BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines MAJOR DIVISION

BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
MAJOR DIVISION
General rules for game play
1) All games will be played per ASA rules with the exception of changes listed in this document.
2) The batting order will consist of ALL the players in attendance for that game.
Girls arriving late will be placed at the bottom of the batting order.
3) All girls are required to start at least two innings on defense with the only exceptions due to
illness/injury.
4) A 12" softball will be used for all games. The distance from the mound to home plate will be 40'. All
pitchers are required to start from the mound.
Exception - pitchers taking instruction this year may substitute an 11" softball.
5) The infield fly rule will not be enforced.
6) The dropped third strike will be in effect regardless of outs, as long as first base is unoccupied."
7) Stealing is permitted on all pitches. All base runners must remain in contact with the base until the
pitcher releases the ball.
8) Look Back Rule - When the pitcher has the ball inside the circle, all base runners must:
a) Return immediately to the last base reached
b) Advance without stopping to the next base
c) Any base runner failing to do so will be called out
9) There will be a four run limit per inning. The only exception will be in the last declared inning and a
team is down by at least four runs. That inning will be played with no run limit.
10) No new inning will be stared after one hour and forty minutes.
11) Girls and coaches will line up at home plate to shake hands after the game.
12) Both teams are responsible for clean-up and need to rake out the field after the game. Please fill and
level the main areas (home plate, pitcher's mound, the bases etc.) We share the fields at Stevens with the
school teams and we are responsible to help out with the upkeep.
13) At the first sign of visible lightning, all play must be suspended for a minimum of thirty minutes.
There are no exceptions.
14) There will be no arguing of the following by any player, coach or spectator:
a) Balls or strikes
b) Outs or any umpire's judgment calls
All spectators will be asked to leave after their first offense. Any player or coach will be warned after
the first offense. Any subsequent offense will result in ejection.
BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION
Offense
1) The batting order will consist of all the girls in attendance for that night's game.
2) Girls will be pitched to by an adult coach/parent. A girl must be present in the pitching circle to field
defensively.
3) Girls will receive no more than 5 pitches per at bat unless the 5th pitch is batted foul. After the 5th pitch
the batter is out and no walks are allowed.
4) Any batter reaching three strikes will be called out.
5) Base runners will advance one base pre hit, unless the ball is batted out of the infield. Girls may then
advance, at risk of being put out, until the ball is returned to the pitcher.
6) An inning will end when either three outs are made by the defense or the batting team has batted all their
players. Strikeouts are not included as outs.
7) There is no stealing or advancing on overthrows. Once the ball is out of play runner must stop at the
next open base.
Defense
1) All girls on the defensive team will be on the field consisting of:
a) one girl at each of the following positions: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, short stop, third
base.
b) all other girls will play on the outside edge of the infield.
2) Full catcher's gear is mandatory for all girls playing the catcher's position. We recommend using an
adult coach/parent to back up/assist to speed game play.
GENERAL RULES
1) 11" Safety balls will be used in all games.
2) At the first sign of visible lightning, all play must be suspended for a period of thirty minutes.
There are no exceptions.
3) No jewelry will be worn on field. All hair past shoulder length must be tied back.
4) There will be no scorekeeping in this division. All games will end in a tie.
5) No new inning should be started after one hour and twenty minutes.
6) Coaches (limit of 2) are encouraged to be on the field at all times to instruct the girls.
7) The girls and coaches will line up at home plate to shake hands after the game. Both teams are
responsible cleaning/picking up.
Remember, above all, that this is a fun time for girls to learn the game of softball.
BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION - ADDENDUM
In order to better prepare our players for the changes at the next level, the following adjustments will be in
effect for the final four games of the season:
Each Batter Will Receive Three (3) pitches From A Player-Pitcher.
The Batter Then Gets Three (3) pitches From A Coach-Pitcher.
All Batters Reaching Three (3) Strikes, Combined, Will Be Called Out.
If The Ball Is Not Put Into Play After These Six (6) pitches, The Batter Is Out.
No Walks Are Allowed.
Again, to encourage batters to swing, strikeouts will not be counted as outs.
BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
MINOR DIVISION
OFFENSE
1) The batting order will consist of all girls in attendance for that night's game.
2) There is no infield fly rule or dropped third strike in this division.
3) All girls throwing the bat will be warned after the first offense, and at the second offense they will be
called out. No exceptions.
4) Girls will be allowed to steal any base except home. They are allowed to leave the base at the pitcher's
release.
5) There will be only one base allowed per overthrow: Play will be stopped and girls advancing further will
be returned to base.
6) There will be a four run limit on all innings.
DEFENSE
1) An 11" softball will be used for all games. The distance from the mound to home will be 35 feet. All
girls must start at the mound.
2) The defense will consist of a maximum of ten players in the following format:
a) one girl only at each of the infield positions, including pitcher and catcher
b) Four outfielders who must remain on the outfield grass.
3) Full catcher's gear is mandatory for all girls playing the catcher's position.
4) During the coach/pitch, the pitcher will remain in the pitcher's circle to field. If the coach is contacted by
the ball, play will be stopped and all runners will be awarded one base.
PITCHING
1) The fielding team's coach will stand behind the pitcher and call balls and strikes for all batters. The
strike zone will be from the shoulders to the knees.
2) The batting team's coach will step in to the finish the inning once there are three walks, total in an inning.
3) All batters receiving three strikes, called or swinging, will be out regardless of whether a player or a
coach is pitching. No batters will be waked by a coach pitcher.
GENERAL RULES
1) At the first sign of visible lightning, all play must be suspended for a period of thirty minutes.
There are no exceptions.
2) No jewelry will be worn on field. All hair past shoulder length must be tied back.
3) Scorekeeping in this division is discouraged. Emphasis should be placed on good sportsmanship and
proper game play at this level.
4) No new inning should be started after one hour and twenty minutes.
5) Coaches (limit of 2) are encouraged to be on the field at all times to instruct the girls.
6) The girls and coaches will line up at home plate to shake hands after the game. Both teams are
responsible for cleaning/picking up.
BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
MINORS DIVISION - ADDENDUM
In order to better prepare our players for the changes at the next level, the following adjustments will be in
effect for the final four games of the season AND ALL GAMES AGAINST SCOTIA:
The Batting Team's Coach Will Step In To Finish Pitching The Inning After There Are
Three (3) Walks That Inning.
All Batters Reaching Three (3) Strikes, Combined, Will Be Called Out.
Runners May Steal Or Advance On A Passed Ball With The Following Restrictions:
Only One Base May Be Advanced For Each Pitch Regardless Of Overthrows.
Runners May Not Steal Home.
BHBL Recreational Girls Softball Guidelines
TEE-BALL DIVISION
OFFENSE
1)
2)
3)
4)
All team players will bat each inning. The last batter will hit a 'Home Run' bringing all runners home.
Girls may elect to be pitched to by a coach if desired. After three pitches, they must use the tee.
Bunting will not be permitted in this division.
Base runners will advance on base per hit, unless the ball is batted out of the infield. Girls may then
advance, at the risk of being put out, until the ball is returned to the infield.
5) If a player is called out, she will leave the base.
6) There will be no stealing or advancing on overthrows. Again, only one base per hit.
DEFENSE
1) All girls on the defensive team will be on the field consisting of:
a) one girl at each of the following positions: pitcher, first base, second base, short stop, third base
b) all other girls will play on the outside edge of the field
2) There will be no catcher in this division; a parent volunteer should be used to speed up game play.
GENERAL RULES
1) 11" Safety balls will be used in all games.
2) At the first sign of visible lightning, all play must be suspended for a period of thirty minutes.
There are no exceptions.
3) No jewelry will be worn on field. All hair past shoulder length must be tied back.
4) There will be no scorekeeping in this division. All games will end in a tie.
5) No new inning should be started after one hour and twenty minutes.
6) Coaches (limit of 2) are encouraged to be on the field at all times to instruct the girls.
7) The girls and coaches will line up at home plate to shake hands after the game. Both teams are
responsible for cleaning/picking up.
Remember, above all, that this is a fun time for girls to learn the game of softball.