Holyoke Girls Softball League
Upper Division
Purpose
The purpose of Holyoke Girls Softball competition is to have fun, to be able to participate, to improve skills, to learn good sportsmanship, to develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, to develop group loyalty, to learn to compete within established rules, to accept decisions of authorized officials, to seek interpretation or change through proper channels, and to develop sound mind and bodies.
The League
This league is the Upper division. It consists of girls in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade or having their 15th birthday after July 1st.
*Girls who participate in H.G.S.L. may not participate in any other softball league until completion of the H.G.S.L. season.
The Game
Each team is permitted sic terms at bat during which it attempts to score runs by having home its batters become base runners having them touch first base, second base, third base, and home plate in order. The team in the field attempts to end each term at bat of the opponent by causing three of its batters or base runners to be out. Each of the two teams must start with 10 players. In the event that 10 players are not available, a legal game can be played with 8 players. If this situation occurs, both coaches must agree on number of players on field. One or more players must be designated captain(s). The captains and coach represent the team in communications with the Umpire. Before the start of each game the coach must provide the opposing team’s coach with the team’s lineup card, which shall include name, shirt number, position, and batting order of each starting player as well as each eligible substitute.
Coach
- Each team will have one coach along with no more than 2 assistant coaches.
- The coach will be responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, and the fans of their players.
- The coach will follow all guidelines put forth by H.G.S.L. and sign the Coaches Code of Conduct.
- The coach will follow all guidelines in place when dealing with a dispute.
- The coach is responsible for all H.G.S.L. equipment. If there is any damaged or lost equipment, please contact the director of umpires immediately.
- The coach is not responsible for transportation to and from games, but we ask that no coach leaves the field until ALL players have been picked up.
- All entrance fees for H.G.S.L. are non-refundable and must be paid in full before the season starts or your player will not be able to participate.
- The H.G.S.L. does not supply gloves or pants to its players. It is the coach’s responsibility to see his/her players are wearing appropriate uniform before taking the field.
- The coach is responsible for all their girls to wear the helmet straps at all times.
- Home Team coaches will supply the game ball.
- Coaches are not allowed behind the umpire during the game.
Upper Level
Umpire
- Umpire is the only person to call off a game for whatever reason once both teams have arrived at the field.
- All umpires are to be neat in appearance.
- They must wear either a light or dark blue shirt.
- They must have a mask, brush, and indicator for each game.
- The umpires will assist coaches in making sure no one other than players, coaches, and bat persons are on the bench or within 15 feet of the player’s bench.
- Umpire will be at game 15 minutes prior to 5:45 start.
- All games will be played when scheduled. No exceptions or the team will forfeit.
- (only weather related changes will be allowed)
- No umpire can coach a child/sibling game. ***In the event of an emergency situation this will be allowed only if BOTH coaches agree.
Balls
The ball color for all official games shall be optic yellow. The COR of all softballs shall not exceed .47. This division shall use 12 inch balls.
Bases
First base (½ orange & ½ white canvas), second, and third bases shall be white bags made of canvas and shall be securely attached to the ground. They shall measure 15 inches square and 2-5 inches thick.
Bat
The bat shall be a smooth cylinder with a knob. Each bat shall be no more than 2 ¼ inches in diameter in the thickest part and no more than 34 inches in length. There shall be no devices, attachments, or wrappings that cause the handle to become flush with the knob.
Catchers Equipment
The catcher’s equipment must be worn correctly by any player in that position. The face mask with neck strap must be worn by any player who is warming up a pitcher before an inning.
Equipment
Each coach is supplied with, and signs for, the team’s equipment, bases, and medical bags. It is up to the coach to contact the league in a timely manner if there is any missing or inferior equipment in their bags. Equipment should be returned intact at the end of each team’s playing season. Enough balls will be supplied to coaches to endure there are enough game balls for each team. We ask that coaches save games balls to be used as practice balls in the future. *Please contact a league representative if there are any problems with the fields either physically or with scheduling problems with other leagues.
Field
The dimensions of the field are designated as follows:
- Distance between bases shall be 60 feet.
- Distance between the rear tip of home plate and the pitchers plate shall be 35 feet.
- On deck circles shall be a safe distance from home plate with a recommended distance of 30 feet if space allows.
- The catcher’s box, bases, coach’s boxes, batter’s boxes and the three foot running lane to first base shall be marked accordingly.
Upper Level
Games
- All regular season games will start promptly at 5:45 P.M.
- All batting practice must end by 5:20.
- At 5:20 P.M. the Home team will then have infield practice, which must end at 5:30.
- Then the Visiting team has ten minutes for infield practice starting at 5:30 P.M.
- Both teams will clear the field for at least the last 5 minutes before the start of the game for ground rules.
- Forfeit time is 15 minutes after the scheduled start time for any team that does not field 8 players.
- Maximum game time will be no more than 2 hours or darkness. No inning can be started after 8:00 P.M.
- All play-off games must be complete games (7 innings). 15 run rule will be in effect for all games.
Home Team
Home team occupies the 1st base bench, supplies game ball(s), supplies the bases, and bats second.
Loose Equipment
Loose equipment of the teams may not be on or near the field.
