New Albany Youth Softball League
2017 Rules
New Albany Youth Softball League The New Albany Youth Softball League operates under the rules and regulations set forth by the New Albany Youth Baseball/Softball League. Any rules not listed will follow ‘USA Softball’ guidelines Girls: Kid Pitch Softball Rules (2017 updates in red) 1. Games shall consist of 6 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes. No new innings to begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes. For double-headers, no new inning can begin after 1 hour and 20 minutes. Note: There will be a max time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes for double headers. A new inning will begin after the last out of the preceding inning takes place. Teams can field up to 10 players on defense with 4 outfielders, but teams can play with a minimum of 6 players without penalty. 2. Each ½ inning will end when there are 3 outs or the 7th run has scored 3. Roster batting will be used (which means everyone hits) 4. Participation rule: All players must sit out one inning in the field before a player sits out a 2nd inning. 5. All players must play at least one inning in the infield (C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B or P) 6. Unlimited substitution is allowed for every position. 7. An 11-inch softball will be used. 8. If a play is being made. A runner who does not slide and makes contact with the defensive player will be called out. This will not apply if the defense is blocking the base without possession of the ball. This applies to all bases and home plate. Note: Players are encouraged to slide; however it is not mandatory. 9. Stealing from 2nd to 3rd only. If the catcher attempts to throw the runner out and the ball is overthrown, the runner may not advance to home. 9a. If the catcher makes a throw to a base, in an attempt to pick off a runner, the runner may advance, to the next base, at their own risk. Other runners may not advance during the play. 10. The pitching rubber will be set at 35 feet. The pitcher must have at least one foot on the rubber when delivering the ball to the plate. After a play, the PITCHER has to control the ball within the pitchers circle. Once control is established, the runners may advance ONLY IF they have crossed the midpoint between bases. Failure to do so will result in the runner being sent back to the previous base. 11. Lead offs are permitted; However, runners may not leave the base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. 12. Positive chatter is permitted but cannot be directed to the opposing team. Example: Yelling “swing, hit,” or similar terms is prohibited. Offensive or inappropriate chatter will not be tolerated and the team, coach, player(s) in question could be penalized as deemed appropriate by the umpire or Board of Directors.
2017 Rules 13. Bunting is allowed only when a player is pitching. A player fake bunting and then swinging will be called out for safety reasons. Players are not allowed to bunt when a coach is pitching. 14. No infield fly rule. 15. Pitchers may only pitch 3 innings per game (4 innings per game in playoffs). One pitch constitutes a full inning of pitching. In the event of a suspended then resumed game, it is the total of innings pitched in both sessions that count towards the 3 innings (or 4 innings if in playoffs). 16. If a pitcher hits three batters in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed from the pitchers position for the remainder of the inning. The player may return to the pitchers position in subsequent innings. Note: Regardless of when the pitcher is removed; it counts as a full inning pitched. Also, the pitcher being removed can only substitute to the position of the new pitcher’s previous position. 17. Runners may not advance to first base on a dropped third strike. 18. The player/pitcher will throw to every batter. If four (4) pitches are called balls, by the umpire, the coach of the batting team will come in and throw up to and no more than three (3) more pitches to the batter. The batter’s strikes will remain. For example, if the batter has two strikes before getting the fourth ball, the coach comes in to pitch to the batter with a count of 0-2, a swing and a miss will constitute a strike out for the batter. If the batter does not hit the ball into play, she is out. A foul ball with less than 2 strikes will constitute a strike. A foul ball on the third pitch only will allow the batter to continue until she either puts it in play, swings and misses, or fails to swing. Coaches are asked to strongly encourage all batters to hit from the player/pitcher and not wait for the coach to come in to pitch. The coach must pitch from the pitcher’s mound and attempt to throw a pitch with little arc as possible - this is a fast-pitch softball league. It is the coachpitcher's responsibility to be aware of the location of a ball that is in play and make every possible effort to get out of the way of all fielders. It is the umpire's discretion to call interference. While the coach-pitcher is pitching, the player/pitcher shall stand with at least one foot within the pitching circle until the ball is put into play. 19. If the coach pitching gets hit with a batted ball, the play is dead. The batter is awarded a single and all runners move up one base. 20. End-of-Season Tournament games will follow rule #1 (1 hour and 45 minute limit) except the Championship game – which will have no time limit. 21. Helmets with face masks are required for all batters. 22. Pitchers must wear a face mask. 23. Player substitutions must occur prior to the beginning of an inning. Once an inning begins, no substitutions, or position changes, are allowed unless there is an injury or pitching change.
2017 Rules FIELD DECORUM - These rules put us in line with Little League and New Albany Joint Parks and Rec mandates:
Only Managers, Coaches, League officials and volunteers who have been approved by the Board of Directors can have access to players during games or practices. Only the official Manager (1) and Coaches (up to 3) are allowed on field and in the dugout during games. Coaches must not hang out in stands and are not permitted on field during play except as base coaches. When a team is on offense, at least one coach must remain in the dugout. Players must remain in dugout when not on the field. No other kids in dugout or field at games or practice. No on-deck position. No swinging outside the fences. No pre-game batting practice on the infield. A batting doughnut is not allowed. Jewelry – No jewelry should be worn other than stud earrings. Softball Bats Only – No baseball/tee-ball bats are permitted. After one warning, the umpire may call a batter out if she attempts to use a different bat again – Note the first warning requires the player to switch to a softball bat.
