League Rules

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Slow Pitch Softball League Rules

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WSYAA SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES

The goals of WSYAA Softball are to keep the players safe, develop their skills, and have fun. These rules are defined in the spirit of these goals. The players will learn sportsmanship by the examples set by the Coaches and parents. The emphasis on League play is to have fun and develop athletic skills. Won/loss Record during League play amounts only to seeding of post season tournament. We encourage coaches and parents to allow the Girls to play, coaches to coach, and umpires to call games with limited interference from off-field distractions. This League is intended to be an opportunity to mold teams and develop skills. Competition will begin when Post Season Tournament begins

League Rules will be governed by “The Official Rules of Softball” as established by “The International Softball Federation”.

RULE I – PLAYERS

A. A team shall consist of the full roster of players whose positions shall be designated as follows: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and the balance of the roster in the outfield. Players are not permitted to play the same position more than three innings per game. Players may not play more than three innings at first base, catcher, and pitcher combined.

B. Each player must bat in turn. Latecomers will be added to the end of the batting order. A girl who becomes injured or ill or who otherwise leaves during a game may be removed from the lineup with no penalty to her team. If that girl recovers or otherwise returns during the game, she shall return to the lineup in her former position. Opposing team and scorekeeper is to be notified of latecomers, removals, and returns to the lineup.

C. A team must be able to field at least seven WSYAA League players. Coaches may by mutual agreement postpone a game (for reasons other than weather) no later than twenty-four hours before the scheduled start of the game.

D. Qualified non-Roster girls may be called up on a game by game basis under the following conditions:

1. A minimum of six WSYAA League girls are also playing.

2. The opposing Coaches and league commissioners agree that the Non-Roster girl’s skills are such that her safety will not be jeopardized.

3. A Completed green card is submitted with all information verified prior to the start of the game.

4. Opposing coaches are aware that player(s) will be added to the Roster.

5. If a team calls up a Non Roster girl, she must play in accordance with Rules I-A & B, above.

E. The Age limit cut-off for each age group is prior to January 1 of the current year.

F. The maximum number of Roster players is eighteen (18). Players may be added up until two-hours before game time by notifying WSYAA and the opposing coach. (See Rule I-D)

G. If a team has too few players (7) to begin a game the opposing team may loan the team players from the bottom of their line-up to fill the squad. If players arrive to fill the line-up card, loaned players will return to their previous spot on their Roster team. New arrivals will be added to the bottom of the line-up card. See Rule I-B

RULE II – PLAYING FIELD

A. The distance between bases is 60 (60) feet. All bases must be anchored.

B. A pitching line will be marked forty (40) feet from the point of home plate. An adult pitcher may adjust this distance as seen fit for the ability of the batter, but the WSYAA youth pitcher may stand no closer than pitching line.

C. A line will be marked ten (10) feet behind the bases to define the line for the outfielders to start play as indicated in Rule VIIIC below.

D. Base lines will be marked between each base. Base lines run from the tip of home along the back of first and third.

RULE III – GAME LENGTH

A. A regular game is five innings unless shortened because of time, darkness, or weather.

B. An inning is over when three outs are recorded, or the batting team scores seven runs.

C. At the first appearance of lightning, the game will be stopped. Players must move a safe distance from the playing field, preferably into a vehicle or building. The game may continue if no lightning is sighted for ten minutes.

D. The time limit for the games is 90-minutes whenever another game is scheduled at the same field following the current game. Make every effort to complete all five innings. During Tournament play a regulation game is five (5) innings regardless of time limit.

RULE IV – PITCHING

A. WSYAA Rosters players pitch to the opposing team team. An 8 ft pitching arc required, but pitchers must pitch the ball in a correct slow pitch manner. Pitchers may adjust distance and pitch to the ability of the batter.

RULE V – BATTING

A. The batter must wear a helmet whenever the batter is swinging a bat. This includes warming up, before, during, and after a game. If any player is swinging a bat, all players in the immediate area must wear a helmet.

B. Only the batter on deck is permitted to swing a bat to warm up, and the batter on deck may do so only on the field, with no other players in the area. The on deck hitter must position herself behind the active batter in the batter’s box.

C. The batting team scorekeeper and batting dugout manager are responsible for keeping the batting order correct, the on-deck batter, and keeping the dug-out doorway clear of players for safety reasons.

D. For 9 and under play, the batter is allowed seven (7) pitches to put the ball in play unless the batter strikes out. On the 8th pitch, the batting team coach will pitch the final pitch The batter is out after the 8^th pitch, unless the 8^th pitch is fouled. If the 8^th pitch is fouled, the batter will receive additional pitches until the batter puts the ball in play, strikes out, or takes a pitch. For 9-10 and over play, umpires will call balls and strikes. Players will throw all pitched balls.

F. The batter is out if a foul ball is caught outside the batter’s cage, or the foul ball is over the batter's head. All other fouls are considered foul tips. The batter is out if the catcher catches a foul tip on either the last strike, or last pitch (8^th or more).

I. A batter may not hit a fair ball with the bat a second time in fair territory. The ball will be called dead, the batter is out, and the base runners may not advance.

