Senior Girls

The rules for Sr. Girls are essentially those of "real" softball/baseball, with some exceptions.  The league is competitive, so scores are kept and the rules matter - it is in some cases the first and in others the second occasion with the LBA that the kids experience real ball.

We provide plate umpires and field umpires, and the decisions of the umpires are final.  If there is a disagreement about an umpiring decision please take it up with the League Director AFTER the game - not during the game in front of the ump and in front of the parents.  We cannot and will not tolerate grown-ups remonstrating with our umps, each of which is a young teen-ager and not equipped to deal with an angry grown-up.  Remember:  part of what we are trying to teach the kids is good sportsmanship - so we have to set an excellent example.

1.             Practice and Game Times

(a)        Saturday/Monday Sessions

1.         Practice Start Time:           12:30

2.         Game Start Time:              13:30

3.         Last Inning Start Time:     15:05

(b)        Sunday Sessions

1.         Practice Start Time:           14:30

2.         Game Start Time:              15:30

3.         Last Inning Start Time:     17:05

Note: the umpires set the clock.

2.             The field will be 60 feet down the base paths, and 40 feet to the pitching rubber.

3.             The strike zone will be from the "top of the lettering" (i.e. from about the underarm level) to the knees, based on the player's height while in a reasonable, knees-bent stance.  If a player has a very small crouch stance strikes may be called at shoulder level.  Tip: spend some time in practice pitching to your kids without a bat and having them call out "ball" or "strike" to help them learn the strike zone.

4.             Each game will last six innings, although in the case of a doubleheader, each game will last five innings.  However, in any case, no inning may start later than 1 hour 20 minutes after the start of the game.  Once an inning is started it should be finished even if time runs slightly over.  The League Directors may waive time limits for playoff games or in other special situations.

5.             Four completed innings will constitute a minimum regulation game for which the results will count.  If the home team is ahead after three and a half innings and the game is called, it shall be declared the winner.

6.             There will be a maximum of 10 players on the field at any one time, comprising a pitcher, catcher, four infielders and four outfielders.  However, if either or both team(s) have less than 10 players, then there will be a maximum of 9 players on the field.  Coaches should substitute the fielders to keep only 10 (or 9, or if it turns out to be the case, less) on at any one time but let fielders sitting out continue to bat when it is their turn (i.e. all players bat in order throughout the game).  Every team member must be allowed to bat in a batting order established before the game, whether or not they are currently playing in the field.  Late arrivals must be added at the end of the established batting order. In the event a player leaves early, her coach should notify the opposing coach; then her place in the order is skipped for the remainder of the game, without penalty

7.             The minimum number of players required to play an official game is six.  In the case of six players only, the coach or a parent may play catcher only, representing player #7.  The coach or parent playing catcher may not participate in throw outs or put outs; the pitcher or infielders must cover all plays (even routine force-outs) normally done by the catcher.  If a team has less than six players, then the game is forfeited.  Spectators may join in an unofficial game if desired.

8.             No player may pitch more than four innings in a single game more than seven innings in a day if two games are played on the same day.  The delivery of a single pitch constitutes pitching an inning.  (There is an exception in the case of extra innings as specified in paragraph 22.  Also, in the event more than two games are scheduled for a weekend, the League Directors will determine the maximum number of innings to be pitched in that particular weekend.)

9.             Pitching shall be of the underhand variety and not "fast pitch" and not "high-lob."  As a guideline, in order for a pitch to be legal, it must have some arc, rising in line with the "top of the lettering" of the batter.  Also, the pitcher's pivot foot must be in contact with the rubber when she releases the ball.  If the umpire determines that an illegal pitch has been thrown, then a ball is charged, but the runners do not advance.

10.         Each player must play at least two full innings in the field, assuming a complete game (except for injury or disciplinary reasons).  Players may be substituted during a game at any time the ball is dead.  Re-entry is possible for all players (including pitchers), even if they have been previously removed from the field.  A pitcher may re-enter a game as a pitcher, subject to the limitation on innings pitched in a game or in a weekend.

11.         All players on deck, at bat, and on base, as well as all 1st and 3rd base player- coaches, must wear a batting or running helmet.  Catchers must wear a mask, helmet, and chest protector.  Leg protection is recommended but not required.  Keep all persons well back from the plate to avoid injuries.  No metal cleats are allowed, though rubber ones are fine.

12.         Bunting is NOT permitted.

13.         The infield fly WILL apply.

14.         Four (4) balls constitute a walk, three strikes constitute an out, whether the catcher drops the ball or not.

15.         A pitcher must be relieved if she hits three batters in the course of an inning.  She may return to pitch in a latter inning and can continue to pitch in the game (subject to the limitation on innings pitched) unless she hits another batter.  If she hits another batter, then that pitcher must be relieved and she cannot pitch during the remainder of the game.

