Rules Softball | badmintonandsoftball

Rules & Regulations Softball

A. Rule Book:

International Softball Federation (ISF) Official Rules of Softball

B. Ground Rules

The games will be governed by ground rules as instituted by the host school.

C. General Rules

1. The official Friendship ball for Varsity boys: 12” with a maximum 0.47 COR/max 375 lbs compression.

The official Friendship ball for Varsity Girls: 11” with a maximum 0.47 COR/max 375 lbs compression.

2. The dimensions of the field measure: 83.28 m (275 feet)

3. Pitching distances, measured from the back point of home plate to the front of the pitching mound, are for Boys and Girls: 15.24 m (50 feet)

4. All bats used during play should be approved by the ISF.

5. Base distance are for Boys and Girls: 19.81 m (65 feet)

6. Mercy Rule: The mercy rule will continue to be used in all games, regular season fixtures and tournament play, in the interest of good sportsmanship. The game ends if:

a. At the end of 4 innings, a team is winning by 20+ runs

b. At the end of 5 innings, a team is winning by 15+ runs

7. Tie-games will be continued using individual game tie-breaker rule until a winner is determined.

8. The individual game tie-breaker will be employed starting at the end of the regulation game. Each offensive team will start their at bat with a runner on second base. This runner will be the player due to bat 10th in the inning (11th batter if an EP is used). Play continues until one team wins after a complete inning.

a. The player who is running can be substituted in accordance with the substitution rules.

NOTE: if an incorrect runner in the line-up is placed at second base, this error may be corrected as soon as it is noticed with no penalty.

I. RULE EXCEPTIONS

1. A team may play with a minimum of nine (9) players instead of ten (10) players before forfeiting the game.

2. A strike mat will be employed for determining strikes and balls, as well as plays at home plate.

A. The mat should be black and made of a durable material (e.g. rubber).

B. The mat should measure 20 inches wide x 32 inches deep.

C. The mat will be flush with the front of home plate, and overlap the plate evenly on both sides.

D. Any legally pitched ball (ISF: 6 foot to 12 foot arc) that comes in contact with any part of the mat is a strike.

E. A defensive player can touch any part of the mat with the ball in their possession to create a force out.

3. Regulation games for Varsity are seven innings, with no new innings after 60 minutes. All play offs will play the full seven innings, weather permitting (The Mercy Rule is in effect).

4. All games are played with a one and one count.

5. If possible, a safety base at first base should be used in all Friendship Softball games.

6. All Friendship games will utilise a commitment line and second home plate.

a. The second home plate shall be placed 8 feet from the back tip of the home plate on an extended line from first base.

b. All plays at the home plate are a force out and the runner is not allowed to touch home plate (automatic out if they do touch home plate). The runner has to ‘beat the throw’ to the defensive player on home plate by touching the second base before a force out occurs.

II. SUBSTITUTION

As defined in the ISF rules

Maximum Roster Size is 15 players per squad

III. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

The use of helmets for all Friendship Softball games is required.

Strike mat.

IV. TIE BREAKING FOR ROUND-ROBIN RANKING

In the case of a points tie the following criteria will be used to break the tie:

-Head to head result

In the case of a draw or multi-way tie the following shall be applied to break the tie:

1. Run differential exclusively involving tied teams only;

2. Runs against, exclusively involving tied teams only;

3. Runs for, exclusively involving tied teams only;

4. Run differential involving all teams;

5. Runs against, involving all teams;

6. Runs for involving all teams.

V. OFFICIALS

The number and source of officials is to be determined by the host school. However, it is recommended that there be at least two umpires for every game if possible.