Eastern Girls FASTPITCH Softball League shall follow USA Softball FASTPITCH rules. In addition to the USA
Rules, EASTERN has adopted the following rules for safety, accommodation and efficiency purposes.
PURPOSE: to foster, to the youth involved with the sport, the ideals of good sportsmanship by providing supervised, FASTPITCH softball games. “It is the responsibility of ALL ADULTS to bear in mind, that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill or the winning of games is secondary to that of molding future citizens”. The other team, coaches, players, fans, etc. ARE NOT THE ENEMY!
GENERAL RULES
-
ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Only those players officially registered and have paid all necessary fees shall be considered eligible to play in this league. (See. by-laws Sec. I for age requirement). Team rosters must be submitted before play starts in the spring. Failure to submit a completed roster prior to beginning of play will result in forfeit loss for all games prior to submission of roster.
- ROSTERS
Any team that does not submit a roster is ineligible for playoffs and subject to loss of league membership.
- NO ALL STAR or RECRUITED TEAMS
No Double Rostering. Players must have played in 25% of the regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs (including call-ups).
- SPORTSMANSHIP
For the health and promotion of recreation league play, individual player and/or coach activity and team activity must be controlled and limited to encouragement, cheering, and good sportsmanship. BE SUPPORTIVE! THE UMPIRES SHALL CONTROL SPECTATOR ACTIVITY.
- PERMITTED INDIVIDUALS
Only team members, coaches, managers, and official scorekeepers for the team are permitted on the team bench and in the playing area. There is to be NO use of tobacco products on any team bench in any community.
- DECISION OF THE UMPIRE
is final. Umpires may eject players, coaches, and managers from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, continuous arguing and/or harassment of the umpire. Coaches must conduct themselves in a civil manner at ALL times. Violation of this rule may result in game forfeiture and/or disciplinary action. Any manager, coach and/or ejected player from a game will be suspended from the next game played. The ejected person/persons may also be subject to disciplinary actions by the Eastern Executive Committee.
- WEEKLY LEAGUE GAMES
will begin at 6:15 PM, unless agreed otherwise. The visiting team will have the field for practice 15 minutes prior to the start of the game or at the discretion of the umpire. The home team shall have access to the field prior to the visiting team.
- CANCELLATION OF GAMES
will not be accepted, except for a legitimate school function. If teams know in advance that they will be missing players for a game, additional players may be called up (from any willing community) from a lower age group. This method should be attempted before cancelling a game. No girl may be called from another fast pitch league. Girls may be called from an age appropriate (same age) slow pitch team.
- SCORE BOOKS
All score books must include shirt number and starting position. All books must be signed by an umpire at the end of the game.
- BLOOD RULE
A player, coach, or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment can be administered. If medical care or treatment is administered in a reasonable length of time, the individual will not have to leave the game.
- GAME TIME LIMIT
All games will have a two (2) hour drop dead time limit, with no new inning to begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes. Any time an inning is not completed by the two (2) hour drop dead time limit the game will revert to the previously completed inning to determine the outcome.
- RAIN OUTS
The home team, within one week from game that was cancelled due to weather, must contact and make arrangements with the away team and provide 3 open dates that the game can be rescheduled. If after 1 week, the home team makes no contact with the away team, the away team must notify the league director.
- SEMI-FINAL and CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
The time limit rule will not apply to semi-final or championship games. If a play off game, or championship game is cancelled, during play, the USA Softball rule will apply as to the status of a legal game.
- PROBATION PERIOD
New communities participating in our spring league will be subject to a 1 year probationary period.
UNIFORMS
- Official uniforms include: pants or shorts, shirt (with number) tucked in, hats or visors, stirrup socks, arid knee pad (if shorts are worn). Full uniform must be worn during all league games.
- Appropriate shoes must be worn. Rubber cleats are recommended. Metal spikes are only in the 15 & Under and 18 & Under divisions.
