Softball Rules

Greenville Sports Leagues Coed & Men's Softball Rules

Softball Rules

Greenville Sports Leagues

 

These rules have been adapted to the needs of GSL Leagues. Any rule not covered below, defaults to the NSA Rules > NSA RULE BOOK

 

NSA Bat List

Balls must be yellow in color - 52cor/300comp

 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Games will be played with ten players on the field; minimum three (3) females.

 

NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO START/FINISH
Teams are required to have one female present to avoid a forfeit. Teams will take an out for each missing female. Teams are also required to have 3 males present to avoid a forfeit. Teams must have a minimum of eight players on the field by the scheduled game time to start and finish the game (max 7 males). An out will be taken for each missing roster spot in the batting order.

If subs are needed, a team may pick up a maximum of 3 players from within in the league, but may not pick up any more than needed to field a full team. (10 Total Players)

 

EQUIPMENT

Each team is responsible for supplying its own equipment, including but not limited to bats, balls, jerseys, gloves and protective gear. 

GSL HIGHLY recommends that each team provide their protective equipment.

No metals cleats will be allowed.

GSL STRONGLY recommends that pitchers wear a masked helmet for protection.

 

HOME TEAM

The home team is the team listed on the right side of the schedule.  The home team will always bat last and take the field first. 

 

SCORE KEEPING

GSL umpires will keep score.

 

10 RUN MAX RULES

Coed: A team’s turn at bat will be declared over when they reach 10 runs in any given inning. 

EXCEPTION: with runners on base and an over the fence home run there is an opportunity to score up to 13 runs per inning. Also, a walk to a male batter with a female batter hitting behind will result with the 10th and 11th runs scoring thus ending the current inning. The female would then lead off the following inning.

 

REGULATION GAME

A regulation game shall consist of 7 innings, a run rule victory, or 60 minutes. No inning will start at 55 minutes or later.


RUN RULE

15 runs by the end of the 4th Inning. If the home team is ahead after the top of the fourth or either team is ahead after the bottom of the fourth by 15 runs.

10 runs by the end of the 5th Inning or after. If the home team is ahead after the top of the fifth or either team is ahead after the bottom of the fifth by 10.

 

TIE BREAKER 

During regular season, tie breakers are played when time allows. 

Tie breaker innings will always be played during playoffs until a winner is declared.

When a game is tied at the end of regulation (if time allows) a new inning is started and a runner (last batted out) is placed on second base. At least one full inning is played for a tiebreaker, allowing each team the same chance to score. The inning will start with 0 outs for each team and resume where the kicking/batting order left off from the previous inning. If the score remains tied, the same process is used in each inning until a victor emerges. Only if time allows.  

 

HOME RUNS

**The batter does NOT have to touch first base upon a hit being declared a home run.
**Effective Winter 2024: Teams will get a total of 4 home runs per game.  

 

BATTING ORDER

Each player will become a batter in the order in which his name appears on the sheet.  The batting order of each team will be complete and delivered to the umpires prior to the start of the first inning.

Coed - minimum requirement guy-guy-guy-girl. At no time can four guys hit in a row. Doing this will result in an out and all runners return to the base they occupied prior to the violation. Defensive team must bring this to the umpire’s attention before the next pitch. Once the batting order has been set, it will remain that way the rest of the game.

For questions about the 7&3 batting order please view Rule 4, 7/3 Coed, Section 2 Extra Player (EP) in the NSA 2018 Softball Rules Under Part III Coed Softball pg. 49/50

 

EXTRA PLAYERS

Effective Winter 2024- A team may hit as many players as they wish in the lineup for regular season games as long as the guy-guy-guy-girl rule is followed.

Postseason rules will follow the NSA rulebook. To have an extra guy hit in the lineup, you must have a girl as well. So the number of players in this case would have to be 12 or 14. We want as many players participating as possible but the rules must be followed in the postseason. You may hit extra females without having the extra males in the order.

 

OUTFIELD LINE
When a female batter is “at bat” all outfielders must be positioned behind the white line located 175’ from home plate. If a female batter makes contact with the ball and an outfielder is within the 175’ line the batter-runner will advance one extra base when the ball is declared dead.

 

PITCHING

Per NSA rules > only men are allowed to pitch in our coed leagues in 7/3 format. Females can pitch if there are 4 or more females on the field. 

 

PITCHING MAT

A pitching mat will be used which is 17’’ wide by 36’’ long. If the ball hits any portion of the mat and is within the height requirements it will be called a strike.

 

PITCHING SCREEN

Effective 2023 - Pitching Screens are mandatory. This rule has been put in place for the safety of our players. The net is not meant to be used as an extra defender. 

  1. The screen may not be more than 3 feet in front of the pitching rubber and must be within the width of the pitching rubber.
  2. The screen can only be moved between half innings, after it has been dislodged, or when a pitching change has been made.
  3. The pitcher may release the ball from either side of the screen, but must have at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber.
  4. The pitcher is NOT required to get behind the screen after releasing the ball but IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
  5. If a batted ball hits the screen, the first time it is a foul. The second time a batted ball hits the screen, it is an out. The play is dead, and runners cannot advance. *Per at bat* (Exception to foul - if the batter already has 2 strikes, a screen hit would result in an out) 
  6. If the screen is hit with a thrown ball, it will be considered a live ball.

 

UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR

(Hitting Up the Middle) Any player, heard by the Umpire, Supervisor or League Coordinator, verbally threatening to “shoot the middle” or put another player in danger, will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty for this will be ejection from the game by the Umpire and indefinite suspension from the league.

 

Any player that continually argues with the umpires will be removed from the game. Warnings will be given and an opportunity for the team manager and player to correct their behavior. If it continues then said player will be ejected. Teams with available players may make a substitution in the lineup. However, teams will not be permitted to “pick up” a player for an ejection.

 

Any player that argues or threatens a teammate or opposing player will be warned then can be ejected from the game.