1st Grade Softball Rules

Kidsports Modified Coach-Pitch follows National Federal Rules modified as shown below.

All uniforms and equipment issued by Kidsports are legal for all Kidsports MCP games. Catchers are required to wear protective head gear and are allowed to use any type of glove or mitt.

The Bat
Both wood and metal bats with safety grips are legal. Bats that have been finished with enamel paint are not legal. (Exception: approved bats with factory enamel finish are legal. There are no weight-to-length restrictions.

Batting Helmets
Each team is required to have a minimum of four (4) regulation protective batting helmets prior to starting a game or practice session.

Shoes
Shoes that have metal spikes or hard polyurethane soles cannot be worn.

Second First Base
The second first base (provided by the visiting team) is placed next to the regular first base on the out-side of the foul line. The base in foul territory is the one the batter runs to and the baseman uses the base in fair territory. If the visiting cannot provide a base, the game is played with one first base.

Batting T
The home team is responsible for having a batting T at the game. It is recommended that the visiting team have their T available in case it is needed for emergency use. The batting T shall be placed directly on the tip of home plate may be adjusted for each batter. A regulation batter’s box will be used during MCP games.

Starting Line Up
All Modified Coach-Pitch games are played with ten players on the field at one time. Teams may start the game with 8 players. A team with 8 players or fewer may choose to forfeit the game – and then borrow players from the opposing team to play the game. This game will not be rescheduled.

Defensive Pitching Position
While the coach is pitching, the defensive pitcher must stand in the area behind, and to the left or right of the pitcher-coach or machine. When the batter is hitting off the T, the defensive pitcher must start within the pitching circle.

Other Positions
Same as used in regular baseball. However, there will be four outfielders, and these outfielders must be restricted to positioning themselves a minimum of 15′ beyond the baseline. Infielders must be positioned at least 40 feet from home plate until the ball is hit.

Defensive Player Rotation
The ten defensive player positions are classified into two groups:

Group # I
Pitcher
1st Base
2nd Base
3rd Base
Shortstop

Group # II
Catcher
Left Field
Left Center
Right Center
Right Field

No player may play more than two consecutive innings at a position of either group. Example: A player who plays one inning at pitcher and an inning at first base must play the next two innings at one or more of the Group II positions.

Note: At the start of any new inning, players who did not play defense the previous inning, must be inserted for that inning, unless injured or sick.

Pitching Rules
Each player will receive three (3) pitches from his/her own coach. If the player is unable to hit a ball into fair play, he/she will have three (3) attempts to hit the ball off the T. Bunting is legal on pitched balls but not off the T.
Note: Coaches, while pitching from the mound, are allowed to instruct only the batter. The pitcher-coach will be allowed to move up within 15 feet of the batter if he/she desires. If the pitching coach in any way touches the batted ball or interferes with an opponent trying to field the batted ball, the ball becomes dead, the pitch is considered a no-pitch and all base runners must return to their base.

Regulation Game
Consists of five innings unless shortened because of time limit, curfew, or bad weather.

There will be no minimum number of innings played to constitute a regulation game. A game will be considered complete if five innings have been played or the time limit expires.

Automatic Outs Batters will be automatically declared out when batting off the T when he/she:

Advancing
A Base runner may advance to home in a MCP game whenever any legally batted ball occurs or the defensive team attempts to put any base runner out as in regular baseball rules. The base runner must touch home plate, not the T, to score.

Inning Termination
In MCP games, an inning shall be terminated after each player on the roster bats regardless of defensive outs.

A base runner shall be declared out for leaving the base before the ball is hit.

When any player on or within the baseline holds the ball above their head and does not attempt to put an advancing runner out, base runners may advance only to the next base to which they are proceeding when the runner is past the halfway mark. When an infielder with the ball in his or her possession elects to throw the ball to another player in an attempt to put out an advancing runner, and, in the process overthrows the base, runners may not advance to the next base.

Time Limit
Kidsports games shall be governed by a time limit after one hour and fifteen minutes (1 hr 15 min) has elapsed.

Substitution Rule: The following player substitution rule is required in all Kidsports scheduled games:

Starting Players
Each eligible player listed on the team roster form must start on defense every other Kidsports scheduled game they attend.

Eligible Batters
All eligible players will be in the batting order for the entire game. A player arriving after the beginning of a game may be inserted at the beginning of a half-inning at the end of the batting order.

Defensive Substitutions
At the start of any new inning, players who did not play defense the previous inning must be inserted for that inning, unless injured or sick.

Canceled Games Starters
If a game is canceled or postponed, the players who were scheduled to start the postponed or canceled game must start and play in the very next game on theKidsports schedule.

Failure to make substitutions
If a coach knowingly violates the substitution rule, the opposing coach should call “time-out” and ask the coach to make appropriate changes. If the coach refuses, the game is played and the opposing coach should contact his/her sports manager at Kidsports. Kidsports will take appropriate actions as it sees fit.