- Helmet, mask with throat protector, chest protector, and shin guards must be worn by all catchers. Any players warming up a pitcher must wear a mask!
- The batter, on-deck batter, bat person, and any player who might fill-in as a base coach must wear batting helmets. Chin straps and face masks are mandatory on all batting helmets, and mouth guards are highly recommended.
- No jewelry may be worn, except for Medical Alert Bracelets. This includes any hard object whether worn in the hair or on the body of a player.
- FOR PITCHERS ONLY- Any covering or bandage may be worn due to injury. Covering must be flesh tone. Pitchers may have only neutral tones of nail polish, undershirt, or sweatshirt while playing the position.
- NO BANDAGES MAY BE WORN FOR PIERCINGS ANYWHERE! PIERCINGS MUST BE REMOVED.
PLAYING RULES
- All players must show up within 15 minutes of scheduled game time or the team will forfeit. If a team knows in advance that they will be unable to field a team, additional players maybe called up from a lower age group. If short of players. 10 & under, 12 & Under and 15 & Under teams may play with 9 without penalty. All age groups may play with 8, however must take an out in the 9th position of the balling order. A late arriving player that is to be inserted into the game by her coach should be added to the bottom of the batting order.
- Coaches must start rostered players first and then fill any vacant positions with called up players. The called up player may wear their original team uniform or may wear an extra provided by the team they are playing for. Coaches may not call up players from a team who has a regular scheduled game on the same day and time, No player may be called up from another fast pitch league.
- In the 12U and the 15U division, a call-up on the roster will be limited to 2 innings of play unless you are truly shorthanded, and limited to 2 innings in the pitching position, regardless. In the 18U division, a call-up can pitch the entire game.
- Call-ups for play-off games are limited to players from the community, referencing also Rule A.2. The opposing coach is not permitted to allow Call-up players unless specifically within these guidelines. Any special circumstances would require review and approval of the Executive Committee, or Age Group Commissioner (acting on their behalf).
-
A twelve run rule will be in
effect after 5 innings.
-
The umpire shall notify each
coach/manger at the top of the inning that it is the last inning.
-
Teams will be comprised of up
to 15 players. Girls may only be rostered for one team regardless of age
category. Teams with 15 or more players will be allowed to play with the
Executive Board approval.
-
All players rostered must play
at least 2 innings in the field in each regulation game.
-
COURTESY RUNNER - a courtesy
runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher at any time during the game.
A courtesy runner is mandatory for the catcher with 2 outs. Other position
players may use a pinch runner only once and must notify the umpire and
other manager/coach
-
Continuous Batting Order will
be used for all age groups. If a girl becomes injured during the game and
does not play the rest of the game — no out will be recorded in her spot
in the batting order— however, she cannot reenter the game unless an out
was taken in her spot in the batting order. If the girl leaves a game for
any other reason than injury, when it is her turn to bat, an out will be
taken (unless her departure was discussed and agreed by opposing coaches
prior to the game’s start). Continuous batting order allows for free substitution
- exception is a pitcher that is removed from the defensive lineup can
only return to the pitching position once.
PITCHING
-
At the beginning of each inning
the pitcher shall have 5 warm-up pitches.
-
When a new pitcher is entered
in the middle of an inning she shall receive no more that 7 warmup pitches.
FIELD REQUIREMENTS
-
Home teams are responsible for
lining and dragging the playing field Bases must be secured. *For
safety purposes it is the strong recommendation of League Official that
‘pop up” bases are
utilized. Measurements of
field:
-
10 & Under 35 foot pitching
distance
-
12 & Under: 40 foot pitching
distance
-
15 & U, 18 & U: 43 foot
pitching distance
-
16 foot circle around mound
(8 ft. radius)
-
Bases: 60 feet distance apart
w/Running Lane for 1st Base
-
Batters box shall measure 3
feet by 7 feet, inside line shall be 6 inches from home plate. The front
line shall be 4 feet to the front and the rear line shall be 3 feet to
the back of the obtuse corner of home plate
-
The use of a Double First Base
is mandatory.
