FARM TOURNAMENT RULES - SOFTBALL

GENERAL RULES:

1. Game time limit is one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes, or six (6) completed innings, whichever occurs first.  No new inning may start after the time limit is reached.  If the time limit is reached during an inning, the home team will be allowed to complete their inning.
2. Taunting players (“chatter” or “hey batter…” or yelling at a player who is making a play) is prohibited.
3. The Home Team Manager and Coach(s) are responsible for pitching machines, bases, and field care; before and after each game.  If your game is the last scheduled game on the field, the Home Team Manager is responsible for ensuring the bases and any field equipment is secured back in the Pyramid.
4. There will be at least one (1) umpire in Farm.  Balls are not tracked and no bases will be awarded after four (4) balls.  Strikes, Outs, and Runs are tracked.
5. The visiting team provides an adult scoreboard operator for each game.  No children are allowed in the scorekeeper’s booth without adult supervision.  NO EXCEPTIONS.
6. The home team will keep the official scorebook in GameChanger.
7. No team may score more than five (5) runs per inning.  If a team scores five (5) runs in their inning, the side is retired and the inning changes.  The 6th inning will be an open inning.  
8. Ten Run Rule: If, after four completed innings, one team has a lead of ten runs or more, the manager of the team with fewer runs shall concede the victory to their opponent.
9. If a game is tied at the end of regulation play (6 innings), the 7th inning will be played as a standard inning.  If still tied after 7 innings, the 8th inning will begin by placing the last batter scheduled to hit in that inning on 2nd base.  A special pinch runner may be utilized if an eligible substitution is available.
10. The first baseman, pitcher, and third baseman will be required to wear a facemask.  The team will have facemasks to share.  If the girls do not want to share, parents will be encouraged to purchase their own. If the player does not wish to wear a facemask, she will not be allowed to play these positions.

OFFENSE:

11. All players are in the batting lineup, in a pre-stated batting order.  Each Manager will exchange lineup orders.  The batting lineup will remain the same throughout the current game.
12. The pitching machine will be set up directly behind the softball pitching rubber/plate (just behind 35 feet).  The pitching machine will be operated by a coach of the offensive team.
13. A batter can not walk but can strike out swinging.  Unlimited foul balls allowed when there are two strikes.
14. The offensive side is retired when the defense collects three (3) outs, or the offense scores five (5) runs.
15. The next offensive inning will begin the batting order with the player left “on deck” from the last offensive inning.
16. No leading off or base stealing allowed.
17. Runners may not advance bases when there is an overthrow to a base.  This is to encourage the players to make defensive outs.
18. On balls hit to the outfield, runners may advance until the ball has been returned to an infielder. If the infielder is in a cutoff position (shallow outfield), runners may advance until the ball has been returned to the infield.
19. On balls hit to the infield, runners may only advance one base.
20. Head-first slides are not allowed, except when a player is returning to a base.  Non base-returning head-first slides will result in an automatic out.  
21. If a batted ball hits the pitching machine, it is declared a dead ball, the batter will be awarded first base, and all forced runners will advance one base.

DEFENSE:

22.  All players play each inning in the field, simultaneously.
23.  The defensive team must utilize “standard” infield positions; one player per position. All remaining players will play in the outfield, and must be positioned in an umbrella formation, at least 15 feet off the infield dirt.  Use of a short fielder or “rover” is not allowed.
24.  The pitcher must start with one foot in the pitcher’s circle (safe distance from the machine).
25.  All Players must play at least one (1) inning in the infield, per game.  Exceptions may be made for purposes related to player safety (with approval of the Division Liaison and notification to the Player Agent(s)).
26. While playing in the infield, no player should play more than two innings per game in the same position.  Exceptions may be made for safety reasons (first base and catcher).  This can be cleared with the safety officer and or Player Agents of Reno National Little League.

EQUIPMENT:

27. All batters will need a helmet with a face mask.
28. Bats must meet Little League specifications and standards (Rule 1.10) (USA Softball bat stamps are allowed, 2 ¼ barrel diameter, BPF 1.20, Damaged bats will be removed)
29. No jewelry is allowed (to include watches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets).

UNIFORMS:

30. Visors are allowed but not mandatory
31. Player jerseys and their numbers must be visible at all times.
32. Headbands and/or bows are allowed.