1. All participants and spectators are to show good sportsmanship.
2. Applications must be signed and submitted, and registration fee paid, before any girl may play in a league game or practice.
Practices are to be held no sooner than May 1st -- no exceptions.
3. Rubber-cleated shoes are allowed.
Athletic shoes and appropriate clothing for softball are required.
4. Each player must have her own glove.
Players in the field must wear a fielder’s glove, but first base and catcher may wear a mitt.
Young Girls division uses an 11-inch ball.
5. Hair must be secured out of the eyes; no metal bands or fasteners are allowed.
No jewelry will be worn during practices or games.
6. The batter, base runners and all players on the batting team must wear a helmet with a face mask when on the playing field, both at practice and during games.
This includes players coaching at first or third base.
7. The catcher must wear the mask, helmet, shin guards and chest and throat protectors provided by the league for that position.
She is to wear them whenever catching, both at practice and during games.
8. The Young Girls division will play with 10 players, 4 of which must be in the outfield on the grass, and a roving infielder between first and second base.
No player may stand closer than the pitching rubber before the ball is hit.
9. A team may start a game with only 8 players.
If playing with only 8 players, the 9th player’s position in the batting order will be recorded as an out.
If an 8th player is removed (due to injury or departure), the game will be forfeited.
10. When a game is forfeited, a practice game may be played.
Only players from the opposing team may join the forfeiting team for the practice game.
This game will be played in accordance with all official rules.
11. During the course of the game, players may be added to the bottom of the batting order, or subtracted without penalty while adhering to rule #9.
12. There will be free substitution in the field.
13. Lineups will be set and exchanged at the beginning of the game.
Players arriving late will be added at the bottom of the batting order.
14. Warm-ups before games must be held in an isolated area, away from spectators and neighboring lawns.
15. Each team will provide an adult pitcher (usually a coach or parent).
S/he will use the pitching machine provided and may not field the ball while on the field.
Adult pitchers must sign waivers before participating.
16. There will be no adults allowed on the field at any time during play except the pitcher.
17. A batted ball that hits the adult pitcher or the pitching machine will be played as a live ball.
18. There is no infield fly rule.
19. There is no bunting. After 3 swinging strikes or 6 pitches from the pitching machine, the batter will be out unless the last swing is a foul ball.
In that case, another pitch will be given.
20. There will be no walks.
21. Courtesy Step: Once a pitched ball crosses the plate, base runners are allowed only one step off the base.
If the ball is not hit, the runners must return to their bases before the next pitched ball, or they are out.
22. One base will be given on an overthrow when the ball goes out of play (past the backstop angles).
23. Once the ball is in the vicinity of the adult pitcher, the play ends.
If a runner is less than halfway to the next base she must return to the previous base.
24. The runner must avoid contact at home plate when a defensive player has the ball there.
25. Games will be 7 innings, but games must be held within the time allowed.
Young Girls games will be 1¼ hours. (If, during the course of the game,
the noon siren is activated, the game will be stopped. This stoppage of
play will not be included in the 1¼ hour playing time.) No new inning may be started with less than ten minutes remaining.
Games may end in a tie.
26. In instances of inclement weather or unacceptable field conditions, games may be canceled prior to their start by the respective division commissioners, who will promptly notify a coach from each team of that decision.
Games in progress may be stopped, and either resumed or suspended. It is a complete game if 3 or more innings have been played.
If not, it can be made up or resumed, upon the agreement of both teams’ head coaches and a division commissioner.
27. Each team will be limited to 4 runs per inning.
28. All players must change positions every inning.
29. Practices must take place on designated fields, which are the Dyer School softball diamonds.
30. All adults, non players, coaches and umpires must sign a waiver before participating in league activities.
31. For the safety of all players, when there is a play at first base the orange safety base may be used by either the runner or the fielder so as to avoid a collision.
32. Rules may be added, deleted, or revised at the discretion of the BGSL Board.
