Softball Seniors League Rules 2024

ASA/USSSA 14U Fast Pitch Softball Rules apply with the following highlights/modifications:

Game Rules

• Home team provides patched umpires and balls.
  • The home team is responsible for canceling the umpire on the day of the game in case of rainouts (no later than 2 hours prior to game time).
• No new inning to start after 7:45 pm for 6 pm games or 9:45 pm for 8 pm games.
• 7 inning games. A game is official after 4 innings (home team does not need to bat in their half of the fourth inning if ahead). For playoff semifinal and final games, the time limit will be waived and 7 innings will be played.
• 5 runs per inning rule / waived in the 7th or last inning (no limit in last inning).
• A team must have eight players in order to play. Less than eight players will result in a forfeit.
• Batters must wear helmets with cages and chin straps.
• Protective face cages for pitchers and 3rd basemen are mandatory
• Run ahead/mercy rule is 15 after 5 innings (4 1/2 innings if home team is ahead)
• Free substitution of players in the field
• No slashing (faking bunt, then hitting away)
• Slap hitting and drag bunting are allowed
• Infield fly rule in effect
• Scorebook is kept by both teams.

Batting

• Continuous batting order/ free substitution.
• If a player is injured during a game and cannot continue or leaves in the middle of the game for other reasons, that player’s position in the order is skipped for the remainder of the game without penalty (i.e. no automatic out).
• If a player is late to the game, the player should be inserted at the end of the batting order.

Base Running

• 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).
• Players must slide or avoid contact. All sliding rule decisions are at the discretion of the umpire.

Pitching

• 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).
• Pitchers shall not pitch more than 5 innings per game during the regular season and playoffs.
• Special situations to allow a pitcher to exceed this game limit shall be at the discretion of home and visiting head coach.
• 43 feet pitching distance