Rules of Softball and Interpretations
EB Girls Softball
Rules of Softball and Interpretation
July 31st, 2018
- Umpire Controls the Game – Arguing calls is expressly prohibited. Arguing Balls and Strikes is forbidden and may result in immediate ejection. If there is only one Umpire, there are no appeals. The Manager, or designee, may ask the Umpire for an explanation of the call calmly and respectfully. The Umpire will use his or her discretion in making calls and the ruling on the field is final.
- Infield Fly Rule – An “Infield Fly" is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder stationed in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baseline, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly if Fair." The batter is out if the result of the play is a fair ball.
The ball is live and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is caught, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
- Dropped Third Strike (Senior League Only) – With a runner on 1st base and less than two outs, the batter is out when the 3rd strike is not caught. If there are two outs or if no runner occupies 1stbase, the batter is not out unless the 3rd strike is caught. In the event of a dropped 3rd strike, the batter is entitled to try to reach 1sr base before being tagged or thrown out. Also, remember if the batter doesn't try to reach 1st base on a dropped 3rd strike and leaves the circle around home plate, the batter is automatically out.
- Obstruction (Called on a Defensive Player) – The runner owns the base path. Defensive players may not block any base path, base or home plate unless she has full possession of the ball. If a defensive player is drawn into the base path while in the act of fielding a batted ball or receiving a throw, this should not result in an obstruction call.
- Interference (Called on a Batter/Runner) – Base runners must avoid contact with any defensive player who is in the act of fielding a batted ball or receiving a throw. A runner may be called out even if the contact is unintentional.
- Sliding Rule – There is no “must slide" rule. Players may not intentionally run into the catcher or any other player who may be covering the plate or any base, whether they have the ball or not. The applicable rule is that the runner is out if she remains upright and crashes into a defensive player who has possession of the ball. However, a runner, who, in the judgement of the Umpire, intentionally runs into a defensive player, may be ejected from the game.
The runner's options are to: slide, run around the fielder without leaving the base path, or stop and run back to the previous base. If the ball arrives at the same time and there is an accidental collision, the runner is not deemed out.
If a runner remains upright and there is incidental contact with the defensive player, the runner is not automatically out.
- Hit Batter – When a pitched ball touches the batter or her clothing while in her legal batting position. The ball is called “Dead" and the batter takes first base. If first base is occupied, that runner will advance, as will all other runners in succession, if the respective bases are occupied, without liability to be put out.
If the ball hits the ground before hitting the batter, it's not considered a hit batter. In the judgement of the Umpire, if the batter intentionally steps into a pitched ball and is hit, the Umpire may call a ball or strike.
- Pitching Footwork – The pitcher must start with both feet on the pitcher's plate and may not step backwards during the delivery. The pivot foot (same foot as the pitching hand) must stay in contact with the pitching plate until the front foot lands. This means the first step cannot be made with the pivot foot.
- Limit of Coach/Manager Visits to the Mound – There may be one visit to the mound each inning up to two in a game without removing the pitcher. On the second visit, in an inning or third in a game, the pitcher must be replaced by another player.
- Pitcher Re-entry – A pitcher who is replaced and does not remain in an on-field defensive position, may not re-enter the game as a pitcher. The replaced pitcher must occupy another on-field defensive position if she is to re-enter the game as a pitcher.
- Courtesy Runners – A replacement runner may be used for a pitcher or a catcher on base when there are two outs. The replacement player must be the player who made the previous out. This rule allows the game to move more quickly but is not mandatory.
- Continuous Batting Order – If there is a player who is in the line-up but is not present at the time her position in the batting order comes up, the coach must decide whether to take an out for that slot or take her out of the line-up. If the coach decides to take an out for that slot and the girl doesn't show up, the team will continue to take an out every time the batting order comes to that slot. Similarly, if the late player's slot is not reached in the first inning, the coach must decide whether to keep her in the lineup before the first pitch is thrown in the second inning. If the player doesn't show up, the team will continue to take an out every time the batting order comes to that slot. It is the responsibility of the player's coach to notify the opposing coach that the missing player is to be removed from the line-up. If you forget and either the next batter receives one pitch or the first pitch in the second inning is thrown, then the out will be observed for the remainder of the game.
- Late Players – A player who is not in the line-up may not be added once the first pitch of the second inning has been thrown unless the team is taking an out for that player. This also means if a coach forgets to remove the player from the order and the first pitch is delivered in the second inning then that player is an out the rest of the game.