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SYAC Girls Softball Rules

Guide for Coaches, Player & Umpires, augmenting the ASA Rule Book

Revised 15 April 2008 by the SYAC Girls Softball Board of Directors, Syosset, New York.

A Special Welcome to our 2008 Coaching Staff!

Congratulations on being selected as a SYAC Girls Softball coach for the 2008 season! We welcome your help in making this year a great success.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen SYAC Softball to grow from 125 girls in two divisions to this year’s enrollment of 446 girls—comprising 41 teams in five leagues, including our growing Travel program. We’ve also grown in adult participation. For more than a decade, we’ve had more moms and dads volunteer to coach and to sponsor than the number of available positions on our teams.

Accordingly, we are selective in choosing the best possible coaches for our girls. The SYAC Board of Directors reserves the right to select coaches and sponsors who best support and exemplify the following objectives:

• To teach our children the game of softball
• To impart the meaning of being a “team player”
• To show our children how to both win and lose gracefully
• To provide a safe atmosphere in which kids can have fun

Each year we face a daunting but vital task: to select teams that are balanced in abilities. If we succeed in this process, teams should experience a fair share of wins and losses—and all children should have a meaningful and fun experience.

As a coach, you have special responsibilities, which are discussed in our Coaches Meeting, which is held the night of the Player Draft, and outlined in the Coaches Agreement each of you have signed, which is shown below. Also, be sure to return the ”InSeason Player Evaluations” when you receive them. There is one form per team, and all coaches must sign it. It ia an essential tool in future team selection that improves the success of SYAC Softball year after year. Finally, we ask that you write game reports for our Website and local media—so that SYAC Softball participants can savor the memory of all the fun they had playing as teammates.

Thanks for devoting your time and energies to being a SYAC Softball coach. Your league commissioners and all board members are available to field your questions and hear your concerns and suggestions. Working together, we will have a great season!

—The Board of Directors of SYAC Girls Softball

SYAC Girls Softball Coaches Agreement

SYAC appreciates those who volunteer to coach! In all team practices and games, we ask that they adhere to the following guidelines.

Being a SYAC coach is a privilege and a responsibility. The Board of SYAC Girls Softball thanks you for accepting the role of coach, and we reserve the right to remove you from the coaching ranks if we find that you fall short of the following SYAC goals and rules of behavior. As a coach in SYAC Girls Softball, you pledge to:

  • Bear in mind at all times that SYAC Girls Softball exists for the benefit of the youth of our town.
  • Teach the skills and rules of softball in a safe, fun and nurturing environment.
  • Conduct an adequate number of team practices so that all girls may learn the game and improve skills.
  • Place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of a personal desire to win.
  • Treat other coaches, players, parents and SYAC board members with respect at all times.
  • Read the SYAC Rules and adhere to them.
  • Respect the authority of the umpire and abide by his or her decisions, which are based on the rules of the Amateur Softball Association (www.asasoftball.com).
  • Respect the authority of a SYAC League Commissioner and abide by his or her rulings.
  • Strive to ensure that all girls on my team play an equitable amount of time and have a positive team experience.
  • Strive to set an example at all times of fair play, sportsmanship, respect and leadership.
  • Refrain from the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs at all SYAC sports events.

SYAC
Pre-Game Checklist

Review the Rules with Opposing Coach and Umpire...Avoid Disputes later!

GAME TIME: Game time is 6:15pm. Start games as early as possible. A team must field at least seven (7) players by 6:40pm or forfeit. If you have too few players, borrow players and play for fun. Umpires will stay and call game.

PLAYERS, POSITION AND FIELD:

• Instructional all field (6 infielders) 20’ pitching distance bases discretionary
• Pony all field (6 infielders) 20’ pitching distance 45’ bases
• Junior 11 field (7 infielders) 30’ pitching distance 50’ bases
• Senior 10 field (6 infielders) 35’ pitching distance 55’ bases

EXCHANGE LINEUPS: Greet other coaches and exchange lineups with names and shirt numbers. Keep score in your scorebook (or have a parent do it for you). Then use the book to resolve any questions and challenges. Home team provides game ball.

COME LATE, BAT LAST: A player who arrives after lineups are exchanged bats last in the batting order.

