Softball 8u-15u
8U Coach Pitch Softball Babe Ruth
Revised 03/06/2024
- Time limit of 50 minutes or 5 innings. League games can end in a tie.
- A runner cannot leave the base before the ball has been hit. If the runner leaves early, the umpire will call the runner out.
- The infield fly rule is not in effect.
- A team may score a maximum of six (6) runs per inning.
- A batter receives a maximum of five (5) overhand or underhand pitches. A foul ball counts as a pitch. Batter is out after five (5) pitches in the judgement of the umpire.
- No bunting is allowed.
- A thrown or hit ball striking the pitching coach is a dead ball. If the ball is a batted ball the batter will be awarded first (1st) base, base runners will advance only if forced.
- No stealing is allowed at any time.
- The catcher must make the play at home plate unless he is out of position attempting a play. Defensive obstruction will be called. The intent of this rule is for each player to learn his position.
- Ten (10) players will play in the field, with four (4) outfielders. The fourth (4th) outfielder is not allowed to assume an infield position. All outfielders must stay in the outfield grass.
- Players should not be rolling balls to teammates. Players should be passing/throwing ball to intended teammate.
- Fair Ball Arc: There will be a 20' arc drawn from the back point of home plate, from the first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of the home plate. A batted ball must go past this line to be a fair ball.
- Safety Arc: There will be a 30' arc drawn drawn from the back point of home plate, from the first (1st) baseline to third (3rd) baseline in front of the home plate. Infielders must stay behind this line until the ball is hit.
- The number of coaches allowed on the field (inside the fence and/or the dug-outs) during the game must not exceed three (3); four (4) if team is batting).
- The positions coaches may occupy during the game will be:
- One coach in the first (1st) and third (3rd) base coaching boxes when their team is at bat, and one coach pitching to the batter, the fourth (4th) coach must manage the dug-out.
- Only one (1) coach allowed in the outfield when their team is on defense, allowing them to adjust, teach, and correct fundamental errors on-the-spot.
- In the dug-out.
- When his/her team is at bat, the pitching coach is allowed, if needed, to help his players to prepare to bat and once the ball is hit the coach must get off the field past either foul line.
- Coaches must stay inside the fence unless special situations require that they leave (i.e., illness, injury, or personal or official business not related to the game in which they are involved). Under no circumstances will a coach be allowed to watch or coach the game from spectator areas of the park.
- Coaches cannot touch a player at any time the ball is in play. This includes both offensive and defensive play. Penalties are as follows:
- Defensive - Dead ball: Runners advance two (2) bases.
- Offensive - Dead ball: The runner is out.
10U Softball: Babe Ruth League
Revised 4/11/2022 10:53 AM
All USSSA Rules will be followed for league play with the following exceptions/additions:
- Time limit of one (1) hour thirty (30) minutes or six (6) innings. Games can end in a tie.
- A team may score a maximum of six (6) runs per inning.
- All league pitching rules apply, if a pitching rule is violated, the game may be protested (by any league head coach) up to one (1) week after the infraction. If the protest is upheld, the game will be ruled a forfeit.
- Any defensive timeout called by a coach will be charged as a visit to the mound except for injury or equipment repair timeout.
- The infield fly rule is not in effect.
- The batter is not allowed to run to 1B on a dropped third (3rd) strike. It is a strike out and the batter is out.
- Teams play with four (4) outfielders and they must be lined up like true outfielders, not one as a rover. Additionally, if one team has only nine (9) or fewer players, then the other team must play with a maximum of three (3) outfielders. For example, team A has eleven (11) players, team B only has nine (9) players, both teams can only have three (3) outfielders.
- Pitching distance is thirty-five (35) feet, base distance is sixty (60) feet and players may not lead off but can steal after ball crosses the plate.
- Run rules are as follows (If home team is winning, game is over):
- fifteen (15) after three (3) innings
- twelve (12) after four (4) innings
- ten (10) after five (5) innings
10U Modified Pitching Rules
- Pitchers can strike out a batter
- The pitcher will pitch to the batter until there are four (4) balls called by the umpire. There are no bases on balls, so then the offensive coach will pitch a max of three (3) pitches to the batter and the batter will assume the strike count that they had when the coach comes to pitch.
- A batter will be allowed to foul off as many pitches as they can until the ball is put into play or strike out. A fouled ball will not be considered a third (3rd) strike.
- If the pitcher hits a batter with a pitch, the batter is awarded first (1st) base.
- Coaches hitting a batter with a pitch will not result in the award of first (1st) base.
- Stealing will be allowed. Therefore, wild pitches and overthrows back to the pitcher will cause the ball to be live except for stealing of home plate. No stealing of Home will be allowed unless, catcher makes an attempt to make a pick-off play at third (3rd) base.
