MT. PLEASANT GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, INC.
*** INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE RULES ***
1) PLAYERS - TEAMS - POSITIONS - BATTING ORDER
A) Instructional League teams shall consist of girls enrolled in either the 1 st or 2nd grade as of
opening day of the current softball season, or who will be 7 or 8 years old during the current
season.
B) Instructional League girls should be accompanied at the softball complex by a responsible
person twelve years old or older. Parents are encouraged to be this responsible person.
C) A starting team shall consist of 10 players in the following positions: pitcher, catcher, first
base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, right field, and rover. The rover
must begin each pitch in the outfield grass and remain there until the pitched ball crosses
home plate. The players in the outfield positions must play on the outfield grass. If a team has
more than ten girls, they may play extra outfielders and infielders so that all girls are gaining
experience on the playing field rather that sitting on the bench.
D) All team members present at game time will bat in an order designated by their coach.
Players not present at the start of the game may be added at the end of the batting order. The
coach of the team with the late arriving player should notify the opposing team’s coach of the
addition to the batting order.
2) GAME TIMES - DUGOUTS - CANCELLATIONS
A) Games will have a 45 minute time limit to play two innings, with the first game starting at
6:00 pm sharp. The second scheduled game will start at 7:00 pm. After school recesses for
the summer, a third game may be scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm if it becomes necessary due
to rainouts or other scheduling difficulties.
B) The third base dugout will be used by the team designated as the home team on the
league master schedule. The first base dugout will be used by the team designated as the
visiting team on the league master schedule. If the league master schedule does not indicate
which team is visiting and which is at home, the first team listed will be the visitors and the
second team listed will be the home team.
C) All scheduled games will be played at their designated time unless rescheduled by the
League Representative or a designated Board Member.
D) The decision on when to suspend or call a game due to bad weather shall rest solely with
the Board Members on duty for that particular evening. Rainouts called prior to the start of
scheduled games will be announced on radio station KILJ and posted on the League website,
www.mpsoftball.com.
E) The League Representative will reschedule rainouts as soon as possible.
3) PITCHING
A) The pitching distance from the pitching rubber to home plate for Instructional
League is 30 feet.
B) All pitching will be done by a coach from the team that is hitting. There will be a
defensive player positioned in the pitchers circle who will have no pitching responsibilities.
4) BATTING
A) Each player listed in the batting order will hit once in each inning played.
B) There will be no walks or strikeouts and no score will be kept.
C) A batter will receive up to six pitches from her coach during her at bat. If a batter fails to
put the ball into play in fair territory after six pitches, she will then hit off of a batting tee.
Coaches are asked to follow the six pitch rule so that the game moves along at a pace that will
hold the attention of their young players.
D) Once the last batter in the batting order hits, all base runners including the batter will circle
the bases and advance to home.
E) If a player throws a bat in a malicious or dangerous manner, she should be informed that
her action was unacceptable and warned that if she throws the bat again, she will be called
out.
5) BASE RUNNING
A) The distance between bases in Instructional League is 50 feet.
B) Coaches should teach their base runners to use the orange half of the safety base on their
first attempt at first base. Once a base runner passes first base she must then use only the
white half of the base. The defensive player should be taught to use the white half of the base
when making a play at first. If a batted ball should make contact with the safety base, the ball
is fair if it strikes any part of the white half and is foul if it makes contact with only the orange
half.
C) A base runner must maintain contact with the base they occupy until the pitcher/coach
releases the ball from his/her hand on a pitch. Upon release of the ball by the pitcher, the base
runner may take a lead off of the base that they occupy. Once the ball is put into play in fair
territory by a batter, base runners may advance one or more bases. A base runner may
advance one base on an overthrow.
D) Coaches for the two teams playing will act as umpires for Instructional League games. If a
player makes an out, she should return to the dugout just as she would if she was playing in
the older leagues.
E) Because sliding equipment is difficult to find in sizes appropriate to Instructional League
and may be cost prohibitive for beginning softball players, sliding into a base is not allowed. If
a player does slide, she should be warned not to slide again or she will be called out.
F) Stealing a base is not allowed.
G) If a fair batted ball becomes stuck in a fence, bounces over the outfield fence, or rolls out
of the playing field, the batter shall be entitled to a ground rule double and all base runners
shall advance two bases. If a fly ball clears the outfield fence in fair territory without first
contacting the ground, it is a homerun.
7) EQUIPMENT
A) All equipment must be kept in the dugout.
B) All players must wear closed toe shoes with laces tied. Soft molded, cleated shoes are
permitted, but are not recommended. Metal cleats are not allowed.
C) All players are required to have an appropriately sized glove when playing defense. No
velcro gloves are allowed.
D) Helmets with a facemask must be worn by all batters, base runners, and players in the on
deck circle. If a base runner intentionally removes her helmet while the ball is in play, she will
be called out. Inadvertent loss of the helmet will not cause the base runner to be called out.
E) Once team shirts and/or uniforms have been issued, they must be worn by all players
participating in a game.
F) Shorts are allowed in Instructional League.
G) Catchers must wear a catcher’s mask/helmet, chest protector, and shin guards any time
they are playing behind the plate including practices, warm up, and games.
H) Coaches are asked to train catchers to begin putting on their equipment as soon as they
return to the dugout following their at bat.
I) The League advises players to remove all jewelry except medical alert ID. Players may
also consider a band to secure glasses.
8) COACHES AND PLAYERS ON THE FIELD AND IN DUGOUTS
A) Dugouts are for players and coaches only. Parents, siblings, and friends should watch the
game from outside of the fence. Exceptions will be made for coaches’ children who have no
other supervision and are too young to be outside the fence on their own.
B) Coaches are allowed to be on the field when their team is playing defense to assist and
instruct their players.
C) All players must remain in the dugout when their team is batting with the exception of the
batter, the on-deck hitter, and any base runners.
D) All players assigned to the bench while their team plays defense must remain in the
dugout.
9) CONDUCT
A) Coaches are expected to be role models for sportsmanlike conduct. They are also
expected to control their team and to not allow or participate in unsportsmanlike behavior and
to assist the Board Members on duty in controlling the behavior of spectators and other
persons at the softball complex. Derogatory comments or acts directed at opposing players,
coaches, or spectators will not be tolerated.
10) ALCOHOL - TOBACCO - LITTER
A) Alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited from the entire Mt. Pleasant Girls Softball
League complex including the parking lot.
B) Teams are expected to cleanup after themselves. At the completion of a game, and prior
to any team meeting or purchases at the concession stand, players are to clean up litter in and
around their dugout. Coaches, parents, and spectators are urged to set a good example by
utilizing the litter containers provided.
11) BLOOD AND OPEN WOUNDS - EMERGENCY CONTACT
A) A player or coach who is bleeding or who has an open wound or excessive fresh blood on
their uniform/clothing will be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate
treatment has been administered and affected clothing has been changed or adequately
cleaned. If medical treatment can be administered immediately (i.e. – cover the wound with a
bandage, wrap, or similar medically accepted covering) and there is not excessive blood on
the uniform/clothing, the injured person may return to the game.
B) The Mt. Pleasant Girls Softball League and its Board of Directors reserve the right to notify
law enforcement and/or emergency medical personnel of any circumstance that they feel
warrants such notification.