TWELVE AND UNDER RULES 
 
Regulation Game (during regular season and tournament) 
1. Time limit for all games is 70 minutes.  Time begins after the pre-game conference. The umpire will be the official timekeeper. 
2. No inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed.  Once time has expired, the game will end if the losing team is trailing by more than the number of runs allowed per half inning. 
3. A half inning has ended, and new inning has started immediately following the third out or 5th run scored.  (Ex. Last Pitch Thrown, Third Strike Called, Runner Put Out, 5th Run Scored)
4. A regulation game is: 
a. A game played a minimum of 70 minutes; or 
b. 7 innings; or 
c. A minimum of 3 innings; or 
d. Has met the margin of run rules as stated in the USSSA Rule Book (6 runs after 5 innings). 
5. Regular season league games may end in a tie.  No new inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed during the regular season.  For end of season tournament games only: If a game is tied after the 70minute rule or is tied after completing the allowable innings, the USSSA Tie Breaker Rule will be in effect.  The tie breaker will continue to be used until a winner is declared. 
6. If you do not have enough players to play, you will forfeit.  However, if both coaches agree, the game may be played for “practice”. 
7. Home team will be the official scorekeeper, however both teams should keep score.  The scorekeeper should inform the umpire when 5 runs have been scored. 
 
Pitching 
1. A 12-inch softball will be used. 
2. The pitching distance is 40 feet from pitching rubber to back point of home plate. 
3. Pitchers will be limited to four (4) innings per game.  The innings are not required to be consecutive.  
 
 
Fielding 
1. A maximum of nine (9) defensive players will be used on the field. 
2. The USSSA rulebook will be followed. 
3. The infield fly rule applies, per the USSSA book. 
 
 
Batting 
1. All players will be included in the batting order. 
2. Each team is limited to 5 runs or three outs in one inning. 
3. Batters may run on a dropped third strike. 
4. A runner must remain in contact with the base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the delivery of a pitch.  
5. Runners may advance to home on an overthrow or passed ball/wild pitch. 
6. Runners are allowed to steal home. 
7. All other USSSA rules will apply. 
 

TEN AND UNDER RULES 
 
Regulation Game (during regular season and tournament) 
1. Time limit for all games is 70 minutes. Time begins after the pre-game conference.  The umpire will be the official timekeeper. 
2. No inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed. Once time has expired, the game will end if the losing team is trailing by more than the number of runs allows per half inning.    
3. A half inning has ended, and new inning has started immediately following the third out or 5th run scored. (Ex. Last Pitch Thrown, Third Strike called, Runner put out, 5th run scored) 
4. A regulation game is: 
a. A game played a minimum of 70 minutes; or  
b. 7 innings; or 
c. A minimum of 3 innings; or 
d. Has met the margin of run rules as stated in the USSSA Rule Book (6 runs after 5 innings). 
4. Regular season league games may end in a tie.  No new inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed during the regular season.  For end of season tournament games only:  If a game is tied after the 70-minute rule or is tied after completing the allowable innings, then the USSSA Tie Breaker Rule will be in effect. The tie breaker will continue to be used until a winner is declared. 
5. If you do not have enough players to play, you will forfeit. However, if both coaches agree, the game may be played for “practice”. 
6. Home team will be the official scorekeeper, however both teams should keep score.  The scorekeeper should inform the umpire when 5 runs have been scored. 
 
Pitching 
1. An 11-inch softball will be used. 
2. The pitching distance is 35 feet from pitching rubber to back point of home plate. 
3. Per the USSSA Rule Book.  Umpires may enforce an expanded strike zone.  
4. Pitchers are limited to five (5) warm-up pitches at the start of each half inning.  
5. Pitchers are limited to three (3) innings per game.  The innings are not required to be consecutive.  
 
Fielding 
1. Up to ten (10) players will be used on the field but no more than 6 players, including the catcher, can be positioned inside the infield baselines.  All other defensive players are required to be in the grass at the time of the pitch.   
2. USSSA rules will be followed as to base stealing, wherein players may steal one base at a time (even on an overthrow). A player will advance at their own risk and may be putout on their attempt. Players may not steal home or score on an overthrow.  
3. The infield fly rule will not apply, per the USSSA Rule Book. Umpires should not enforce the infield fly rule. 
4. A runner may advance one base on an overthrow. A runner cannot score on an overthrow. 
 