- If base runner advances early, they will be sent back to previous base and given a verbal warning to the runner and coach. Subsequent violations will be called an out.
- No stealing will be allowed while coach is pitching. Base runners may leave once ball leaves the coaches hand but cannot advance unless ball is batted into play.
- When the coach is pitching both feet must remain in the pitchers circle at all times while pitching. Coach may not interfere with any defensive play and must make an honest attempt to move or duck to avoid interference. Any such violation will result in lead runner being called out. Coach may leave the circle after pitch to attempt to avoid any interference.
- If coach pitching is hit by a batted ball, the ball will be called dead and the batter will be awarded first (1st) base. No other runner may advance unless forced.
Live Arm: 13U Softball Babe Ruth
Revised 3/6/2024
- Time limit of one (1) hour thirty (30) minutes or six (6) innings. Games can end in a tie.
- A team may score a maximum of six (6) runs per inning.
- All league pitching rules apply, if a pitching rule is violated, the game may be protested (by any league head coach) up to one (1) week after the infraction. If the protest is upheld, the game will be ruled a forfeit.
- Any defensive timeout called by a coach will be charged as a visit to the mound except for injury or equipment repair timeout.
- Pitching distance is forty (40) feet, base distance is sixty (60) feet and players may not lead off but can steal after ball crosses home plate.
- Run rules are as follows (If home team is winning, game is over):
- fifteen (15) after three (3) innings
- twelve (12) after four (4) innings
- ten (10) after five (5) innings
Live Arm: 15U Softball Babe Ruth
Revised 3/21/2025
- Time limit of one (1) hour thirty (30) minutes or seven (7) innings.
- All players bat in the linup.
- Open substitutions. A defensive substitution can be made at any time, a player can enter and exit defensive positions with no limit. Only pitching limits apply.
- Metal spike are not allowed.
- In the event of a tie in a tournament game, play will proceed until there is a winner. The team at bat will start with the bases loaded and no outs. The batter that made the last out will go to third (3rd) base, the previous batter in the lineup will go to second (2nd) base, the second previous batter will go to first (1st) base. There is no penalty for placing runners on base if a team is playing with fewer than nine (9) players. No bases will be left empty and no outs will be given to start the inning if a team has seven/eight (7/8) players. Just place runners on base as they are listed in the lineup disregarding the absent 8th/9th batters. A n out will still be given like usual for the missing 8th/9th place batter if they come up to bat.
- In baseball, an uncaught third (3rd) strike (sometimes referred to as dropped third (3rd) strike or non-caught third (3rd) strike) occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly pitch for the third (3rd) strike.
On an uncaught third strike with (1) no runner on first base, or (2) with a runner on first base and two outs, the batter immediately becomes a runner. The strike is called but the umpire does not call the batter out. The umpire may also signal that there is a "no catch" of the pitch. The batter may then attempt to reach first (1st) base and must be tagged or forced out. With two (2) outs and the bases loaded, the catcher who fails to catch the third (3rd) strike may, upon picking up the ball, step on home plate for a force-out or make a throw to any other base in an effort to force out a runner. An "uncaught" strike includes not only pitches dropped by a catcher but also pitches that hit the ground before the catcher attempts to catch it. - Run rules are as follows (If home team is winning, game is over):
- fifteen (15) after three (3) innings
- twelve (12) after four (4) innings
- ten (10) after five (5) innings
League Game Time Limits
Revised 3/6/2024
- Age Group: 10U Live Arm
Game Length: one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes or six (6) innings - Age Group: 12U Live Arm
Game Length: one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes or six (6) innings - Age Group: 15U Live Arm
Game Length: one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes or seven (7) innings
League Pitching Rules: 10U, 12U, and 15U Live Arm
Revised 3/6/2024
- One pitch constitutes an inning.
- Once relieved from a game, the pitcher cannot return to the pitcher position for any reason. Although the player can assume any other defensive position for the remainder of the game.
- When a team is charged with its second trip to the mound, in the same inning to the same pitcher, the pitcher must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of the game. The pitcher may be moved to another defensive position.
- A timeout charged to a team in the defensive position is considered a trip to the mound except for an injury or equipment repair timeout.
- The pitching week is Sunday through Saturday.
Regular Season pitching rules:
- Age Group: 10U
Innings Allowed per Game: 3
Innings Allowed per Week: 6 - Age Group: 12U
Innings Allowed per Game: 3
Innings Allowed per Week: 6 - Age Group: 15U
Innings Allowed per Game: 3
Innings Allowed per Week: 6
