Long Beach Heartwell Fastpitch

2024 Spring Playing & Operating Rules

LA/South Bay District

Effective 01/4/2024

The LA/South Bay Inter-League will abide by the USA 2024 Official Rules of Softball. Exceptions and situations specified in the following Playing & Operating Rules:

  1. Game Information:
    1. A regulation game is seven (7) innings. A minimum of three (3) innings is a legal game, should the time limit expire or a game be called prior to seven innings.
    2. Time Limit - 1 hr. and 20 min. "No New Inning", and a maximum of 1hr. and 30 min. “Drop Dead” will apply in all Divisions except 6U. The plate umpire holds the official time. Home team shall be official scorekeeper.
    3. In the event that the "drop-dead" time is reached in the middle of an inning, the score will revert back to the last complete inning unless the home team is ahead. Once time has expired and the score remains tied, the game will end in a tie.
    4. Run limit:
      1. 8U – See 8U Division Section 3 below.
      2. 10U – 12U will have a 4-run limit per inning for the first 3 innings. Innings 4 and on will be unlimited until the time limits are reached.
      3. 14U will have a 5-run limit per inning for the first 3 innings. Innings 4 and on will be unlimited until the time limits are reached.
    5. Dropped 3rd Strike and In-Field Fly rule is in effect for 10U-14U Divisions.
      1. In-Field Fly rule meaning: with less than two outs and runners on 1st & 2nd or with bases loaded, a pop fly that could be easily caught by an infielder (umpire’s judgement) will result in an automatic out on the batter if the ball is not caught.
    6. All divisions will bat Round Robin with free substitutions on defense.
    7. A Player in any division cannot sit out back-to-back defensive innings. Every girl plays.
    8. Pitching Restrictions:
      1. Pitchers in the 14U division may pitch unlimited innings per week.
      2. Pitchers in the 10U & 12U divisions may pitch no more than 24 “Outs” per week.
      3. Pitchers in 8U division may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game through March 23rd.Beginning March 25th, pitchers in the 8U division may pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game.
    9. Pitching distance
      1. 30 feet (both player and coach) in 8U
      2. 35 feet in 10U
      3. 40 feet in 12U
      4. 43 feet in 14U
    10. Base paths are 60 feet in all divisions.
    11. 10” RIF Blue Dot ball will be used in 8U.
    12. 11" RIF-10 for 10U.
    13. Dream-seam Standard 12" ball for 12U through 14U divisions.
    14. Protests, there are none.Umpire makes final call on the field.

     

  2. Substitutions and Batting:
    1. All divisions will bat Round Robin with free substitution on defense.
    2. A team must bat with at least 9 players in the line up to avoid the “short-handed” rule penalty.
    3. Short-Handed rule: A team may start with 8 players but when another player arrives, they must be inserted into the lineup in the ninth batting position. If a 10th player arrives, they must be inserted in the 10th spot in the lineup. Subsequent arrivals must be listed in order of arrival up to the maximum number of players on the lineup card allowed by the league.
    4. An out will be called the first time the vacant ninth position in the batting order appears. Subsequent at-bats in the vacant position will be skipped over with no "out" penalty being called.
    5. In order to avoid a forfeit, if a team knows in advance that they will be shorthanded; players may be borrowed from another team within their league (with the league’s approval) from the same or lower age classification. Borrowed players can bring the team count up to a maximum of 9 players. The borrowed players must be identified to the umpire and the opposing team. The borrowed player(s) must bat last and play an outfield position
    6. Under round-robin batting:
      1. The DP/FLEX rule will not be in effect.
      2. A team may have between 9 and 16 batters and no more than 9 defensive fielders (or 10 fielders in 8-Under division) as modified in these Inter-League rules.
      3. If a player needs to leave early, this must be declared to the plate umpire and the opposing team at the plate meeting (before the game starts). No penalty "out" will be assessed if the situation is declared before the game starts. If the situation is brought to the attention of the umpire and the opposing team during the game, a penalty "out" will be declared only the first time that the vacant spot in the batting order comes up. An inning or a game can end with an automatic out.
      4. All batters must bat and run for themselves unless injured. Courtesy Runners will be allowed for Catchers and Pitchers.
      5. If a batter or runner becomes injured and cannot complete their turn at bat or time on the bases, a replacement player will be allowed to finish the at bat or time as a runner for that half inning only.
      6. When all play has stopped, the team member who was the “last out” before the injured player’s turn at bat will be the replacement player. If the last out is on base or at bat, the next available player in the line-up before the injured player will become the replacement player.
      7. No penalty “out” will be assessed if a player must be removed from the game for injury, safety reasons or illness.

     

  3. 8U Division Rules Exceptions:
    1. Run limit – 8U will have a 4-run limit per inning for the first 3 innings. Innings 4 and on will be unlimited until the time expires.
    2. No dropped-third strike. The batter is out on a third strike at all times, whether it is caught or dropped.
    3. No “Infield Fly” rule will be used.
    4. Runners may steal when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. A play at a base during a steal, an attempted pick-off or an overthrow to the pitcher does not release a runner from third base.
    5. Runners on first and second base may steal only one (1) base per pitch.
    6. Runners may steal only one base per defensive overthrow.
    7. Closed home plate. A runner may not steal home on a pitch at any time. The umpire as allowed by USA overthrow base-award rules may award runners home plate.
    8. If a runner attempts to steal home and touches home plate, the umpire will call “time” and place the runner back on 3rd base. Runner is in jeopardy while off third base and during the improper advance attempt (to steal home).
    9. No walks. After ball four, a coach from the offense will pitch to the batter the number of pitches left between the current strike count and three. At least one foot must be on the rubber. No bunting or stealing during coach pitch.
    10. 8U division with a "10th player" on the field during a defensive half inning. The defensive alignment shall consist of an infield player at each of the following positions: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base and shortstop. The outfield alignment will include an outfielder in the left, left center, right center and right field positions.
    11. Outfielders (and the 10th player in 8-Under division only) must remain behind the base paths until the ball is hit, or a play is made on a runner because of a batted ball.
    12. No player except the pitcher shall start in a defensive position closer than 25 feet to home plate, measured from the front side of the plate anywhere between the 3rd baseline and the 1st baseline.

