Santa Maria Girls Fast Pitch Softball 2018 RULES OF PLAY PONY TAIL, DIVISIONS I, II AND III

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1 Santa Maria Girls Fast Pitch Softball 2018 RULES OF PLAY PONY TAIL, DIVISIONS I, II AND III Section 1. Rules and Regulations A. The official playing rules for SMGS shall be as specified in USA Softball fast pitch softball rules with the exception of any addition, deletion or changes adopted by the Board of Directors. B. Copies of the official rules and exceptions thereof will be supplied to the team managers. Section 2. Pitching Distances A. Pony Tail: 30 feet Ball: 10 Softie B. Division 1: 35 feet Ball: 11 Hard C. Division II: 40 feet Ball: 12 Hard D. Division III: 43 feet Ball: 12 Hard Section 3. Pitching Time A. Pony Tail: Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 4 innings. PURPLE RULES FOR BASERUNNING, OVERTHROWS, FIELDING, AND BATTING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM START OF SEASON. SEE ADDITIONAL FOR 8U PURPLE RULES. B. Division I: Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 4 innings unless the game goes past 7 innings. At this time, there are no restrictions on innings pitched. (NOTE: If a pitcher throws ONE pitch in an inning to a batter, it will constitute ONE inning pitched.) C. Division II & III: There are no restrictions on the amount of innings a pitcher can pitch. D. All Divisions: Pitcher must have both feet on the rubber before starting her/his pitching motion. E. Penalty: Willful violation of the above pitching rules will result in the game being called and a forfeit recorded. Section 4. Stealing Bases and Home Plate A. Pony Tail: Runners will be allowed to steal one base at a time per pitch. Runners attempting to steal MAY NOT advance to the next base on an overthrown ball by the defensive team. B. Pony Tail: Hot plate - runners may steal home. No dropped third strike. C. Division I, II & III: Hot plate runners may steal home. The dropped third strike rule is in effect. Section 5. Game Run Limitations A. Pony Tail, Divisions I & II & III: Three (3) runs per inning up until Mid-Season. B. Pony Tail, Divisions I & II & III: Five (5) runs per inning starting with the mid-season tourney and continuing through the end of the season. SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 1

2 Section 6. Adult Participation A. Only the USA Softball registered manager and registered coaches/parent are allowed in dugouts or on the field during games. No other adult, other than umpires, will be on the playing field during the game. Two adults may serve as base coach provided they are registered with the League as a volunteer manager, coach or scorekeeper. Registered coaching staff must have their current USA Softball registration card displayed at all times they are on the field. If a nonauthorized adult enters the field of play during a game in violation of this rule, a forfeit will be assessed to his/her particular team. B. Base coaches may not leave the coaching box while coaching the bases. Section 7. Scorekeeper A. Pony Tail, Divisions I, II, & III: The home team has the official scorebook. A scorecard, signed by a team manager and umpire, listing the team name, date, time and final score must be turned in to the designated board member when the game is completed. Section 8. Line-up A. Pony Tail, Divisions I, II, & III: Teams will play with 10 defensive players at a time. The tenth player plays a roving outfielder. At the beginning of the pitch, all outfielders must start off on the grass. B. Pony tail, Division I, II & III: Batting will be in continuous batting order. Section 9. Forfeiture A. No game will be postponed due to the inability of a team to field enough players to play the game. The minimum number of players to start a game is 8 from your team roster. Any team unable to field with their original roster with the 8 minimum will forfeit said game. However, you may play forfeited game using pick up players. GAME SHALL BE PLAYED AS A FRIENDLY. In the event a team cannot take the field at scheduled game time, the umpire will declare the team at fault the loser of the game. Section 10. Official Game A. All players on the roster must play a defensive position every other inning. No player will sit 2 consecutive innings. Violation of this rule will result in a forfeit assessed. B. Time Limit for Pony Tail, Divisions I, II and III: No new inning after 1 hour 15 minutes or 7 innings, whichever is reached first. Play will drop dead at 1 hour 20 minutes. If time elapses mid-inning score will revert back to the last completed inning. Score is recorded, regardless of player at-bat, inning, or team home/visitor status. Time limits will be upheld and a tie shall stand. C. No game will be played unless there is an official umpire (USA SOFTBALL registered) present to officiate the game. Games must start at scheduled game time providing an umpire is present. Section 11. Pre-Game Duties SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 2

