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(Revised 1-14-08)

( Click here for the Word document version)

( Click here for the Excel Comparison Chart for Divisions 6, 8, 10 and 12 )

I. General Provisions

The following North Shore Girls Softball League (�NSGSL�) league rules supplement and augment the Amateur Softball Association of America (�ASA�) rules as amended year-to-year. If there is a conflict between league rule(s) and ASA rule(s), the league rule(s) shall be controlling. If a situation is not covered by the league rules, the ASA rules are controlling. Although the league rules and the ASA rules are meant to cover as many situations as possible, they do not cover all. In the rare circumstance where a situation is not covered by the league or ASA rules, the judgment of the umpire will be upheld. NSGSL Rules Committee will later consider the situation so that future rules can be clarified. All parties concerned will be provided with a fair opportunity to be heard. However, no protests are allowed.

Teams should not deviate from or alter these rules during the course of any regular season or post-season game, even by mutual agreement.

II. Team Rules

1 . Player Evaluation : Players do not need to be evaluated for this division.

2. Scheduling : It is the responsibility of the team manager to ensure that his or her team is available to play at the times scheduled.

3. Rescheduling : Only games postponed because of rain or field unavailability may be rescheduled.

4. Minimum Number of Players : Not applicable

5. Call ups : Not allowed

6. Play ups : A player wishing to play up to the next highest level must be evaluated at the next level up. Play up requests will be evaluated and determined by the Executive Board. There are no play downs allowed.

7. Team Vacancies : If a vacancy occurs, the manager is to contact the Division Coordinator who will assign an appropriate player from the waiting list on a first-come first-served basis. If there is no waiting list, the vacancy will be filled on a case-by-case basis.

8. Home Team Responsibilities : The home team is responsible for field set up before the game and field clean-up after the game. This includes setting the bases for the game, and putting the bases away at the end of the game if this is the last game of the day. The home team supplies a new ball for the start of the game and is responsible for the pitching rubber.

9. Away Team Responsibilities : The away team supplies a good back up ball.

10. Team Dugout Position : The home team is assigned the first base side of the field.

11 . Pre-game Warm-up : Time permitting, the home team may warm up on the infield 15 minutes before the start of the game and the away team may use the infield the previous 15 minutes.

III. Equipment

12. Equipment Generally : All players must wear proper softball equipment. Proper equipment will include, but is not limited to; a NOCSAE approved batting helmet and face mask, with chin strap.

13. Catcher Equipment : Catchers will wear an ASA approved catcher helmet and mask, chest protector and shin guards. If the catcher�s helmet/mask does not cover the throat area, then a throat guard must also be worn.

14. Helmet : The helmet must be worn at all times when batting, running the bases, coaching a base, or when in the on-deck circle.

15. Cleats : Optional, rubber cleats only.

16. Ball Size : A size 10� ball is used.

17. Jewelry : Jewelry may not be worn. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry and may be worn. If worn, medical alert bracelets or necklaces must be taped to the body so that the alert tag is clearly visible.

IV. Game Rules

18. Game Length (Regulation) : Games should last through the completion of an inning in progress at one hour fifteen minutes (1:15).

19. Game Start : Just before the start of the game, the umpire is responsible for informing the home scorekeeper of the exact start time of the game.

20. Last Inning : Under this time limitation, an inning may not start after one hour fifteen minutes from the beginning of the game.

21. Start of Inning (for timing purposes) : An inning starts immediately after the final out of the previous inning.

22. �Drop Dead� Time (Game must end) : There is a one hour thirty minutes (1:30) �drop dead� time. No game shall last beyond one hour thirty minutes from the beginning of the game.

23. Complete Game : Not applicable

24. Game Called : A game may be called at any time, at the discretion of the umpire, due to darkness, rain, or any other condition threatening the players, coaches or spectators.

25. International Tie Break Rules : Not applicable

26. Tie Game : Not applicable

27. Run Limit : : A team shall remain at bat until they have made three (3) outs or scored three (3) runs, whichever comes first.

28. Mercy Rule : Not applicable

29. Umpires : There will be one NSGSL umpire per game. No one may argue a judgment call by the umpire. Clarification of a call may be requested. NSGSL youth umpires may be used.

30. Scoring : Score will not be kept.

31. Protests : There will be no protests.

32. Defensive Players : There is no limit on the number of defensive players who can take positions on the field as long as they are rostered members of the team. However, no more than 6 defensive players may play in the infield.

33. Defensive Infield : There is a limit of six players playing infield positions, including the pitcher and the catcher.

34. Defensive Coaches : A maximum of two coaches from the defensive team are allowed on the field and behind the outfielders at any one time (a coach behind the catcher to help with retrieving the ball is not counted). The purpose for coaches being on the field is to instruct players.

35. Rotation : Rotation is not required.

36. Playing Time :

37. Catcher : A player must be the catcher.

38. Pitching : The pitching distance is 30� from the point of home plate closest to the catcher. A pitcher may not pitch more than 2 innings per game. One pitch in an inning is equal to an inning pitched. If the pitcher is pulled, she can reenter the game if she has an inning left.

