Athens Little League 

Local Rules 

Rookie Softball - Coach Pitch 

The following rules are applied to ALL Rookie softball division in conjunction with the Little League Inc. Rule Books and Operating  Manual. 

GENERAL: 

• Home team shall: 

1. Occupy the 1st base dugout during the game 

2. Keep the official scorebook 

3. Supply one (1) new game ball to start the game (the umpires typically get 2)

4. Report the game score and pitchers’ innings to the league VP within 24 hours of  game completion. 

5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

• Visiting team shall: 

1. Occupy the 3rd base dugout during the game 

2. Operate the scoreboard 

3. Supply one (1) “good” back-up ball game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score and pitchers’ innings to the league VP within 24 hours of  game completion. 

5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

GAME RULES: 

• DEFENSE – The defensive team shall be allowed no more than ten (10) players in the  field at a time. Four (4) players shall be positioned in the outfield. If a team has less than  ten (10) players present for a game, that team shall use three (3) outfielders and have a  total of 

nine (9) position players. If a team has less than nine (9) players present at a game, the  opponent shall “lend enough players to them when they are on defense to cover nine  (9) positions. The players lent to the defensive team shall be the last hitter(s) to bat in the previous inning. When the team that is short players is at bat, they will be required  to accept an automatic out for every player lent to them. 

• INNING RUN RULE – A five (5) run rule per inning shall be in effect for each team. • GAME RUN RULE – A ten (10) run “mercy” rule shall be in effect after 4 innings of  play. 

• THE GAME – All games shall be up to six (6) innings and shall not begin a new inning after  the game has reached 70 minutes. 

• PITCHING RULES: 

1. The pitching distance shall be 35 ft from the back tip of home plate to the front edge  of the pitcher’s plate.

2. The pitching coach will toss underhand to their own team from the pitching circle.  During coach pitch, a fielding pitcher shall be designated and be stationed in the vicinity  of the pitching circle. 

3. The batter is allowed 3 hittable pitches from the coach with no more than 5 pitches whether hittable or not. When a batter hits a foul ball with two strikes, the batter shall  receive an additional pitch. Coaches shall also remain in the pitcher’s circle during  delivery. (removed part about tee) 

4. No walks allowed during coach pitch. 

5. For approximately the last third of the season (to be agreed upon between coaches  before game is played), the players will pitch the game. For these games, pitchers shall  pitch from the pitching circle. This is an instructional league where the girls shall pitch  from a distance that they can reach the plate. Regardless of the starting position of the  pitcher, the pitcher’s feet shall remain inside the circle during their entire delivery. The  pitcher is not required to 

maintain contact with the pitcher’s plate. There will be 3 strikes, or 4 balls. If a pitcher  walks 3 consecutive players, the coach will then step back in and pitch the remainder of  the inning. 

• COACHES – Each team will be allowed a maximum of 3 defensive coaches assisting  the fielders and 3 offensive coaches assisting the batters. At least one offensive coach  will be stationed near the backstop to assist the batters and collect passed balls. No  coach may come in contact with a ball in play at any time. Any coach coming in contact  with a “live” ball shall be warned and possibly ejected if repeated; unless in the umpire’s  sole judgment, the contact could not be avoided. 

• BATTING ORDER – A continuous batting order is required. Any player coming to the  game late will be automatically moved to the last batting lineup position. • BALLS AND STRIKES – The umpires shall call balls and strikes. • BUNTING – Players are NOT allowed to bunt. 

• INFIELD-FLY RULE – The infield-fly rule shall NOT apply to 6-8 Softball. • STEALING – NO stealing is allowed. 

• ADVANCEMENT AFTER A HIT – A player can run until the ball is heading back to the  pitcher in the pitching circle or to the base in front of the lead runner and the umpire  calls time. 

• ADVANCEMENT ON FIELDER OVERTHROWS – Runners can only advance one (1)  base on an overthrow to any base. An overthrow will be defined as a ball thrown to 1st,  2nd, 3rd or home plate while attempting to get a runner out. This is allowed once per  play. After the overthrow, the runner may advance at their own discretion; however,  once the runner reaches the next base, the play will be stopped by the umpire calling  “time”. The runner is not guaranteed the advancement of a base. Fielders may be  allowed to throw the runner out on an attempted advancement. The nature of the rule is  to prevent multiple overthrows in the same play. It is in the umpire’s sole discretion what  constitutes an overthrow. 

