Age: League:	5-6 T-Ball	7-8 Ponytail	9-10 Minor	11-12 Junior	13-14 Pony	15-18 Senior
PHILOSPHY:	Beginner program. First opportunity for organized sports, introduction to basic skills and team concepts.	Supplemental program. Efforts continue to enhance and refine basic skills and concepts.	Transitional program. Several more advanced skills are introduced and phased in.	Complete softball. Existing skills are refined and new ones are added. Complex game strategies are introduced.	Complete softball. Full array of skills and strategies come together and are used and taught in detail with much repetition.	Complete softball. All skills and strategies further developed and practiced in greater detail with much repetition.
GOALS:	Hitting, running, fielding and throwing are taught. Emphasis is on teamwork and having fun. League is non-competitive, winning is downplayed. The rules provide for maximum playing time and experience for all.	Catcher introduced and rover eliminated to encourage more strategy and field awareness. Teamwork and fun continue to be emphasized. The competitive level is a little bit higher, but winning is still downplayed. Playing time and experience is maximized.	Child pitching is introduced. Fielding skills become more detailed and strategic as realistic game situations are taught and experienced. Winning is downplayed. Extensive playing time is still guaranteed.	Fielding techniques for specific positions are stressed and taught, real game situations are practiced. Much playing time is still guaranteed. Games are more competitive-winning becomes more emphasized. Standings are kept, playoffs are held.	Complete package of skills can be fully utilized for the first time. Greater practice time is needed as consistency and experience are stressed. A fairly high amount of playing time is still guaranteed. The level of competition is high. Greater North Hills.	Youth softball is at its highest level. Much practice time is needed, detailed game situations are emphasized. Experience and awareness are stressed and reinforced. A fairly high amount of playing time is still intended. Very high level of competition. Greater North Hills.
FIELD: Bases Pitcher Area Distance to Plate Halfway Lines BatterÕs Box Foul Arc Overthrow Lines Outfield Line Outfield Fence	50 Feet Line 30 Feet Yes Yes 15 Feet 10 Feet Past Foul 10 Feet Past Bases No	55 Feet Line 35 Feet Yes Yes No 10 Feet Past Foul 10 Feet Past Bases Fence ? 150 Feet	60 Feet Line 35-40 Feet No Yes No 10 Feet Past Foul No Fence? 150	60 Feet Line 46 Feet/40Õoptional until Memorial Day No Yes No Field Ground Rules No Fence ? 180	65 Feet Line 46 Feet/Optional 50Õ No Yes No Field Ground Rules No Fence ? 180 Feet	65 Feet Line 46 Feet/Optional 50Õ No Yes No Field Ground Rules No Fence ? 200 Feet
EQUIPMENT: Ball Bats Tee Bases Shoes Hat & Shirt Pants	RIF 1 Any Yes Flat, Throw-Down No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black	RIF 5 ASA Approved No Regular No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black	Hard ASA Approved No Regular No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black	Hard ASA Approved No Regular No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black	Hard ASA Approved No Regular No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black	Hard ASA Approved No Regular No Metal Cleats IFPAA Issued Own Black

Age: League:	5-6 T-Ball	7-8 Ponytail	9-10 Minor	11-12 Junior	13-14 Pony	15-18 Senior
ROSTER: Team Makeup Roster Size # Batters Required At-Bats # Fielders # Infielders # Outfielders Catcher Rover Required Field Play Infield/Outfield Rotation Position Limits Substitutions	Neighborhood 10-12 Full Roster Full team bats in order Full Roster 6 Balance of team No Yes All play at all times, playing time is equal IF- 2 innings minimum, 3 innings suggested. OF ? 1 Inning minimum 2 innings each position All Play	Neighborhood 11-12 Full Roster Full team bats in order Full Roster 5 Balance of team Yes No All play at all times, playing time is equal IF ? 2 innings minimum, 3 innings suggested. OF - 1 Inning minimum 2 innings each position, total of 3 innings between P/1B/C All Play	Neighborhood 11-13 Full Roster Full team bats in order Full Roster 5 Balance of team Yes No 5 innings minimum, playing time is equal IF ? 2 innings minimum OF ? 2 innings minimum 3 innings each position except for pitcher All Play	Draft 11-13 Full Roster Full team bats in order 10 5 4 Yes No 5 innings minimum, playing time is equal IF-1 inning suggested minimum None Free	Draft 11-15 Full Roster Full team bats in order 10 5 4 Yes Permitted 4 innings minimum, playing time is nearly equal None Required None Free	Draft 11-15 Full Roster Full team bats in order 10 5 4 Yes Permitted 2 innings is minimum, but nearly equal time is intended None Required None Free
PARENTS: Manager Limit # Coaches Fielder Coaches Batter Coaches Umpires	No Limit All Help Encouraged Yes Yes Home ? Batting Team Field ? Away Team	2 Co-Managers Unrestricted Discouraged If Needed Home ? Home Team Field ? Away Team	2 Co-Managers Unrestricted No No Parents OR Youth-Paid	1 Unrestricted No No IFPAA Paid	1 3 No No IFPAA Paid	1 2 No No IFPAA Paid

