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 Rules |
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6U Division Rules
This is a coach-pitch division intended to introduce girls to the game of softball, learn concepts of team play and develop basic softball skills.
* Winning or losing will not be emphasized. There will be no official scorebook, and no score of any game will be recorded.
* There will be no weekday practice. Each team will be scheduled for a 2 hour block of field time each Saturday which they will share with another team. Basic softball skills should be practiced for 45 minutes followed by a 45 minute game between the two scheduled teams. The coaches of both teams will work together to organize field preparation, and to divide the field for practice.
* During game time, two (2) coaches are allowed on the field (in the outfield) with their defensive team.
* Coaches, managers and/or parents of the batting team will do all pitching and catching. A defensive player will be a pitcher's helper.
* Pitching circle should be 10 feet in diameter.
* Bases should be 50 feet apart.
* Each batter will be thrown 3 pitches. If the batter does not hit the ball in fair territory, then the batting tee will be used. The batter will be allowed 3 attempts to hit the ball in fair territory from the batting tee.
* There are no walks.
* Each team will bat the full roster each inning; no outs will be noted.
* Base-runners must stop running (or finish running to the base they are headed for) once an infielder has the ball. The last batter will run all of the bases.
* There is no base stealing.
* When on defense, all players take the field. The infielders will play at the following positions: 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, shortstop and pitcher's helper. Outfielders must be on the grassy area. Extra players must be positioned in the outfield. The outfield positions and the infield positions must be distinguished. There are no exceptions.
* Players will be rotated to different positions every inning to encourage the overall softball learning experience.
* Both teams are responsible for putting away equipment at the end of a game.
8U Division Rules
This is a coach-pitch division, further developing softball sense and skills.
* Score will be kept for the players' learning process. League standings will not be compiled.
* A complete game will be 5 innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes, whichever occurs first. A new inning may not start with less than 5 minutes of game time remaining.
* Managers and coaches are not permitted on the playing field during the game.
* Both teams should arrive 30 minutes before game time to prepare the field for the game. Each team gets a 10-minute warm-up on the infield prior to the game. The visiting team should go first.
* All players present will bat in turn - "bat the bench".
* Each team is to retire sides after 3 outs or the maximum 4-run rule per inning, whichever occurs first.
* Coach of the batting team will pitch from the pitching circle. The batter is allowed six pitches. If the batter does not hit the ball in play, the batter is out. Balls and strikes will not be counted. If the coach/pitcher interferes with the fielder's ability to make a play, an out will be recorded on the batter/runner.
* When on defense, a team by field ten (10) ploayers, at the following positions: 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, shortstop, pitcher's helper, catcher and four (4) outfielders. Outfielders must be on a grassy area in the outfield until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
* There are no walks.
* There is no infield fly rule.
* There is no base stealing.
* Base-runners will not leave the base until after the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
* The Hesitation Rule is not in effect.
* The pitcher's helper must have possession of the ball inside the pitcher's circle to stop play.
* Pitching circle should be 10 feet in diameter.
* Bases should be 50 feet apart.
* Defensive players will be rotated to different positions every inning to encourage the learning experience. EACH GIRL MUST PLAY AT LEAST ONE INNING PER GAME AT AN INFIELD POSITION.
* Each team will have a parent "umpire". The parent-umpire for the home team will be the homeplate umpire and the parent-umpire for the visiting team will be the field umpire. The plate umpire will assist the catcher and make calls at homeplate when necessary. Balls and strikes are not counted. The field umpire will make calls in the field when necessary. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH TEAM HAVE TWO ASSIGNED PARENT-UMPIRES SO THAT THEY CAN ALTERNATE GAME COMMITMENTS.
* Rainouts - Managers from both teams must agree and advise the Head Manager. Rained out games DO NOT have to be made up.
Upper Divisions: 10U, 12U & 14U
The 14U division participates in the Peninsula Softball League and the agreed rules will apply. It is expected that the coaches and managers of 14U SCYSA teams will keep the spirit of SCYSA rules for pitching.
Registration and Team Information
SCYSA spring league registration is on a first come, first served basis (according to priority guidelines). Late registrants may be placed on a waiting list. If there are not enough managers and coaches, players will be placed on a waiting list.
Maximum roster size is 12, unless otherwise approved by the Board.
Team selection for 6U and 8U is done by the Player Agent. Team selection is done using a blind draw-draft for the 10U, and a draft for the 12U and 14U.
