A) General Playing Rules

      Pitching Outs

                T-Ball-0, Micro (8U) - 6, Mini (10U) – 12, Minor (12U) – 12, Major (14U) – UL

     Game inning limit. Two innings required for a complete game.

T-Ball-N/A, Micro (8U) - 5, Mini (10U) – 6, Minor (12U) – 7, Major (14U) - 7

     Time Limits on games. No new inning/drop dead time limit

                T-Ball-1:00 HR, Micro (8U) – 1:30/1:50, Mini (10U) – 1:30/1:50, Minor (12U) – 1:30/1:50, Major (14U) - 1:30/1:50

     Ball size and type

                T-Ball – 10” RIF, Micro (8U) – 10” RIF, Mini (10U) – 11” RIF1, Minor (12U) – 12” DS, Major (14U) - 12” DS

     Pitching distance

                T-Ball – 15’, Micro (8U) – 30’, Mini (10U) – 35’, Minor (12U) – 40’, Major (14U) – 40’

     Base path distance

T-Ball – 55’, Micro (8U) – 55’, Mini (10U) – 60’, Minor (12U) – 60’, Major (14U) – 60’

     Infield fly rule in effect?

T-Ball – No, Micro (8U) – No, Mini (10U) – Yes, Minor (12U) – Yes, Major (14U) – Yes

     Dropped third strike rule in effect?

T-Ball – No, Micro (8U) – No, Mini (10U) – Yes, Minor (12U) – Yes, Major (14U) – Yes

     Home plate open or closed?

T-Ball – Closed, Micro (8U) – Closed, Mini (10U) – Open, Minor (12U) – Open, Major (14U) – Open

     Mercy after 5 innings. 8U = 4 innings.

T-Ball – No, Micro (8U) – 12, Mini (10U) – 12, Minor (12U) – 12, Major (14U) – 12

     Coach pitch?

T-Ball – Yes, Micro (8U) – Yes, Mini (10U) – No, Minor (12U) – No, Major (14U) – No

     Short roster rule in effect?

T-Ball – No, Micro (8U) – No, Mini (10U) – Yes, Minor (12U) – Yes, Major (14U) – Yes

General Playing Rules

1. Rule clarifications

a) All game times shown on the above table are FTI or finish the inning. No new inning will be started after the time limit has been expired.

2. Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Rules

a) Unless superseded or expanded on this CGSA rulebook, this league will follow all rules and guidelines of the current year edition of the ASA rule book.

3. Uniforms and Equipment

a) Only the official CGSA uniform shall be worn during a game. Shirts will be completely tucked in at all times.

b) Players shall wear athletic shoes or molded plastic or rubber cleated shoes with socks. Cleated shoes are strongly encouraged. Cleated shoes shall be molded rubber or plastic only with no screw-in spikes. Metal spikes of any type are not allowed.

c) Batting helmets shall be used for batting, base running, warming up in an on-deck circle, and by players who are base coaching. Helmets must be worn at all times until the player returns to the dugout. For league play, CGSA requires that all batting helmets be equipped with chinstraps and face masks bearing the “NOCSAE” stamp built into the face mask during its manufacture. “NOCSAE” is an acronym for the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.

d) The ASA Rules on Altered Bats will be strictly enforced with the following exception: Any Altered Bat will be confiscated by CGSA. Altered Bats confiscated by CGSA will not be returned until the end of the season on Closing Day.

4. Players and Substitutes

a) Only those players shown on the official roster will be allowed to play. Teams will bat all players present. No Designated Players (DP or Flex) will be used.

b) Any player who is a non-defensive starter (NDS) in one game must be a starting defensive player in the next scheduled game.

c) Coaches can openly perform defensive substitutions. Each player shall play a minimum of three (3) complete innings. One (1) of these three (3) innings must be at an infield position. This rule only applies to games that complete the inning limits as shown above. This rule does not apply to games called by time limits or rain. No player may sit 2 consecutive innings.

d) Teams shall field the following: Micro (8U) Division will field ten (10) players using six (6) infielders and four (4) outfielders. All other divisions will field nine (9) players with three (3) outfielders.

e) Games may start and finish with only eight players. A team with less than eight players shall forfeit. This is known as the short-handed rule which is in effect for all divisions except Micro (8U). Managers must list the vacant ninth position last in the batting order. An out will be taken each time the vacant position appears. See ASA Rule 4, 1, D.

f) When a player is removed from the game as a result of injury, illness, parental, or disciplinary reasons, only their next at bat will be declared an out unless the short-handed rule is in effect.

