MCIL SOFTBALL RULES
8 and Under Division
~ ASA rules will be the official rules used unless superseded by the following ~
Registration & Player Requirements
. Registration cutoff date is January 1 of the current year. This means that players who are 8 years old or younger on January 1 of the
current year are eligible.
. The number of girls on the roster is unlimited.
. All players must be on roster for the playing team with MCIL.
Field & Home Team Requirements
. Base distance is 50 ft.
. Jugs Jr. placed at 38 ft. from home plate with the speed dial set to deliver the pitch at approximately 30 mph.
. Pitching circle is required with an 8 ft. radius
. Safety bases are required at 1st base
. One umpire is required for every game. Umpires must be at least 12 years of age.
. 11” softballs will be used. The home team must supply an adequate number of good softballs that are acceptable to the visiting coach, as
well as a bucket to be used at the machine and a bucket to be used behind the catcher.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
. No metal spikes will be allowed. Rubber spikes may be worn.
. All girls must wear a batting helmet with a facemask when batting, running the bases, or on deck. Batters must leave helmet on until they
are inside of the dugout.
. Catchers must wear a chest protector, shin guards, catcher’s helmet, and throat guard. Any type of glove may be used.
. It will be optional for the girls to wear ball caps or visors. Caps do not need to be the same color or style.
Game Starting, Length and Completion
. No inning will be allowed to start after 8:15 on unlit fields.
. No new innings may be started after 1 hour 30 minutes of play, regardless of the number of innings played or the score.
. 10 players will take the field. The rover (10th player) may play anywhere behind the baseline.
. A minimum of 8 players is required to begin the game. On defense, a team with 9 players will play without the 4th outfielder and a team
with 8 players will play without the 4th outfielder and without either the pitcher or catcher position.
. A forfeit is called for teams with less than 8 players.
. A game is complete after 6 innings. An official game can be called after 4 innings.
Coaches
. Offensive coaches may be used in the following ways: 1 at 1st & 3rd bases, 1 to back-up the catcher and offer instruction, 1 to feed the
pitching machine. Interference by an offensive coach will result in an out to the batter or base runner.
. Defensive coaches may be used in the following way: 1 in the outfield. The outfield coach may enter the infield between pitches to instruct
infielders. If a batted ball strikes the defensive coach, it will be considered defensive interference and the batter will awarded the base.
Game Play
. Teams must bat their entire roster. Late arrivals will be placed at the end of the roster.
. Each batter will be given 5 pitches in the strike zone, regardless of if the batter swings. If the batter offers at a pitch that is not in the strike
zone it will be called a ball and will not count toward her total of 5 strikes. A foul ball will be counted as one of the batters 5 strikes except
on the final strike.
. Strikeouts do count as outs.
. In the 1st – 5th innings, a team’s at bat is finished when 3 outs occur, the team has scored 5 runs, or the team has bat 10 batters. In the
final inning, which is the 6th inning or the last inning as declared by the umpire prior to the start of the inning, a team’s at bat is finished
when 3 outs occur or 10 batters have bat. There is no limit to runs scored in the final inning.
. Base runners may not leave the base until the ball is hit.
. Base runners will be allowed to advance 1 base at their own risk on any overthrows.
. A hit to the outfield will be considered a live ball and the runners may advance until the outfielder makes a throw to any infielder that is
currently standing in the infield dirt, at which time the runners may advance to the next base only if they have already rounded the previous
base prior to the ball being in the hand of an infielder positioned on the infield dirt. If a play is made on any advancing runner then an
additional base may be taken.
. Pitcher is positioned behind or to the side of the machine with one foot inside the pitching circle and must stay in the circle until the ball has
been hit.
. A batted ball that strikes the machine will be considered a dead ball and all runners including the batter will advance one base.
. The ”Infield Fly” rule does not apply.
MCIL SOFTBALL RULES
10 and Under Division
~ ASA rules will be the official rules used unless superseded by the following ~
Registration & Player Requirements
. Registration cutoff date is January 1 of the current year. This means that players who are 10 years old or younger on January
1 of the current year are eligible.
. The number of girls on the roster is unlimited.
. All players must be on roster for the playing team with MCIL.
Field & Home Team Requirements
. Base distance is 60 ft.
. Pitching distance is 35 ft.
. Pitching circle is required with an 8’ radius
. Safety bases required at 1st base
. Two umpires required for every game. Umpires must be at least 13 years of age.
