General Rules for Peewees (Grade 5-7)
Normal softball rules apply, with the exceptions described here.

• The home team takes the 3rd base side. The home team is responsible for providing a game ball.
• Each team is responsible for keeping score and should verify the score with the umpire, and the opposing coach, several times during the game. Not keeping score presumes that you are acknowledging the opposing team’s score keeping as accurate.
• A minimum of 7 players per team is required for the duration of a game. No player will be eligible to play if a designated responsible adult is not present during the game. If a team does not have 7 players, a player from the opposing team may offer to play, in the field only, as an outfielder or catcher. The substitute player will remain in the game with her own team for her regular batting rotation and fielding assignment. No substitutes will be allowed in the play-offs. A forfeited game will result in a 7-0 decision.
• A maximum of 10 players is allowed on the field, including a “rover”. Maximum 7 players on the infield including pitcher.
• Players are to wear the team jersey provided by the league whenever possible.
• All players must wear a helmet while batting, running bases and while pitching. No metal baseball cleats or jewelry are permitted on the field.

Game Generalities (Continued)

• All catchers must wear the provided equipment: chest pad, shin guards, helmet and mask.
• Mouth guards are recommended, but remain the responsibility of the parent.
• All outfielders (not Rover) must start on the grass outfield line, prior the pitcher releasing the ball.  
• The player may be awarded at the base.
• A minimum of 3 complete innings and a maximum of 7 complete innings must be played for a game to qualify as a complete game. (If home team is leading after top of 3rd is finished then the game is complete (due to rain) and final score will include top of 3rd inning runs). (if visiting team scored the max allowed runs and were still losing and game advanced to the bottom of the inning then the game would be called incomplete). No new inning will begin after 7.35 pm and no pitch will occur after 7.55 pm if there is a following game scheduled to commence at 8:05. If there is no following game scheduled, on agreement by both coaches and the umpire, play may continue until the earlier of 7 completed innings or 8:30 pm. If a game is required to be ended on account of the 8:00 pm deadline, by thunder or lightning, etc., the final score is that score recorded at the end of the previous full inning.
• In the event of inclement weather, the league’s website (www.leasidegirlssoftball.ca) will announce any cancellation at least 1½ hours before game time.
• At the field, a game can be ended on agreement between the two opposing coaches, one coach and the umpire, or the umpire alone.
• Thunder/Lightning Procedure: At the field, if any thunder is heard or lightning is visible, any practice or game MUST be delayed and all participants MUST move to a safe location for at least 30 minutes. Any subsequent audible thunder or visible lightning requires the 30 minute wait period to recommence. The game will NOT resume until 30 minutes has passed since the last audible thunder or visible lightning. This is the standard procedure for Little League baseball in North America, and we have adopted it.
• Thunder only occurs as a result of lightning. So, if you heard thunder, there was lightning somewhere in the area. An approaching storm can cause a lightning strike outside of the range of audible thunder. It is best to err on the side of caution. Lightning can be lethal, and holding an aluminium bat in an open field is obviously not a good idea in its presence. While we all want our girls to have a fun time, and sometimes there are those children and adults who resist packing up and ending or rescheduling a game, no game is worth risking anybody’s life.
• The winning coach is responsible for emailing game results to [email protected]within 24 hours. Results not emailed within 5 days will be deemed a 1-1 tie. 
  The coaches are responsible for communicating any incomplete or cancelled games to the league.
• Any incomplete or cancelled games will be rescheduled by the league Convenor, subject to field availability. These games will not continue from where you left off. They will start a new. Coaches of the teams concerned are encouraged to communicate with the Convenor on this matter. The Convenor’s decision is final.
• The umpire has sole responsibility to call the play. The umpire’s call is final. Players may not argue with the umpire. At the discretion of the umpire, a coach may ask for a brief meeting with the opposing coach and the umpire to discuss rules and/or plays.
• No verbal or physical abuse of players, coaches, umpires or any volunteers will be tolerated in the league. The league reserves the right to dismiss any player from a team based on deemed actions of abuse by the player OR THEIR PARENTS.
• The top 7 teams will participate in the playoffs, assuming there is enough schedule time remaining as the end of the season approaches. Regular season wins are worth 2 points and ties are worth one point. In the event of a tie between two teams in the standings at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken in the following manner: 1st: Most regular season wins, 2nd: Head to head record, 3rd: Most regular season points scored, 4th: Fewest regular season runs allowed, 5th: flip a coin.

