Softball Minors Rules

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Minors Softball Rules of Conduct

Teaching and enforcing good sportsmanship and abiding by the motto "FUN, FRIENDSHIP and FUNDAMENTALS" MUST be the primary goal of ALL coaches.
All coaches must take the responsibility for controlling the behavior of his/her players, as well as the parents and fans. This extends to the display of good sportsmanship by coaches and players immediately after the game through post game handshakes.
Players, coaches and spectators are not permitted behind the backstop while the game is in progress. It is up to the umpire, as well as the coaches, to enforce this rule.
Derisive comments (i.e. "jockeying" and "heckling") about or directed to umpires and opposing players is NOT permitted, and is considered unsportsmanlike conduct. Umpires may EJECT coaches and players for unsportsmanlike conduct.
After one (1) warning, the umpire may ask a coach to remove an offending fan from the Park or risk a FORFEIT. It is the responsibility of the coach to remove an offending fan. Failure to do so may, at the umpire’s discretion, result in a FORFEIT.
ALL decisions of the umpire are FINAL!! No protests or appeals are permitted.
Only the head coach, or assistant coach, may have a discussion with the umpire regarding a call or rules interpretation.
The responsibility for maintaining an accurate score sheet for each game rests with the two opposing head coaches. It is strongly suggested that the score be verified by the head coaches after each half-inning. Any questions regarding the score should be reconciled at that time with the umpire serving as arbitrator.
A coach may not hold a player out of a game as a form of discipline without notifying and receiving the approval of the league commissioner.
The prior approval of the league commissioner is required to cancel and reschedule any game, for any reason, other than rainouts formally cancelled by the ESAA, suspended by the umpire, or cancelled by the coaches due to the mutual determination that unsafe playing conditions exist.
If any player or coach throws a bat, helmet, or other piece of equipment in a spirit of anger or disgust the umpire shall call time and warn both benches that any repeat offense will result in the ejection of the player or coach involved. If in the umpire's judgment the action warrants, the player or coach may be ejected without any bench warning.
!!! At any time a coach is removed from a game due to an ejection, the offending Coach will be suspended the next scheduled game. If another incident occurs the coach will be removed from Coaching for the Season. All cases will be reviewed by the Board to determine further actions!!!

Minors Softball Game Rules

1 Ball Size. The official softball shall be an 11-inch RIF softball provided by the league.

2 Uniform. All players should be in uniform (at a minimum, jersey and pants).

2.1 Catchers gear. The catcher MUST wear a chest protector, catcher’s helmet, and shin guards.

2.2 Catchers' Helmet. Catchers MAY NOT use their batting helmet in place of a catcher’s helmet.

2.3 Batting Helmet. Each batter, including the on-deck batter, and any base runner must wear a caged helmet.

2.4 Approved Bats. All bats must be stamped by a recognized softball sanctioning authority

2.5 Cleats/ NO metal spikes are allowed.

2.6 Face Mask. All players must wear a face mask when playing any infield position the field

3 Field Set Up The Home Team provides the game ball (1), sets up the field to comply with dimension set forth in this section, and returns all equipment to the storage box after the game, and returns the diamond area to a clean condition. The HOME team is entitled to the field from the time the field set up is complete until 15 minutes prior to game time.

3.1 Base distance and Pitching Mound Distance The bases are 60 feet apart.

3.2 Pitching distance The pitcher's plate shall be placed 35 feet and centered,as measured from the tip of home plate to the front edge of the pitcher's plate.

3.3 Pitcher's Circle

3.4 On Deck Circle When a designated warm-up area for the on-deck batter is not provided, the on-deck circle will be to the back of the current batter, with no exceptions.

4 Visiting Team Rights to Field Access The VISITING team has the right to practice on the game day field fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled game time. The scheduled game time shall not be delayed to allow pre game practice.

5 Clean dugout All coaches should take extra effort to ensure that their players leave the dugout in a clean condition ready for the next team.

6 Number of Innings During the regular season, games are 6 innings long, with the visiting team batting first. The home team will bat in the 6th inning only if trailing.

6.1 No new inning after 1:45 minutes During the regular season, no new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the first pitch of the game. Coaches should confer and the umpire shall note the exact starting time of the game. Coaches should agree on the designation of last inning prior to the start of the last inning. If no agreement, the umpire shall declare the final inning.