PENALTY – The ball is dead if it touches any loose equipment. For offensive equipment causing a blocked ball (and interference), the batter – runner being played on is out. If no play is obvious, no one is called out, but all runners shall return to the last base touched at the time the ball is declared dead. If the equipment belongs to the team in the field (defensive team), it becomes a “blocked” ball, the ball is dead and the overthrow rule applies. EXCEPTION: A discarded bat by the batter or the catcher’s mask and helmet are not examples of loose equipment. They are considered part of the playing field.
Pitching
Each team must have their team girls pitching the entire game. Players must pitch from the designated distance/pitching rubber. If girls cannot reach and walk 3 successive batters they may take steps forward (as long as they remain a safe distance away). Pitchers must start with both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher may not take a step backwards during her motion, all movement must be forward.
Position Key
1 Pitcher 6 Shortstop
2 Catcher 7 Left Fielder
3 First Base 8 Center Fielder
4 Second Base 9 Right Fielder
5 Third Base 10 Short Fielder
Regulation Games
- A game called because the home team does not require it’s half of the sixth (7th) inning.
- A game ended due to weather or darkness and has completed five full innings.
- A legal game can consist of 4 ½ innings with the home team ahead. If after 5 full innings one of the teams is ahead by 15 or more runs the game will be called by the umpire and be considered official and complete.
Upper Level
Team Bench
All team members must remain on their team bench for the duration of the game. The only exceptions to this rule are players at bat, on deck, or in a defensive position on the field.
**NOTE: no one other than 3 coaches and team members are allowed on a team bench, spectators are required to remain 15 feet from the bench. It is up to the coach to enforce this rule.
Uniforms
Uniform shirts and visors/caps are supplied by the league and must be worn by every player.
· Shirts – Team uniform shirts must be worn by each player, tucked in and neat.
· Visors/caps – Must be worn with the bill facing forward.
· Glove – Each girl is responsible to supply her one glove.
· Sneakers/Cleats – Sneakers must be a sport style sneaker. NO open toed, slip on, plat form or wedge heeled shoes may be worn! NO metal cleats or metal toed cleats are allowed.
· Pants – Softball pants are required attire. NO shirt shorts, mini skirts, flared jeans, or jeans with excessive buttons, belts, chains, or zippers may be worn.
· Jewelry – NO jewelry may be worn by players (earrings, necklaces, bracelets). NO decorative or hard buttons or pins. Medic alert jewelry may be worn tapped to the skin so it is visible to the umpire.
Visiting Team
Visitors occupy 3rd base bench and bat first.
Upper League
TERMS
Appeals – Each coach is allowed only one appeal per ½ inning.
Ball – A pitch that is not a strike.
Base Path – The traditional path traveled by a runner who is attempting to advance to the next base. It is defined by a direct line between 2 bases and three feet on either side of that line, unless a fielder has the ball in her possession and she is within three feet of the runner and prepared to apply a tag. A base runner who attempts to avoid a tag by running more than three feet to either side of a fielder with the ball in her possession shall be declared out. Note: A runner establishes her own base path when she is not being played upon.
Batted Ball – Any pitch that comes in contact with the bat. Contact may result in a fair or foul ball and need not be intentional.
Batting Out Of Order – Failing to bat in proper sequence is listed on the official lineup card. This results in an automatic out for the offensive team.
Blocked Ball – A fair ball, batted or thrown, which is touched, stopped, or handled by a person not engaged in the game; or touches any object which is not of the official equipment or official playing area; or touches loose equipment.
Bunt – A legally batted ball not swung on but intentionally tapped with the bat.
Checked Swing – The restraining action taken by a batter to stop an attempted hit/slap/bunt.
Chopped Hit Ball – An illegally hit ball which is struck with a downward motion.
Coaches Box – The area to which the two base coaches (one per box) are restricted prior to the release of the pitch. Only adults (high school age & older) may coach 1st & 3rd base.
Upper Level
Courtesy Runner – The team at bat may use a courtesy runner if there are two outs, and the offensive team’s catcher is occupying a base. The courtesy runner should be the last runner in the inning deemed out.
Crow Hop – The replant of the pivot foot prior to delivering the pitch.
Dead Ball – A ball not in play.
Defensive Conference – One defensive conference per inning is allowed. If more than one occurs the coach may be ejected.
Designated Hitter – There are NO designated hitters allowed.
Double First Base – Runner should use colored base on initial play at first base. White base can be used as long as there is no interference with player covering base.
*Foul Ball Territory – If the 1st baseman is taking a throw from foul ball territory, she may be on the orange side of the bag for the base runner to be called out.
*Fair Ball Territory – If the throw is coming from fair ball territory, the first baseman must be on the white side of the bag for the base runner to be called out.
Once the runner reaches first base, the runner must then use the white base.
Drag Bunt – Attempting to bunt the ball by running forward in the batter’s box, carrying the bat with her. The movement of the bat is in conjunction with the batter’s forward movement.
Dropped Third Strike – A batter becomes a batter runner with the right to attempt to score when the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground and there are fewer than two outs and the first base is unoccupied at the time of the pitch. Fielder and runner may touch white or the colored side of 1st base. Runner is never out for touching white base rather than colored.
Ejected/Injured/Ill – Any player injured enough to leave the game, or ejected, must be replaced by the last player to leave the game when all players have been played. Any player or coach ejected from the game will automatically sit out the next scheduled game. THIS INCLUDES PLAYOFF GAMES.