39. Maximum Number of Pitches: The pitcher will pitch to the batter and balls and strikes will be counted but there are no Walks. If the count reaches �Ball 4�, the batter�s coach will take a position on the pitching rubber and pitch to the batter. The existing number of strikes will be maintained. The play ends after one coach pitch (with two strikes on the batter) or two coach pitches (with less than two strikes). Batter is out unless ball put into play. However, if the batter fouls off the last pitch from the coach, additional pitches will be allowed until the batter hits a fair ball or strikes out. The pitcher shall remain in her defensive position while the coach pitches.

40. ChargeD Conference Rule (ASA 5-7) : Not applicable

41. Circle Violation Rule : When a runner is legitimately off her base after a pitch or as the result of a batter completing her turn at bat, and while the pitcher has possession of the ball with both feet in the pitching circle (an eight (8) foot [2.44m] radius of the pitcher�s plate), she must immediately return to her base or attempt to advance to the next base. Failure to immediately return to her base or proceed to the next base once the pitcher has the ball in the pitching circle will result in the runner being declared out. Once the runner returns to a base for any reason, she will be declared out if she leaves the base, unless a play is made on her or another runner (a fake throw is considered a play), the pitcher no longer has possession of the ball within the pitching circle, or the pitcher releases the ball on a pitch to the batter.

42. Bunting : Bunting is allowed, but not when the coach is pitching.

43. Fair Ball Arc (from back of home plate, 15� sweep from foul line to foul line): Not applicable

44. Balls and Strikes : Balls and strikes will be called.

45. Batting Order : The Manager will determine a batting order for ALL members of his or her team (whether or not playing a defensive position) before the game begins and will place this order on the lineup card. The players will bat in this order throughout the game. If a player is late to the game (arrives after first pitch) she will be placed in the last position in the batting order and will bat when this position comes up in the order.

46. Defensive Substitutions : The coach is free to make as many defensive substitutions as is necessary to equalize playing time.

47. Injury Substitutions : A coach may substitute for a runner using the next available player in the line-up ahead of the injured player. An injured player may re-enter the game defensively unless the player has missed her next at bat. If missed, she is removed from the game.

48. Injury/Absence Rule : If a player , prior to her next at bat, is injured and cannot return to the game, or must leave at a parent�s request, the manager must inform the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager. Such a player cannot re-enter the game. The player�s at bat is skipped. If a player violates this rule, the player is called out. The game may continue if the team has at least 7 players remaining. A player absent from the field for any other reason is called out if not back by her next at bat.

49. Duration of Team-at-bat : A team is up for 3 outs. See Rule 27 (Run Limit)

50. Outs : Outs are recorded.

51. Stopped Play : See Rule 41, Circle Violation Rule.

52. Base Running : At the moment the ball is thrown to the pitcher, a runner who is more than halfway to the next base will be awarded that base. If the runner is not more than halfway to the next base, then the runner must return to the last base occupied.

53. Dropped 3^rd Strike : If the catcher drops the third strike, the batter is out. Runners on base may advance at their own risk.

54. Leading Off : Base runners may lead off base only after the pitcher releases the ball on a pitch. If a runner leaves a base before the pitcher releases the ball, she will be required to return to the base and her team will be given a warning. The next player from that team who leaves base too soon will be declared out.

55. Stealing Base : Stealing base is permitted, but not when a coach is pitching. If a runner, attempting to steal a base, leaves a base before the pitcher releases the ball, she will be declared out. Only one stolen base per runner shall be permitted per pitched ball. Stealing home base on a pitched ball or the return of a pitched ball to the pitcher is not permitted. Advancing to home is only permitted when (1) the ball has been put in play by a batted ball or (2) if while the bases are loaded, a batter is hit by a pitched ball, the batter is walked, or the batter is awarded first base (i.e. catcher�s interference).

56. Sliding : Sliding is permitted. In order to prevent injury and protect the defensive player attempting to make a play on a runner, the runner must be called out if she remains on her feet and collides with a defensive player holding the ball and waiting to apply a tag. In order to prevent a �collision� ruling, the runner can slide, jump over the top of the defender holding the ball, go around the defender (if outside the three-foot lane, the runner would be called out), or return to the previous base touched. NOTE: If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender will be ejected. A runner may slide into the fielder.

57. Infield Fly Rule : The infield fly rule is not in effect.

58. Overthrow : A Player may advance only one base on an overthrow.

59. Batter Hit by Pitch : A base will be awarded to a batter who has been hit by a pitched ball, even if the pitched ball first hits the ground, provided she attempts to avoid the ball. If the pitched ball she was hit by was in the strike zone and would have been called a strike, the umpire will not award a base and the pitch will be called a strike. The Hit by Pitch rule will not be in effect for pitches thrown by coaches.

60. Playoffs : These rules shall also apply to all playoff and championship games.