5. Shortened games

a) The judgment of the Chief Umpire or ranking Board member shall determine when games should be called due to field conditions such as weather or darkness. Upon proper notification, the game will immediately end. To be considered complete, a shortened game shall play a minimum of two (2) complete innings.

6. Pitching

a) Pitchers may only pitch as many outs as listed on the playing grid above. Violation of this rule is immediate forfeiture of the game.

b) When multiple pitchers are used on the same batter and an out occurs, each pitcher shall be charged with a pitching out. A pitcher may not pitch more outs than listed below for her respective division, including Championship Playoff games and the Championship game.

c) A pitcher's eligibility shall not be jeopardized if multiple outs occur on the play where her eligibility expires.

d) Pitching changes must be reported to the Umpire at the time of the change or prior to the next pitch. Penalty for unreported pitching changes; the pitcher entering the game is removed and may not pitch for the remainder of the game, remains in the batting line-up, and may play any other defensive position.

e) If the defensive team fails to notify the Umpire at the time of the change but corrects the error before the offensive team appeals to the Umpire, the pitcher's eligibility will not be jeopardized and no penalty will be imposed.

7. Coach Pitching (Micro Division)

a) A batter may be called out on three (3) strikes, either by swinging at the pitch or by strikes called by the Umpire. Should the Umpire declare four (4) balls, the Coach of the batting team will pitch from the pitching rubber. The batter's strike count will carry over from her at-bat. The batter will be given the number of pitches remaining from her strike count. Any foul ball hit after two strikes will not count as a strike and the batter may continue her at-bat. The Umpire will not call balls and strikes on the Coach’s pitches. Each Coach pitch will be considered a strike unless the pitch is fouled off by a batter with two strikes.

b) When a pitched ball hits a batter, the Coach of the batting team will then pitch to the batter. The batter will assume a clean count with no strikes.

c) Batters may not bunt during a Coach pitch. The batter must make a full swing. If she hits the ball and the

Umpire determines that she did not take a full swing, the ball is dead and a strike will be called on her. If she already has two strikes, it is considered a foul ball.

8. The 5-up rule

a) This rule applies to all divisions.

b) Three outs or five (5) runs ahead will constitute a half inning.

c) No team with the score tied or a lead may score more than five (5) runs in any half inning.

d) Teams who are behind in the score at the beginning of that half inning may score as many runs as needed to bring the score even, and then may go ahead by no more than five (5) runs in that half inning.

e) The last pitcher of record in the inning will be charged with the remaining outs of the inning when the fifth run crosses the plate.

9. Protests

a) No protests will be heard for Winter Ball.

Article VII. Winter Diamond Classic

1. All teams will be eligible to compete in the Winter Diamond Classic Tournament.

a) There will be an additional team fee for this tournament.

2. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers in each division.

3. Tournament format is pool play and double elimination. A four game guarantee.

4. All games will have time limits and all regular season rules apply.

5. The championship game in all divisions will not have a time limit.

6. Pool games can end in a tie. In elimination play, any game ending in a tie will follow ASA international tiebreaker rules. CGSA tiebreaker rules for pitching are as follows.

a) The starting pitcher of the game will receive 3 extra outs to pitch the first tiebreak inning.

b) The second pitcher of the game will also receive an extra 3 outs to pitch the second tiebreak inning.

c) If a third tiebreak inning is necessary, the process will start again.

7. All games are final. No protests will be allowed.