SHLL SPRING 2024 SOFTBALL SUPPLEMENTAL RULES
Divisions: The playing age will be determined by the 2024 Little League Age Chart which is player age on December 31st, 2023.
6U - Ages 4-6 T-ball/Coach Pitch
8U- Ages 7-8 Player/Coach Pitch
10U- Ages 9-10 Player Pitch
13U- Ages 11-13 Player Pitch
The 6U Division: up to 10 players in the field. They will have 3 pitches from the coach to put the ball into play; after three (3) pitches the batter will use a Tee until the ball is put into play. No at bat ends in a foul ball. A ten (10) foot arc measured from the back of the plate at umpire's discretion will be used to determine a fair ball into the field. On any ball hit off the tee, the batter-runner and any runner(s) on base may only be allowed one base. Play stops once all runner(s) and the batter-runner reach their next base after the hit ball from the tee. The Batter-runner and/or any base runner(s) are subject to be put out by a tag or force play. No advancement is allowed on overthrown balls from hits off the tee by any runner(s). On any ball hit off coach pitch, the batter-runner may attempt to advance up to one extra base after an overthrow. An overthrow is when the ball goes past the base or where the play was intended.
Each half inning is 3 outs or 5 runs, whichever comes first. No catcher position needed. The goal of this division is to have the girls learn where positions are and to play those positions- Pitcher, first base, second base, short stop, third base, left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder, right fielder. All players present for the game play in the field defensively, but only 5 can be allowed in the infield at traditional positions. Max of 4 Coaches on the field during game play. No runners can steal bases.
The 8U Division: up to 10 players in the field. For the first 3 batters, the player pitcher will pitch to the batter to have 4 balls or 3 strikes, whichever comes first. After 4 balls have been called by the umpire, rather than taking first base, the offensive team will provide a coach to pitch to the batter. There will be no walks unless the batter is hit by a pitch by the player pitcher. Batter will resume the strike count when the coach comes in to pitch. A strike will be called on the batter with each coach pitch whether the ball is hit or not. The batter will be declared out if the ball is not put into play before the third strike pitch. NOTE: No batter will be called out for a foul ball unless caught.
Starting with the fourth batter, we will follow Coach Pitch rules. They will have 5 pitches or 3 strikes, whichever comes first to put the ball into play. The batter will be declared out if the ball is not put into play after the fifth pitch, unless the fifth pitch is a foul ball. In this case the batter will have another opportunity to put the ball into play. No bunting allowed off coach pitcher.
No runners can steal bases and no “pick-off” plays by catcher during player or coach pitch. No dropped third strike rule. The pitches from the offensive coach must be a modified fast pitch not exceeding the height of shoulders. The coach pitcher must start with a foot in contact with the 35’ pitching rubber. The defensive pitcher must remain even with or behind the 35’ rubber, with at least one foot in the pitching circle. When the ball is put into play the coach must make a reasonable attempt to get out of the way. If a batted ball strikes the pitching coach, it is considered a dead ball and the batter shall take 1st base. Any runners currently on base will advance one base only if forced. Time will be called when the lead runner is stopped, regardless of which player has possession. The kid pitcher must use all Little League pitching rules as seen in rule 8.01 such as using an underhand motion with both feet on the ground within the pitcher's plate, hands separated and pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate when taking the pitching position, making one revolution of the arm in the windmill motion, etc.
The 10U Division: up to 10 players in the field. Four outfielder positions all remain in grass depth until the ball is hit.. After 3 consecutive or 4 batters per inning have been awarded base by either four balls or being hit by pitch, the offensive team’s manager or coach comes in to pitch the rest of the inning. The same kid pitcher can return to pitch the next inning or a new kid pitcher can enter the game at coach's discretion. The pitches from the offensive coach must be a modified fast pitch not exceeding the height of shoulders. The coach pitcher must pitch from within the pitcher's circle and up to 35’ pitching rubber. The defensive pitcher must remain even with or behind the 35’ rubber, with at least one foot in the pitching circle. Batter will have 5 pitches or 3 strikes, whichever comes first to put the ball into play.
No stealing will be allowed once the offensive coach comes into pitch. Time will be called when the lead runner is stopped, regardless of which player has possession. Once a coach comes in to pitch the same coach will have to remain pitching for the completion of the inning. If a batted ball strikes the pitching coach, it is considered a dead ball and the batter shall take 1st base. Any runners currently on base will advance one base only if forced.
Stealing bases 10U & 13U- Runners can steal all bases and can leave the base when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
Uncaught 3rd Strike- For 10U & 13U Divisions the batter becomes a batter-runner when the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground and there are: Fewer than 2 outs and first base is not occupied or any time there are 2 outs.
Practice Limitations: Pre-season there will be a limit of 2 practices (1.5 hours each) per week of on field practice time. During the game season there will be a limit of (1 practice) 1.5 hours a week of on field practice time. All of this is based on space since we have limited fields this season.
