Softball > Pixie
PIXIE SOFTBALL RULES – Grades 1st thru 3rd
(Designed by Washington, NTRA, Metamora and Germantown Hills Softball Directors for Rec League Play)
PLEASE NOTE – we follow ASA/USA Softball Rules with the following modifications.
Reminder – this is an instructional league. Rules have been modified according to the players age and ability.
PLAYERS, SUBSTITUTES, EQUIPMENT
Each team will roster 11–16 players as determined by the board after registration. Late registrants may be added to each team OR placed on a waiting list. This decision is determined by the board.
Teams must be able to field 7 players or forfeit game 15 minutes after scheduled start time. A team may continue a game with less than 7 players, i.e. due to an injury.
All team members play defensively each inning. There will be 7 infielders, including a catcher and a pitcher and a fielder directly in front of 2nd base. The remaining players are placed in the outfield which begins 15 feet beyond the baseline or on the edge of the grass. All players will participate by playing infield and outfield positions each inning.
***Free substitutions in positions, however, girls must play an equal number of innings in the infield and in the outfield. Chose positions according to ability of player.
Coaches are responsible for the equipment assigned to them. All equipment must remain in the dugout when not in use.
***Batters/runners must wear a helmet with a facemask.
There is no color, size, or type of restriction on fielding gloves.
TRAVEL BALL GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SUB OR PLAY INHOUSE unless approve by the board of directors.
PLAYING FIELD
The pitching rubber is at 35 feet. Coaches may stand anywhere within the pitching circle to pitch. The fielding pitcher must stand in the circle until the ball is released.
Base distance is 60 feet. An 11 inch ball will be used.
The home team shall occupy the dugout on the third base side, visitors on the 1st base side. Each team is allowed 10–15 minutes of pre-game warm ups, if time allows. Pregame warm-ups will be performed on your respective side of the outfield and foul territory. Full field warm-ups are not allowed. Game times will not be adjusted to allow time for warm-ups.
Only coaches, players and umpires are allowed in the dugout and on the playing field. Dugout gates are to stay closed at all times.
Please do not allow children to climb on or sit upon the dugout walls or benches. Players must stay behind the fence in the dugout, unless they are on-deck and wearing a helmet. This is for the safety of the girls.
PITCHING, CATCHING, FIELDING
One offensive coach or other adult pitches to their respective team.
Catchers must wear mask, throat guard, helmet, shin guards and chest protector.
***Only the players, along with 1 offensive coach (pitcher) and 2 defensive coaches are allowed on the field inside of the foul lines. Other defensive coaches should remain in their dugouts. The team at bat should have coaches at first and third base. Exception: to speed up the game, a coach or volunteer (must be an adult) may field passed balls behind the catcher.
BATTING, BASE RUNNING
All team members bat in consecutive order as determined by the batting order submitted by the coaches at the start of the game. Late arriving players must be added to the bottom of the batting order.
***Each batter gets a maximum of 7 pitches. The batter only gets 3 swinging strikes. There will be no walks, called strikes, or hit batsman. (The batter may keep batting if the last pitch is fouled off.)
The inning ends when 3 outs have been reached OR the run rule applies. ***RUN RULE PER INNING – during each inning, the team at bat must take the field after scoring 5 runs, regardless of outs. (All runs scored on the final play of the inning DO count.)
Drop 3rd strike rule DOES NOT apply.
A batter will be called out for throwing the bat. A single warning will be given, then the batter is called out.
A batter will be called out if she stands/steps on home plate while batting the ball.
No leading off or stealing. Base runners may leave base only after the ball is hit.
Sliding is not allowed.
A base runner is out if hit by a batted ball, regardless of spot of occurrence on the field.
Runners may advance only one base on batted balls that never leave the infield. If a batted ball does not leave the infield, a runner therefore cannot score from second base in any situation.
Runners may not advance an extra base on an overthrow.
