Softball Minor League Rules 2024

ASA/USSSA Fast Pitch 10U Rules apply with the following modifications:

Game Rules

• 5 inning games.
• After one hour and thirty-five minutes (1:35), no new full innings can be started (home team will get the opportunity for its last at bat, if needed).
• A game is official after 3 innings (home team does not need to bat in their half of the fourth inning if ahead).
• 3 runs per inning rule/ waived in the 5th or last inning (bat through the order once in the last inning or if otherwise agreed between home and visiting head coach before game).
• A maximum of ten defensive players can play at one time. Four outfielders must play at least 15 feet off the baseline (imaginary line between the bases) until the ball is hit by the batter.
• The outfielders must be on the outfield grass.
• Protective face cages for pitchers, 1st and 3rd basemen are mandatory
• Minor league teams may call up players from the instructional league or other Minor League teams if they have less than ten players for a game. (Not allowed in Playoffs)
• A team must have six players in order to play. Less than six players will result in a forfeit.
• 12 run mercy rule (home team has last at bat if behind).
• Scorebook is kept by both teams

Batting

• Continuous batting order/ free substitution.
• Batters must wear helmets with cages and chin straps.
• All players must wear a helmet when batting, on the base path, and when in the first or third base coaching boxes.
• Bunting is allowed
• No slashing (faking bunt, then hitting away); slap hitting and drag bunting are allowed
• Dropped third strike not in effect – the batter is out
• Infield fly rule is not in effect – the ball is a live batted ball
• No use of a tee.

Pitching

• Pitching mound is set at 35 feet from the tip of home plate
• Pitcher shall be removed from pitching the rest of the game after directly hitting 3 batters in an inning or 5 in the course of the game (bounced pitches will not count). Batter is still awarded the base on all hit by pitch, including bounces.
• Pitchers shall not pitch more than 3 innings per game during the regular season. Special situations to allow a pitcher to exceed this game limit shall be at the discretion of home and visiting head coach.
• After the 3rd walk (HBP does not classify as a walk) in an inning and any subsequent "four ball" count to a batter, the coach from the batting team comes in to restart the at-bat with a 0-0 count.
  • The batter remains in the batter’s box
  • The count is reset to 0-0
  • The At-bat can end in any play (including a strikeout) other than a walk or HBP
  • While the coach pitches, the pitcher stays in the pitching circle as a fielder and can make a put outs, etc.
  • After the coach completes pitching the At-bat, the coach leaves the field of play and pitcher returns to pitch to next batter
  • The coach will return to the mound for any subsequent walk situations.
  • A pitcher can walk runs in if bases are loaded (the intent of above rule has nothing to do with when the 3 walks occur)

Base Running / Stealing

• Stealing bases is allowed, no stealing home.
• Each player on base can only steal 1 base per pitch.
• When stealing, no advancements allowed for any overthrow.
• Sliding is not required, except that a runner must attempt to slide to avoid contact with a fielder or the catcher.
  • It is in the sole discretion of the umpire as to whether a runner should have attempted to slide to avoid contact. If in the umpire’s judgment the runner should have slid and did not, the runner will be called out.
• A courtesy runner may be used for the pitcher or catcher – runner shall be the last batter of the previous inning (and second to last batter of the previous inning if both pitcher and catcher are on base at the same time)
  • This should be employed to help move the game along and provides the best opportunity to have a complete game
• During a “batted” ball, a player can advance extra bases even on an error (as long as the ball remains in play)
  • Runners can no longer advance once the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitching circle
  • Standard ground rules would apply if the ball goes out of play