Junior Division Rules2009 Season
Babe Ruth Softball rules for fast-pitch softball will be followed, modified by the league-wide rules and the following:
Emphasis will be placed upon the instructional aspects of the game (sportsmanship, rules and technique). Any player using profanity or unsportsmanlike conduct will be warned by her manager, coach, or the umpire. A second time... she must be removed from the game. If this problem continues, the division director must be notified and the player may face suspension.
Scorebooks are a legal document to ensure that E.F.G.S.L. Rules, as well as Babe Ruth League rules, are followed and that certain requirements are kept by the Coaches and Players, and as such MUST be kept accurately. Failure to do so may exclude coaches from further participation in the League and may exclude the League and Players from Post Season play.
The defensive team may consist of ten players. The minimum team size is eight players. Each player must play a defensive position 50% of their available innnings, managers are required to maintain records showing each players playing time and attendance.
A pitcher may in one week pitch a maximum of 10 innings. A maximum of four innings (or fractions of innings) in any one game and three innings (or fractions of innings) in any other games during the same week. All innings pitched in a game must be consecutive. A week is defined as Monday through Sunday. Exception: If a 4th game is played in one week, four innings may be pitched by that pitcher. If a pitcher pitches more than the allowed innings (10 innings in a 3-game week or 7 innings in a 2 game week) the game in which the infraction takes place will be forfeited to the opposing team regardless of the score. Each Manager must write down in their score book the name of the opposing players, (especially the pitchers and how many innings that they pitch). The Managers will sign each others score book to acknowledge that the other's book is correct.
A batter may advance on a dropped third strike except when there are less than two outs and first base is occupied. If there is a runner on second and/or third base at that time, that runner may advance as many bases as possible at their own risk. If the catcher overthrows the first baseman, all runners may advance at their own risk. If there is a runner on first with less than two outs and that runner attempts to advance to second on a dropped third strike, she will be called out if the ball is thrown to First Base before she returns. With two outs, any base runner may advance at their own risk on a dropped third strike.
Batting order will be on a "round robin" basis and include all players present. Players arriving after play has started will be added to the bottom of the batting order.
A half inning is described as follows: A maximum of ten runs may be scored in a half inning. When ten runs are scored, the half inning is over. Likewise, once a team has batted around the complete "batting order", the half inning is over. A "batting order" is defined as the largest number of players present on either team. So if one team has 14 players, their inning may consist of no more than 14 at bats. If the opposing team has only 8 players their inning may also consist of 14 at bats.
Mercy rule -- If one team is winning by 11 runs or more after 5 innings, the 6th inning doesn't need to be played, but both managers must agree on ending the game.
Stealing or leading off base is not permitted until a pitched ball reaches the leading edge of home plate. Base runners in violation will be declared out.
A 12 inch softball will be used.
The game will be 6 innings long. An official game is four innings. No new inning may start after 2 hours.
Base stealing is allowed following the rule that the pitched ball MUST reach the leading edge of home plate before the runner is allowed to leave the base.
The pitching distance is 40 feet.
Intentional walks are prohibited.
A Manager or Coach may only cross the first and third base lines into the field of play once in an inning without being penalized. If the Manager or Coach crosses a second time in the same inning, his/her pitcher must be removed from the mound. The pitcher may play another position but she cannot return to the mound for the rest of that game. That will also be considered an entire inning pitched by that pitcher even if only one pitch was thrown.
Helmets coming off -- If the same base runner's helmet comes off twice in one game, it is totally up to the umpire to determine whether it was intentional or not. If intentional, the Umpire then may call that base runner out. Chin straps will be provided and MUST be worn and used. Players must wear a helmet until they are in the dugout, persistant removal of a helmet prior to entering the dugout will cause the player to be removed from the game.
Hit by pitch -- If a pitcher hits 3 batters during the game, she must be removed from the mound. If a pitcher hits a batter, but the Umpire has determined that the batter did not make an attempt to avoid getting hit, then the Umpire may call that pitch a strike (or call that batter out). In that instance, that batter WILL NOT be considered hit by that particular pitch.
Illegal Pitching -- The umpires should be calling illegal pitches because it's to the girls advantage to break out of bad habits before advancing to higher divisions.
Players must wear full uniforms assigned by the League in order to be eligible to play, with the exception of school team uniforms. They may play in school uniforms only if coming directly from a school game. Any player out of uniform must be removed from the playing field. Any player wearing a travel team's uniform will be considered out of uniform.
rlb:10/16/2018Junior Division RulesPage 1 of 2
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\EFGSL20092009 revision3/22/2009, 7:28:03 PM