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Girls Softball Rules
Updated 04/16/2008

12U and 15U

10U

 

 

 

 

Five Star Girls' Fast Pitch Softball League Rules
12U and 15U

Printable:  MS Word   Adobe PDF

 Updated April 16, 2008

GENERAL

Most regularly scheduled games will have a scheduled starting time of 6:00 PM. A 15-minute grace period will be given in the event a team does not have enough players to start a game. After a 15-minute wait, the game will be forfeited. All weekday games must be started no later than 6:15 PM for weekday games scheduled for 6:00 PM.

        Regular season games - No new innings may start after one (1) hour 45 mins (1hr,45mins) from the scheduled start time - not actual start of game. 

o        ex:  Game is schedule to begin at 2pm, at 3:45pm no new innings.

        Playoff games – No new innings may start after two (2) for the scheduled start time – not actual start of game.

o        ex: Game is schedule to begin at 2pm, at 4pm no new innings.

Some games will played under the lights and will have starting times of 7:00, 7:30, 7:45, and 8:00 PM, or as otherwise noted on the schedule. All night games must start within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time or the game will be forfeited. 

A regulation game for the 12U league is 3 and 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead and 4 innings if the visiting team is ahead. For the 15U league, a regulation game is 4 and 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead and 5 innings if the visiting team is ahead. 

A regulation game that is tied after the minimum number or more of completed innings and is halted by the umpire shall be resumed from the exact point that play was halted. 

In the case where the game was stopped during an incomplete inning, the game ends as of the last previously completed inning in which the following situations apply:

- The visiting team scores one or more runs to tie the score in the incomplete inning and the home team does not score in the incomplete inning, or

- The visiting team scores one or more runs to take the lead in the incomplete inning and the home team does not tie the score or retake the lead in the incomplete inning. 

Once a game becomes a regulation game and it is called with the home team taking the lead in an incomplete inning, the game ends and the home team is the winner. 

Dates and starting times for all other weekend games and makeup games will be scheduled or determined. All time limits and forfeit rules will apply to these games. 

Cancellation or rescheduling of any league game will only be allowed under special circumstances and will require the approval of the home team league commissioner. 

All A.S.A rules will apply unless otherwise noted below.

GENERAL RULES 

(A) A team must be able to field 8 players or forfeit the game. If neither team has 8 players, the game will count as a forfeit for both teams. In the event both team managers wish to play the game with both teams fielding 8 players, the game will count as played. 

A team must have 8 players to start the game. The 9th batting position will be considered an automatic out in the event the game is played with 8 players. 

A continuous batting order will be used. 

(B) If a team starts the game with 8 players and loses a player due to injury, the game will be suspended and continued from the point of suspension at a later date. 

(C) If a team cannot field 9 players from it's own roster, the manager may call up players from a lower league to make up a 9-player roster. If, at game time, the team is able to field 9 players from it's own roster, the call up player will still play and will be added to the bottom of the batting order. 

(D) Players brought up from a lower level team must wear their own uniform and be placed at the bottom of the batting order. In the event a rostered player arrives late, she will be added to the bottom of the batting order. The call up player will remain in the batting order where she was originally placed. 

(E) A call up player cannot be used as a pitcher. 

(F) A call up player cannot play if that player has a scheduled game for the team on which she is normally rostered. 

(G) All players must play a minimum of 3 defensive innings. 

(H) No switching of players among teams will be permitted. 

(I)  The length of the game will be 7 innings for the 15U league and 6 innings for the 12U league. 

(J)  There will be 90 seconds between innings.  A new pitcher starting an inning will be allowed 5 warm-up pitches, while a pitcher from the previous inning will be given 5 warm-up pitches.  

Pitching Rules 

A.S.A pitching rules will apply.       

       Must use Windmill

       No step back

       No Sling shot

       No side arm pitching 

       Start both feet on rubber

       Can take one off with pitch

       Can drag one foot 

A pitcher can only pitch a maximum of 4 innings per game. One pitch is considered an inning. 

