ATLANTIC BABE RUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUE

ATLANTIC BABE RUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUE

2026 Playing Rules
12U

The intention of this softball league is to adhere as closely as possible to the rules of Babe Ruth, which each team is chartered. Some rules have been modified because of player's ability level or simply to quicken the pace of the game. All ABRSL rules are intended to supplement the Babe Ruth Rules with exceptions to the rules list below.
The purpose of each division is to provide the girls with the fundamentals of softball and to prepare them to play at the next age level. 

Questions or concerns regarding these rules can be forwarded to your town commissioner or directly to ABRSL. 

General

All levels: A written paper scorebook must be kept for all games. GameChanger can be used as an additional resource, but any scoring/lineup debates will be made by a paper book – if a team does not have a paper book, the ruling will be made by the only paper book available.

Rosters must be digitally submitted prior to the start of the season. No changes will be accepted after one week from opening day. All roster updates must be submitted in writing to both the ABRSL President and Secretary and must be approved prior to the player playing. 

Travel Players
A travel player is defined as any player who has played on/with, sat on any roster or guest played in any travel game or with any travel team within the last calendar year. Teams with travel/competitive players can not exceed more than the amount of rec players on said team. Any travel-level player must be disclosed on the team roster before the season begins.

 

If a team is found to have used an undisclosed travel player the following actions will be taken:

The game will be forfeited. The team must pay the umpire fee (home or away). The coach will be suspended for two games. The coach and town commissioner must meet with the ABRSL Board prior to the next game. A written explanation of the violation must be sent to all team parents within 24 hours of the meeting.

Base Running
U12 -A batter/Runner may advance as many bases as possible at risk of being put out. 

Batting
U12-Ten (10) fielders may bat, along with five (5) extra players (EPs).

All players must bat in the lineup. Do not list players in lineup who are not present at the game.
All levels-Late arriving players must be placed at the bottom of the batting order. 

 

Bench Rules 

Each team will have no more than one (1) Manager, and two (2) Coaches. Only team members will be allowed in the dugout or on the bench. No other persons are allowed in the dugout. If an adult score keeper is used they are allowed in the dugout. 

Completed Games 

When all innings have been completed, or the time limit has been reached Mercy rule (If min innings have been completed)
In the case of darkness (If min innings have been completed)
Weather (If min innings have been completed) 4 innings is a completed official game

(See TIME LIMIT rule below) 

Courtesy Runner
U12- Coaches may request a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher at any time. Said runner will be the last recorded out. This is highly recommended when there are two outs to save time between innings. 

Infield Fly Rule – In Affect

Infielders: Face masks are required for all infielders (1st, 2nd, 3rd, short stop and pitcher) 

Forfeits 

In an effort to avoid a forfeit, teams may call up players from the next level down. Example a U8 player can be called up to fill a spot on a U10 team for a game. In this example, the U10 team cannot use players from another U10 team for an official game. If a team is short players and forfeits the game, the opposing team can supply players to the "short team" so that the game can still be played. In each case the umpire will "call" the game and will get paid. If game is not played the team that forfeited pays for the umpire. 

(See also PLAYING STRENGTH Rule) 

Game Cancellations Due to Inclement Weather & Non Weather

No game is to be cancelled prior to speaking to both ABRSL president AND Chilly are notified of REQUEST to make a decision if approved.  No games will be rescheduled after approved game schedule is submitted unless approved by both.   A shortage of players will not be approved for a reschedule game.

Any game that has to be rescheduled due to inclement weather will be scheduled through your town coordinator, and with Chilly Warren with NJSA Umpires. Chilly’s number is on the ABRSL Coaches Contact List. Please be sure to schedule make-up games promptly, within one week. This does not mean they have to be played within one week but must be scheduled. A pic of your field being unplayable may be requested.

All games must be played. In the event of an unseen emergency, teams can re-schedule games to an agreed date. In this case, teams must notify the appropriate town commissioner of the change. All rescheduled games MUST be rescheduled within 3 days. Any game not rescheduled within 3 days will be considered a forfeit by the forfeiting team. After the midpoint of the season, games must be rescheduled within 24 hours of cancellation. Non-responsiveness will result in a forfeit by the unresponsive town.The non-forfeiting team will be rewarded the win and rewarded a # of runs depending on the number of innings in a complete game: Ex: 16u would be 7 runs. 