-
All ground rules should be clearly
defined and agreed upon (by umpires and coaches/managers) prior to the
start of each game.
-
Official softball required for
EASTERN FASTPITCH SOFTBALL will be a 12” (11” for 10U) optic- yellow, raised
red stitch softball. Cork center is recommended but if poly-core center
ball is used the maximum compression of such ball will not exceed 375 PSI.
The ball must be stamped ASA .47C0R.
PLAY OFF TIE BREAKER RULES
-
First tie breaker is head to
head play, or combined head to head play if more than two teams are involved
in the tie.
-
Second tie breaker will be runs
allowed in head to head play (or combined head to head play if more than
two teams are involved in the tie).
-
Total games played
-
Win-Loss record against common
opponents
-
Coin Flip
8
& Under League
EQUIPMENT
-
The official softball to be
used in the 8 & under division will be any approved ASA 11 inch softball.
PITCHING
-
Pitching distance will be 35
feet within a circle of 16 feet diameter.
-
Team coaches will be utilized
as pitchers but may not make any defensive plays.
-
A pitcher/coach will pitch to
his/her own batter and must start within the 16 feet circle. The
player-pitcher in the 8u division must start with at least one foot within
the circle.
-
Batters will get a maximum of
7 pitches to hit a fair ball. If not done, the batter is out.
There are no walks in this division.
GAME RULES
-
Regulation games in this division
will be 5 innings.
-
Runs are limited to 4 per inning.
-
This division may have as many
as 11 defensive players, 5 outfielders on the field. A team must have a
minimum of 8 players available for the game.
-
The infield fly rule does not
apply.
-
Every player present will play
a minimum of 2 innings in the field.
-
A player will be positioned
beside the pitcher/coach for fielding but may not interfere with the delivery
of the pitch and must be within the 16’ circle.
-
If a pitcher/coach is struck
by a batted ball, the ball becomes an immediate dead ball and is considered
no pitch, and all runners return to their base.
-
This division may use a team
coach as a catcher, but if this option is used, the catcher may not make
any defensive outs.
-
Play will stop when a fielding
play is made at any base, whether an out is recorded or not.
-
The position of the infielder
may not be more than 3 feet in front of or behind the base, but not directly
on the baseline.
-
If a defensive player intentionally
rolls or bounces the ball to a base in an attempt to make an out, the runner
may be called safe at the umpire’s discretion.Any ball handled by the outfielder
becomes a dead ball, once the ball is back in the infield, in possession
of an infielder (across the baseline) or when a play is made at any base.
-
A baserunner is not permitted
to leave any base (during the pitch), prior to the batter hitting the ball.
A team warning will be given on the first offense, on the second offense,
the baserunner will be called out.
10
& Under League
EQUIPMENT
-
Official softball required for
EASTERN FASTPITCH SOFTBALL will be an 11” optic- yellow, raised red stitch
leather softball. Cork center is recommended but if poly-core center ball
is used the maximum compression of such ball will not exceed 375 PSI. The
ball must be stamped ASA .47COR.
PITCHING
-
Pitching distance will be 35
feet within a circle of 16 feet diameter.
-
Pitchers are permitted to pitch
from the “L” position. The “L” position is defined as “starting the motion
with the ball in the pitching hand above and behind the head, glove hand
out, lead foot in front of the rubber, and back foot on the rubber.”
-
Pitchers are permitted to pitch
a maximum of 4 innings per game. One pitch constitutes an inning
pitched.
-
Once the pitcher is removed
from the lineup; she may reenter back into the pitching position only once.
-
A pitcher can only have 2 walks
per inning. On the 3rd walk, the coach will come into pitch,
the batter will lose the entire count, and will receive 4 pitches from
the coach. On the 4th pitch, either the batter hits the ball or is
out.