6.2 Extra Innings If a game is tied after six complete innings (and time permits as noted here), ONE (and only one) extra inning WILL be played if there are 30 minutes before the next scheduled game. I

6.3 Extra Innings shall not delay subsequent scheduled games. IN ALL CASES, the game will be ended 10 minutes before the next scheduled game.

6.4 Ties permitted in extra innings. If a regular season game ends in a tie it stands as a tie. If the game is the last game on the field for a given day, the extra inning can be played until darkness or weather conditions do not permit further play, as ruled by the umpire.

6.5 School Night Time Limits. An extra inning shall not be started after 8 pm on weeknights when school is in session. In the event the extra inning cannot be completed due to darkness or weather, as determined by the umpire, the game will be declared a tie.

6.6 Extra Innings in Playoffs. NOTE: For playoff games, complete 6-inning games are played, and ties must be played out until a winner has been determined.

7 Inning Length Run Limit. An inning ends when: (a) the 3rd out is made OR (b) 5 runs have scored, regardless of the number of batters on either team. The 5-run maximum rule does not apply in the sixth inning or in extra innings.

7.1 5-run rule . The 5-run rule applies to all games, including playoff games.

8 Equitable Playing Time Rules

8.1 Minimum roster. A minimum of 7 players is required to start a game and to continue at the start of each inning. Teams unable to field the minimum number of players within 15 minutes of the scheduled game time are subject to forfeit. Teams with 7 or 8 players are NOT required to have a catcher; the coach(s) for the team with 7 or 8 players will catch and CANNOT make a defensive play once the ball is in play.

8.2 Call-ups If a team cannot field ten players for a scheduled game, they may call up a player(s) from the ESAA Intermediate Softball League only, using a list of substitutes provided by the league Commissioner. Call-up players must be placed at the bottom of the batting order and are required to play in the outfield. In no case may a substitute player be used as a pitcher, catcher or infield. Teams are limited to a maximum of 3 call-up players for any game. During the playoffs and championship games, all call-ups must have prior approval from the league commissioner.

8.3 Injury Subs. In the event of injury or other non-performance related reasons (such as a bathroom emergency), players may be substituted for a bench player during their innings on defense.

8.4 Late Arrival. If a player arrives after the first pitch of the first inning, but before the first pitch of the fourth inning, she shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. Players may not be added to the lineup after the first pitch of the fourth inning. A violation of this rule will constitute a "batting out of order" ruling and an automatic out.

9 Defense Rotations EACH player MUST play on defense. No player should sit out on defense a second time until every other player has sat out once. The coaches, who must balance the goals of SAFETY, TEACHING and WINNING, determine Player positioning. No player may play the same position for more than two (2) innings in any game. The spirit of this rule is to encourage rotation of all players to play all positions, unless safety is a concern.

9.1 Substitution Limits No player may play the same position for more than two (2) innings in any game. The spirit of this rule is to encourage rotation of all players to play all positions, unless safety is a concern.

10 Special Considerations for Defense

10.1 Short Center Each team can field a maximum of ten (10) players. In addition to the nine (9) traditional positions a "short center" or midfielder is allowed. The midfielder plays the infield WITHIN 5 feet behind second base. Outfielders must play at least twenty feet past the baseline.

10.2 Defensive Shift Limitations The infielders may shift their positions slightly, but not as to place any player in harm's way. Infielders must be within 5 feet (in front or behind) of the baseline prior to the pitch crossing home plate. The umpire will have wide discretion regarding this rule. The outfielders must remain in the outfield (generally on the grass or 20 feet behind the baseline) and the pitcher must remain on the mound. It is the responsibility of BOTH coaches to position their players to avoid collisions (i.e. out of the base paths unless making a play).

10.3 Illegal Shift Consequences At the discretion of the umpire, and after one warning, the umpire may award the batter first base whenever the defensive team shifts illegally toward home plate.

10.4 Coach in Field Unless the coach is pitching, coaches are NOT allowed to be on the field coaching during a game when a ball is in play.

11 Deadball scenarios A runner is not allowed to proceed to the next base on overthrows of any kind. The purpose of this rule is to encourage fielders to make throws without penalty.

11.1 Overthrows "An overthrow will be treated as a dead ball. The umpire shall call time and any runner advancing' more than one base on the throw, shall be returned to the last base the safely reached before the overthrow. Example 1. The batter will not be allowed to advance to second base. Existing runner on first base shall advanced to second base. Example 2. With a runner on second base and a ball hit to the outfield, if the runner on second base advances to home before the defense makes a play on the batter, the run shall score and the overthrow to 2nd base shall result in the batter remaining at 2nd."

