Maryland District 2 Softball Local Rules
download link
MD-2/PA-14 Softball Local Rules – Spring 2022
Rev. 4/8/22
The following are the approved Maryland and Pennsylvania Little League Softball local rules modifications for MD-2 Inter-league and Inter-District Softball Round Robin Mixers and regular season games.
Little League Majors thru Seniors
TIME LIMITS:
● Regular Season: No time limit
● Mixer Only: 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning or drop dead, TBD by host - to be clarified and clearly communicated at the plate meeting.
UNIFORM:
● All players shall wear the appropriate Little League patch on their uniforms.
UMPIRE:
● It shall be the host/home team’s responsibility to provide Little League approved Umpires.
● Host league should notify District UIC one week from the date of the mixer of any remaining umpire needs.
MANDATORY PLAY:
● Mandatory Play is in effect. Regulation IV (i), Substitutions by Rule [Rule 3.03]
BATTING:
● A Continuous Batting Order (CBO) can be used. [Rule 4.04]
● For CBO, substitutions as outlined in Rule 4.04 apply.
● Regular batting order, substitutions by rule [3.03].
● The batter must remain in the batter’s box with at least one foot throughout the at Bat – with the exceptions noted in the LL rule book [RULE 6.02(c)]
COURTESY RUNNERS:
● Will be used in accordance with Rule 7.14(b).
● If using CBO, Special Pinch Runners does not apply [Rule 7.14(a)]
TEN (10) / FIFTEEN 15 RUN RULE:
● The 10/15 -run rule is in effect for all games. [Rule 4.10(e)]
● If after three (3) innings (Junior/Senior League four innings), two and one-half innings (Junior/Senior League three and one-half innings) if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (15) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
● If after four (4) innings (Junior/Senior League five innings), three and one-half innings (Junior/Senior League four and one-half innings) if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
INFIELD FLY RULE:
● The Infield Fly rule is in effect for all games. [Rule 6.05(d) and 2.00]
UNCAUGHT THIRD STRIKE RULE:
● The uncaught third strike rule is in effect for all games [6.05(b)(2) and 6.09(b)]
STEALING:
● The runner may leave the base when the ball is released by the pitcher on delivery. [Rule 7.08(5)(a)]
EQUIPMENT:
● 12” Little League Approved Softballs
● Batting helmets must have a cage attached
● All other equipment and Teams must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations, [See Rule 1.11 Objectives of the Game]
● Use of Face Guards is mandatory for all Maryland District 2 Major Division players.
o PA-14 strongly recommends but does not mandate use of Face Guards
Little League Minors – (Modified/Hybrid) Player Pitch
TIME LIMITS:
● Regular Season: No new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes.
● Mixer Only: 1 hour 30 minutes, no new inning or drop dead, TBD by host - to be clarified and clearly communicated at the plate meeting.
UNIFORM:
● All players shall wear the appropriate Little League patch on their uniforms.
UMPIRE:
● It shall be the host/home team’s responsibility to provide Little League approved Umpires.
● Host league should notify District UIC one week from the date of the mixer of any remaining umpire needs.
MANDATORY PLAY:
● Mandatory Play in effect, Regulation IV (i), Free substitution of players is in effect [Rule 4.04]. Mandatory play – 3 consecutive defensive outs and 1 at bat.
REGULATION GAME:
● A regulation game shall be considered complete after 3 innings.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:
● All players on the team roster may be given a defensive position. Only one player may occupy the catcher's position at any given time. This is [Rule 4.01 NOTE1] for clarification, a team is not required to give ALL of its rostered players a defensive position.
BATTING:
● Continuous Batting Order (CBO) is required per Rule 4.04 NOTE 1
● The batter must remain in the batter’s box with at least one foot throughout the at Bat – with the exceptions noted in the LL rule book [RULE 6.02(c)]
COURTESY RUNNERS:
● Will be used in accordance with Rule 7.14(b).
TEN (10) / FIFTEEN 15 RUN RULE:
● If after three (3) innings, two and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of fifteen (15) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (15) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
● If after four (3) innings, three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead, one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more, the home team must bat in its half of the inning.