  4. Coach-Pitch (8-Under Division only):
    1. Note: Coach- Pitch will be used through Week-4.Beginning Week-5 (March 25th) all games will NOT use coach-pitch.
    2. No stealing during coach-pitch.
    3. No bunting during coach-pitch.
    4. Walks are not permitted on any batter. The batter must put the ball in play or strike out.
    5. Players will pitch and the umpire will call balls and strikes while the player is pitching.
    6. After four (4) balls, a coach from the offense will pitch to the batter the number of pitches left between the current strike count and three. Each pitch counts as a strike unless it is put into play. With less than two strikes a foul tip or a foul ball not caught also count as a strike. When the coach is pitching, the batter continues to bat until the ball is put into play or they strike out.
    7. A batter cannot foul out. A foul tip caught by the catcher on the 3rd strike results in the batter being declared out. No dropped third strike rule on uncaught swinging strike three will be in effect.
    8. The coach must pitch with at least one foot on the 30-foot rubber.
    9. The pitcher shall remain adjacent to or behind the coach-pitcher and must have at least one foot in the pitcher's circle during coach pitch.
    10. A pitch by the coach-pitcher that hits the batter shall count as a strike.
    11. The coach-pitcher shall not interfere with any defensive player making a play on the ball or a runner.
    12. The umpire shall call delayed interference if the coach-pitcher is hit by the ball or interferes with a defensive player.
    13. After all play has stopped, the umpire declares, “dead ball” and the defensive coach has the option to take the result of the play or the penalty for coach-pitch interference.
    14. PENALTY:  the batter is declared out and all other runners are returned to last base held at the time of coach interference.  Any outs made on the play are nullified.

     

     

  5. 6-U Division Rules Exceptions:
    1. Time Limit: 1 hour 10 minutes Drop Dead.
    2. In Play Ball -A mark will be made on each base line 6 feet out from home plate. The ball must past this distance for it to be an in-play ball. If ball is within the lines batter will return to bat again.
    3. Pitching Distance – The pitching distance shall be 30 feet. Coaches must pitch from the pitching rubber.
    4. Pitching Rules – Coach pitch the entire season.
    5. Batting – All players present shall be listed on the official line-up and shall bat in the order listed for the entire game. Each team shall bat until a total of four (4) runs have been scored or until 3 outs have been made.
    6. Coach Pitch – Each batter will receive a maximum of five pitches with extra pitches if the 5th ball is fouled. After 5 pitches the player will be allowed three (3) swings from the tee.If after 3 swings from the tee, the ball is not put in play, the batter will be out.
    7. Adult Pitcher – The adult pitcher of the team batting must move away from a hit ball so it may be fielded. If the ball hits the adult, the ball is declared dead. The batter returns to the plate and the runners return to the bases they were occupying before the ball was hit.
    8. Bunting – is allowed, must go past the 6-foot mark on field.
    9. Required Playing Time – All players present must play a minimum of three defensive innings per game. No player shall sit more than 2 consecutive innings and shall sit no more than 3 innings total. All players MUST play a minimum of 1 inning in the infield during each game. If the required amount of playing time is not met due to a called game, then that player must start the next game. Innings do not need to be played consecutively.
    10. Defensive Players – Each team has an option to either field ten (10) players on defense, or field all their players on defense.If fielding ten, all four outfielders including the rover (10th player) must position themselves on the cut of the grass and must remain there until the pitch has crossed the plate.If fielding more than ten, all players except the six (6) infielders must position themselves on the cut of the grass and must remain there until the pitch has crossed the plate.
    11. The defensive infield positions will be as follows: pitcher, catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and short stop.The pitcher defensive position will be either to the left or right of the Adult Pitcher with one foot in the pitching circle.
    12. Defensive Coaches – Two (2) defensive coaches may be placed in the grass area to aid in coaching the outfield players.
    13. Ruling of Catcher/Pitcher overthrow – If the runner is standing on the base or is retreating to a base, then the runner does not advance forward.
    14. Overthrow – Only one base is awarded on an overthrow to first base, even if the ball is still in play.
    15. To Stop Play – The ball must only break the plane of the Infield to stop play.
    16. Prior to the start of each game a volunteer coach will be the umpire.If a volunteer coach is not available, then a parent volunteer will be selected by each team and will serve as the umpire while their team is on offense.
    17. Scores will not be recorded for the first half of the season.
    18. Beginning on Week-5 (March 25th) Scores will be required to be submitted and standings will be held for all 6U teams.This will be used to rank the teams for Play-off week.
    19. Home Team will be the official score keeper.
    20. In the event that the "drop-dead" time is reached in the middle of an inning, the score will revert back to the last complete inning unless the home team is ahead. Once time has expired and the score remains tied, the game will end in a tie.