2012 Little Missouri League Softball Rules

Game Days & Times:

    8 & Under - Mondays - One game only. Game time at 6:00 pm

    10 & Under - Mondays - Double Header. Game time at 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm

    14 & Under - Fridays - Double Header. Game time at 6:00 p.m.

    18 & Under - Wednesday - Double Header. Game time at 6:00 p.m.

    Sunday games - 3:00 p.m.

 

General Rules:

* Age is determined as of January 1, 2012. Proof of age may be asked for. Ex: If a girl turns 15 on January 3, she is still eligible for the 14 & Under team.

* Host team will furnish umpires and the appropriate softballs.

  Umpires must be at least an age group older than the age of the team playing. Ex: a 12 year old boy cannot umpire the 14 &   Under game.   

* Players may move up an age group, but not down an age group.

* All 10 & Under, 14 & Under and 18 & Under teams in this league will be sanctioned for the State Tournament.

* Total cost for the year will be $200. This will include state sanctioning for the three groups, all three league tournaments and trophies. Once paid, your teams are set for the year!!

* Please send a 10 & Under, 14 & Under & 18 & Under team roster to Tim this year.

    -Include the players name, age, and date of birth.

* It is recommended that all coaches carry with them proof of age for every player.

* Safety bases are mandated by ASA. They will be required for our league because of financial constraints. Refer to the 2012 Rule Book to review regarding the safety base.

 

REMEMBER:

Every team needs to turn in your team rosters to Tim by JUNE 1st even if your team is not going to the State Tournament. This is the only way your players will be eligible to pick up players for other teams. If Tim does not receive your Roster by June, 1st you will be responsible for sending your roster to the State Commissioner - Carol Pipgrass (605)334-6374. NOTE: A player can be listed on only one team roster - ex. a 14 year old cannot be listed on both the 14 and Under roster and the 18 and Under roster. If your team plans on going to state, you will be responsible to turn in your background checks and money to Tim by June 1st.

 

8 & Under Rules

* Must be 5 years old as of January 1st in order to play.

* Will hit off the tee.

* Catcher will put the ball on the tee.

* Each team will field/bat 10 girls per inning (9 if necessary).

* Inning is finished when the ball is placed on the tee.

* A ball hit off of the tee is fair if it passes the 15 ft arch ( which is measured from the back of home plate).

* Bat throwing -- Coaches please discourage this early on -- the team shall receive one warning, the next play to throw their bat will be called out.

* Only One base on a hit unless the ball is hit into the outfield.

* The outfield is behind the base paths.

* The game ball will be an 11 inch white cloth safety "Incrediball".

* Coach's Box - Only one person allowed in the box.

* If you need to use your 9 years, they must play in the outfield.

* No score will be kept as this is to be a fun, learning experience.

* The game is over in 3 innings or when the ball players lose interest, this is up to the discretion of the coaches.

* The individual coaches will set up all of these games. Theses games are not part of the League Schedule.

 

10 & Under Rules

* There will be NO infield fly rule.

* The game ball will be an 11 inch ball.

* A foul tip must be over the batter's head in order for a batter to be called out on a caught ball.

* 60 minute game or five innings, whichever comes first - times starts when ump says "batter up".

* Fine run rule per inning for the first four innings, no run limit in the 5th inning.

* 10 run rule in the 4th inning, the game is over.

* International Rules apply to break a tie at the end of the 5th inning. Last girl that batted or the girl that made the last out starts on 2nd base.

* Substitution, ASA rules apply. Must occupy the same batting order. Both cannot be in the game at the same time.

* The rover is an outfielder and all 4 outfielders must play behind the base paths.

* The pitcher's mound is 40 feet with an 8 foot circle.

* Infield practice before the game starts will be allowed, but start the game on time.

* The batter will only receive 5 pitches with no balls and strikes being called.

* The player pitcher will pitch three pitches at 32 ft and the coach will pitch the last two pitches wherever needed to build confidence of batter.

* If the 5th pitch is hit foul, the batter receives another pitch.

* The player pitcher's mound will be the front of the 8 foot circle (32 feet), keeping in mind that if their team will be going to state the mound will be at 35 feet.

* Both the player pitcher and the coach pitcher mist be lined up with home plant ( not off to the side ).

* When the coach pitcher is pitching, please move off to the side after each pitch so the team pitcher can see and field the ball but you must stay in the circle.

* The catcher must wear a helmet and mask.

* If batter is hit by a ball, the batter will not be awarded a base because we are not keeping track of balls/strikes.

* The batter must wear a helmet with chin straps.

* No bunting or stealing.

* If the player does not have a helmet with chin straps &/or mask, borrow one or forfeit the game.

* Coach's box-- only one person allowed in the box.

* The team's pitcher (not the coach pitcher) must have one foot on the 40 foot mound when they are not pitching.

* Bat throwing - Coaches please discourage this early on - the team shall receive one warning, the next player to throw their bat will be called out.

* A base runner can not lead off until the ball reaches home plate.

* If a player leads off base to soon, the TEAM will receive a warning. If it happens a second time, the player will be called out.

