The Playing Field & Equipment

1. 60’ baseline with 30’ baseline hash marks

2. 35’ pitching distant with 8’ radius pitching circle

3. 38’ defensive arch from 1st baseline to 3rd baseline

4. Foul lines, batters box, and base coach boxes per Babe Ruth rule book

5. 11” optic yellow softball with red stitching is required

6. Batting helmets with face guards attached to helmets are required with chin straps suggested

7. Shorts are allowed to be part of the uniform but not recommended

Regulation Game Time

1. All games will be played with 6 innings or a 90 minute time limit; no new inning should begin after 90 minutes. Games called because of the time shall be regulation games. 

   1. Westfield hosted games will have a drop dead time of 75 minutes

2. If a team is not mathematically eliminated, a new inning shall start

3. Time will begin after the coaches meeting at the plate with the umpire on duty. This meeting is a requirement for each game. 

Run-Rule (tournament only)

1. 10-run rule shall be in effect after 4 innings or 3 ½ if the home team is ahead

Mercy Rule (tournament only)

1. If the difference between the score reaches 20 or more runs any time after the completion of the 2nd inning (or any inning thereafter), the game will be stopped and considered a complete game. 

Pitching

1. Player-Pitcher

   1. First two innings of each game, a player-pitcher will throw 2 pitches to each batter from the front of the circle.

   2. Only pitches hit into play will be considered live. 

   3. Missed swings will not count towards the strike count

   4. Coaches are expected to teach batters to swing at playable pitches from the player-pitcher.

      1. The intention is to get players comfortable from the pitching mound as well as get the batter comfortable from a live pitcher that is not a coach. This is a progressional tactic that has proven to be beneficial to the players as they transition to the next division. 

2. Coach-Pitcher

   1. Each team will then have a coach-pitcher pitch 5 balls to the batter

      1. During the first two innings, this takes place after the player-pitcher pitches the first two pitches. 

      2. After the first two innings, the coach-pitcher will be the only pitcher

   2. The coach-pitch must begin with one foot on the pitching rubber. 

   3. The ball must be released within the 8’ pitching circle

   4. The coach-pitcher does not have to maintain contact with the pitching rubber while in the pitching motion, but the ball does need to be released within the circle

   5. The coach-pitcher must avoid contact with the ball and defensive players when the ball is in play. 

   6. Upon a batted ball, the coach-pitcher must leave fair territory immediately without interference if possible. 

      1. Unintentional interference will result in a dead ball/no pitch

      2. Intentional interference will result in a dead ball and lead runner will be called out.

      3. The intention of interference is at the discretion of the umpire’s call. A coach-pitcher can be removed by the umpire for interference or unsportsmanlike conduct. 

   7. After the pitch is made or while the ball is in play, the coach-pitcher shall not direct any players in any way

      1. The coach-pitcher can instruct the batter before the pitch is made

3. Pitcher’s Helper

   1. The player must keep one foot inside and one foot outside the pitcher’s circle; straddling the circle

   2. The player needs to be beside or behind the pitching rubber until the ball is hit.

Batting

1. All players on the roster will be in the batting line-up; this should remain the same throughout the entirety of the game with each player batting. 

2. If a player leaves the game due to injury or illness, the player may not re-enter the game. There will be no penalty or out required to be taken. 

   1. The player preceding her in the batting order may finish the injured players running responsibilities. 

   2. If this takes the team under the 8 player regulation, the team will forfeit unless they are able to substitute immediately within the guidelines listed below. 

3. A total of five pitches or three swinging strikes shall count as an out. The fifth pitch must be put into play or the batter is out. 

   1. No walks. 

   2. If the batter fouls the fifth pitch, batter will be awarded another pitch. This will continue until the batter strikes out or puts the ball in play.  

4. A team’s at bat will consist of a maximum of 6 runs per inning or 3 outs; whichever comes first.

5. There will be no infield fly rule, no stealing, no dropped 3rd strike. 

6. Bunting is not allowed. 

7. Batting helmets with face guards attached to helmets are required with chin straps suggested.

Running

1. Runners may leave the base when the pitch reaches the batter (anticipating a hit ball) but must return if the ball is not put into play. 

2. Runners may be called out if leaving the base early.  

3. Dead ball occurs when advancement of the lead runner, by any defensive player, is stopped by calling time. The defensive player should be in front of the lead runner.

4. Dead ball also occurs when the ball is returned to and controlled by the pitchers-helper with both feet inside the pitching circle. If a runner(s) has not made it to the halfway mark, then the runner(s) must return to the previous base(s). (Time out or stoppage of play and placement of runners is determined by the umpire). 

5. No Stealing bases

Defense/Fielding

1. Teams must have at least 8 players to begin a regulation game

2. All games shall be played with 10 defensive players; 4 in the outfield

3. There is no requirement for opposing teams to match the same number of players in the game defensively unless agreed upon by the coaches prior to the start of the game.

4. Each player on the roster must play every 2 innings with free substitution throughout the game. 

5. No player can sit out more than 2 innings defensively

Overthrows

1. In the event of an overthrow at first base, each runner is awarded their base and advanced one additional base. 

2. Runners may not advance if a 2nd overthrow occurs that is directed to the pitcher. 

   1. Examples

      1. The batter hits the ball, and the ball is overthrown at first base. The batter will be awarded 1st and advanced to 2nd.  

      2. If a runner is headed to 2nd, they are awarded 2nd and then advanced to 3rd. 

      3. If there is runner on 2nd base, not forced to run to 3rd, and does not attempt to advance, runner is only awarded 3rd base. 

Substitutions

1. Must be drawn from the pool of registered players within the league

   1. Can be across divisions or pull up from a lower aged division

2. All substitute players must play outfield and be placed at the bottom of the batting lineup

3. Substitute players cannot start ahead of rostered players on the team if they are present and on time. If there are less than 8 players; substituted players may start the game