11.2 Limits on runner advancement on balls from the outfield. Plays from the outfield shall be considered stopped or dead when the ball is in the possession of the pitcher anywhere inside the infield arc {dirt cutout}. When a ball is thrown in from the outfield and the pitcher takes possession within the infield, if a runner is less than halfway, and proceeds to the next base safely, they will be returned to the previous base.

11.3(a) Exception to 11.2 If a runner attempts to advance to the next base, the ball remains live as to that runner. She must safely return to the prior base or safely reach the next base. If she advances safely to the next base, the umpire shall return the runner to the last base achieved before the ball was possessed by the pitcher in the infield.

11.3(b) Exception to 11.2 If the batter is more than halfway to the next base at the time the pitcher takes possession within the infield, she may proceed to the next base at her own peril, and if she arrives safely she may remain on such base, or if home the run shall score.

12 Batting order Continuous batting lineup Each player is included in the batting order and bats in turn even if she did not play in the field the previous inning.

12.1 Late arriving player Players arriving after the start of the game will be put in at the bottom of the lineup. If a player arrives after the start of the 4th inning, she cannot enter the game.

12.2 Automatic out (Reserved)

13 Strike Zone The strike zone will be the armpits to the knees. There is no limit on foul balls hit.

14 Hit by Pitch (HBP). A batter hit by a pitch out of the strike zone will be awarded first base. For purposes of this rule, it is up to the sole discretion of the umpire as to what constitutes a hit batter. During the regular season, batters who are hit by very slow pitches, pitches with significant arc, or pitches that bounce or roll prior to making contact with the batter would not be considered a hit batter. During the playoffs, batters hit on the fly by a pitch will be awarded first base if they have been judged to have made an attempt to avoid being hit by the pitched ball.

14.1 Coach Pitch for HBP If the bases are loaded, the batter shall not be awarded 1st base, but shall be immediately granted coach pitch and the strike count shall be reset to 0.

15 Steals/Leadoffs/Sliding No Stealing. After June 1st Base Stealing is allowed only but only during player pitch. The runner may be played upon by the defense and called out if tagged. Should an error occurred when attempting a putout of the stealing runner (overthrow, dropped ball, etc.), the runner, or other runners MAY NOT Advance. There is a onebase maximum per attempted steal. Only the lead runner may steal. There are no double steals. Runners MAY NOT steal home.

15.1 Stealing Home Runners MAY NOT steal home.

15.2 Leadoffs No Leadoffs. Runner must hold her base until the pitch crosses home plate. Running with the pitch is not allowed.

15.3 Delayed Steals. No delayed steals. A runner must start her steal as soon as legally permissible. No steal is allowed on a missed return throw to the pitcher. If the umpire determines that a runner has attempted a delayed steal that runner will be called out.

15.4 Sliding encouraged Sliding will be allowed. Runners are allowed to slide only if they are wearing a sliding pad. Sliding pads are to be provided by the player, not the league.

15.5 Courtesy Runners. COURTESY runners are allowed for ANY injured players, regardless of the source of the injury. In such cases, the COURTESY runner will be the player who made the last batted out prior to the request for a COURTESY runner. When COURTESY runners are utilized, base stealing is not permitted until that runner has either scored or been forced out during the course of play. Separately, if there are two outs and either the team's pitcher or catcher are on base they will be substituted with a PINCH runner (the last batted out) in order to keep pace of game, there are no restrictions for the PINCH runners.

16 Dropped 3rd Strike The dropped 3rd strike rule DOES NOT apply.

17 Infield FlyThe infield fly rule DOES NOT apply..

18 Pitching Rules. 18.1 Inning Limit A pitcher may pitch a maximum of two innings per game. All partial innings count as full innings. A pitcher may be removed and re-enter a game one more time as a pitcher, but not in the same inning. The inning limit shall not apply to extra innings.

