LEAGUE PROFILE AND RULES 1.2

2016 El Campo Youth Softball El Campo, Texas Zlotnik Park at Legacy Fields League Divisions by Age A League- Grades 1 st and 2 nd AA League- Grades 3 rd and 4 th AAA League- Grades 5 th and 6 th Majors League- Grades 7 th and 8 th LEAGUE PROFILE AND RULES 1.2 El Campo Youth Softball

El Campo Youth Softball A, AA, AAA, and Majors RULES 2016 Official Rules A Division Section 1. A - Division 1: Teams comprised of players whose birthdays match up to appropriate school Grade 1 and 2. 6 innings or 90 Minute time limit. Inning may finish after the 90 minutes. First game is 90 minutes from start time and the time limit for second game is 90 minutes from start of game. Continuous Batting is in effect. Free substitution, batting order must stay intact. Section 2. Coaching Staff A coaching staff will consist of a manager, assistant manager, and not more than four coaches. The manager will assume full responsibility for the actions of his/her coaching staff. Three Coaches will be allowed in the outfield behind players when their team is on Defense. Defensive Coaches are also responsible for umpiring when in the field. The following coaching positions will be allowed: 1. Machine Pitcher Places ball in machine. 2. Offensive coach First Base. 3. Offensive coach Third Base. 4. Bench coach organizes the dugout Section 3. Machine Pitching: A. The manager of the team at bat will appoint a member of his/her coaching staff to pitch through the machine to his/her batters. A team will not be allowed to change a coach pitcher until the inning is over. B. The coach pitcher is allowed to coach or talk to the batter, but must not leave the circle, before the pitch. Once the batter becomes a batter/runner, the coach may continue to talk to the batter/runner as long as he/she is moving to foul territory and does not interfere with the play. 5. Unintentional interference: A. Dead Ball B. No out will be charged. C. Forced run may score.

F. The defensive player/pitcher must stand in the back half of the pitching circle. She may not move from the back half of the pitching circle until the ball has been hit. With the exception of the catcher, no defensive player may be closer than 30 feet from the batter until the ball has been hit. The four outfielders will remain on outfield grass until the ball has been hit. Violation of this rule will allow the offensive coach to take the resulting play or advance the batter to first base. (Hit ball means fair or foul.) G. A play will be considered dead once the defensive pitcher has control of the ball within the 16 ft. circle, unless making a play. Should the ball be hit directly back to the defensive pitcher on the ground, and the pitcher chooses to hold the ball in the circle rather than make a play, all runners will be allowed to advance one base, or position, at the time the ball goes dead; or, in the judgment of the umpire, all play has come to a complete halt, then ball will be declared dead. H. The defensive pitcher will give the ball to the coach-pitcher at the end of each play. Section 4. Batter: A. A batter will have up to 4 pitches or 3 strikes to hit a fair ball. B. Six runs per team per half inning. C. Infield Fly Rule is not in effect. Section 5. Runners: A. Should more than one runner be running to the same base, the rear runner will be sent back to the base she was running from. B. Runners who are already over half way to a base may continue to the next base. If the runner is less than half way to base when the ball becomes dead, then they must return to the last base occupied. C. If runner fails to maintain foot contact with the base until the ball crosses homeplate, a dead ball will be called and the umpire will issue a warning to the offensive coach for the first offense. Second Offense the runner failing to maintain foot contact with the base will result in the runner being called out. Only one warning will be issued per team per game. D. Overthrow Rule Runners are allowed one base on an overthrow. Runners can not score from 3 rd on an overthrow. If a ball hits the machine, it is considered a dead ball. All Runners may advance one base. E. All players present must bat. In the event a girl has to leave, she will be skipped in the line-up. There shall be no penalty. If a girl shows up late, she will be added at the bottom of the line-up. F. There will be free defensive substitution. All teams must start with 8 players. Note: The short- handed player rule will be in effect. G. Stealing is not allowed. H. Bunting is not allowed. I. No slap bunting/hitting J. No head first sliding. Head first sliding will result in an out. Section 6. The Playing Field: A. Pitching machine distance will be 35 feet and Speed 36-38 for A