PITCHING POOL
Pitchers are to be rated prior to the draw/draft. If a "known pitcher" is not rated, then she may NOT pitch during the season. A "known pitcher" is defined as a player who has pitched in at least 15 innings the previous season, or a player who has received regular pitching instruction since the previous season.
If there are not enough pitchers/catchers in a division to go around, the Board reserves the right to reject certain Manager/Coach combinations.
Playing SCYSA should take priority over other leagues through the "All-Star" games or the end of the SCYSA spring league, whichever comes last.
Girls may play up or down a division, with Board approval. When playing down, the player may NOT pitch or be selected for All-Stars.
SCYSA will not solicit outside its boundaries, but it may accept players residing outside its boundaries. Boundaries shall include neighboring cities that do not have a spring league program.
Game Time Limits & Innings Played
No new inning may begin after the 1 hour and 30 minute time limit. For the 10U division, innings beginning with less than 15 minutes left in the 1 hour and 30 minute game time will be declared last inning. There may be instances when the umpire cannot declare "last inning".
A complete game is 7 innings. If a game is tied at the end of the 7th inning, and time permits, the International Tie Breaker rule takes effect (see ASA rule book), however, 10U division, games may end in a tie (International Tie Breaker will not be played in the 10U division). Exceptions to the 7 innings rule may be found under INCOMPLETE AND RESCHEDULED GAMES.
Pitching
The pitching week is from Sunday through Saturday. The pitching rules do not include make-up games that are added to the week's schedule. Pitching eligibility for make-up, protested, or interrupted games will be determined by the week the game was originally scheduled.
FOR THE 12U DIVISION, a pitcher may only pitch "8 innings" per week or 12 innings in a week where three games were originally scheduled. One pitch in an inning constitutes a complete inning.
FOR THE 10U DIVISION, a pitcher may only pitch "3 innings" PER GAME unless the game enters a 7th inning. In this case, a pitcher can pitch a 4th inning. Once pitch in an inning constitutes a complete inning.
DELAY OF GAME. A manager or coach will not be allowed to repeatedly transfer a pitcher back and forth from pitching to a field position in order to put a specific pitcher against a specific batter throughtout the game, as this may be considered delaying the game. The umpire will be the sole judge to determine if a manager is delaying the game.
Ten Run Rule
A complete game will occur at the end of the 5th inning if the winning team is ahead by 10 runs or more. Before daylight savings time, the Ten Run Rule may be used at the end of the 4th inning, or 3-1/2 innings, if the home team is ahead and if lack of light is becoming an issue. If both teams desire to keep playing "for practice", the score will not change.
Maximum Runs Per Inning
There will be a maximum of six runs scored in any inning in 12U and three runs scored in 10U, except for the following situation: If a team is behind by more than six runs (three runs in 10U) in the last inning, as determined by the umpire, that team may score as many runs as needed to TIE THE SCORE. The 14U will follow the Peninsula Softball League rules.
Substitutions
Free field substitutions are permitted throughout the league.
Playing Time
No player may spend more than one inning on the bench in any game (unless due to injury) until all players on the player's team have spent at least one inning on the bench during the same game. Similarly, no player may spend more than two innings on the bench in any game until all other players on the player's team have spent at least two innings on the bench during the same game. The 14U division will follow the Peninsula Softball League rules. It is expected that the coaches and managers of the 14U SCYSA teams will keep the spirit of SCYSA rules for playing time.
Positions
Each girl must play at least one inning per game at an infield position.
Batting
Full roster batting will be used throughout the entire season. It will include the entire roster of eligible players attending each game. If a player arrives at a game after her place in the batting order, SHE MAY NOT PLAY IN THAT GAME.
Injury
A courtesy runner will be allowed for any player who has sustained an injury during the game in which the courtesy runner is requested. The courtesy runner shall be the player who made the last out prior to the request for the courtesy runner.
Deliberate Collision
When a defensive player has the ball or is about to catch a thrown ball, and a runner REMAINS ON HER FEET and then collides with the defensive player, the runner will be called out. If the runner's act is determined to be flagrant, she will be ejected from the game. An errant throw drawing the defense into the path of the runner will not be deemed interference. PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTNAD THE ASA RULES.
Number of Players on Defense
14U division teams will field nine players. A minimum of eight players is required to start a new game. All 10U and 12U division teams may field a maximum of 10 players (this is to be determined annually). The 10th player will be listed as the #10 defensive position and will play in the outfield. A minimum of eight players is required to start a game. 14U, 12U and 10U division teams must have at least eight players to continue to play at any time.
