Rules & Regulations

Player Eligibility:

A. To be eligible, each girl must be at least four (4) years of age by September 1^st of that year for the Fall season and December 31^st of the previous year for the Spring season. A player can be no older than 19 years of age by December 31^st of that year for the Fall season and December 31^st of the previous year for the Spring season. A player’s age as of December 31^st of that year for the Fall season and December 31^st of the previous year for the Spring season will determine their age group.

B. Nonresidents of Cobb County are allowed participation in West Cobb Girl’s Softball but will be assessed a nonresident fee (Spring season only) as determined and required by the Cobb County Parks and Cultural Affairs Department. This fee is passed on to the county. No girl shall be excluded from play in WCGS based on race, color or national origin under any circumstance.

C. Players must be properly registered and have paid their registration fee along with their concession deposit before participating in skills testing (Spring season), practices or games.

D. All registered players are required to attend skills test (Spring season). A player is eligible to "play up" in the Spring if she is a minimum of ten (10) years of age and in her second season of 10U play. She is required to attend skills testing for the age group in which she would like to play and is required to achieve a minimum score of 25. If she scores below a 25 she will be assigned to her given age group. In the Fall, a player may only play up if she had attended the previous Spring season skills test, scored a minimum of 30 and has the approval of her respective League Director and the Player Agent.

Skills tests are not required for the Sugar & Spice age group.

E. League Directors will determine the final number of girls to be assigned to each team. Any players signing up after their age group’s draft will be placed on a waiting list for their respective age group. In the order in which they submit their registration form, their League Director in coordination with the Player Agent will place each player on a team until that given age group is closed.

All Managers and Assistant Coaches must submit a signed Application & Coach’s Pledge form and submit to a background check. Each Manager or Coach must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors on a one season basis.

Managers and Coaches should always have a positive attitude. Do not criticize players for mistakes or errors but instead offer encouragement and support. Suggest ways to improve player skills, build confidence and enjoyment for the game. The attitude and conduct of Managers and Coaches at WCGS reflects on and determines the value of our program for both players and parents.

A. All players will be drafted in accordance with WCGS Draft Rules.

B. A Manager and up to one Coach will be assigned per team. All Managers and Coaches must actively participate in practices and games.

C. If requested at registration, sisters will be placed on the same team in accordance with the draft procedure. Sisters must be either biological or if related by marriage, be residing at the same physical address. Birth certificates may be requested. No other consideration will be given for special requests including transportation reasons.

D. Parents or Legal Guardians have the option to name one (1) Manager for whom they will not allow their daughter to play. A Confidentially form (available on line) must be completed and submitted to a Board Member prior to the draft. This should be done only after serious consideration.

A. Metal cleats are prohibited, rubber cleats or sneakers are allowed.

B. No jewelry is allowed except in the case of newly pierced ears and they must be fully covered by tape. Hair clips must be made or rubber or fabric, no metal or plastic is allowed.

C. Each player must wear her team jersey. The number must be visible while at bat. At the discretion of the umpire, a cover-up without a number may be worn while at bat. Cover-ups are allowed during defensive play.

D. Catchers must wear a masked helmet with throat protector and a chest protector.

Fast-pitch catchers must also wear shin guards. Catchers who are warming up a fast-pitch pitcher, either on or off the field of play, must wear full protective gear.

E. Bats must be official softball bats. No bats on the ASA disapproved list may be used. Multi-walled and composite bats are permitted in the 12U and older age groups only. During play, violation of these rules is subject to the Umpire’s interpretation of the ASA Rulebook, rule 7, section 6C. Any team in violation of this rule a second time may receive a forfeit along with possible disciplinary action from the Board of Directors against the Manager or Coach.

F. Protective masks for pitchers and mouth guards for infielders are not required but highly recommended.

G. The batter, on deck batter and base runners must wear an approved batting helmet secured with a chinstrap and it must remain on until they exit the field of play. Additionally, fast-pitch players must have an approved protective facemask on their batting helmet.

H. The location of the on deck batter’s circle must be on the same side of the field as the dugout which the player’s team occupies. It should be located no closer to home plate than half way between home plate and the dugout entrance.

I. Double bases will be used at first base when available.

J. One new ball and one used ball will be provided for each game.

Sugar & Spice, Senior Sugar & Spice, 8U 35 ft. 55 ft.

10U 40 ft. 60 ft.

12U 46 ft. 60 ft.

14U, 16U, 19U & HS 50 ft. 65 ft.

FP10U 35 ft. 60 ft.

FP12U & FP14 40 ft. 60 ft.

FP16 & Up 43 ft. 60 ft.

