10U Rules
2023
The Vancleave Youth Softball League is governed by the rules of the Amatuer Softball Association of America (ASA). The league board reserves the right to amend and implement local rules that govern recreational play. The official rules of ASA fast pitch softball will apply unless otherwise amended below. The League Board reserves the right to amend these rules at any time during the season.
Playing Field
- Bases will be 60’ apart
- The pitching circle will be an 8’ radius and 35’ from back of home plate to front of pitching rubber.
- Home plate is fair territory
- There will be 2 1st bases. The white base will be considered fair territory and the orange will be in foul territory.
Equipment
- All players must wear a batting helmet with a face mask when up to bat or on the bases.
- Players in the field are encouraged to have a defensive face mask. The player pitcher must wear a face mask.
- The catcher must wear protective gear including a batting helmet or a catcher’s helmet.
- Bats that are stamped ASA, USSSA, or USA are deemed legal for league ball
- Regulation ASA 11’ optic yellow softballs will be used.
Playing rules
- No inning will be started after 55 minutes.
- There must be a minimum of 8 players to start a game. Any player that shows up after the game has started will be placed at the end of the lineup. One pickup is allowed to get a team to 9 players.
- A player picked up for a game must be registered with VGSL and placed in right field and bat last. If the team’s player shows up then she must be put into the game immediately.
- There is to be a maximum of 6 players in the infield including the pitcher and catcher. All other defensive players must start the play on the outfield grass.
- There is to be 10 defensive players allowed during play.
- The outfield will play no closer than 10 feet behind the base path before the ball is hit.
- A game will be a maximum of 5 innings and can end in a tie.
- Every player on the roster will be listed on the lineup and must play at least 1 inning defensively.
- There will be a 10 run rule after 4 innings or 15 run rule after 3 innings.
Hitting
- The batter must have both feet in the batter’s box.
- No bat slinging. One verbal team warning will be given and afterwards the batter will be called out and runners will return to their previous base.
Base Running
- No leadoffs are allowed. The runner must remain on her base until the pitch is released.
- Stealing is allowed except while a coach is pitching after the pitch has been released.
- Stealing is allowed on a passed ball.
- Batters must make an attempt to back out of the batter’s box when a base runner is stealing home.
- A courtesy runner is only allowed for the catcher if the inning has 2 outs. The courtesy runner must be the last recorded out unless it’s the team’s pitcher.
- The “look back rule” is in effect. If the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle, the runner may not stop and jockey between bases. They must proceed to the next base or retreat to the previous base in a timely manner. If a play is made on the runner the “look back rule’ is no longer in effect.
Pitching
- The pitcher must have their pivot foot on the rubber to start the pitch. The pitcher’s pivot foot must stay in contact with the ground until her land foot touches the ground.
- Only 3 awarded bases are allowed per inning (EX. 2 walks and 1 HBP). On the 4th walk the batter will not advance and the offensive coach will pitch and the game reverts back to 8U Rules while the coach is pitching.
o The coach pitcher must stay in contact with the pitching rubber during the pitch.
o Each batter will get 2 pitches. If the 2ndth pitch is fouled, the batter remains up until the ball is put in play, no swing, or a swinging miss occurs.
o If a batter is hit by a pitch, she is not awarded 1st base and the pitch counts.
o If the ball hits the coach/pitcher, the ball is dead and a repitch occurs.
o If the umpire determines that the coach/pitcher interferes intentionally the batter will be called out.
o The infield fly rule is in effect
o No stealing.
o No bunting allowed
- The pitcher then reenters to pitch to the next batter and the coach will step in for each walk or hit by pitch.
- The starting pitcher or when a new pitcher enters the game will get 8 warm up pitches.
- A continuing pitcher from a previous inning gets 5 warm up pitches.
- On a dropped 3rd strike, the play is live unless 1st base is occupied with less than 2 outs.
Defense
- There is to be an infield fly rule.
- Defensive players must throw the ball to their teammate covering the base. No rolling or running the ball to the base except for routine plays (umpire discretion).
- There is no overthrow rule.
- The play is considered dead when
o The defense gets the ball in front of the lead runner stopping her advancement.
o When all play has ceased
o When time has been called
o it is the umpire’s discretion as to whether a runner can advance to the next base
§ If the runner is in the process of advancing, then she is awarded the next base
§ If she is stationary on a bag, stops, or begins to retreat, she must return to her previous base once a dead ball is called.
- The runner is out by being forced, tagged, or runs out of the baseline to avoid a tag.
- The inning will be over when
o The defensive team makes 3 outs
o The offensive team scores a maximum of 5 runs
- A game will be a maximum of 6 innings and can end in a tie except in a championship game.
- Every player on the roster will be listed on the lineup and must play at least 1 inning defensively.
Manager Responsibilities
- The manager is responsible for his team and parents conduct.
- There is to be no arguing with the umpire. This is your warning.
- The umpire has final say.
- All coaches are to set an example for his team and adhere to the Code of Conduct.
- The dugouts are to be cleaned of trash after each game.
- The offensive coaches cannot touch a base runner until the ball is considered dead.
All Stars
- There will be 12 players selected by blind ballot by the head coaches.
- The Head Coach will be the 1st place coach that has to be approved by the Vancleave Youth Softball Board.
- 1 player from each team must be selected.
- Records only count for games played against other Vancleave teams.