Description
For league age 13-16 year old girls.
This is a player Pitch league
All Players must participate in tryouts scheduled and held by Winchester little league
Teams will be formed by use of a draft in accordance with Little League International.
The number of teams is determined by the number of participants
Winchester Little League Division Rules
Minor League Softball
League Age – 9, 10, 11 & 12 Years Old
The Minor League Softball Division is a newly formed extension of the local league as of 2018. This division is designed for participants ages 9, 10, 11 & 12. This division will utilize a Player Pitcher. The following rules are in addition to the Little League International Softball rules. For any rule not listed here, please refer to the Little League Softball Official Regulations and Playing Rules.
1. Manager and Coaches\Volunteers
• All managers, coaches, and volunteers MUST obtain a clear background check approved by the Winchester Little League Board.
• Each team may have ONE manager and TWO coaches inside the fence during a game.
• An injury report must be filled out for every player and volunteer injury, no matter how minor. Forms can be found in the concession area or ask the Board Member on Duty. The incident must be reported to the league Safety Manager within 24 hours of the injury.
A. Manager Responsibilities
• Attend all manager meetings.
• Ensure that coaches and volunteers know the Winchester Little League rules, and specific division rules.
• Ensure that Parents/Guardians are given appropriate information in a timely manner.
• Provide a representative from team on assigned work days.
• Locate his/her practice field.
• Pick up and return any equipment and uniforms on designated day set by Winchester Little League.
*League issued equipment MUST be returned and checked by Equipment Manager or his/her designee at the conclusion of the last game.
• Notify player agent of any player who has left their team.
• Ensure that good sportsmanship and conduct are displayed by all coaches, volunteers, parents, and players at both practice and games.
B. Coaches\Volunteer Responsibilities
• Assist Manager with Practices.
• Assist Manager with Pre and Post Game field work.
• Assist in ensuring that good sportsmanship and conduct are displayed by all coaches, volunteers, parents, and players. At both practice and games.
C. Manager and Coaches\Volunteer Code of Conduct
• The use of tobacco products is prohibited before, during or after practices and games when children are present.
• Use of Profanity is not permitted or tolerated in the presence of the players.
Winchester Little League has a ZERO tolerance alcohol and drug policy.
• NO PROTESTS PERMITTED. Managers/coaches will not argue calls by the umpire and will always demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship.
• Any Manager\Coach using physical force towards anyone during a Little League activity will be banned from coaching in Winchester Little League.
*Violators of the above rules will be subject to dismissal by the League Board.
D. Manager and Coaches\Volunteer Dress code
• No cut off shorts
• No sandals or flip flops
• No tank top shirts
• No offensive print on shirts (alcohol, tobacco, profanity or nudity)
*Violators of dress code will not be permitted on the field or in the dugout until dress code is compliant.
2. Players
A. Player dress code
• Team shirts and team visors provided by Winchester Little League must be worn during all games.
• No jewelry of any kind or material is permitted on playing field. NOTE: If earrings cannot be removed they must be covered with medical tape and must not pose a safety hazard.
• No Shorts will be permitted on the playing field.
• Casts may not be worn during the game. NOTE: Persons wearing casts, including the manager and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
B. Player Equipment
• Little League approved equipment must always be used
• All helmets MUST have a facemask
• All bats must meet Little League Softball requirements as to weight, and length. No others will be permitted.
• Softball facemasks are required for players in the pitcher and first base positions but are strongly encouraged for all players.
3. Field & Dugout Responsibilities
• Sunflower seeds are prohibited in dugout an on field.
• The Home team will occupy the 1st base dugout while the Visiting team will occupy the 3rd base dugout.
• Both teams are responsible for picking up the trash in their respective dugouts.
• Before each game managers and coaches from (BOTH) teams must place bases out, put flag up, chalk batter boxes and make sure foul lines are painted, after each game managers and coaches from (BOTH) teams must put bases up, fold and put flag up, rake infield, and lock both gates to field.
*If there is a second game on the same field, BOTH managers of the first game must insure field is ready for play. Failure to do so will result in suspension of manager.