A. ASA rules, both slow and fast-pitch will be followed unless otherwise stated by WCGS. In the event rules differ, WCGS rules supersede all others where applicable. NGFA fast-pitch games are governed by Class C, NGFP rules & regulations.

B. Player Participation:

C. Bat slinging is not allowed and the player may be ruled out. No warning is necessary and the Umpire’s judgment prevails.

D. Only one Manager or Coach may approach an Umpire to question a rules interpretation. Before the next pitch the Manager or Coach must request time out then approach the Umpire. If a protest is necessary (allowed in Spring season only) follow Game Protest rules:

E. An adult Coach is required at 1^st and 3^rd base. One of these should be the Manager or Coach.

F. No infield practice will be allowed after the scheduled game start time. Pitchers will be allowed a maximum of five warm-up pitches before the start of the game.

G. Forfeit time will be ten (10) minutes after the scheduled start time of the first game of the day. Subsequent games are allowed a five (5) minute grace period.

H. Lineups should be turned in fifteen (15) minutes prior to game time. Official scorekeepers are provided for the Spring season. For the Fall season the Home team should keep the scorebook and the Visiting team should provide an individual to operate the scoreboard. For the first two weeks of the Fall season the scoreboards will not be utilized. Lineups may be changed anytime prior to the first pitch. Players must be listed by first and last name and number. List all players including those not present at game time so they can be added upon arrival and become eligible for play.

Sugar & Spice: (4-6 years old)

Time limit is 60 minutes (Spring & Fall) and the game ends. A half or full inning does not need to be completed.

Two (2) base coaches may be on the field to assist base runners and three (3) coaches may be on the field to assist the defense.

All players present will be on the field defensively and will bat regardless of the number of players present. No substitution is required and there are no forfeits due to the number of players.

Each team will bat through their entire batting order once each inning. The batting order should be reversed each inning.

Batters, at the discretion of their Coach may first receive a maximum of five (5) pitches. If the ball is not hit by the fifth pitch a batting tee will be used. The Coach may pitch from any appropriate distance in order to give the batter an opportunity to hit the ball. All efforts should be made to let the batter put the ball in play but time should be considered. The batter may not advance past first base on a hit. A softie ball will be used for all games.

If possible, defensive players should be rotated to different positions except in situations where injury or embarrassment may occur.

All play stops when a player has possession of the ball and is within the circle drawn around the pitcher’s mound.

The purpose of the Sugar & Spice age group is to have fun, work on basic skills and build

enthusiasm for the game. No score will be kept , all players are WINNERS.

Senior Sugar & Spice: (6 years old, Spring season only)

A skills test is required for all players (Spring season only). Six year old players who have never played before may be encouraged to play in the Sugar & Spice division. A draft will be conducted to form individual teams.

Time limit is 60 minutes and the game ends. Ties are allowed for both Spring and Fall seasons. League standings will not be kept (Spring & Fall) in Senior Sugar & Spice.

Softie balls are used for the entire season.

The second half of the season (Spring season only) will be played differently from the first half.

Fall season and 1^st half of Spring season (prior to Spring break):

2^nd Half of Spring season:

Game time limit is 60 minutes or six (6) innings, which ever comes first. No new inning will start after the time limit has expired. An inning started within the time limit will be completed unless a team is mathematically eliminated. Games may end in a tie (Spring & Fall seasons).

ASA approved, 11" balls will be used. No composite or double-walled bats are permitted in 8U play.

A team may start the game with seven (7) players but not fall below seven once the game has started. If a team falls below seven players, the game will be forfeited. Exception; if a team has only seven players and one is injured during game play, that team may continue to play with six (6) players.

Teams are encouraged to play a practice game if a forfeit condition should arise. Umpires are not required to officiate the practice game.

All eligible players must be included in the batting line-up and they must bat in the order listed in the official scorebook. If an injured player taken out of the game cannot bat, the batting position is passed over and no out is recorded. The injured player may return to the game in their original batting position. Any players arriving late will be added at the bottom of the batting order.

An injured runner (a player who is injured while running the bases) can be substituted for with the player who made the last out, without penalty.

Offensive Play:

Pitching Regulations:

Defensive Play:

A team may start a game and be allowed to play with a minimum of eight (8) players present. The Manager of a team which falls below eight players for any reason during the game has the option to continue play.

ASA approved, 11" balls will be used. Bats listed on the ASA banned bat list cannot be used. Composite or double-walled bats are permitted in 12U and older play. No composite or double-walled bats are permitted in 10U play.

At any bat (10U-14U age groups) when six (6) runs are scored, the half inning is complete regardless of the number of outs. In the 16U, 19U and High School age groups, there is no run limit per half inning. A game is considered complete by run rule if both teams have batted and one team is ahead by 20 runs after three innings, 15 runs after four innings or 10 runs after five innings.