GAME RULES
-
Games are 6 innings. If
a game is terminated for darkness, weather, field conditions, or umpire
calls the game, 4 complete innings (3 1/2 where applicable) will determine
a regulation game.
-
The infield fly rule does
not apply.
-
All games
will have a two (2) hour drop dead time limit, with no new inning to begin
after 1 hour and 45 minutes. Any time an inning is not completed
by the two (2) hour drop dead time limit the game will revert to the previously
completed inning to determine the outcome.
-
A 15 run rule will be in effect
for all games after 4 innings (3 1/2 where applicable).
-
Runs per inning shall be limited
to (4) PERIOD! The 4 run rule is waived in the final inning.
-
Each player must have played
2 full innings by the end of the 5th inning.
-
If the starting pitcher is removed
from the circle during an inning, the pitcher cannot return to the circle
during the same inning. The pitcher can return to the circle in the
next inning, but only the starting pitcher may do so. Any other player
can enter the game defensively anytime and at any position.
-
Base runners cannot leave the
base until the pitched ball has crossed home plate.
-
Base runners starting at 1st
or 2nd base are entitled to advance or steal only one base per pitch, with
liability to be put out (no advancement on an overthrow to 2nd on a steal
from 1st to 2nd). Runners starting from 3rd base may not steal or
advance home on a passed ball, a wild pitch or a bad throw back to the
pitcher but are liable to be put out if they come off the base. The
runner at 3rd base can advance home only if the catcher makes a play on
that runner at 3rd base.
-
A runner attempting to advance
beyond the one base they are entitled to advance or steal, may be put out
while between bases. A runner cannot be put out while in contact
with a base.
-
A baserunner may advance, at
risk of being thrown out, one base on an overthrow to any base on a batted ball.
- If any baserunner is past the base that they were going to, prior to the
throw, they may advance to the next base at their own risk.
After all play ceases and the
ball becomes dead, if a runner occupies a base beyond the one the runner
was entitled to advance or steal, the runner will be returned to the correct
base without liability to be put out.
If a batter strikes out and
the ball is dropped, the batter is out and cannot advance to 1st base,
but the ball remains live for the purpose of throwing any advancing runner
out. The dropped 3rd strike rule does not apply.
A batter who receives a base
on balls cannot advance past 1st base. If they advance further, once
the ball becomes dead, the batter/runner will be returned to 1st base,
however, they do so with liability to be put out.
When the coach is pitching,
at the start of the pitch, one foot must be on the pitching rubber.
12,
15, 18 & Under League
EQUIPMENT
-
Official softball required for
EASTERN FASTPITCH SOFTBALL will be a 12” optic- yellow, raised red stitch
softball. Cork center is recommended but if poly-core center ball is used
the maximum compression of such ball will not exceed 375 PSI. The ball
must be stamped ASA .47C0R.
-
15 and 18 & Under Only:
Metal spikes are allowed.
GAME RULES
-
A regulation game will be 7
innings. A regulation game can be called, by the umpire after 5 or more
complete innings because of rain, darkness etc.
-
12 & Under teams field 10
players. 15 & Under and 18 & Under field 9 players.
-
Runs per inning shall be limited
to (5) PERIOD! The 5 run rule is waived in the final inning.
-
A 15 run rule will be in effect
for all games after 4 innings (3 1/2 where applicable).
PITCHING
-
12 & Under Only: Pitchers
are permitted to pitch from the “L” position. The “L” position is defined
as “starting the motion with the ball in the pitching hand above and behind
the head, glove hand out, lead foot in front of the rubber, and back foot
on the rubber.”
-
12 & Under and 15 &
Under pitchers may pitch no more that 5 innings per game. One
pitch constitutes an inning pitched.
-
Once the pitcher is removed
from the lineup; she may reenter back into the pitching position only once.