RULES

This section would be used to introduce various rules of fastpitch softball, how the various softball assocations' rules apply to the game, or maybe we could encourage local officals to give their interpretations of the rules or answer questions sent in by readers.

There are four major softball organizations, the ASA ( American Softball Assocation), the NSA ( National Softball Assocation), the NSAF(?), and Pony (using Pony softball rules).
Links to these at ...click on ...>Events > Upcoming. (see links)

If a local Fastpitch Organization is formed it would have to adopt one of the standard softball organization's rules or agree to play all games by a common set of rules.
Comment: Most of the rules are the same. The major differences are in the area of making substitutions and in allowing players to leave and re-enter a game.

Another problem area for rules is with the younger players. In the past, most local town leagues had their own sets of rules. Age cutoff dates, base-stealing rules, the size of ball used, often varied from town to town. If a local organization can be formed, hopefully it would stimulate inter-town games or even inter-county games and leagues. The respective age groups -- 6-9 years old, 10 years old and under (10U), and 12 years old and under (12U) -- would all need to train and play by one set of rules. Playing in a game or tournament with a set of rules totally different than the rules your team has used in-house or in-league is no fun.

Below is an example of a standardized set of rules the local organization might draft for all teams, no matter where they play, to use. They could be put on this website and made available to download and print out so all coaches could train and play with the same set of rules.

RULES: Girls' Fastpitch, 10 years old and younger
(also called 10U)

1. An 11-inch game ball will be used.
2. The pitcher's plate will be set 35 feet from home plate.
3. Runners may steal 2nd & 3rd bases once the pitcher releases the ball.
4. There will be no stealing of home plate under any circumstances; this includes on a passed ball by the catcher.
5. The dropped third strike rule will be used.
6. All players must bat with no exceptions. If a player is unable to bat, she is out of the game.
7. Pitchers can only pitch three consecutive innings per game.
8. Players coming late to a game must properly warm up, and then they can be added to the bottom of the batting order.
9 . Games will be 7 innings with no extra innings.
10. There will be a time limit of 2 ½ hours. No inning may start after that time.
11. Four outfielders may be used.

10U girls playing in the Connie Mack tournament in Buffalo
10U pitchers in Buffalo area were pitching 40-42 miles per hour!
In the Pittsburgh, Pa. area, we clocked 10U pitchers @ 46 mph!