4980 Shattuck Road Saginaw, MI 48608-6400 Telephone: 989-791-9800

Saginaw Township Recreation Youth Softball Rules

Eligibility
  1. A player's full name, birthdate, address and phone number must be on the teams' official roster before she is eligible to play. Games will be forfeited if an ineligible player competes or if false information is supplied.
  2. Deadline for adding players is one month from the start of the season.
  3. Players Age: On or before June 1st of the current year is her age.
Playing Rules:

ASA fastpitch softball rules will apply in all divisions. ALL DIVISIONS will be subject to the following local additions and exceptions which take precedence over all other rules.

  1. The 10 & Under division will field 10 players.

  2. ALL members of a 10, 12 and 14 & Under team must bat in the rotation listed on the scoresheet. This rotation will include every player listed on the official roster and present at the game.

  3. A responsible person, coach or manager, must be present at game time or the game will be forfeited (15 yrs. or older).

  4. Only players, coaches or managers may be allowed in the coaches boxes.

  5. FORFEIT TIME: Teams have 10 minutes to field at least seven (7) players. If a team has seven players at game time, they must start the game without delay with players present.

  6. Tie games at the end of the allotted time will not be rescheduled. **Games suspended by rain or darkness etc. will be continued from the point of termination, if required to complete innings or time limit requirements.

  7. Complete games will be four (4) innings for the 10 & Under or games played to 1 hour and 15 minutes time limit; 12 and 14 & Under will be five (5) innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes time limit; 16 and 18 Under games are seven (7) innings or 1 hour and 15 minutes. As indicated, an hour and fifteen minutes time limit is imposed in all divisions. No new inning will be started after the time has expired.

  8. 10 & Under: After 4 balls, the coach will be allowed 3 pitches to their batter.

  9. 12 & Under, 14& Under and 16 & Under: An illegal pitch will be considered a ball.

  10. 10 & Under: Maximum of six runs per inning; 12 & Under and 14 & Under: Maximum of six runs per inning, unlimited runs the last inning; 16 & Under a maximum of ten runs per inning, unlimited runs the last inning. For 18 & Under there will be no maximum number of runs per inning; however, a ten run mercy rule will be in effect after five innings (4 1/2 if home team is ahead).

  11. 10 & Under: An overthrow at 1st base will not advance runners. This applies to existing runners as well. Play will stop once the ball is thrown to 1st.

  12. 10 & Under: No mercy rule. 12 and 14 & Under: 10 run mercy rule after 4 innings. 16 and 18 & Under: 10 run mercy rule after 5 innings.

  13. 13. All equipment for League play, excluding gloves will be furnished at game sites. All batters and base runners must wear helmets. All catchers must wear protective face masks and chest guards (16 and 18 & Under - throat guards required). A catcher may use her own equipment. Practice equipment to be provided by the

  14. The coach is to fill out the batting order on the official scoresheet using both FIRST and LAST names. Coach is esponsible for informing the scorekeeper of all substitutions.

  15. 15. Home team is responsible for supplying a scorekeeper. Home team is determined by flip of a coin. Scoresheets must be turned in to the site supervisor upon completion of game. Scoresheets will have final score, and winners need to be circled.

  16. Every player should play two (2) innings in every game. Exceptions: Discipline, injury or illness which should be reported to the program site supervisor and/or the home plate umpire prior to game time. Any team repeatly not playing all its players may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including possible game forfeitures.

  17. 10 & Under: No base stealing. 12 & Under: A "circle" and/or radius of 5' will be allowed around the catcher and considered a safe zone. No player may steal when the ball is in this area. If the ball goes out of this zone only 1 base is allowed. 14 & Under: Basestealing is allowed AFTER the ball has crossed homeplate (base runner must maintain contact with the base until the ball has crossed homeplate). 16 & Under and 18 & Under: Regular fastpitch rules.

  18. THIRD STRIKE RULE:
    10 & Under and 12 & Under: Not in effect.

  19. INFIELD FLY RULE:
    10 & Under and 12 & Under: Not in effect.

  20. Courtesy runner can be used for the catcher only once they reach base. The courtesy runner will be the last batted out.

  21. All players and equipment must be kept behind the imaginary out-of-play line. (Behind line extending for backstop posts).

  22. No metal spikes are allowed.

  23. No DP allowed (except in 18 & Under)

  24. No protests allowed.

  25. Any player, coach or manager who bumps, pushes, strikes or in any way physically abuses an umpire will be expelled from he league and suspended for a minimum of the remainder of the season. Repeated verbal abuse and/or harassment from coaches and/or parents will result in expulsion from the game and/or site. Swearing will constitute expulsion from the game and/or site.

  26. PITCHING DISTANCES:
    10 & Under - 35 feet
    12 & Under - 40 feet
    14 & Under - 40 feet

  27. BASE DISTANCES:
    10 & Under - 60 feet
    Under - 60 feet
    14 & Under - 60 feet

  28. SOFTBALLS:
    10 & Under will use the 11" softball.
    All other divisions will use the 12" softball