12U Junior Division 2020

1. Any player who turned 13 on or before August 31 st of the current year is not eligible to compete.

2. A team shall consist of 10 players, the tenth player being an outfielder who will play 15 feet behind the baselines. A team must field at least 7 players or forfeit the game.

3. Only a pitcher, catcher, and four infielders will be allowed to play in the infield at any one time.

4. A normal game will consist of 6 innings.

5. A maximum of 4 runs per team shall be allowed in one inning. The 6th inning and any after that shall be open innings with no limit on the number of runs scored.

6. The ten-run rule will apply after the 4th inning. Example: If the home team is at least 10 runs ahead after 31/2 innings, the game is over. If the visiting team is at least 10 runs ahead after the 4th inning, the game is over.

7. In case of rain, 4 complete innings constitute a game. Any incomplete games are completely replayed.

8. Plate umpires must be at least 15 years old. Base umpires must be at least 14 years old.

9. Batter can advance to first on a dropped 3rd strike when first base is unoccupied with less than 2 outs. The base is occupied if there is a runner on first base prior to the pitch. If there are 2 outs it does not matter if first base is occupied or not. A player must record the final out as the ball is live. The batter is not out until she enters the dugout.

10. Infield fly rule is in effect.

11. No intentional walks.

12. Bunting is allowed.

13. After a hit, when the pitcher holds the ball within the pitching circle, a runner may continue to advance as long as she does not stop. If the runner stops on a base, she must stay there. If she stops after rounding a base before she reaches the next base, she must immediately return to the last base touched or she will be called out and she may be put out by a tag as she returns to the base.

14. A walk will be treated the same as a hit as far as a runner’s right to continue on past first base.

15. Lead-offs and stealing are allowed. Runner can leave the base when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.

16. Stealing of second, third and home will be allowed.

17. In the case of an overthrow off the playing field, the ball is dead, and all runners advance one base. The playing field is defined by the home team ground rules.

18. A pitcher is allowed only 4 innings per game. One pitch is considered one inning.

19. ASA pitching rules do not allow a pitcher to step back during her pitching delivery. A pitcher must start with both feet on the pitching plate with her hands separated. The only step a pitcher can take is forward, and the hands must come together once during the delivery.

20. All other pitching regulations are covered by ASA rules.

HI-LO Valley Girls’ Softball rules 2020

1. Official ASA rules will apply unless otherwise stated in these HI-LO Valley (HLV) rules. HLV general rules will apply to all age groups. HLV rules for a particular age group will apply only in that age group.

2. Players must be officially registered with the HLV to participate in any HLV sanctioned game. A player may be registered on only one team in the HLV.

a) A player may be a substitute on a team above their rostered age division if that team is not able to compete because they are short players.

b) A player that has substituted up on any team and has played a total of 5 regular season games becomes officially rostered on the most recent team for which they substituted. They cannot play with their original team for the remainder of the season.

c) Participation up in a HLV tournament will count as 1 game toward the substitution limit of 5 games.

d) If a team is in need of an additional player to fill out a roster, that player must be from the same community and that player must play on a team in a lower division.

e) Rosters must be provided to the league coordinator before the annual coaches meeting before games begin. Rosters must contain players name and birthdate.

3. A player may be rostered on a team below her age group under the following conditions:

a) The local organization determines that they should be at that age level because of her ability.

b) She is not more than 1 year past the limit for that age group. The HLV board may grant exceptions to this under special circumstances. All players playing down must be declared on team rosters at the coaches meeting.

4. To pitch in a HLV tournament, a player must be include in the pre-season roster, and she must have played in 5 regular season HLV games. If requested, coach must produce the team book as proof of games played.

5. Players should be taught how and encouraged to slide any time there is going to be a close play on them. However, a runner is entitled to come into any base either standing or sliding and will not be called out for simply not sliding. If a runner is deemed to be maliciously running or sliding into a fielder at any time, they will be called out and ejected from the game. Umpires must use discretion when making this call but must keep the game safe.

6. A player must have possession of the ball to block any base on a tag out. The result of blocking a base without the ball is obstruction by the defensive player.

7. Unlimited substitution is allowed, including the pitcher. Innings do not have to be consecutive.

8. All players rostered for each game will be listed on the game roster and will bat in that order regardless of whether or not they are playing in the field.

9. No changes will be made in the starting batting order other than adding players to the bottom of the roster.

10. Any player batting out of order is automatically out. However, an injured player may be removed from the game, their turn at bat skipped without penalty, and then returned later to their original batting position.

11. There should be no heated, verbal arguments on the field under any circumstances. 12. Traveling league players may play on house league teams. There are no pitching restrictions HI-LO Valley Girls’ Softball rules

12. With the exception of lighted fields, all games will start at 6:00 p.m. A team not present within 20 minutes of the scheduled game time will forfeit the game.

13. The game should end with a final, unlimited scoring inning. The inning that starts after an hour and thirty minutes of play shall be the final, unlimited scoring inning unless:

a) The game has reached the max inning count for a complete game (varies by division).

b) The game has reached the HLV or local time limit.

c) The local darkness limit has been reached. 14. No inning will start after 2 hours of play. In some cases, local rules may override the HLV time limit, but only to shorten it. It is the home plate umpire’s duty to note the starting time of the game.

15. In the case of a tie at the end of regulation play, play will continue with complete innings until the tie is broken or until the home plate umpire calls the game due to darkness or local time limits. Games in this case will result in a tie.

16. All schedule changes, except for weather, must be confirmed by both coaches 48 hours in advance.

17. A one-minute time limit will be allowed for a team to take the field and be prepared to play ball.

18. When a team plays a game shorthanded, or players are injured and cannot complete a game, no outs are charged.

19. Age description, division and game night table. Age on August 31, 2020

Typical game night

7-8 8U Lassie (coach pitch) Tuesday / Thursday

9-10 10U Petite Monday / Wednesday

11-12 12U Junior Tuesday / Friday

13-15 15U Senior Monday / Wednesday

20. Fields shall be set up to the following specifications:

Pitching distance/Pitching circle/Base distance

8U 35 feet / 8 foot radius / 60 feet

10U 35 feet / 8 foot radius / 60 feet

12U 40 feet / 8 foot radius / 60 feet

15U 43 feet / 8 foot radius / 60 feet

21. Home team will be required to provide a one-piece, half orange/half white, safety bag at first base for HLV games. Failure to have one will cause the home team to forfeit.

22. Catchers must wear a mask, chest protector, shin guards, and protective helmet.

23. Base runners and batters must wear full protective helmets with face mask.

24. No steel spikes are allowed.

25. The home team will furnish 2 balls for each game.

26. Ball requirements Division Size Specifications

• 8U 11 inches Optic yellow cover COR .470 or under Compression of 375.0 or less ASA logo
• 10U 11 inches Optic yellow cover COR .470 or under Compression of 375.0 or less ASA logo