MISS FLORIDA & CGS SOFTBALL
Spring Mid-Season Tournament Play
MISS Florida Softball will play under official USSSA fast pitch rules, as modified by FL USSSA, with the following exceptions:
1. Entire roster must bat in all age divisions. Each time a player fails to take their turn at bat, she will be declared an out. Christina Girls Softball season modification: No penalty if a player in the lineup becomes sick or injured and cannot bat. If a player is in the lineup, and does not show up, her spot is skipped with no penalty. If the player shows up late, she must bat in her designated spot and there is no penalty if her spot comes up before she arrives.
2. Every player on the team is required to play two (2) full innings during every game. Girls will play for a minimum of three (3) consecutive defensive outs (one (1) inning). If a team has more than ten (10) players on the roster, a player may not sit more than one (1) inning during each game. The team’s core players must start the game and receive more or equal playing time than any of the team's pickup players. Substitutions are to be made every inning. If the game does not last more than two (2) innings, or a player is pulled for an injury, the team is not penalized. This rule resets at the end of every game. PENALTY: Failure to play each player two (2) full innings or three (3) consecutive outs is a protest able offense resulting in a forfeit.
Christina Girls Season modification: All players must also have an opportunity to play at least 1 inning in the infield, per game. The general rule of thumb is at minimum 1 inning every 3 innings played. Teams must play a catcher.
3. Teams will be allowed to play ten (10) defensive players, with the 10th players playing an outfield position.
4. There will be a maximum of 5 runs (NOT MODIFIED) scored or 3 outs per half innings, whichever comes first. Run rules are 12/10/8 after 3/4/5/ innings.
5. Time Limits (Mid-Season Tournament). Christina Girls season modification: Finish the inning unless impossible to change the win/loss outcome. No new inning will start with 5 minutes or less on game clock.
T-Ball – One hour.
8U and above – one hour 15 minutes.
6. A team is allowed pick-up players (which must be from your own organization). Pick-up players are allowed as follows: 8 from your roster playing – may pick up (3) three players; 9 from your roster playing may pick-up (2) two players; 10 from your roster playing may pick-up (1) one player. If 11 or more from your roster are playing, NO pick-up players are allowed. Pickup players MUST wear their own team uniform, play the outfield, and bat last in the batting order. NO pick-up player my play more innings than any regular team rostered player. The penalty is a protest able offense – if found you did violate the rule - the game is FORFEITED. Christina Girls Season Modification: Must have 6 for official game.
7. “COURTESY RUNNER” – will be THE LAST RECORDED OUT. They can run for the pitcher or catcher of record ONLY. If you fail to report a pitching or catching change your new pitcher or catcher cannot have a courtesy runner.
8. PITCHING RULE: No pitcher can pitch any more than 2 of the first 4 innings and no more than 3 of 6 innings. Innings do not have to be consecutive. (If game goes to 7 innings (or tie breakers after 6 innings, pitching can restart with no more than 2 of 4 innings or 3 of 6 innings or you can bring in a third or fourth pitcher). IF a pitcher pitches 1 pitch, it constitutes an inning. IF a team has more than 2 pitchers, the same number of innings rule applies. The pitching rules resets after every game. PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF PITCHING REGULATIONS IS: Ejection for the head coach for the rest of that game and the next. Pitcher is also ejected (restricted to the dug-out) for the remainder of that game and the next. Her position in the batting order will be an automatic “OUT” for the remainder of the first game of ejection. She would not be listed in the batting order for the second game and can’t play any position on the defense.
Christina Girls Softball modification during season: (not above) a pitcher that starts and throws more than 2 consecutive innings in a game cannot start the next scheduled game.
MISS FLORIDA SOFTBALL
Eight & Under Coach Pitch Rules – League & Tournament
1. DEFENSIVE PLAYERS – All defensive players must play by position. Outfielders must be positioned on the outfield grass or behind a line 10’ outside the base path, if marked. Minimum of 8 and maximum of 10 defensive players on the field, with the 10th player playing an outfield position. Christina Girls Season Modification: minimum 6; must play a catcher.
2. DEFENSIVE COACHES – One (1) defensive coach will be allowed on the field and must be positioned behind the outfielders. Defensive coach will be allowed to give continual instructions to defense. No catcher/coach will be allowed. Christina Girls Season Modification: Two (2) will be allowed.