18.2 Position Pitching Rules - The pitcher must start with one of the following positions. 1.) The pitcher may start with both feet touching the Pitching Rubber and deliver the pitch. 2.) The pitcher may start with both feet touching the Pitching Rubber and step back before delivering the pitch (step back delivery). 3.) The pitcher may start with one foot touching the Pitching Rubber and one foot starting behind the Pitching Rubber before delivering the pitch (start back delivery). One foot must be touching the rubber upon the release of the ball. If the pitcher’s rear foot drags off the pitching rubber during release, but remains in constant contact with the ground, it is considered in still contact with the pitching rubber and is legal. Lifting and replanting the drag foot is not permitted and results in an illegal pitch.

18.3 Umpire Discretion Wide discretion will be used until June 1 interpreting this rule, however in all cases, one (1) foot must be touching the rubber upon the release of the ball. If the pitcher’s rear foot drags off the pitching rubber during release, but remains in constant contact with the ground, it is considered in still contact with the pitching rubber and is legal. Lifting and replanting the drag foot is not permitted and results in an illegal pitch.

18.4 Windmill Pitching Rules - Motion - An underhanded windmill motion must be used. The ball must extend above the pitcher's head during the motion.

18.5 HBP Limit If a pitcher hits (2) batters in one inning she will retire for that inning.

18.8 Eligible Pitchers All roster players are eligible to pitch in every game.

18.9 Coach Pitch Rules Every at bat shall commence with a player pitcher.

18.10 No walks The player pitcher shall pitch until the batter hits the ball in play or is retired on strikes. There shall be no walks. A coach of a hitting team coach shall pitch to the batter in lieu of a walk. A 3-0 count shall constitute a walk for the purposes of this rule.

18.11 Coach Pitch on the mound. The pitching coach must start the pitch standing on the rubber and pitch with an underhand motion. No overhand pitching is permitted.

18.12 Coach Pitch Dead Ball The entire season:If the ball hits the coach pitcher, it is a dead ball and a do over unless the umpire rules intentional interference (in this case the batter will be called out). When the coach pitcher is pitching, the player pitcher may be positioned on either side of the mound, but must start the play from within the 8 foot pitcher's circle or approximate if not drawn on the field.

18.13 Coach Pitch Limits The Coach pitcher shall pitch a maximum of 3 pitches to the batter. The strike count is maintained from the the at-bat. A player will continue until the first of the following occurs: her 3rd swinging strike, she has received 3 more pitches, (both of these are a ‘strike out’) or has put a fair ball in play. Fouled off 3rd strikes will be permitted to keep the at-bat alive for an additional pitch until the ball is put in play, swung at and missed or taken without an attempt at a swing.

19. Bunting Bunting is not allowed. Batters must attempt to take a full swing. Unintentional weak hits are considered "in play". Intentional bunts or "half swings" (in the judgment of the umpire) are considered strikes.

20. Thrown Bat On the first occurrence of a thrown bat, the batter will be issued a warning. Each subsequent time that a player who has received a warning throws her bat, that player will be ruled out.

21. Run limit An inning ends when: (a) the 3rd out is made OR (b) 5 runs have scored, regardless of the number of batters on either team. The 5 run maximum rule does not apply in the sixth inning or in extra innings. This rule applies throughout the playoffs.

22. Game Length During the regular season, games are 6 innings long, with the visiting team batting first. The home team will bat in the 6th inning only if trailing. During the regular season, no new inning shall begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the first pitch of the game. Coaches and the umpire should agree on the exact starting time of the game and should agree on the designation of last inning prior to the start of the last inning. If a game is tied after 6 complete innings (and time permits as noted here), ONE (and only one) extra inning WILL be played if there are 30 minutes before the next scheduled game. IN ALL CASES, the game will end 10 minutes before the next scheduled game. If a regular season game ends in a tie it stands as a tie. If the game is the last game on the field for a given day, the extra inning can be played until darkness or weather conditions do not permit further play, as ruled by the umpire. As a general rule, an extra inning should not be started after 8pm on weeknights when school is in session. In the event the extra inning cannot be completed due to darkness or weather, as determined by the umpire, the game will be declared a tie. NOTE: For playoff games, complete 6 inning games are played and ties must be played out until a winner has been determined.

