Softball Rules

Note:  All softball games are based on the official rules of the Amateur Softball Association of American except the following changes

 

· Tennis shoes or rubber cleats must be worn.  Metal cleats are illegal in all leagues.  Questions about shoes should be under the discretion of the supervisor

· Teams must be ready to play by the designated game time.  There must be a minimum of 8 players or the game will be forfeit

· The game will last 7 innings or 55 minutes, whichever is the quickest.  If a game is postponed while in play, it will be completed at the point that it was stopped

· If a team is up 15+ runs after 4 innings or 10+ after 5 innings than that team will be declared the winner by default

· There will be no extra innings after the 55 minute mark

· A team may place a maximum of 12 and minimum of 8 players in the batting order.  There are no restrictions concerning field substitution but, the batting order must remain in the same order

· If a team begins with only 8 players they may add players at the bottom of the batting order up until all players in the line-up have batted once.

· Whenever a team is playing with only nine players, an out will be taken when the 10^th position in the batting order appears

· The count will be 3 balls and 2 strikes.  A foul ball will be considered a strike.  The third foul will be an out.

· All players on the field (max 10, min 8) must appear in the batting order.  Defensive changes are unlimited but the batting order must remain the same.

· Courtesy runners will be allowed for injured players.  All courtesy runners must be the last player to have made an out.  The courtesy runner must be of the same gender.

A pitch delivered legally with the proper arc requirement that crosses the plate within the strike zone will be called a strike. The strike zone is that space over any part of home plate, between the batter's back shoulder and front knee, when s/he assumes a natural batting stance. The pitch, delivered with an underhand motion, must have a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum of 12 feet.

 

Coed Modifications

 

· The team count of play is 7 males and 3 females

· The 3 females must remain on the field of play at all times.  If there are no females present then the team must play minus the females and that will constitute an automatic out

· Batting order must alternate between male/female

If a male is walked, he automatically gets second base and the next female has the option of walking or hitting