Rancho San Diego Girls Softball

Fastpitch Softball

Link to Rules in .pdf format

6U
8U
10U
12 & 14U

Rancho San Diego A.S.A.

12U & 14U

Supplemental Rules

These rules shall supplement the A.S.A. regulations for 2009. A copy of these rules shall accompany the official scorebook and be available for managerial and umpire review prior to the start of the game.

Home Team is responsible for the keeping of the Official Scorebook and all field prep if there is only one team in that division. The home team dugout is located on the first base side.

Visiting Team has its dugout on the third base side.

Both Teams are responsible for field prep (chalking, dragging, and setting up the bases and outfield fence) their areas of the dugouts and bleachers for the removal of trash.

The Game:

No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes.
No drop dead time, finish inning.
Umpire and official scorekeeper to log start time of game.
Drop third strike IS in effect.
The infield fly rule IS in effect.
A 5 run rule is in effect. Once a team scores five runs in an inning that inning is over.
The last inning (regulation game consists of seven innings) can be an open inning.
Games called by umpire will revert to the score at the top of the last completed inning.
The ball that is used is a 12 inch.

Defense:

9 fielders are allowed. Game may start with 8 players. There will be no penalty for fielding 8 players.
Unlimited defensive substitution is allowed, for all players except pitchers.
Once a pitcher is removed from the defensive line-up, she may not return to the mound to pitch. She may be placed in another defensive position and then put back in as pitcher.
Every player must play at least two innings in the field per game.
A play is dead only when the pitcher possesses the ball within the pitcher’s circle or when time is called by the umpire.

Pitching:

Pitching distance is 40 feet.

Offense:

A continuous batting order is in effect.
If a team leads by more that 10 runs after five innings the game will be called.
If you start the game with less than nine players, each time the ninth spot in the batting order is up, an out will be recorded until that batter arrives.

Pool Play:

Pool players must be drawn from a lower division. If one or more pool players are used, they may play in the infield / outfield and must bat at the end of the line up.

Rancho San Diego A.S.A.

10U

Supplemental Rules

Home Team is responsible for the keeping of the Official Scorebook and all field prep if there is only one team in that division. The home team dugout is located on the first base side.

Visiting Team has its dugout on the third base side.

Both Teams are responsible for field prep (chalking, dragging, and setting up the bases and outfield fence) their areas of the dugouts and bleachers for the removal of trash.

The Game:

No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes.
No drop dead time, finish inning.
Umpire and official scorekeeper to log start time of game.
Drop third strike IS in effect.
The infield fly rule IS in effect.
A 4 run rule is in effect. Once a team scores four runs in an inning that inning is over.
The last inning (regulation game consists of seven innings) can be an open inning.
Games called by umpire will revert to the score at the top of the last completed inning.
The ball that is used is an 11 inch.

Defense:

9 fielders are allowed. Game may start with 8 players. There will be no penalty for fielding 8 players.
Unlimited defensive substitution is allowed, for all players except pitchers.
Once a pitcher is removed from the defensive line-up, she may not return to the mound to pitch. She may be placed in another defensive position and then put back in as pitcher.
Every player must play at least two innings in the field per game.
A play is dead only when the pitcher possesses the ball within the pitcher’s circle or when time is called by the umpire.
All outfielders must be 10 ft. behind the baseline prior to the pitch, but may move anywhere after the pitch.
Prior to daylight savings time, every player must play one inning in the infield.
Prior to daylight savings time, teams shall field 10 defensive players.

Pitching:

Pitching distance is 35 feet.

Offense:

A continuous batting order is in effect.
If a team leads by more that 10 runs after five innings the game will be called.
If you start the game with less than nine players, each time the ninth spot in the batting order is up, an out will be recorded until that batter arrives.

Stealing:

One stolen base maybe taken per pitch. No advances on an over throw. A play at a base or an over throw to a pitcher does not release a runner. On an overthrow from an infielder to any base, the runner may advance one base only.

Pool Play:

Pool players must be drawn from a lower division or within the same division if approved by both Managers and with final approval of the President and Player Agent. If one or more pool players are used, they may play in the infield / outfield and must bat at the end of the line up.

Rancho San Diego A.S.A.

Supplemental Rules

Home Team is responsible for the keeping of the Official Scorebook and all field prep if there is only one team in that division. The home team dugout is located on the first base side.

Visiting Team has its dugout on the third base side.

Both Teams are responsible for field prep (chalking, dragging, and setting up the bases and outfield fence) their areas of the dugouts and bleachers for the removal of trash.