• After the last game it is EACH manager’s responsibility to make sure the dugouts are left clean. Empty the trash cans and replace trash bags (bags are behind concession stand).
• NO PLAYERS ARE TO RAKE FIELDS; except for hand drags.
• If it has rained on your game day, both managers need to plan to have someone at the field early to get the field ready for play or the game can be forfeited without being made up.
*Bases and Rakes are to be returned to the equipment building at the conclusion of the final game each day.
4. Game Play
• Games and practices will not be permitted if the outside temperature is below 50 degrees.
• If a team cannot field nine (9) players for completed scheduled or a re-scheduled game, that team will forfeit. The exception will be if a school function is the reason a team cannot field enough players. The manager must notify the League Director a week in advance or risk a forfeit. No team can play with less than nine players at any time.
• Any forfeits will be the decision of the Board of the Directors
• A complete game will consist of 6 innings. In the event of weather or darkness, 4 innings will constitute a complete game and will not be made up.
*No inning shall start after 10:00 pm, unless waived by the president or a board member in charge.
• The umpire will notify scorekeeper and managers of game start time. It will be recorded in score book.
• A new inning will begin immediately following the third out of the previous inning.
• A 12 inch softball will be used.
• The “10 run rule” applies. If there is a 10-run lead by the 4th inning. The game shall be called.
• Each team has 8 minutes of infield before game starts unless it is waived by the president or person in charge.
• Coaches are not permitted to have drinks in the coaching boxes or on the field.
• Coaches cannot warm up players, except for hitting infield.
• Any protest must be made immediately at the time of the incident, by managers only. Judgment calls cannot be protested. A League Official should be called to the field to handle the problem. Once play resumes, and/or teams leave the field, protests are invalid.
• Any bat, glove or other piece of equipment deliberately or intentionally thrown by the player and/or coach for any reason may result in player or coach ejection.
• Any bat unintentionally thrown by the batter, which strikes any fielder, catcher or umpire, shall result in the following:
1. Batter will receive 1st warning in the same game, which shall result in a dead ball and batter called out.
2. If same batter receives 2nd warning in the same game, that shall result in a dead ball and batter called out.
3. Any bat that hits a fielder or a catcher could result in batter interference.
4. Manager of team with offending batter shall be informed of each warning.
5. Umpire will inform the scorekeeper and each infraction will be documented in the official score book.
6. Umpire MUST use discretion when the bat hits the ground and then bounces or rolls and hits a fielder, catcher or umpire.
A. Defensive Play
• Catcher must wear catchers gear. Helmet must have dangling throat guard.
• The infield fly rule DOES apply in this division.
• The ball is live until the player pitcher has control of the ball inside the pitcher’s circle.
• Coaches must be inside the dugout. No standing on the wall, hanging over the fence, or standing outside the dugout while the game is going on.
• The player pitcher will be considered part of the field and must have at least one foot in the dirt circle when the ball is pitched. If the player pitcher is hit by a batted ball, the ball will be considered in the field of play and a live ball.
• The player in the pitcher position shall not wear a glove or batting glove that is yellow or white. A glove that is determined to be distracting may be deemed illegal by the lead umpire.
B. Offensive Play
• A continuous batting order is in effect. All players are included in the batting order, even if that player is not currently playing defense.
• No batter shall exit dugout until time is called.
• Each batter may receive 6 pitches in which to hit a fair ball. Umpire will call swinging strikes and foul strikes. 3 swinging strikes will constitute an out. If batter hits a foul on third strike, batter will receive another pitch.
• Walks are permitted at the umpires discretion, no intentional walks.
• Infield fly rule does apply.
• Baserunners may “steal” second base, third base or home once the pitched ball has crossed home plate.
• Baserunners may not lead off bases. If a runner leads off or leaves the base early in an attempt to “steal” the player shall be called “out” and the ball will be called “dead.” The batter will not be charged with a pitch.
• Courtesy runners are permitted for the catcher or if a player is injured. The courtesy runner will be the offensive player that was last called “out.”
• During a game, one coach MUST always be in the dugout with the players. If a team only has 2 coaches present during a game, a player (wearing a batting helmet) will need to serve as a base coach.
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