The Games  

• Games start at 6:00 pm weekdays.  If either team does not have a minimum of 7 players by the beginning of the 2nd inning, the game will be forfeited.  Exchange of players should be made so that the game can be played, but a loss will be posted for the forfeiting team with an 8-0 score.
• Coaches should have their players arrive ½ hour prior to game time.
• The home team scorebook will be the official scorebook of the game.  Scorekeepers should confirm score after each half inning.
• Six innings constitutes a complete game, with a minimum of four innings required for a legal game.  If the home team is ahead after 3-1/2 innings, this would be considered a legal game.  In the event that a game does not achieve the requirements of a legal game, it should be picked up at the top of the last complete inning and finished to the 4th inning minimum.
• An inning should not be started after 7:45 pm.
• Games should end by 8:00 pm, unless the final inning is in progress and conditions allow going past 8:00 pm.
• No regular season game should go beyond 8:15 pm.
• If an inning is unfinished at 8:15, or when the umpire calls the game, the final score for the game reverts back to score at the end of the previous inning.
• Playoff & Championship games cannot end in a tie.
• Home team should be positioned on the first base side of the field and should provide game ball.
• Home team is responsible for providing the bases and umpire equipment and returning them to the shed.
• The game can be called at the discretion of the coaches based on lighting or weather conditions.
• The cancellation of a game due to inclement weather or poor field conditions will be decided by the home team coach at least 1 hour before the scheduled start of the game.  A call will be made to the visiting team coach and the umpire(s).
• Home team coach is responsible for rescheduling postponed games as soon as possible.

Goals

Complete knowledge of the game.  Should know where to be at all times.  Should be a team player.  Should be confident in abilities.

Continue to improve on the fundamentals of:

• Throwing.
• Catching.
• Running the bases.
• Sliding.
• Hitting.

When they have finished the Senior Division, the players should be able to:

• Understand Game strategy.
• Have low scoring games.
• Hit the ball where it is pitched, (outside, inside, middle).
• Work the count when at bat.
• Drag bunt, slap bunt.
• Pitchers continue to develop multiple pitches.
• Catchers can pick off all bases.
• Continued improvement in all areas.
• Learn more advanced signs from coaches when at bat or on base.
• Communicate and work as a team.
• Be ready for High School play.

Pitchers and Catchers should continue getting as much one-on-one coaching as possible in the proper mechanics of pitching and catching.  Support is available from the league, just ask.

Format

• Division wide practices encouraged.
• Season is 8 weeks beginning the week after school Spring Break.
• Approximately ten (10) regular season games, 2-3 per week.
• Playoffs, team seeded by regular season records.  All teams make playoffs.
• Playoff format determined based on total number of teams.
• Awards Banquet following the season.

Silver Lake - Duxbury
SR. Girls Softball League

PLAYING RULES

1. Games are 6 innings long. Extra innings will be played to determine winner, as daylight allows. If game cannot be continued in extra innings due to darkness/weather game is declared a tie. If full inning is not completed, SCORE REVERTS TO SCORE AT END OF LAST COMPLETED INNING.
2. Free substitution is allowed in the field.
3. 12’ Yellow, “Raised-Stitch” Softballs will be used.
4. Base runners must slide or avoid contact on all close plays; otherwise runner may be called out at umpire’s discretion.
5. Play is dead when the ball is returned to the Mound Circle.
6. A full, continuous batting order will be used throughout each game.
7. In the case of a player arriving late for a game and not in the original line-up, that player may be entered into the end of the line-up and bat in that spot only.
8. Teams will play with 3 Outfielders. OF’s must take their defensive positions on the OF grass (no extra infielders). OF’s will NOT field balls in infield.
9. The “Infield Fly Rule” will be in effect – umpire’s call.
10. No Continuous Walks.
11. Batter may NOT advance to first base on a dropped third strike.
12. Base runners may not leave base until pitcher releases ball.
13. Base runners may steal any base.
14. Base runner stealing 2nd Base only, may not advance if ball is overthrown at 2nd.
15. A Game is considered complete after four (4) innings (three and 1/2, if the home team is leading).
16. Each team is limited to FIVE (5) runs per inning for inning’s 1 thru 5, after which the team is out. There is no run limit in the 6th inning or any extra innings. This rule is waived in playoffs.
17. Any team not having 7 players at 15:00 past scheduled game time will forfeit game. Coaches will do everything possible to avoid forfeiting a game.
18. For the purpose of warming up, the designated “Home” team will have use of the ball field until 15 minutes before game time. The designated “Away” team will then be allowed use of the field until game time.
19. There is no limit to a pitcher’s innings.
20. Pitching distance. Pitching rubbers on all fields are set at 40 feet.
21. Any pitcher hitting THREE (3) batters in a game will be removed from the pitcher position for the remainder of that game at the umpire’s discretion.  The player may remain in lineup at another position.
22. Each team should keep an accurate scorebook during each game.
23. Softball bats only, no baseball bats.
24. Catchers must wear full equipment.
25. All batters, base-runners and on-deck batters must wear batting helmets with attached face guards (cages).
26. A courtesy runner for the catcher may be used, in an effort to allow catcher to be dressed and ready for the next half inning. Runner will be that team’s last recorded out.

GENERAL RULES:

1. This league is open to girls residing in the four member towns. Any girls in grades 7th – 12th are eligible. However, girls selected for a High School Varsity team are ineligible. JV players “swinging” between JV & Varsity are eligible.
2. High School pitchers and High School catchers may NOT play those respective positions in this league for the entire SR league season, playoffs included.
3. ONLY COACHES can approach, question or discuss calls with umpire. All others, including PARENTS, must refrain from this.
4. Umpires should not have to deal with any spectator/parent problems. If a parent/spectator becomes abusive, coaches will be asked to speak with them and control the situation. If necessary, the umpire may ask that the individual(s) be removed from the field area.
5. Coaches and Umpires will make every effort to keep in-between-inning time brief, to insure that games progress at a quick pace. Players should hustle on and off field and an assistant coach should warm up pitcher as catcher is putting on equipment.
6. Unsportsmanlike behavior or language is not allowed.
7. Harassment of the opposing pitcher is prohibited.
8. All teams will qualify for playoffs.
9. All players should wear matching team jerseys.
10. For standings & playoff seeding purposes, WIN = 2 pts, TIE = 1 pt, LOSS = 0 pts.
11. No Smoking on the field is allowed. No smoking anywhere in Kingston’s field complex or on the grounds of Halifax Elementary School (HES).
12. Home team should make every effort to line field prior to game, as well as make sure that proper bases, pitching rubber, etc are in place.
13. All fields will a have double 1st base installed.
14. Teams should clean up their bench area of all trash at the conclusion of game.
15. In case of inclement weather during day of scheduled game, coaches should decide as soon as possible prior to game time if game will be cancelled, so that umpires and players can be notified. Home team manager will make final decision on whether to cancel game. League must also be notified, so that assigned umpire can be notified.
16. In the event of a cancelled game, coaches should attempt to schedule a make-up as soon as possible. 
17. BOTH teams should report game score,(or a cancelled/postponed game), to the league within 24 hrs of completion of the game.