These rules will be used for all CYS 10U teams while participating in the Valley League through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany & Corvallis. However, pitching machines may be used during games if available and mutually agreed upon by both coaches in order to move the games along more quickly.
Possible machine adaptation when using comb ination of player & machine pitch: The first 2 innings player pitch and the remainder with the machine.
Machine speed = 38-40mph
Batter receives 5 good (in strike zone) pitches or 3 swings. Batter can hit or strike out but may not walk.
Batter's coach feeds pitching machine.
If a hit ball hits the pitching machine, it counts as a single and all base runners advance one base - does not have to be a force.
No stealing during machine pitch.
The pitcher must have hair tied back and be safely away from the machine with at least one foot within the pitching circle and parallel or further back to pitching rubber.
Valley League Softball Rules A-Z
(Revised 4-24-08 FINAL RED!)
Official High School Federation rules shall be followed with the following exceptions &/or clarifications:
Game Playing Regulations:
A- All games are to be playedon the dates and times as specified in the league schedules, unless a mutually agreed upon change is made 24 hours prior to the scheduled time and date. Teams will be allowed 15 minutes to field a team of at least 8 players prior to the declaration of a forfeit.
B- Only players listed on the “Official Roster” are eligible to play in a game. A girl may not play on more than one valley league team.
C- It is the home team responsibility to maintain the field in a safe playing condition.
D- The home team is required to furnish two new, or good quality softballs for each game. Ball size will be 11” for 9/10 year olds and 12” for the 11/12 year olds and the 13/14 year olds.
E- Each team is permitted 15 minutes infield prior to the start of the game, as long as it can start on time.
F- Game Length – (Time limits will be waived during tournament play)
1- 9/10 year olds will play five (5) inning games, with any new inning starting after 1 ½ hours being the “open inning”(from the time the game is scheduled to start). Three innings constitute a legal game.
2- 11/12 year olds will play six (6) inning games, with any new inning starting after 1 1/2 hours being the “open inning”(from the time the game is scheduled to start). Four innings constitute a legal game.
3- 13/14 year olds will play seven (7) inning games, with any new inning starting after two hours being the “open inning”(from the time that the game is scheduled to start). Four innings constitute a legal game.
G- The Valley League has adopted a ten run rule for all leagues. This rule provides that a game will end after five (5) innings for 13/14 year olds, or four (4) innings for all other leagues, or any inning there after, when is a team is ten or more runs behind and has completed its turn at bat.
H- The Valley League has adopted a five (5) run rule as well. An inning is over when the team hitting gets makes three outs or scores 5 runs. The last inning of the game will be declared open and thus the five run rule will not apply. The team trailing will hit first during the “open Inning”
I- Each team will bat its entire roster
J- There shall be free defensive substitution, including pitchers. Each player must play a minimum of six (6) defensive outs.
K- Three (3) defensive charged conferences per game (it is not charged if you change pitchers). An additional charged conference per extra inning will be allowed. There is a limit of one offensive charged conference per inning.
L- Teams must have 8 players to start the game. A player arriving after the game has started will be inserted at the end of the batting lineup.
M- If a player is injured, is removed from the game and misses a turn at bat, she cannot return to lineup in that game. The injured player’s name will be removed from the batting order and all other players continue to bat in the same order.
N- If a player is injured while running the bases, she must be replaced by the player furthest from the batter that is not on base. This substitute runner returns to their place in the batting order ceasing the pinch running duties. The injured player is removed from the lineup.
O- The only time a player removed from the lineup becomes an out each time up is if the removal leaves the team with six players. If the line up falls below six players the game will be a forfeit.
P- Uniform shirts will be of the same color and should be numbered with no two alike. NO metal cleats or JEWELRY will be allowed, not even pierced ears covered with tape.
Q- NOCSAE batting helmets are to be worn by all batters and runners in all leagues. All Helmets must have facemasks! All catchers must wear catcher’s head and face protection, as well as a chest protector and chin guards during warm ups and during games.
R- Any high school restriction on weight to length of bat and maximum bat diameter will be disregarded.
S- Pitching:
1- Styles: Windmill or Slingshot pitching styles may be used. Please refer to High school rule book for pitching specifics. For 11 years and up both feet must start in contact with the rubber and all movement should be forward.
2- Distances - The pitching distance for 9/10 year olds will be 35 feet. For all other leagues it will be 40 feet. This MUST be enforced!
3- Coach pitch - In the 9/10 league the coaches will pitch the first two innings of the game. Each coach will pitch to his own girls. During these innings girls may still strike out but may NOT walk!
4- Inning restrictions - A pitcher must not pitch more than nine (9) innings in one week at the 13/14 year old level or seven (7) innings at the 11/12 year old level (seven days, consecutively, constitutes one week). One pitch constitutes an inning. Example: if a youth pitches four innings on Tuesday, they may pitch only four more innings before the next Tuesday.
5- Playoffs are considered a separate week and championship games are not subject to any pitching restrictions.
T- Dropped third strike: at the 9/10 level the batter is out regardless if the third strike is caught or not. However at all other levels the batter may run when the catcher fails to catch the third strike, when there are fewer than two outs and first base is unoccupied, or anytime if there are two outs.
U- Base running:
1- Bases will be 60 feet apart for all leagues.
2- The runners may not lead off until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
3- At the 9/10 level the girls may only steal on passed balls.
4- To speed up the game the catcher & pitcher may be replaced by the player who made the last out, if they safely reach base and there are two outs or if they are on base when the second out is made.
5- Any time the defensive player has the ball and it a tag play or a force and the out has already been made, the runner must attempt to avoid contact. This may be done by sliding or getting out of the path of the play. Intentional contact made by the base runner will result in an out and the player being ejected from the game.
V- Reminder: DO NOT THROW THE BAT! After a warning it will result in an out being called.
W- Infield Fly rule will apply. An infield fly is a fair ball and does not include a line drive or an attempted bunt, which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first and second bases, or first, second and third bases are occupied before there is two outs.
X- Remember to display Good sportsmanship at all times. Coaches or players arguing with an umpire may result in your ejection from the game. In addition only positive “chants” will be allowed.
Y- Coaches or players that are ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct will be suspended from the next played game as well.
Z- The winning coach must notify the appropriate league official (listed on the schedule) of the game scores and pitcher innings within (72) hours (three days) of the game. This may be done via the phone or email.