New Albany Youth Softball League The New Albany Youth Softball League operates under the rules and regulations set forth by the New Albany Youth Baseball/Softball League. Any rules not listed will follow ‘USA Softball’ guidelines Girls: Kid Pitch Softball Rules (2017 updates in red) 1. Games shall consist of 6 innings or 1 hour and 45 minutes. No new innings to begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes. For double-headers, no new inning can begin after 1 hour and 20 minutes. Note: There will be a max time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes for double headers. A new inning will begin after the last out of the preceding inning takes place. Teams can field up to 10 players on defense with 4 outfielders, but teams can play with a minimum of 6 players without penalty. 2. Each ½ inning will end when there are 3 outs or the 7th run has scored 3. Roster batting will be used (which means everyone hits) 4. Participation rule: All players must sit out one inning in the field before a player sits out a 2nd inning. 5. All players must play at least one inning in the infield (C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B or P) 6. Unlimited substitution is allowed for every position. 7. An 11-inch softball will be used. 8. If a play is being made. A runner who does not slide and makes contact with the defensive player will be called out. This will not apply if the defense is blocking the base without possession of the ball. This applies to all bases and home plate. Note: Players are encouraged to slide; however it is not mandatory. 9. Stealing from 2nd to 3rd only. If the catcher attempts to throw the runner out and the ball is overthrown, the runner may not advance to home. 9a. If the catcher makes a throw to a base, in an attempt to pick off a runner, the runner may advance, to the next base, at their own risk. Other runners may not advance during the play. 10. The pitching rubber will be set at 35 feet. The pitcher must have at least one foot on the rubber when delivering the ball to the plate. After a play, the PITCHER has to control the ball within the pitchers circle. Once control is established, the runners may advance ONLY IF they have crossed the midpoint between bases. Failure to do so will result in the runner being sent back to the previous base. 11. Lead offs are permitted; However, runners may not leave the base until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand. 12. Positive chatter is permitted but cannot be directed to the opposing team. Example: Yelling “swing, hit,” or similar terms is prohibited. Offensive or inappropriate chatter will not be tolerated and the team, coach, player(s) in question could be penalized as deemed appropriate by the umpire or Board of Directors.
2017 Rules 13. Bunting is allowed only when a player is pitching. A player fake bunting and then swinging will be called out for safety reasons. Players are not allowed to bunt when a coach is pitching. 14. No infield fly rule. 15. Pitchers may only pitch 3 innings per game (4 innings per game in playoffs). One pitch constitutes a full inning of pitching. In the event of a suspended then resumed game, it is the total of innings pitched in both sessions that count towards the 3 innings (or 4 innings if in playoffs). 16. If a pitcher hits three batters in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed from the pitchers position for the remainder of the inning. The player may return to the pitchers position in subsequent innings. Note: Regardless of when the pitcher is removed; it counts as a full inning pitched. Also, the pitcher being removed can only substitute to the position of the new pitcher’s previous position. 17. Runners may not advance to first base on a dropped third strike. 18. The player/pitcher will throw to every batter. If four (4) pitches are called balls, by the umpire, the coach of the batting team will come in and throw up to and no more than three (3) more pitches to the batter. The batter’s strikes will remain. For example, if the batter has two strikes before getting the fourth ball, the coach comes in to pitch to the batter with a count of 0-2, a swing and a miss will constitute a strike out for the batter. If the batter does not hit the ball into play, she is out. A foul ball with less than 2 strikes will constitute a strike. A foul ball on the third pitch only will allow the batter to continue until she either puts it in play, swings and misses, or fails to swing. Coaches are asked to strongly encourage all batters to hit from the player/pitcher and not wait for the coach to come in to pitch. The coach must pitch from the pitcher’s mound and attempt to throw a pitch with little arc as possible - this is a fast-pitch softball league. It is the coachpitcher's responsibility to be aware of the location of a ball that is in play and make every possible effort to get out of the way of all fielders. It is the umpire's discretion to call interference. While the coach-pitcher is pitching, the player/pitcher shall stand with at least one foot within the pitching circle until the ball is put into play. 19. If the coach pitching gets hit with a batted ball, the play is dead. The batter is awarded a single and all runners move up one base. 20. End-of-Season Tournament games will follow rule #1 (1 hour and 45 minute limit) except the Championship game – which will have no time limit. 21. Helmets with face masks are required for all batters. 22. Pitchers must wear a face mask. 23. Player substitutions must occur prior to the beginning of an inning. Once an inning begins, no substitutions, or position changes, are allowed unless there is an injury or pitching change.
2017 Rules FIELD DECORUM - These rules put us in line with Little League and New Albany Joint Parks and Rec mandates:
Only Managers, Coaches, League officials and volunteers who have been approved by the Board of Directors can have access to players during games or practices. Only the official Manager (1) and Coaches (up to 3) are allowed on field and in the dugout during games. Coaches must not hang out in stands and are not permitted on field during play except as base coaches. When a team is on offense, at least one coach must remain in the dugout. Players must remain in dugout when not on the field. No other kids in dugout or field at games or practice. No on-deck position. No swinging outside the fences. No pre-game batting practice on the infield. A batting doughnut is not allowed. Jewelry – No jewelry should be worn other than stud earrings. Softball Bats Only – No baseball/tee-ball bats are permitted. After one warning, the umpire may call a batter out if she attempts to use a different bat again – Note the first warning requires the player to switch to a softball bat.