* Overthrows - If a play (overthrow) is made on a runner, the runner may advance at their own risk, one base - Only ONE base per overthrow. When the ball is being thrown back to the player/coach pitcher and they miss the ball, this is NOT considered an overthrow and no advancement is allowed.

* Teams can play with 10 players if they have 10; if a team has 9 players they can play with 9.

* If a team has only 8 players, they must take out when the 9th player is supposed to bat.

* A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher and catcher anytime and does not count as a substitute player. Clarification: The courtesy runner should be an extra player, but if you do not have an extra player, use the player who made the last out as the courtesy runner. However , the ASA Rule state otherwise. Be aware of this rule, since it will apply at the State Tournament.

* Players must have played 5 league games with the league team in order to be eligible for the league tournament.

* A seeded double elimination tournament will be held.

 

Haley Putnam Sportsmanship Trophy for 10 & Under

* Each team will have one vote for a team, not an individual.

* Turn in votes to Jo by July 2nd.

* League officers will break a tie if necessary.

* The league will purchase a traveling trophy with name plates. The winning team is responsible for the engraving if they wish to do so.

* The trophy needs to be returned to the 10 & Under tournament the following year.

 

14 & 18 & Under Rules

* 14 & Under

    * 80 minute time limit - Start clock when ump calls batter up

    * 80 minutes ( with no run rule per inning ) or six innings or the run rule of 12 after 3/8 after 5, whichever comes first.

    * Pitcher's mound will be 40 feet measured from the back of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber with an 8 foot circle around the mound.

*18 & Under

    * 80 minute time limit - Start clock when ump calls batter up

    * 80 minute or seven innings or the run rule of 12 after 3/8 after 5, whichever comes first, play 7 innings, no run limit/inning.

    * Pitchers mound will be 43 feet measured from the back of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber ( the 8 foot circle will stay the same as the 14 & under.

* For both age groups, if time remains after the third out, the next inning will be played, no matter how much time on the clock.

* Players should be ready to play one-half hour before game time.

* International Rules will apply to break a tie.

* Leading off early - 14U team will receive one team warning/second time will be on out No warning will be given to the 18U team/will be called out.

* A foul tip must be over the batters head in order for a batter to be called out on a caught ball.

* Players must have played 5 league games with the league team in order to be eligible for the league tournament.

* Chin straps are required in the league.'

* NOCSAE masks for the helmets are required for the State Tournament.

* Re-entry Rule - Any player, may substituted or replaced and re-entered once, providing players occupy the same batting positions whenever in the lineup.

* Coach's Box - Only one person allowed in the box. Coaches under 18 years of age will be asked to wear a helmet while coaching bases.

* All other ASA rules apply.

* A seeded double elimination tournament will be held.

 

Tournament Rules

* The league will supply 2 leather game balls for the tournament at each site.

* No infield warm ups allowed - come on the field ready to play. There will be time allotted for the coaches to flip, exchange rosters, ect.

* It will be a judgment call by the League Officers to decide if and for how long a team that is playing back to back may rest in between games.

* 5 warm up pitches for the first inning will be allowed, then only 3, whether it is with the catcher or not.

* The host team will find umpires for the first game on the first day.

* Coaches are then expected to umpire the game with follows their game.

* On the second day of the tournament, the host team is responsible for the finding umpires for the first game.

* Coaches of the first game are then expected to umpire the second game that follows.

* An ASA umpire will be either ump behind the plate or in the outfield, coaches' choice for the remaining games of the tournament.

* The league board members will be responsible for finding ASA umpires.

* The higher seed will be the home team in all games except the championship game, where the undefeated team is the home team. If the championship goes into an extra game, then the coin flip will be used.

* The league has purchased a first, second, and third place traveling trophy with name plates for the 10 and Under, 14 and under, and 18 and under tournaments. The respective teams are responsible for the engraving if they wish to do so.

* The traveling trophies need to be returned the second day of each respective tournament.

* Individual medals will also be awarded to all of the players and coaches on the 1st, 2ns, and 3rd place teams.

*GET your team records to Jo by Sat. July 2nd to determine tournament seeding or your team will receive a forfeit for that game with a score of 0-8.

 

All Star Team Rules

* The board decided to ban the All Star Game for this year - 2012.

* There will be two All Star Teams - a 14 and under and an 18 & under.

* A player can only be nominated for one team - it is up to the coach to decide which age division they wish to be nominated for.

* Each coach will nominate their own top four players and rate them 1 to 4.

* A 14 and under and an 18 & under All Star Game will be played. The league champion coach and the runner up coach will each coach a team. They will be assisted by a 3rd & 4th place coaches.

* The teams will be split according to how they are rated by their coaches for the all star team. Players that are rated #1 and #4 by their coaches will play on the 1st/3rd place team and players rated #2 and #3 will play on the 2nd/4th place team.

* Coaches, you do not need to let the players know how they are rated. Just inform them which team they will play on.

* Pitching/catching issues may arise due to this format; therefore, some leniency may be needed in order to make the teams more equal.

* The coaches fall meeting will be held after these games.