Runners may score only when batted in. If a player passes the half way mark on the third base line they may continue home but the play becomes a force out. The catcher does not have to tag the player regardless of the number of runners on base. The line will be approximately half the distance to home and perpendicular to the base line.
***On batted balls into the outfield, runners may advance until the ball is attempted to be thrown back into the infield. When the ball is thrown by the out-fielder, runners beyond a base may continue to the next base only.
No infield fly rule. Runners may not advance on a caught fly ball.
GAME LENGTH, SCORING
Game length is 6 innings or 60 minutes. No inning may begin 1 hour after the start of the game. The home team head coach is the official timekeeper if an umpire is not present. Two innings constitutes a complete game.
***Score will be kept during regular season. Both teams are to keep score and compare at the end of the game. Scores will then be reported to the league coordinator.
The coach closest to the play will have the final decision on the play. Typically, the 1st and 3rd base coaches rule at their respective base. The defensive coach rules at 2nd base and the pitcher rules home plate. The benefit should go to the base runner on close plays. An umpire will be present after game 5 of the season and through the tourney.
Each team must supply a scorekeeper to keep the batting order and score for both teams.
During tournament play and the championship game, all regular season rules apply.
***Tournament seeding is chosen by league standings.
END OF THE SEASON, TIE BREAKING RULE – Ties for league standings at the end of the season will be determined as follows – head-to-head, win/loss records against the team above the tying teams in the standing, win/loss records against the team below the tying teams in the standing, then coin toss (the team that won the first game between the two teams calls the flip.)
WEATHER, CONDUCT, PARK RULES
EXTREME WEATHER – At the first sound of thunder or sight of lightening, games will be suspended for 30 minutes. The 30-minute suspension of play restarts every time lightening is seen or thunder is heard. All players and coaches must leave the playing area, per park guidelines. This may include leaving the dugouts.
HEAT ADVISORY – Games will not be rescheduled or cancelled due to heat advisory. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to hydrate the players before and during games, provide cooling towels during rest periods or notify your coaches if your player will not be attending.
NO PROTESTS ALLOWED. If a coach feels an umpire has improperly enforced a rule or failed to enforce a rule, they must wait for a deal ball, and request a time-out to discuss the play and call. The rule in question will then be reviewed by the plate and field umpires. Coaches should keep rules on hand at all times.
If a player is removed from the game for disciplinary reasons, the coach must notify home plate umpire and the opposing coach. Once a player is removed from the game, they are not allowed to re-enter the game at any point. The player may remain in the dug-out for the remainder of the game, but may not participate. Both directors must be notified if this disciplinary action is ever warranted.
There shall be no harassment of a player by any coach, spectator, or player. This will include “baiting” members of one team by a coach, spectator, or player (s). This behavior can result in forfeiture of the game.
WE WILL BE ENFORCING A ZERO TOLERANCE TOWARDS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE RULE. THIS WILL APPLY TO ANYONE ON THE PARK GROUNDS. Any coach or spectator that uses foul or abusive language or that is under the influence of alcohol or any other controlled substance will be ejected from the park.
Each organization is responsible for reviewing these rules with all coaches and umpires in the league. Rules may be distributed or posted on the internet with public access via the organization website.
Coaches are responsible for the safety, discipline and sportsmanship of their players and the conduct of themselves, assistants, and spectators.
Sportsmanship is the first step in developing our young athletes for their future careers. Anyone or anything that seeks to hinder this development will be asked to leave the premises immediately and may not return.
Both teams are responsible for the liter in their dugouts and around their diamond. We ask for your assistance in keep the PARK LITTER to a minimum.
Please encourage patronage of the concession stand. WRA & NTRA use the proceeds from the concessions sales to help this program. Please do not bring store bought treats for the teams.
Covid 19 Guidelines
- Covid 19 guidelines may change at anytime per the state, please follow all current state, IDPH, IHSA guidelines.
Please feel free to contact your Softball Program Director with any questions or concerns.
Revised 5/2021
