NEAR WEST LITTLE LEAGUE 11-14 GIRLS' SOFTBALL RULES
Revised for 2010 Season on April 24, 2010 (clarified June 5, 2010)
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  1. There is no limit of innings a pitcher may pitch per game.
  2. A pitcher may be substituted for and return to the pitcher position ONE time per game.
  3. Pitcher must have back foot touching mound rubber or the same fixed spot when ball leaves hand.
  4. The pitchers mound should be placed 40' from the back of home plate. (The distance may be shortened if both teams agree.)
  5. If pitch is thrown towards batter, batter must attempt to move away from pitch. If pitch hits batter, umpire decides if pitch is called a ball or if batter should get an immediate walk, depending on circumstances (such as slow pitch vs. fast pitch).
  6. The strike zone is knees to shoulder and over the plate (including edges). This strike zone is set as if the batter is standing next to the plate with only a slight bend of knees and back.
  7. There is no limit of walks per inning.
  8. On ball four, the ball is dead. Any base runners may advance only to make space for walked batter to occupy 1st base.
  9. No bunting. Batter must take regular swing.
  10. No "dropped third strike" rule.
  11. No "infield fly" rule.
  12. If batter throws bat at least ten feet in air or thrown bat hits other person, then umpire may declare batter out and ball dead, depending on circumstances.
  13. Catcher can catch a foul ball for an out that goes at least three feet above batter.
  14. When ball is hit, runners may run until pitcher has ball within ten feet of mound. A runner must return to the last base if only halfway or less to the next base.
  15. If play at home, runner must slide or run around catcher without interference.
  16. No stealing bases. Base runners may leave base when ball is hit or on a walk.
  17. Balls are "in play" that freely bounce off walls or fences. Balls that get stuck or impeded are dead, and rule 15 applies.
  18. If ball is thrown out of designated playing area or hits bleacher area, spectator, off-field player, or equipment, then ball is dead and runners more than halfway to next base advance to the next base plus one additional base. If a runner is halfway or less, then s/he only advances to the next base. However, if the umpire decides the hazards were reckless, s/he may send runners back to previous base or call an out for interference.
  19. If team still has 6 or less players 20 minutes after start time, then team must forfeit.
  20. If a team is playing with 7 players, the 8th position in the batting order is an automatic out.
  21. If a team plays with only 8 players, there is NO automatic out.
  22. Teams must exchange batting orders at beginning of game, plus add any late players after game starts.
  23. A maximum of 10 players may play in the field. Except for pitcher and catcher, players may play wherever determined by coach.
  24. All players 'bat around' in the same order for the whole game with late players added at the end of the order.
  25. Late players or substitutes may enter game during any time-out or between half innings.
  26. Players may only leave and come back into the game two times.
  27. All players must play at least three innings in the field for a five or six inning game and two innings for a four inning game.
  28. Teams should exchange scores after each half inning if score changes.
  29. Games are six innings or two hours, whichever comes first. If an inning starts before two hours, then it must be completed. If no other games are scheduled, and both coaches agree to continue the game, then it is OK to proceed past the two hour time limit.
  30. "Mercy Rule" will end game after four at-bats if a team is losing by 12 or more runs.
  31. There is a 12 run limit per inning.
  32. At the end of each game, teams are expected to line up on their foul line and then walk to home plate to shake the hands in line with each other according common courtesy.