J. The first time a batter throws a bat, she is warned. On subsequent thrown bats by the same batter, she may be called out at the umpires discretion.

K. All Roster players in attendance must be listed in the batting order, must bat, and all players must play a minimum of 3 outs in the field. (See Rule I-B)

L. No bunting is allowed.

RULE VI – BASERUNNING

A. A base runner is entitled to continue to advance on a batted ball until the ball becomes dead.

B. The base runner is out if the base runner leaves the base path. A fielder may not block the base path or otherwise obstruct the runner.

C. A base runner may 'tag-up' and advance to the next base after a catch has been made for a putout in the outfield. The base runner must contact the base after the catch has been made prior to advancing.

D. If a base runner leaves the base before the ball is hit, the base runner will be called out.

E. Base stealing is not permitted.

F. Sliding is permitted only in a feet-first manner. Headfirst slides will be called out.

G. A base runner is out if her manager, coach, or teammates interfere with her natural running route around the bases, while the ball is alive. This includes pushes, holds, or other efforts to obstruct her natural base running action. This does not include casual touches and will be in the umpire’s judgment as to whether interference occurred.

RULE VII – FIELDING

A. The fielding team should be encouraged to throw the ball to the proper base, and proper coverage of bases should be emphasized. The rules on running are intended to encourage proper infield play, and not penalize fielders for attempting to make the proper play.

B. An out is recorded if a fielder catches a batted ball in the air, catches a throw at a base before a forced base runner reaches the base, and tags a runner that is not on a base, or as otherwise indicated in these rules.

C. The outfielders must be situated in fair territory at least ten feet beyond the normal base lines. Outfielders cannot make a putout by tagging a base or a runner. The intention of this rule is to encourage proper coverage of bases, and to teach the outfielders to throw the ball to an infielder. (An outfielder may assist a putout by throwing the ball to an infielder.)

D. The infielders should be situated in the designated positions, and must avoid lining up in the direct baseline between the bases.

E. The pitcher must throw a ball which she has fielded to a teammate in order to record an out. The pitcher may not tag a runner to record an out, nor beat the runner to a base with a fielded ball to record an out. The pitcher may record an out at a base, or tag a runner out if the pitcher has received a throw while covering a base.

F. The infield fly rule is in effect.

RULE VII – EQUIPMENT

A. Players must wear a numbered shirt.

B. Players may wear shoes with rubber spikes. Metal spikes of any type are not permitted.

D. Catchers are required to wear a mask, chest protector, and shin guards.

E. Batters, base runners, and batters on deck are required to wear helmets with facemasks at all times.

F. Players may not wear jewelry. Earrings that cannot be taken out (i.e., newly-pierced ears) must be covered with a bandage or tape.

G. Any size ball approved by ASA, NSA, ISA, or USSSA may be used.

H. Any size bat approved by ASA, NSA, ISA, or USSSA may be used including big barrel bats.

RULE IX – COACHES

A. The manager is responsible for team conduct during the time her/her team is at field site. The team manager will carry on any communications with the umpire.

B. Game Balls will be provided by WSYAA.

C. Both the home and away team Coaches are responsible for preparing the field. This includes setting and lining the bases, dragging the infield, remove standing water (never remove standing water from the infield by sweeping it into the outfield), treat damp areas (spread field dry, allow it to work, and rake it in), and repair holes. Do not remove standing water from the infield by sweeping it into the outfield.

D. WSYAA will provide umpires for each game.

E. The home team will occupy the bench on the first base side of the field. The away team will occupy the bench on the third base side of the field.

I. The home team may use the infield from 10 minutes prior to the game until game time. The away team may use the infield prior to the home team. The Coaches are responsible for starting the games on time.

J. Each manager will provide a scorekeeper to record runs and outs, maintain the proper batting order, and have players ready to bat when their turn comes up. The Home team’s scorer will be the official scorer.

K. It is the home team manager’s responsibility to contact the away manager to cancel game due to weather. The home team manager should visit the field to determine if the field is in playable condition, and may confer, if necessary, with the visiting manager to make a mutual decision. The home manager must contact the commissioner to reschedule a canceled game, and coordinate the rescheduled date and time with the away manager.

Other League Rules and Regulations

A A coach may use a courtesy runner for her pitcher and catcher and must use the last batted out as a substitute.

B. No intentional walks will be allowed.

C. League play will take priority over other games and tournaments.

D. No profanity, violence, or abusive behavior will be tolerated. Violation will result in expulsion and a one-game suspension. A second violation will result in a ban from all WSYAA activities.

E. There will be no smoking, use of any tobacco products, or the use of any alcohol during any WSYAA activity.

F. Coaches will be held accountable and are responsible for their parents and visitors behavior and may be asked to intervene or control unacceptable situations.

G. A post season tournament will be held with trophies awarded to the league Champion and runner-up. Depending on the number of teams participating per age group (8 or more teams), two levels of play may be offered (Silver and Gold) and 4 teams may be recognized as Champion and runner-up. League play will determine seeding for Post season tournament. Seeding will be determined by won/loss record and runs allowed.

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