Team Calendar & Scorekeeping: All teams use GameChanger App for scheduling practices, games, keeping scores and communicating with team families. GameChanger links to the Little League website so your practices and games will automatically upload/sync once they are set by the League. It will also sync with the families on your team/players and you can add more family members (both parents for example) as necessary.
Playing Time: Each player must play at least 2 innings in the field and 1 at bat. If a team has 13 or more players and there is only an hour game, each player will only be required to play at least one 1 inning. All age groups will bat in a continuous order.
Game Length: A regulation game shall consist of 6 innings or the time limit, whichever comes first.
6U & 8U will have no new inning after 50 minutes.
10U & 13U will have no new innings after 1 hour 15 minutes.
NOTE: If time expires when the visiting team is batting, the inning will continue and the home team will have the opportunity to bat only if they are losing and are down by 5 or less runs.
Scoring of Runs: Each team may score a maximum of 5 runs per inning.
Bases & Pitching Plate Distance:
6U- Bases 60’ & Pitching Plate Approximately 27’
8U- Bases 60’ & Pitching Plate 35’
10U- Minors - Bases 60’ & Pitching Plate 35’
13U- Majors- Bases 60’ & Pitching Plate 40’
Intentional Walks- Rule 8.03 (c) - The Head Coach (only) notifies the plate umpire that they want to put the batter on. The ball is dead, batter goes to 1st & no other runners can advance. A player may only be intentionally walked once.
Equipment: No metal cleats are allowed for any age division. All equipment used by the players must meet the minimum criteria of Little League rules. This is to include bats, balls, gloves, batting helmets, face masks, shoes, and catcher’s equipment. Any equipment judged to be unsafe or damaged may be removed from play by an umpire.
Bats: All bats must meet Little League specifications and standards as noted in Rule 1.10. The bat shall be no more than 33 inches (34 inches for Junior/Senior League) in length and no more than 2 ¼ inches in diameter. Non wood bats should be BPF 1.20 stamped. Bats with significant cracking or dents will not be allowed.
Fielders/Face mask: masks are required for pitchers in the Coach pitch games. The league suggests masks for infield positions; at parents and coaches discretion.
Ball Size: Only softball which meet Little League specifications and standards per rule 1.09 are approved for games. Yellow cover balls with red stitch seams are required.
6U- 11” yellow Little League standard softball
8U- 11” yellow Little League standard softball
10U- 11” yellow Little League standard softball
13U- 12” yellow Little League standard softball
10 player teams: shall consist of ten (10) players in the following positions: Pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, short stop, third base, left fielder, left-center fielder, right-center fielder, right fielder. EXCEPTION: 6U teams will play the number of players present in the field.
Players: 8 players must be present to start and complete a game. If 8 players are not present for a team, a 10-minute grace period will begin. If the short-handed team doesn’t have enough players show up during the grace period, then a forfeit will be declared and the game will count as a loss. Once a forfeit is declared, then a scrimmage game is playable, but the end result will still be a loss for the record keeping. Teams who choose to play with only 8 players will be charged an out for the 9th batter. Teams will be able to use “Pool players.”
Pool Players: A list of players for each division will be compiled at the beginning of the season for Coaches to request a “pool player” if they will be short on players for a game. Pool players are those who are in the same age division or younger and currently registered in the League to field a complete team of 9 only. Coaches will contact the Player Agent as soon as they know they will have 8 or less players for a game. That Pool Player then uses the list assembled at registration from those that are interested in being a Pool Player to find the available player(s).
Runner advancing:
6U: a ball thrown to a live base will result in a stoppage of play if the THROWN ball gets through, around, or over the player who is receiving the throw. As a result, the base runners will not be able to advance beyond the base they occupy at the time of the overthrow. The ball must be thrown to a live base. Play will not stop until, in the opinion of the umpire, the defense has made an actual attempt to put out a runner, lead or otherwise, meaning the defense will not be awarded “time” if the ball is thrown to third and there is no runner on second or third. Throws to a pitcher inside the pitching circle will no longer constitute stoppage of play. Time will be called when the lead runner is stopped. Example: ball hit to Center field, the runner on 2nd advances to 3rd and rounds 10 feet and stops. Center field has possession of the ball and the runner has stopped advancing forward, the lead runner is stopped and time is called.
8U: On a ball thrown from the infield: Runners may attempt to take 1 base. The coach has the option to send the runner, this base is not given. The defensive team can put out the runner attempting to take the extra base if the ball remains live. The runner will only be able to advance 1 base after the first overthrow. Example: A ball thrown to 1st base from the infield gets by the fielder. The batter reaches first base and attempts to go to second base. The fielder retrieves the ball and throws the ball to second base to try to put out the runner. The ball goes past the fielder on second base. The play will be called dead and the runner will be stopped at second. Time will be called when the lead runner is stopped. Example: ball hit to Center field, the runner on 2nd advances to 3rd and rounds 10 feet and stops. Center field has possession of the ball and the runner has stopped advancing forward, the lead runner is stopped and time is called.