• BASE RUNNING – If the base runner has crossed the mid-point between bases when  the umpire calls time, they are awarded the next base; otherwise they are returned to  the prior base.

• SLIDING – Each player must make an attempt to avoid contact when advancing to a  base when a play is being made. If the runner does not attempt to avoid contact (such  as sliding) when a play is being made, the umpire shall call them out. • PLAYING TIME – Each Player is to receive 1 at bat and 6 defensive outs in the field  per game. 

UMPIRES: 

• One umpire is required per game. The umpire will call the game from behind the plate. • The umpire will keep the official time and communicate it to the official scorekeeper  and both managers. 

UNIFORMS: 

All players on a team shall wear numbered uniforms identical in color, trim and style as  provided by ALL 

Facemasks required for infielders only, recommended for all on defense. No Jewelry (watches, rings or necklaces)

Minor Softball 

The following rules are applied to the ALL Minor softball division in conjunction with the Little League Inc. Rule Books and Operating Manual. 

GENERAL: 

• Home team shall: 

1. Occupy the 1st base dugout during the game 

2. Keep the official scorebook 

3. Supply one (1) new game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score and pitchers’ innings used to the league VP within 24 hours of  game completion. 

5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

• Visiting team shall: 

1. Occupy the 3rd base dugout during the game 

2. Operate the scoreboard 

3. Supply one (1) “good” back-up ball game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score and pitchers’ innings used to the league VP within 24 hours of  game completion. 

5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

GAME RULES: 

• DEFENSE – The defensive team shall be allowed no more than ten (10) players in the  field at a time. Four (4) players shall be positioned in the outfield. If a team has less than  ten (10) players present for a game, that team shall use three (3) outfielders and have a  total of nine (9) position players. 

• INNING RUN RULE – A five (5) run rule per inning shall be in effect for each team. • GAME RUN RULE – A ten (10) run “mercy” rule shall be in effect after 4 innings of  play. 

• THE GAME – All games shall be up to six (6) innings and shall not begin a new inning after  the game has reached 80 minutes in length. 

• PITCHING RULES: 

1. The pitching distance shall be 35 ft from the back tip of home plate to the front edge  of the pitcher’s plate. 

2. Each team will use a player to pitch. Four consecutive walks by the fielding team  pitcher or pitchers will require a coach of the team batting to pitch the remainder of the  inning. The coach is allowed to throw 3 pitches per batter (a foul ball on third pitch  constitutes another pitch to be thrown until missed or put into play). 3. No walks are allowed during coach pitch. 

4. No stealing or advancing a base on a passed ball is allowed during coach pitch.

5. A player may pitch in a maximum of twelve (12) innings in a day. If a player pitches in  seven (7) or more innings in a day, one calendar day of rest is mandatory. Delivery of a  single pitch constitutes having pitched in an inning. 

• BATTING ORDER – A continuous batting order is required. Any player coming to the  game late will be automatically moved to the last batting lineup position. • BALLS AND STRIKES – The umpires shall call balls and strikes. • BUNTING – Players are allowed to bunt and slap hit. Fake bunts are not allowed  locally. 

• INFIELD-FLY RULE – The infield-fly rule shall NOT apply to Minors Softball. • STEALING – Stealing is allowed once the pitched ball reaches the batter inside the  regulated batter’s box. 

• ADVANCEMENT AFTER A HIT or FIELDER OVERTHROWS – A player can run until  the opposing team stops their progress and the umpire calls time. 

• SLIDING – Each player must make an attempt to avoid contact when advancing to a  base when a play is being made. If the runner does not attempt to avoid contact (such  as sliding) when a play is being made, the umpire shall call them out. • PLAYING TIME – Each Player is to receive 1 at bat and 6 defensive outs in the field  per game. 

UMPIRES: 

• Two umpires are required per game (one field umpire and one plate umpire) if for  some reason only one umpire is at the game that umpire will be positioned behind the  plate. 

• The umpire will keep the official time and communicate it to the official scorekeeper  and both managers. 

UNIFORMS: 

All players on a team shall wear numbered uniforms identical in color, trim and style as  provided by ALL 

Facemasks required for infielders only, recommended for all on defense. No Jewelry (watches, rings or necklaces)

Major Softball 

The following rules are applied to the ALL Major softball division in conjunction with the  Little League Inc. Rule Books and Operating Manual. 

