General SUTHERLAND SHIRE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Inc. 9U & 7U Rules 2016/17 Season (V1) These rules are current as of the above date and supersede any existing T- Ball Rules T-Ball competition will not participate in the Finals Series as this is a noncompetitive division. They will continue to play their competition draw up to and including Finals Day. These rules are to be read in conjunction with the Official Rules of Softball as issued by the Australian Softball Federation and adopted by the Softball NSW Association Inc. as well as the general SSSA Competition Rules as published separately. If not specifically covered in these rules the Official Rules of Softball shall be applied, except where modified and altered by SSSA Competition Rules. The ball is not pitched in T-Ball - instead it is batted from a Tee. For the purposes of T-Ball, unless otherwise specified in these rules:- Any reference in the Official Rules of Softball to: "The time of the pitch" - shall be read as - "at the time the batter hits the ball "The next pitch" - shall be read as - "the batter's next swing "The batter swinging at the pitched ball" - shall be read as - "the batter swinging at the ball on the tee". Otherwise the normal rules of Softball shall apply. Page 1 of 12
Definitions: 1.1 OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE CONFERENCE 9U - There shall be no limit to the number of conferences either coach is permitted in any one (1) half innings. The Plate Umpire however shall have the authority to restrict these conferences if deemed necessary. 7U There shall be no fielding changes during the offensive batting turn. All fielding changes need to be in place prior to starting an innings Exception: If there is an injury a fielder may be replaced 1.2 OVERTHROW - If the ball is overthrown and is blocked or enters dead ball territory, all runners shall be awarded one (1) base from the last base legally touched at the time of the throw. EXCEPTION: If the runner was not already advancing to the next base they will remain on the base they held unless forced 1.3 BASE RUNNER - Base runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball is hit. Should a base runner leave a base before the ball is hit there shall be no penalty, the umpire shall call "Dead Ball" and the runner shall return to the base. 1.4 BUNTING - is not permitted. The batter is not permitted to take a half swing. If the umpire feels the batter is not taking a full swing they may be called back to bat again. Should the batter again not take a full swing they will be called out. 1.5 FAIR BALL - Identical to Softball, with one (1) exception. The batter must hit the ball beyond the line of the 20 ft (6.1m) arc. STRIKE OUT A strike out shall only occur if after two (2) strikes the batter swings the bat and fails to make contact with the ball or the Tee. FOUL BALL - Identical to Softball with three (3) exceptions: The ball is foul if it is hit and stops less than 20 ft (4.5m) from home plate in fair territory; or The ball is foul if the batter hits the tee with the bat causing the ball to fall off the tee Should the batter step out of the batter s box when the ball is hit, there shall be no penalty. Foul Ball will be called by the Umpire. Page 2 of 12
INFIELD FLY - The infield fly rule does not apply in T-Ball. 1.6 SIDE RETIRED 9U - The offensive side is retired when three (3) outs are made or when nine (9) runs have been scored, whichever occurs first. 7U The offensive side will bat for two (2) sets of ten (10) minutes. During which time any runs scored will count as a run scored and any outs will count as a run lost 1.7 BATTING OUT OF ORDER - The Coach, Manager or Scorer shall inform the umpire that a player has batted out of order. There shall be no penalty and that player shall be replaced by the correct player. All pitches, plays, runs scored or outs made will stand and the incorrect player shall resume the normal batting position in line up next time up to bat 1.8 PITCHER The pitcher must remain in contact with the pitcher s plate until the ball is hit. The Playing Field: 2.1 The field shall be marked as for Softball except: 2.2 The baselines shall be: Refer Selected Rule Summary 2.3 The pitchers plate shall be 40 ft (12.19m) from the apex of home plate. 2.4 The pitchers plate shall be in the centre of a circle of 6ft (1.8m) radius. 2.5 On open grounds a field limit line should be drawn parallel to and 25ft (7.6m) to 30ft (9.1m) outside home/first baseline and home / third baseline. The player benches shall be outside this area. The ball is dead beyond the limits of these field limit lines. 2.6 The playing field shall have a radius of 150 ft (45.7m) from the apex of home plate. 2.7 An arc with a radius of 20 ft (6.1m) from the apex of home plate shall be drawn in the infield from home/first baseline to home / third baseline. Equipment: 3.1 The ball shall be as refered to in the Selected Rules Summary 3.2 The minimum length for the safety grip on a bat less than 30 inches (76cm) shall be 8 inches (20cm). 3.3 The Tee: Page 3 of 12