. 11” softballs will be used. The home team must supply 2 good softballs that are acceptable to the visiting coach.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
. No metal spikes will be allowed. Rubber spikes may be worn.
. All girls must wear a batting helmet with a facemask when batting, running the bases, or on deck.
. All catchers must wear a chest protector, shin guards, catcher’s helmet, and throat guard. Any type of glove may be used to
catch.
. It will be optional for the girls to wear ball caps or visors. Caps do not need to be the same color or style.
Game Starting, Length and Completion
. No inning will be allowed to start after 8:15 on unlit fields.
. No new innings may be started after 1 hour 45 minutes of play, regardless of the number of innings played or the score.
. 10 players will take the field. The rover (10th player) may play anywhere behind the baseline.
. A team must have 9 players to begin the game. The fielding position eliminated is the rover position. When at bat, the batting
team must register an out for the 10th spot in the line-up.
. A team can finish with 8 players, taking outs in the 9th and 10th players’ positions.
. A game is complete after 6 innings. An official game can be called after 4 innings. A Mercy Rule applies if a team is 12 or
more runs ahead at the end of the 4th or 5th innings.
Game Play
. Teams must bat their entire roster. Late arrivals will be placed at the end of the roster.
. Base runners are not allowed to steal; however, runners may leave the bag once the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand. The
runner may not advance to the next base unless the ball is hit. The runner may be thrown out returning to the base.
. Runners on 3rd cannot advance home on a passed ball.
. All base runners may advance on hit balls or on attempts to throw out the runner until the pitcher has the ball inside of the
pitching circle.
. The batter may not run on a dropped 3rd strike.
. Maximum runs per inning: each team can score a maximum of 6 runs per inning with the exception of the last inning where
there will be unlimited runs for both teams. If the game is not going to reach 6 innings, the umpire must declare the last inning
prior to the start of that inning.
. Free substitutions are allowed with the exception of the pitcher. Once a pitcher has been removed from the pitching position,
she may not re-enter as a pitcher for the remainder of the game.
. The ”Infield Fly” rule does not apply.
MCIL SOFTBALL RULES
12 and Under Division
~ ASA rules will be the official rules used unless superseded by the following ~
Registration & Player Requirements
. Registration cutoff date is January 1 of the current year. This means that players who are 12 years old or younger on January
1 of the current year are eligible.
. The number of girls on the roster is unlimited.
. All players must be on roster for the playing team with MCIL.
Field & Home Team Requirements
. Base distance is 60 ft.
. Pitching distance is 40 ft.
. Pitching circle is required with an 8 ft. radius
. Safety bases required at 1st base
. Two umpires required for every game. Umpires must be at least 15 years of age.
. 12” softballs will be used. The home team must supply 2 good softballs that are acceptable to the visiting coach.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
. No metal spikes will be allowed. Rubber spikes may be worn.
. All girls must wear a batting helmet with a facemask when batting, running the bases, or on deck.
. All catchers must wear a chest protector, shin guards, catcher’s helmet, and throat guard. Any type of glove may be used to
catch.
. It will be optional for the girls to wear ball caps or visors. Caps do not need to be the same color or style.
Game Starting, Length and Completion
. No inning will be allowed to start after 8:15 on unlit fields.
. No new innings may be started after 1 hour 45 minutes of play, regardless of the number of innings played or the score.
. 10 players will take the field. The rover (10th player) may play anywhere behind the baseline.
. A team may play with 9 players. The fielding position eliminated is the rover position. When at bat, the batting team must
register an out for the 10th spot in the line-up.
. A team can finish with 8 players, taking outs in the 9th and 10th players’ positions.
. A game is complete after 7 innings. An official game can be called after 5 innings. A Mercy Rule applies if a team is 12 or
more runs ahead after 5 innings.
Game Play
. Stealing of 2nd and 3rd base is allowed, but not home plate. A base runner may steal once the ball has left the pitcher’s hand.
A runner on 3rd may attempt to steal home if a play is made on another player trying to steal a base. A runner on 3rd may try
to score on a wild pitch or passed ball.
. There will be no must slide rule, but we strongly urge action against any obvious attempt to hurt anyone.
. Free substitution is allowed, however a player reinserted back in the lineup must bat in her original position in the batting
order. Pitchers are also allowed to re-enter, but not in the pitcher’s position and must also bat in her original position in the
batting order.
. There is no limit to the runs scored per inning.
. The ”Infield Fly” rule will be in effect.