The Game:

No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes.
No drop dead time, finish inning.
Umpire and official scorekeeper to log start time of game.
Drop third strike IS not in effect.
The infield fly rule IS not in effect.
A 4 run rule is in effect. Once a team scores four runs in an inning that inning is over.
The last inning (regulation game consists of seven innings) can be an open inning.
Games called by umpire will revert to the score at the top of the last completed inning.
The ball that is used is a 10 inch.

Defense:

There can be 10 players on the field at all times. (1B, 2B, 3B, SS, P, C, LF, LC, RC, RF) Prior to daylight savings time.
All outfielders must be 10 ft. behind the baseline prior to the pitch, but may move anywhere after the pitch.
Every girl on the team will have the opportunity to play an infield position in every game. You can alternate at a position yet you are not obligated to move all your infielders to the outfield, and vise versa. Example – you can have the same four girls play outfield, but rotate them into an infield position when time permits.
Unlimited defensive substitution is allowed, for all players except pitchers.
Once a pitcher is removed from the defensive line-up, she may not return to the mound to pitch. She may be placed in another defensive position and then put back in as pitcher.
A play is dead only when the pitcher possesses the ball within the pitcher’s circle or when time is called by the official umpire.
Every player must play at least two innings in the field per game.

Pitching:

Pitching distance is 35 feet.
A pitcher may pitch a total of 6 innings per week. All innings pitched must be properly logged in the official scorebook. Two pitchers must pitch in each game. One pitch to one batter constitutes one inning pitched. Pitching week is Monday to Sunday.
Inter-league games (non R.S.D.) will not count towards innings pitched for the week.
There must be two girls pitching per game. Example – you can pitch one girl one inning and the other girls three or both girls two innings each. YOU CANNOT PITCH ONE GIRL THE ENTIRE GAME!
Both feet must be on the mound at the start of the pitch. A pitcher must not double step or hop to release a pitch. One foot must always be touching the ground (dragging) in pitch deliver.
If a pitcher hits an offensive batter upon delivery, the batter will have the opportunity to walk or take another pitch. If the batter is hit hard (umpires’ call) the pitcher will have one warning. If the pitcher hits two batters within one inning (umpires’ call) the pitcher will be dismissed from the mound for the remainder of the inning. She can come back to pitch another inning, but if she hits a third batter (umpire’s call) she will be pulled from pitching in the game only.
If a pitcher has been found to violate the innings rule, the penalty will be an automatic forfeiture in the game in which it occurs.
If a game is cancelled or stopped and played at a later date, the innings pitched will be continued as if it were the week that the game was originally scheduled.

Catching:

There will be two catchers per game, with at least one catcher playing two consecutive innings. Example – You can play your starter two innings, another girl one inning, and your starter for the last or open inning. YOU CANNOT CATCH ONE GIRL THE ENTIRE GAME!

Offense:

A continuous batting order is in effect. (All players bat in the same order every inning.)
If a girl is injured and not able to continue to play, her spot in the batting order will be recorded as an out only the first time she would have batted.
If a girl is injured running the bases and is unable to continue as a runner, the last batter before her in the line up, not on base, will replace her as a pinch runner.

Stealing:

Stealing will be allowed.
A girl can only steal on the release of the pitch. If she leaves the bag early before the pitch release she will be called out.
Only one base can be stolen per pitch.
No stealing of home allowed.
Double steals will be allowed (two runners attempting to steal at once.)
If the catcher attempts to make an out by throwing down to second or third base and the ball is overthrown the base runner may not advance and the play will stop.

Sliding:

Any girl who slides should be wearing protective pads. If she does not have a slider on the umpire can call her out.

Overthrows:

On an overthrow from an infielder to any base, the runner can advance one base only. If a ball is batted to the outfield, the runner can advance as many bases as possible before the ball is returned to the pitcher, who has to be within the pitcher’s circle.
Any attempted throw to the pitcher from any one of her teammates will stop the play, only if the pitcher is within the circle. If the ball falls short of the circle it is a live ball.

Pool Play:

Pool play is allowed within the Division or players from the lower Division. Please check and confirm with the Player Agent.

First Half of the Season: (before daylight savings)

If the pitcher walks the batter, a coach pitcher will be called in. The strike/ball count will remain on the batter. Example – if the pitcher threw two strikes on the batter and four balls, the batter will have two strikes on her when the coach pitcher takes the mound to pitch to her. The coach pitcher must pitch from the pitcher’s mound. If the coach pitcher throws a pitch, which falls within the strike zone, it will be counted as a strike. After four pitches from the coach pitcher, the batter will take an out. If the batter foul tips the fourth pitch she will remain in until she has a hit or strikes out.
If agreed upon by both Managers the first five games will be coach pitch only.

