Any questions about AAA League Softball, e-mail the Softball Coordinator.

                                           General Rules  AAA Juniors

1.         All players must be registered members of the Douglas, Mendon, Northbridge and Upton Youth

           Softball League.                      

2.         All players must wear uniforms consisting of shirts and hats/visors.  They must also wear

            rubber spikes or sneakers.                      

3.         Players are not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind.

4.         Each team will field 10 players if available on defense, consisting of 4 outfielders. All outfielders

            must remain in the outfield area until the ball is live. The ball is considered live when the ball is hit.

5.         The decision to call a game off due to weather/field conditions or due to school events will be

            made by the head coach of the home team scheduled to play.  The coach may cancel the

            game prior to the starting time.  Make up games, if needed, will be played at the end of the

            season. Home team head coach must notify the league umpire.

6.         Six (6) full innings define a complete game.  An official game has a minimum of four (4)

            complete innings (3 1/2 if the home team is ahead).

7.         Players must remain in the dugout or on the bench when not playing in the field. The on-deck

            batter may warm-up.

8.         If the team that is at bat is leading the game at the time their turn to bat begins, then that team

            will be limited to scoring (6) six additional runs during the current inning. If however the team

            coming to bat is trailing at the time their turn to bat begins, that team will be allowed to score

            as many runs as needed until such time as their lead totals (6) runs.  Both teams will be

            allowed to score unlimited runs in the last inning of the game.  For the purpose of this rule the

            final inning of the game is defined as either the sixth inning or whatever inning the umpire

           declares must be the final inning.  The declaration from the umpire occurs prior to the

           beginning of any inning.

9.         All injuries must be reported to the leagues of those teams participating in the game.

10.       All coaches will have on hand the emergency forms (registrations forms) at all practices and games.

11.       Each team must have an emergency kit on hand with gloves, band aids, ice packs, gauze, etc.

12.       A eleven (11) inch ball will be used as standard for all games.

13.       Each player can only sit out one (1) consecutive inning.

14.       Catchers must wear catcher's equipment as provided by the league, or equivalent, and wear

           personal protective equipment, as necessary, which is furnished by the player.  This rule is in

           effect for both games and practices.

15.       The top of a new inning will not begin in any game after 7:45 P.M. while school is in session.

           Conduct:                   

1.         Profanity, kicking equipment or other unsportsperson like conduct by coaches, players, or

            parents will cause the umpire to give the team a warning.  Continuation of this behavior by a

            player or coach  after the warning will result in ejection from the game.  If a parent continues

            to display unacceptable behavior after being warned, the team for whom their daughter plays

            may be forced to forfeit the game at the umpires discretion.

2.         Coaches shall assume the responsibility for the conduct of his/her players.  They will also be

            responsible for assisting the umpire in managing unacceptable behavior displayed by the

            parents of girls on his/her team.

3.         Coaches should encourage their players to cheer for their teammates.  Chanting and

            singing of limericks will be allowed as long as they are not derogatory or degrading

            to the other team. Once pitcher presents the ball, all chanting and singing stops                   

            Pitching:                 

1.         Pitching will be fast pitch regardless of the pitching motion utilized.

2.         The starting pitcher, once relieved can return to pitch once during a game  (provided that rule

            #2 under batting has not occurred).

3.         Prior to the pitch, the pitcher shall take a position with the pivot foot on or partially on the surface

            of  the pitcher's plate.  All steps must be forward in motion.

4.         The distance from the pitching rubber to home plate will be a minimum thirty five (35) feet.

5.         Pitcher will not be able to walk in a run. If ball 4 is called with bases loaded the coach of the

            team that is at bat will come in and pitch to his/her batter.  The batter will keep the strikes

            she has in the count.  The batter can either hit the ball in play or strike out.  She can not walk. 

            When the coach comes on the field to pitch, player who was pitching will stand to the side of

            the pitcher's mound and play defense. Coach can throw at whatever speed he/she feels

            appropriate for batter at plate. When the next batter comes to plate, the pitcher resumes pitching.

6.         Pitchers will be limited to pitching half of the total innings played by their team in a given week, 

            running from Sunday to Saturday.

            Base Running:  

1.         Stealing is not permitted.                     

2.         The infield fly rule will not be used.                     

3.         The dropped third strike rule will not be in effect.                     

4.         If a ball is caught in the air, runners may tag up.  (fair or foul territory).                      

5.         The advancing base runner may not collide with the person covering the base.  Upright collision

            results in automatic out.                   

6.         Sliding is permitted.  A runner is required to slide into home, if the potential for a close play

            at home exists.                

7.         A ball is considered dead when it is returned to the pitcher following a play. Runners may not

            advance after the ball has been returned to the pitcher's mound.

8.         Base runners may not leave the base until the ball reaches home plate.                      

             Batting:                     

1.         The batting order which is established prior to the game shall include all girls on the team that

            are present and shall remain unchanged for the duration of the game.  If a player arrives late

            she shall be added to the end of the existing batting order.                   

2.         A batter hit by a pitch does walk.  After three (3) batters are hit, the pitcher must be removed

            from the mound.                  

3.         Batters should be instructed not to throw their bats. If this occurs, one warning will be given to

            the team.  If the infraction occurs again all other batters will be called out.                    

4.         Batting helmets with cages and chin straps secured must be worn while batting and running

            the bases.                       

5.         Balls and strikes (with walks and strikeouts) will be called.  A tipped third strike that goes directly

            into the catcher's mitt and is caught will be considered a strikeout.                     

6.         Bunting will be allowed.   

Note:  The guidelines contained above represent the general rules by which play is conducted.  Any

          aspects of play which are not covered by these documents will be governed by the current

          ASA Rules and Regulations as published for the upcoming year 2006 season.