Game Timing/Length

Game consists of 6 innings unless called due time constraints.

For weeknight games, the umpire will call the game when they see fit due to sunlight. Weekend games should run approximately 1 hour 45 minutes if there is a game immediately following on that field. If there is no game immediately following, the game may continue until there is a winner. A game is complete if stopped for darkness or weather after 5 full innings (4 1/2 if the home team is winning)

Uniforms

Team shirts and long pants should be worn for all games. Softball shoes with rubber cleats are strongly encouraged; metal cleats are not permitted.
No jewelry is permitted, i.e. bracelets, necklaces, or rings

Equipment

Helmets with face masks must be worn by all base runners and batters.
Any defensive player can wear a facemask, but they are required for the pitcher, and strongly recommended for infielders.

Field Dimensions

Bases are 60 feet apart.
The pitcher’s rubber is 35 feet from home.
The pitcher’s rubber will have a 16-foot circle drawn from the center of the rubber, it will extend in a 8 ft radius in every direction from the center of the rubber. The line drawn is considered inside the “circle of control.”

Players

Players should report 30 minutes prior to scheduled start time of the game.
A 15 minute grace period will be allowed before a forfeit is declared.
If a team has 7 players, the game may start. Upon injury, 6 players will be allowed
If prior to the game, a team knows they cannot field 10 players, a player from a younger division can be brought up to play. Request for replacements should be handled by the coach of the team needing a replacement contacting the commissioner and informing them of the need. If at game time, the team has 10 players of their original roster players, the younger player may not participate during the game. In no instance can a player from the same division play for another team in that division. Players may NOT be pulled up from another division during playoffs.

Defense

• The defensive team consists of 10 players; 6 infielders including pitcher and catcher, and 4 outfielders
• No infielder may be positioned closer to the batter that 45 feet before a pitch is thrown
• Outfielders must be positioned in the outfield grass (no midfielder)
• Every player must play a minimum of three (3) innings per game. All players must play at least one (1) inning in the infield.
• A player can play no more than 3 innings in the outfield
• A player can play no more than 2 innings at the same position in the infield (except pitcher)
• There are no limits during extra-innings
• Catchers must wear the full league provided equipment during a game and a face mask must be worn when warming up a pitcher.
• Managers may substitute freely at any time during the game
• One coach permitted on field during their defensive half of the inning, on the outfield grass.

Offense

• The batting order will run consecutively throughout the game. If a player arrives after the game has begun, she is to be placed at the end of the lineup
• Please have a written batting order available for the opposing team.
• There are no walks
• Bunting is not permitted
• There are called strikes and a batter can strike out. Foul balls will be considered strikes except for the third strike. Strikes are called even if the coach is pitching. A batter can be called out on a third strike if they swing and miss and/or don't swing at the called 3rd strike.
• If a foul ball is caught the batter is out, regardless of which strike it is (i.e. first, third)
• If the batter is hit by a pitched ball thrown by a player, a coach will immediately finish that at-bat; this includes bounced balls. The batter is NOT awarded first base.
• Bat throwing is not permitted. 1st offense: coach talks to the player; 2nd offense: warning from umpire; 3rd offense: batter called out
• If the ball hits the plate after being hit by the bat and goes into fair territory, then the ball is considered live.
• Offensive team MUST have base coaches (18 or older)

Pitching

• No pitchers may pitch more than 3 innings in a regulation game (1 pitch counts as a full inning). A pitcher may not pitch more than 2 consecutive innings. There are no limits during extra innings.
• Pitchers must begin the motion with at least 1 foot in contact with the mound. Pitchers may have both feet off the ground at the same time when delivering the pitch as long as both feet remain within the 24" width of the pitching plate and the pitcher does not replant the pivot foot for a 2nd push off.
• The strike zone will be roughly from under the arms to knees. Coaches should be mindful that the umps are volunteers. Coaches cannot question called balls and strikes. Report any coaches that are harassing an umpire to the commissioner.
• If a pitcher hits 3 batters in one inning the pitcher will be removed from pitching for the remainder of the game
• Pitcher will continue to pitch to the batter until a count of 4 balls is reached. If the batter has not recorded an out or a hit – the coach will pitch to the batter. When the coach comes in to pitch, the strike count is continued, no walks are issued, and batters can strike out.
• Coaches must pitch from the rubber. Exceptions can be made if the coach is struggling but must remain in pitching circle
• When a coach is pitching, the player who was the pitcher remains a fielder in the pitching position
• If any coach is hit by a batted ball, the ball will remain in play. If a coach catches a ball in self-defense, the batter and all base runners will advance one base. The coach cannot intentionally catch the ball.