Second Half of the Season: (after daylight savings)

If the pitcher pitches four balls to a batter, the batter may advance to first on a walk. If the pitcher loads the bases, a coach pitcher will come in to pitch to the batter. The strike/ball count will remain on the batter. NO RUNNERS WILL BE WALKED IN. There is no penalty for a batter foul tipping the last pitch from a coach pitcher, she will be given the opportunity to put the ball into play or strike out.

Rancho San Diego A.S.A.

Supplemental Rules 2009

The purpose of the 6U division is to provide an opportunity for the girls to learn the fundamentals of softball in a fun and positive atmosphere.

Home Team is responsible for all field prep if there is only one team in that division. The home team dugout is located on the first base side.

Visiting Team has its dugout on the third base side.

Both Teams are responsible for field prep (chalking, dragging, and setting up the bases and outfield fence) their areas of the dugouts and bleachers for the removal of trash.

The Game:

Drop dead time is 50 minutes.
The ball that is used is a 10 inch.
Both managers must submit a batting line up to the other team before starting the game.
All girls should line up on the base line before each game.
Managers must make sure that the girls are not wearing ANY jewelry.
Two players will lead the pledge of allegiance, and then shall say “Play Ball!”
The visiting team bats first.
Both teams are responsible for cleaning up their perspective dug-outs and bleachers.

Coach Pitching:

The offensive coach will pitch no more than (3) three pitches to each batter. If she has not gotten a hit after the fourth pitch, the T will be brought out. Exception: Foul fourth, one more pitch. She will have every opportunity to hit the ball off the T, before the next batter is up.
The offensive coach pitcher must pitch from within the pitching circle.
If the T is brought in the offensive coach will place the ball on the T and step out of infield so the fielders may field the ball. The offensive coach must also remove the T from the plate after a batted ball, should there be a possibility of a player scoring on the play.

Batting:

Any batted ball that hits the pitcher (coach) will be considered a dead ball.
The offensive team (hitting team) must bat through the entire line up. There shall be no substitutions on offense, only on defense.
A batted ball must travel a minimum of (15) fifteen feet and be fair to be considered in play. All such balls remain in play until play is stopped.
As used here, dead ball means anytime the play is stopped. Base runners may not advance when the ball is dead. The ball is dead when, after being batted by a batter into play, the ball is in the hand of the player playing the pitcher’s position and that player has at least one foot within 3 feet of the pitchers circle. All base runners must return to the last base safely reached.
Base runners must remain in contact with their base until the ball is hit. Once the ball is put into play, base runners may advance at their own risk until the ball becomes dead. Base runners will be removed from the bases for any out situation.
Any ball hit past the baseline is considered to have been hit to the outfield, and a base runner can advance at their own risk to however many bases they can reach safely. Any batted ball that is stopped or caught in front of the baseline is considered to be hit in the infield. Each base runner may only advance one base for any ball hit in the infield, regardless of whether or not there is an overthrow. After a play or attempted play by an infielder on a ball hit to the infield, the ball becomes dead. Any batter/base runner not removed from a base on the play, may advance no more than one base. The base runners are at risk in attempting to advance to this base.
On last batter all base runners advance to home, while defense attempts to tag out all runners at the plate.
All batters MUST wear a helmet with a face mask and chin strap. THIS IS MANDATORY.
There is no stealing in the 6U division.
The runner may slide at a base only if she is wearing the correct sliding gear.
No Scores or standings will be kept in 6U.

Defense:

A maximum of two (2) defensive coaches may be on the field at one time. These coaches are required to be positioned in the outfield and may not enter the infield during live play nor tough any live ball.
There will be a catcher, pitcher, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, LC, RC, RF. If the team has more than 10 players, you can field extra outfielders only. All outfielders must be positioned behind the base line, and behind the nearest infield player.
The player in the pitching position must have one foot within the pitching circle upon delivery of the pitch and before the ball is hit off the T. She may leave her circle to field the ball. No girl can play more than 2 innings at the pitchers position within one game.
The catcher must be in full gear and be positioned behind the plate. No girl can play more than two innings at the catcher position in one game. Once the catcher takes the field, she must play the whole inning.
All girls shall be given the opportunity to play an infield position once during a game. The catcher’s position is considered an infield position.

Please remind yourself and the parents that this division is geared to teaching the girls the fundamentals of the game, and that they are here TO HAVE FUN FIRST!