FIVE RUN RULE:
● The fifth run scored by a team in their half inning ends the inning. It is expected that if the fifth run is scored during a play the play will be allowed to continue to its natural conclusion and only 5 runs will be counted. RULE: DEFINITION of INNING.
The uncaught third strike rule is not in effect Rule 6.05(b)(2).
HYBRID PITCHING Option 1:
● Player will pitch to a batter.
● If the batter receives 4 Balls, a Coach will come in and finish the at-bat which will either end in a strike-out or a batted ball put out, or the batter reaches base. There are no walks. The coach will throw no more than 5 pitches.
● The next batter will start with Player pitch;
● Coach is not a play-maker, and should move out of the field of play as much as possible
● In Spring 2022, beginning on 4/30, all games will be kid pitch only with 4 balls and 3 strikes.
BASERUNNING:
● Runners may advance at risk on the pitch from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd (1Base Only)
● Runners may advance at risk on an errant throw back to the pitcher (Circle)
● Runners on 3rd may only advance home on a steal once an inning. Otherwise, they may only advance on a batted ball put in play or a defensive play made on the runner at 3rd base
● Overthrows to 1st base are limited to one base only
INFIELD FLY:
● The infield fly rule IS NOT in effect
EQUIPMENT:
● 11” Little League Approved Softballs
● All other equipment and Teams must comply with Little League International Rules and Regulations, [Rule 1.11 Objectives of the Game]
● Face Guards are mandatory for all Maryland District 2 defensive players. PA-14 strongly recommends but does not mandate use of Face Guards.
Little League Minors – Coach Pitch
UMPIRE:
● The use of a Coach from each Team is encouraged. A Parent Volunteer may be used, but they MUST have completed a Volunteer Application and successfully undergone a Little League approved mandatory background check. Use of non-approved volunteers is strictly prohibited.
MANDATORY PLAY:
● Mandatory Play in effect, Regulation IV (i), Free substitution of players is in effect [Rule 4.04]. Mandatory play – 3 consecutive defensive outs and 1 at bat.
INNINGS:
● Games will be 4 innings instead of 6.
● Alternatively, a time limit may be instated (see TIME LIMIT below).
REGULATION GAME:
● A regulation game shall be considered complete after 3 innings
PITCHING:
● Coach will pitch, Players shall receive 7 pitches
● Coach is not a play-maker, and should move out of the field of play as much as possible
● There are no walks, there will be strike outs
BATTING:
● Continuous Batting Order is required
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:
● All players on the team roster may be given a defensive position. Only one player may occupy the catcher's position at any given time. [Rule 4.01 NOTE1]
FIVE RUN RULE:
● The fifth run scored by a team in their half inning ends the inning. It is expected that if the fifth run is scored during a play the play will be allowed to continue to its natural conclusion and only 5 runs will be counted. RULE: DEFINITION of INNING.
TIME LIMIT:
● Time limits may be imposed by the host coordinator for scheduling purposes. Any time limits imposed will be clearly communicated to both team managers and the umpires at the plate meeting prior to the game. The plate umpire will serve as the official timekeeper
BASERUNNING:
● No Stealing
● Runners on 3rd may only advance home on a batted ball put in play or a defensive play made on the runner at 3rd base.
● On an overthrow at 1st base, the runner may attempt to advance, is limited to one base only and does so at her own peril (ie: She can be put out).
● Coaches are encouraged NOT to have base runners continue to run the bases on overthrows by the defense. This does nothing for teaching the fundamentals of the game. Run fests are not a positive display, and benefit no one. Adherence to this will be on the honor system.
EQUIPMENT:
● 11” Little League Approved Softballs
● Batting helmets must have a cage attached
● All other equipment and Teams must comply with 2018 Little League International Rules and Regulations, [Rule 1.11 Objectives of the Game]
● Face Guards are mandatory for all Maryland District 2 defensive players. PA-14 strongly recommends but does not mandate use of Face Guards.