12U Division
The 12U Division is a division that further introduces full softball gameplay for the players.
Season Expectations
- Teams are formed and players will be contacted by their team coaches. Coaches will work within the field availability slots to schedule practices that fit the best with players availabilities.
- Home games are played on the softball fields at John H West Elementary school.
- Games are scheduled on Weeknights and Weekends depending on field availability. Games usually last between 1 1/2 - 2 Hours.
- Season will take place from End of April through beginning of June.
- At the end of the regular season there will be single elimination playoffs to crown a division champion.
Gameplay Rules
1. All scores must be reported by the winning team the night of your game.
2. Games are scheduled for 6 innings. A forfeit will be declared 15 minutes sharp after the scheduled start time. A minimum of 7 players is required to start the game and if a player is injured during the game, the team may continue with 6 players.
3. The spot vacated by injured or early leaving players is not an out. Just skip over that spot in the order.
4. To not be charged with a forfeit, if a manager knows he does not have enough players for a certain game scheduled, he/she should attempt to call up or borrow players for such game, per Rule #9 below, to ensure it can be played. In the event the manager is unable to field a team for such game, they must notify the opposing manager and division head at least 48 hours in advance of the game and discuss a reschedule.
5. Time limit – Umpires and coaches must agree on the starting time of the game before the first pitch is made: Scorekeepers should note the starting time of each game in the scorebook. No new inning can begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes. If the game is tied after the last inning has been played and there is no game scheduled to be played on your field, the game may be extended by up to 30 minutes (with no inning beginning after 2:15). If still tied after the extra 30 minutes, the game shall be called a tie. There is no time limit for post season games.
6. A game is considered official when 4 innings are completed. (3.5 innings if the home team is ahead). If a game is called prior to these completed innings for darkness, rain or other reasons, the game shall be deemed cancelled and must be rescheduled as if it had not been played and any innings pitched will not count.
7. If a game is called after 3.5 innings for darkness, rain or other reasons, and the inning has not been completed, the score will revert back to the last completed inning to determine the outcome of the game. However, if the home team is at bat and winning when the game is called, the score at that time is the final score.
8. Innings are 3 outs or 4 runs scored, whichever occurs first. However, 3 outs must be made in the last inning. Both Managers and the umpire must agree before the inning begins that it will be designated the “last inning”.
9. If a team is going to be short girls, you may call up girls from the 10U Division or “borrow” a player from another 12U team within your town. Once “called up” and at the field, that girl must play even if additional team members show up. Only registered little league players can practice/play/workout/be called up with your team. This includes siblings. Players called up during the regular season may play any position, except pitcher, however, they may not play the IF more than 3 innings. If a player is needed for a playoff game, only 10U Girls may be utilized/called up and may only play the OF. This player must be dressed in her own team jersey and bat at the end of the lineup.
10. No one is permitted behind the backstop during the games. This includes all coaches, parents & children.
11. There is a ZERO tolerance policy for any type of abuse towards an umpire. Managers are responsible for behavior of the parents and spectators of their team. Only the manager or acting manager of the game may approach the umpire for any reason.
12. All girls must be dressed in full uniform. Socks, team jersey and softball pants that were distributed by the league. If not appropriately dressed the girl will be ineligible to play.
PITCHING:
1. Regulation 12” leather core .47 softballs will be used.
2. Pitcher’s mound distance will be 40 feet.
3. Pitcher should begin with one foot touching the rubber. When taking the pitching position,
the pitcher must have his/her hands separated and must have the ball in either the glove or
the pitching hand. Prior to pitching, the pitcher shall take a position with his/her pivot foot [same foot
as pitching hand] in contact with the pitcher's plate. League will follow the step back pitching rule
whereby a backward step may be taken before or simultaneous with the hands being brought
together. The pivot foot must always remain in contact with the pitching plate prior to the forward step.
Both feet must stay within 24 inches of the pitchers plate. In the event a manager deems the pitcher
to not be following proper technique, the manager should discuss the situation with the other manager
and umpire and instruction should be provided to the pitcher. We want these girls to learn the proper
technique and forcing them from the game will not accomplish this. If it is not a flagrant violation that
is providing the pitcher with an unfair advantage, please be patient and work with the opposing
pitcher/manager.
4. If the pitcher throws 1 pitch it will constitutes an inning.
5. Each pitcher may pitch a maximum of 3 innings per game. In the event the game goes into extra
innings, a pitcher who has already pitched 3 innings may reenter and pitch a maximum of 2 additional
innings.
6. A pitcher will be removed as a pitcher from the game if she hits 3 batters in an inning or 4 in a
game. To count as a hit by pitch the batter must make an attempt to avoid the pitch – this will be in
the umpire’s discretion.
7. Each pitcher may only reenter the game one time and not in the same inning. Should the game go
into extra innings, a pitcher who has already reentered once, may do so one more time.
8. Once the pitcher approaches the pitcher’s plate, all dugouts must be quiet until the umpire has
called the pitch. No negative chanting is allowed.
9. No intentional walks
10. Two trips to the mound per inning are permitted. 2nd trip, pitcher must be replaced.
FIELDING:
1. 10 Players in the field
2. Outfielders must play 4 across, no short center. Outfielders must be standing on the outfield grass.
3. A team must field at least 7 players. If one of the 7 players get injured, the team still can play with 6
fielders.
4. No player may sit out 2 consecutive innings. They must play in the field at a minimum every other
inning.