MAY be made of any suitable material; MUST be of any suitable construction and should be adjustable to suit the batter; MUST not have any sharp edges or protuberances; MUST be light enough to be moved easily; MUST be placed with the stem over the centre of the front of home plate; MUST be removed by the umpire whenever necessary after the batter hits a fair ball. 3.4 A practice tee with home plate as the base and the stem of the tee in the centre of the base is not suitable to use. 3.5 A face mask and chest protector must be worn by Junior Plate Umpires. 3.6 Knee pads and shin pads are required to be worn by the catcher. Chest Protectors, masks and helmets are mandatory. The catcher must position themselves at the back corner of the catcher s box beside the umpire on the opposite side of the batter and remain there until the ball is hit. E.g. for a right handed batter the catcher will stand on the umpire s right hand side and for a left handed batter the catcher will stand on the umpire s left hand side. 3.7 An approved softball helmet with 2 ear flaps and chin strap attached must be worn by all batters and base runners. 3.8 Shin Guards must be worn by all fielders. 3.9 Numbers on the back of player s uniforms are not required in T-Ball. 3.10 Double Base Safety bases (rectangular bases half white and half orange) will be used on all diamonds at first (1 st ) base, with the following rules applying: The fielder MUST use the white portion when making any play on the batter - runner. The batter/runner MUST use the orange base on the first (1st) attempt through first (1st) base if there is any likelihood of a play at first (1st). They must return to the white portion of the base only. The batter/runner MAY use the white base at first (1st) attempt if there is no likelihood of a play at first (1st) base; The batter/runner MAY legally proceed to second (2nd) base after initially touching either the white or orange base; Page 4 of 12
The white base MUST be used on any return to first base by the batter/runner; A batted ball hitting any part of the white portion of the safety base is fair. A batted ball hitting the orange portion only is foul. Should the batter - runner round 1st base on a hit through the infield or to the outfield, he must return to the white portion of the base. On an attempted pickoff play, the runner must return to the white portion. When tagging up on a fly ball, the white portion must be used. Safety bases are used to minimise the risk of interference or injury arising from a collision at first base. This purpose must always be considered when applying the rule. 3.11 All other equipment, including uniforms and footwear shall conform with the requirements of the Official Rules of Softball. The Players & Substitutes: 4.1 All players shall be under 9 (T-Ball B) years or under 11 (T-Ball A) years of age as at 31 st December in the year the competition / tournament finishes. Under special circumstances SSSA Inc. Executive may waive this requirement. The umpire will ensure that the batter s feet are in a normal batting position 4.2 For 9U/7UA Team shall consist of a minimum of seven/five (7/5) and a maximum of twelve/nine (12/9) players to play in any game. There is no restriction on the number of males or females within a team or on the diamond. 4.3 For 9U/7U if twelve/nine (12/9) players are not able to participate in any game, the minimum number of players required by a team to start or continue a game shall be seven/five (7/5). If players arrive late, they may be added to the batting order as batters eight/six (8/6), nine/seven (9/7), ten/eight (10/8), etc. 4.4 For 7U/9U all players shall play on offence and defence (equally) in every game, however, only Ten/Six (10/6) players are permitted on the field in defence at any one time. There shall be a maximum of six players on the infield at any one time. Page 5 of 12
NOTE: Failure of a coach to adhere to this rule will incur a $100.00 fine for each and every infringement. 4.5 The re-entry rule shall not apply in T-Ball. 4.6 A designated hitter may not be used in T-Ball. 4.7 The batting order must remain the same for the duration of the game. 4.8 A batter removed from the batting order due to injury or illness and not replaced will cause the batting order to close up without penalty providing there are no less than seven/five (7/5) in the line-up. 4.9 If a batter/runner is injured, that player may be substituted for that inning by a pinch runner, who is to be the last runner home before the replacement. In later innings, if the player is unable to bat that batter is omitted from the line up until fit to resume the game in the starting lineup order. The injured batter is not recorded as out and the next batter bats. 4.10 In the event of a team having less than nine/six (9/6) players, the opposing team may lend players if agreed by both Coaches. The borrowed players are required to play on both offence & defence during the game. The Game: 5.1 Games shall be played at the time and place set down for play in the Fixtures Book unless otherwise directed by the Committee or the Competition Convenor. 5.2 9U - A regulation game shall be one (1) hour s duration or seven (7) innings whichever occurs first and These are timed games; the innings in progress will not be completed 5.3 7U A regulation game that be when each team has batted for two (2) sets of ten (10) minutes. During which time any runs scored will count as a run scored and any outs will count as a run lost 5.4 9U - An innings is completed when either three (3) outs have been made or nine (9) runs have been scored, whichever occurs first. 7U An innings is completed after the team at bat has batted for 10 minutes regardless of the runs scored or the outs made. 5.5 9U - No runs shall score: Page 6 of 12
