Majors Softball Information & Rules
General Division Information
League Ages – 11 & 12
Player request – Not permitted. Siblings are automatically placed on the same team unless requested otherwise by parents.
Coach request – Coaches can request to be paired with one other coach and no more.
Evaluations – All players required to attend evaluation
Team Formation - The Player Agent, Vice President & Division Director will hold a draft within 10 days of the completion of evaluations to form teams. Must be based on the LLI Rulebook.
Draft – Snake style draft.
Number of games – 12 total, 2 per week, weather depending. A pre-seeded single elimination tournament will follow immediately after the completion of the regular season. Winner gets trophies or medals
Schedule - Opening Day target is April 21st. Season end target is June 17th. Games will be played Monday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturdays used only as weather make-ups, if needed.
Scorebooks will be provided and must be used during games
Uniforms – Uniforms will be provided 1-2 weeks before the first game.
All-Stars – This is an All-Star Division. Players are eligible for 9, 10, 11 Minors or 10, 11, 12 Majors All-Star Teams. Teams are drafted by Head Coaches under the guidance of Division Director and Player Agent. Approximate first game is June 23rd. The State Tournament starts after the 4th.
Equipment - All teams will be given a 5 gallon bucket of 12” softball. Fielding masks, catchers gear and helmets will be provided as needed
Division Rules
No Coach’s Agreements
A regulation game consists of six (6) innings
If a game is halted due to weather after four (4) or more innings have been completed, it will be considered a regulation game. (3.5 innings if the home team is ahead)
Regular Season & Tournament Time Limits – No new inning will begin after one hour forty-five minutes (105 minutes). No drop dead time.
8 PLAYERS PER TEAM, MINIMUM, TO PLAY A GAME. Visiting team may start with less than 8 players but must field 8 players in the bottom of the 1st inning.
Two (2) adult base coaches are allowed
Each Team needs at least 1 coach in dugout at all times
Offense
Continuous Batting Order (CBO) – All player’s bat. A player that arrives after the start of the game is to be placed at the bottom of the order
No ‘on-deck’ circle - practice swings allowed ONLY in batter’s box (Majors and below)
There are no run limits.
There are no base stealing restrictions. A base runner may leave the base on the release of the pitch
Runner’s may not slide headfirst while advancing to a base (LL Rule 7.08(a)(4))
Drop 3rd Strike Rule - any ball that touches the ground including a bounced pitch prior to the catcher possessing the ball is considered “dropped”) (LL Rule 6.09(b)).
Mercy Rule – 8 runs after five (5) innings, 10 runs after four (4) innings, 15 runs after three (3) innings.
Bats must meet all LL specifications.
Batters should keep 1 foot in the Batter’s Box unless a play is live, or time has been given to talk with the coach. (LL Rule 6.02 (c))
A base runner must avoid a contact/collision with a player possessing the ball (LL Rule 7.08(a)(3))
Pitching
Games will be played with a 12” softball
Pitching mound will be set at 40 ft with an 8 ft pitching circle
A player may pitch in a maximum of six (6) innings per game AND a maximum of twelve (12) innings per calendar week (Mon-Sat). (Playoffs – 12 innings allowed in one day, no limit for the week)
A player pitching more than two (2) innings is required to have one calendar day of rest. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched in an inning. (Playoffs – Required day of rest is after more than 6 innings)
“Ball in the Circle” Rules are applied (LL Rule 7.08(a)(5))
Defense
9 defensive players in the field, 3 must be in the outfield grass
All infielders must wear a face mask
Players must field a minimum of twelve (12) defensive outs per game unless the game is shortened for any reason. PENALTY: player is required to play the entire next scheduled game in the field.