RULES
 

Coach Pitch

Cadet

GFC GIRLS COACH PITCH LEAGUE (Grades 1-3) SOFTBALL RULES

GFC GIRLS CADET LEAGUE (grades 4-6) SOFTBALL RULES

This league is designed as an instructional league with emphases on fun for players, coaches and fans. This league will be governed by WIAA rules with the following exceptions:

  1. An 11-inch semi-hard foam ball will be used.
  2. The batting team will provide a coach or parent to pitch to their players from a distance of 30 – 40 feet away. This person will not be allowed to field or interfere with play in any way. The batting team may also have one coach stand in foul territory next to first and third base. All other coaches and parents must remain in dead ball territory.
  3. The defensive team may have up to two coaches in the field providing instruction. They shall stand no closer than the base line between first and second or second and third bases. They shall not field or interfere with the play in any way. All other coaches and parents must remain in dead ball territory. One of the defensive coaches will be designated as umpire for that inning.
  4. When the adult pitcher has the ball all play stops.
  5. A base runner shall not leave a base until a bat contacts the ball.
  6. A total of five pitches will be allowed per batter. If the batter is unable to get a hit after the fifth pitch they shall return to the dugout. Batters are not able to strikeout thus, no out is recorded.
  7. A side change will occur in each inning if the batting team bats through its entire line-up one time during that inning or if the defense has made three outs.
  8. Six innings constitutes a full game. All six innings will be played unless the losing teams coach wants to end the contest or if 90 (1 hour 30 minutes) minutes have elapsed.
  9. The defensive team may play a maximum of 11 players in the field or a minimum of 8 unless both coaches agree to a different number at the start of the game.
  10. Bunting is not allowed.
  11. Base runners may advance a maximum of one base on over throws (throws past first or third in foul territory) with liability of being put out.
  12. No infield fly rule.
  13. You may substitute freely. The batting order must remain the same. If an injury occurs exceptions will be made. That player may return but it is in the same spot in the batting order. No out is recorded for a player who is unable to complete their turn at bat.
  14. Players may not wear bracelets or jewelry of any kind. Unless it is for medical or religious purposes.
  1. 40 ft. pitching, 11-inch ball.
  2. No metal cleats.
  3. Players may not wear jewelry of any kind (not even the rubber bracelets).
  4. A player throwing the bat is out (This will be strictly enforced!)
  5. Only official softball bats may be used.
  6. There is no stealing. You may not leave the base until the ball is hit or you will be called out.
  7. Bat the entire roster, and all players must play one inning in the field.
  8. Team T-Shirts must be worn for all league games (caps and stirrups optional).
  9. Games last six innings; however, there is a 90-minute time limit, and a new inning can’t begin after 90 minutes of play.
  10. Maximum of 10 players in the field. Game will be forfeited if a team has less than six players when it takes the field on defense.
  11. When a ball is overthrown in foul territory, a runner can advance a maximum of one base, with the liability to be put out.
  12. In case of rain or lightening, four innings constitute a complete game. A shortened game also is complete if the home team leads after 3 1/2 innings.
  13. In case of a protest, the umpires and opposing coaches must be informed immediately that the game is being played under protest. Game will then be continued. The protest must be filed within 24 hours after the game with the board president.
  14. Infield fly rule is not in effect.
  15. Innings consist of three outs or six runs, whichever comes first. There is no continuation; play stops when the 6th run scores.
  16. Bunting is not allowed.
  17. Coaches are not permitted behind the backstop.
  18. Only the head coach may address the umpires when a play is in question (no bickering). Assistant coaches may address the umpires when the head coach is not present.
  19. Player must come out of the game if injured and unable to bat. Since we bat the roster, no out has to be taken. After recovering, player can re-enter the game in the same batting order.
  20. No bases on balls are allowed. After the 4th ball, the batter will hit off of a Tee. Strike count is kept. If the batter had 1 strike when the B-on-B occurred, the batter would have 2 more strike coming from the T (for misses and foul balls). A foul ball on the 3rd strike would constitute an out.
  21. When a batter is hitting off the T, the ball must go past the 10’ ring in front of the base or it is a foul ball. Balls hit off the pitcher will have the usual restrictions.
  22. While the batter is hitting off the Tee, the pitcher must keep at least one foot on the rubber. The catcher must be positioned in the catcher’s box and wear the catcher’s mask/helmet. When the bat makes contact the ball, the pitcher and catcher may leave their positions, and base runners may leave their bases.
  23. If a pitched ball hits a batter who does not swing, she is awarded first base.
  24. At the start of the game, or when a different player takes the pitching position, 10 warm-up pitches are allowed. Other than that, no more than five warm-up pitches are allowed at the start of each half inning.
  25. A pitcher may pitch only 3 innings per game. Extra innings do not apply against this limit. One pitch to a batter constitutes 1 entire inning pitched.
  26. A base runner can advance a maximum of one base once the ball is in the pitchers hand and is in the circle around the pitcher’s mound. If any player is played on, the runner is free to advance farther.
   