After the third (3 rd ) out is made; When nine (9) runs have been scored in that innings; or As otherwise prescribed in Softball. 5.6 The ball may not be deliberately rolled along the ground to achieve an out. Pitcher: EFFECT: The runner on whom the play was being made will be called safe and any other runners may advance with liability to be put out until time is called by the umpire. 6.1 The ball is not pitched in T-Ball instead it is batted from a Tee. 6.2 The pitcher shall keep both feet in contact with the pitchers plate until the ball is hit. The catcher must be in the catcher s box until the ball has been hit. Batting: 7.1 The batting team shall bat in the order listed in the score book to the intent that if more than nine/six (9/6) players are listed (To a maximum of 12/9 players) on the score sheet, each player listed shall bat in succession through the order as listed until: 9U: three (3) outs are made or nine (9) runs are scored. 7U: Ten Minutes have passed by the umpires watch from the time of the first swing in that innings 7.2 The next batter, in the next innings, shall be the team member whose name is listed on the score sheet and follows that of the batter/base runner who follows the batter who completed their turn at bat in the previous innings. 7.3 The coach will place a batting tee in the centre of the front edge of home plate, adjusting the height of the tee as necessary for the batter. The umpire will ensure that the batter s feet are in a normal batting position, feet parallel to the batter s box, when hitting off the Tee. 7.4 The batter shall be permitted to have one (1) practice swing. Should the ball fall off the tee on the practice swing there shall be no penalty. Any additional movement of the bat towards the ball after this practice swing shall be called a strike. Page 7 of 12
7.5 If the batter hits the ball before Play Ball is called, the ball is dead and no count is recorded on the batter. 7.6 The batter shall take a normal forceful swing when striking at the ball. Bunting is not permitted. If the umpire feels the batter is not taking a full swing they may be called back to swing again. Should the batter again not take a full swing they will be called out. 7.7 Should the batter step out of the batter s box when the ball is hit, there shall be no penalty, a Foul Ball will be called by the Umpire and the batter will complete their turn at bat. 7.8 Strike is called: When the batter swings at the ball on the Tee and misses. When the batter swings and hits the Tee but not the ball. This is a foul ball. The first two (2) foul balls will be called strikes. 7.9 Until the ball is hit: The pitcher must have both feet in contact with the pitcher s plate; The catcher must position themselves at the back corner of the catcher s box beside the umpire on the opposite side of the batter and remain there until the ball is hit. E.g. For the a right handed batter the catcher will stand on the umpire s right hand side and for a left handed batter the catcher will stand on the umpire s left hand side. All fielders, except the catcher, must be stationary in fair territory. No fielder, other than the catcher may be stationed within 40ft (12.19m) of home plate (pitching distance). All other fielders must be stationed in fair territory with outfielders staying behind the base paths and not entering the infield unless they are in the process of fielding the ball. There shall be no penalty for violation of rule 7.9. The umpire shall call Time and correct the situation. Page 8 of 12
7.10 9U Only - The offensive team scorer shall advise the Plate umpire when nine (9) runs have been scored. Should the offensive team scorer fail to notify the Plate Umpire that nine (9) runs have been scored, no further runs shall score after the ninth (9 th ) run is scored and the side will be deemed retired. 7.11 If the batter is injured striking at the ball and cannot complete their turn at bat then their turn at bat will be cancelled. (This is not an out) Base Running: 8.1 When the ball is overthrown and becomes dead (i.e. goes into the bench or beyond the limits of the playing field or hits a person not engaged in the game, etc.) all runners shall be awarded one (1) base from the last legally touched at the time of throw. 8.2 A runner must wait until the ball is hit before leaving the base. There is no penalty - the umpire shall call Dead Ball if a runner leaves before the batter hits the ball. The runner returns to the base and there will be no additional count on the batter. 8.3 When the batter hits a fair ball, play proceeds until all the runners have held up on bases or until no further play is possible. 8.4 If a base runner is injured while on base and cannot run then Refer to Rule 4.9 8.5 The umpire shall call Time when:- The defence attempts no further play after the ball is in the secure possession of a fielder within the confines of the diamond (infield). Base runners shall not pass another base after the fielder has secure possession, unless the fielder attempts a play. If a further play is attempted after the ball is inside the diamond, then all play proceeds until the umpire sees no further play is imminent. - E.g. Runner on second (2 nd ), ball hit to shortstop, who feints to hold the runner at second (2 nd ) and then throws to first (1 st ) to retire the batter/runner. The runner at second (2 nd ) may advance to third (3 rd ) on the throw but cannot pass third (3 rd ) unless the first (1 st ) base person attempts a further play. - E.g. A runner rounds third (3 rd ) as the infielder takes secure possession, and continues homeward without hesitation, then the defence may allow him to advance or make a play on him. If the lines Page 9 of 12