3. BATTING – The batter will be allowed five (5) pitches or three (3) strikes to hit the ball into fair territory. If the fifth pitch or 3rd strike is fouled the batter may continue to bat until there is a strike out or the ball is hit into fair territory.
4. OFFENSIVE COACHES – The offensive team will be allowed three (3) coaches as follows: One first base coach, one third base coach, one coach serving as pitcher.
a. The pitcher/coach will pitch from a thirty-five (35) foot pitching rubber. The pitcher/coach may receive the ball from the player positioned as pitcher or catcher ONLY. The pitcher/coach shall NOT give instructions to the batter/base runner or any other base runner once pitching motion has begun.
b. PENALTY: First offense – warning.
Second offense – Ejection of the offending coach.
c. The pitcher/coach must make every effort to avoid interfering with the defensive players.
1) If the pitcher/coach is unintentionally hit with a batted ball, it is an immediate dead ball and a no pitch.
2) If, upon an immediately batted ball, the coach intentionally makes contact with the ball or, in the umpire’s judgment, interferes with a defensive play, the ball is dead, and the batter is out, and all runners return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch.
3) If the coach makes contact with the ball or, in the umpire’s judgment, interferes with a “delayed” defensive play, the ball is dead and the runner closest to home is out and all runners return to the base they legally occupied at the time of the interference.
PENALTY: First offense – draws a warning or ejection, based on the severity.
Second offense – draws an automatic ejection of the offending coach.
7. BASERUNNING – The base runners must be in contact with the base until a legally pitched ball is hit. PENALTY: “No Pitch” will be called and the runner will be declared out.
8. CATCHERS – The catcher may be positioned anywhere from the catcher’s box to the backstop screen.
a. If the catcher is positioned within the catcher’s box, she must be properly equipped with shin guards, chest protector, and wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with protective mask.
b. If the catcher is positioned outside the catcher’s box, (between the catcher’s box and the backstop screen) she must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with facemask.
9. MODIFIED TWO STEP RULE:
a. Hash marks must be placed halfway between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and home.
b. Player fields ball on one side of line, fielder is allowed to run to closest base. (ex. Second baseman fields a ball on the first base side of hash mark, they are allowed to run to first base to record out.)
c. Player fields ball on the far side of line, fielder must call time or throw to base in front of them. (ex. Shortstop fields a ball on the second base side of hash mark, to record out at third, they must throw to 3rbaseman before crossing hash mark).
d. Pitchers are allowed to run a player down going home as long as they fielded the ball on the home plate side of hash mark.
e. All hash marks are not enforced in case of rundowns or “pickle” situations.
10. There will be hash marks halfway between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and home. These will be used to direct a runner to the next base or return to the last base touched (umpire judgment) when “time” is given by umpire.
11. Time will be called when a defensive player has possession of the ball in advance of the lead runner (stop progress of lead runner) or the ball is returned to the pitcher with at least one foot inside the circle (e.g., Request “time” from the umpire).
12. No bunting or stealing will be allowed.
13. Overthrows (This pertains to first base only) (rec and midseason)
a. There will be only one base allowed (not awarded) on the first overthrow on a play. The one base is not automatically awarded the player can still be put out. Any runners not being played on will also be controlled by the one base allowed. (ie: base runner at first, ball is hit and batter runner proceeds towards first base, ball is overthrown – the runner from first base will have to stop at third (1+1 but the +1 is not guaranteed). Once the batter runner reaches second base or stops at first, play is dead for all runners.
15. OVERTHROWS BACK TO PITCHER ARE TO BE CONSIDERED LIVE BALL PLAY UNLESS TIME HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED BY THE UMPIRE.
MISS FLORIDA SOFTBALL
T-BALL MID-SEASON RULES
1. Offensive Lineup: the batting lineup may be any number from nine up. If a player is removed for any reason other than ejection, the spot in the batting order will be skipped with no out recorded. Christina Girls season modification: minimum 6 players
2. Defensive Positions: the defensive team must have a minimum of 8 and may have a maximum of 10 players in the field. Christina Girls season: minimum is 6 players (must play catcher).
i. Defensive players must remain behind the pitcher’s plate line until the batter has hit the ball.
ii. Only players playing an “in field” position can position themselves on the infield. The rest must be in the outfield. The outfield is defined as at least 10 feet outside the baseline of fair territory.
iii. One player shall be in the pitcher’s position on the pitching mound with at least one foot within 8 feet of the pitcher’s plate at the start of each play and cannot leave it position until the ball is hit off the “T”.
iv. CATCHERS – The catcher may be positioned anywhere from the catcher’s box to the backstop screen. If the catcher is positioned within the catcher’s box, she must be properly equipped with shin guards, chest protector, and wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with protective mask.
v. If the catcher is positioned outside the catcher’s box, (between the catcher’s box and the backstop screen) she must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet with facemask.
