BethelRecreationAssociation
GirlsFastPitch3rd-6thGrades
Rules(Updated4/24/17)
GENERALLEAGUERULES
TheNationalFederationofStateHighSchoolAssociationSoftballRulesshallbeusedasaguidelineforallotherrules
concerninghowbaseballistobeplayed.
TEAMS
1. Teamrosterswillbecomposedofgirlsinseparateleagues3rd,4th,5th&6th.
2. Teamsstartingagamewithlessthannine(9)playersmustinsertlatearrivalsatthebottomofthelineup.Allplayersmust
beinsertedintothelineup.
3. Ateamunabletofieldateamofatleasteight(8)playersatthestartofthegamewillforfeitthatgameaftera10-minute
graceperiodafterthescheduledstartingtime.Ifgraceperiodisusedthegametimewillbecutby10minutes.
THEPLAYINGFIELD
1. Baseline:3rd&4thGrades-Fifty-foot(50')5th&6thGrades-Sixty-foot(60’)
2. Pitchingdistance:3rd&4thGrades-thirtyfive-foot(35’).5th&6thGrades-forty-foot(40’)
EQUIPMENT
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5.
Nometalcleatswillbeallowed.
Balls-3rd&4thGrades:Eleveninch(11")SAFETY#1yellowball.5th&6thGrades:Eleveninch(11”)yellowsoftball
Bats-officialsoftballbatswillbeusedandmustbetapedorwrappedatthehandle.
Offensiveplayersonthefieldofplaybatting,ondeckorrunningbasesmustwearbattinghelmets.
CatchersGearthatwillbeissuedandmustbewornbyallcatchersincludes:catcher’shelmet/mask,chestprotectorandshin
guards.
6. Theofficialswillprovidethegameballs.
7. AllplayersmustweartheirBethelRec.issuedT-shirtsorlikecoloredshirtinitsabsence.
8. Illegalequipmentshallberemovedfromthegame.
GAMEGUIDELINES
1. Scoreandstandingswillbekeptanditisthecoach’sresponsibilitytoupdatetheirscoreontheBethelRecreationwebsite
aftereachgame.
2. The home team shall take the third base side of the field and visiting team 1st base side. The home team is the official
scorebookandmustrecordthetimethegamestartsandends.
3. GameswillbepostponedorcanceledonlybytheBethelRecreationAssociationDirectororFieldSupervisor/Adultumpire.
4. IncaseofBADWEATHERcoachesandparentsshould1)checkourwebsiteatbethelrec.orgforupdatestodetermineifthe
gameswillbeplayed.Wedonotcontactyou.
5. Ifgameshavenotbeencanceledby4:00pmbytheassociationbothteamsmustappearatthegamesitereadytoplayorthe
non-appearingteamshallforfeitthegameregardlessofplayingconditionsduetoweatherorotherwise.TheAdultUmpire
orFieldSupervisorshallbethesolejudgeastotheconditionofthefieldofplayafter4:00pm.Gamesmustbeplayedas
scheduledorforfeited.
6. MakeupgamesmayberescheduledonanydayMondaythroughSaturday.
7. Officials-BethelRec.willassignoneumpirefor2nd-6thgradegamesandwhenpossibletwofor5th/6thgradegames.
8. Spectatorsandcoachesarenotallowedtostanddirectlybehindthebackstopand/ortheumpire.
9. CHATTERING:A“no”chatteringrulewillbeinplaceforallleagues.Playersinthefieldmaynotchatterwhileaplayerisat
bat.Cheersmaybedonefromthedug-out,bytheteambatting,aslongasthecheersarepositiveandarenotnegative
againsttheopposingteam.
10. GameLength:
3rd&4th-Gamesarelimitedtosixinnings.Nonewinningmaystartafter1hourand15minuteshasexpired.
5th&6th-Gamesarelimitedtosixinnings.Nonewinningmaystartafter1hour45minutes.
• Ifaninningisinprogress,thatinningwillbeplayedtoitsconclusion.
Timestartswiththefirstpitchofthegame.
Iftimeorweatherdoesnotpermitafullgame,4innings(3½inningsifthehometeamisahead)shallconstitutean
officialgame.
• A10-runruleisineffectafter4innings(3½inningsifthehometeamisahead),orthecompletionofanyinning
thereafter.Thewinningteamshallbedeclaredthegamewinneratthatpoint.
• Acalledgameendinginatiewillremainatie.
11. Ateamisallowedtoscoreamaximumoffive(5)runsinanyinninguntilthesixthinningorlastinningcalledbytheofficial.In
thesixthinningorlastinningcalledbytheofficialunlimitedrunscanbescored.
