Youth softball rules are designed to ensure a structured game while protecting the safety of each softball player. The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) is the governing body for youth softball on the United States. Rules can vary depending on the age and level of the players. For example, younger pitchers can struggle to get the ball over the plate, meaning walks are not awarded in some leagues.
Field of Play
A softball field has four bases in a diamond shape from home plate, the bases are 60 feet apart. Foul lines stretch directly from home plate past first and third base and extend to the clearly marked outfield wall. Balls that are hit must remain inside the foul lines to be in live play. The pitcher's mound faces home plate in the center of the diamond. A pitching rubber is located in the center of the mound.
Teams
A youth softball team has nine players. A batting team must submit a batting lineup to the home plate umpire. A softball team will bat in the designated order and players are not allowed to switch lineup positions during a softball game. A player substituted into the game takes the place in the batting lineup of the player she replaces. When fielding, a team should have one pitcher and a fielder on each base, including a catcher at home plate. The rest of the fielding team is composed of three outfielders, and a shortstop.
Pitching
Rules dictate before a game whether fast-pitch or slow-pitch deliveries will be used. Slow-pitch deliveries must arc up to the shoulder during the pitch, and the softball umpire dictates whether a pitch is delivered with "excessive force," making it too difficult to hit, or hazardous to safety. In both forms of the game all pitches must be thrown underarm with one or both feet in contact with the pitching rubber.
Strikes and Balls
The strike zone is from the knee to shoulder of the batting softball player. The strike zone also extends as wide as a normal swing. A strike is called if the ball passes through the strike zone and reaches the catcher. The softball umpire will also call a strike if a batter swings and misses at a pitch outside the strike zone. Three strikes result in a batter being called out by the softball umpire. A ball is called for all pitches that miss the strike zone. Four balls allow a batter to walk to first base uncontested.
Batting
When a ball is hit, the batter runs to first base. The fielders attempt to catch the ball on the fly, or field the ball and throw to the first baseman before the runner reaches that base, which results in an out. Balls that go into foul territory result in a strike being called, but a foul ball does not result in a third strike. Any hit ball caught on the fly in fair or foul territory is an out.
Running and Scoring
Every ball in play requires a batter to run. If a batter reaches base safely she is allowed to remain there or continue to reach the next base. Base runners advance based on the outcome of subsequent batters. Stealing bases is not permitted by youth softball rules. A run is scored by every batter that reaches each base, then home plate.
Member Comments