Batting 
1. All players will be included in the batting order at all times. 
2. Each team is limited to scoring 5 runs or three outs in one inning, whichever happens first. 
3. A batter will be out after 3 strikes, regardless of whether the ball is caught or dropped by the catcher on the third strike. 
4. The batter may not run on the dropped third strike. 
5. A runner must remain in contact with the base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the delivery of a pitch.  
6. All other USSSA rules will apply. 
7. A courtesy runner can be used for your current pitcher and catcher.  Any player on your line-up can be used, as the courtesy runner.  It does not need to be the last available player.  
 
Walk rule for 10U 
Batters will NOT advance to first base on a walk. (For purposes of this walk rule, a base on balls or a hit batter will count as a walk) Once a walk occurs, the hitting team will supply a coach to pitch to that batter from the pitching rubber and the coach will pitch a maximum of three pitches (In the extreme event that a hit batter cannot continue to bat because of injury, the batter will return to the dugout and a courtesy runner will take their place. No out or penalty will be called, and play will continue.) The number of strikes thrown by the pitcher will remain and, at this point, the batter can STRIKEOUT but CANNOT WALK. The offensive coach will pitch to any batter walked by the defensive pitcher. No stealing or bunting when the coach is pitching. 
a. Example: batter walks with a count of 4-2, the coach will throw a maximum of three pitches and the batter can strike out swinging one time or on one called strike). However, an at bat may not end on a foul ball, unless the foul ball is caught by a defensive player, and a batter will remain at bat as long as they continue to foul off pitches.  
 
 
 
 
 

EIGHT AND UNDER RULES 
 
Regulation Game (during regular season and tournament) 
1. Time limit for all games is 70 minutes. Time begins after the pre-game conference. The umpire will be the official timekeeper. 
2. No inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed. An inning in progress should be completed unless the losing team is trailing by more than the number of runs allows per half inning.    
3. A half inning ends, and new inning starts immediately following the third out or 5th run scored. (Ex. Last Pitch Thrown, Third Strike called, Runner put out, 5th run scored)  
4. A regulation game is: 
a. A game played a minimum of 70 minutes; or  
b. 7 innings; or 
c. A minimum of 3 innings; or 
d. Has met the margin of run rules as stated in the USSSA Rule Book (6 runs after 5 innings). 
5. Regular season league games may end in a tie.  No new inning may start after 70 minutes has elapsed during the regular season.  For end of season tournament games only:  If a game is tied after the 70-minute rule or is tied after completing the allowable innings, then the USSSA Tie Breaker Rule will be in effect. The tie breaker will continue to be used until a winner is declared. 
6. If you do not have enough players to play, you will forfeit. However, if both coaches agree, the game may be played for “practice”. 
7. Home team will be the official scorekeeper, however both teams should keep score.  The scorekeeper should inform the umpire when 5 runs have been scored. 
 
Pitching 
1. An 11-inch "safe-t-soft" softball will be used. 
2. The pitching distance is 35 feet from pitching rubber to back point of home plate. 
3. The entire game will be coach pitch.  The coach must pitch the ball from within the pitching circle. The coach is not required to have contact with the pitching plate.  
4. When the team coach is pitching, the pitcher/player must stay in the circle until the ball is hit. 
 