3 A. Home Team: Home team is listed on the schedule second and is to occupy third base dugout. The home team has the official scorebook. Home team will furnish two USA SOFTBALL game balls to the umpire prior to the game. Home team will chalk their fields. B. Visitor Team: Visitor team is listed first on the schedule and is to occupy the first base dugout. Visitor team is responsible for setting the bases for the first game of the day. C. Line-Ups: Line-Ups are to be submitted to the scorekeeper 10 minutes prior to scheduled game time. If a player will be late to a game (with prior knowledge of the manager) said player will be inserted into the game upon arrival (after proper warm-up). Prior to the start of the game, the opposing manager and umpire must be notified. Player s name must be inserted at the bottom of the line-up. D. There will be no infield warm-up at any time. Not on pitching mound or on any areas of the field that have been chalked. (Coaches, please be courteous to opposing teams). E. Only a manager or coach may ask to approach an umpire to discuss a rule. The umpire does not have to grant a discussion. Be courteous! Section 12. Practice and Game Information A. Attendance: 1. Players are expected to notify their manager or coach when they cannot come to a game or practice. Coaches and managers are also to notify their players of practices, games, and team meetings. B. Equipment/Attire: 1. Players must remove all metal barrettes and jewelry during practices and games. No bandages to cover up jewelry are allowed! 2. All players must wear protective equipment at practices and games. Any player catching for a pitcher must wear full gear facemask with throat protector, chest protector and shin guards. This includes during practices, warm-ups and between innings, etc. 3. All players must wear a glove. Catchers and First Basemen may wear a trapper s glove. 4. Playing shoes: Managers, coaches and players will only wear rubber or plastic cleats and tennis shoes or cleated rubber sole athletic shoes on the playing field. NO SANDALS OR FLIP-FLOPS are allowed at practice or games. 5. Additional over-garments may be worn by any player due to adverse weather conditions. Player must have team shirt on underneath for verification of number. 6. All players are required to wear face guard and chin strap with their batting helmets. C. Dugout: 1. Bats and all softball equipment must be kept within the dugout and out of the players opening. 2. Players must remain in the dugout during the entire game whether or not they are not actually playing. SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 3

4 3. Only REGISTERED players and NO MORE THAN 3 REGISTERED Coaches including Managers at all times. IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an USA SOFTBALL mandate. Violation of this rule will result in a forfeit assessed to the team. D. Conduct: 1. Players will be guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing a glove, bat, ball or any other forceful action, in an unsportsmanlike manner. This may result in disciplinary action taken against the player. 2. Team cheering and chatter will be allowed. Positive cheers only. NO VERBAL ABUSE may be directed to any individual by name or position. Good sportsmanship from coaches, players, and spectators is expected. Team managers are responsible for the control and conduct of their team and their spectators. The umpire has the authority to eject the manager. The Board reserves the right to remove any abusive player, spectator, manager or coach. E. Clean Up/End of Game: 1. BOTH TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING TRASH FROM DUGOUTS, FIELDS AND SURROUNDING AREAS AFTER THE GAME IS FINISHED 2. After weekday games, both Home team and Visitor team must move 1st and 3rd bases back for the Adult league. SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 4

5 Santa Maria Girls Fast Pitch Softball 2018 RULES OF PLAY T-Ball Division 1. A regulation league game consists of four innings or 1 hour whichever comes first. They will use a 10 Softie ball. Scores will not be kept. Cheering is encouraged. Use positive cheers only. 2. All team members will play every inning of each scheduled game. Put extra players in the outfield. Players must be in normal positions and outfield players must be on the grass. Please rotate infield and outfield positions. 3. All team members will bat every inning. No player will bat more than once per inning. All batters and base runners must wear a protective helmet with chinstrap and face guard. 4. When playing defense, two coaches are allowed on the field with their team. 5. The coach will have three pitches to the batter. If after the third pitch the ball has not been hit in fair territory, the Tee will be brought out. 6. The hitting Tee should be placed in front of home plate, but must stay in contact with the plate. We are trying to teach the girls to hit the ball out in front of the plate. 7. The designated pitcher must stay in contact with the pitching rubber until the ball is hit when the Tee is used. When the Coach pitches the ball, the pitcher will stand off to the side of the mound with at least one foot in the circle. 8. The batter must be in the batter s box until the ball is hit. 9. The batter is not allowed to bunt. 10. Runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball is hit. There is NO stealing in T-Ball. 11. After the ball is hit fair, the batter and runners may advance until all reasonable action is complete or until the ball is returned to the pitcher. The pitcher must make a reasonable effort to catch the ball, but does not need to have control of the ball, if the ball rests in the circle the play has ended. Advancing runners will be allowed to advance to the next base if more than halfway to that base when the play is declared over. 12. Ending the play after the last batter has batted: A defensive player must simply tag home plate (not the runner) while having possession of the game ball. The defensive player does not have to tag runners advancing towards home plate. Tagging home plate will be considered third out. 13. Home team will supply two game balls. Home team will occupy the third base dugout. Coaches will umpire their games. If your game is the last to be played for the day, the Home team is responsible for bringing the bases to the equipment shed. 14. BOTH TEAMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING TRASH FROM THEIR DUGOUTS, STANDS AND FIELD. SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 5

6 *2018 Additional 8U Rules Purple* Base Running: 1. Bases: 60 feet 2. Runners may steal one base per pitch. No stealing home. 3. OVERTHROWS: a. On a throw to first base the following occurs. No batter can advance to second base as a result of an errant throw to first base. All other Runners may only advance one base past the base they are going to on an errant throw to first base with liability of being put out if the ball strays in live ball territory. b. On a throw to any other base or position. If on a throw to any other base and errant throw occurs all runners and batter/runner may advance one base past the base they are going to with liability of being put out. c. The umpire will only award a base to the runners if the ball has been thrown out of play. No bases will be awarded on errant throws when the ball stays in play. d. Runner and batter/runner may be put out if they advance beyond the base they are entitled to on the errant throw. At the end of play the umpire will return all runners to the base they are entitled to if they have not been put out. Fielding: players may be allowed on defense in the field at any one time, four of which are outfielders. Outfielders must position themselves at least on the foot of the grass at the start of play. 2. No infield fly rule. Batting: 1. Everyone bats and free defensive substitutions. 2. No dropped 3rd strike. 3. Bunting is allowed. SMGS RULES OF PLAY UPDATED Page 6