• 2 – Divisions: Varsity D1 and Varsity D2 (if adequate number of teams are registered)

• (Separate 5th / 6th grade leagues offered if adequate number of teams are registered)

• In good weather, all games are official once a full inning has completed and the time limit has expired. If the time limit has expired, the inning in progress will be announced as the last unless the game ends in a tie. In case of a bad weather cancellation, the game will be ruled official after the bottom half of the 4th inning or after 3 ½ innings if the home team is winning.
• A maximum of 5 runs is allowed (regardless of the inning), for all divisions. This rule will not apply for either of the Varsity divisions in the Play-offs.

15 runs after 4 innings (3 ½)
10 runs after 5 innings (4 ½).

Drop Dead Game Limit: If a game is tied after the original time limit has expired, ONE extra inning will be played. If the game is still tied after the completed extra inning, the game will end in a tie.

For the playoffs, regular softball rules will apply for extra inning situations.

Teams must have 8 players at game time to start a legal game. If a team has less than 8 players at game time, the non-offending team will receive a win by forfeit & play a practice game. Should a team only have 8 players, it will receive an automatic out each time the “vacant” spot comes up in the batting order. A vacancy is to be placed at the end of the line-up and announced by the umpire as such. Any time a team can field only seven players or less, due to absentee, departure, or injury…a forfeit will result.

• Batting Helmets must be worn at all times by batters, base runners, & on-deck batters. Face guards on all batting helmets are MANDATORY.
• Metal cleats are not allowed. Refusal to change them will result in ejection of the player.
• Catchers MUST wear (1) Mask with helmet, (2) Throat Guard, (3) Shin Guards, & (4) Chest Protector
• All uniforms must have a number on them.
• Each team is responsible for providing 2 NEW 12” softballs for each game (4 for a doubleheader).
• Bats must be deemed to be official softball bats.

Junior Varsity: Continuous batting order. All players bat regardless of who is fielding. The nine starters in the field do not have to occupy the first nine positions in the batting order. However, if a player has to leave the game pre-maturely for any other reason other than injury, then that spot in the order will be considered an automatic out for the remainder of the game. Any player showing up, in full uniform, must be placed in the lineup. Players that are injured or ineligible should be dressed differently than those that are eligible.

VARSITY ONLY: There are no limits on the number of substitutions made during a game. But players, once subbed out must come back in the game for the player that replaced them AND in the same original batting order for the duration of the game.

Varsity: Traditional batting order of nine players, consisting of those that are playing the field at the time. Designated Hitters may be used if the team desires. Once a designated hitter takes the field, the team forfeits its’ ability to use a DH for the remainder of the game. Extra Hitters (EH) are not permitted.

Bunting is legal in both JV and Varsity.

• JV (5th/6th grade levels) - No stealing is allowed. This includes wild pitches & passed balls.
• Varsity - Players may not leave the base until the ball leaves the pitchers hand on the delivery. Teams may steal & advance on wild pitches. Teams will receive one (1) warning per game for leaving the base too early.
• All teams should incorporate a 15ft diameter around the mound. Once the pitcher has secured the ball within this circle and no runners are in the process of advancing, the umpire will signal the play as dead, and all base runners must return to base.
• Batters may advance on a dropped third strikes in Varsity only.

• Pitchers must begin their motion with their pivot foot touching the rubber. The other foot must also be touching the rubber and be within the length of the rubber. (Please see diagrams in the NFHS Rule Book). They may “rock” their body in a backward motion but may not step backward at any time before the ball is released.
• Starting pitchers may return to pitch in JV and Varsity games after being removed provided that they remain in the field. They may not return in the same inning that they are pulled.

• Each team must submit a line-up to the home plate umpire 10 minutes before game time.
• Each team must also provide 2 new game balls per contest. These balls must be league approved Wilson game balls.
• GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME.
• PRE-GAME PRAYER: to be lead by the home team
• OFFICIAL SCOREKEEPER: to be provided by the home team.
• WINNING team calls or e-mails results by 9:00 a.m. the next day 972-404-0375 or dplsport@sbcglobal.net.