of completed regular season games to be eligible for playoffs. It is the coaches’
responsibility to know eligibility. Playing non eligible players will result in a forfeit.
39. Lightning – Because of concerns for safety, our insurance carrier has decided to adopt the ASA & Lockport
umpires recommendation for lightning. The 30 minute restart rule will be in effect. Once the first flash of
lightning is seen or clap of thunder is heard the game will be suspended. There will be a 30 minute wait
period before the game can resume. If another sighting of lightning is seen or thunder is heard during that 30
minute wait period the clock is reset from that point for another 30 minutes. The umpire’s decision is final.
For safety reasons no game called by an umpire because of lightning will be considered “official” if played
without a “certified/or town qualified” umpire officiating.
40. Clothing---Coaches and umpires will be responsible to insure that all players wear appropriate attire. Shorts must be
half way between the waist and the knees. (No Short-Shorts) Shirt should be tucked in for safety reasons. A player
may wear a shirt full length if they wish. Shirts will not be tied up around the chest area exposing bare skin. Players
must understand this is a uniform and they are not on the beach.