Hit By a Pitch
All levels- It is the umpires call as to whether or not the batter attempted to move out of the way of the pitch. If the batter failed to move the umpire can call the pitch a ball (or strike if in the strike zone) and no base is awarded. 

Injury
All levels- A team may continue playing when an injury has forced a player to leave the game causing a team to drop below the minimum player strength 

*If player can not re-enter it is an out when player comes up to bat – IT IS NOT A FORFEIT OF GAME.

Jewelry– No jewelry
Exception- Medical alert are not considered jewelry 

Mercy Rule
U12 -Will use a 10-run rule after 31/2 innings if home team ahead 

 

Maximum Run Rule
U12-Will use 5 run cap each inning until the last inning. If a batter hits a ball that scores more than 5 runs, only 5 will be counted in the official score book.
The last inning will be unlimited runs. The umpire will declare last inning when there is 15 minutes or less left on the clock. It is possible that either team may not get a chance at the unlimited runs inning if the game must be called for time, before a last inning call could be made by the umpire. 

PITCHING/PITCHERS - Pitchers are allowed to step back prior to release in this league

Any 2 (two) TRAVEL/ COMPETITIVE player can only pitch a MAXIUM of 2 innings per game. Only 2 (two) innings total can be pitched by two travel/competitive players

U12-Only the starting pitcher may re-enter the game as a pitcher (Re-entry rule) and may pitch up to ten (10) innings per week (Monday- Sunday). (except if removed by Babe Ruth Rule)
In the case of a player playing two levels, it remains ten (10) innings combined. Any team violating this rule will forfeit said game.
Hit batter (All levels) - If a pitcher hits 3 batters in one inning or a total of six during a game (whichever comes first) she must be removed from the pitching position for the duration of the game. The umpire’s judgment is the final call as to whether or not a batter was hit by a pitch or failed to attempt to move away from the pitch to decide any “hit by a pitch” 

Mound Visits – A coach can visit the pitch two (2) times in a game but on the 3rd visit, the pitcher is pulled from pitching position.  Exception – if the 2 visits are within the same inning, the pitch gets pulled from pitching position

PITCHING DISTANCE U12- Pitching distance 40 feet 

PLAYING STRENGTH
U12 -Teams may play with no fewer than (8) players from its roster at the start of a game they may borrow players from one level down to fill out the roster for that game. Said player cannot be from the same level, example if a U12 team only has seven players they can only bring up a player from a U10 team. They cannot pull “across” from another U12 team.
Players may play up one level if request and approved by their local town. 

A players playing up must be used as an outfield player only.  If they are not rostered on your team they can only be in the outfield position and be placed at the bottom of your batting lineup.  Rostered (players assigned to that team) are to fill up the infield first and then the players that are “guest” (players playing up) can fill in the positions.

 

PLAYING TIME

All eligible players at the game must be put on the lineup card for each game and must play at least two (2) defensive innings and bat once. Any violation will result in a forfeit. 

Players may play at two levels during the season. Any player playing at two levels must declare which team will be their primary team and which team they will “guest play for”. If both teams are playing at the same time they must play for the team they declared. Declarations are to be made to the ABRSL president at the beginning of the season prior to the first game. 

During play offs, they can only play for the team they declared in the beginning of the season. Any violation will result in said player playing age level for the remainder of the season. 

Protest See Babe Ruth Book 

A protest must be announced to the umpire and opposing team coach prior to next play. The coach must reference the protested rule and the umpire must circle said play in the score book and initial. The umpire must call Chilly for the final review. If Chilly is unavailable, the game will continue to be played under review. If the call is overturned the game will continue or be replayed  from the protested call.

Scores
U12- A record of each game will be kept in the team’s scorebook. The winning team’s coach is responsible for phoning the score within twenty-four (24) hours to the appropriate age group representative. The phone number and address for each division representative can be found on the ABRSL Coaches Contact List and on this web-site (under the Scores Reporting tab). Failure to submit scores within the 24-hour window may result in a recorded forfeit for the reporting team..

Sliding
U12-Headfirst sliding is not allowed. If a player attempts to headfirst slide, she will be called out for the first offense. A runner may headfirst dive back to a base. 

