MODIFIED SOFTBALL
Game Conditions
1. A minimum of one nights rest between contests. Any pitcher
pitching more than four innings in one game must have at least two nights rest
before pitching again. When removed from pitching, the pitcher may play
any other position.
2. The maximum number of contests shall be 10.
3. Six practices are required before the first scrimmage.
4. Six practices are required before the first interschool
contest.
5. Doubleheaders: The following restrictions apply to the use of
doubleheaders:
a. The maximum number of doubleheaders allowed is two.
b. A team may not play three games in
two consecutive days. No more than three games a week may be played.
c. Pitching limitations remain the
same.
d. Each game of the double header is
to be six innings. No team may play more than 14 innings in one day.
This allows a total maximum of two extra innings in the event of a tie game.
Game Rules
1. NFHS Rules, seven innings
2. The pitching distance in Section XI shall be 40 feet.
3. A player may re-enter the game once.
4. Equipment:
a. Catchers shall wear the full
protective equipment: helmet, mask, chest protectors, shin guards, throat
protectors
b. Batters and base runners shall
wear protective headgear with face masks beginning in spring 2006. (approved Jan
2005)
c. Any player warming up a pitcher,
on or off the field, shall wear protective equipment.
d.
Metal cleats are
allowed. (approved Jan 2024)
e. Face masks are mandated on softball batting helmets at all levels
beginning in spring 2006. (approved Jan 2005)
5. The use of a double base at first base is required beginning in
spring 2004.
Section XI Rules
1. No new inning may begin beyond two hours from the actual starting
time of the contest. Examples:
a. Game started at 4:10 PM, fifth
inning ends at 6:15 PM, there will not be a sixth inning.
b. Game started at 4:10 PM, fifth
inning ends at 6:05 PM, there will be a sixth inning.
2. Each team must use ten players.
a. The tenth player will play the
outfield.
b. All ten players will bat
c. A game may start with nine players
if there are only nine. No outs will be called on the tenth spot in the
lineup. If another player arrives, she must go into the tenth spot.
3. Each pitch will count: After team
has batted through the order, the inning is over (regardless of number of outs
that have been recorded or number of base runners).
updated 3/25
4. In any half inning, there will be maximum of three bases advanced
by steals and/or passed balls (not three each). Any runner advancing by
means of a steal or passed ball after the maximum of three bases has been
achieved, will be returned to their original base.
a. Advances means steals by the
baserunner on a pitch from the mound and not by throws from a fielder.
b. A pitch that enters dead territory
will not count as an advance and the runners will move up one base.
c. Pick-off attempts by the catcher:
(1)
Runners will be considered out if the throw gets to the base before the runner
returns (a force out situation).
(2) After the
throw, the runners can only advance by retouching the original base first (only
after three steals or passed ball advances have accumulated.)
5. A dropped third strike does count as an out.
updated 3/25
6. After three advances in a half inning, the ball will be dead on any
base on balls.
7. If one, two or three runners advance (steal/passed ball) at the same
time, it will count as one, two or three advances. Exception: If after two
advances have been taken and then multiple runners advance at the same time,
only count them as one advance.
8. All coaches shall be required to wear protective helmets while standing along the 1st and 3rd base lines during games. (approved 10/8/09)
9. A maximum of ten players may bat in
one inning per team. If three outs are recorded prior to the tenth batter
appearing, the following inning will begin with the next batter scheduled to bat
(Example: Batter 5 makes the third out; Batter 6 leads off the next
inning, and the inning will end with Batter 5 if three outs have not been
recorded.) If the third out is made as a result of any play not involving
a batted ball or strikeout, then that batter will lead off the next inning
NYSPHSAA Mercy Rule
A contest will end after a team at the short end of the
15-run rule has completed their fifth at bat.
Rev. 3/25