INGOMAR - FRANKLIN PARK ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Junior Slowpitch Softball

11 and 12-year-olds

Rules

RULE I — PLAYERS

  1. A team shall consist of ten players whose positions shall be designated as follows: pitcher, catcher, first baser, second baser, third baser, shortstop, and four outfielders. The outfielders must be situated in fair territory at least ten feet beyond the normal base lines. Outfielders cannot make a putout at a base.
  2. No player can sit on the bench for two (2) consecutive innings. Free substitution is applicable to all defensive positions. Equal playing time is expected.
  3. Each player must bat regardless of her defensive position or non-position during the game. Opposing managers will provide this list (to include players’ last names and positions) before the game. Latecomers will be added to the end of the batting order. A girl who becomes injured or ill or who otherwise leaves during a game may be removed from the lineup with no penalty to her team. If that girl recovers or otherwise returns during the game, she shall return to the lineup in her former position. Opposing team is to be notified of latecomers, removals, and returns to the lineup.
  4. A team must be able to field seven Junior League players by fifteen minutes after game time or the game is forfeit. Managers may by mutual agreement postpone a game no later than twenty-four hours before the scheduled start of the game.
  5. Qualified ten year old Minor League girls may be called up on a game by game basis under the following conditions:

1.      A minimum of six Junior League girls are also playing.

2.      The opposing managers and league commissioners agree that the Minor League girl’s skills are such that her safety will not be jeopardized.

3.      Minor League girls’ managers should be contacted for recommendations and selections.

4.      The Junior League game does not conflict with a Minor League game that the call-up may be playing otherwise.

5.      No more than three Minor League girls may play on the same team during one game.

6.      If a team calls up a Minor League girl, she must play in accordance with Rules I-B & C, above.

  1. Players may not wear jewelry, specifically bracelets, dangling earrings, or necklaces during the game.
  2. Catchers must wear face mask, helmet, and chest protector. Shinguards are optional.

RULE II — PLAYING FIELD

  1. The distance between bases is sixty feet. All bases must be anchored by at least one peg.
  2. The pitching distance is measured from the point of homeplate to the front edge of the pitching line/rubber. Pitching distances of either forty feet (40') or forty-six (46') may be used through May 31st of the season at the pitcher's option. Beginning on June 1st of the season, the pitching distance is only forty-six feet (46').
  3. The pitcher is not permitted to alter her pitching delivery by moving back and forth from pitching distances while pitching to the same batter. Whatever pitching distance is used for the 1st pitch must be used for all pitches to that batter.

RULE III — GAME LENGTH

  1. A regular game is seven innings unless extended by a tie score, or shortened because the umpire calls the game. After the first pitch has been thrown only the umpire can eliminate a game.
  2. If a game is called, it is a regulation game:

1.      If five innings have been completed, or

2.      If the home team has scored more runs in four half innings than the visiting team has scored in five completed half innings.

  1. A regulation tie or a non-regulation game must be replayed from the start.
  2. A team may score no more than ten runs per inning. There is no restriction for the last inning(s).
  3. A team that is leading by fifteen runs or more shall be declared the winner if the losing team has batted in five completed half innings.
  4. At the first appearance of lightning, the game will be called in accordance with Rules III-A & B above.

RULE IV — PITCHING

  1. The strike zone is that space over any part of home plate that is between the batter’s back shoulder and her front knee, when the batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate.
  2. The pitcher shall take a position with a foot firmly on the ground and in contact with, but not off the side of, the pitchers plate. The arm must come to rest holding the ball in front of the body, with a pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher shall maintain position at least one second and not more than ten seconds before starting delivery. The pitcher must then deliver the ball toward home plate on the first forward swing of the pitching arm past the hip. The pitcher may not stop or reverse the forward motion. No windmill of the pitching arm is allowed. One foot (pivot) must remain in contact with the pitchers plate until the pitched ball leaves the hand. There is no restriction on position or movement of the free foot except that if a step is taken, the step must be made toward home plate.
  3. The pitcher must deliver the ball to the batter at a moderate to slow speed, underhand below the hip. The pitcher must use an arch of at least six feet to a height of approximately twelve feet. If, in the opinion of the umpire, a pitch is too fast or too straight, the umpire shall call it an illegal pitch and credit the batter with a ball. If batter swings, the pitch is a legal pitch.
  4. No pitch shall be declared when:

1.      The pitcher pitches during the suspension of play.

2.      The pitcher makes a quick return pitch.

3.      If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during back-swing, the ball is dead and all subsequent action on that pitch is cancelled.

  1. The pitcher shall not wear a sweatband, bracelet, or similar type of item on the wrist or forearm of the pitching arm.
  2. A pitched ball that touches any part of home plate is a ball, provided that the batter does not swing. The black is not part of the plate.
  3. Illegal Pitch: An illegal pitch occurs when the pitcher delivers the ball not in accordance with the pitching rule. In each case the umpire shall declare an illegal pitch. The ball is dead until put in play again. If the batter strikes at any illegal pitch, it shall be a strike and there shall be no penalty for such illegal pitch. The ball shall remain in play if the batter hits it. Otherwise, an illegal pitch is a ball.
  4. A pitcher must be removed for the remainder of the inning on the manager’s or coach’s second conference with the pitcher.
  5. Remember that the intent of this league is to let the girls play the game. In the spirit of this, no batter should be intentionally walked, regardless of the circumstances.

