SoNIC (Softball of Northern Illinois Counties) League Rules Home Team Home team will be the team hosting the game Home team will provide 2 new game balls Home team will provide umpire(s) for game Innings 8U & 10U 12U, 14U & HS 6 inning games 7 inning games Time Limit, Run Rules per Inning & Mercy Run Rule At 1 hour and 15 minutes, coaches will be informed of time. Teams will finish the inning they are in and will play 1 more inning with having unlimited runs 8U 4 runs/inning with last inning unlimited 10U & 12U 5 runs/inning with last inning unlimited 14U HS 7 runs/inning with last inning unlimited Unlimited runs each inning Mercy Run Rule applies for all divisions 12 runs after 3 innings 10 runs after 4 innings 8 runs after 5 innings Complete Game & Interrupted Game Game is considered complete/official if: completed above said innings or
time limit has been met with completed innings or game has been called due to weather/darkness with 3 ½ innings with home team winning for 8U & 10U and 4 ½ innings with home team winning for 12U & up Thunder & Lightning Anytime thunder is heard or lightning seen the game is to be suspended Game will not resume until ½ hour after the last sound or sighting Interrupted Game any interruption for any reason game will resume at the exact point it was suspended...inning, s recorded, runners on base, ball/strike count...etc. time limit will be adjusted for delay Rain Outs Each venue s goal is to announce rains a minimum of 1.5 hours before a game Hosting team must contact BYB scheduling director to reschedule game Reporting Scores Slips with game score will be signed by both head coaches and given to the umpire or turned into concessions at BYB venues other than BYB will take a picture of slip and send to head umpire at BYB Game Rules All age divisions continuous batting order with all players batting, if team has less than 9 or 10 players, no automatic will be imposed no player is allowed to sit on defense for 2 consecutive innings if a team needs to borrow a player(s), those player(s) should play up and may not pitch and is limited to non-tournament games except at 8U prior to the ball being pitched, no more than 6 defensive players on the infield...field must be in the field. Once the ball is pitched
there are no restrictions. throwing a bat will be a warning the 1st time, the 2nd time batter will be, the ball shall be dead and runners cannot advance pitching both feet must be touching the rubber if a pitcher pitches 1 pitch in any inning, that is considered an inning pitched if 2 batters have been hit with decent force in an inning, the umpire may remove the pitcher. She may re-enter inning with same rules. If removed a 2nd time, she may not re-enter the game to pitch. in event of a tie the teams will play under the international tie breaker rules... last recorded starts at 2nd base for every consecutive inning the game stays tied a trip to the mound is defined as anytime a coach walks on the field to talk to ANY defensive player or a pitcher calls time and goes to the sideline to talk to a coach highly recommended for girls to slide at close plays, or could be called 8U 6 innings 10 players on defense with a minimum of 7 35ft. pitching distance pitcher may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game (need not to be consecutive) after 4th ball or 6 pitches, regardless of count, the offensive coach will pitch coach may make 3 trips to the mound/inning, 3rd time...pitcher
comes NO stealing NO infield fly rule NO dropped 3rd strike, batter is NO slash hitting (the hitter presents a bunt stance but then at the last minute slashes hard at the ball) CANNOT advance any additional bases on an overthrow of play overthrows after a ball is hit runners on base can only advance in jeopardy one base INCLUDING home base if defense makes a play on any of the runners AFTER the overthrow is recovered, the overthrow rule resets and runners may continue defensive team must have coach/parent back up the catcher 2 defensive coaches allowed on the field at a time during defense coach must have 1 foot on the pitching rubber and pitcher will play with 1 foot inside and 1 foot side the pitching circle while coach is pitching, batter will have 2 pitches to get the ball in play. If the 2nd pitch is hit foul, batter will get her maximum 3rd pitch. If not put in play then, batter is. coach must make every effort to stay of the way of a play if coach is hit or runs into player, ball is dead and coach pitch will start over from same count batter hit by pitch has the option to continue batting if hit a 2nd time on the same at bat, batter will take her base all foul balls are live as long as they go over the batter s head and normal rules apply foul ball does NOT travel over the batter s head = foul, even if the catcher catches it batter will continue up to the maximum 3 coach pitches
