2020 Playing Rules 

Minor (10U) Division

General

1.     ASA rules will be in force unless otherwise specified in our house playing rules.

2.     Scores and standings will not be kept for any Minor Division regular season games (modified April 2012).

3.     There will be a double-elimination playoff tournament held at the conclusion of the regular season.  Brackets will be drawn up based on the number of teams, bracket positions will be initially determined by random selection (pick from a hat).

4.     A minimum of 8 players per team will be needed to conduct a game.  Teams will be allowed to borrow players from the Instructional II in order to fill playing vacancies, with the goal of reaching the optimum number of players (ten).  In cases where a team has 8 or fewer players from its own team, the game will be recorded as a forfeit but will be played if possible using borrowed players.  If the team has 9 players from its own team, the game will not be considered a forfeit, and the team has the option of borrowing one player from the 8U division (added 4/27/09).  Any borrowed player must play the outfield and bat at the end of the line-up.

5.    Regular season games will be 80 minutes in duration, or 7 complete innings.  The 80 minute time-limit is a finish the inning time limit..  In cases where a game must be shortened due to rain or other similar circumstances a 3 inning game shall be considered a full game.

6.     An 11 inch ASA official softball will be used for all games.
   

Substitutes (added 5/10/2010)

1.     A continuous batting must be used; free defensive substitutions are allowed.

2.     If a player arrives late to a game, the player may be used immediately as a defensive substitute.  The player will be added to last position in the batting order and will take a turn at bat, even if the team has already batted through the line-up once.  For example, if a team has 11 players to start a game, and a 12th player arrived during the game, that player will assume the 12 position in the batting order (added 5/6/2010). 

3.     If a player needs to leave a game early simply remove the player from the line-up.  The team will not take an out when the player is scheduled to bat.  The player may not return to the line-up for the remainder of the game, but may be used as a defensive substitute (added 5/6/2010).

4.     If a player becomes injured and must leave the game an out will not be recorded for the player’s turn at bat.  The player may not return to the line-up once the player has missed her turn at bat, but may return as a defensive substitute (added 5/6/2010).

Hitting

1.     A continuous batting order shall be used in all games.

2.     Pitching machines and hitting tees are not permitted in this division.

3.     Batters must wear proper head gear when at the plate, which includes a helmet with a face guard as well as a chin strap.

4.     During the regular season a maximum of 4 runs can be scored in an inning (including the last inning) (April 2012).

5.     Each player that throws the bat will be given one warning, the next time the same player throws the bat, an out will be recorded whether the ball was hit or not. If the ball was safely hit, all base runners will return to the base that they previously occupied. When warnings are necessary, the umpire will inform the coach that a warning has been given, and will record the player’s uniform number on his/her line-up card.

6.     Slap-bunting will not be allowed for player safety purposes.  A slap bunt occurs when a batter assumes the bunt position, and then pulls that bat back in order to swing at the pitch.

Fielding

1.     A maximum of ten defensive players will be used, consisting of a pitcher, a catcher, four infielders and four outfielders.

2.     A pitcher may pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game (October 2016).  The pitcher is not required to pitch consecutive innings.  Should the pitcher enter the game during an inning, it shall constitute an entire inning.

3.     Infielders may not be positioned closer than the pitcher’s mound as the pitch is thrown.  Infielders will be able to charge after the pitch is thrown when the batter is bunting.

4.     Outfielders must remain in the outfield grass, and may not play in the infield area.

5.     No player shall sit on the bench for two or more consecutive innings.

6.     Catchers must wear required protective gear, consisting of shin guards, a chest protector and catcher’s helmet.

7.     Managers are encouraged to give infield and outfield opportunities to all players.

8.     Managers are allowed to reposition players during an inning.  This may be necessary in cases where a less experienced player is in the infield, and a more experienced batter comes to the plate.

9.     There will be no infield fly rule in this division.

Base Running

1.     Stealing of bases will be allowed, a maximum advancement of one base is allowed, with the liability of being put out.  Additional advancement is allowed on an overthrow or other error made on the steal. (clarified Dec. 2019)

2,     On a safely batted ball, if an overthrow or error is made on a baserunner, advancement of one base is allowed with the liability of being put out. (clarified Oct. 2016)

3.     The base runner may not leave the base until the ball has been released from the pitcher's hand. ( clarified Dec. 2019)

4.     Base runners are not required to slide into a base, but may not interfere with a defensive play or crashing into a fielder (per ASA rules) (April 2012).

5.     Stealing of home will be allowed.

6.     Delayed stealing will not be allowed in this division.

7.     Batters will not be able to steal 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike.

8.     A continuous walk is not allowed in this division. ( added Dec. 2019)