Softball League Rules and Regulations

Pitchball

1. Clinic style will start at 6:15pm and end at 7:00pm. Game will start at 7:05pm. No new inning will start after 8:00pm in May and 8:15pm in June.

2. A circle with a radius of 10 feet is drawn around home plate with its center on the back point of the plate.  A ball that is hit and comes to rest within the circle is a foul ball. Even if a play is made on a ball that comes to rest within the circle that is in fair territory, it will be considered a foul ball.

3. Any time the batter either throws or drags the bat so that it comes to rest completely outside of the 10 foot radius circle drawn around home plate, the batter will be called out and runners cannot advance.

4. The base runner may not lead off and may not leave the bas until the ball is hit.  If a base runner leaves the base, she must tag up before she can advance.

5. An infielder must make an attempt to make a play on any base runner. Failure to do so will result in each base runner to advance one base

6. A base runner may advance only one base at her own risk on an overthrow at first or third base; however, if the fielder attempts to make a play on the runner the runner may continue to advance at her own risk.  [An overthrow occurs when a ball is thrown past the base in foul territory within the boundaries of the playing field.]

7. Each base runner is awarded 1 base when a ball is thrown into dead ball territory. [Dead ball territory is when a ball hits the fence or goes beyond the playing field boundaries.] 

8. No intentional bunting will be allowed.  An intentional bunt will be called an out.  A player must take a natural swing at the ball.

9. Each team shall present a line-up of his/her team and bat all players present [round-robin].  There shall be no changing of the batting rotation during the game.  Each player shall play a minimum of three innings on defense.

10. A line is drawn from 1^st to 3^rd base.  If a ball is fielded, then thrown toward home plate and it crosses this line, play will be stopped.  However, Base runners who have advanced more than halfway to the next base may continue to advance at their own risk.  The umpire will draw a line before the game at the halfway point between bases to assist in determining whether the runner is halfway.  The pitcher coach must not interfere with the ball being thrown to make a play on a runner advancing to home or the runner must return to third base.

11. When fielding a ball, the player must throw to the base involved instead of intentionally rolling the ball.  If the ball is rolled, the batter or runner will automatically be safe.  [Throwing overhand or sidearm is not considered rolling the ball, either is a short underhand toss or flip that is in the air that is thrown towards a defensive player].

12. Games will be four innings.  Additional innings will be played to break a tie.  No new inning shall start after 8:00pm in May and 8:15pm in June by the umpire’s watch.

13. The pitcher shall be confined to a six foot radius around the rubber until after the ball is hit.  Violation constitutes a walk; the batter will advance to 1^st and all runners will advance one base

14. The catcher shall be confined outside the circle behind home plate until after the ball is hit.

15. Batters must stand in an area designated as the batter’s box when at bat.  Should the batter step out of the batter’s box attempting to hit the ball, it will be considered a strike.

16. For every inning played each team may score a maximum of 5 runs per inning or until 3 outs are made which ever comes first. How ever the team that is behind may score as many as needed to tie or until 3 outs are made which ever comes first.

17. The coach will pitch underhand a maximum of five pitches per batter from a minimum distance of 15 feet to a maximum of 35 feet depending on the player’s ability.  When a batter does not hit a fair ball in the 5 pitches or three strikes they are out.  Afoul ball or no swing on the fifth pitch, the batter will be out.  [Any ball pitched that the batter chooses not to swing at will be counted as a pitch].

18. If the adult pitcher interferes with the fielder after the ball is hit, the batter is out and the base runners cannot advance.

19. If the batted ball touches the adult pitcher, the ball is foul and the base runners cannot advance.

20. The distance between bases is 55 feet.

21. The infield fly rule is omitted.

22. Teams with ten players present must play ten players, four of which must play the outfield. No infield player can play closer to the batter than six feet in front of the line between 1^st and 2^nd or the line between 2^nd and 3^rd, outfielders must play at least twelve feet behind the line.

23. A player on defense can only play one position once per game, of which one inning must be an infield position other than catcher.

24. The pitcher must be inside the pitcher’s circle before the ball is pitched.

25. T-ball bats may be used in pitch ball.

26. Any batter and base runners must wear batting helmets.  If a player neglects to do so, time shall be called and said player must put one on.  Refusal to do so will result in the immediate removal from the game.  In addition, any batter, or runner in the softball program who intentionally loses a helmet shall be declared out.  The ball will become dead, and all runners must go back to the last legally held base.

27. Each team shall provide an umpire for every game [one for in the field and one for behind the plate].  The home team shall provide the home plate umpire.  Every attempt shall be made to find an umpire.  If the home team cannot supply an umpire, the other team may supply the umpire.

Field Layout

1. Distance between bases shall be 55 feet.

2. A circle with a radius of ten feet shall be drawn around home plate with the center on the back of home plate.

3. A circle with a radius of six feet shall be drawn around the pitching rubber, the center of which shall be 40 feet from the back of home plate.

4. A line shall be drawn form 1^st to 3^rd base.

5. A line shall be drawn in each base path at the halfway point [27’6’’] between 1t and 2^nd, 2^nd and 3^rd, and 3^rd and home.

6. A line shall be drawn in a direct line between home plate and 2^nd base at the distance of 15 feet from the back of home plate.

Any changes to these rules requires a majority vote of the rules committee and approval of the softball membership at a legally called meeting.  Any rules covered here or in the general rules shall be covered by the “Official Softball Fastpitch Rule Book”.

 

Revised October 2006

CGAA SOFTBALL