BAT AROUND: In the Instructional League, players "bat around." In the Pony League, any team up by 10 runs is limited to 5 new runs, unless they fall below a 10-run lead. In Junior and Senior Leagues, players bat until a third out is made.

PITCHER’S HELPER: In Instructional and Pony Leagues, there is one pitcher’s helper. That pitcher’s helper may not move closer to the batter than the pitcher until the ball is pitched.

BACK TO MOUND: Play stops when ball is thrown to any defensive player within four feet of the mound—and when the umpire calls "Time!" However, a ball hit to the pitcher, or fielded in the vicinity of the pitcher's mound, should be played. If the fielder elects not to make a play, the runner is awarded any base she has passed during the play and may, at the umpire's discretion, be awarded the next base to which she is running.

FIRST BASE DOUBLE BAGS: The bright orange "safety bag" is for the runner and lies outside the foul line. The fielder touches the white bag inside the line.

AVOID COLLISIONS: Fielders should stand clear of basepaths! Runners who ram into fielders are called out. Runners who are blocked by fielders are called safe. Umpire’s discretion.

ONE BAG ON OVERTHROW: On an overthrow to first base, the runner is awarded one base—provided the ball is out of fair territory. Play until umpire calls "Dead ball!"

LEADING OFF: In Instructional and Pony leagues, runners must stay on base until the ball is hit. In Junior and Senior Leagues, runners may lead off once the ball is pitched. After a ball or a strike, the runner must return to the bag. Runners can be picked off if a throw beats them back to the bag; no tag is needed. There is no stealing in any league.

INFIELD FLY: The infield fly rule is in effect in Senior League only. Umpire’s call.

BUNTING: Bunting is permissible in Senior League only.

WINDMILL PITCHING: Windmilling is permissible in the Senior League only.

UMPIRE RULES: The umpire may send runners back or ahead, decide foul balls or call a game for weather. Always respect the umpire's decision.

MINIMIZE ARGUMENTS: Keep arguments to a minimum and set a sportsmanlike example.

Season SetUp

Click here to read about Registration, Evaluation, Coaching, Sponsorship & Team Selection

General Rules

Home Team

In the season schedules, the home team is the second team listed. The home team sets up bases, takes the field first and bats last.

Practices and Reserving Fields
1) Practice is vital to learning the game. Coaches must work out a full and flexible practice schedule with their team.

2) Fields must be reserved for practice to avoid overlap of teams on a practice field. Commissioners will assign fields and times. Teams must practice at fields where their games are played. SYAC teams must yield school fields to Syosset school team practices and games.

3) Coaches must never leave a practice or game without all girls accounted for. Remain at the field until all girls are picked up.

Conduct
1) As outlined in the Coaches Agreement, which all coaches were required to sign on Draft Night, coaches are expected to set an example of civility and good sportsmanship at all times. Should a spectator become overly enthusiastic or unsportsmanlike or irritating to the players, the coaches are expected to ask this person to stop. If coaches cannot control the situation, the umpire will be asked to step in and decide if a forfeit should be imposed.

2) Players, coaches and spectators should not make disparaging or insulting remarks to or about opposing players, officials or fellow spectators. Unsportsmanlike behavior can result in the umpire removing that person from the game.

3) No adults, especially the coach, may drink alcoholic beverages at a game. Smoking at games, especially cigars, is discouraged for spectators and forbidden for coaches.

4) Any such incident must be reported by a coach to the league commissioner immediately following the game, even if it was successfully resolved on the field.

Setting Up the Field

Pitching Distance

  • Instructional League: 20 feet (or shorter at coaches' discretion)
  • Pony League: 20 feet
  • Junior League: 30 feet
  • Senior League: 35 feet

Base Distance

  • Instructional League: coaches discretion
  • Pony League: 45 feet
  • Junior League: 50 feet
  • Senior League: 55 feet

Fielders Position in Basepaths
Infielders must be instructed not to stand in the base paths during play. Outfielders must stand at least five (5) feet behind the base paths.

Coaching Positions in the Game
1) All coaches must be approved by the SYAC Board.

2) Offensive coaching may take place in the area of the coaching box, as defined by the umpire.

3) When coaching at 1st or 3rd base, offensive coaches may not make deliberate physical contact with the base runner. If this happens, the runner is automatically out.

