Softball Rules

Revised September 1996

The Field
  1. All bases will be 60 feet apart.
  2. Boys-The pitching rubber will be 45 feet from home plate.
  3. Girls-The pitching rubber will be 40 feet from home plate.
The Equipment
  1. Only softball bats may be used-No baseball bats.
  2. Boys will use a 12 inch softball.
  3. Girls will use an 11 inch softball.
  4. Players may wear rubber turf shoes or plastic cleats.
  5. No metal spikes will be allowed.
The Batter
  1. A batter will be allowed 3 balls for a walk and 2 strikes for an out.
  2. A foul ball on the second strike is an out.
  3. The batter must take a full swing-No bunting is permitted.
  4. Only softball bats may be used-No baseball bats.
The Pitcher
  1. A pitching mat (27"x17") will be used as a strike zone. The 27 inches is the longest distance from the front of the carpet to the back.
  2. The pitch must be delivered underhanded with the pitcher's arm being within 6 inches of the leg upon delivery.
  3. The pitcher must begin with both feet on the pitching rubber.
  4. The arc must reach the height of the batter, but may not exceed 12 feet.
  5. A pitch with too little arc or too high should be called flat or too high by the umpire while the pitch is in the air.
    1. A batter may choose to swing at such a pitch.
    2. If the pitch is not swung at, it will be ruled an automatic ball.
    3. If the ball is not called flat or too high while in the air, it may still be called so by the home plate umpire after hitting the ground.
  6. A pitched ball that meets the arc limits that strikes the plate or the mat will be ruled a strike.
    1. A pitch hitting the front or side part of the plate (usually black) will be ruled a strike.
    2. A pitch striking any part of the mat is a strike.
  7. A pitcher will be allowed a minimum of 5 warm-up pitches upon entering the game.
  8. A pitcher will be allowed 3 warm-up pitches between innings.
The Runner
  1. The runner advancing to first base must step on the outside part of the base to avoid interference with the first baseman. A runner interfering may be called out by the umpire.
  2. Runners are encouraged to overrun 1st base.
  3. Runners must stay on the base until the ball has been hit. Leaving the base early will result in an out.
  4. A runner is allowed to advance one base on an overthrow of first base.
  5. When an overthrow out of play occurs on a runner advancing to a base. the runner will be awarded that base plus one. Other runners in the same play will be awarded similarly.
  6. If a runner off base is struck directly by a batted ball, the ball is dead, the runner is out, and the batter is awarded first base.
Practice Games
  1. Coaches will agree upon the number of innings to be played.
  2. 10 players will play in the field at one time.
  3. Teams may bat as many batters in the line-up as desired.
  4. Teams may freely substitute anyone in the field that is batting in the line-up.
  5. Each team will supply one umpire for the game.
The Tournament
    1.Tournament games will be seven innings. 2.No new innings after 55 minutes of play. 3.A 12 run rule will apply after 5 innings. 4.Extra innings will be played to break a tie score. 5.Teams may bat 10 players or may choose to bat more. 6.Each school may supply 2 umpires. Please submit the names of your umpires to the host school 2 weeks prior to the tournament. 7.A bracket format will be used, where each team will be guaranteed 3 games. 8.Infield fly rule during the softball tournament will be played according to regular softball rules.

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