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Export Rules
YOUTH (12U) SOFTBALL
Rules governing Youth Softball will be ASA Official Slow Pitch Softball Rules with the following exceptions:
EQUIPMENT
- All players must wear baseball pants, sweatpants, long pants, "culottes" or other baseball-pant length bottoms.
- All players must wear a hat or visor during the game.
- Players cannot wear any type of jewelry during games.
- All catchers must wear a protective cap made of the same material and padding approved for the batter’s helmet, as well as a mask and chest protector.
GENERAL
- A full game will be 6 innings or 90 minutes.
- A full team will be 10 players. A team may play with 7 players without having to forfeit.
- Each player present at the game and eligible to play will be in the batting order.
- All players will bat and play at least two innings.
- After 10 batters in a single inning (seven if only 7 are playing), the side shall be retired even though three (3) outs have not been achieved. Both teams shall bat the same number of players up to 10 in an inning, (i.e. seven if a team has only 7, eight if a team has only 8, etc.). There shall automatically be two outs when the tenth/final batter comes to the plate (seven batters if only 7 players). Play continues until the third out is made or all runners have crossed home plate.
- There will be no infield fly rule in effect.
THE PITCHER
- A coach will pitch for his or her own team. The ball must be pitched underhand with a minimum arc of 6 feet and a maximum arc of 12 feet. The coach must stand or kneel between the line, which will be 18 feet from home plate, and in front of the 40 foot pitching rubber.
- The youth pitcher must keep at least one foot inside the circle around the pitching rubber until the ball crosses the plate. When the batter hits the ball, the adult pitcher must get off the field as quickly as possible without disturbing the outcome of the play.
- If the coach pitcher touches the batted ball, the play is dead and the runners will return to the last base occupied. The batter will get an extra swing. Any deliberate interference by the coach pitcher will be a dead ball out for the batter. Runners will return to the last base occupied.
- While on the playing field, the Coach pitcher may instruct the batter, but not the base runners. If the pitcher instructs the runners already on base, the umpire will issue a warning. Subsequent violations of this rule may result in the removal of that Coach pitcher. Failure to supply a Coach pitcher will result in a forfeit.
THE BATTER
- A batter will have 6 pitches to hit the ball outside the five-foot circle in front of home plate. If the batter fouls the last pitch, she may keep swinging until she puts the ball into play or strikes out. Any batted ball that does not cross the five-foot circle is a foul ball.
- No bunting will be allowed.
- Play is stopped when runners have been forced to remain at base and / or the umpire has granted time. Time may also be granted when any defensive player with the ball in possession and with the clear intent to stop play, steps into the circle around the pitching rubber. Pinch hitters are not allowed since all players are in the line-up.
- Courtesy runners may only be used when a player is injured as a batter-runner or runner. The courtesy runner should come from:
- Any player who will not bat that inning due to the batter limit rule.
- Any player who has already batted that inning and is no longer a base runner.
- Or, in extreme cases, any player who will not jeopardize their time at bat by use as a courtesy runner.
- Runners must remain in contact with the base until the ball crosses home plate. A runner who leaves too early shall be declared out and the play declared “no pitch.†The ball is dead. All other runners shall return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch. The count on the batter returns to what it was before the runner left the base.
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