4) Defensive coaches may not stand in the offensive coach’s line of sight to the batter.

5) In the Pony League, two defensive coaches may be on the field, in the outfield only.

6) In the Pony League, the coach who is pitching may coach the batter only, not baserunners.

Before each game

1) Before each game, greet the other coaches and the umpire and review together the Pre-Game Checklist. A laminated copy of the Checklist is in each team's ball bucket.

2) Exchange lineups that include all player names and numbers. Players arriving after this exchange are added to the bottom of the lineup. Inform the opposing coach when they enter the game.

3) The home team (as indicated above and on the schedule pages) provides the game ball.

4) Each team must keep track of the game in their scorebook. In the event of a disputed play, if one team cannot produce documentation of the play, the call must be made in favor of the team with documentation. If both teams have documentation and disagree, the umpire's decision is final.

5) It is the winning team's responsibility to see that the game is "written up." See Publicity below for more information.

Official Game and Forfeit Rules

1) An official game begins when seven players on each team are present and lineups are exchanged.

2) Games are scheduled to start between 6:15 and 6:30pm. If, by 6:40pm, a team cannot field seven players, that team officially forfeits the game—but an unofficial game is played. The score of a forfeit, which can impact a tie-breaking situation, is 1-0.

In order for this Rule to take effect, both teams must show up at the field at the appointed time. If both teams fail to appear at a field for a game and no prior communication has taken place (this is a very rare situation), the commissioner, at his discretion, may credit both teams with a loss.

3) A team with too few players may avoid forfeiting the game if it can "borrow" players from another team to play an actual game. This is a very difficult—but not impossible—situation to manage since it requires first that the coaches know in advance which player or players will not be showing up. Then, any "borrowed" player may only play if:
(a) that player is registered in the same SYAC division
(b) that player does not have a game scheduled with her own team
(c) that player is of comparable skills to the one(s) who can't show up
Finally, this must all be approved at least one day in advance of the game by the league commissioner. If this is not possible, the coaches should lend players so that the sides are even and an unofficial game is played for fun.

According to Ed McKeown, chief of umpires, the umpire should "extend a courtesy" and umpire the forfeited but actual game. Further, if the ump says that he or she cannot do so "because they are not covered for insurance purposes," tell them: "Ed says that you are covered."

Some umpires adopt this position because they are instructed not to ump "practice games" in adult leagues, due to insurance concerns, but this does not apply to SYAC, Ed adds. The umps are being paid for the SYAC game and should stay.

4) All games go for a maximum of six (6) innings in all leagues.

5) No inning can start after 8:00pm.

6) A game is official after four complete innings in Junior and Senior Leagues. In the Instructional and Pony Leagues, the game is official when both teams have batted the same number of times. The umpire may call the game at any time and for any reason (e.g., cold, darkness, rain, lightning), even after part of an inning has been played. In that event, the score reverts to the last complete inning. Coaches must accept this decision without dispute.

If the game is continued at a later date, it continues from the last complete inning. If that continuation is scheduled prior to the start of a regularly scheduled game, it need only run to four full innings to be considered complete. If it is rescheduled for a date and time when no other game is scheduled for either team, then the teams must complete all six innings.

7) Both teams line up and shake hands after every game. Especially then, coaches should stress good sportsmanship.

Umpire Rulings

A coach, player or spectator should never dispute a judgment made by an umpire. Under NO CONDITION is any player to question an umpire's call, nor will any team member show disrespect to an umpire. If you feel that an umpire has misinterpreted a rule, see Protests & Problems (below).

If No Umpire is Present
1) If no umpire arrives, coaches are encouraged to select a substitute umpire from among spectators and play. If no agreement can be reached, the game is postponed.

2) If both coaches agree on a substitute umpire or umpires, no change may be made after the start of the game unless an official umpire arrives.

3) The home team coach must report game results to the commissioner. Report umpires who fail to show.

Player Apparel and Equipment

1) Team shirts or colors should be worn as the outermost garment. All players should wear long pants. No jewelry is allowed. Team hats should always be worn.

2) In all leagues, all batters, base runners and catchers must wear helmets at all times. Catchers must wear helmets while warming up. Teams must share helmets if the need arises.

