Girls Rookie Rules
Rookie League Softball LEAGUE RULES: Playing age - Any girl six years old on May 1st of current year and not older than eight, on May 1st of the current year. Exceptions must be approved by the League Director. Rookie League will have evaluations and teams will be drafted by the coaches. a. Siblings will be put on the same team, unless otherwise requested by their parents. b. After the teams are drafted, a list of the team members with their phone numbers will be given to each team Coach.
Game: Emphasis will be on sportsmanship, team concepts, and fair play. Game will consist of six innings. There will be a 90 minute time limit for each game. Time limit begins at scheduled start time. If an inning is started before the time limit expires. The umpire will declare the last inning. Warm ups need to be done prior to scheduled start time. No infield practice after 1st inning. Our “Run Rule”, 15 after 4 innings A game is considered official after 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead due to rain, power failure) If game is called before 4 innings the game will resume from the exact point that it stops. Unless both coaches agree to accept the score as is. A team must have 8 players to start the game. If a team plays with 8, the 9th position in the batting order will be an automatic out. No out will be given for the 10th position in the order. There will be a 10 minute grace period before the game is a forfeit. Grace period is included in the original 90 minute time limit. 5 runs allowed per inning Players arriving after the game has started will be added to the bottom of the batting order. When the defensive team stops the progress of the lead runner, the umpire will call “time out” and play will be stopped. Base runners do not have to be on base to establish stopping of progress. (This will be in the umpire’s judgment.) Pitching: This is a Pitching machine league. There are NO WALKS AND NO BUNTING ALLOWED. Machine should be set at around 31 mph and back at the 35 ft. pitching rubber. Each batter gets 4 pitches, unless batter swings at the first 3 or the pitch is unhittable from the pitching machine. Umpire will make the call on bad pitching machine pitches. Girls will pitch one inning each game at the beginning of the season. They will pitch from the 35ft pitching rubber. Pitcher will pitch 4 pitches to the batter, if the ball has not been put into play or the batter has not swung at 3 pitches the coach will come in and pitch the next 3 pitches. After the third standing pitch or swinging strike from the coach. 7 pitches total ~ 4-girl & 3-coach. (this rule will be looked at throughout the season to see if we need to increase the innings or moving the inning the pitcher pitches.) 11 Inch ball will be used Pitchers & pitcher helpers must wear a face mask. If a pitcher hits 3 batters in one inning they must be removed and will not be allowed to pitch for the remainder of that game. Tournament games will be pitching machine only. Defense:
Each team will field 10 players: 6 infielders and 4 outfielders. Outfielders must stay in grass until ball has been put into play.
Each player is required to play two full innings in the field within the first 4 innings No infielder will be positioned closer to home than the pitching machine or the pitcher rubber.
Pitcher and Pitcher’s helper are required to wear a face mask. Pitcher’s helper have to stay behind the pitching machine/coach and have a least 1 foot in the pitching circle until the ball is put into play. One defensive coach is allowed in the outfield to assist the players, but must stay in the outfield. Batting: There will be a continuous batting order for each team, all players bat. If a player refuses to bat, her spot will count as an out. Exception: Player is hurt If a batter throws her bat after hitting the ball and does not make contact with the umpire or another player the umpire will issue a team warning. If it happens again, during the same game, it will be ruled a dead ball and the batter will be called out. All runners will return to their previously occupied base at the time of the pitch. Every batter must wear a helmet with a face mask. All batters and runners must wear their helmets until they are in the dead ball area. Umpires will issue a warning for removing helmets early. If a team continues to remove their helmets before entering the dead ball area the umpire may issue an out for that team. Outs will be issued at the umpires discretion for the safety of the players When the batter becomes a batter-runner they must run to the Orange safety base. If they hit the ball to the outfield they can use the white portion of the base to advance further. General Information: No Jewelry-----Medical Only All equipment must be kept inside the “Dead Ball Area” The infield fly rule and dropped third strike will not apply to this league. The Head Coach is the only person allowed to converse with an umpire. Comments from others can lead to that person being ejected from the game Coaches need to lead their teams by example. If a coach, player or fan gets unruly they will be asked to leave. If they do not leave after 5 minutes the team will forfeit the game. Zero Tolerance If a coach is ejected they will be required to pay a $25 fine or umpire a game. Following an ejection the coach must meet with the Softball Director and/or Commissioner before being allowed to coach another game. Coaches are responsible for communicating with the parents on game changes, picture times, Barry Elzey Day info, Hit-Pitch-Run info, concession stand work nights, and our Flower Fundraiser. Coaches reserve the right to make rule changes at any time during the season If all coaches in the league agree to change a rule the change should be brought to the league representative or director for approval Base Runners: No Steals. Base runner may not leave the base until the ball is hit. Base coaches are not allowed to make contact with a runner while the ball is live. If contact is made the runner may be called out. Umpires decision If a runner misses a base (umpires opinion) and does not return to touch, then after the play the runner will be called out. If a player slides head first – he will be called out unless he is coming back toward the base. Base runners shall be entitled to the base they are going to plus one when the ball is over-thrown into a dead ball area.
