4th-5th Grade Softball Rules

Modified Player Pitch

KIDSPORTS follows National Federation High School Softball rules except as modified below.

Pitching Distance: 32′ pitching rubber – measured from the front edge of the pitching plate to the rear tip of home plate.

Ball Size/Style: 11″ softball will be used for all games and practice sessions. Only softballs furnished by KIDSPORTS can be used in scheduled KIDSPORTS games. Each team should provide at least one new ball as well as a slightly used ball.

Short Lineups: Teams may start and finish the game with seven players. If an 8th or 9th player shows up after the line-up card is turned in, she must be placed in the 8th or 9th spot in the line-up. She can enter the game only at the beginning of a half-inning. Whenever the vacant 8th or 9th spot in the line-up is due to bat, the position will be skipped (no out will be recorded).
This same rule will apply in the case of a team playing with 7 or 8 players due to injury or ejection. Any team reduced to less than 7 players due to injury, illness, ejection, etc. will be required to forfeit. A team with 7 or fewer players may choose to forfeit the game – and then borrow players from the opposing team to play the game. This game will not be rescheduled.

Playing Requirements: At the beginning of every defensive inning, players who did not play in the previous inning on defense must be inserted into the defensive line-up. The intention of this rule is to ensure that all players play in the field at least half of the defensive outs.

Substitution Violations: If a team 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.

Eligible Batters: All players present at the game will be in the batting order for the entire game.

Late Arrival: A player arriving after the game has started may be allowed to play and must then be inserted at the end of the batting order for the remainder of the game. A player who arrives so late to a game that he/she would be unable to complete her 6 defensive outs in the allotted time or standard number of innings will be ineligible to play that game.

Injured Player: If a player is injured and cannot attempt their turn at-bat, their at-bat will be skipped in the order and no out will be recorded. If a player is injured while on the base paths, the player who recorded the last out will enter into the game for the injured runner. If a player is injured on defense, a substitute may replace the player until she is able to return.

Regulation Games: Consists of 5 innings unless shortened because of time limit or bad weather.

If play is called when the teams have not had an equal number of completed turns at bat, the score shall be the same as it was at the end of the last completed inning; except that if the home team in its half of the incomplete inning scores a run (or runs) which equals or exceeds the opponent’s score the final score shall be as recorded when the game is called.

Inning Termination: 5-Run Rule An inning is over when the 5 runs have been scored or 3 outs have been made.

Time Limit: Games shall be governed by a time limit in which no new inning may begin after the time limit has elapsed. When a lighted field is used no new inning may begin, but the inning being played can be finished.

Time Limit: 1 hr. – 30 minutes (No new inning will start after 1 hr. – 30 minutes).

Tie Games: If the score is tied at the end of a regulation game, the game will end in a tie. No extra innings will be played.

Forfeited Games: Teams may start and finish the game with 7 players. Failure to have 7 players at the scheduled starting time will result in a win by forfeit to the team ready to play. If both teams are in violation the game will be declared a “no contest” and each team will be charged with a loss. A team with 7 or fewer players may forfeit the game and then borrow players from the opposing team for a practice game. This game will not be rescheduled.

Game Termination: 10-Run Rule: Whenever a team leads an opponent by 10 or more runs at the end of any completed inning, provided the minimum of 4 innings have been played, the game will be considered a complete game.

Player Pitch- 3 walks and/or hit batter (Scattered or consecutive) shall require the hitting team’s coach to enter and coach-pitch until 3 outs are made or 5 runs have been scored. Player-pitcher may return to start the next inning.

Coaches are allowed 3 pitches per batter when coming in to relieve the player-pitcher. If the 3^rd pitch is a foul then (only) one more pitch will be granted.

Coaches are not required to stand on the pitcher’s rubber and may move as close as 25 feet from home plate. While pitching, coaches are only allowed to instruct the batter.

Coaches will pitch to their own team and will pitch a maximum of 3 pitches per batter unless 3^rd pitch is a foul ball. In which case, one extra pitch will be granted. However, if after the extra (4^th) pitch the batter fails to hit a fair ball – the batter is ruled out.

If the batted ball in any way touches the coach pitching or interferes with a defensive player trying to field a batted ball, the play becomes dead, the pitch is considered a “no pitch”, and all base runners return to their base.

Warm-up Pitches: When a pitcher takes their position at the beginning of the game or when she replaces another pitcher, she shall be permitted up to 5 preparatory pitches or use a 60-second time limit. Following the initial warm-up, she shall be allowed 60 seconds to warm-up between innings.

Removing the Pitcher: Whenever a pitcher is removed from the mound, she is allowed to return to the mound only once per inning.

Third Strike: A batter is declared automatically out after 3 strikes even if the catcher fails to legally hold the ball after the 3rd strike. Runners may advance at own risk (when player-pitch rule is in effect).

Pitching Violations: A report of all suspected violations of the pitching requirements must be filed at the KIDSPORTS office the following business day after the scheduled game. If a violation is substantiated, a forfeit may result.