GENERAL: 

Home team shall: 

1. Occupy the 1st base dugout during the game 

2. Keep the official scorebook 

3. Supply one (1) new game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score to the league VP within 24 hours of game completion. 5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

Visiting team shall: 

1. Occupy the 3rd base dugout during the game 

2. Operate the scoreboard 

3. Supply one (1) “good” back-up ball game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score to the league VP within 24 hours of game completion. 5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

GAME RULES: 

DEFENSE – 9 players will be in the field on defense. 

INNING RUN RULE – A seven (7) run rule per inning shall be in effect for each team. GAME RUN RULE – A ten (10) run “mercy” rule shall be in effect after 4 innings of play. THE GAME – All games shall be up to six (6) innings and shall not begin a new inning after  the game has reached 90 minutes in length. 

PITCHING RULES: 

1. The pitching distance shall be 40 ft from the back tip of home plate to the front edge  of the pitcher’s plate. 

2. Each team will use a player to pitch. 

3. A player may pitch in a maximum of twelve (12) innings in a day. If a player pitches in  seven (7) or more innings in a day, one calendar day of rest is mandatory. Delivery of a  single pitch constitutes having pitched in an inning. 

BATTING ORDER – A continuous batting order is required. Any player coming to the  game late will be automatically moved to the last batting lineup position. BALLS AND STRIKES – The umpires shall call balls and strikes. Players shall make  every effort to swing at hittable pitches. 

BUNTING – Players are allowed to fake bunt, bunt and slap hit. 

INFIELD-FLY RULE – The infield-fly rule shall be in effect for Major Softball. {An infield  fly is any fair fly ball (not including a line drive or a bunt) which can be caught by an 

infielder with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second and third base are  occupied, before two men are out.} 

STEALING – Runner is allowed to advance once the pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s  hand. 

ADVANCEMENT AFTER A HIT or FIELDER OVERTHROWS – A player can run until  the opposing team stops their progress and the umpire calls time. 

ADVANCEMENT BY BATTER ON 3rd STRIKE – The batter becomes a runner when  the 3rd strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied or  (2) first base is occupied with two out. Note: A batter forfeits her opportunity to advance  to first base when she enters the dugout or any other dead ball area. SLIDING – Each player must make an attempt to avoid contact when advancing to a  base when a play is being made. If the runner does not attempt to avoid contact (such  as sliding) when a play is being made, the umpire shall call them out. PLAYING TIME – Each Player is to receive 1 at bat and 6 outs in the field per game. 

ALL OTHER RULES SHALL BE BY THE OFFICIAL RULE BOOK. 

UMPIRES: 

Two umpires are required per game (one field umpire and one plate umpire) if for some  reason only one umpire is at the game that umpire will be positioned behind the plate. The umpire will keep the official time and communicate it to the official scorekeeper and  both managers. 

UNIFORMS: 

All players on a team shall wear numbered uniforms identical in color, trim and style as  provided by ALL 

Facemasks required for infielders only, recommended for all on defense. No Jewelry (watches, rings or necklaces)

Senior League Softball 

The following rules are applied to the ALL Senior softball division in conjunction with the Little League Inc. Rule Books and Operating  Manual. 

GENERAL: 

• Home team shall: 

1. Occupy the 1st base dugout during the game 

2. Keep the official scorebook 

3. Supply one (1) new game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score to the league VP within 24 hours of game completion. 5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

• Visiting team shall: 

1. Occupy the 3rd base dugout during the game 

2. Operate the scoreboard 

3. Supply one (1) “good” back-up ball game ball to start the game 

4. Report the game score to the league VP within 24 hours of game completion. 5. Official Lineups must be provided to the umpire, scorekeeper and opposing manager  with the child’s - first name – last name – and jersey number. 

GAME RULES: 

ALL GAME RULES SHALL BE BY THE OFFICIAL RULE BOOK. . No new inning shall begin after 90 minutes. The current inning shall be completed. 

UMPIRES: 

• Two umpires are required per game (one field umpire and one plate umpire) if for  some reason only one umpire is at the game that umpire will be positioned behind the  plate. 

• The umpire will keep the official time and communicate it to the official scorekeeper  and both managers. 

UNIFORMS: 

All players on a team shall wear numbered uniforms identical in color, trim and style as  provided by ALL 

Facemasks required for infielders only, recommended for all on defense. 

No Jewelry (watches, rings or necklaces)