10U 6 innings 9 players on defense with a minimum of 7 35ft. pitching distance pitcher may pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game (need not to be consecutive) If a pitcher pitches 4 balls to a batter, the offensive coach will come and finish the count until the batter gets on base or is. This can happen to up to 3 consecutive walks per inning. This rule will be effective until mid-season and then switch to just the girls pitching May steal 2nd & 3rd base only runner may NOT advance past the base they were stealing on an overthrow ball during a steal attempt NO infield fly rule NO dropped 3rd strike, batter is NO slash hitting (the hitter presents a bunt stance but then at the last minute slashes hard at the ball) CAN advance with jeopardy to the base the runner was going to when there is an overthrow of play overthrows after a ball is hit runners on base can only advance in jeopardy one base INCLUDING home base if defense makes a play on any of the runners AFTER the overthrow is recovered, the overthrow rule resets and runners may Continue coach may make 2 trips to the mound/inning, 2nd time...pitcher comes pitcher may play another position on the field but cannot return to the mound that inning 12U 7 innings 9 players on defense with a minimum of 7
40ft pitching distance dropped 3rd strike is in effect pitcher may pitch a maximum of 4 innings (need not to be consecutive) all stealing is allowed runner may advance as many additional bases at her own risk anytime a batter receives a base on balls (a walk on ball 4) the batter becomes the batter-runner and the ball remains live (rule 8-1-C-1 per ASA). Once she touches 1st base, the only restrictions on her continuing to 2nd base are the ones found under the Look Back Rule (8-7-T). Generally there is no rule against a batter receiving a walk and continuing right around 1st to 2nd base or even further if she can make it CAN advance with jeopardy to the base the runner was going to when there is an overthrow of play CAN advance as many bases as possible on any overthrow at her own risk coach may make 2 trips to the mound/inning, 2nd time...pitcher comes pitcher may play another position on the field but cannot return to the mound that inning NO slash hitting (the hitter presents a bunt stance but then at the last minute slashes hard at the ball) 14U 7 innings 9 players on defense with a minimum of 7 43ft pitching distance dropped 3rd strike is in effect pitcher may pitch a maximum of 4 innings (need not to be consecutive) all stealing is allowed runner may advance as many additional bases at her own risk anytime a batter receives a base on balls (a walk on ball 4) the batter becomes the batter-runner and the ball remains live (rule 8-1-C-1 per ASA). Once she touches 1st base, the only restrictions on her continuing to 2nd base are the ones found under
the Look Back Rule (8-7-T). Generally there is no rule against a batter receiving a walk and continuing right around 1st to 2nd base or even further if she can make it CAN advance with jeopardy to the base the runner was going to when there is an overthrow of play CAN advance as many bases as possible on any overthrow at her own risk coach may make 2 trips to the mound/inning, 2nd time...pitcher comes pitcher may play another position on the field but cannot return to the mound that inning High School 7 innings 9 players on defense with a minimum of 7 43ft pitching distance dropped 3rd strike is in effect pitcher may pitch unlimited innings all stealing is allowed runner may advance as many additional bases at her own risk anytime a batter receives a base on balls (a walk on ball 4) the batter becomes the batter-runner and the ball remains live (rule 8-1-C-1 per ASA). Once she touches 1st base, the only restrictions on her continuing to 2nd base are the ones found under the Look Back Rule (8-7-T). Generally there is no rule against a batter receiving a walk and continuing right around 1st to 2nd base or even further if she can make it CAN advance with jeopardy to the base the runner was going to when there is an overthrow of play CAN advance as many bases as possible on any overthrow at her own risk coach may make 2 trips to the mound/inning, 2nd time...pitcher comes pitcher may play another position on the field but cannot return to the mound that inning
*** If a manager or a coach is ejected, they must leave the playing area and will not be allowed to coach the next scheduled game. If ejected from the game and then park, they will not be able to coach the next 2 games.