2023 Softball Season

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MINOR Coach Pitch (6-8 yrs)

- Noncompetitive Daytime Games - 

2023

Goal:  To teach the players the basic rules and techniques of softball. And to have fun!

This is a developmental division

1. 10 players on defense. A pitcher, catcher, 4 infielders & 4 outfielders.
2. Minors Coach Pitch does not have to try out and has no age guidelines.
3. Age cut off: January 1st (any exceptions must be approved by the board and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
4. Everyone bats in the lineup.  If one team has more players, the other team will bat the same amount of players.
5. Softball size: 11 softball
6. Game time: 1 hour 15 minutes
7. Innings: 5 runs per inning or 3 outs. Continuation of runners will be in effect, so a maximum of 8 runs may occur.
8. Coaches must stay inside the dugout during defensive play.
9. Base coaches: You may have base coaches on the 1st and 3rd base sidelines during offensive play. Base coaches must stay inside the base coach box which is 6 ft off the baseline. You must have a coach inside the dugout at all times (i.e. Coach in dugout, Coach on 3rd baseline and player with helmet on 1st base line). 
10. Background checks must be completed on any Coach/Assistant Coach/Base Coach prior to the start of the season or the team will not be scheduled for games.
11. Bulling: Little League has zero tolerance for any type of abuse against a minor, including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental, and emotional abuse (as well as any type of bullying, hazing, or harassment). Any individual with an offense involving or against a minor (refer to Volunteer Application), will not be permitted to participate in any Little League programs or activities. 

Pitching:

1. Coaches will pitch for their team only, unless agreed upon with the umpires prior to the game. Player-Pitchers will remain on the field playing defense.
2. Coach-pitchers may not interfere with the defensive play if the ball is thrown or hit.
3. Coach-pitchers must pitch from the pitching plate.
4. Coaches may throw up to 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes.  If the 5th pitch is fouled by the batter, the coach-pitcher may pitch until the batter strikes out or hits a fair ball. 
5. No quick-pitches from the coach-pitcher. They must ensure the defense is ready prior to pitching. If an umpire determines a coach-pitcher throws a quick-pitch, they will call “no pitch” and the play will be restarted.
6. If a coach-pitcher is hit with a batted ball after delivering a pitch, the ball is considered dead. The batter is awarded first base and all runners may advance one base only. Coach-pitchers will try their best to avoid being struck with a hit ball.

Batting and Base running: 

1. No stealing, runners may not lead off the base once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
2. No walks unless hit by pitch.
3. Overthrows: Runners may advance only one base on an overthrow. (i.e. catcher throws to pitcher and pitcher misses the ball)
4. Advancing the runner during a play: The runner may go as far as they can until the ball is dead. (i.e. batter hits the ball and defense throws to first base & she misses the ball)
5. “Dead ball” is determined by the umpire. The play is considered “dead” when the pitcher has the ball in the proximity of the pitching circle. Unless marked the pitching circle is determined by the umpire.
6. If a “Dead Ball” is called by the umpire, runners who are less than half way between bases must return to the base. Please be compliant if you are asked to return to a base.
7. Bunting is not allowed.
8. Foul balls with 2 strikes- batters remain at bat if they continue to foul off pitches.

Little League SOP’s- one minute between innings. Hustle in, hustle out. 

Rules may be subject to change by the Little League Board.  If any rules change, the umpire will inform both coaches prior to the start of the game.

MAJOR Division Rules

MODIFIED FASTPITCH (11-12 yrs as of 1/1/2023) 

-Competitive Evening Games on Mondays & Wednesdays-

2023

Goal:  To teach the girls how to pitch to live batters and prepare them for fastpitch highschool, travel teams and college!

1. 9 players on defense. A pitcher, catcher, 4 infielders & 3 outfielders.
2. Everyone bats in the lineup whether they are playing on defense or not.
3. Softball size: 11”
4. Bat size: “The bat shall be no more than 33 inches in length, not more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.20. Bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding 16 inches from the small end. Colored bats are acceptable. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited.”
5. Competitive - Each team must keep an accurate score book.
6. No coaches on the field in the play area, except in between innings. You must stay inside the dugout during defensive play. 
7. Background checks must be completed on any Coach/Assistant Coach/Base Coach prior to the start of the season or the team will not be scheduled for games.
8. Bulling: Little League has zero tolerance for any type of abuse against a minor, including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental, and emotional abuse (as well as any type of bullying, hazing, or harassment). Any individual with an offense involving or against a minor (refer to Volunteer Application), will not be permitted to participate in any Little League programs or activities. 
9. Base coaches: You may have base coaches on the 1st and 3rd base sidelines during offensive play. Base coaches must stay inside the base coach box which is 6 ft off the baseline. You must have a coach inside the dugout at all times (i.e. Coach in dugout, Coach on 3rd baseline and player with helmet on 1st base line). All coaches on the field must have had a background check.

Pitching:

1. Windmill pitching only.
2. No 'high arch" pitch, Umpires discretion
3. No “leaping” or “crow hopping” pitches. Pivot foot must remain in contact with or push off and drag away from the pitching plate prior to the front foot touching the ground, as long as the pivot foot remains in contact with the ground.
4. Pitching distance: 
5. We will enforce the “start back” rule. Pivot foot must be on the pitching plate. Non-pivot foot can be touching the pitching plate or behind the plate. Once the hands are together no further backward step is allowed. Example: After the pitcher gets her signal, grips the ball and meets both hands together, both feet will stay in their positions as the pitcher moves back and goes into the wind-up. If umpires witness the pitcher stepping back after their hands are together, they will call NO PITCH.
6. Dropped ball: If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand before, during, or up to the delivery of a pitch,  a ball is declared on the batter. 

Batting and base running:

1. Foul balls - batters remain at bat if they foul off pitches with 2 strikes (no limit). 
2. Walks are allowed.
3. Interference- Scenario: With a runner on first base, the batter hits a ground ball toward the second baseman. The batted ball strikes the runner from first base before it reaches the second baseman. The ball is immediately declared “dead,” the runner is declared out and the batter is awarded first base. If there had been other runners on base, they would return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch, unless they are forced to advance by the batter being awarded first base.
4. Obstruction- Scenario: The runner was obstructed by the first baseman, which altered progress toward second base. After the play ends, the umpire is to call “time,” announce obstruction has occurred, and awards bases as necessary, which nullifies the obstruction.
5. Runners may advance as far as they can on a hit ball unless the play is called dead by the umpire or the 5 runs per inning has been met. Once the pitcher has control of the ball and is on the mound, play is also considered dead. 
6. Stealing is allowed. Runner may not lead off the base until the ball has left the pitcher's hand.
7. Runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.
8. No head first slides/dives.

Innings: 

1. Game time: 1 hour 55 minutes
2. 5 runs per inning or 3 outs. Continuation of runners will be in effect, so a maximum of 8 runs may occur.
3. After 4 complete innings, if there is at least 15 minutes remaining in the allotted game time, the umpire will announce how much time is left, and that the game will end in that time; Unless both coaches agree to end the game right then. If play continues, when the time is up, the game is over, regardless of the score or the number of at-bats each team has had. If a full inning was not able to be completed, the score at the end of the previous full inning is the final score. If the top half of the fourth inning ends with the home team ahead, the game is over and the home team wins. At this level, we feel the most important thing is that the players get as much time on the field as possible.
4. Little League SOP’s- one minute between innings. Hustle in, hustle out. 

Rules may be subject to change by the Little League Board.  If any rules change, the umpire will inform both coaches prior to the start of the game.