ASA league Rules

San Dieguito ASA – 2008 Season

Revised 2/20/08

Protected Player Privileges

Provided they are in the same division, sisters will be placed on the same team, unless, at least twenty four hours prior to the Team Formation Meeting, the President or Player Agent receive written request from the parents or guardians that the sisters be placed on different teams.

A manager who has a child(ren) within the league shall, at least twenty four hour prior to the team formation meeting, inform the President or Player Agent in writing: the full names of the child(ren) who are in the same division as the manager; their birthdates; and whether: 1) the manager wants to select the child(ren), or 2) have the child(ren) placed in the open draw.

Designated Pitchers

All pitchers, including All Stars, who have pitched in at least twenty five percent of the innings in the games which they played during the previous spring/summer or fall seasons, will be known as designated pitchers.

The league’s Board of Directors may assign any player to be a designated pitcher, if it is known that such a player has received special pitching training, or if a player is transferring from a fast pitch softball program where the player was known to have been a designated pitcher.

Any player whose parents make a written statement as to why their child should be considered a pitcher, if approved by the Board of Directors, will be known as a designated pitcher.

Amendments to Current ASA Rules

1. A team may play all or part of a game with a minimum of players below or forfeit the game:

6u	four players
8u	six players
10u	eight players
12u	eight players
14u	eight players

In 10u – 14u the “short-handed “ rule applies.

Short-Handed Rule: A team may start with 8 players but when another player arrives, they must be inserted into the line up in the ninth batting position. An out will be called each time the ninth position in the batting order appears until a 9th starting player arrives and is entered. If a 10th player arrives, she must be inserted in the 10th spot in the line up and so on with each arriving player.

2. Pitching limits are as follows:

8u - Two innings per game and four innings per week (Mon.-Sun.)

10u – Two innings per game and four innings per week (Mon.-Sun.)

12u - Four innings per game and six innings per week. (Mon.-Sun)

4u – Five innings per game and seven innings per week. (Mon.-Sun.)

In 10u-14u, A (one) pitcher can pitch up to seven innings in any one game per week, one pitch over four innings (three in 10u) in that one game (including warm ups), she cannot pitch for the rest of the week. If the pitcher has pitched any innings in an earlier game, in the week, she may not pitch seven innings in any game until the following week.

If the pitcher is discovered to have pitched over her allotted innings during the game, then she will be disqualified from the game. If it is discovered after the completion of the game then the game will be forfeited. A disqualified player could cause a team to play under the “Short-Handed” rule, also rule #6 would apply.

NOTE: One pitch thrown in an inning (including warm ups from the mound), is considered one complete inning. A game that is made up due to a rain out, etc. will count for pitching purposes as if it were played during the week in which it was originally scheduled.

3. Minimum Playing Time

6u – Everyone plays

8u – Everyone plays

10u – Four innings per game, after six innings

12u – Four innings per game, after six innings

14u – Four innings per game, after six innings

All players in attendance are to bat.
Failure to enter all players will result in forfeiture by the team who has failed to enter all their players.

4. There will be a “Slide or Avoid” rule in effect at all age groups. If contact is initiated by the runner, with such force to cause an injury (although an injury doesn’t have to occur), then the runner will be called out, and if determined to be blatant that player shall be removed from the game. (see rule #6)

5. In 10u, 12u, and 14u divisions, if a game is tied at the end of seven innings and there is time remaining, extra innings will be played utilizing the “International Tie Breaker” format. Each team will start the inning with a runner on second base. The runner will be the last batter in the previous inning. Pitching rules (limits) will still apply for the extra innings. If a game ends in a tie after the extra inning(s), both teams will be credited with ½ game won and ½ game lost. In the playoffs, the teams will keep playing until there is a winner.

6. If the 10, 11 or 12 player (in the original line up) cannot take her turn batting for any reason, she is declared out for that turn. If she is unable to continue subsequent batting turns, there is no additional penalty (i.e. she is only out for the first time). If the 9th player cannot take her turn at bat for any reason, then the team must play under the “Short- Handed” rule.

