Game Rules
USA bats in all age groups.
We follow these rules:
Cal Ripken Rules"
Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Rule BookDiamond Youth Softball Rules:
Diamond Youth Softball Rule Book4u Tee Ball
2 innings. Batters hit off the tee. Bat through your lineup.
Away team will bat their lineup, then switch to playing in the field. The game is over after the home team's second at bat.
No outs.
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6u Softball (Starts the season this way then will move to outs halfway)
2 innings. Batters hit off the tee. Bat through your lineup.
Away team will bat their lineup, then switch to playing in the field. The game is over after the home team's second at bat.
No outs.
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| 6u Baseball |
| 3 innings. Bat through your lineup. |
| 7 runs or 3 outs and the half inning changes. |
Outs are only on the base path.
Batters get 5 pitches from the coach, then switch to the tee.
Runners get one base on balls stopped in the infield. Runners get two bases on balls hit to the outfield.
Only 6 fielders allowed in the infield. Rest of the players have to stand in the outfield grass.
* All batters must bat at least once in the game. If anyone hasn't, there should either be a non-counted 4th inning (if the home team has a chance to win in the 3rd) or an extended 3rd to allow the remaining batters to hit if either team can no longer catch up. |
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8u
No lobbing the ball. Machine speed it 37-43, so expect coaches to be similar. 5 runs per inning. 1 extra base on each overthrow. Baseball pitches from base of mound. about 40 ft. Softball front foot toes can be on the circle. |
| i. Baseball and Softball - No new inning after 75 minutes. |
| ii. Once the lead runner stops forward progress, or the pitcher has the ball in circle (softball) or pitching area for baseball the play is dead. Players not halfway to the next base must return to the previous base. |
| iii. Baseball/Softball both play 6 innings. 10 fielders (4 outfielders). Bat through your lineup. |
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10u
5 runs per inning. No drop 3rd strike.
i. Baseball - No new inning after 80 minutes. 5 runs per inning. Runners can lead off/steal after the ball crosses the plate. No Drop 3rd strike, No Infield fly, No Balks - Pitch from 46'. 60' base paths |
| ii. Softball- No new inning after 75 minutes. Runners can lead off/steal after the ball reaches the plate. Runners must be on or moving toward a base when the pitcher is in the circle. If moving toward a base and the runner overruns it, they are out when the pitcher is in the circle. Pitch distance is 35'. Infield fly in effect. |
| iii. Baseball/Softball both play 6 innings. 9 fielders in baseball/ 10 fielders in softball. Bat through your lineup. |
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| 12u |
| i. Baseball - No new inning after 90 minutes. 7 runs per inning. Runners can lead off. Drop 3rd strike, Infield fly, Balks - Pitch from 50 ft. 70 ft base paths |
| ii. Softball - No new inning after 75 minutes. 5 runs per inning. Drop 3rd Strike, infield fly. Pitch distance is 40' |
| iii. Baseball/Softball both play 6 innings. Bat through your lineup. |
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| 14u/16u |
| i. Baseball - No new inning after 105 minutes. 7 runs per inning. |
| ii. Softball - No new inning after 75 minutes. 5 runs per inning. Pitch distance is 43' |
| iii. Softball plays 6 innings. Baseball plays 7 innings. |
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No run rule to end the game. If the team losing wants to continue playing, they can continue playing until time. Hard stop at the time limits listed above in this instance.
Softball pitcher's circle rules:
(a)-When the player-pitcher (10u-18u) has control of the ball inside the pitcher’s circle and
does not attempt to make a play on any runner, then all runners who are on base must stay on
the base. Any throw or “fake” throw attempt constitutes making a play.
(b)—Any runner off the base when the player-pitcher has control of the ball inside the pitcher’s
circle must go back to the previous base or advance to the next base WITHOUT ANY
HESITATION. If the runner off base, while on her way to any base either stops or changes
direction, she will be called out. This is a judgement call by the umpire and is not subject to
protest.
(c)—If the batter-runner rounds 1st base (meaning she cuts 1st base and immediately heads to
2nd base), she is allowed to stop only once at any point between 1st base and 2nd base. Then
she must either immediately return to previous base or advance to the next without stopping
or change of direction.
(d)—If the batter-runner intentionally overruns first base towards right field, turns left, and
stops, then the player must either immediately return to 1st base or immediately attempt to
advance to 2nd base. If, in the opinion of the umpire, the player does not do so and is tagged,
then she is called out.
If the batter-runner overruns 1st base towards right field and turns right, then she is committed
to 1st base and forfeits her right to advance to 2nd base unless she first returns to 1st base and
retouches the bag. |