WSGS
League Rules 2007 Season,
12U & 15U
National Federation of State High School Association 2007 rules in effect.
All specific
WSGS league rules are noted as follows.
League Policy
STANDINGS:
Team standings are kept. Points awarded system: 2 points for win, 1
for tie, no points for loss.
PLAYING TIME OF PLAYER: Every
effort will be made to play every player on your roster that is at the game at
least 3 innings or more in a 7 inning game or 2 innings in a 5 inning game.
Every effort will be made to give all players an opportunity play both infield
and outfield. This is league policy. However, coaches’ discretion
may be used based on attendance, attitude, etc, but this must be made clear to
both player and parent (s).
PROTESTS:
Remember rule interpretation can be protested, but a judgment call
cannot. Do not let your frustration affect your good judgment. Any
rule protest must be made before the next legal pitch, intentional walk, illegal pitcher action or before all fielders have left fair
territory. The protest must be made directly to the umpire and opposing
coach at the same time. Please inform the scorekeeper, noting time,
number of outs, batting order, position of runners, who is at bat, rule
violation and defensive players. The game is then continued and the game
assumes the status of a suspended game, until the league directors have ruled
upon the protest. A written protest giving all of the above conditions
and rule violation must be submitted and received by the league within 48 hours
of the game completion. If the protest is allowed the game will be
rescheduled and resumed at the point of protest with all conditions to be the
same. If the protest is disallowed by the league the game becomes
official as originally completed. The league will not consider verbal
protests. NFHS protest rules
will prevail.
Final word about protests. Protests are strongly
discouraged.
Unsportsmanlike Behavior: NFHS (Rule
3-6-15, 10-2-3f; 10-3-1) provide very clear guidelines for behavior for
players, coaches, and spectators. The league directors expect the head
coaches to take proactive steps when unsportsmanlike like behavior occurs,
prior to an umpire getting involved. League officials also expect
to be notified if / when inappropriate behavior occurs
so corrective actions can be taken.
Playing Rules: All
Rules in the 2005 NFHS Softball Rules book will apply except as
modified by the following league changes/additions. The
NFHS rule is noted.
12U/14U
WSGS League Rules
R1: Home
team will be decided by WSGS schedule. Home team shall
have 3rdbase
dugout. (Consideration and exceptions
allowed for double headers)
R2: The
league officials prior to the game or the umpire at the field will decide
fitness of the playing field.
R3:
Catchers will wear catcher’s
equipment (Helmet, mask, chest protector, and shin guards) at all times while
in the catcher’s position. NFHS Rule
1-7-2 will be strictly enforced.
R
4:1 Base runners will wear a
helmet while running the bases.
R
4:2 Batters will wear batting
helmets with face guards and chin
straps.
R5/S1: No new inning
shall start after one hour and 15
minutes from scheduled start time. Game
is officially 7 innings. (Prior
to start of game, coaches and umpires can decide to waive the one hour and 15
minute rule providing no new game is schedule for the field being played on and
both coaches and umpires agree.
Tournament game: No new inning shall start after one hour and
30 minutes from start of game.
Tournament tie breaker: International modified tie breaking
rule will be in effect. This will be further explained prior to season ending
tournament.
R5/S2: Teams will
adhere to the 5 run scoring rule. Teams will switch from offense to defense
after 5 runs are scored, regardless of the number of outs. If there is no
following game scheduled and if prior to the start of the game both team
coaches agree the 5 run rule may be waived in the inning determined by the
umpire to be the last inning, resulting in the play of an “unlimited” inning.
If a team has a 12 run lead after 5 innings the game is over. This rule does
not apply to tournament games. Time rule is in effect for tournament games.
R5/S3: One minute between innings will be
strictly enforced. A ball will be called if the pitcher is
late on delivery of first pitch. A strike will be called if batter is not ready
of the first pitch. NFHS Rule 2-56-1, 6-2-5, 7-3-1.
R6/S1: There is a maximum of 9 players on
defense 14-U
12-U will play with 10
players, 4 must be outfielders.
Minimum Players - You must start and play with at least 8 players, otherwise
you forfeit. There is a 10-minute grace period from the scheduled start
time of the game to get 8 players. If your player(s) arrive late, and you
have less than ten players (12-U) or 9 players (14-U), she must play
defense. The late arrival player will be placed at the bottom of the
batting order.
**NOTE** It is strongly suggested
that if a team is short of the minimum 8 players all efforts be made to play
the game anyway – either by borrowing players from the opposing team or having parents
fill in, or just playing short-handed. The result will still be recorded as a
forfeit, but at least a game will be played to the benefit of the players in
attendance.
R6/S2
SUBSTITUTION: Free substitutions on defense. Base running is offense. Therefore no “courtesy” runner will be
allowed except for catcher.
Courtesy runner is allowed for catcher.
(REMEMBER 1 Minute RULE)
If a player is too hurt or sick to run, she is too sick or
hurt to be playing.
If she is hurt
while on base and cannot continue to play, she will be excused from further
participation in the game, (offense and defense) and will be replaced by the
last out of the inning. Upon the inured or sick player’s at bat, no out will be
recorded.
Tournament Play:
Upon the injured or sick player’s at bat, the batter will be declared out. Rule
NFHS7-4J.
R7
Umpires will not call a liberal
strike zone. RULE NFHS 2-56,
1,2,3,4. R7 was left in this league rule as a note to all coaches
and players.
R 7 A Pitching
rubber shall be 40 feet from home plate. Measured from the
Front edge of the pitcher’s plate to APEX
of home plate.
R8
BATTING ORDER: The entire roster is batted, meaning everyone who shows up for
the game will bat. If player comes to the game late, her name will be
placed at the bottom of the batting order, and she will bat in that position
for the remainder of the game. (No one will be inserted into the line
up.) Penalty for insertion will
be batting out of order. RULE NFHS 2-7-2;7-1-2
STEALING: 15U plays
standard NFHS guidelines for base stealing (runner may leave the base as soon
as the ball leaves the pitchers hand). 12U base runners may leave the base only
after the ball has crossed home plate.