Pitches

• All pitching is to be underhand. (No overhand, no windmill).
• The pitching distance is measured from the rear of the plate to the front of the pitching rubber. The umpire is responsible for the proper measurements: 35 feet pitching distance, 55 feet between bases.
• Both feet must start on the pitching rubber and only one step forward may be taken before release of the ball. The pivot foot should remain in contact with the pitching rubber until the ball is released.
• Weaker pitchers may take an extra step to the rubber if needed, though we want girls to know how to do the one step pitch routine when they go to Senior division. An illegal pitch may be called for violation.
• Play stops when a fielder is in possession of the ball and is in the pitcher's circle. A runner between bases may continue to the next base at risk of being tagged out.
• To avoid pitcher domination of a game, no player is to pitch more than 2 consecutive innings per game. No girl may pitch more than 3 innings maximum in any game,including all playoffs.
• Any appearance in an inning constitutes an inning pitched. Extra innings (playoffs only) are treated as a new ball game.

Batting (bunting not allowed)​

• All players bat in the order they are listed on the game line-up sheet for the entire game. A batter missing her at bat, or batting out of order, is out. Players who depart from the game are dropped from the batting line-up without penalty.
• The strike zone is generally as wide as home plate and extends from the batter’s armpits to the top of her knees when standing in a normal batting stance.
• A batter must not throw the bat. A team is entitled to one warning per game. On subsequent offences, the play is called dead, the batter is out, and runners do not advance.
• A batter can not run on a dropped third strike. The batter is out.
• If a pinch runner is required, the previous batter out is designated.
• If a batted ball hits home plate, it is played as any hit ball would be played.
• A team may not score more than 5 runs per inning, except during the 7th inning (and last inning called), which has no limit on the number of runs scored.
• If there is an error in who is supposed to be at bat and that batter has taken a pitch, that batter will be called out (if caught by the umpire or opposing coach). If no pitch has been thrown, the coaching error may be corrected without penalty by the coach.

Base Running​​

• Play stops when a fielded ball is in possession of the pitcher, or any other fielder and they are in the pitchers circle. If a runner is more than halfway between bases, she may continue to the next base at risk of being tagged out. If she attempts to return to the base just passed, she remains at her peril while returning to that base. HOWEVER, if the pitcher or fielder brings the ball back into play by throwing to another fielder, or starting a run-down, the base runner may attempt to advance.
• PINCH RUNNERS ARE ALLOWED IF BATTER CAN'T RUN. PINCH RUNNER LINES UP TO THE SIDE OF HOME PLATE AND ADVANCES IF BATTER GETS A HIT.
• If a player over-runs first base after beating the throw and she indicates that she is attempting to go to second base, then the play is live and the runner may be tagged out if off base. Turning towards second base, while in foul territory, does not constitute “attempting to go to second base”.
• Lead-offs from any base, and stolen bases, are not permitted. Departing from a base before the bat makes contact with the pitched ball, or the ball crosses the plate, may result in the runner being called out.
• Safety on the base paths is important. The runner is obliged to avoid unnecessary contact when approaching the base. The runner must slide or otherwise attempt to avoid collision with the fielder at the base if the ball is at or approaching the fielder. A stand-up collision at the base will result in the runner being called out. Fielders not holding the ball must allow runners a clear path to their base. At the discretion of the umpire, fielder obstruction of a runner’s path will result in all runners advancing to the base the umpire estimates they would otherwise have achieved on the play.
• If play in the field results in the ball going out of bounds (i.e. over the fence or into a dugout) or being touched by a spectator, the play is dead and any base runner is awarded one EXTRA base from where they were at the moment of the ball going out of bounds. For example, a runner going to first is awarded second base, a runner going to second is awarded third base and a runner going to third base is awarded home.
• A ball thrown past a fielder, and which does not go out of bounds, remains in play. Runners may advance until play is stopped. They may advance more than one base as long as the ball remains in play. It is useful to teach fielders to promptly return the ball to the pitcher’s CIRCLE as a means to stop play.
• In order to avoid collisions or injury near home plate, a “commit line” will be drawn perpendicular to the third base line, before a game begins, approximately 15-20 feet from home plate. Once a runner crosses the commit line, they must proceed to home. We want the catcher stepping on home plate to get the force out but there will be situations when the catcher tags the runner out also. The catcher will use home plate as their base and the runner must run by the DIAGONAL CHALK LINE before catcher touches home plate or tags her out. We want coaches to encourage the catchers to do their best by using home plate to avoid any collisions but we are aware that tag outs will also happen.
• ALL BASE RUNNERS HIT BY A BATTED BALL (UNLESS ON A BASE) WILL BE CALLED OUT AND PLAY WILL BE CALLED DEAD,BATTER WILL GET FIRST BASE. UMPIRES CALL IS FINAL.
• The infield fly rule is NOT in effect.
• MOST OF ALL, BE COURTEOUS AND HAVE FUN!
  ​IT IS ONLY A GAME.