Girls Softball - 9U Division 2022 Rules of Play

GENERAL RULES

1. All scores must be reported by the winning team the night of your game via the following link https://forms.gle/gyGrbhckWrB4.... If you do not see your results posted within 48 hours, please email . You will not be credited with a win unless these procedures are followed.
2. Games are scheduled for 6 innings. A forfeit will be declared 15 minutes sharp after the scheduled start time. A minimum of 7 players is required to start the game and if a player is injured during the game, the team may continue with 6 players. If other team has extra players the managers can choose how they can make sure everyone gets equal playing time and at bats.
3. The spot vacated by injured or early leaving players is not an out. Just skip over that spot in the order.
4. If a manager knows he does not have enough players for a certain game scheduled, he/she should attempt to see if he can borrow girls from other teams in the league. In the event the manager is unable to field a team for such game, they must notify the opposing manager and division heads at least 48 hours in advance of the game and discuss a reschedule.
5. Time limit: Umpires and coaches must agree on the starting time of the game before the first pitch is made: scorekeepers should note the starting time of each game in the scorebook. No new inning can begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes. If the game is tied after the last inning has been played and there is no game scheduled to be played on your field, the game may be extended by up to 30 minutes (with no inning beginning after 2:15). If still tied after the extra 30 minutes, the game shall be called a tie. Extra innings will be coach pitch innings.
6. Please try and move games along but early in the season the game will end when the umpire deems it unsafe to play due to darkness. The score at the end of the last full inning played will be considered the final score. However, if the home team is at bat and winning when the game is called, the score at that time is the final score.
7. No one is permitted behind the backstop during the games. This includes all coaches, parents & children.
8. There is a ZERO tolerance policy for any type of abuse towards an umpire. Managers are responsible for behavior of the parents and spectators of their team. Only the manager or acting manager of the game may approach the umpire for any reason.
9. All girls must be dressed in full uniform. Socks, team jersey and softball pants that were distributed by the league. Fielding masks and undershirts with heart guards are mandatory for all players. If not appropriately dressed the girl will be ineligible to play.
10. Innings are 3 outs or 4 runs scored, whichever occurs first. However, 3 outs must be made in the last inning. Both Managers and the umpire must agree before the inning begins that it will be designated the last innings.

PITCHING:

1. Regulation 11 inch leather core.47 softballs will be used.
2. Pitchers mound distance will be 35 feet from the back of home plate.
3. We will be playing coach pitch for innings 1, 2, and final inning. If the time limit is approaching or it is getting dark the coaches along with the umpire can agree that the Final Inning is any inning prior to the 6^th inning.
4. Pitcher can start with 1 foot behind the mound or take a step back to start the delivery. In the event a manager deems the pitcher to not be following proper technique, the manager should discuss the situation with the other manager and umpire and instruction should be provided to the pitcher. We want these girls to learn the proper technique and forcing them from the game will not accomplish this. If it is not a flagrant violation that is providing the pitcher with an unfair advantage, please be patient and work with the opposing pitcher/manager.

1. If a pitcher throws 1 pitch it will constitute an inning.

1. Each pitcher may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game. In the event the game goes into extra innings, a pitcher who has already pitched 2 innings may reenter and pitch a maximum of 2 additional innings.
2. A pitcher will be removed as a pitcher for the game, and is no longer eligible to pitch in that game, if she hits 3 batters in an inning or 5 in a game. To count as a hit by pitch the batter must make an attempt to avoid the pitch �???�??�?�¢?? this will be in the umpires discretion but balls that roll into a batters feet should not be considered hit by pitch.
3. All players are eligible to continuously leave and re-enter the game in the field, including the pitcher.
4. Once a pitcher approaches the pitcher's plate, all dugouts must be quiet until the umpire has called the pitch. No negative chanting is allowed.
5. No intentional walks.
6. Two trips to the mound per inning are permitted. 2nd trip, pitcher must be replaced.

FIELDING:

1. 10 Players in the field.
2. Outfielders must play 4 across, no short center. Outfielders must be standing on the outfield grass.

A team must field at least 7 players. If one of the 7 players get injured, the team still can play with 6 fielders.

For a full 6 inning game, each player must play at least 2 innings in the infield. It is strongly encouraged that no player sit on the bench for two consecutive innings. In the event a game lasts less than 6 innings, managers should do their best to ensure all players get equal amounts of time in the IF and OF.

BATTING:

1. Universal batting will be in effect throughout the entire season.
2. On a dropped 3rd strike the batter is out and may not advance to 1^st base. Base runners may advance at their own risk. This will count toward the steal limit. (See Base Running Rule 4.)
3. There is no Infield Fly rule in effect.
4. Base runners may tag up on fly ball outs and advance to any base.
5. Bunting is allowed.

BASE RUNNING:

1. Bases will be set at 60 feet.
2. Runners may not lead, but may steal when the ball crosses home plate. The runner must either attempt to advance using a steal or return to the base upon the catcher having control of the ball and returning the ball to the pitcher. There is no 'dancing' off the base or delayed steals permitted.
3. One warning per team for a player leaving the base too early

On a hit that causes a play at first base, the runner must touch the orange safety base. Failure to do so will result in the runner being called out. Exception to this is if the batter-runner uses the white base to avoid contact with fielder potentially using foul territory to make a play.

