VGSA League Rules (printable version revised 3/15/25)
2025 LEAGUE RULES
Except as approved and modified by these VGSA League Rules and USA Softball. Official Rules will govern league play.
I. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. All teams will provide concession stand workers and trash pickup workers on the dates and times designated by the VGSA League Schedule. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit of the game scheduled for that day, and coaches will work concessions. If umpires were provided for the game, the team will be required to pay the umpire fees. *Minimum age for concession stand workers will be established by the concession stand manager in compliance with County and State health regulations.
2. The managers and/or coaches from the HOME team are responsible for preparing their field for game play, including raking the field, chalking batter's boxes, foul lines, 8 foot radius around pitcher's plate, coaches' boxes, on deck circles and half-way marks (if required) 12 inches in length between 1st, 2nd, 3rd and home. Games will start upon the umpire's approval of field conditions.
3. Both teams are responsible for cleaning in and around their dug-out and bleacher area after each game and/or practice.
4. The VISITING team is responsible for putting away all bases, any other softball equipment and tools at their field following the last scheduled game of the day on that field.
II. SAFETY RULES
1. For all league play, youth players MUST wear an approved batting helmet with a face mask while on the field of play.
2. Jewelry may be worn per USA Softball rules. MEDIC ALERT items may be worn, but must be taped firmly to the body, and medical information must be visible.
3. The double first base (safety base) will be used in all games.
4. Any youth warming up a pitcher within the Salmon Creek Sports Complex shall wear a catcher's mask.
5. All players shall wear their uniforms properly.
6. No child with an arm, wrist, hand or leg cast will be allowed to play without a written verification from her physician that the child can play fastpitch softball. The cast must be sufficiently padded, per USA rules.
7. If a player throws a bat, a warning will be issued to both benches by the umpire. Any subsequent infractions will result in an out being called, and the offending player may be ejected.
III. GAME RULES
1. a. Games shall begin promptly when scheduled. There will be a ten (10) minute grace period allowed for the purpose of fielding a team consisting of eight (8) players. At the end of the grace period, the team in default shall forfeit the game. The score shall be 7-0.
b. Games forfeited because of too few players may be played as practice games if the "short-handed" team borrows player(s) from the opposing team. Each team must be able to field eight (8) players. The grace period will count as playing time.
2. A pregame conference will be held with the umpire(s) prior to the start of each game. The conference will be attended by managers, coaches and may include Team Captains.
3. TEAM COMPOSITION
a. For league play, Training League, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U may field ten
(10) players on defense.
b. For T-Ball a full team consists of all players present at the game on
defense. The opposing team shall also field all players that are present on defense. The defense shall consist of seven (7) infielders, the remainder of the players are to be placed in the outfield.
4. TIME LIMITS
For 10U through 18U Leagues, seven (7) innings or one hour and forty (1:40) minutes shall constitute a regulation game. No new inning shall be started after the one hour forty (1:40) minute time limit. An inning in progress shall be completed unless the home team is at bat and is winning. If inclement weather, time limit, or other factors should shorten the game, then five (5) innings is considered an official game (four and one-half [4 1/2] innings if the home team is leading).
For 8U, seven (7) innings or one hour and thirty (1:30) minutes shall constitute a regulation game. No new inning shall be started after the one hour thirty (1:30) minute time limit. An inning in progress shall be completed unless the home team is at bat and is winning. If inclement weather, time limit, or other factors should shorten the game, then five (5) innings is considered an official game (four and one-half [4 1/2] innings if the home team is leading).
For Training League, five (5) innings or one hour and twenty (1:20) minutes shall constitute a regulation game. No new inning shall be started after the one hour and twenty (1:20) minute time limit. An inning in progress shall be completed unless the home team is "at bat" and is winning. If inclement weather, time limit, or other factors should shorten the game, then three (3) innings is considered an official game (two and one-half [2 1/2] innings if the home team is leading).
For T-Ball League, four (4) innings or one hour and fifteen (1:15) minutes shall constitute a regulation game. No new inning shall be started after the one hour and fifteen (1:15) minute time limit. An inning in progress shall be completed unless the home team is at bat and is winning. If inclement weather, time limit, or other factors should shorten the game, then three (3) innings is considered an official game (two and one-half [2 1/2] innings if the home team is leading).