Game time limit is 60 minutes or six (6) innings (10U only), seven (7) innings (12U-19U & HS), which ever comes first. No new inning will start after the time limit has expired. A game is considered complete when a team has no mathematical chance to tie or win due to the six run limit.

A six (6) inning game is considered official/complete after four innings or three and one half if the home team is ahead. A seven (7) game is considered official/complete after five innings or four and one half if the home team is ahead. All incomplete games (Spring season only and only if the game’s outcome will effect final league standings) will resume at a later scheduled date and time at the point which the game was stopped using the original lineups. Time remaining will be noted in the original scorebook. If not noted it will be agreed to by the Managers and Umpires before play is resumed.

Fall season games may end in a tie. In the Spring season the following tie-breaker rule will apply:

The batter making the last out of the previous inning will be put on second base. Each inning will start with one (1) out. The game will be extended a maximum of two (2) innings. If the score is still tied after two additional innings the game will be recorded as a tie.

A batter hit by a pitch is not awarded first base.

Stealing is permitted in12U and older age groups. A base runner may leave their base when a pitched ball comes in contact with the ground or the Catcher or passes the Catcher. A base runner may not attempt to advance if the batter swings and misses. A base runner leaving early may be called out. If the Catcher attempts to throw out an advancing base runner and the ball is overthrown, the runner may not advance beyond that base (12U only), see Example 1 below. Stealing home is not permitted (12U only) but a runner on 3^rd base may attempt to advance home on a catcher’s throw to 2^nd base (see Example 2 below). In the 14U -19U & HS age groups, any base runner, including a runner on 3^rd base may attempt to advance once the ball comes in contact with the ground or the Catcher or passes the Catcher.

Example 1 - With a base runner on 1^st base, the pitcher delivers the pitch and the ball passes the catcher. The runner attempts to advance to 2^nd base, the catcher retrieves the ball and throws to 2^nd but the ball gets past the infielder. The base runner must stay on 2^nd base.

Example 2 - With runners on 1^st and 3^rd base, the pitcher delivers the pitch and the catcher catches the ball. The runner on 1^st attempts to advance to 2^nd base, the catcher throws to 2^nd base. The runner on 3^rd base may attempt to advance home.

There is no infield fly rule in SP10U play.

Intentional walks are permitted in SP10 play (Spring season only). A Coach may request that the batter be awarded first base without the pitcher having to deliver four balls to the batter. One intentional walk per player per game is allowed.

Pitching Regulations:

When the ball is in play, the Coach-Pitcher must avoid all contact with the ball and all defensive players. If the Coach-Pitcher is struck with a batted ball or makes contact with a player attempting to field a batted ball, play will stop and the ball shall be declared a dead ball. All runners will return to the base they occupied when the pitch was made. The pitch does not count in the pitch total or the pitch count and the batter is awarded another pitch.

If in an Umpire’s judgment, interference by the Coach-Pitcher is intentional, the batter is out and all runners will return to the base they occupied when the pitch was made.

The infield fly rule is in effect.

Intentional walks are permitted. If the pitcher desires to walk a batter intentionally all pitches must be legally delivered to the batter.

In the 10U & 12U age groups, a team must be comprised of ten (10) players if available. If not the game may be played with eight (8) players and will be considered a regulation game. In the 14U and older age groups, teams must be comprised of nine (9) players if available. If not the game may be played with eight (8) players and will be considered a regulation game. If a player(s) leaves the game for any reason after coming to bat, an automatic out will be taken at her place in the batting order.

ASA approved 11" balls will be used in the 10U age group and 12" ball will be used in the 12U and older age groups.

At any bat when four (4) runs are scored, the half inning is complete regardless of the number of outs. When 60 minutes or four innings of play are complete, which ever comes first, the next inning(s) will be an open inning(s). The open inning(s) will have a six (6) run limit for the 10U age group and an eight (8) run limit for the 12U and older age groups.

Game time limit is 1 hour 10 minutes or six (6) innings (10U), 1 hour 20 minutes or seven (7) innings (12U-19U), which ever comes first. No new inning will start after the limit has expired. A game is considered complete when a team has no mathematical chance to tie or win due to the run limits.

Fall season games may end in a tie. In the Spring season, the following tie-breaker rule will apply:

The batters making the last two outs of the previous inning will be put on 2^nd base and 3^rd base respectively. Each inning will start with one (1) out. The game will be extended a maximum of two (2) innings. If the score is still tied after two additional innings the game will be recorded as a tie.

When a play at home plate occurs, the base runner should make every attempt to avoid a collision with the Catcher.