7. Play must begin at game time if both teams have the minimum number of players as outlined in rule #1. If either team has less than the minimum number or players, they have 10 minutes after game time to field the minimum number of players or forfeit the game. (clock starts at game time) Where there is a double forfeit, each team will receive a loss. The game will not be re-scheduled.

8. All protests must be filed with the Umpire In Chief in writing within 24 hours and submitted with a check payable to San Dieguito Youth Softball for $50.00. If the protest is upheld the $50.00 will be returned; if denied, the money will be deposited into league funds.

9. There shall be an adult female present at all team practices, games, etc.

10. All “High Performance” bats as determined by SDYS are illegal to use in a SDYS game and/or practice in 6u-10u. Including, but not limited to Anderson “Rocket Tech”, Worth “Wicked”, Miken “Intensity & Impulse”, Easton “Synergy 2”, etc. See Supplemental list.

6u Rules (Tee Ball)

One and one half-hour “games”, first forty-five minutes to be a clinic/practice, then a forty-five minute game.

There is no stealing, and runners cannot advance on an overthrow from the catcher to the pitcher. If a runner advances illegally to the next base she is sent back.

Bat thur line up, once per inning

8u Rules

Game rules to be per ASA rules with the following exceptions.

1. Batting Order: The manager will determine a batting order for his or her team before the game begins and will place this order on the lineup card. The players will bat in this order throughout the game. If a player is late to the game and the game has already begun, she will be placed in the last position in the batting order and will bat when this position comes up in the order.

2. Walks: There will be no walk in runs. A pitcher can walk a batter until bases are loaded, then a coach must come in and pitch.

3. Bunting: Bunting off a player’s pitch will be allowed, but not when a coach pitches.

4. Hit-By-Pitch: A batter hit by a pitch will not necessarily take a base. If the batter is uncomfortable staying at bat, then let her take a base. If not, then let her stay at bat. Although the pitch becomes a dead ball (no stealing).

5. Stealing: A baserunner is allowed to steal only one base per batter. No stealing while the coach is pitching.

6. Overthrows: A baserunner may advance only one base on an overthrow (i.e. out of play.)

7. Home Plate “Cold”: A baserunner is allowed home only when forced home or ball is hit into play.

No stealing of home.

8. Leadoffs: Baserunners may lead off base only after the pitcher releases the ball on a pitch. If a runner leaves a base before the pitcher releases the ball, she will be declared out.

9. Play Stoppage: Once the pitcher has possession of the ball in the pitcher’s circle, the play is dead. The baserunner must immediately proceed to the next base or return to the last base touched. Failure to immediately proceed to a base will result in the runner being declared out.

10. Rotate Fielders: Every player must play an infield position for at least one inning per game unless the coach determines otherwise due to a safety issue or disciplinary reason.

11. All Pitches From Pitching Rubber: All pitches shall be thrown from the pitching rubber. When a coach is pitching, the defensive player assigned to the pitcher position must have at least 1 foot inside the pitching circle until the pitch is released.

12. Coach Pitching: If bases are loaded and a pitcher issues four balls to a batter, the batter’s coach or someone the coach chooses will enter the game and pitch up to three pitches to get the ball into play. The batter will “assume the strike count” which means she will only be pitched the remaining number of strikes before she is called out. If a batter fouls off a pitch with 2 strikes, then she will get additional pitches until she either hits the ball fair or strikes out.

13. Maximum Innings (Pitching): Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game and 4 innings per week. Any part of an inning constitutes a full inning pitched, including warm ups.

14. Defense: There is no limit on the number of defensive players who can take positions on the field as long as they are rostered members of the team. All outfielders must be in the outfield (i.e. the grass) when the ball is pitched. On an all dirt field, the outfield will be considered as 10’ behind the baselines. If any of the outfielders are in the infield before the ball is pitched, the umpire will award the batter first base.