A starting pitcher can be brought back to pitch after being removed only once per game. An injured pitcher may be removed and returned with no penalty provided she returns to the game as a pitcher immediately upon being able to continue play. In the event the starting pitcher is injured, the relief pitcher is then designated as the starter and is allowed to be removed once and return to pitch. 

Intentional walks are allowed for the 15U league; however, the batter must be pitched to. No intentional walks will be permitted in the 12U league. 

For the 12U & 15U divisions, if a pitcher hits 3 batters in 1 inning, she must be removed as a pitcher for the remainder of the inning. If a pitcher hits 5 batters in a game, she must be removed for the remainder of the game.  

An illegal pitch is a ball, unless the batter swings at the pitch. No base advancement will be allowed on an unhit illegal pitch. In the 12U league, 1 warning will be given to each pitcher for an illegal pitch. 

The pitching rubber will be set at 40 feet for the 12U league and at 40 feet for the 15U league. 

Base Running and Stealing Bases 

If a base runner does not slide, she must avoid contact with a defensive player or be called out. Incidental contact is at the discretion of the umpire. A runner does not have to slide if there is no play being made at the base.

Stealing of bases will be allowed. 

Stealing will be allowed upon the release of the pitch by the pitcher. 

The runner will be called out if she leaves early in the judgment of the umpire. 

A courtesy runner will be allowed for the catcher only if she is on base and there are 2 outs. This is mandatory. Courtesy runner must be the last player to be called out in the inning. 

Dropped third strikes will be permitted when first base is unoccupied or when there are 2 outs. 

The base lines and the diamond dimensions will be set at 60 feet between bases. 

Each batter and runner must wear a helmet with a facemask. 

Stealing after a walk is allowed.  Once the player rounds first, she must continue to the next base until a play is made on her.  If she doesn’t continue, the umpire will call her out. 

Batters must move out of the way if there is a play at the plate. 

Manager Responsibilities 

Managers shall contact the opposing team manager when questionable weather of field conditions exists. The home team manager will decide if the game will be played or cancelled. The decision to cancel the game must be made by 4:45 PM on weekdays to allow for the opposing manager to contact his/her players. This will allow time for the home team to cancel the umpire also. 

Managers are responsible for advising the opposing team manager of their lineups prior to the start of the game. 

The home team manager is responsible for setting up the diamond including the bases and the pitching rubber. 

The home team will supply 2 yellow ASA approved game balls prior to the start of the game, one new and one in good condition. The home team keeps the balls after the game.

The home team will get the playing field for practice first. The visiting team will be given the field for warm up at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game time. In the event the field is late in being set up, the home team warm up time is penalized accordingly. The visiting team should always be given 15 minutes to warm up. 

The home team is the official scorekeeper and will occupy the third base dugout. It is recommended that after each inning that both teams check scores with each other. 

Only umpires may call a time out during a game. Only managers, field coached, and players in the game may request a time out. 

Only managers may discuss rules or decisions with the umpires (NO COACHES). All calls are the judgement of the umpire and may not be questioned. All decisions by the umpire are final and no appeals or protest will be allowed. 

Participant and Fan Conduct 

The manager is responsible for the conduct of his or her team and fans. No taunting of opposing team players will be allowed. The umpire may eject a player, coach, manager, or spectator from the game. Ejection from the game is interpreted by the league officers as "Conduct detrimental to the best interest of the players and the league". The ejected individual is subject to suspension for 1 or more games as voted by the league officers. Unless the ejected individual requests a hearing, the league officers will elect to conduct or not conduct a hearing and vote on the question of suspension. Suspension shall be served as specifically directed by the league officers. 

Managers should assist umpires in keeping parents and fans from behind the backstop.  Cheering by players should be directed to their teammates and not the other team.  Cheering or talking by the catcher during the pitch is not allowed. 

Managers are reminded that they may be permanently removed for just cause after a fair hearing and with a majority vote of the league officers. 

The person or persons ejected from the game has 5 minutes to leave the field or park. 

Scoring/Slaughter Rules 

One half inning will consist of 3 outs or 6 runs. This applies to all innings with the exception of the last inning, which allows unlimited runs. In the event of a time limit situation, the unlimited run rule will apply to the inning called the last inning. The call must be made prior to the start of the inning. Both managers and umpires must agree that the inning is the last inning and the unlimited run rule is in effect. 