5. TIED GAMES
a. T-Ball, Training, 8U, and 10U League games may end in a tie.
b. For 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U League, if a game is tied at the end of seven (7) innings or at the time limit, the INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER rule will be implemented at the top of the next inning. During double header evenings, The 5:00 o'clock games that are tied after seven (7) innings or the time limit will continue under the INTERNATIONAL TIE BREAKER until a winner is determined or the subsequently scheduled seven (7:00) o'clock game is ready to start. Should an inning in progress need to be finished after 7:00 pm, the game will be suspended and rescheduled for completion.
6. At the end of five (5) innings if one team is ahead by an insurmountable number of runs, the game is considered unwinnable. Continuation of the game is at the sole discretion of the losing manager/coach.
7. Teams will be limited to the following number of runs per time at bat.
T-Ball --- Teams bat their roster each inning.
Training - Teams bat their roster each inning.
8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U, - five (5) runs per at bat.
8. The distance between bases and the distance from the apex of home plate to the front of the pitching plate shall be as follows:
LEAGUE BASES PITCHING
T-Ball Forty-five (45) feet Thirty-five (35) feet
Training Forty-five (45) feet Thirty-five (35) feet
8U Forty-five (45) feet Thirty-five (35) feet
10U Sixty (60) feet Thirty-five (35) feet
12U, 14U, 16U Sixty (60) feet USA regulation distances
18U Sixty (60) feet USA regulation distances
9. The visiting team is assigned the first (1st) base dugout and the home team is assigned the third (3rd) base dugout. Teams participating in double headers may elect to remain in their originally assigned dugout for the second game regardless of their home or visiting team status.
10. Teams are allowed pregame practice only in the area outside the 1st & 2nd and the 2nd & 3rd base paths, following the completion of field preparation. 10U teams at the 10U level up may opt to take full infield practice lasting no longer than 5 minutes in duration. This is in place of warm-up reps at respective base paths. This must be communicated to the opposing coach to coordinate ample time for both team’s warm-up. Both teams must have completed either style of warm up 10 minutes prior to game start to allow for the plate meeting.
11. Open substitution and re-entry will be allowed.
12. The "Designated Player Rule" is not allowed for league play.
13. 10U, 8U, Training, and T-Ball coaches must bat their entire roster. For all other age classes, coaches may elect to bat their entire roster at game time, during the pre-game conference.
14. During league play all eligible players must play in not less than two (2) full innings in a 4/5 inning game, or three (3) full innings in a 6/7 inning game. Managers and/or coaches not complying with this rule may be suspended at the discretion of the board.
15. All Formal Official Protests must reach a VGSA Executive Board member within twenty-four (24) hours of the game, accompanied by a signed letter of protest with a full explanation, and the scorebooks from both teams. The board's review and decision on the validity of the protest is fin
IV ADDITIONAL RULES FOR 10U PLAY
1. Offensive teams will bat their entire roster, including substitutes. If the third out is obtained before the five (5) run limit is achieved, the inning is ended and the offensive team resumes the batting order where it left off, their next at bat.
2. Pitching is determined season by season: the following pitching rules apply. Pitching will occur in all games with the standard amount of pitches per batter. Per USA rules, up to six pitches - 3 balls, 3 strikes; 4 balls, 2 strikes (more if fouled off).
a. three (3) strikes will be out.
b. In each half inning, a youth pitcher can only walk two batters. The next batter to receive ball four, the coach will pitch a maximum of three pitches. Strikes on the batter carry over. (for example, if batter has 2 strikes, she will only receive one pitch from coach)
c. If the batter strikes out or fails to put the ball into fair play during the coach's three additional pitches, the batter is out.
d. Only those batters struck by a pitch from a youth player shall be awarded first base.
e. There will be no coaching from the pitcher's circle when the batter's coach pitches the additional three pitches.
V. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR 8U PLAY.
No new inning after one hour and thirty minutes (1:30) hard stop at 1:40.
Games may end in a tie.
Bases to be at 45 feet and the pitching mound at 35 feet. An 11-inch safety ball will be used during games.
A player may lead off after the ball has been released by the machine. No base stealing allowed, advancement is only made on a hit ball.
Three outs or a 5-run rule to be considered a complete inning.
A batter will not be allowed to hit from a Tee.
Bunting is allowed, Drag bunting or slap hitting will be allowed in the games.
No extra bases allowed on an overthrow.
