All divisions strictly follow the rules set forth by little league rulebook except for the ones listed below. Interleague games are governed separately by interleague rules - see files at the end of the page.
Click here for DLL Softball Cross-Division Game Rules Reference Sheet
APPLIES TO JUNIOR MINORS, INTERMEDIATE MINORS, MINORS, AND MAJORS
- Hard stop at the time limit for games and scores will revert back to last completed inning
- Once the game starts, weather and game stoppages are at the umpire’s discretion
- Must follow lineup rules that meet mandatory play requirements. No player can sit more than 1 defensive inning in a row.
- For playoffs only, a team can match lineup with the team with the lowest number of players. For instance, if 1 team has 11 and 2nd team has 13, the team with 13 can choose to bat 11 with mandatory subs.
- Players arriving late can't enter lineup until the inning is complete
JUNIOR MINORS
- Games will continue until time runs out
- 5 batters per inning
- No minimum players
- Bases are set at 50 feet
- The division is tee or coach pitch with 10-inch softie balls.
- If coach pitching, the same coach can pitch for both teams. Use the best coach who can throw accurately from further distance to allow for best results for batters. Strongly recommend throwing flat pitches from knee instead of arc.
- With coach pitch, it's 3 strikes or 7 pitches per at-bat
- No walks or dropped 3rd strikes
- All innings should start with runners on 1st and 2nd base (can use last two batters in batting order) to reduce bench players, teach the force & tag plays, and get more girls active
- Runners can lead and leave the base when the ball reaches the batter or when the batter swings
- Steals are allowed but cannot steal home
- Maximum of 7 defensive players on the field (P, C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, "CF" behind 2nd base). Encourage coaches to take the girls not on the field defensively for the inning and work on drills & teaching points on the side.
- Set cones in the outfield are set along a curved line. Coaches can stand behind the curved line to coach. Any batted ball that crosses untouched by a fielder is a homerun
- Coaches should not set up batters in the box and slow the game down. Encourage coaches to take the girls not projected to bat or run bases in an inning and work on these types of offensive teaching points (hitting/running) on the side.
INTERMEDIATE MINORS
- No new innings 15 minutes before the next scheduled game time.
- Games last 6 innings or until time runs out
- 5 run limit per inning. There is no game mercy
- Bases are set at 50 feet
- Minimum players is 8
- The division is encouraged to be player pitch with 32 ft pitching distance and 10 inch softie softballs. Coach pitch takes effect after ball 4 in player pitch. Batter inherits the strike count from player pitch.
- OPTIONAL: In April & May, a team can choose to do Coach pitch only for the 1st 3 innings of a game. In June, a team can choose to do Coach pitch only for the 1st 2 innings of a game.
- No walks, hit by pitches, or dropped 3rd strikes
- All innings should start with runners on 1st (can use last batter in batting order) to reduce bench players, teach the force & tag plays, and get more girls active
- Runners can lead and leave the base when the ball reaches the batter
Rules for when the coach is in the circle.
- During coach pitching, a batter is out after 7 pitches or 3 strikes, called or swinging (whichever comes first) - except in instances where the batter fouls off the 7th pitch. In that case, the batter will receive additional pitches until the first pitch is NOT batted foul. That pitch, whether the 8th pitch or the 15th pitch, will be deemed to be the last pitch for that batter. There are no walks or hit by pitch during coach pitch.
- Windmill pitching is not required and coaches can pitch use a basic underhand technique – as can player pitchers. Coaches should attempt to pitch from the same distance as the player pitcher, which is 32 ft. if this proves difficult, a coach can move closer, but we ask that you not crowd the batter. If a coach is struggling to throw strikes, please consider changing coach pitchers. If you have a team parent that is skilled at pitching, they can be called into duty. Please determine this during practices or before the game, not during the game.
- The pitcher shall become the pitcher's helper and stand as close to the coach pitcher as possible. That player should remain the pitcher's helper for the remainder of the inning.
- Stealing is allowed during coach pitch, except from 3rd base to home plate
- If a batted ball is inadvertently played by the coach pitcher, the play should be considered dead and the batter must return to the batter's box and resume with the pitch count of the last pitch. If it was the 7th pitch, the batter will get an additional pitch and the “foul ball” rule applies. All base runners should return to their original base.
- Play is considered dead when the ball is controlled by the player pitcher (not coach pitcher) within the designated pitching circle. If a runner has rounded a base, they can continue to the next base without hesitation, but cannot continue past that base unless the pitcher puts the ball back into play. If a runner has rounded a base and stops running or hesitates and does not return to the base just rounded, the umpire can call the base runner out. If a runner is standing on a base while the ball is controlled by the pitcher within the pitching circle, they cannot advance to the next base until the ball is put into play.
MINORS
- No new innings 15 minutes before the next scheduled game time.
- Games last 6 innings or until time runs out
- 5 run limit per inning with continuation except for 6th inning. There is no game mercy
- Minimum players is 8, 9th spot in the order is out. If 7 players, the game is forfeited but players are encouraged to play mixed scrimmage.
- The division is mostly player pitch with 35 ft pitching distance and 11 inch hard softballs
- No dropped 3rd strikes
- Runners can lead and leave the base when the ball reaches the batter
Rules for when the coach is in the circle.
- During coach pitching, a batter is out after 7 pitches or 3 strikes, called or swinging (whichever comes first) - except in instances where the batter fouls off the 7th pitch. In that case, the batter will receive additional pitches until the first pitch is NOT batted foul. That pitch, whether the 8th pitch or the 15th pitch, will be deemed to be the last pitch for that batter. There are no walks or hit by pitch during coach pitch.
- Windmill pitching is not required and coaches can pitch use a basic underhand technique – as can player pitchers. Coaches should attempt to pitch from the same distance as the player pitcher, which is 35 ft. if this proves difficult, a coach can move closer, but we ask that you not crowd the batter. If a coach is struggling to throw strikes, please consider changing coach pitchers. If you have a team parent that is skilled at pitching, they can be called into duty. Please determine this during practices or before the game, not during the game.
- The pitcher that walked 3 batters should become the pitcher's helper and stand as close to the coach pitcher as possible. That player should remain the pitcher's helper for the remainder of the inning.
- Stealing is allowed during coach pitch, except from 3rd base to home plate
- If a batted ball is inadvertently played by the coach pitcher, the play should be considered dead and the batter must return to the batter's box and resume with the pitch count of the last pitch. If it was the 7th pitch, the batter will get an additional pitch and the “foul ball” rule applies. All base runners should return to their original base.
- Play is considered dead when the ball is controlled by the player pitcher (not coach pitcher) within the designated pitching circle. If a runner has rounded a base, they can continue to the next base without hesitation, but cannot continue past that base unless the pitcher puts the ball back into play. If a runner has rounded a base and stops running or hesitates and does not return to the base just rounded, the umpire can call the base runner out. If a runner is standing on a base while the ball is controlled by the pitcher within the pitching circle, they cannot advance to the next base until the ball is put into play.
MAJORS
- No new innings 15 minutes before next scheduled game time
- Games last 6 innings or until time runs out
- 5 run limit per inning with continuation except for 6th inning. There is no game mercy
- Minimum players is 8 with 9th spot in the order being an out. If 7 players, the game is forfeited but players are encouraged to play a mixed scrimmage
- The division is all player pitch at 40 ft pitching distance and 12 inch hard softballs
- Dropped 3rd strikes are in play
- Runners can lead and leave the base when the ball leaves pitcher's hand
INTERLEAGUE RULES