12. Onlytwoplayersmayhaveabatintheirhandwhenonoffense:theplayeruptobatandondeck.
13. Anymatternotcoveredintheserulesandregulationsshallbelefttothediscretionofthedirector,supervisororofficial,if
oneispresentatyourgame.
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PLAYINGRULES
OFFENSE&BATTING
1. Allplayerspresentatthegamewillbelistedinthebattingorder(everyonebats).
2. Whenplayersareunabletobatduetoinjury,leavingorothervalidreasonsbattersmoveupinthebattingorderandtheofficial
scorekeepermustbenotified.Nooutistaken.
3. Ifaplayerisejectedfromthegame,thatplayerwillbeanoutintheline-up.
4. Offensiveplayersonthefieldofplaymustwearabattinghelmet.
5. Noheadfirstsliding.Runnerwillbecalledout.Divingbacktoabaseisallowed.
6. Bunting-isNOTallowedfor3rd&4thGrades.Buntingisallowedin5th&6thGrades.
7. Baserunners are NOT allowed to “take out” a defensive player who has possession of the ball. A “NO contact“ rule will be
enforced.Runnermustmakeanefforttoavoidfielder.Ifthereisacloseplayatabase,therunnermustslideORavoid.Penalty:
Runnerwillbeout.Acatcherhastherighttoblockhomeplateifsheisinpossessionoftheballorintheactofreceivingtheball.
8. Droppedthirdstrike-
3rd-4thGrades:Thebatterisautomaticallyout.
5th & 6th Grades: The batter can run to first base if first base is unoccupied or there are 2 outs. All grades-The ball is
consideredliveandbaserunnersmayadvanceattheirownrisk.
9. Leadingoff&Stealing-Leadingoffisnotallowedforallgrades.Runnersleavingearlywillbecalledout.
3rd&4thGrades:Therunnermaynotleavethebaseandattempttostealuntilafterthepitchedballcrosseshomeplate.
5th&6thGrades:Abaserunnercanattempttostealoncetheballleavesthepitchershand.
10. StealingHome-3rd&4thGrades:Arunnermaynotstealhomewhenstartingfromthird.Runnersmayadvancehomeifstealing
from1stor2ndbaseifitisacontinuationofaplaynaliveball.Runnersbeginningat3rdbasecanonlycomehomeifhitin,
walked,orballoutoffieldofplayadvancesthemin.5th&6thGrades:runnerscanstealhomeonapassedballandonanerrant
throwtothepitcher.Aplayercanalsostealhomeonaliveball.Oncethepitcherisinthepitcherscircle,theballistermeddead
andtherunnermustbeonthebag.
11. Runnersmustslideathomeifthereisacloseplayathome.Ifthereisnoplayontherunnercominghometoscore–catchermust
get out of the way of the runner or be called for interference. Failure to slide when necessary is an out (officials discretion –
decisionisfinal).
12. Runnerswhoare½waytothebaseonanoverthrowoutofthefieldofplay,willadvancetothenextbase.Overthrowto1stbase
movestherunnerrunningto1stbasetosecondbase.Overthrowto3rdbasemovestherunnerrunningto3rdbasetohomeand
allotherrunnersadvanceaccordingly.Theplayingfieldshouldbeagreeduponpriortothestartofthegame.
13. Abatterwhothrowshis/herbatorotherequipment-Resultsinateamwarningonthefirstoffense.2ndoffensewillresultinthe
playerbeingcalledout.Thisisforplayersafety.
14. Offenseislimitedtoonechargedconferenceperinning.
15. Base coaches may not make contact with runners at any time or the runner will be called out. Exception: (High fives and fist
bumpsareallowedaftertimeiscalled.
DEFENSE&PITCHING
1. Defensivelyteamsmayuseeither9or10players(6infielders&3or4outfielders).
2. Everyplayermustplayaminimumof2defensiveinnings.Aplayercannotsitforconsecutiveinningsondefense.
3. Catcher–Fullcatcher’sgearwillbeissuedandmustbeworn.
4. InfieldFly-
3rd & 4th Grade: The infield fly rule will NOT be in effect. Exception: if a defensive player intentionally drops or intentionally
doesn’tcatchtheball,therunnerswillallbesafeandadvancetothenextbase.(Umpirediscretion).
5th&6thGrade:Infieldflyruleapplies.(Umpirediscretion).