Junior League

Senior League

GFC GIRLS JUNIOR LEAGUE (grades 7-9) SOFTBALL RULES

Coming Soon

Play is governed by the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), except for these league rules, which take precedence.

  1. There is not a “sliding rule.” NFHS sliding and running rules apply. However, if in the umpire’s judgement, a base runner maliciously collides with a fielder, the runner may be called out in the interest of safety.
  2. Six innings or 90 minutes constitute a complete game. When the umpire starts the game, he or she will notify each manager of the time, and the 90 minutes will begin. When there is 15 minutes left to play, the umpire will notify managers of the time left to play and at the start of each half inning thereafter. A new inning will start with any time remaining to play. If the batting team is behind at the 90-minute mark, it will be allowed to complete its turn at bat. If that team is the visiting team and it takes the lead after 90 minutes, the home team will be allowed its final turn at bat. If the game is tied after 6 innings or after time has expired, one additional inning will be played. If the score remains tied after 1 additional inning, the game will end as a tie.
  3. There is a 15 run rule after four innings and a 10-run rule after five innings. If the visiting team is behind by 15 runs after 3.5 innings, the game will be considered a complete game. If the home team is behind by 15 runs after 4 innings, the game will be considered a complete game. If the visiting team is behind by 10 runs after 4.5 innings, the game will be considered a complete game. If the home team is behind by 10 runs after 5 innings, the game will be considered a complete game. If both teams want to continue playing it will not be umpired.
  4. At the start of the game and for players entering the pitching position for the first time in a game, there will be a maximum of 7 warm-up pitches. Otherwise, there will be a maximum of 5 warm-up pitches at the start of each half inning or when a player re-enters the pitching position during an inning. NFHS rules of awarding balls will apply to violations.
  5. A pitcher may pitch only 3 innings per game. Extra innings do not apply against this limit. One pitch to a batter constitutes 1 entire inning pitched.
  6. If any player throws a bat, the umpire will issue her team a team warning. Any player on the team who then throws the bat in the umpire’s judgement will be called out.
  7. Managers must bat the entire roster of all players present. Each player must play at least 1 inning in the field.
  8. Ten players will be allowed to play in the field. A team will forfeit the game if it has less than 8 players when the team takes its defensive positions on the field. If the batting team has less than 8 players, an automatic out will be called when the eighth position in the batting order comes up.
  9. There is free substitution in the field and no re-entry limitations, except as previously noted for the pitching position.
  10. If a player has to come out of the game due to injury, no out will be called when her position comes up in the batting order, and she may re-enter the game in the same position of the batting order. If a player leaves the game for any reason other than injury, the umpire will call an automatic out when her position comes up in the batting order, and that player will not be allowed to re-enter the game.
  11. A substitute runner may go in for the catcher so that the catcher has time to change into gear to keep the game moving.
  12. In case of lightning or excess rain, four innings will constitute a complete game, or 3.5 innings if the home team is ahead. If less than a complete game is played, a new complete game will be scheduled.
  13. In the case of a protest, the umpires, opposing head coach and official scorer must be informed immediately before play resumes that the situation is being protested. The game will then continue under protest. A written protest must be filed with the board president within 24 hours.
  14. Innings shall end after 3 outs or 6 runs; whichever come first (note: runs that score on the same play that the sixth run scores also count).
  15. No coaches behind the backstop. Only the head coach may address the umpire when a play is in question. No bickering. Head coaches must try to control their players and fans.
  16. Courtesy runners are allowed during the game for injured players and catchers. If a courtesy runner is necessary due to a previous injury, the player who requires a courtesy runner should be disclosed before the game begins. The courtesy runner will be the team’s player who made the last out. In the case of the team’s first batter of the game, the courtesy runner will be the last batter in the batting order. If the courtesy runner is for the catcher she may enter at any time. The catcher may wait for a few pitches before being replaced.
  17. Team uniforms or colors should be worn for all games.
  18. No smoking by any player at the park.
  19. There will be year-end awards for the two teams with the best won-loss records in league play. The tournament champion also will receive an award. If there is a tie for overall won-loss records in league play, the results of tournament games will serve as tiebreakers.