16.         Base stealing is NOT permitted.  Also, base runners are NOT allowed to lead-off.  Runners must remain in contact with the base until a pitch crosses the plate or are forced to advance by another runner.  If a player is ruled to have left the base before the pitched ball crosses the plate, play continues, though the runner will be sent back to any base to which she was not forced to advance on the play and a warning issued.  If, after one warning, a player continues to leave the base early, the player will be called out.

17.         The base runner may not advance on a wild pitch or a passed ball.  When a ball in play is overthrown out of the field of play the base runner will be entitled to one base on the over-throw.  There shall be unlimited base advancement if the overthrow remains in the field of play.  A ball that slips under the backstop (in our case a common occurrence because of make-shift backstops) is "dead" and no further advancement is allowed.

18.         Play stops and the ball is dead when the ball is in the pitcher's possession and the pitcher is within 5 feet of the pitching rubber.  When this occurs, runners between bases are judged by the umpire to have reached half way to the next base, or not.  If the runner is less than half way, then she must return to the previous base if so directed by the umpire; however, until play stops she proceeds at her risk, and may thus be thrown out.  If the runner is more than half way, then she may advance to the next base.

19.         Sliding is permitted at any base and is encouraged on any close play at second, third or home plate.  If a runner intentionally and maliciously runs into a defensive player she will be called out on the play and ejected from the game.  The objective of this is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner for the obvious purpose of crashing the defensive player.

20.         NO CRASHES.

21.         Six Run Rule:  If a team is in a position to score at least six runs in their half of an inning before making three outs, all runs scored as part of the play in which the sixth run is scored will be counted.  Thus, the maximum number of runs which can theoretically be scored in an innings is nine.  Once the ball is dead following the play in which the sixth run is scored, that half of the inning is over and the batting team must take the field.  This rule does not apply in the last inning (which may not be the 6th) or to extra innings.

22.         If there is a tie at the end of the 6 innings, play will continue until a team wins, with a limit of 8 innings.  No inning may start later than the time limit set out in paragraph 1.  If the game remains tied under these conditions, the result will be a tie.  The six run rule as specified above will not apply in extra innings.  All pitchers may also pitch no more than one extra inning.

23.         Mercy Rule:  If a team is ahead by 15 runs after four innings, the umpire should call the game.

24.         The umpires shall provide two new balls for the game.  At the end of the game, each team should retrieve one of the game balls and add it to the equipment bag as a practice ball.

25.         In the event of the absence or unavailability of an official league umpire, the head coaches should agree to an acceptable umpiring arrangement using a coach, parent or spectator of appropriate age.

26.         The home team is responsible for keeping the official score of runs scored each inning.    At the conclusion of the game, the home team should notify a League Director of the final score.  Managers should check scores after each inning to ensure that the final score will be agreed.

27.         Standings will be based on Wins, Losses and Games Back.  In the event teams are tied at the end of the season the first tiebreaker will be head to head competition.  The second tiebreaker will be least number of runs given up.  The third will be a coin flip.  To discourage teams running up scores neither total runs scored nor run difference will be used to determine league standings.

28.         Any spectator not participating as a coach, scorekeeper or umpire who disrupts the normal progression of the game, will be warned once by the umpire.  The parent will be reported by the manager to a League Director.  A second occurrence may result in the player of associated with the offending spectator being dismissed from the LBA.

29.         It is the responsibility of each manager to maintain an orderly atmosphere among his players in the dugout.  No "heckling" of the opposing team is allowed. Infractions may result in suspension of those involved.

30.         A League Director will be the final authority on any dispute.

31.         Play-offs will be held among the four teams in the league:  first round play-offs will be team four against team one (team one is the home team) and team three against team two (team two is the home team); and the second round will be the winners against the winners and the losers against the losers.  In the second round, the highest ranked team during the regular season in each game shall be the home team.  (In the event a league has six teams, then, unless the League Directors determine otherwise, teams five and six will first play each other as an entry game into a consolation round.)

32.         Rosters are set at the beginning of the season.  Any child wanting to join a team after the season has started must be referred to a League Director.  The league will determine which team the player will be assigned to.

33.         In the event of rain the decision to cancel, or suspend play will be that of the League Directors.  Once a game is called all games in that league will stop.  The league will determine whether any suspended game(s) may be continued at a later date.

34.         On deck batters are responsible for clearing the bats from the home plate area.

35.         Thrown bats deemed to be unsafe or dangerous by the umpire. In such an occurrence, each team shall have one warning per game.  Subsequent thrown bats, deemed to be unsafe or dangerous by the umpire, will result in the batter being called out.

36.         No swinging of bats except by the player currently at bat and the on-deck hitter and within the confines of the on-deck circle.  No other players or spectators may hold or swing a bat during the game.

37.         Base coaches may be either coaches or players of the team at bat.  If a coach chooses to use any player as a base coach, then she must wear a helmet while serving as a base coach.  In the event a coach pushes or physically assists a runner at any time, the runner is out.

The League Directors may alter the length of the practice session prior to any weekend for compelling reasons.