3. Offensive: The batter will be allowed three swings. If the batter misses the ball it will be counted as a swing (strike). If the ball goes foul, or the ball does not go over the 10’ Tee Arc, this will be considered a swing (strike). If the batter fouls a third strike the batter will be called out.
i. No practice swings in box.
4. Runners may not leave the base until the ball is hit. Penalty: dead ball, runner is out.
5. One base on over-throw.
6. Stealing is NOT permitted.
7. All throws must be overhand, except when momentum or close distance requires an underhand toss. NO BALL ROLLING.
8. Modified two step rule:
i. Hash marks must be placed halfway between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and home.
ii. Player fields ball on one of line, fielder is allowed to run to closest base (ex. Second baseman fields a ball on the first base side of hash mark, they are allowed to run to first base to try to record an out)
iii. Player fields ball on the far side of line, fielder must throw to base in front of the runner. (ex. Shortstop fields a ball on the second base side of hash mark, to record out at third, they must throw to 3rd baseman before crossing has mark)
9. Defensive player (in control of the ball) must be in the pitcher’s circle or stop progress of lead runner to have play stopped (e.g., Request “time” from umpire).
***In the umpire’s judgment, “time” will be called when any player requests it if all other play has stopped.
10. There will be hash marks halfway between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and home. These will be used to direct a runner to the next base or return to the last base touched (umpire judgment) when “time” is given by umpire.
11. Defensive coaches – Two (2) defensive coaches will be allowed on the field and must be positioned behind the outfielders. Coaches will be allowed to give continual instructions to defense.
12. Offensive coaches – The offensive team will be allowed three (3) coaches as follows: 1 first base coach, 1 third base coach, and 1 coach at home plate to manage the batting tee and assist batter. Home plate coach will be responsible for moving the tee from the field of play, without interfering with the play. Penalty: The runner closest to home will be called out and all runners will return to the last base legally occupied.
CHRISTINA GIRLS SOFTBALL
GENERAL SAFETY AND GUIDELINES
Home team must line the field before the game & check pitching distance.
Pitching distances:
35' Tee Ball, CP, MM
40' Minors
43' Majors
Ball sizes:: 11" for 10u and under; 12"for 12u and up
All volunteers (anyone that steps in the dugout or on the field) are required to register with the league through NAYS and complete a Level 2 Fingerprinting and background check annually.
SPRING BALL ONLY – Both teams MUST keep a neat scorebook/ Every player in the batting order MUST be listed by LAST NAME, FIRST NAME (no nicknames) and her jersey number. Books are used for All-Star verification.
a, In SPRING BALL ONLY, the winning team must email final score to [email protected] within 24 hours for record keeping purposes
Metal cleats permitted for 18u only during regular season games. All tournaments will require non-metal cleats.
All batting helmets must have a face guard.
All infielders must wear a face mask
All players warming up a pitcher must wear a catcher or batting helmet.
If a player or coach is ejected, the ejected person is suspended for the next game. The ejected person must leave the Christina Softball complex immediately. Umpires should report ejections to the board in writing. If a player or coach is ejected twice in a season, they will be suspended for five consecutive games, and the Executive Board will meet to consider additional punishments, including longer suspension. Barring extraordinary circumstances, a coach who is ejected twice in a season will be prohibited from coaching in the next scheduled Christina season.
There is no smoking or use of tobacco products inside the complex. This policy refers to chewing tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and vaping devices of any kind.
Umpires have the authority to eject any player, coach or spectator who is displaying unsportsmanlike behavior or who is being abusive or unduly disruptive. The umpire may warn the offending party prior to ejection and may request the assistance of a coach or coaches to control the offending party. If ejected, the person must leave the complex.
Umpires have been told to eject anyone who uses profane or obscene language.
If a coach believes an umpire is wrong about a Christina rule, the coach should request a conference with the umpire and the opposing head coach to discuss. If the dispute still exists after the conference, then the coach should report the issue with details via email to the board.