1. FIELD OF PLAY

1.1 The umpire must be consulted before the beginning of the game to determine what is out of play and to discuss all the major rules.

1.2 The distance from the back of home plate to the front of the pitchers rubber will be forty feet.

2. OFFICIAL GAME

2.1 Four innings must be played for a game to be official. Extra innings will be played in the event of a tie. Prior to May 1 only three innings need to be played for a game to be official. A regulation game will consist of six innings.

2.2 The coordinator will make and publish decisions regarding cancellations and schedule changes.

2.3 Games which have not reached official length when play is stopped will be declared “no contest” and will not be entered in the record book of either team until they are completed as noted in 2.2 above.

2.4 Games, which have reached official length but are tied when play is halted, will be declared a tied game and will be so entered in the record book except if the game is continued as noted in 2.2 above.

2.5 ALL GAMES WILL BEGIN NO LATER THAN 6:15pm. Games should begin as soon as both teams are ready.

2.6 A new inning may NOT begin after the streetlights have been illuminated. At pool field #3, an inning may not begin after 8:15pm.

2.7 The field will be available for practice from 5:40pm to 5:55pm for the visiting team and 5:55pm to 6:10pm for the home team.

2.8 First and third base coaches are encouraged to be adults. All volunteers must be G.C.A.A. pre-screened and approved adults.

2.9 The manager or coach will not be permitted on the field except to attend to an injured player or to consult with their pitcher. Two visits are permitted per inning for the pitcher after the approval from the umpire.

3. TEAM AND PLAYERS

3.1 A team will consist of only G.C.A.A. registered and approved players. The minimum number of players a team needs to play is six. If six players are not available TEN MINUTES after the official starting time, the game is considered forfeited to the other team.

3.2 All players that show up will be in the batting order. Players that arrive after the game has started will be entered last in the lineup.

3.3 Only ten players can be on the field at one time. Only six players may play in the infield at a time: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, shortstop and third base. The FOUR outfielders must remain on the outfield grass until the ball is hit.

3.4 Team members wearing casts or splints may not play and cannot be counted as players.

3.5 Substitute base runners are not permitted without the prior approval of the league. Each batter must be able to reach first base on her own. In case of injury while a runner is on base, a substitute will be permitted. This runner MUST be the player who committed the last out.

3.6 All team members must wear the required uniform. NO JEWELRY may be worn. This includes but is not limited to necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Long pants are suggested as sliding is permitted. No head first sliding is allowed. A player headfirst sliding will be automatically called out.

3.7 PLAYERS MAY NOT SIT OUT MORE THAN ONE INNING AT A TIME. Each manager must enter players into the record book of each team and record books must be available for the inspection by the opposing manager and/or any coordinator.

4. RUNNING BASES

4.1 Stealing home is not permitted.

4.2 Stealing will be permitted. Two steals per inning are allowed. Catchers are encouraged to throw the ball on all attempted steals. A player may only steal one base in an inning.

4.3 Base runners may not leave the base until the ball reaches the batter. If a runner leaves early the runner will be called out.

4.4 When a runner approaches any base the runner must either slide or give themselves up. Even if the fielder does not have the ball contact must always be avoided.

4.5 On an overthrow from the catcher, on an attempted steal, a runner may not advance. If thrown by another player and the ball is deemed out of play then the runner is awarded one base. Out of play should be discussed with the umpire and opposing manager BEFORE the start of the game.

5. FIELDING

5.1 The infield fly rule is NOT in effect.

5.2 All fairly hit balls will be played for as many bases as the batter can take. A fair ball that rolls out of play before being touched by a fielder will be a double.

6. BATTING

6.1 Bat throwing is not permitted. Inadvertent bat throwing shall receive ONE WARNING PER GAME after which if the batter throws the bat, the batter will be called out.

6.2 The batter will be awarded first base if hit by a pitched ball.

6.3 BUNTING IS PERMITTED!

7. PITCHING

7.1 Players will do all pitching only. Three strikes will constitute a strikeout. Four balls will constitute a walk. Foul balls cannot count as a third strike. A batter will advance if hit by a pitch.

7.2 A pitcher can only pitch four innings in one game and no more than three innings in a row. After three consecutive innings the pitcher must be changed and may return for only one additional inning. One pitch thrown by any pitcher will be considered one inning.

7.3 Intentional walks are prohibited. A pitcher must attempt to throw strikes.

7.4 Windmill pitching will be permitted.

7.5 If the pitcher hits 2 batters in the same inning the pitcher must be removed from pitching for the remainder of the inning. If the pitcher hits 3 batters in a game the pitcher must be removed for the remainder of the game.

7.6 If the pitcher walks 7 batters in one inning the pitcher must be removed as pitcher for the remainder of the inning.

7.7 If the pitcher fails to keep one foot on the pitcher’s mound, the umpire will give one warning. After that, each occurrence will result in a dead pitch, which will be counted as a ball.

7.8 The pitcher must start with at least one foot in contact with the rubber at the beginning of each pitch and at least one foot must be on the pitching rubber when the pitcher releases the ball.

8. RUNS AND SCORING

8.1 A team is limited to scoring a maximum of SEVEN runs in any one inning except for the last inning of the playoffs and the championship. Prior to the start of the last inning, both coaches and the umpire will agree as to it being the last inning. At that point each team may attempt to score as many runs as possible.

8.2 A team losing by more than 13 runs after it has batted for the fourth time will be declared the loser.

9. GENERAL

9.1 Except, as hereby modified, Official Softball Rules as furnished to the managers, will apply.

9.2 All injuries must be reported to the league immediately.

9.3 The manager of both teams must report the score via e-mail or phone to the coordinator within 24 hours of the end of the game.

10. CONDUCT

10.1 The provisions of the G.C.A.A. Code of Conduct dated January 1974 shall be deemed to be an integral part of the regulations governing play in the Girls Softball League.

10.2 Only G.C.A.A. pre-screened and approved volunteers will be permitted to participate in assisting during the game.