Baserunning

Overthrows:

• If there is an overthrow to a base and the ball remains in the field of play (i.e. ball hits the fence and remains inside the fenced area) the runner may advance at their own risk for a maximum of one base per at bat.
• A runner on another base may advance on an overthrow but does so at the risk of being thrown out. That runner is limited to one base as well.
• If there is an overthrow to a base and the ball leaves the field of play (i.e. go over the fence or into the dugout) the umpire must call a dead ball and the runner advances without the chance of an out
• Stealing: A runner may steal as explained below:
• A runner on 1st or 2nd can advance/steal only one base per pitch even in the event of an overthrow in live ball territory. If they advance more than one base, they are liable to be put out. At the end of the play, if the runner is safe and has advanced more than one base, the umpire will return the runner to the correct base.
• A runner cannot steal home.
• Awarded bases will apply to all runners. This includes an overthrow into dead ball territory.
• Runners can only score on:
  - A batted ball
  - An awarded base when the ball goes out of play to include a pitch that goes out of play
• The runner cannot leave the base to attempt to steal until the ball is released by the pitcher
• A runner cannot advance/steal when a coach is pitching in relief of 4 thrown balls.
• A runner cannot advance/steal following an overthrow to second base
• Base runners may advance until the ball is returned to, and controlled by an infielder
• Balls hit to the outfield grass or a ball fielded by an outfielder on the dirt
• Infielder must be standing in the infield area marked by the dirt cutout.
• Runners may continue to advance at their own risk, if they have already started to the next base before the ball is controlled by an infielder
• A runner may not start to advance to the next base after control has been gained.
• If the runner attempts to advance to the next base (before the ball is under control of an infield player) the play is LIVE until the runner reaches the base, returns to the previous base or is forced out/tug out. At no time should the coach attempt to stop the play
  Control is defined as “In the infielder’s hand or glove while standing in the infield dirt.”
• Players are strongly encouraged to slide if there is a play at any base in an effort avoid a collision. For purposes of this rule, a ‘play’ is defined as the defensive player having control of the ball and attempting to make the out. In order to protect the defensive players attempting to make a play on the runner, the runner may be called out if she remains on her feet and collides with the defensive players at 2nd, 3rd or home.

Scoring

• An inning is ended with 3 outs or 5 runs scored, whichever comes first.
• No limits on runs scored in the 6th inning of the game.
                o In the event the 6^th inning will not be reached (i.e. darkness), coaches and umpire will gather to discuss and agree on when                    the final inning with unlimited runs will occur
• If the score is tied at the time of discontinuation – the game will end in a tie. The home team’s book is the official record and games scores and out-comes will be sent to the league Commissioner by the home team manager.

Home/Away Team Responsibilities

The home team is responsible for preparing and lining the field, supplying 2 game balls, and providing a home plate umpire. The visiting team is responsible for breaking down the field, raking and taking the trash to the dumpster and providing a base umpire

Umpiring

The umpires will be parent volunteers. The parent volunteer umpires can refer to the umpire’s instruction included in the yearbook.

Cancellations/ Weather Delays

• The Talleyville Board is responsible for canceling games due to inclement weather.
• At least one of the listed background checked coaches (head or assistant) must be present for a game to be played.
• A cancelled game must be re-scheduled within 1 week of the cancellation and played within 3 weeks. Coaches from both teams will communicate to come up with 3 dates that work and then contact the Scheduler to re-schedule.
• If games are not re-rescheduled and played it will be logged as a forfeit.

Playoffs/All stars

All teams make the playoffs

Travel team players may not be selected to play on the JR1 all-star team, unless/except in rare circumstances in which player joins a team during the spring softball season and the President approves their inclusion.