Fielding 
1. Teams allowed to have a maximum of 11 defensive players on the field at a time. 
2. All players will play a defensive position every inning but no more than 6 players, including the catcher, can be positioned inside the infield baselines. All other defensive players are required to be in the grass at the time of the pitch. Coaches are encouraged to rotate players around the field. The player pitcher must have at least one foot inside the pitcher’s circle when the batter’s coach is pitching.  
3. Players (both infield and outfield) are encouraged to make a play. Once the *attempt has been made or the ball is in control by the pitcher with one foot in contact with the 8ft pitching circle, the play has ended, and runners may not advance unless they are 
halfway to the next base. A runner may continue to round the bases until an *attempt has been made. 
a. Attempt is defined as making an effort to make an out.  Once the ball reaches the *intended infield location. It does not matter if the runner is safe, out. The play     stops and the ball is returned to the pitcher.  
i. Example 1:  Bases are empty.  A ball is hit to centerfield.  The centerfielder throws the ball to second base.  The runner has not advanced more than halfway to     second base.  The play has ended.  The ball should be returned to the pitcher.  The runner should remain at first base. 
ii. Example 2:  Bases are empty.  A ball is hit to centerfield.  The centerfielder picks up the ball and holds it. The runner advances more than halfway to third base.      The centerfielder throws the ball to shortstop.  The play has ended.  The ball should be returned to the pitcher.  The runner may advance to third base as she     was more than halfway to third base before the throw from centerfield was made.   
iii. Example 3: Bases are empty.  A ball is hit to third base.  Third base fields the ball and throws it to the pitcher before the runner reaches first base.  The play has     ended.  The runner should remain at first base.  
b. Intended Location is defined as the position where the defensive player is attempting to make the throw. The intended infield location must be one that is                             reasonably considered part of the play.   
iv. Example 1:  Bases are empty.  A ball is hit to shortstop.  The shortstop throws the ball to third base.  In this situation third base is not reasonably considered     part of the play.  If the ball was overthrown, they may advance only one base.  If the ball was fielded by third base, the play will continue until an attempt is made    or the ball is returned to the pitcher in the circle. 
4. A runner may advance one base on an overthrow. A runner cannot score on an overthrow. 
5. A runner may not be tagged out after a play has ended.   
6. Only two defensive coaches may be in the outfield in the grass; no contact with a live ball is allowed. Contact with a live ball will results in a dead ball and an automatic double. A coach behind the catcher or in the infield is not allowed. 
 
Batting 
1. All players will be included in the batting line-up at all times. Coaches will provide the opposing team a line-up, no substitutions or pinch batters or runners are allowed. No positions will be skipped. In the event a batter is absent, that position will simply be skipped with no penalty assuming the team has a minimum number of players.  
2. A runner may continue to round the bases until an *attempted has been made. (See Defence Rule 3) 
3. The batter’s coach will make a maximum of 5 pitches to a batter. No balls or strikes will be called. 
a. The adult pitcher is required to pitch from inside the pitching circle but is not required to make contact with the pitching plate. 
b. If a batter has not hit a fair ball, struck out (3 swinging strikes) or been put out after receiving the maximum number of pitches without completing any of these     situations they will be called out. However, an at bat may not end on a 
    (uncaught) foul ball and a batter will remain at bat as long as they continue to foul off pitches.  
c. No dropped third strike. The catcher does not have to catch the third strike. 
d. There shall be no walk or hit by pitch awarded. 
e. Batters may not bunt. 
f. If the pitching coach is hit with a batted ball, it is an immediate dead ball and does not count as a pitch, the batter continues to bat. 
4. The infield fly rule is not in effect. 
5. No stealing is allowed. 
6. A runner must remain in contact with the base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand on the delivery of a pitch.  
7. No more than three offensive coaches are allowed on the field including the pitching coach, 1st and 3rd base coaches. 
8. Runs per inning: a maximum of 5 runs can be scored each inning for each team. There is no run rule to end the game.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Rules

• Keeping Score:  No score will be kept.

• Time Limit:  1 hour or 4 innings – whichever occurs first

• Coaches Allowed On The Field:  Two adult base coaches and two adult defensive coaches are allowed on the field.  One adult (may be a parent) must stay in dugout with players at all times.

 

Defense

• The catcher position will not be used as we do not have proper protective gear for this age.

• Fewer Than 9 Players:  No penalty.

• More Than 9 Players:  Players must assume normal infield positions:  pitcher, first base, 2nd base, shortstop and 3rd base.  All remaining players must play in the outfield.

• The play is over when a fielder attempts to throw the ball back to the pitcher.  Runners in between bases when throw is released will stop at the next base.

 

Offense

• Batting Out Of Order:  No penalty.

• Retiring The Side:  Change sides after all offensive players have batted.

• Sliding:  Sliding should be avoided to prevent injury to inexperienced players.  A runner will not be called out for leaving the baseline or stepping off the base to avoid a defensive player.

• 1 Base on an overthrow:  Runners may advance 1 base on an overthrow of an obvious attempt to retire a runner.

• Starting the week of May 20th, coaches should begin to pitch to the batters rather than starting with the tee.

  • Coach will give the batter 4 pitches to hit. If the batter does not hit, then the batter will use the tee.