If after 4 1/2 innings, the home team is ahead by 15 or more runs, the game is over. If the visiting team is ahead by 15 or more runs after the 5th inning, the game is over. After the 5th inning, when a team is ahead or behind by 15 or more runs and has completed its turn at bat in that inning, the game is considered over. For the 12U league, the slaughter rule is in effect after 3 1/2 innings if the home team is ahead and the 4th inning if the visiting team is ahead. 

All forfeited games will be scored 7-0. 

 

 

Five Star Girls' Fast Pitch Softball League Rules
10U (Minor Division)

Printable:  MS Word   Adobe PDF 

Updated April 16, 2008 

1.                  The nine batter rule is not in effect.

2.                  Game time limits: 

Most regularly scheduled games will have a scheduled starting time of 6:00 PM. A 15-minute grace period will be given in the event a team does not have enough players to start a game. After a 15-minute wait, the game will be forfeited. All weekday games must be started no later than 6:15 PM for weekday games scheduled for 6:00 PM.  

       Regular season games - No new innings may start after one (1) hour 45 mins (1hr,45mins) from the scheduled start time - not actual start of game. 

o        ex:  Game is schedule to begin at 2pm, at 3:45pm no new innings.

        Playoff games – No new innings may start after two (2) for the scheduled start time – not actual start of game.

o        ex: Game is schedule to begin at 2pm, at 4pm no new innings. 

Some games will played under the lights and will have starting times of 7:00, 7:30, 7:45, and 8:00 PM, or as otherwise noted on the schedule. All night games must start within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time or the game will be forfeited. 

3.                  No lead off is allowed.  Runner must wait for the ball to cross the plate before leaving their base.  If a runner leaves early, a team warning will be issued, the second offense will be given an out.  If runner leaves early and the ball was hit, then the runner who left early will be called out and the batter will be allowed the number of bases they have advanced.  All the other status of runners who leave early will be controlled by the current ASA rule book. 

4.                  Runners may steal only one base after the ball crosses the plate.  A runner at third base may not take home on any over throws by the catcher while making a play at any other base.  If runners are on 2nd and 1st and the runner on 2nd did not steal, then both runners can steal at the same time.

5.                  If the ball gets away from the pitcher on a throw back to the mound or the pitcher leaves the mound for any reason, then the runners can advance at their own risk, ONLY if they have not stolen a base.  No stealing home. 

6.                  If the catcher causes a runner to move back towards the base she was leaving and throws the ball back to the mound, then the runners must go back to that base. 

7.                  No intentional walks are allowed. 

8.                  Borrowed players may not pitch. 

9.                  NO infield fly rule is in force. 

10.              A (5) run maximum per half inning rule will apply.  In addition a slaughter rule is in effect.  If after 4 innings, (3 if the home team is ahead), one team has a lead of 15 runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs must concede the victory to the opposing team.  ONLY in the sixth inning unlimited runs. 

11.              No player may pitch more than 4 innings in any one game and only the starting pitcher may return to a game.  

       Bunting Okay

       Basepath 60’ 

       Pitching Rubber 35’ 

       Continuous Batting Order 

       Pitching                  

o        Must use Windmill

o        No step back

o        No Sling shot

o        No side arm pitching

o        Start both feet on rubber

o        Can take one off with pitch

o        Can drag one foot 

       Pitching rules

o        4 innings for starter

o        Only starter can re-enter game (one time only)

o        3 hit batters – out for 1 inning

o        4 hit batters – no pitching for game 

       One base on an overthrow to any base.  Runner can be thrown out at 2nd base. 

       No run downs.  If you take one step back to base you must return to that base. 

       No changing directions 

       Umpire conference will always be with both coaches.  No one coach conferences. 

       No bad cheering against other team.  Cheer for your team only. 

       Can play with 8 players.  If only 7 show up take loss but can still play game. 

       11” non-padded ball will be used (yellow only) 

       Home team is responsible for field set-up and supplying a ball that is in great condition. 

       Home team is responsible for re-scheduling rain-outs including UMPIRE. 

 

  

 

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