Eaton County Softball

u12 girls fastpitch

2015

  1. Eligibility:

League and tournament play: For players age 12 and under as of January 1 (current year). No exceptions.

  1. Home Team / Community Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities:
  1. Single Game and will start at 6pm. Games will be played on Tuesday and Thursdays. No new inning may begin after 2 hours and 20 minutes and game will be 7 innings. Extra innings can be used to decide a winner. If you feel games are running late, ensure you engage prior to the game with the opposing coach for resolution rather than mid game when one team may have the advantage. Ties should be reported as such.
  2. The home team shall provide a field in good condition for play throughout the season.
  3. Bases shall be 60 feet
  4. Pitching rubber 40 feet with a 16-foot circle
  5. Shall provide as a minimum (1) one adult trained umpire who has knowledge of fast pitch softball and understands the one umpire mechanics or (2) two umpires with one being an adult and one being a high school student (in training) and be responsible for their payment.
  6. Shall provide to all umpires copies of the league rules and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) (NFHS) rules.
  7. Shall provide game balls. An optic yellow, Size 12”, COR .47 max, compression 375lbs max (one new/ one gently used). Game balls will have the NFHS or MHSAA stamp.
  8. Beginning January 1, 2006 batting helmets shall have a NOCSAE-approved face mask/guard protector.
  9. Mercy Rule: Mercy rule as 15 runs ahead after 4 innings or 10 runs ahead after 5 innings.
  1. Rain / Extreme Weather Policy:
  1. The home team or community shall determine by 4:00pm on the day of the scheduled game if field conditions warrant postponement. After 4:00pm, the decision shall be made by the umpires at the field.
  2. Rescheduling: If the game is postponed prior to 4:00pm, the home team must contact the visiting team coach. A makeup date will be agreed upon by both teams.
  3. Lightning / Thunder Rule: If lighting or thunder is present at your game, play must be suspended for 30 minutes each time an umpire sees lightning or hears thunder.
  4. In case of an inability to complete the game, the completion of four (4) innings will constitute a completed game.
  1. Reporting Scores:

It shall be the responsibilities of the winning team to email the final scores to within 72 hours of the game time. Scores not reported will show as a cancelled game and will affect your season record.. All scores shall be reported by using the following format:

Subject Line: Winning Team Name (i.e. Springport Maher) G14U Scores

Team A – Number of Runs (i.e. Bellevue Blaze – 6 Runs)

Team B – Number of Runs (i.e. Springport Maher – 12 Runs)

  1. The Game:
  1. A game shall be forfeited by the umpire when a team is unable to provide at least nine (9) players to start the game or cannot provide eight (8) players to finish the game. Forfeited score will by 7-0. Note: After the start of the game, an out will be called each time that spot in the batting order comes to bat.
  2. Roster / line-up is limited to 15 players
  3. Arrive early if infield practice is desired. NO infield practice five (5) minutes before game time.

1)PITCHING:

  1. Pitching limits are 10 innings per week in league play.
  2. Pitching mechanics will follow the MHSAA rule.

2)BATTING:

  1. Teams will set lineup cards to reflect all players. Any field substitutions will be communicated between the coaches. Substitutions need to be listed on the bottom of the lineup card. Notify the opposing team when substituting players.Free substitution permitted.
  2. Late arriving player must be added as a substitute on the lineup card and notify opposing coach. Player will be available for active play after the half inning is completed.

Note: Important to notify opposing coach of substitutions and a courtesy notice to the home plate umpire.

  1. Bunting – Players may bunt or slap hit. If a batter intends on not ‘bunting’, the bat needs to be pulled back prior to the ball crossing the plate. If the bat is not pulled back – a strike will be called by the umpire.
  2. If an injured player misses their spot in the batting order, they will be out of the game. Their injury must be reported to the opposing coach prior to their half of the inning so their position in the batting order will be skipped and will not result in an out. If the player is not reported to the opposing coach that player must bat or will be considered an out.
  3. A pitched ball that hits a batter in the box will be called dead and the batter is awarded first even if the ball makes contact with the ground first. The batter must attempt to move out of the way of an errant pitch.
  4. A batter who deliberately throws the bat will be called out.
  5. Dropped 3rd Strike rule is in effect.

3)BASE RUNNING:

  1. The look-back rule will be in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession of the ball within the pitcher’s circle. The runner (s) may stop once, but then must immediately return to the base or attempt to advance to the next base. Once the runner stops at any base for any reason, they will be declared out if they leave the base.

Sliding / Avoiding Collisions

  1. The league requires that coaches explain to their players that malicious contact is prohibited and illegal. A majority of the intentional collisions occur at home plate where the catcher is blocking the plate. Base runners must be instructed to slide or when a play is being made (obvious) to avoid making contact with any defensive player at any base or they will be called out. Note: The intent of the slide rule is to avoid contact with the ball coming into make an obvious play.
  2. A player who maliciously or intentionally runs into a player is automatically ejected and declared out.
  3. Contact or a collision is considered malicious or intentional if (1) the contact is the result of intentional excessive force and / or (2) there is intent to injure. The absence of either (1) or (2) does not preclude the presence of something malicious or intentional.
  4. The catcher WILL NOT block home plate without the ball. If the catcher blocks WITHOUT the ball, they will be called for interference and the runner will be safe.
  5. Coaches may use a courtesy runner for the catcher and pitcher at their discretion in an effort to speed up the game. Announce at the pre-game meeting if you plan to use courtesy runners.

4)SCORING:

A team may score a maximum of eight (8) runs per inning in league play.

5)EQUIPMENT:

  1. No jewelry, watches, (cloth or metal) with the exception are medical alert items and should be taped
  2. Metal spikes will not be worn.

6)PRE-GAME CONFERENCE (Rule 4):

The pre-game conference should take place approximately five minutes before the start of the game. Discuss the following:

  1. Ensure both teams have each other’s respective line-ups.Sportsmanship
  2. Home Team Coach will cover any home field ground rules

E.g. Foul lines, special field conditions (drains), imaginary out of bounds lines (extension of fence), any ground rules (fences)

  1. Both coaches will verify their players and equipment are safe properly equipped
  2. Warm up pitches will be eight (8) for each pitcher in the first inning and five (5) for each inning after.
  3. Remind coaches to have players hustle in and out during each inning.
  4. Additional Topics might be: Dropped 3rd strike rule, sending runners early, pitching to the ‘strike zone’ and avoiding collisions when in the process of receiving the ball and one base on an ‘overthrows’ and courtesy runners.