AHSL Softball Rules and Guidelines

Coed Modifications:

Players on the Field:

Maximum number of players on the field is 10 (no more than 6 males are allowed on the field at anytime)

Minimum number of players to avoid a forfeit is 7 (there is no maximum number of females allowed in the field or in your line-up).  One player must be catcher.

There must be at least one female in the outfield and infield at all times.

Home Team will take the field first and will take the first base side dugout.

Line-Up Card:

Line-up cards must be provided by each team (first and last initial of players) and be given to the AHSL Supervisor at the start of each game.  All changes to your card must be reported.

Game Score and Clock:

Official score is taken by umpire.  The official clock is kept by the umpire.  There is no minimum number of innings to complete a game.  No new innings will start after 45 minutes.

Batting Order:

Each team has the option to bat either only the 10 players on the field (standard rules), or all players.  This decision must be given to the AHSL supervisor at the start of the game and may not be changed during the game.  No more than 2 males may bat in a row.  If a team does not have enough females, an automatic out will be taken when that position is reached in the batting order.

(If a team has 5 males and 4 females present, the team may play with 9 in the field and batting with no penalty)

Pitching Rules:

Each player will begin with a 1-1 count (one ball and one strike).  After three strikes, the batter is out.  When the batter has two strikes, they will be given one courtesy foul.  On the second foul, the batter will be called out.

Walks:

If a male player is walked with a female player batting next WITH TWO OUTS, the female player has the option to hit or take the walk.  This decision must be told to the umpire prior to stepping in the batter's box.

If the female decides to hit, the male who had walked automatically advances to second base.

Base-running Rules:

Under no circumstance is a player allowed to steal a base.  There is no "leading off"; any player doing so at the time of the pitch will be automatically out.

One pinch runner per gender will be allowed per inning.  The last player of the same gender who made the last out is the only player allowed to pinch run.

Scoring:

After 40 minutes, or 4 innings, the twelve-run rule will come into effect.  Unless already winning by 10 runs, the home team always gets to complete their half of the inning, even if the visitors get ahead by more than 10 runs.

There is a maximum of nine-runs allowed per inning, after the ninth runner has scored the inning will stop (exception: last inning).

Home-Runs:

There is a limit of two home-runs per game.  Any home-runs hit after will count as an automatic out.

Equipment:

All bats must be certified.  Any questions about legal equipment can be brought to the AHSL Supervisor on site.

Team Fees:

All team fees are due by Week 3 of the regular season.  Any questions or concerns about league fees can be directed to AHSL Supervisors.