Field Sports Indoor HS Softball Rules
Updated 10-1-2010
I. All coaches are responsible for:
a. All registration forms and payment must be turned in at least one week before the league begins.
b. Payment is due at time of registration.
c. Coaches must make Field Sports aware of team colors at least one week before league begins so team shirts can be ordered.
II. Number of players and league type description:
a. Each team will have 8 players on the field at one time.
b. Each team roster can have up to 15 players
c. Junior Varsity division will consist of any female that is currently on the JV team or a player who will be playing on the JV team during the spring season
d. Varsity division will consist of any female that is currently on the Varsity team or a player who will be playing on the Varsity during the spring season
e. A team may start with 7 players if needed; teams may play with only 6 if injury or disqualification of team member occurs
f. The bench area is restricted to only players on the roster and designated coaches listed on the roster.
III. Equipment Rules:
a. All games will be played with a Field Sports softball
b. Ball caps or visors can be worn, but is not required
c. NO CLEATS!! Any other cross-Training shoes or indoor turf shoes are acceptable.
d. No jewelry can be worn during game play. This includes and is not limited to: Watches, earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets; facial/body piercing must be covered up with band-aid or other adhesive strip
e. All players must wear softball pants, sweatpants or shorts
f. Each position player must have a ball glove to play. Catchers are required to wear a mask w/ neck guard, leg guards and chest protector. Hitters are required to wear helmets when on deck, batting and on the bases
IV. Player Eligibility:
a. All players that play must be listed on the team roster. Any team may add a player up until the beginning of the third game. Roster changes are not allowed after the beginning of the third game. Coaches may speak with a Field Sports administrator if there are any questions throughout the season
b. Players are not permitted to play on multiple teams within the same division. Players may play on a varsity and jv team, but must pay the registration fee for each team.
c. Any team found to have a player(s) who have falsified or played under an assumed name will have to forfeit the game in which the infraction was noticed
d. Teams may not pick up players from other teams to play for them if they are short players, this will be considered a forfeit. Only players who are listed on the team roster are eligible
V. Innings, Length of game, Substitutions:
a. Each half inning will last 5 minutes. Teams will bat for the entire 5 minutes and at the conclusion of the 5 minutes, teams will switch
b. Games will last 4 innings or 1 hour, whichever comes first. No new inning may begin after the 50-minute mark
c. Unlimited substitution is allowed
d. Bat your entire roster
VI. Softball Field Dimensions:
a. Pitching Distance is 43ft
b. Base Paths distance is 60ft
c. The infield is a regulation size infield. The outfield consists of center to right field or center to left field played alternately each week
VII. Pre-game warm-up
a. Field Sports does not guarantee a space for warm-up before a team’s scheduled game time. Before each game both teams will be given 5 minutes to warm-up on the field that the game will be played
b. Field Sports reserves the right to schedule other activities on areas that are not the designated game fields
c. Field Sports will allow teams to share open fields and/or training area (Field A) if the space is not reserved by an outside party
d. Please respect other teams and patrons. Field Sports reserves the right to ask any team, coach or player to comply with all facility rules and regulations
VIII. Game Play
a. Hitting
i. Batters will start with a count of 1 ball & 1 strike
ii. Bunting is allowed. Fair and foul will be called via the third baseline and first baseline. A bunt that results in a foul ball on the third strike will be called an out. A batter must pull her bat back on a taken pitch or it will be called a strike.
iii. When the batter has 2 strikes, they are permitted two foul balls; the third foul ball will be recorded as an out
iv. Any hit batter will be given 1st base. If the umpire feels that the pitcher intentionally throws at a hitter, the pitcher will be ejected
v. When the 5-minute period expires, the batter in the batter’s box will be the last batter
vi. The last batter will bat until she hits the ball into fair territory or strikes out. No walks allowed. Any force out by the last batter ends the inning with no runs scoring.
vii. If a pitched ball hits the last batter of an inning, the batter will be given 1st base and the hitting team will be permitted to bring another hitter to the plate.
viii. If the catcher is called for catcher's interference on the last batter of the inning, the batter will be given 1st base and the hitting team will be permitted to bring another hitter to the plate. iv. The on deck batter must be behind the team box line and be ready before the at bat is completed.
b. Base running
i. There will be no stealing
ii. Sliding is permitted, but discouraged
iii. Base runners are allowed to take a secondary lead after the ball has been pitched
iv. If there is a wild pitch or passed ball, base runners are allowed to move up one base at their own risk.
1. A pitch is considered a passed ball if the ball goes behind the catcher or off to the side of the catcher, where the catcher has to move out of the receiving catcher’s position to retrieve the ball
2. Any pitched ball that hits the ground first and is caught cleanly or is blocked in front by the catcher is not considered a passed ball and the base runners cannot advance
c. Pitching
i. The pitch count will start at 1 ball, 1 strike
ii. There are no rules against number of innings thrown or re-entering a game
iii. A new pitcher coming into a game in the middle of an inning is allowed 5 warm-up pitches. Make sure your pitchers are loose before entering the game
iv. A pitcher that has already been in the game gets no warm-up pitches
v. No throw downs to second base at the conclusion of warm-up
vi. As a pitcher do not stall in-between pitches. Get the ball and Go!!!
d. Defense and Outs
i. 8 v 8, play with two outfielders
ii. When a line drive or fly ball is caught directly off the net, it is an out
iii. When a line drive or fly ball hits netting then sideboards, or just sideboards, and is caught, it’s a live ball, play on, no out recorded
iv. The number of outs recorded in an inning has no significance other than getting players off the base paths. Half innings will last a full 5 minutes.
e. Fair and Foul balls
i. A ball hit down the first baseline is foul if it hits the sideboards or the side netting. The first baseline is your fair/foul guide
ii. A ball that hits the top netting down the first baseline and third baseline is considered fair/foul when it hits the ground
1. For example: A ball that hits the top netting then comes down in foul territory is deemed foul. A ball that hits the top netting then comes down in fair territory is deemed fair
iii. A ball trapped between boards and netting will be considered as a one base advance or as a ground rule double off a batted ball.
f. Scoring
i. All runs will count until the final out of an inning is recorded or the defensive team throws the ball into the catcher at home plate
1. After time expires all force outs will end the inning with no runs scoring on the play
2. If the last batter of the inning gets a hit, she must continue to run around the bases until the other team records an out or the defensive team throws the ball into the catcher at home plate. All runs will count until this happens IX. Extra Innings
a. There will be no extra inning games. Games can end in a tie
X. Playoffs
a. There will be no playoffs. League champions will be determined on regular season results. First tie breaker will be head-to-head, followed by point differential.
XI. Sportsmanship
a. Coaches and players will conduct themselves appropriately
b. Players and coaches may be ejected from games if their conduct is deemed inappropriate by umpires or Field Sports administration. If you are ejected you must exit the field of play. Field Sports reserves the right to ask the ejected individual to leave the facility
c. After an ejection Field Sports reserves the right to enforce a suspension from playing, coaching or attending future games
d. There will be no arguing over balls and strikes or any other umpire’s call.
e. No coach is allowed to come onto the field of play during the game, unless there is an injury or a pitching change.
f. If there is a question about a call, do not interrupt the game, wait until the inning is over or the game is over to ask questions. This takes time away from the game for both teams.
g. Teams are also responsible for their fans actions. Fans are asked to respect the players, umpires, coaches and league officials
h. Absolutely no foul language will be permitted by coaches, players or fans
i. Please respect all umpires, players and fans throughout the session. Field Sports reserves the right to remove any coach, player or fan that acts disorderly.