Patriot Softball League Rules
Game Play/ Player Rules
- Tennis shoes or rubber-cleated shoes must be worn. Metal cleats are illegal in all leagues. Shoes deemed to be unsafe by the Intramural Sport Supervisor will also be prohibited.
- GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME! Teams must be ready to play at scheduled time with a minimum of 8 players. Penalty: Forfeit.
· Seven innings will constitute an official game, unless time limit, darkness, rain or run rule prevails. 5 innings (5 1/2 if the home team is ahead) is an official game. If a game is postponed while in progress, it will be resumed at the point from which it was stopped.
· After 60 minutes of play the single pitch rule will be in effect at the start of the next full inning. Ball = Walk, Strike = out, Foul = out
· A team leading by 20+ runs at any point of the game or 12+ runs after five innings (5 1/2 innings if home team is ahead) or any complete inning thereafter will be declared the winner and the game complete.
· During the regular season, there will be one extra inning if the game is tied at the end of 6. The game CAN end in a tie
· A team may place a maximum of 12 and minimum of 8 players in the batting order. A player may only be substituted once, after the player leaves the game they are NOT allowed to come back in.
· If a team begins with only 8 players they may add players at the bottom of the batting order up until all players in the line-up have batted once. They will not be charged an out in 9th and 10th positions.
· All players in the field (maximum of 10, minimum of 8) must appear in the batting order.
Pitching & Fielding Rules
· Pitching is modified arc and must reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum of 12 feet. Pitches exceeding 12 feet will be called illegal and the ball will be called dead. Pitches less than 6 feet will not be called dead until the pitch crosses the plate, the ball is not dead, the batter may put the ball in play.
· Pitchers are not allowed to stand more approximately 3 feet behind the pitching mound.
· If the catcher in any way obstructs the umpire's view, the pitch shall be declared a ball.
· Any throw by an outfielder and ball goes out of play... ("TWO BASES"). Each runner is awarded two bases from the last base touched at the time of the throw. For example, if the batter-runner had already touched 2B when the OF threw the ball, then he would be awarded home. If he hadn't touched 2B yet, he would only be awarded 3B.
· First throw by an infielder and ball goes out of play... ("TWO BASES"). Each runner is awarded two bases from the base occupied at the time of the pitch. The batter-runner would be awarded 2B, and a runner that was originally on 1B would be awarded 3B.
Base Running & Batting Rules
· When the batter enters the batter's box he will have the count of one ball and one strike. After the batter has received a count of two strikes, he/she will be declared out on the second foul (the first foul will be called a "courtesy foul").
· All bats must be ASA approved
· Courtesy runners will be allowed for injured players. All courtesy runners must be the last player to have made an out. Unless the player is injured during the play, the player must declare he will use a courtesy runner prior to the first pitch being thrown. If using a courtesy runner the batter may NOT advance past first base.
· Base runners MUST use the safety base at first or they will be called out (this will be strictly enforced!)
· Base Runners must slide or avoid fielders making a play (ie- get in the way of a double play ball, the double play will be called)
Other Rules
· All games will be played at
· If a player is ejected from a game… He will miss the rest of that game and be suspended the following game. If you are thrown out for fighting the league reserves the right to throw you out of the league
· No alcohol will be allowed on the premises, keep all alcohol off the field and out of the dugouts.
*The League reserves the right to change, alter, or add any rules*