23. Weather Rules All games must be played as scheduled unless weather conditions interfere. Games may be postponed for reasons of weather or field conditions, as long as both coaches are in agreement. The Commissioner may determine that all games on a particular day will be canceled; however, if the commissioner is unable to inspect a field before game time, the decision will be made by the coaches. If the coaches do not agree, the final decision will be made by the umpire. At game time, or at any time during the game, the coaches may agree that darkness, field or weather conditions have rendered the game unplayable. If there is disagreement among the coaches, then the umpire will make the decision as to whether a game will continue to be played or postponed. If a game is postponed, then the home team coach must notify the Commissioner immediately so it can be rescheduled. Canceled games must be made up. The coaches should agree on a time that is mutually acceptable based on available fields as determined by the commissioner. A game that is not made up by agreement of both coaches will be considered a no-contest. Games not made up because a mutually acceptable time could not be agreed upon will be considered a no contest. For the purpose of the standings, a forfeit will be only be awarded to a team if another team does not make a reasonable attempt to make up a game canceled due to weather.

24. Lightning Rule Lightning rule: The 30-minute rule will be utilized when lightning is sited or thunder is heard. All on field activity shall be automatically suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes and participants shall seek appropriate shelter. An assessment of conditions is to be made after the 30-minute wait period. On field activity shall resume when it is reasonably determined that additional threatening weather is not imminent. If lightning is sited or thunder after the 30-minute count, the 30 minute count shall be restarted. Games are resumed at the point at which play was postponed. If the game needs to be rescheduled, it will be resumed at the point at which play was postponed. ALL GAMES PLAYED AT THE SAME PARK WILL FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES EQUALLY, IF ANY GAME IS SUSPENDED AT A PARK ALL GAMES WILL BE SUSPENDED.

25. Darkness/WeatherGames called because of darkness or weather are official after 4 innings or after 3 ½ innings if (a) the home team is ahead or (b) the visiting team is ahead by more than 10 runs. Once a game has started, if it is postponed by inclement weather before it is an official game, it will be a suspended game and resumed from the point it stopped. If a game is postponed, then the home team coach must notify the Commissioner immediately so it can be rescheduled. Cancelled games must be made up. The coaches should agree on a time that is mutually acceptable based on available fields as determined by the commissioner. A game that is not made up by agreement of both coaches will be considered a no-contest. Games not made up because a mutually acceptable time could not be agreed upon will be considered a no contest. For the purpose of the standings, a forfeit will only be awarded to a team if another team does not make a reasonable attempt to make up a game cancelled due to weather.

26. PLAYOFFS. The playoffs are double elimination except for the championship game. If the team from the loser's bracket wins the game against the team from the winner's bracket, they are the champion. There will not be a second game played. The team from the winner's bracket, will be used to "seed" the teams for the playoffs. The higher seed for teams with the same winning percentage will be based on a) head-to-head record; b) head-to-head runs scored. Tie games do not affect winning percentage.regardless of regular season record or seed, is the home team in the championship game. The standings during the regular season will be determined by winning percentages. These standings

26.1 Time limits in Playoffs There are no time limits on playoff games; they are played until a winner is declared. A playoff game that is suspended due to darkness or weather must be completed at a later date. The game shall resume from the exact point at which it was suspended.

26.2 Championship Game The championship game will be held during the annual picnic day, the time is TBD. RAIN DATE WILL BE THE FOLLOWING DAY. This will be a winner-take-all game. The home team will be the team coming out of the winner's bracket.

27 No Jewelry For safety reasons no player may wear jewelry of any kind.

28 No Umpire If the league fails to provide an umpire for a game, then each team will supply one umpire. Each inning these umpires will rotate between home plate and the bases.

29 Winning Team Posts Score The winning team shall post the score of the game to the ESAA website within 48 hours of the game. Both teams are required to post the innings pitched by each of their respective pitchers.

30 Draft Rules The commissioner of the league shall conduct a draft to assign players to a each team. The draft shall proceed via rules created by the commissioner of the division. However the commissioner shall require that teams must draft players from the higher grade in the division for at leas the first four (4) or so many additional rounds as the commissioner determines necessary to ensure an equitable distribution of players in different age groups in advance of the draft before selecting players from the lower grade. The commissioners shall make whatever additional rules regarding this draft that are not inconsistent with the purpose of this rule.

31 Concussion Protocols Enforced. CONCUSSION PROTOCOL FOR ESAA. IF A PLAYER IS STRUCK IN THE HEAD IN ANY FASHION WHILE IN THE ACTIONS OF THE GAME OUR UMPIRES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED PLAYER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT CONTEST. IT IS THE PARENTS OF THE AFFECTED PLAYER'S DECISION TO LET PLAYER RESUME PLAY AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED TEAM EVENT.