_12U Division Tournament Rules

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Last updated on May 15, 2017

Unless modified by the following, NJ high school rules shall apply

General:
  1. Each team will be allowed to have up to 9 players on the field.
  2. Eight (8) player minimum to play a game. If your team falls below 8 players due to injury or any other reason, then the game is over due to forfeit. The score of a forfeit will be recorded as 7-0.
  3. Forfeits will be enforced for teams unable to field a team. There will be no rescheduling. Games will be forfeited after 20 minutes if a team does not have a coach or minimum amount (8) of players.
  4. Coin flip will determine home team for the seeding rounds, and the higher seed is the home team for the elimination rounds.
  5. Games will be 7 innings in length.  No new inning can be started after 80 minutes in the seeding round.  The 80 minute clock starts immediately upon the conclusion of ground rules.  An inning starts immediately following the third out of the previous bottom of the inning. If the home team is ahead and at bat at 80 minutes, the game is over.  For extra inning games during the elimination rounds, the international tiebreaker rule will be in effect starting in the 9th inning.
  6. Games suspended due to rain or darkness will be resumed from the point where play was halted except if 4 complete innings have been played and a team is winning. (Note: if home team is winning after 3 ½ innings, then game would be complete)
  7. The “mercy” rule is in effect. Any team leading by twelve (12) runs after four (4) innings, ten (10) runs after five (5) innings or eight (8) runs at the end of six (6) complete innings is declared the winner.
  8. Protests are to be lodged at the time of the infraction, prior to the next pitch being thrown. The Manager filing the protest must sign the score book at that time. The Mahwah Tournament Softball Committee will rule on the protest.
  9. There will be no arguing with umpires. One team warning will be issued; the 2nd offense will cause the Coach or player to be ejected. The 3rd offense will cause the team to be ejected and forfeit the game.  Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators.
  10. No metal spikes are to be worn.

Rosters:

  1. Rosters must be submitted to the Mahwah Softball Tournament Committee before your first game is played.
  2. All rosters will be available to the opposing coaches before game time. A player's name can only appear on one roster.
  3. Rosters should not exceed 15 players. Only 15 trophies will be provided.
  4. Copies of birth certificates may need to be presented, at some point, so coaches should have them available for inspection upon request.

Pitching: 

  1. The pitching rubber will be 40 feet from home plate.
  2. A pitcher may pitch the entire game. 
  3. The pitcher must use a legal pitching wind-up and must start her wind-up with one foot on the rubber. Release must also be made with one foot on the rubber or the foot sliding off the rubber while maintaining contact with the ground. (Note: it is an illegal pitch if the foot “jumps” off the rubber and then reestablishes contact with the ground. The foot must remain in contact with the ground until the ball is released).
  4. Managers or Coaches will be permitted (2) trips to the mound in any inning. The pitcher must be replaced on the second trip. Trips made to the mound due to injury are excluded.

Batting:

  1. Bunting is permitted.  Note, once a player turns to bunt, she cannot pull the bat back and take a full swing.  The penalty is an automatic out.
  2. Dropped Third Strike is in effect.
  3. Throwing the bat is prohibited. The umpire will issue a warning to both teams after the first incident. Subsequent occurrences will result in the batter being declared out and all runners will be returned to their previous bases.
  4. Teams may bat 9 with standard substitution (DP/flex rule is in effect), Cinderella with free substitution, or match the opposing team's lineup with free substitution. Teams must declare which option to the umpire and opposing coach prior to the start of the game. Example: Team A has 12 girls and is using Cinderella batting. Team B has 15 players. They can bat 9 and give up free substitution, bat all 15 and have free substitution, or bat 12 and still have free substitution. The remaining 3 players can go in and come out of the game freely but the coach must indicate what player they are going in for and they must bat in that spot in the order.

Base Running:

  1. Unlimited stealing of second, third, and home.
  2. If the catcher attempts to throw out the runner after a pitch, the runner must be tagged out. No force backs.
  3. The ball is in play when the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher.
  4. Sliding is permitted and encouraged. It is the base runner's responsibility to “slide” or “avoid” a collision at all bases. Running into or knocking down a fielder will result in the base runner being called out.
  5. Fielders will be called fori obstruction if they block a base or base path without the ball or being in a position to catch the ball should a play be made at that base.
  6. A courtesy runner is allowed for the catcher and pitcher no matter how many outs. The runner used must be the last recorded out (Cinderella batting) or a player not in the game (cannot be the same bench player for both catcher and pitcher)

Tie Break:

In the event of a tie between teams that have the same record after the seeding rounds, the following tie-breakers will be used:

  • Head-to-Head (two teams only)
  • Runs Allowed
  • Shutouts
  • Runs Scored
  • Coin Flip