Softball Rules & Regulations

Plex Indoor Middle School, H. School

Standard National Federation of State High School Associations Softball Rules will be used for The Plex indoor youth softball at Plex South with the following notes and changes. 

RULE 1: Players, Field, & Equipment

• All leagues shall have 9 defensive players on the field at a time, 4 infielders, 3 outfielders, a pitcher and a catcher.

·         Maximum roster size 14.

·         All teams may start with 5 players if needed, an automatic out will NOT be charged for the missing player. If a team has less than 5 players present at game time, it can borrow the needed players from the other team so long as the opposing team would still have at least 6 players. This will be considered a forfeit though. But if the opposing team does not have sufficient number of players, the teams can agree to play a scrimmage with less than the regulation number of players.

·         All coaches are responsible for:  All paperwork for team and players completed before the first game. This includes team registration form, “Waiver” and memberships for each player.  If the team balance is not paid in full prior to the 1st Game then the “after deadline” rate plus a $50 fee must be paid.

·         Turning in a batting order of players present each game to the umpire.

·         Middle School division will consist of any female that is currently in Middle School or Grade School at the start of the season.

·         The bench area is restricted to only players on the roster and designated coaches listed on the roster.

·         All players that play must be listed on the team roster and have a valid membership. Any team may add a player up until before their fourth game. Roster changes are not allowed after the beginning of the fourth game. Coaches may speak with a The Plex South administrator after the fourth game regarding injuries or otherwise that may have created a need to add a player after the deadline.

·          Players are not permitted to play on multiple teams within the same division.

·          Any team found to have a player(s) who have falsified age, grade or played under an assumed name will have to forfeit the game in which the infraction was noticed and could potentially forfeit games prior should there be supporting evidence that the ineligible player (s) played in other games during that season.

·          Teams may not pick up players from other teams to play for them if they are short players, this will be considered a forfeit. Only players who are listed on the team roster are eligible.

The Playing Field

·         Field Dimensions   o   Pitching Distance: 43ft o   Base Paths Distance: 60ft

 ·       Playing Distance   o    Left 168’o    Center 172’o    Right 156’

Equipment

·         All games will be played with a The Plex South approved softball.

·         Ball caps or visors can be worn, but are not required.

·         No metal cleats will be allowed. Non metal Softball spikes, Cross-Training shoes or Indoor Turf shoes are acceptable.

·         No jewelry can be worn during game. This includes and is not limited to: Watches, earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets; facial/body piercing must be covered up with band-aid or other adhesive strip and not visible.

·         All players must wear softball pants, sweatpants or shorts.

·         Batting helmets and catcher’s equipment must be Plex approved

·         Catchers are required to wear a mask w/ throat guard or have an elongated mask, leg guards and chest protector.

·         Hitters are required to wear helmets while on deck, batting and on the bases.

·         Each position player must have a ball glove to play.

RULE 2 - Playing Terms and Definitions

·         There will be no illegal pitches called. However, every effort shall be made by the coach and the umpire to correct, between innings, any illegal acts committed.

• There is an infield fly rule.

• Only one Head Coach and at most TWO Assistant Coaches allowed in the player bench area/dugout, along with the rostered players.
• Everyone else must sit in the designated spectator area. NO siblings, non-rostered players, or other parents allowed in the player bench area/dugout or on the field.
• On defense, unlimited substitution is allowed. You have to bat your entire roster.
• On offense, the batting order shall contain the entire roster of players present.
• A team may start or end a game with 5 players, and an automatic out will NOT be charged for the missing player. If a team has less than 5 players present at game time, it can borrow the needed players from the other team so long as the opposing team would still have at least 6 players. This will be considered a forfeit though. But if the opposing team does not have sufficient number of players, the teams can agree to play a scrimmage with less than the regulation number of players.
• A player who carelessly or unintentionally throws their bat or helmet shall receive 1 team warning. Further infractions by the same team, or a player who intentionally throws their bat or helmet, shall result in the player being ejected from the game.
• No protests will be allowed – feedback is welcome and can be sent to the The Plex South office about game issues.

• Games shall start and end on time
• Game start time is forfeit time
• Games will last 7 innings or 1 hour 10 minutes, whichever comes first (finish the batter).
• Play as many full innings as time allows, up to a full game. If time ends in the middle of an inning, scores result back to previous full inning played.
• The league will not reschedule games for any reason, including, but not limited to, inability for players to get to The Plex due to winter storms. No refunds will be given for un-played games.

  RULE 5: Pitching

·         There are no rules against number of innings thrown or re-entering a game throughout the session.

·         A new pitcher coming into a game in the middle of an inning is allowed 3 warm-up pitches.*Make sure your pitchers are loose before entering the game.

·         A pitcher that has already been in the game gets 1 warm-up pitch.

·         No throw downs to second base at the conclusion of warm-up.

·         As a pitcher, do not stall in-between pitches. Get the ball and Go!!!.  -    The umpire may call “delay of game” and (start awarding balls to the batter for delay of game) advance a Batter to 1^st Base.

·         The Plex South does not guarantee a space for warm-up before a scheduled game time.  Generally Tunnels will be available but not guaranteed.

·         The Plex South reserves the right to schedule other activities on areas that are not the designated game field.

·         The Plex South will allow teams to share an open field if the space is not reserved by an outside party during the time which a game of their division is being played on the other field.