In all age groups, outfielders must be positioned no closer to home plate than the cut of the grass before a pitch is delivered.

The Look Back rule is in effect. The rule states that when the pitcher has possession of the ball within the 8' radius circle and is not making a play on a runner, a runner must immediately return to her base or proceed to the next base without hesitation or be liable to be called out by the Umpire. No runner may leave a base when the pitcher has possession of the ball in the circle and is not making a play on a runner. If the circle is not marked, the Umpire will approximate the circle radius when making this judgment call. Exception: when a batter receives a walk, runners on 2^nd or 3^rd can remain off their bases until the batter-runner reaches 1^st base. As soon as the batter-runner reaches 1^st base and the pitcher has the ball in the circle, the other runners must return to their base or commit to the next base. Keep in mind however that the 10U age group may not steal home at any time.

The infield fly rule is not in effect for the 10U age group.

The dropped third strike rule is not in effect for the 10U age group.

One (1) intentional walk per game is permitted. If a pitcher intends to intentionally walk a batter, the walk will be granted by signaling the Umpire of her intention. No pitches need be thrown for an intentional walk to be granted in this situation. The signaling of an intentional walk must be given before the first pitch is thrown.

Pitching Regulations:

Example 1 - Player-Pitcher throws 4 pitches - 0 strikes, 4 non-strikes. After the 4^th pitch a Coach-Pitcher replaces the players pitcher and may throw up to 3 pitches (Exception: see 3^rd strike foul above).

Example 2 - Player-Pitcher throws 5 pitches - 1 strike, 4 non-strikes. After the 5^th pitch a Coach-Pitcher replaces the player pitcher and may throw up to 2 pitches (Exception: see 3^rd strike foul above).

Example 3 - Player-Pitcher throws 6 pitches - 2 strikes, 4 non-strikes. After the 6^th pitch a Coach-Pitcher may throw 1 pitch (Exception: see 3^rd strike foul above).

When the ball is in play, the Coach-Pitcher must avoid all contact with the ball and all defensive players.

If the Coach-Pitcher is struck with a batted ball or makes contact with a player attempting to field a batted ball, play will stop and the ball shall be declared a dead ball. All runners will return to the base they occupied when the pitch was made. The pitch does not count in the pitch total or the pitch count and the batter is awarded another pitch.

If in an Umpire’s judgment, interference by the Coach-Pitcher is intentional, the batter is out and all runners will return to the base they occupied when the pitch was made.

Once the pitched ball leaves the Player-Pitcher’s hand, the runners may attempt to advance. There will be no stealing during Coach-Pitch. A base runner leaving early may be called out. If the Catcher attempts to throw out an advancing base runner and the ball is overthrown, the runner may not advance beyond that base (Example 1). A runner already on 3^rd base may not attempt to advance in this situation (Example 2). A runner on 3^rd may only advance home on a force play or a batted ball.

Example 1 - With a base runner on 1^st base, the pitcher delivers the pitch and the ball passes the catcher. The runner attempts to advance to 2^nd base, the catcher retrieves the ball and throws to 2^nd but the ball gets past the infielder. The base runner must stay on 2^nd base.

Example 2 - With runners on 1^st and 3^rd base, the pitcher delivers the pitch and the catcher catches the ball. The runner on 1^st attempts to advance to 2^nd base, the catcher throws to 2^nd base. The runner on 3^rd base may not attempt to advance home.

Bunting is permitted during Coach-Pitch, but the batter may not fake-bunt-slap.

Each ball pitched to a batter must have a flat trajectory and appropriate velocity. Any pitch with a significant arc is not allowed. If, in the judgment of the Umpire, the actions of the Coach-Pitcher are deemed to give unfair advantage to the offense, the play shall be nullified and all runners will return to the base they occupied when the pitch was made. The pitch will accrue in the pitch count. Multiple offenses shall cause the Coach-Pitcher to be removed from pitching for the remainder of the game.

A defensive coach may assist with pass balls during non-steal situations. Should a Coach interfere with a pass ball during a steal situation, runners are entitled to move one base from the base they occupied before the pitch but a runner on 3^rd may not advance home.

Once the pitched ball leaves the Pitcher’s hand, the runners may attempt to advance. A base runner leaving early may be called out. If the Catcher attempts to throw out an advancing base runner and the ball is overthrown, the runner(s) may continue to advance at their own risk.

Intentional walks are permitted (one per game in FP12). If a pitcher intends to intentionally walk a batter, all pitches must be legally delivered to the batter. If there are no runners on base, a pitcher wishing to intentionally walk a batter will be granted such by signaling the Umpire of her intention. No pitches need be thrown for an intentional walk to be granted in this situation.

The infield fly rule is in effect for 12U and up play.