Player and Spectator Position

1) When your team is at bat, only the batter and base runners may be on the field. On-deck hitters and other players must remain behind the backstop or field fences.

2) All spectators must remain off the playing field at all times, behind the backstop and/or field fences. No spectator may give instructions to a player on the field.

Playing Time

1) In Instructional and Pony Leagues, all teammates play at all times. In Junior and Senior Leagues, every child must play a minimum of three innings per game in the field, and all girls bat in rotation. All three of these innings must be played before the end of the fifth inning.

2) Players arriving after the game begins must be used in half of the remaining innings. A player who arrives after the game has begun is placed at the end of the batting order.

Game Playing Rules

Number and Placement of Players in the Field

Instructional League
All team members play the field every inning. Coaches may stand in the field to instruct players. Batters hit off a tee; as the season progresses, a coach pitches.

Pony League
All team members play the field every inning, with a maximum of six infielders. One coach pitches and is not considered an infielder. Instructional and Pony Leagues allow one “pitcher’s helper” who may play on either side of the pitcher’s mound (see illustration). The pitcher’s helper (and all other fielders) must remain behind the pitcher until she releases the ball.

Junior League
Eleven girls play the field, with seven infielders. The seventh infielder plays at second base, as if it were first base.

Senior League
Ten girls play the field, with six infielders and four outfielders.

All Leagues
Outfielders must be positioned at least five feet behind the base paths, until the ball is pitched. Infielders must keep out of basepaths and not impede runners.

Regardless of the number of girls playing the field, all girls who are present bat when their turn comes in the batting order.

Pitching

1) Legal Delivery: The pitcher takes a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with both feet in contact with the pitcher's rubber. Prior to pitching, the pitcher must come to a complete stop, facing the batter, with shoulders in line with first and third bases, and with the ball held in one or both hands in front of the body. This position must be maintained at least one second before starting the delivery.

2) Palm Up Rule: Regardless of the style of pitching, the ball must be delivered to the batter with the palm up.

3) Foot on the Rubber: The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher's plate from the beginning of delivery until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.

4) Style of pitching: In Pony League, parents and coaches must throw an underhand delivery, also known as a flat pitch. This is NOT a so-called "arc" pitch, which is NOT allowed in any of our leagues. In the Junior League, this same flat pitch is thrown by players. In the Senior League, both flat and windmill pitching are allowed.

5) Hit by pitch: In Junior and Senior Leagues, a pitcher who hits two batters in one inning or a total of three batters in one game is removed from the mound for the remainder of the game. She may play in the field. Hitters must make an attempt to get out of the way of a pitch in order to be awarded first base.

6) Intentional walks are not allowed in any league.

7) Instructional League: In the Instructional League, the season begins with batters hitting off a tee. As the season progresses, coaches pitch to batters at their discretion.

8) Pony League: Pitching is done by a coach or parent of the hitting team. If the pitcher gets in the way of a defensive play, the play is dead, and the batter continues her turn at bat. An adult pitcher may instruct only the hitter and not baserunners.

9) New for 2008 Senior League: Windmill pitching is allowed in up to three innings per game per team. If that limit is reached, all pitching then must be underhand style. Windmill innings may be in any order, but no split innings are allowed; one windmill pitch designates that inning a windmill inning for that team.

Balls & Strikes

1) Instructional League: There are no balls and strikes, no outs, and no score is kept. Every batter bats until she hits the ball. The inning is over when the team bats around.

2) Pony League: There are no balls and strikes. The batter gets three swings. If the third swing is a clean miss, the batter is out. If the third swing produces a foul ball, the batter continues batting until she either gets a hit or misses the ball completely.

3) Junior and Senior Leagues: Balls and strikes are called. Players walk on four balls; players strike out on three strikes. There are unlimited foul balls after the second strike—except when bunting (Senior League only).

Batting Around

1) Instructional League: Every batter bats until she hits the ball, and the inning is over when the team bats around.

2) Pony League: The "10-5 Rule"
In order to avoid demoralizing "endless innings" and runaway scores, a 5-run per inning limit is placed on a team that already has a lead of 10 runs or more. If their lead falls below 10 runs, the 5-run limit is lifted until they lead again by 10 runs. If this situation does not apply, the offensive team bats until three outs are reached or until the team bats around once.