LaVerne Loudenbeck 2010 10U Tournament

All rules and regulations for this league shall follow the ASA, except for the following additions:

The Players

1)     Each girl must play 2 innings per game except when a game is called after 5 innings as in Rule 3, "The Game."

2)     Continuous batting order will be used. Everyone bats.

3)     All Girls must be 10 years old or younger as of January 1,2010.

The Game

1)     Visiting teams 15 minute warm up begins ½ hour before game time. Home teams 15 minute warm up begins 15 minutes before game, if time allows.

2)     Before start of the game a coin flip will determine the home team.

3)     A game shall consist of 6 innings. If weather forces a game to be stopped after 5 innings the game is complete. No new inning is to be started after 8:00 pm except as noted in  Rule 2, “The Game”

4)     If the game is tied at the end of 5 innings and it is 8:00 p.m. the umpire(s) decide if there is sufficient light to continue until there is a winner.

5)     There is a 5 run rule per inning for innings 1 thru 5. From the 6th inning on unlimited runs can be scored until the third out is made. There is a 10 run slaughter rule after 4 1/2 innings.

6)     When the umpire feels as though they are running out of time to complete the 6 innings before the 8 PM deadline, the umpire shall declare it the final inning at the top of the inning. The final inning both teams will have equal chance at unlimited runs.

7)     In order to keep the games moving there will be only 2 minutes from the call of the last out, to the start of the next pitch. If the defensive team in not in position and ready to start the inning, the umpire will begin to call a ball on the batter, until the defensive team is ready.

8)     A Liberal Strike Zone will be used. Shoulders to mid-shin. Please discuss with the umpire before start of the game

9)     Play with a maximum of 10 players on the field and a minimum of 7, anything less is a forfeit. All four outfielders must be on the grass prior to the pitch.

10)                         No infield Fly rule is in effect.

11)                         Bunting is allowed.

12)                         Bases are 60 feet apart.

Pitching

1)     The front of the pitcher’s rubber shall be 35 feet from the back corner (tip) of home plate.

2)     Girls can pitch 3 innings in one game.

3)     Pitching will be ASA or IHSA rules. Pitchers may Slingshot or windmill.

4)     There are no restrictions on replacing pitchers—free substitutions—at any time during the game as long as Rule 2 is adhered to. One pitch constitutes an inning.

5)     An Illegal pitch is ruled a ball.

6)     Presenting the ball is not required--(glove on one hand--ball in the other--then brought together), but coaches are encouraged to teach the girls this rule.  One or both feet must be in contact with the pitching rubber at all times prior to the forward step.

7)     The pitchers will pitch to the first three batters of each inning. If they issue a walk the batter will be awarded a base on balls. Starting with the fourth batter and all remaining batters in the inning once they get to ball four the count will go to 3 balls and 2 strikes (full count). The coach of the batter will then come in and pitch until there is a strike out, ground out, fly out or a fairly hit ball. If the coach pitches a ball out of the strike zone, the umpire will call it a ball and the coach will continue to pitch until the batter makes an out or gets a hit.

Base Running

1)     Slide rule ASA Rule 8 Section 7Q states "When a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains upright and crashes into the defensive player, she shall be called out." Note: if the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected. This is the umpires’ judgment.

2)     When the ball is thrown out of play 2 bases are allowed at the time of the throw. Rule 8 Section 5G states: “When the ball is live and is overthrown (beyond the boundary lines) or is blocked.  Effect: All runners will be awarded two bases. The award shall be governed by the positions of the runners when the ball left the fielder’s hand.”

3)     Stealing of 2nd and 3rd is allowed once the ball leaves the pitchers hand. The runners can only advance ONE base on a steal. Runners CANNOT steal home, unless there is an attempted pick-off play at 3rd base.

4)     Dropped third strike is not in effect.

Safety

1)     Game must be called if lightning is in the vicinity. Girls must be moved to an area of safety.

2)     Batting helmets must be worn by batters/base runner while on deck, at bat, and while running the bases. Deliberate removal at any time while ball is in play the runner shall be called out.

3)     All Girls must wear long pants.

4)     Throwing the bat is an out after one team warning.

5)     Catchers must wear the mask even when taking warm-up pitches.

Equipment

1)     Any Legal Softball bat may be used

2)     11” Softballs will be used

3)     All Players must have a NOCSAE approved helmet equipped with a NOCSAE approved facemask.