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

Major League Rules

General:

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

     Softball Leagues.

2.     All players must wear uniforms consisting of shirts and hats.  They must also wear rubber spikes or

     sneakers.

3.     High School Varsity and Junior Varsity uniforms are not permitted.

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

5.     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.

6.     The decision to call a game off due to weather/field conditions 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.

7.     Six (7) full innings define a complete game.  An official game has a minimum of four (4) complete

      innings (4 ½ if the home team is ahead).

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

      batter may warm up.

9.     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) six 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 to be

     the final inning.  The declaration from the umpire must occur prior to the beginning of any

     inning.

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

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

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

13.  A twelve (12) inch ball will be used as standard for all games.

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

15.  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.

16.  The top of a new inning will not begin in any game after 7:45 PM 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 umpire’s discretion.

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

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

     of girls on his or 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.     The starting pitcher, once relieved can return to pitch once during a game (provided that rule # 2 under

      batting has not occurred).

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

      the pitchers plate. All steps must be forward in motion.

3.     Windmill pitching is permitted, however if a windmill delivery is to be used the pitcher must deliver

     the ball from a pitching rubber that is forty (40) feet from home plate.  This distance may be adjusted

     in to thirty five (35) feet if the adjustment is mutually agreed upon by both coaches and the umpire

      in charge.

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

Base Running:

1.     Stealing is permitted, the base runner is allowed to leave the base when the ball leaves the pitchers

      hand however, is only allowed to steal (1) one base at a time.  If an over throw occurs in an

      attempt to prevent a runner from stealing, the ball is considered dead and the runner must hold

      their position on that base.

2.     The infield fly rule will be in effect.

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.     Sliding is permitted.

6.     Base runners must make every attempt to slide or avoid a collision on close plays at all bases.

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 on the pitcher’s mound.

8.  Base runners are allowed to lead / steal upon release of the ball from the pitchers hand.

9.  Runners are allowed to steal home plate on passed ball only and must make every attempt to slide

     or avoid collisions at the 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

      they 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.

Central Reporting of Scores

1.  The home team will be responsible for reporting scores.  The coach of the home team will post the following information on mendonhomeplate.com. 

A.    The final score.

B.    The names of both pitchers and the total innings that each pitcher pitched.

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 current ASA

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