Start Time: All games are scheduled to start promptly at the time recorded on the official season schedule. Any game starting more than 15 minutes late according to the umpire, who is official time keeper, will result in a forfeit by the team who is causing the delay. (see note below).
Exception: delays for weather as directed by the coordinators 

Stealing
U12- A runner may not leave the base until the pitcher has released the ball.
BR Option used- Dropped 3rd strike- Runner may attempt to steal first – If successful this would be the one base per pitch. Clarify if runner on 1st &/or 2nd – they can only steal 1 base as well
Overthrows on Steals from catcher only
U12- A runner may only steal one base per pitch (net gain-one base) on a throw from the catcher to a base on an attempted steal. For example, if a catcher throws a ball beyond second-base when a base-runner is attempting to steal second (from first base) the base-runner must remain at second base. If the runner makes an attempt to steal an additional base on the same overthrow from the catcher the play is still live. The runner can be tagged out attempting to steal any additional base. If the runner makes it safely to the additional base, the umpire will call time send the runner back to whichever base would have been one base per pitch. 

Drop 3rd is not in affect if 1st base is occupied with 0-1 outs, can not steal.  

Drop 3rd is in affect is 1st base is occupied with 2 outs, you can steal

 

“LOOK BACK”  - If a batter passes a base and pauses for then for more than 3 seconds they must continue to the next base or the “look back” rule can go into affect and said batter can be called out.

THIS IS A JUDGEMENT CALL BY THE UMPIRE.

 

Team Composition 

Teams can use 10 fielders with 3 outfielders and either a 4th outfielder or a short fielder. If using a short fielder, they must be positioned behind 2nd base and cannot be in the infield. 

 

TIE-BREAKERS 

Regular Season - A game may end in a tie, and shall be reported as such by the HOME team. If a completed “6” inning and time remains the international tie breaker will be used until a completed inning has passed and one team is ahead or time has expired. 

TIME LIMIT
U12- There is a 90-minute time limit for each game. A new inning cannot be started after 90 minutes. However, an inning in progress at the 90-minute mark must be played to regulation completion. The umpire may announce the start of the last inning to both head coaches as the game reaches 75 minutes of play. It is possible that either team may not get a chance at the unlimited runs inning if the game must be called for time, before a last inning call could be made by the umpire  All exception: see mercy rule. 

Uniform 

All players should wear their team uniform (provided by their organization) to each game. The player will not be able play if not in the same uniform during the regular season. All players must be in their proper team shirt with no duplicate numbers. If a player is not they cannot participate in the game. 

 

Umpiring 

Only NJSA official umpires may officiate a game. 

 

WEATHER/DARKNESS 

If during a game inclement weather is imminent or any lightning is seen or heard the umpire will "call" the game. If the game cannot be re-started it will be continued from the stopping point and finished on the next mutually available day. (See Completed Games rule above). You are to notify ABRSL president and Chilly immediately 

ABRSL does not allow the use of metal cleats at any age level. 

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Play Offs –
U12-At the conclusion of regular season play, a single elimination play-off will occur. Regular season rules are the same during playoffs. . Regular playoff games will have one umpire. Two umpires, for both brackets, at all semi-final, bracket final, and championship games 

Playoffs will be played with the regular ABRSL Rules with the following exceptions: 

1. Each player must play with their declared rostered team. 

2. Each player must play 8 regular season scheduled games with their rostered team. In the event of an injury, if the player continues to support their team, the ABRSL Board will review their eligibility for playoffs.

3. No unplayed games count toward playoffs. 

4. 12U Pitching – A pitcher shall be allowed to pitch in no more than nine innings in any two successive playoff games. 

Time Limits for playoffs: 

12u- 90 minutes or 6 innings, 5 run cap per inning, last inning unlimited. 

For the final in each level the time limit will be removed and the appropriate number of innings will be played. 

The Mercy Rule will be in effect

Weather Rules for Play Offs: will be that same as per Babe Ruth rules. They will resume the next day if it is not an exception day. Exception day will be categorized as a day when you do not have enough to field a team. AGAIN FOR ABRSL PRESIDENT AND CHILLY TO DETERMINE

 

3/2026