MCIL SOFTBALL RULES
14 and Under Division
~ ASA rules will be the official rules used unless superseded by the following ~
Registration & Player Requirements
. Registration cutoff date is January 1 of the current year. This means that players who are 14 years old or younger on January
1 of the current year are eligible.
. The number of girls on the roster is unlimited.
. All players must be on roster for the playing team with MCIL.
Field & Home Team Requirements
. Base distance is 60 ft.
. Pitching distance is 40 ft.
. Pitching circle is required with an 8ft. radius
. Safety bases required at 1st base
. Two umpires required for every game. Umpires must be at least 17 years of age.
. 12” softballs will be used. The home team must supply 2 good softballs that are acceptable to the visiting coach.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
. No metal spikes will be allowed. Rubber spikes may be worn.
. All girls must wear a batting helmet with a facemask when batting, running the bases, or on deck.
. All catchers must wear a chest protector, shin guards, catcher’s helmet, and throat guard. Any type of glove may be used to
catch.
. It will be optional for the girls to wear ball caps or visors. Caps do not need to be the same color or style.
Game Starting, Length and Completion
. No inning will be allowed to start after 8:15 on unlit fields.
. No new innings may be started after 1 hour 45 minutes of play, regardless of the number of innings played or the score.
. A team must start a game with 9 players.
. A team may finish with 8 players. When at bat, the batting team must register an out for the departed player.
. A forfeit is called for teams with less than 9 players to start or 8 to finish.
. A game is complete after 7 innings. An official game can be called after 5 innings. A Mercy Rule applies if a team is 12 or
more runs ahead after 5 innings.
Game Play
. Stealing of 2nd and 3rd base is allowed, but not home plate. A base runner may steal once the ball has left the pitcher’s hand.
A runner on 3rd may attempt to steal home if a play is made on another player trying to steal a base. A runner on 3rd may try
to score on a wild pitch or passed ball.
. There will be no must slide rule, but we strongly urge action against any obvious attempt to hurt anyone.
. Free substitution is allowed, however a player reinserted back in the lineup must bat in her original position in the batting
order. Pitchers are also allowed to re-enter, but not in the pitcher’s position and must also bat in her original position in the
batting order.
. There is no limit to the runs scored per inning.
. The ”Infield Fly” rule will be in effect.
MCIL SOFTBALL RULES
16 and Under Division
~ ASA rules will be the official rules used unless superseded by the following ~
Registration & Player Requirements
. Registration cutoff date is January 1 of the current year. This means that players who are 16 years old or younger on January
1 of the current year are eligible.
. The number of girls on the roster is unlimited.
. All players must be on roster for the playing team with MCIL.
Field & Home Team Requirements
. Base distance is 60 ft.
. Pitching distance is 40 ft.
. Pitching circle is required with an 8 ft. radius
. Safety bases required at 1st base
. Two umpires required for every game. Umpires must be at least 19 years of age.
. 12” softballs will be used. The home team must supply 2 good softballs that are acceptable to the visiting coach.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
. No metal spikes will be allowed. Rubber spikes may be worn.
. All girls must wear a batting helmet with a facemask when batting, running the bases, or on deck.
. All catchers must wear a chest protector, shin guards, catcher’s helmet, and throat guard. Any type of glove may be used to
catch.
. It will be optional for the girls to wear ball caps or visors. Caps do not need to be the same color or style.
Game Starting, Length and Completion
. No inning will be allowed to start after 8:15 on unlit fields.
. No new innings may be started after 1 hour 45 minutes of play, regardless of the number of innings played or the score.
. A team must start a game with 9 players.
. A team may finish with 8 players. When at bat, the batting team must register an out for the departed player.
. A forfeit is called for teams with less than 9 players to start or 8 to finish.
. A game is complete after 7 innings. An official game can be called after 5 innings. A Mercy Rule applies if a team is 12 or
more runs ahead after 5 innings.
Game Play
. Stealing of 2nd and 3rd base is allowed, but not home plate. A base runner may steal once the ball has left the pitcher’s hand.
A runner on 3rd may attempt to steal home if a play is made on another player trying to steal a base. A runner on 3rd may try
to score on a wild pitch or passed ball.
. There will be no must slide rule, but we strongly urge action against any obvious attempt to hurt anyone.
. Free substitution is allowed, however a player reinserted back in the lineup must bat in her original position in the batting
order. Pitchers are also allowed to re-enter, but not in the pitcher’s position and must also bat in her original position in the
batting order.
. There is no limit to the runs scored per inning.
. The ”Infield Fly” rule will be in effect.