RULE V — BATTING

  1. A batter is out when:

1.      A third strike is called. No two-strike foul rule.

2.      The batter bunts the ball or chops it downward.

3.      A defensive player catches a flyball legally.

4.      The batter interferes with the catcher.

5.      The batter steps on the plate or out of regulation batter’s box while swinging and striking at a pitched ball. If a batter swings and misses, only a strike is called.

  1. Each player shall bat in the order in which her name appears in the scorebook.
  2. Batting out of order is an appeal play that the defensive team only may make.

1.      If the error is discovered while the incorrect batter is at bat, the correct batter may take her place, assume any balls and strikes, and any runs scored or bases run while the incorrect batter was at bat, shall be legal.

2.      If the error is discovered after the incorrect batter has completed her turn at bat and before there has been a pitch to another batter, the player who should have batted is out. Any advance or score made because of the improper batter’s advance to first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, or a hit batter shall be nullified. The next player is the player whose name follows that of the player called out for failing to bat.

3.      If the error is discovered after the first pitch to the next batter, the turn at bat of the incorrect batter is legal, all runs scored and bases run are legal, and the next batter shall be the one whose name follows that of the incorrect batter. Players who have not batted have lost their turn until reached again in the regular order.

  1. When the third out in an inning is made before the batter has completed her turn at bat, she shall be the first batter in the next inning and the ball and strike count on her shall be cancelled.
  2. A batter may not hit a fair ball with the bat a second time in fair territory. The ball will be called dead, the batter is out, and the baserunners may not advance.

RULE VI — BASERUNNING

  1. Baserunners may advance with liability to be put out when:

1.      The fielder first touches a legally caught fly ball.

2.      The defensive team overthrows a ball into fair or foul territory that is not blocked.

3.      The batter hits the ball into fair territory.

4.      A thrown ball strikes the person or clothing of an umpire.

  1. Baserunners are entitled to advance without liability to be put out when:

1.      Forced to vacate a base because the batter was awarded a base on balls.

2.      A fielder obstructs the baserunner from making a base unless the fielder is trying to field a batted ball or has the ball ready to touch the baserunner. On a deliberate collision, baserunner is out.

  1. Any runner off base on a swinging strike will be called out.
  2. Base stealing is not permitted.
  3. Metal cleats are not permitted.
  4. A runner is out if her manager, coach, or teammates touch her while ball is alive.

RULE VII — DEAD BALL VS. LIVE BALL

  1. The ball is dead and not in play when:

1.      The batter hits the ball illegally.

2.      The batter chops or bunts the ball.

3.      No pitch is declared.

4.      A baserunner is called out for leaving the base too soon whether the batter swings or not.

5.      A blocked ball is declared.

6.      After each strike or ball.

  1. The ball is alive when:

1.      The pitcher has the ball in possession on the pitcher’s plate.

2.      The defensive team legally catches a fly ball.

3.      The ball is not dead as provided in Section I of this rule.

4.      The ball bounces to plate and is hit.

  1. The ball remains alive until a defensive player holds it and in the opinion of the umpire all play has ceased.

RULE VIII — FIELDING

  1. If the defensive team throws the ball out of the agreed field of play, the runner is entitled to the base to which she was headed plus one more base. Umpire judgement.
  2. The infield fly rule is not in effect.
  3. Any team not playing all available players will result in automatic forfeiture of the game. The manager must invite all players to all games.

RULE IX — MISCELLANEOUS

  1. The home team is to supply one new ball for each game.
  2. The home team is responsible for lining the field before to the game.
  3. The home team will have the use of the playing field for the fifteen minutes before to the game time. The visiting team will have the fifteen-minute time period preceding.
  4. Girls must wear issued uniforms and long pants.
  5. No one is permitted behind the batting cage at any time during the game. All players will remain in the bench area during the game.
  6. The manager is responsible for team conduct during the time his/her team is at field site. The team manager will carry on any communications with the umpire.
  7. A first-thrown bat will result in a warning by the umpire. A second thrown bat by any member of the same team will result in an automatic out for the offending team.

RAINOUT PROCEDURE — UMPIRE PAYMENTS

Before game time, the home team manager has the authority to postpone the game due to inclement weather. If a home team manager is postponing a game, he or she must notify Gary Keenan of the American Softball Association at 321-3073, which supplies the umpires. Such notification must occur at least one hour before game time in order to avoid an umpire change.

If a game is called after it has started and it is not a regulation game, the umpire receives half pay. If a game is called after it has started and it is a regulation game, the umpire receives full pay. If the game has been postponed before game time, but notification to the ASA has not occurred at least one hour before game time and the umpire shows up, the umpire receives half-pay. If in this latter case, the umpire shows up and no one is at the field, the ASA will charge the league full pay.

The home team calls off umpires.

Revised and Approved by IFPAA Board, March 2005

Revised and Approved by IFPAA Board, June 2005