·         Please respect other teams and patrons. The Plex South reserves the right to ask any team, coach or player to comply with all facility rules and regulations.  Should any Coach, Player, Spectator not comply with the rules and regulations of The Plex South he or she may be required to leave the premises.

RULE 7: Hitting

·         Batters will comply with the call of the Umpire in charge of that game.

·         Bunting is allowed.  A bunt and all hits will be called “Fair” or “Foul” by the Umpire in charge of that game.

·         Any hit batter will be given 1st base. If the umpire feels that the pitcher intentionally throws at a hitter, the pitcher will be ejected.

·         When the time expires, the batter in the batter’s box will be the last batter.

·         The last batter will bat until she hits the ball into fair territory or strikes out. Should that last batter get on base and advance a runner in the run (s) will count.

·         If a pitched ball hits the batter, the inning will be over with the following exceptions: if the hitting team has a runner on third base the run will be scored with a hit batter (only when time has expired; if the umpire feels that the pitcher intentionally throws at a hitter, the pitcher will be ejected, the hitter will get a base and the hitting team will be permitted to bring another hitter to the plate.  That batter will then become the last batter.

·         The on deck batter must be behind the team box line and be ready in order to become the last batter of the game.

• A team’s batting order shall consist of the entire roster of players present at the game.

 RULE 8: Base Running

 ·         Stealing is allowed.

·         A pitch is considered a passed ball if the ball goes behind the catcher or off to the side of the catcher, where the catcher has to move out of the receiving catcher’s position to retrieve the ball.

RULE 9: Defense and Outs

·         All calls are determined by the Umpire in charge of the game

·         A ball hitting the netting hanging from dome in foul territory is a foul ball. 

·         A ball hitting the structure of the dome in fair play is a live ball.

·         The Umpire in charge will make the call.
 

RULE 10: Scoring

·         All runs will count until the final out of an inning is recorded or the defensive team throws the ball into the catcher at home plate.  Should time expire during the course of an inning, all runs scored will count.

·         When time expires all force outs will end the inning -  For Example: If the last batter gets a hit, she must continue to run the bases until the other team records an out or the defensive team throws the ball into the catcher at home plate. All runs will count until either of these happens.

RULE 11: Extra Innings: Playoffs

·         Teams will get seeded based on overall record from regular season. A tie breaker is determined as follows: head to head, runs allowed, runs scored, coin flip.

RULE 12: Sportsmanship

·         Coaches and players will conduct themselves appropriately

·         Players and coaches may be ejected from games and or the facility if their conduct is deemed inappropriate by umpires or The Plex South Management. If you are ejected you must come off the field of play. The Plex South reserves the right to ask the ejected individual to leave the building or the premises.

·         After an ejection The Plex South reserves the right to enforce a suspension from playing, coaching or attending future games at The Plex South.

·         There will be no arguing over balls and strikes or any other umpire’s call.

·         No coach is allowed to come onto the field of play during the game, unless there is an injury or a pitching change.

·         If there is a question about a call, do not interrupt the game, wait until the inning is over or the game is over to ask questions. This takes time away from the game for both teams.

·         Teams are also responsible for their fans actions. Fans are asked to respect the players, umpires, coaches and league officials.

·         Absolutely no foul language will be permitted by coaches, players or fans.  All are required to comply with the rules of the Plex South.

·         Remember, this league is designed for your girls to have a chance to play softball during the winter months, keep their skills up to par, and to have fun. The Plex South will work very diligent to maintain a quality facility for your athletes to play their sport. Thank you for playing!   

• Each team must provide 3 game balls prior to the start of the season. These balls will be used for games the entire season.

 RULE 13: – Scoring – Record Keeping

• Official game scores and standings can be found at www.plexsports.com

Plex will provide one (1) paid official for each game. He or she may take any position desired. The umpire is responsible for calling all plays at all bases, for calling balls and strikes, and for enforcing all rules of the game. Under no circumstances will a spectator or other person be permitted to be a second umpire during any game. All coaches are expected to familiarize themselves with the rules regarding conduct of coaches, spectators and players toward paid Plex officials.  

• If a batted ball hits anything in foul territory before it is caught, including the ceiling net, wall nets, or wall padding, it is a foul ball.
• If a batted ball hits the ceiling in fair territory it is played as a live ball. So if the batted ball hits the ceiling in fair territory, the ball can be caught for an out.
• Batted balls that hit the ceiling net in fair territory BEYOND the yellow tape on the ceiling net, and then drop, are playable but cannot be caught for an out. Batted balls that hit the ‘Outfield Fence’ ‘on the fly,’ and then drop, are playable but cannot be caught for an out.
• Batted balls that go over the fence in center field in the air will be ruled as a Home Run.
• Balls that bounce over, or go through in any way, the fence in center field, will be ruled as a double. The player should raise both hands above the head to signal that this has occurred.

• Teams can practice/warm-up in their designated throwing lane and designated hitting tunnel starting 30 minutes prior to game start time – NOT before. Please do not ask to use space prior to the 30 -minute warm-up period unless you are willing to pay for the additional time.

 ·       As soon as the umpire signals the end of the previous game, the team should advance to the field and put their bags outside their player bench area. Once the teams of the previous game have left the dugout, the new teams should store their gear in the dugout, and the home team should take the field. The 55-minute game clock starts ‘on the hour’ whether the teams are ready or not. 

·       No time will be allowed for taking ‘infield’Teams must clear the field as quickly as possible after each game – Hold post-game meetings OUTSIDE the playing field in the lobby area