Rules of Play

Teams may play with nine or ten players in the field at a time. If the team has less than nine players, the team rep is responsible for communicating with their opponent before the game.

Teams may choose to play with only eight players at the discretion of their opponent and the umpire, if no additional players are available.

Players and umpires should arrive at the field by 6:00 p.m. and be warmed up and ready to begin by 6:15. The umpire has the option at the beginning of the game to limit it to five innings if the game begins after 6:30 p.m.

The home team is responsible for setting up and returning the bases. The home team must ensure the base plugs are in the hole posts before leaving.

The league uses a modified fast pitch. Modified means no windmill deliveries; using a "slingshot," the backswing hand may not go higher than the shoulder. If there are any questions, the pitching rule should be discussed with the other team before the game begins. 

Pitchers may not pitch from in front of the designated pitching rubber under any circumstances. If field conditions make it impossible to use the designated pitching rubber, the umpire shall convene the team reps to decide how to proceed (i.e., have the pitchers stand to the side of it or behind it).

If the pitch is too fast, the team rep or an individual player should speak to the umpire about it; they will then ask the other team to slow the pitch down. Be reasonable. The umpire can call a "no pitch" if the pitcher still throws too fast.

Any player can ask questions of an umpire about a call in a respectful manner.

If multiple people have input on a disputed play, they need to designate one person on the team (can be any player or team rep) to address the umpire in a respectful manner.

Umpires make the best calls they can from their vantage point. Judgment calls by an umpire cannot be changed or argued.

Players who are disrespectful to an umpire will be given a warning, or will be asked to leave the game at the umpire's discretion.

If the catcher fails to catch the 3rd strike before it hits the ground, the batter is not out and can run to 1st base when:

There are fewer than two outs, and first base is unoccupied
—or—
There are two outs, and first base is either occupied or unoccupied.

If the batter moves to return to the team bench area, the batter concedes the out and cannot run to first base.

• If the batter is in the batter's box, it is a foul ball.

• If the batter is outside the batter’s box, the batter is out.

• If a runner is hit by a thrown ball and cannot proceed, the ball is dead, and the runner is granted the base they were going to.

• If a runner is hit by a thrown ball and can proceed, the ball is live, and play continues.

The conditions for an infield fly are:

• Less than two outs

• Runners on first and second, or bases loaded

• An easily catchable pop fly hit to the infield

Infield fly rules will be enforced at the umpire’s discretion. The rule prevents infielders from purposely dropping a fly ball in favor of completing a double play.

When the umpire calls an infield fly, the batter is automatically out. The ball is not dead, and base runners may choose to advance. If a runner chooses to advance, a fielder must tag them to put them out.

• If a fielder has the ball or is "in the act of fielding" a batted ball, they have the right of way to the base path. In any case, where a fielder does not have the ball or is not in the act of fielding a batter ball, the runner has the right of way to the base path.

• Contact is unnecessary for the umpire to make the call for interference and obstruction. If the obstructing fielder forces a runner to take an indirect path, it is obstruction. If a runner gets in the way of a fielder (even without contact), it is interference.

• It is the obligation of the base runner to not get in the way of fielders fielding a ball. It is the obligation of fielders who are not fielding a ball or do not have the ball to be out of the way of runners.

• In close plays at bases, if the fielder has the ball, it is the runner's obligation to avoid a collision, either by sliding or by conceding the out. If the runner causes a collision, they are out.

• Runners running from home to 1st base can overrun first base and can safely turn either to the left or right and return to the base.

• If a player overruns 1st base and makes a move to run toward 2nd base or fakes a move toward 2nd base, they can be tagged out.

A pinch runner can be used only in case of injury to players. This rule should be enforced, and we should be able to use good judgment and good sports ethics on this and not abuse the privilege.

• If your team has more than 10 players present, the pinch runner should be a player who is not currently in the lineup.

• If your team has 10 or fewer players, the team should make every effort to have the person who made the last out be the pinch runner. If that person is not available, it should be the person who made the second to last out, etc.

• The league expects that all teams will make good faith efforts to abide by the spirit of this rule.

• The umpire will draw a line in the dirt where the runner should stand (to the right of the plate at a safe distance of four or five feet). If the runner goes beyond this line before the ball is hit, the umpire can call the runner out.

• When there is a pinch runner, base runners cannot steal, batters cannot bunt, and the dropped 3rd strike rule does not apply. Base runners can still lead off.