 Delaware Sports League Softball Rules 2016
 Game format – The game is a 7 inning game with 3 outs per inning and
an 1 hour time limit. No inning shall start after 55 minutes from the
start of the game.
 Mercy Rules- Mercy rules will be in effect as follows: If time is
permitting and both teams want to continue to play they can. Mercy
rules is 20 runs after 4, 15 after 5, 10 after 6.
Co-ed rules – minimum 3 females in the field. If 3 females are not
present then you must play short in the field and take an out in your
batting lineup. 10 players in the field and you can bat as many as you
want so you can interact fielders as you see fit. If both teams are short a
girl and want to roll with 2 and they agree then go for it.

 Field dimensions and ground Rules –
 Pitchers Mound is 45 feet and the bases are 62 feet. If the ball rolls
threw any of the open fences in the outfield the runner will receive a
triple.
 Batting – All Batters start with a 1 and 1 count.
 Foul Balls – when a batter has 2 strikes on them; Gents are out with a
foul ball, Ladies will receive l courtesy foul.
 Home Runs – As of there are no home run restrictions. If we
determine there are too many home runs being hit then a limit will be
applied.
 Pitch Arc is to be 6-12 feet. The umpire will call illegal if it below 6 or
above 12. It ias an automatic ball however the batter can hit it if he or
she chooses. A strike zone mat is used, So if the ball is within the 6-12
arc and hits the plate and or the Mat it is a strike.
 Walks – If a guy is walked in front of a female, they guy will be able to
move to second base and the female will bat. It does not matter how
many outs there are in the inning. If we find out that there are too many
walks etc… then we can sit down and re-visit this rule.
 Bats – All gentlemen are required to use one the 6 provided wooden
bats. Females are allowed to bring a single wall aluminum bat.
 No Bunting in Softball
 Fielding –
 When a female is batting all outfielders (4) must remain at least 20
feet back from the infield dirt. As of now this line is imaginary and up to
the umpire’s discretion.
 When a Female is batting and the ball reaches an outfielder, he or she
cannot throw the female batter out at first base. They can throw it to an
infielder who can then throw it to first base. An infielder is allowed to go
into the outfield and throw the female runner out at first. The outfielder
is allowed to throw any runner out at any base, just not a female runner
going to first. However; if the female runner makes a wide turn at first
base, they can throw to first. Pretty much if a girl thinks she can get a
double and decides not to you can throw her out.
 Running –
 Homeplate – There will be 2 home plates about 4 -5 feet apart. The
one of to the side is for the runner. He or she must touch that plate to go
home. The other plate is for the catcher. A line will drawn almost half
way down the 3rd base line. Once a runner crosses that line he or she is
committed to going home. All plays at the plate will be a force out.
 First Base – A safety base will be at first. The orange is for the
runner’s only. This base should be used for over-running first base. If a
runner is going to second he or she should be using the regular white
base. The fielder should not use the orange base for anything.
 Contact – All runners and fielders should avoid contact at all cost. If
there is a close play it should be slide or surrender. What this means is
that it is up to the runner to avoid any contact with a fielder. He or she
should not be interfering with a play by running into a fielder making a
play. All fielders should be aware of the play and not block the base if
there is no immediate play.
 A runner cannot leave the bag until the ball crosses the plate on a
pitch.
 Courtesy Runner – A runner is allowed for someone who is injured.
The runner must be the last out of the same sex.