defining the diamond are not marked, then the umpire will judge as to the approximate confines of the diamond on any play. The ball becomes dead. Necessary (e.g. for injury) The following must be applied in general terms: If the ball is an infield hit, then it is basically one base for all runners unless there is a subsequent play made. If the ball is hit to the outfield then the runners can run as many bases as they can until the ball is in the confines of the diamond and the ball is in control by a defensive player. Any runner between bases when Time is called by the Plate Umpire shall return to the last legally held base unless forced to advance by the batter runner. Note: To avoid confusing players and other coaches, coaches should wait until play has ceased before requesting time. This is a common courtesy of the game unless a player requires urgent attention for an injury. 8.6 Any Base Runner running to Home Plate is safe if the Pitcher runs the ball to, or near to, Home Plate in an attempt to put out or tag out the Base Runner. Fielding 9.1 Until the ball is hit: The pitcher must have both feet in contact with the pitchers plate. The catcher must be behind the home plate in the catcher s box. All other fielders must be stationed on fair territory. No fielders, other than the catcher, may be stationed within 40ft (12.19m) of home plate (Pitching distance). 9.2 There shall be no penalty for violation of Rule 9.1. The Plate Umpire shall call Time and correct the situation. 9.3 If a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball, stands on a base and blocks a batter runner or base runner, obstruction will be called. The umpire shall call Time and award the runner/s the bases they would have reached if the obstruction had not occurred. The coach must advise the players not to stand or block the bases 9.4 Players are to be rotated in fielding positions maximum of two (2) innings in any one (1) position. Page 10 of 12
NOTE: In both 9U and 7U a player can only field for one inning in only one of the Prime fielding positions. (ie: Pitcher, First Base or Shortstop) until 3 innings are completed. Thereafter, a player can have one more turn fielding in any one of the Prime fielding positions. The Result of the Game: 10.1 Shall be the score at the end of the last completed inning unless the team second at bat has scored equal to or more runs than the team first at bat in the incomplete inning. In this case the score shall be that of the incomplete inning. Dead and Alive Ball: 11.1 The ball shall be dead on all interferences and obstructions. 11.2 The ball shall be dead when the batter hits the tee. 11.3 The ball shall be dead when the umpire calls, or should have called Time. Protests: 12.1 There shall be no protests in Tee - Ball. 12.2 Clarification on the determination of the final score is allowed after the game and not considered as a protest; Umpires: I.e. whether the score should revert back or not, or do all runs count etc. 13.1 The umpire shall call play ball for each batter and after every strike, foul ball and dead ball. Also after Time has been called. 13.2 The umpire shall place the ball on the Tee. 13.3 The Tee must be removed by the Umpire whenever necessary so that players will not be obstructed or injured during play. 13.4 All interference that occurs shall be called by any umpire. There shall be no penalties applied. The ball will be dead and all runners shall return to the base they held at the time of the hit. The hit is nullified and the batter returns to bat again with the strike count prior to the hit. Page 11 of 12
13.5 All obstructions that occur shall be called by any umpires. The ball will be dead immediately and all runners shall be awarded the base they would have made had the obstruction not occurred. 13.6 The umpire shall not call Time until all possible play has ceased. 13.7 Umpires shall apply all other penalties pertaining to the violation of the rules in accordance with the Official Rules of Softball. 13.8 Not more than one (1) defensive coach shall be permitted on the field and then only provided they are stationed directly behind and no closer to any base than three (3) metres. Only minimal movement is permitted while the ball is alive. 13.9 A defensive on field coach shall be permitted to assist fielders with positioning prior to a batter entering the box. 13.10 Should a defensive on-field coach interfere with the play, a ball in play or touch a fielder or base runner while the ball is alive, the umpire shall call Dead Ball immediately and the coach shall be removed from the field for the remainder of the game. 13.11 Where umpiring has been allocated as self umpiring the team occupying the First Base side will provide the Plate Umpire and the team occupying the Third Base side will provide the 1 st and 3 rd base umpires. Other arrangements are OK provided both coaches agree. Note: In the event of a dispute in how the game should be umpired the game will be suspended until a SSSA committee member can be located to resolve the dispute. 13.12 When self-umpiring, it is recommended that a Coach should not be a Base Umpire. It would be better to recruit a willing parent or older Player (wearing enclosed shoes) to be a Base Umpire. This frees the Coach to be more mobile and to concentrate on just the coaching duties for the benefit of the players. Page 12 of 12