Revised March 30, 2021

1. All players must wear a full conforming uniform during game play, unless both coaches agree otherwise.
2. The official ball is the 11-inch ASA certified ball with a 0.47 core.
3. All players must play both infield and outfield within the first three (3) innings of a game. If you have special circumstances, they must be approved by a softball commissioner. This rule only applies during regular season, and does not apply during tournament play.
4. All players must have equal playing time.
5. Players may not taunt an opponent. Derogatory comments are not allowed. Violation results in a warning, second violation results in ejection from the game.
6. The umpire’s rulings are final and non-contestable. Coaches, players, and fans will exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. No arguing or poor sportsmanship from players, coaches, parent’s, or fan’s will be tolerated!  Any person violating this rule will be given one (1) warning, after that should the poor sportsmanship continue the individual coach, player, parent or fan, will be suspended from the current game and the next upcoming game. A suspended coach, player, parent or fan will be required to leave the entire park by the Officer of the Day.  Should they refuse to leave the game, it will become a forfeit and also result in a Ban from any remainder League activity for the calendar year. Profanity is strictly prohibited. Violation results in a warning, second violation results in ejection from the game.
7. These rules cannot be changed or modified unless a majority vote is made by league directors.
8. All coaching staff must sign coach’s code of conduct and all parents must sign the parent’s code of conduct, both to be filed with the league prior to the first game or the game is forfeited.
9. ASA rules will be used where not specified on this document.

Batting

1. Each half inning will end when the offensive team has batted once through their entire lineup, including substitutions, or after three (3) outs, or the offensive team has scored five (5) runs. In the event of a “last batter”, the last batter will hit the ball or strikeout.
2. No walks are allowed in this age division. If the opposing pitcher pitches four (4) balls to a batter, then that batter’s coach will pitch two (2) pitches to their batter. Pitching coach must have one (1) foot in contact with the pitching rubber when the pitch is delivered. The coaches’ pitch will be underhand. Arc of pitch may not be higher than the batter’s head. If the pitch is higher than the batter’s head, the pitch will be deemed a no pitch (even if hit into play, and will be counted towards the two (2) allotted pitches. The batter must hit one (1) of the two (2) pitches or they are out. A foul ball that is not caught mandates an additional pitch from the coach. The pitching coach is not allowed to coach the batter or base runners after the pitch is delivered. The coach pitches are not intended to give the team an unfair offensive advantage.
3. Batters will not throw bats and will be warned by the umpire once for the violation. This warning will be a team warning, and the next violation will result in the acting batter being declared out.
4. All batters must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with chin strap and face mask/guard.

Base Running

1. Coaches may not assist a runner, via any physical contact. Any violation will result in the runner being declared out.
2. Runners may steal a base when the ball crosses home plate. No lead offs or stealing home is permitted. There will be a team warning issued by the umpire for a player leaving the base early, the next occurrence from the team will result in the runner being called out. Runners may only advance one (1) base on a steal, passed ball, or wild pitch. Runner may steal on ball 4 (NOTE: the ball is to be in the pitchers hand, then time will be called by the umpire and the coach will come onto the field). A runner may not steal during coach pitches.
3. Runners may advance up to 3rd base on a defensive overthrow at either 1st or 2nd base. Runners may only advance to home by the actions of a batter (example: batter hits ball).

Fielding

1. The defensive ream will consist of ten (10) players: six (6) infielders (1st base, 2nd base, shortstop, 3rd base, catcher, and pitcher) and four (4) outfielders.
2. Outfielders must start in the outfield grass prior to each pitch.
3. No infielder, except pitcher, will be positioned closer to home plate than the pitching rubber prior to the release of the pitch.
4. Distance from the front of the pitching rubber to the back point of home plate is 35 feet. The circle around the pitcher’s mound will be 16 feet in diameter.
5. The pitcher may only start pitching in three (3) innings per game. ASA rule for reentry applies.
6. The pitcher must start with both feet on the pitching rubber and have one (1) foot in contact with the ground when the pitch is delivered. While a forward motion is recommended, a step back is permitted if needed. If the pitcher uses a windmill motion, only one (1) revolution may be made. If the pitcher uses a whip motion, only one (1) whip may be made.
7. If a pitcher hits consecutive batters or three (3) batters in one (1) inning, the pitcher must be pulled for the inning. Any pitcher removed from pitching may reenter one (1) time, providing they have not already pitched three (3) innings.
8. Play has ended and the ball is dead once the lead runner has stopped forward progress, the ball is under control by the pitcher with both feet inside the pitcher’s circle, or the ball is under control in front of the lead runner.

Game Length

1. Regulation game time is one hour and thirty minutes (1:30) from the first pitch or six (6) innings, whichever comes first. No new inning will begin after the time limit has expired. New inning begins immediately following the third out of the previous innings. If the game is tied at the completion of a full inning, international tie break rules apply (the last batted out from the previous inning start on 2nd base with no outs and the batting order resumes where left off). No time limit during tournament play, will play complete six (6) innings.
2. Game is complete if a team is leading by more than fifteen (15) runs after four (4) innings or ten (10) runs after five (5) innings.
3. The following will be used for rain out and delay of game. The game is a complete game at the completion of three and one-half (3.5) innings, if the home team is ahead, or four (4) innings if the visiting team is ahead. In the event a game is delayed by rain and either of these conditions has been met, the game is over and the score is final. If, however, neither of these two conditions has been met, the game will be suspended and the game will restart with a new time limit of one hour (1:00) of play as soon as possible.

Code of Conduct

• All persons associated with Fall Creek Softball program, including coaches, players, umpires, parents, and attendees, will conduct themselves both responsibly and courteously. If a person’s conduct results in an ejection, they will be asked to leave the property. They will have five minutes to comply and if they refuse, the offending team will forfeit the game.
• Any “trash talking”, derogatory comments, profanity, or abusive language toward a coach, player, umpire, parent, or attendee will result in a team warning. A second offense, during any will result in immediate ejection and suspension from the next scheduled game.
• Any intentional physical contact by a coach, player, umpire, parent, or attendee will result in immediate ejection and suspension from attending Fall Creek Softball & Baseball sporting events for the remainder of the season.