15. Substitutions: Free defensive substitutions are allowed.

16. Infield Fly Rule: Infield Fly Rule is not in effect.

17. Length Of The Game: A regulation game shall have a time limit of one hour and 20 minutes. Under the time limitation, an inning may not start after one hour and 20 minutes from the original starting time of the game. An inning starts immediately after the final out of the previous inning. For example, if the game started at 5:00 p.m., and the last out of the inning was made at 6:19 p.m., one more inning would be played.(including playoffs)

18. Coaches On The Field: A maximum of two coaches from the defensive team are allowed on the field at any one time. Such coaches must remain behind the baseline. Coaches in the field are there to assist their own players in learning the game rather than cheerleading.

19. Max Runs/ Inning: A team shall remain at-bat until they have made three (3) outs or they have scored 4 runs, whichever comes first. There will be no limit on the number of runs scored in the last inning as declared by the umpire .

10u Rules

Play a seven-inning game or no new inning after 1-1/2 hours, Including Playoffs.

Four run limit per inning thur four innings, if after Three & 1/2 innings one team is ahead by ten runs, the game is called.

12u Rules

Play a seven-inning game or no new inning after 1-1/2 hours, Including Playoffs.

Four run limit per inning thur four innings, if after three and 1/2 innings one team is ahead by ten runs, the game is called.

14u Rules

Play a seven-inning game or no new inning after 1 ½ hours, Including Playoffs.

Four run limit per inning thur four innings, if after three and ½ innings one team is ahead by ten runs, the game is called.

Additions

In the 8u-14u divisions, there will be a “Year End Tournament” with all teams participating, Seeding will be determined by league standings, four or more teams will be in a “balanced format”.

If a player is “playing up” from her age group during the season, she still will be eligible to play All Stars in her age group.

All Stars teams to have a maximum of 13 players with up to 2 alternates.

8u ASA Rules Emphasized

Four run limit per inning. The last inning will be unlimited. The umpire will call “last inning” before it starts and only the plate umpire may declare an inning to be the last inning.

No “Courtesy Runner” for the pitcher or catcher.

A runner may not steal home at any time.

A play at a base or an overthrow to the pitcher does not release the runner from third base (Cold Plate).

No dropped- third strike rule.

Bat-Around format will be used. A team may have between 9 and 16 batters and no more then 10 fielders.

No more then 6 players may be positioned in front of the base line. (SDYS Rule applies)

No player shall start in a defensive position closer than 25 feet to home plate.

The DP/DEFO Rule will not be in effect.

All batters must bat and run for themselves unless injured. If a batter or runner becomes injured and cannot complete their turn at bat or time on the bases, a courtesy player will be allowed to finish the at bat or time as a runner for that half inning only.

When all play has stopped, the team member who is scheduled to bat 9th after the injured player, will be the courtesy player. Any batter or base runner that must use a courtesy player a second time due to injury will be removed from the game for safety reasons. When the player who has left the game for whatever reason, misses her next turn at bat, an out will be declared for that one time only. An inning or a game can end with an automatic out.

A player may be used as a courtesy player only once per inning.

8u-14u

“Look-Back” rule will be in effect when the ball is live, the batter-runner has touched first base or has been declared out, and the pitcher has possession and control of the ball within the pitchers circle. The pitcher is considered to be in the pitchers circle when both feet are on or within the lines.

In regards to pitching during the season ending playoffs, Monday – Friday counts as a “week”, with a new “week” starting on Saturday. Championship game has no pitching limits.

Tie Breakers for season endings standings: 1. Head to Head, 2. Run differential between the tied teams, 3. Least runs allowed (season), 4. Runs Scored (season), Coin Toss.

For purpose of seeding the teams for playoffs, if teams have played an unequal number of games then the team with the higher winning percentage would be seeded first. Ties count as ½ of a win.

For a player to be eligible for the playoffs, she would have had to play in over 50% of her team’s games during the season. Unless the games missed was due to injury.