10u Softball

We play in the Southern Illinois Youth Softball League consisting of Carrier Mills, Galatia, Norris City, Pope Co., Hardin Co., & Gallatin Co.  The following are the SIYS rules:

 

 

Players must be 10 or under on May 1.  Players who turn 11 prior to May 1 of the current season are not eligible.

A player may “play up” one division at the discretion of the league.  If the player moves up but cannot compete at that level, he may move down prior to the first game.

A player can only appear on one roster, unless filling in on a team for a game.

A player not registered with the team cannot compete in games.

 

COACHING:
This division can have two official coaches.

 

BAT RULES:
Shall not exceed 34″ long.  Bat should not be anymore than 2 1/4″ diameter at it’s largest part.  It should not weigh more than 31 oz.  All graphics, including USSSA, BPF marking, etc, must be permanent and cannot be applied as decals or by any other method that would allow the graphics to be easily removed or added to the bat.

 

PLAYING:

  • Ball size:11″
  • Pitching distance: 36′
  • Base distance: 60′
  • All softballs must be yellow in color for games and preferably for practice.
  • The pitching circle must be 6′ diameter.
  • Games shall be six innings in length or two hour limit, whichever comes first.
  • If the home team is winning by 10 or more runs after 4 1/2 innings, or the visiting team at the top of the 5th inning, the umpire can terminate the game and declare the winner.  The coaches can agree to waive the mercy rule if it is agreed upon and time permits.
  • If rain or darkness permit the game from finishing, it is declared complete at the 4 inning mark.
  • If the game is declared complete and is tied, then the game is recorded as a tie.
  • On a field where a game is scheduled after the current game, you must not start a new inning within 10 minutes of the two hour mark.
  • No team shall play more than two games in one day, this rule excludes tournaments.
  • The infield fly rule will be waived for all games.
  • When the offensive team has two outs and the catcher is on base, a runner MUST BE substituted, (so that she can get equipment on for the following inning), by the player who made the last out.  if this rule is violated the first offense is a warning and the second offense and each additional offense the runner is out.
  • The runner is allowed one base on a first overthrow only.
  • The catcher must return the ball to the pitcher after each pitch.  The catcher is not allowed to pick base runners off base.
  • Whenever a third strike is not legally caught by the catcher, the batter shall not be declared automatically “out”.
  • The return throw from the catcher to the pitcher is a dead ball.
  • Face guards are mandatory and shall be worn by the better and the runners at all times while on the field of play.  For the first offense per team, a warning shall be issued to the offending team and the proper equipment must be put into place before the game can continue; for the second offense per team, the offending player is called out.
  • There is a six run limit per half inning for the first five complete innings.
  • For the age divisions that have run limits, no run shall count once the run limit has been reached except in the case of a “natural home run” in which case all runs shall count.  A “natural home run” is defined as a home run hit over an outfield fence.
  • Each player must be allowed to play nine defensive outs in a regular season scheduled game or tournament unless the game is shorted and called an official game by some other rules provisions, such as the 10-run rule, weather, etc.
  • The amount of players that bat will be based on the least amount of players one of the teams have that are competing in the game (example: if one team has 10 players and one team has 12 players, both teams will bat 10 players)(the other two payers will be substituted at the coaches discretion in order to receive at bats).  Once the game has started the batting order cannot be changed, other than removing a player from the list due to injury, illness or some other proper circumstance.
  • During the course of the game, other than pitching rules, a player may be “Free Substituted” during the course of the game, in the either other defensive positions, during the game to fulfill playing the mandatory nine outs in a defensive position.
  • Shoes with metal spikes or metal cleats are strictly prohibited.
  • All players outside the dugout must wear a batting helmet.
  • Players are allowed to advance on passed balls and defense plays.  Runners cannot steal home until the ball arrives at the catcher’s glover or passed.