Outfielders
Outfielders must remain 20 feet behind the base path until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
Calling Up Players
If a team will not have enough of its rostered players to field a full team, the coach may ask a player from a lower division to "play up". When a team needs to call up a player from a lower division to play in a game, only the number needed to make a complete defensive team should be requested.
In the event a team has more than needed on the field, regular team players are entitled to play the entire game and cannot be used as substitutes. A "called-up" player may only play in the outfield, unless not enough regular players can fill the infield, and she must be placed last in the batting order. She may NOT PITCH (see exceptions for 14U below).
CALL-UP GAME LIMITS
The League strongly discourages excessive game-play by individual players in all divisions. Players are encouraged to play not more than 2 total games per day, including game-play for their own team. Parents, players, and coaches are encouraged to limit game-play to not more than two call-up games per week.
Parents are expected to understand and adhere to total game limits for their players. Coaches are expected to inquire about a player's total game-play for a day or week when requesting a call-up. Players are expected to prioritize participation in their own team's games over call-up requests. Coaches are encouraged to rotate call-up opportunities across the lower divisions to provide opportunity for a broad base of players.
Some SCYSA Local Rules At A Glance
10U Division
You may only steal one base per pitch. No stealing home.
Dropped 3rd strike rule is NOT in effect.
Infield fly rule will NOT be enforced.
Three runs scored in an inning constitutes a complete inning.
No intentional walking of a batter will be allowed.
If an umpire calls an illegal pitch, it will be ruled a non-pitch.
Pitchers may pitch in no more than 3 innings per game.
A single pitch thrown in an inning constitutes a complete inning pitched.
12U Division
Pitchers may pitch no more than 8 innings per week or 12 innings in weeks where 3 games were originally scheduled.
A single pitch thrown in an inning constitutes a complete inning pitched.
Six runs scored in an inning constitutes a complete inning.
14U Division
The 14U Division will follow the Peninsula Softball League rules. It is expected that the coaches and managers of 14U SCYSA teams will keep the spirit of SCYSA rules for pitching and playing time.
Incomplete and Rescheduled Games
No inning may be started after the 1 hour and 30 minute time limit unless otherwise determined by the umpire. If teams cannot complete an inning, the score reverts back to the end of the last complete inning played.
For the 12U and 14U divisions, a game called by the umpire due to rain or darkness, shall be regulation if four or more complete innings have been played or at the end of 3-1/2 innings if the home team has more runs than the visiting team. For the 10U division, it shall be regulation if 3 or more complete innings have been played, or at the end of 2-1/2 innings if the home team has more runs than the other team.
Incomplete games will be rescheduled and completed from the exact point at which the game was stopped, with the same rostered players. Pitching eligibility reverts to the week that the game was originally scheduled.
No games will be rescheduled without the approval of the league scheduler or league President.
Make up games may be held on Sundays (after 12:00 p.m., if possible).
If at the end of the regular season, there are two teams tied for first place the head to head results will determine the top position. If there is still a tie, a coin toss will be used to determine the top seed for the end-of-season tournament.
A POLICY SHALL BE ADOPTED YEARLY, BY THE BOARD, REGARDING THE RESCHEDULING OF GAMES.
IF A SITUATION HAS NOT BEEN COVERED IN THESE RULES AND PROCEDURES, THEN ASA RULES PREVAIL.
Sunday, October 26
Play-up Guidelines
1) Play-ups may typically only play ahead by one-year. On rare occasion the board may request a player play-up by two years.
2) Play-ups must go through tryouts/new player ratings and must demonstrate that they are;
a) Not at increased risk of injury in the division they wish to play up to.
b) That they might be a potential injury risk to other players if they were to stay behind in
their age appropriate division.
c) Player should rank in the "at least average" range in comparison to the age appropriate
first-year players in the division they are attempting to play up to.
d) Player must have the emotional maturity to play up to the requested level so as
not to burden the coach nor the team.
3) There must be "room" for the play-up in the age group they wish to move to, e.g the player numbers and coaches numbers are adequate enough to accommodate them in the division they wish to play up to. Coaches may not “choose” to accept/carry an extra player to accommodate the play-up. The board reserves the right to limit the number of play-ups per division.
4) Summer Force is it's own entity and a player choosing to "play-up" in the Spring has no effect on the summer Force program.
5) The league does not encourage playing-up however does understand that at times it may be the parents and players wishes and will try to accommodate as per the aforementioned criteria. Additionally the board may on occasion request a player play-up for safety reasons.
6) The final decision on Play-up approval will be made by board vote with recommendations presented by The Head Coach and the Player Agent.
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