BATTING:
1. Universal batting will be in effect throughout the entire season.
2. Dropped 3rd strike rule is in effect.
3. Infield fly rule will be called at the discretion of the umpire.
4. Base runners may tag up on fly ball outs and advance to any base.
5. Bunting is allowed.
BASE RUNNING:
1. Bases will be set at 60 feet.
2. Runners may not lead but may steal when the ball is released by the pitcher.
3. 1 Warning per team to be granted by the umpire for a runner leaving to early.
4. On a hit that causes a play at first base, the runner must touch the orange safety base. Failure to do
so will result in the runner being called out. Exception to this is if the batter-runner uses the white
base to avoid contact with fielder potentially using foul territory to make a play.
5. Each team may steal second base three times per inning and unlimited to third base. Base stealer
may advance to the next base on an overthrow at their own discretion. See exception via Rule 7 and
8 below.
6. Stealing of home is permitted twice per inning, however, the 4th run of each inning (except the last
inning) may not be obtained via a steal of home.
7. Once a two steal max of home has been met in an inning, a runner on 3rd Base may only advance
home on a batted ball or via a bases loaded walk or HBP. A runner stealing 3B may not advance
home on any overthrow to 3B if the two steal max of home has already been met that inning.
8. If the catcher has control of the ball after it is pitched, and faces the base runner, the base runner
must either attempt to advance using a steal or return to the base to eliminate “dancing” and slowing
the game down. If the catcher puts the ball in play (i.e, a throw back to anybody but the pitcher) all
runners can advance at their own risk (except a runner on third if two steals of home have already
been made, or 3 runs scored).
9. Double steals (two different players stealing a base on the same play) is permitted.
10. Delayed steals are permitted on a throw back to the pitcher
11. If there is an incorrect violation of a base running rule, the play is dead. i.e., a runner on first stealing
2nd for the 4th time in an inning cannot be tagged out and will be sent back to 1B.
12. During a play that is initiated by a hit, time is out when a player with the ball in the pitchers’ circle calls
time and time is granted by the umpire.
13. A runner more than half way to the next base when time is called will be awarded that base. A runner
less than half way will return to the previous base. This will be solely at the discretion of the umpire.
14. The ball is live on the throw back from the catcher to the pitcher.
15. If there is a play at home (in the umpire’s judgment), the runner must slide or surrender. If the runner
does not do so, she will be out. At other bases it will be at the umpire’s discretion to call runner’s
interference if the runner does not slide and makes contact with the fielder.
16. There is no head first sliding except when a catcher is attempting a pick off and it is a dive back to a
base.
17. There are no stealing bases when a team is up by 8 runs or more. Base runners can only
advance on batted balls or via a walk, HBP, or Dropped 3rd Strike, in such a situation.
18. On a walk there is no continuation, the runner must stop at first base.
SPEED UP RULE
1. If the opposing team’s catcher and/or pitcher is on base after two outs or three runs have been
recorded that player shall be (catcher)/can be (pitcher) replaced with a courtesy runner. The courtesy
runner will be the last batter out. (The catcher will then re-apply her equipment & be prepared to play
as soon as the third out is recorded).
MERCY RULE:
1. The 12 run mercy rule will be in effect after 4 innings, 3 ½ if the home team is ahead and 10 runs
after 5 innings, 4 ½ if the home team is ahead.
MANAGERS/COACHES’ PREPARATION
1. Managers and coaches must be at the field at least 15 minutes before starting times. Advise your
team that you expect them to arrive 15 minutes prior to all start times. We must start the games on
time.
2. Managers are responsible to make sure there is ice and a team first aid kit at the field for every
game or practice.
3. EACH HOME TEAM MUST SUPPLY 2 LEATHER CORE .47 12” GAME BALLS
4. Only Managers and coaches may coach 1st or 3rd base. Parent may do so in the event a coach or
manager is not present at a game.
5. Players may not wear any jewelry unless it is a medical alert bracelet. Taping or covering of jewelry
is prohibited.
6. Once a game is officially rained out, it is the home team’s responsibility to reach out to their league
for available fields, dates and times. Within 48 hours after the rained out game, the home team shall
share with the away team two options to make up the game. The visiting team then has 24 hours to
respond and accept one of the dates. If no response, the division head will assign and schedule
the makeup.
7. We have a tight timeline for playoffs. In fairness to all, we ask managers to adhere to the playoff
round completion dates as best they can. We will allow for reasonable accommodations to extend
a day or two if necessary. Long delays between playoff rounds will affect all remaining teams and
rounds and will not be tolerated. It is the manager’s responsibility to prepare themselves during the
season to ensure there is a coach/parent who can run the team if the manager is not available,
otherwise risk forfeiting the game if a reasonable amount of time cannot be met?
8. If a manager is thrown out of a game for any reason, he/she will automatically receive an additional
1 game suspension and be brought in front of their respective league’s disciplinary committee.
9. When schedules are posted, it is the league’s intent to play as many games as possible. We want
the girls to play! In this spirit, we are asking all managers to make every effort to complete as much
of the schedule as possible. Not doing so may affect a team’s post season seeding, at the
discretion of the Town Directors.
STANDINGS & PLAYOFF TIE BREAKERS:
1. The standings will be posted on the above mentioned website. 2 points will be awarded for a win and
1 point for a tie.
2. In the event of a tie we will use the following tie breaking procedures:
- Head to head record
- Total number of games played
- Head to head against next highest seeds, going down until one team has a better record against
the next higher seed
- Compare Runs-Allowed ratio- add up all runs allowed and divide by the amount of defensive
innings your team played.
- Coin Toss
3. The playoffs will not re-seed after each round. It is too difficult to schedule the rounds in
advance if teams are re-seeded.