Game: Emphasis will be on sportsmanship, team concepts, and fair play. Game will consist of six innings. There will be a 90 minute time limit for each game. Time limit begins at scheduled start time. If an inning is started before the time limit expires. The umpire will declare the last inning. Warm ups need to be done prior to scheduled start time. No infield practice after 1st inning. Our “Run Rule”, 15 after 4 innings A game is considered official after 4 innings (3 ½ if home team is ahead due to rain, power failure) If game is called before 4 innings the game will resume from the exact point that it stops. Unless both coaches agree to accept the score as is. A team must have 8 players to start the game. If a team plays with 8, the 9th position in the batting order will be an automatic out. No out will be given for the 10th position in the order. There will be a 10 minute grace period before the game is a forfeit. Grace period is included in the original 90 minute time limit. 5 runs allowed per inning Players arriving after the game has started will be added to the bottom of the batting order. When the defensive team stops the progress of the lead runner, the umpire will call “time out” and play will be stopped. Base runners do not have to be on base to establish stopping of progress. (This will be in the umpire’s judgment.) Pitching: This is a Pitching machine league. There are NO WALKS AND NO BUNTING ALLOWED. Machine should be set at around 31 mph and back at the 35 ft. pitching rubber. Each batter gets 4 pitches, unless batter swings at the first 3 or the pitch is unhittable from the pitching machine. Umpire will make the call on bad pitching machine pitches. Girls will pitch one inning each game at the beginning of the season. They will pitch from the 35ft pitching rubber. Pitcher will pitch 4 pitches to the batter, if the ball has not been put into play or the batter has not swung at 3 pitches the coach will come in and pitch the next 3 pitches. After the third standing pitch or swinging strike from the coach. 7 pitches total ~ 4-girl & 3-coach. (this rule will be looked at throughout the season to see if we need to increase the innings or moving the inning the pitcher pitches.) 11 Inch ball will be used Pitchers & pitcher helpers must wear a face mask. If a pitcher hits 3 batters in one inning they must be removed and will not be allowed to pitch for the remainder of that game. Tournament games will be pitching machine only. Defense:
Each team will field 10 players: 6 infielders and 4 outfielders. Outfielders must stay in grass until ball has been put into play.
Each player is required to play two full innings in the field within the first 4 innings No infielder will be positioned closer to home than the pitching machine or the pitcher rubber.
Pitcher and Pitcher’s helper are required to wear a face mask. Pitcher’s helper have to stay behind the pitching machine/coach and have a least 1 foot in the pitching circle until the ball is put into play. One defensive coach is allowed in the outfield to assist the players, but must stay in the outfield. Batting: There will be a continuous batting order for each team, all players bat. If a player refuses to bat, her spot will count as an out. Exception: Player is hurt If a batter throws her bat after hitting the ball and does not make contact with the umpire or another player the umpire will issue a team warning. If it happens again, during the same game, it will be ruled a dead ball and the batter will be called out. All runners will return to their previously occupied base at the time of the pitch. Every batter must wear a helmet with a face mask. All batters and runners must wear their helmets until they are in the dead ball area. Umpires will issue a warning for removing helmets early. If a team continues to remove their helmets before entering the dead ball area the umpire may issue an out for that team. Outs will be issued at the umpires discretion for the safety of the players When the batter becomes a batter-runner they must run to the Orange safety base. If they hit the ball to the outfield they can use the white portion of the base to advance further. General Information: No Jewelry-----Medical Only All equipment must be kept inside the “Dead Ball Area” The infield fly rule and dropped third strike will not apply to this league. The Head Coach is the only person allowed to converse with an umpire. Comments from others can lead to that person being ejected from the game Coaches need to lead their teams by example. If a coach, player or fan gets unruly they will be asked to leave. If they do not leave after 5 minutes the team will forfeit the game. Zero Tolerance If a coach is ejected they will be required to pay a $25 fine or umpire a game. Following an ejection the coach must meet with the Softball Director and/or Commissioner before being allowed to coach another game. Coaches are responsible for communicating with the parents on game changes, picture times, Barry Elzey Day info, Hit-Pitch-Run info, concession stand work nights, and our Flower Fundraiser. Coaches reserve the right to make rule changes at any time during the season If all coaches in the league agree to change a rule the change should be brought to the league representative or director for approval Base Runners: No Steals. Base runner may not leave the base until the ball is hit. Base coaches are not allowed to make contact with a runner while the ball is live. If contact is made the runner may be called out. Umpires decision If a runner misses a base (umpires opinion) and does not return to touch, then after the play the runner will be called out. If a player slides head first – he will be called out unless he is coming back toward the base. Base runners shall be entitled to the base they are going to plus one when the ball is over-thrown into a dead ball area.