No obstruction/interference calls will be made.
Teams are required to use the pitching machine for every league game. Machine speed will be set between 30-35 mph and set with the foot of the machine directly in front of the 35ft pitching mound. If there is an issue with a machine, teams will resort to coach pitch for that game.
There will be no walks and players will not advance to first base if they are hit by a machine pitched ball.
A player must put the ball into play, foul, or strikeout.
Each at bat will have a 5 pitch maximum. If the 5th or subsequent pitch is batted foul, the batter shall remain at bat until they strike out or put the ball in play. If the 5th pitch is deemed unhittable by both coaches, the batter will be awarded one more additional pitch or until they receive a hittable pitch. If the batter swings and misses three times during their 5 pitch maximum, they will have a strikeout.
Teams are required to have a suited catcher. Each player has the choice of squatting for the pitch or standing beside the net for the pitch and returning to play after each pitch has crossed the plate.
If a hit ball hits either the coach, extension cord, ball basket, or the pitching machine, it will be a “dead ball” and batter will be awarded first base and base runners advance one base.
The player in the pitching position will stand on either side of the machine, outside of the pitching circle. If a thrown ball hits the pitching machine, it will be considered a “dead ball” and players will advance to the base they were heading towards.
The defensive pitcher must be within the pitcher’s circle when the coach pitches.
If necessary, coaches may call time-out to adjust the pitching machine to ensure the ball is passing through the strike zone. However, coaches are not allowed to adjust the machine from batter to batter. Players may adjust themselves in the batter’s box.
VI. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR T-BALL AND TRAINING LEAGUE
1. Once the pitcher has control of the ball and is inside the pitcher's circle, the ball becomes dead, and all baserunners not over half the distance to the next base shall return to the last touched base. Base runners not over halfway will return to the previous base. The lead baserunner (if more than one runner is on base) is the controlling runner for determining the halfway mark.
2. An overthrow at 1st base becomes a dead ball and the runner is awarded one (1) base. The determination as to what constitutes an overthrow is the umpire’s decision.
3. No base stealing is allowed, and base runners must stay in contact with the base until the ball is hit into play.
4. In T-Ball, no sliding allowed.
5. OFFENSIVE ATTEMPTS
Players have a choice of hitting off the tee or off a coach.
a. For coach pitch, each batter will receive four attempts to hit the ball. The coach will pitch three pitches to each of his batters. If a batter fails to hit one of the three pitches, they may choose to either hit off the tee or receive one more pitched ball for their final attempt. Any pitch hit into fair territory is considered a ball in play. For a ball hit off the tee to be considered in play, the ball must be hit on or beyond the 10-foot arc. If the ball is not put into play on the fourth attempt, the batter is out. Use coaches discretion on allowing an extra pitch if a batter is fouling off pitches.
b. For T-Ball, each batter is allowed three attempts at a ball on the Tee.
If the ball is not put in play on the fourth attempt the batter is out. The ball must travel on or beyond the ten (10) foot arc to be considered in play.
6. The offensive team will bat the entire line up in each inning. Scorekeepers will count runs to the same number of batters. A team’s "At Bat" is over when the last batter in the lineup has batted, ran around all of the bases, and the catcher has touched home plate to end the inning.
7. A player must play at least two different positions per game. No player is to play one position for more than two complete innings. A complete inning is when every offensive player batted.) Once a girl has played one position, she may not re-enter that position unless there are no other players available to fill that position. The intention of this rule is for all girls to be exposed to a variety of infield and outfield positions.
8. Coaches can stand out in the field during defensive play to help coach players on where to throw the ball.
VII ADDITIONAL RULES FOR RECREATIONAL LEAGUE ASSIGNMENTS:
Players will register by USA age group.
Teams organized under the Recreational League will:
For League play only, players will be assigned using the neighborhood or nearest school concept, as nearly as possible. Teams registered with our association must accept these players for league play.
3. Recreation team players will be allowed to be picked up by a tournament team for an invitational tournament. Teams playing at VGSA may not pick up non-registered VGSA players for league play.
4. UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
a. Team shirts/socks will be purchased for the TB, TL, and 8U age groups
by VGSA. Girls will be allowed to keep their shirts/socks. Teams will be identified by team names printed on the shirt. Team colors will be approved by that League Director, to ensure teams are not fitted with similar color schemes.