10 & Under Rules

Non Officiated Games

General

  • Minimum of 7 players – Teams will help each other out.
  • 10 Players in the field. Maximum of 6 on the infield.
  • Teams will roster bat.
  • Games last 6 innings with no new innings beginning after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
  • Games played with an 11” softball.
  • Coaches will umpire and make calls for opposing pitchers. The feeling is that the coach will be harder on their own batters encouraging them to hit decent pitches.
  • Five run limit per inning except for last inning which will be unlimited runs. Coaches will agree on last inning before it begins.
  • No bunting.
  • No Infield fly rule.
  • Mercy rule in effect if team leads by more than 10 runs after 4 innings

Pitching

  • Pitching distance is 35’
  • Pitcher can pitch a maximum of 2 innings consecutively then must rest for 1 full inning.
  • One pitch counts as an inning pitched.
  • Saturday games will use pitching machine for first 2 innings and then have girls pitch at fields when electricity is available to use pitching machine.
  • No running on dropped 3rd strike
  • No walk when batter is hit by a ball that bounced first.

Base Running

  • Runner cannot leave the base on a steal until the ball crosses the plate.
  • One base only per steal attempt. The runner cannot advance on an overthrow. Coaches should encourage the catchers to make the throw.
  • No continuous stealing (walk/steals) when walked to first.
  • Stealing Home –1 attempted steal of home per inning.
  • Runners have to slide if there is play, if they do not they will be called out.
  • If up by 8 or more runs, no stealing. If other team closes gap you may steal until the differential is 8 or more runs again.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING RULES AND PROCEDURE

Thunder & lightning necessitates that a game be suspended. The occurrence of thunder and/or lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion - thunder is thunder, lightning is lightning. (Home coach should have a plan or set up a plan for shelter prior to the start of any game.) When thunder is heard and/or when lightning is seen, the following procedures should be adhered to:

(a.) Suspend play and direct participants to go to a shelter, a building normally occupied by the public, or if building is unavailable, participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top.

(b.) Do not permit players or participants to stand under or near a tree, and have everyone stay away from metal benches, fences, poles, towers and underground watering systems.

(c.) After thunder and/or lightning have left the area, wait approximately 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play.

JEWELRY

No visible jewelry is allowed in softball below the college level. Religious medals or medical medals must be taped to the body and under the uniform. Soft, pliable barrettes are permissible.