B. A sixteen (16) foot circle will be placed around the pitching mound. C. Distance to the bases will be 50 feet. D. A line bisecting the pitching circle will be drawn starting on the first base side of the circle and ending on the third base side of the circle. E. A line will be drawn indicating the half way make between bases for runners. Section 7. Equipment: A. There will be no bat restrictions except that they will be made of wood, metal or composite only. The bat safety grip and knob must meet A.S.A. specifications. B. The 11 softee Machine pitch ball must be used in A. C. All players batting must wear a batting helmet equipped with a face guard attached to the batting helmet that meets ASA safety requirements. D. Catchers must wear full catcher s gear. E.Position players who play pitcher and 3 rd must wear a facial safety mask. (ex. Rip IT Defense) Team Responsibilities: Home Team Visiting Team -Chalks field and places bases -Runs the scoreboard and Announces -sets up the pitching machine -Drags the field after the game. If a game is after, the visiting team rakes the pitchers area and home plate. -Keeps the official Scorebook Both Teams are responsible for cleaning and sweeping the dugouts. Also, sweeping the edge of the grass to decrease dirt buildup up which results in a lip formation.

AA Division Section 1. AA - Division 2: Teams comprised of players whose birthdays match up to appropriate school Grade 3 and 4. 6 innings or 90 minute time limit. Inning may finish after time limit. First game is 90 minutes from start time and the time limit for second game is 90 minutes from start of game. Continuous Batting is in Effect. Free Substitution, batting order must stay intact. Section 2. Coaching Staff A coaching staff will consist of a manager, assistant manager, and not more than four coaches. The manager will assume full responsibility for the actions of his/her coaching staff. Defensive Coaches are also responsible for umpiring when in the field. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field to umpire. Offensive Coach will call balls and strikes only behind the pitcher. The following coaching positions will be allowed: 1. Offensive Coach Pitcher/Umpire Umpires calls against offensive team and if needed, Pitches to hitter. 2. Offensive coach First Base. 3. Offensive coach Third Base. 4. Bench coach organizes the dugout Section 3. Pitching: A. Pitcher will start count with 2 Balls and no Strikes. The pitcher will remain pitching to a hitter until: - Hitter is thrown 2 balls which results in a walk or Hitter strikes out. If a hitter is pitched 2 balls, then hitters Coach will pitch and finish the at bat. The coach is given 5 pitches to throw the hitter 3 strikes. NO Coach Pitch walks. A team will not be allowed to change a coach pitcher until the inning is over. B. The coach pitcher is allowed to coach or talk to the batter, but must not leave the circle,before the pitch. Coach must pitch within the circle. Once the batter becomes a batter/runner, the coach may continue to talk to the batter/runner as long as he/she is moving to foul territory and does not interfere with the play. 5. Unintentional interference: A. Dead Ball B. No out will be charged. C. Forced run may score.

F. The defensive player/pitcher must stand in the back half of the pitching circle. She may not move from the back half of the pitching circle until the ball has been hit. With the exception of the catcher, no defensive player may be closer than 30 feet from the batter until the ball has been hit. The four outfielders will remain behind baselines until the ball has been hit. Violation of this rule will allow the offensive coach to take the resulting play or advance the batter to first base. (Hit ball means fair or foul.) G. A play will be considered dead once the defensive pitcher has control of the ball within the 16 ft. circle, unless making a play. Should the ball be hit directly back to the defensive pitcher on the ground, and the pitcher chooses to hold the ball in the circle rather than make a play, all runners will be allowed to advance one base, or position, at the time the ball goes dead; or, in the judgment of the umpire, all play has come to a complete halt, then ball will be declared dead. H. The defensive pitcher will give the ball to the coach-pitcher at the end of each play. Section 4. Batter: A. A batter will start with a two ball no strike count. A kid pitcher will attempt to throw three strikes. If the pitcher throws 2 balls resulting in a walk, the offensive coach will then finish out the count. Strikes will be called strikes. The coach will be given 5 pitches to throw three strikes or the remaining strikes left in the count. Should a batter fail to hit a ball at the end of 5 pitches, the batter will then be called out. Should the batter foul off the 5 th pitch, the batter will have the ability to finish the at-bat until ball is put in play or player is struck out. B. Six runs per team per half inning. C. Infield Fly Rule is not in effect. D. Batter is considered out on a third strike even if catcher drops the pitch. Section 5. Runners: A. Should more than one runner be running to the same base, the rear runner will be sent back to the base she was running from. B. Runners who are already over half way to a base may continue to the next base. If the runner is less than half way to base when the ball becomes dead, then they must return to the last base occupied. C. If runner fails to maintain foot contact with a base before the ball crosses homeplate, a dead ball will be called and the umpire will issue a warning to the offensive coach for the first offense. Second Offense the runner failing to maintain foot contact with the base will result in the runner being called out. Only one warning will be issued per team per game. D. Overthrow Rule Runners are allowed one base on an overthrow. AA Division play is considered dead when the pitcher has the ball in the pitchers circle. E. All players present must bat. In the event a girl has to leave, she will be skipped in the line-up. There shall be no penalty. If a girl shows up late, she will be added at the bottom of the line-up. F. There will be free defensive substitution. All teams must start with 8 players.

