PINTO LOCAL RULES (Ages 7-8) (REVISED 26 Feb 07)

PONY Girls Softball Rules and Regulations shall govern except as modified below:

1. Coaches shall pitch from the 35’ pitchers rubber. Coaches may move up, but must remain within the pitcher’s circle, if necessary to throw strikes or for less-skilled batters. If no hit after four (4) pitches batter shall use the batting tee. No strikeouts or walks. Batter gets additional pitches for each foul ball on the 4th pitch. The 4-pitch rule holds regardless of the quality of the pitch. In other words, even if the pitch is “un-hittable”, it shall count as one of the 4 pitches. All games will be played with the 11-inch IncrediBall (the “softer” softball).

2. Five (5) run limit or three (3) outs per inning (YOU DO NOT BAT THE ENTIRE ORDER AS IN T-BALL). Score will be kept on an inning-by-inning basis (for purposes of the 5-run limit) and the cumulative score will also be kept. (Even though score is kept, the primary objective is for the players to have FUN.) Home team shall be responsible for keeping the scorebook. No umpires are provided; umpiring shall be by committee (i.e. coaches).

3. No base stealing. Runners may advance one (1) base on an overthrow in foul territory with risk of being put out) and may advance as many bases as desired (with risk of being put out) when the ball is in fair territory. Once the ball is returned to the pitcher (the player, not the coach), and the pitcher is in the circle, all runners must hold at the nearest base. If a runner has advanced beyond half-way between bases when the ball reaches the pitcher she may advance to the next base with risk of being put out otherwise she must retreat to the base last touched.

4. No inning shall begin after 60 minutes. Home team is allowed to bat last, regardless of score. You should be able to complete 4-5 full innings of play in this time period.

5. Ten (10) players may be in the field at one time; four (4) outfielders. Outfielders shall play in the grass at least 10 ft beyond the baselines. No player may sit out consecutive innings. Players sitting the bench in inning #1 must play in the field in inning #2; players sitting the bench in inning #2 must play in inning #3 and so on.

6. All players bat in line up (this is not to be confused with Rule 2, it means only that your batting order may contain 11 or 12 instead of 9). If player arrives late, she is placed at bottom of line up.

7. Catchers must wear full catcher’s gear. A coach shall stand behind the catcher and field all passed balls to help speed up play. As soon as defense takes the field, play should start. If catcher is not “geared up” at that time, a coach from the team in the field should stand in and catch so that play can start, and the catcher can join in as soon as ready. The stand-in coach cannot make any fielding plays.

8. HELMETS: All players must wear an approved helmet with facemask and chinstrap.

9. Coaches (limit 2) may coach players in the field but must be behind the outfielders or in foul territory, and may not interfere with the ball.

10. Coaches are encouraged to have line-ups and fielding assignments for the entire game prepared prior to the game to minimize time between innings and maximize actual playing time. Coaches should rotate players to different positions during the game. Players in the outfield should be rotated to the infield in consecutive innings. (Remember, our objective is for the players to have FUN.) Coaches may exercise discretion to place only more skilled players at pitcher and first base positions as a safety precaution. Coaches should have a line-up card prior to the start of the game listing several alternate line-ups and positions to speed game up.

11. Due to liability issues, a signed Participation Agreement and Consent For Medical Treatment form for each player must be at all practices and games