Softball Gameplay Rules (NOT your league's rules)
Baseball Gameplay Rules (NOT your league's rules)
Softball Gameplay Rules (NOT your league's rules)
- Softball will play under USA Softball Rules, except as listed on this CollinCountyClassic.org site.
- Game balls will be provided at field
- Home team for each pool play game is determined by coaches meeting coin flip. In Bracket Play, the higher seed (i.e. the lower number) will be the home team.
- 5 runs max per inning in Coach Pitch-12u
- Mercy rule applies to all softball games: 16 after 3 innings, 11 after 4 innings, 6 after 5 innings
- No pitch count or pitching innings will be tracked (please be smart)
- The game's final score will be the score when the umpire determines the game is over. For example, if in a 10u game the visiting team is up 5-4 after 3 innings, and they score 5 runs in the top of the 4th, and then time expires before the home team completes their at-bat in the 4th inning, the final score is 10-4 because the home team can't catch up due to the 5-runs per inning maximum.
- All teams should be ready to start playing 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time so that games can start at the time scheduled (no extra warm-up period).
- Teams must have at least 8 players to start or continue a game. No automatic out for injured players.
- Teams can play with 4 outfielders (10 total fielders).
- No DP/Flex
Softball 8U Specific Rules:
- No Dropped 3rd strike
- Look-Back Rule not in effect
- Infield Fly Rule not in effect
- No leading off until ball is hit
- No stealing bases
- Coach Pitcher must have 1 foot in contact with 35’ pitching rubber when pitching
- Coach Pitcher must use underhand motion
- Each Batter will receive 5 pitches or 3 swings
- Ball not put into play on 5th pitch will result in an OUT
- Batter will get unlimited fouls on 5th pitch or third strike
- No walks
- No bunts
- Batted ball hitting the Coach Pitcher will result in a dead ball
- Batted ball remains live until under control by a player inside the infield (dirt or dark colored area, not baselines).
- Runners can advance multiple bases on overthrow (until ball is under control inside the infield). This includes scoring.
Softball 10U Specific Rules:
- No Dropped 3rd Strike
- Look-Back Rule not in effect
- Infield fly rule not in effect
- Player can only steal 1 base per pitch
- Player cannot advance on overthrow from catcher
- Player cannot steal home
- Batted ball remains live until under control by pitcher inside the pitching circle
- Runners can advance multiple bases on overthrow (until ball is under control by pitcher inside the pitching circle). This includes scoring.
- No advancing home on passed ball, stolen base, wild pitch or dropped 3rd strike
- Player pitches until 3 balls reached on batter. Coach resumes pitch count with all subsequent pitches resulting in strikes.
- No walks
- If the first pitch with two strikes from the coach is not in the strike zone and is not put in play, ONE additional pitch is awarded, regardless of whether the batter swung and missed. All other pitches from the coach with two strikes that are not fouled off will end the at bat (ball in play, swing and miss, not swinging).
- Cannot steal or bunt while Coach is pitching
- 5 warmup pitches or 1 minute between innings
- No infield warmup after 1st inning
- Courtesy runner for Pitcher or Catcher only
- Courtesy runner must be last batted out
- The same courtesy runner cannot be used for both Pitcher and Catcher in same inning
Softball 12U Specific Rules:
- Dropped 3rd Strike rule is effect
- Look-Back Rule is in effect
- Infield fly rule is in effect
- 5 warmup pitches or 1 minute between innings
- No infield warmup after 1st inning
- Courtesy runner for Pitcher or Catcher only
- Courtesy runner must be last batted out
- The same courtesy runner cannot be used for both Pitcher and Catcher in same inning