5. Tostopplaywhentheballisintheinfield:3rd&4thGrade:theplayerwiththeballcanraisetheirhandintheairtosignalthatthe
playisdead.Runnersmustbehalfwaytothenextbaseinordertoadvancewhentheumpirehascalledtime.Theumpiremust
granttherequesttostopplay.5th&6thGrade:Mustgettheballtothepitcherortheumpirecallstime.
6. Theballshallbepitchedunderhandeitherwindmillormodifiedunderhandwithaminimalarc.
7. Therearenolimitationsontheamountofinningsorgamesthatapitcherpitches.
8. Apitchermustberemovedfrompitchingaftershehashitfour(4)batters.Shemaynotre-enterasapitcher.Theofficialmay
waivethisruleifhefeelsthebattersarenotattemptingtoavoidbeinghit.(i.e.:batterisoutofboxorinstrikezone)
9. Aplayerpitchedballthathitsabatteradvancesthebattertofirstbaseaslongasthebattermakesareasonableattempttoavoid
thepitch.(UmpireDiscretion).
10. Therewillbenointentionalwalksallowed.
11. 3rd&4thGrade:Nowalksonballs.Afterfourballsonabatter,theoffensiveteams’coachwillcomeoutandpitch
tothebatter.Thebattersstrikecountremainsthesameandthecoachgetsamaximumofthree(3)pitchesforthe
battertoputtheballinplay.(Forexample:Iftheplayerhastwostrikesandswingsandmissesatthefirstpitchfrom
thecoach,thebatterwouldbeout).
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14.
15.
• Thedefensivepitchercantakeapositionbehindornexttothecoach.
• Thecoachmustthrowunder-handandmustpitchfromthepitcher’splate.
• Thecoachpitcherdoesnothavetobeoneofthecoaches;aparentoranotherpersonmaypitch.
st
• Acoachpitchedballthathitsthebatterisastrike(batterdoesnotadvanceto1 ).
• Ifabattedballhitsthecoachpitchertheballis“dead”andthepitchdoesnotcount.
• Therewillbenostealingwhilethecoachispitchingtohisorherownteam.
PitchingConferenceRule:Onthe2ndchargedconferencewithapitcherinthesameinningandafter4thchargedconferencewith
thesamepitcherinthegame,thepitchermustberemovedasapitcher.
Fourwarmuppitcheswillbeallowedbetweeninnings.Newpitcherswillbeallowedsevenwarm-uppitches.
There is no stalling by a team in attempt to run out the clock. If the umpire feels a team is intentionally stalling, he will use
his/herdiscretiontospeedupthepaceofthegame.
SUBSTITUTIONS- There shall be unlimited substitutions for defensive positions except pitcher. A pitcher removed from the
pitchingmoundmaynotreturnasapitcher.Theymaytakeanotherdefensiveposition.
GAMECONDUCTANDDISCIPLINARYACTION
Coaches,players,andspectatorsMUSTfollowallBSDrulesandregulationsincluding-NOuseofalcohol,tobacco,
smokelessandvapor/e-cigarettes,marijuanaandnoanimalsonDistrictproperty.
• Coaches,players,orspectatorsmaynotdisrespectfullyaddressoryellatanofficial.
• Coaches,players,orspectatorsmaynotattempttoinfluenceanofficial’sdecisionorargueballsandstrikes.
• Coaches,playersorspectatorsmaynotuseprofaneorinappropriatelanguageorobscenegestures.
• Coaches,playersorspectatorsmaynotdisrespectfullyaddress,bait,ortauntanopponent.
• Coaches,players,spectatorsmaynotconfrontofficialsbefore,duringorafteragame.
• Atnotimeshallacoach,playerorspectatormakeathreatofphysicalharmorusephysicalforcetowardsanofficial,supervisor,
staff,orothercoachesorplayers.
• Atpracticesorgames,children/siblingsmustbesupervisedandallthegarbage(includingwaterbottles)mustbepickedup.
• Theheadcoachisresponsiblefortheconductandbehaviorofplayers,benchpersonnelandspectatorsfromtheirteam.
• Any coach who removes his/her team from the playing field prior to the completion of a game, or who causes a game to be
forfeitedbecauseoftheirconducttowardtheumpireshallbesubjecttoimmediatesuspension.
• Coachesmustprovidethenamesoftheirparentsorspectatorswhenaskedbysupervisorsorofficials.
PENALTY:Anycoach,playerorspectatorwhofailstocomplywiththeaboveruleswillbesubjecttodisciplinaryactiondescribed
intheCodeofConductandincludessuspensionandforfeitureofgames.
Depending on the severity of the violation, supervisors and officials have the authority to remove individuals from the fields. In
extremecircumstancesthepolicemaybecalledifindividualsdonotcomply.