If the catcher attempts a pick off at first base, all runners can advance at their own risk if a steal still exists; except a runner on third who can only advance on a walk or batted ball. Per rule #7 below, there is no stealing of home.

1. Each team may steal second base two times per inning and may steal third base an unlimited number of times per inning. No runner stealing any base may advance on an overthrow (i.e. no base runner may advance two bases on a play initiated by a steal).
2. There is no stealing home and thus all runners on third base must remain on the base whether the catcher has control of the ball, a pitched ball gets past the catcher, or there is an overthrow on a steal.
3. There are no double steals (two different players stealing a base on the same play).
4. If there is a violation of rule #6 or #7, the play is dead and the runner(s) shall be sent back to their respective base.
5. The ball is dead on the throwback to the pitcher from the catcher.
6. Time is out when a player with the ball in the pitcher's circle calls time and time is granted by the umpire.
7. A runner more than half way to the next base when time is called will be awarded that base. A runner less than half way will return to the previous base. This rule is solely at the discretion of the umpire.
8. There is no continuation allowed on a walk.
9. A runner may advance at their own risk on an overthrow. They will be allowed to take one base on the overthrow. In the event the fielding team attempts to get the runner out after an overthrow and subsequently has another overthrow the runner may again attempt to advance one base.
10. If there is a play at home (in the umpires judgment), the runner must slide or surrender. If the runner does not do so, she will be out. At other bases it will be at the umpires discretion to call runners interference if the runner does not slide and makes contact with the fielder.
11. There is no head first sliding except when a catcher is attempting a pick off and it is a dive back to a base.
12. There are no stealing bases when a team is up by 8 runs or more. Base runners can only advance on batted balls in such a situation.

SPEED UP RULE:

1. If the opposing teams catcher and/or pitcher is on base after two outs or three runs have been recorded that player shall be (catcher)/can be (pitcher) replaced with a courtesy runner. The courtesy runner will be the last batter out. (The catcher will then re-apply her equipment & be prepared to play as soon as the third out is recorded).

MERCY RULE:

1. The 12 run mercy rule will be in effect after 4 innings, 3 and half if the home team is ahead and 10 runs after 5 innings, 4 and half if the home team is ahead.

MANAGERS/COACHES PREPARATION

1. Managers and coaches must be at the field at least 15 minutes before starting times. Advise your team that you expect them to arrive 15 minutes prior to all start times. We must start the games on time.
2. Managers are responsible to make sure there is ice and a team first aid kit at the field for every game or practice.
3. Only Managers and coaches may coach 1st or 3rd base. Parent may do so in the event a coach or manager is not present at a game.
4. Players may not wear any jewelry unless it is a medical alert bracelet. Taping or covering of jewelry is prohibited.
5. Once a game is officially rained out, it is the home teams responsibility to reach out to their league for available fields, dates and times. Within 48 hours after the rained out game, the home team shall share with the away team two options to make up the game. The visiting team then has 24 hours to respond and accept one of the dates. If no response, the division head will assign and schedule the makeup.
6. We have a tight timeline for playoffs. In fairness to all, we ask managers to adhere to the playoff round completion dates as best they can. We will allow for reasonable accommodations to extend a day or two if necessary. Long delays between playoff rounds will affect all remaining teams and rounds and will not be tolerated. It is the managers responsibility to prepare themselves during the season to ensure there is a coach/parent who can run the team if the manager is not available, otherwise risk forfeiting the game if a reasonable amount of time cannot be met?
7. If a manager is thrown out of a game for any reason, he/she will automatically receive an additional 1 game suspension and be brought in front of their respective leagues disciplinary committee.
8. When schedules are posted, it is the leagues intent to play as many games as possible. We want the girls to play! In this spirit, we are asking all managers to make every effort to complete as much of the schedule as possible. Not doing so may affect a teams post season seeding, at the discretion of the Town Directors.
9. EACH HOME TEAM MUST SUPPLY 1 LEATHER CORE. 47 11 inch GAME BALLS

STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF TIEBREAKERS:

1. The standings will be posted on the above mentioned website. 2 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a tie.
2. In the event of a tie we will use the following tie breaking procedures:
   • Head to head record
   • Total number of games played
   • Head to head against next highest seeds, going down until one team has a better record against the next higher seed
   • Compare Runs Allowed Ratio: add up all runs allowed and divide by the amount of defensive innings your team played.
   • Coin Toss
   • The playoffs will re-seed after each round 

RULES IF NO UMPIRE IS PRESENT:

1. Coaches should agree at the beginning who the umpire will be for each team.
2. Each team's umpire should officiate when their team is at bat. The strike zone should be applied as consistently as possible--it is roughly neck to knees, and 6" off either side of the plate. Obviously this is the hardest part of the job, even for paid professionals, so try to keep it as fair as possible--called strikes should be hittable by the batter.  Called balls and strikes are final--no feedback should be offered from the opposing sidelines. If an acting umpire seeks another view on a play in the field, it should be a discussion only between the head coaches (and umpire, if not a head coach). No assistants, parents, players or random passersby should have any involvement in officiating decisions.
3. Coaches should maintain patience with each other and the process and do the best to keep play fair and fun.