Age: League:	5-6 T-Ball	7-8 Ponytail	9-10 Minor	11-12 Junior	13-14 Pony	15-18 Senior
GAME: Innings Outs Per Inning Runs Per Inning Surrender Rule Extra Innings Minimum # Players Time Limit Called Game Call-Ups (Maximum)	4 3 5 ? Last Inning All Players Bat None No 6 1 ? Hour Target At manager discretion No ? Share Players	5 3 6 None No 6 2 Hours Losing team must bat 3 innings From T-ball (2 Max)	6 3 6 None No 7 2 Hours Losing team must bat 3 innings From Ponytail (2 Max.)	7 3 10 15 After 5 Yes 6 Depends on Field Schedule Losing team must bat 5 innings From Minor (3 Max.)	7 3 Lineup None Yes 8 Depends on Field Schedule Losing team must bat 5 innings From Junior (2 Max.)	7 3 Lineup None Yes 8 Depends on Field Schedule Losing team must bat 5 innings From Pony (2 Max.)
BATTER: Pitch Limit Called Pitches Tee Option Strikeouts # Strikes Walks # Balls Bat Throw Warning Catcher Interference	5 Pitches No After pitch limit reached No N/A No N/A 1 Per Batter N/A	7 Pitches or 5 Strikes 1^st Half 7 Pitches or 3 Strikes 2^nd Half No No Yes 5-1^st Half, 3-2^nd Half No 1 Per Batter No	None Yes ? (mat Êuntil Memorial Day) No Yes 3 Yes 4 (ball ct to 0 if strike taken) 1 Per Team Yes	None Yes No Yes 3 Yes 4 1 Per Team Yes	None Yes No Yes 3 Yes 4 1 Per Team Yes	None Yes No Yes 3 Yes 4 1 Per Team Yes

Age: League:	5-6 T-Ball	7-8 Ponytail	9-10 Minor	11-12 Junior	13-14 Pony	15-18 Senior
RUNNERS: Interference Overthrows Tagging Up Avoid Contact Rule	Yes No Extra Base No None	Yes No Extra Base Yes None	Yes Next Base Yes None	Yes Next Base + 1 Yes Yes, at any base with play	Yes Next Base +1 Yes Yes, at any base with play	Yes Next Base +1 Yes Yes, at any base with play
FIELDERS: Start Position Play Stoppage Throw vs. Run to Base Outfielder Play at Base Infield Fly Rule	Infielders at positions, outfielders behind outfield line Putout, overthrow, throw toward infield Players strongly encouraged to throw to base with fielder there to teach proper technique Outfielders can make assists at bases, but no putouts No	Infielders at positions, outfielders behind outfield line Infielder control ball and hold, throw crosses infield line Players strongly encouraged to throw to base with fielder there to teach proper technique Outfielders can make assists at bases, but no putouts No	Outfielders 10Õ past bases InfielderÕs possession or throw to base where an out can be recorded Throw Encouraged Outfielders can make assists at bases, but no putouts No	Outfielders 10Õ past bases Umpire No Restriction Outfielders can make assists at bases, but no putouts No	No Restriction Umpire No Restriction No Restriction Yes	No Restriction Umpire No Restriction No Restriction Yes
PITCHING: Coach or Child Starting Position Arc Strike Zone Inning Limits per Game Walk Limits	Coach Circle N/A N/A N/A N/A	Coach Circle N/