Note: The short- handed player rule will be in effect. G. Stealing is not allowed. H. Bunting is not allowed. Section 6. The Playing Field: A. Pitching machine distance will be 35 ft. B. A sixteen (16) foot circle will be placed around the pitching mound. C. Distance to the bases will be 60 feet. D. A line bisecting the pitching circle will be drawn starting on the first base side of the circle and ending on the third base side of the circle. E. A line will be drawn indicating the half way make between bases for runners. Section 7. Equipment: A. There will be no bat restrictions except that they will be made of wood, metal or composite. The bat safety grip and knob must meet A.S.A. specifications. B. 11 in. regulation ASA ball for AA. C. All players batting must wear a batting helmet equipped with a face guard attached to the batting helmet that meets ASA safety requirements. D. Catchers must wear full catcher s gear. E.Position players who play pitcher and 3 rd must wear a facial safety mask. (ex. Rip IT Defense) Team Responsibilities: Home Team Visiting Team -Chalks field and places bases -Runs the scoreboard and Announces -Drags the field after the game. If a game is after, the visiting team rakes the pitchers area and home plate. -Keeps the official Scorebook Both Teams are responsible for cleaning and sweeping the dugouts. Also, sweeping the edge of the grass to decrease dirt buildup up which results in a lip formation.

AAA Division Grades 5 th and 6 th 6 innings or 90 minute time limit. First game is 90 minutes from start time and the time limit for second game is 90 minutes from start of game. Rules for AAA Division can be found in the ASA Handbook. This league will follow 12U rules. EC Softball Local Rules: -Position players who play pitcher and 3 rd must wear a facial safety mask. (ex. Rip IT Defense) -No head first Sliding. A head first slide will result in the player be called out. -Dropped third strike is not in effect. -Runners may leave the base when the ball leaves the pitchers hand. -Free Substitution. Integrity of the batting lineup must be kept. Team Responsibilities: Home Team Visiting Team -Chalks field and places bases -Runs the scoreboard and Announces -Drags the field after the game. If a game is after, the visiting team rakes the pitchers area and home plate. -Keeps the official Scorebook Both Teams are responsible for cleaning and sweeping the dugouts. Also, sweeping the edge of the grass to decrease dirt buildup up which results in a lip formation.

Majors Division Grades 7 th and 8 th 6 innings or 90 minute time limit.. First game is 90 minutes from start time and the time limit for second game is 90 minutes from start of game. Rules for Majors can be found in the ASA Handbook. This league will follow 14U rules. EC Softball Local Rules: -Position players who play pitcher and 3 rd must wear a facial safety mask. (ex. Rip IT Defense) -Free Substitution. Integrity of Batting Lineup must be kept. Team Responsibilities: Home Team Visiting Team -Chalks field and places bases -Runs the scoreboard and Announces -Drags the field after the game. If a game is after, the visiting team rakes the pitchers area and home plate. -Keeps the official Scorebook Both Teams are responsible for cleaning and sweeping the dugouts. Also, sweeping the edge of the grass to decrease dirt buildup up which results in a lip formation. Coaches please check the high school restrooms and clean up any trash.