GIRLS AAA MINORS SHLL GROUND RULES

These are SHLL Ground Rules - If team is interlocking then District 10 follows LL, Int'l Tournament Rules

OBJECTIVE

To teach the ballplayers the fundamentals of Fastpitch. Ensure that each ballplayer has the opportunity to play numerous positions unless safety concerns apply. Make sure that the ballplayers have LOTS of fun and that they want to play Fastpitch for years to come.

AGE CUT OFF

Age 11 & under (12 years old's can play with a waiver, but must try-out for Majors first). Age Cut-off date is January 1st. Player may not turn 13 before January 1st. Please have Birth Certificates or copies available if needed.

SOFTBALL USED

11" Regulation Softball (Brand does not matter) - Game ball is provided by the home team.

PLAYING FIELD DIMENSIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The foul lines shall be lined and extended ten (10) feet beyond first (1st) and third (3rd) base.

A circle, eight (8) feet in radius, shall be lined around the pitching rubber.

Distance between bases shall be sixty (60) feet.

Distance from the front edge of the pitching rubber to the base edge of home plate is thirty-five (35) feet.

REGULATION GAME AND TIME LIMIT

You must have at least eight (8) players to start or finish a game or it will be ruled a forfeit.

Minimum of 3 ½ innings and Maximum of 6 innings

Time limit will be no new innings after (1) hours (45) minutes. A regulation game is 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead and time limit has been reached.

PITCHING

Pitching rubber or plate will be set at 35 feet and will be designated by plate or chalk line.

Pitchers circle will be 8-foot circle

The pitcher must pitch from the pitcher’s plate.

A pitcher may re-enter the game at any time.

BASES LOADED WALKS 

There will be no walks or free bases, if the bases are loaded, unless the batter is struck by a pitched ball. However many strikes the batter has left will be how many pitches the coach gets to pitch to the player. If the batter fouls off the last pitch, the at bat continues until the ball is put in play or the batter strikes out.  All coaches must pitch underhand. Once the ball is batted the coach must move to the nearest sideline until all play is dead. A ball that strikes the adult coach pitch pitcher is dead and all play stops. All runners may advance to the next base in a force situation (If there is no runner behind them, they do not advance and go back to original base). The hitter will be given a hit and will advance to 1st base.

GAME SCORING 

Each team may score a maximum of 5 RUNS in Innings 1-5. The 6th inning shall be played with unlimited scoring until (3) defensive outs are recorded. Stalling to gain an advantage is not allowed.

Home Book is official score book.

BATTING

All team players will bat in a SET BATTING ORDER.

All batters MUST wear a helmet with face mask that shall be worn for batting and base running.

Teams are to bat the entire roster. The entire roster means all players that are present at the game, and dressed to play. Coaches may not elect to delete players from the playing roster to gain an advantage.

A batter who slings/throws a bat will receive a warning on the first incident. A second incidence by the same batter will result in an out. The ball is dead with no runners advancing.

Bunting is permitted

There is no on deck batter. Only the player up to bat shall have a bat in their hand. There is also no practice swinging allowed behind the fence.

Batted balls, unless called foul, are alive and in play.

When the ball is hit, play continues until the ball is in the pitchers circle or the third out is made. At that point all runners must stop advancing; if a runner is in between bases they may continue to the next base, however, the play will be considered "live" and they can still be tagged out.

DEFENSIVE

Ten (10) players will play when a team is in the field. All Players must play in the field every other inning.

Defensive substitutions may occur at the coach's discretion, the defensive rule still applies.

To be able to continue or start a game a team must have at least eight (8) players or game will be ruled a forfeit.

Teams with eight (8) players must still fill the pitcher and catcher positions when in the field.

Only six (6) infielders may be used.

Four (4) outfielders will be used and outfielders may not cover any (1st, 2nd, 3rd) base for a put out on the first throw. Teams that start with less than 9 players must field a full infield.

Coaches MUST rotate their player - No player should sit for more than 1 inning in a row or 2 inning total per game.

The catcher must be properly equipped, this to include throat protector on catcher's mask. The catcher must play her position herself no more than six feet from home plate at the start of the pitch.

Fielding masks are required for all players on the field.  This includes playing catch before the game.

BASE RUNNING

A player can steal once the ball has crossed the plate.

All runners shall be in contact with their bases and shall not leave their bases until the ball has crossed the plate or the ball has been hit by the batter.

Runners should be taught to slide at a base on a close play, but it is not mandated. Runners may not slide into first base, unless they are returning to the base. Runners must, however, avoid any malicious contact with a defensive player. This includes the catcher.

COACHES

Offensively, only base coaches will take positions on the playing field during a game. Only the base coaches may instruct the base runners.

Base Coaches Base Coaches may not have physical contact with runners while the ball is live and in play. If this occurs, a penalty will be enforced and the runner is out.

RAINOUTS

Rainouts are called by SHLL and in some circumstances games are called by the home team. Please call the visitor ASAP.

MISC RULES

Tobacco products are not allowed on school grounds, any recreational fields nor playing fields at any practice or game - period. This applies to coaches, parents, and all volunteers and spectators. This rule is strictly enforced as violations of the No Tobacco Products rule can cause SHLL to forfeit school and recreational field permits.

A maximum of four adults are allowed in the dugout at any one time.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Updated2.27.2024