2011 OAKS DADS CLUB ASA PLAYING RULES – PIXIE RULES

The current ODC and ASA Softball Playing Rules with exceptions noted herein will govern all Pixie league play.

1.     PLAYING FIELD

A.   The distance between the pitcher’s rubber and home plate shall be thirty-five feet, and the distance between bases shall be sixty (60) feet.

B.   The pitcher’s circle shall be an eight (8) foot radius circle with the pitcher’s rubber squarely in the center.

C.    Chalking requirements: Foul line, pitcher’s circle, batter’s box and half-way marks between first base and second base, second base and third base and between third base and home plate. Home team is required to chalk the field. Visiting team is required to rake the field after the game.

D.    Pixie will use an eleven (11) inch RIF softball, or other comparable brand, for play.

2.   PLAYING RULES

A.   A fully played game in Pixie shall be six (6) inning, or one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes. Three (3) outs or five (5) runs scored constitute an inning. Play shall continue after the fifth run scores or until the pitcher stops play in circle by initiating a dead ball being called. Only five (5) runs will score.

B.  Three (3) innings constitutes a regulation game.

C.  When a game is called in the middle of an inning, after the third inning, due to inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, the score for the game will be that of the last completed inning of play. If in the event of a tie game at the end of one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes, another inning will be allowed to break the tie. No new inning shall be started after one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes unless tied, but an inning started within that time shall be completed.

D.   Each team using a coach pitcher must designate their coach pitcher and one substitute to the home plate umpire prior to the game. The coach pitcher may only be substituted at the completion of an at bat. The designated coach pitcher will pith only to their team and must be a member of the coaching staff.

E.    Play is initiated by the coach pitching the ball to the catcher. The batter will be allowed up to five (5) pitches or three (3) swinging strikes to hit a fair ball. Should a batter fail to hit a fair ball at the end of five (5) pitches, the batter will be called out. Should the batter foul off the fifth (5) pitches, she will be allowed a sixth (6^th) pitch. In the event the batter fouls off the sixth (6^th) pitch, she will then be given a seventh (7^th) pitch. If after the Seventh (7^th) pitch the batter has still failed to hit a fair ball, the batter will be called out.

F.   Coach Pitcher must pitch with both feet inside the pitching circle at the time of release. The coach who pitches cannot and must not coach any players other then the player at bat. Once the batter makes contact with the ball, the base coaches take over.

G.   Play is stopped when the ball is returned to the pitcher with both feet in the pitcher’s circle. All base runners who have advanced at least more than half-way (pasted the half-way mark on the field, between the bases in the UMPIRE’S JUDGEMENT) are entitled to advance to that base, otherwise, the base runner must return to the last legally-touched base unless forced to advance. It will be the UMPIRE’S JUDGEMENT as to whether the pitcher is returning to the pitchers circle to stop play, or merely passing through the circle while making a play.

H.   The coach pitcher must try to avoid interfering with the play after the ball has been hit by moving to the foul ball territory away from the play. If in the JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE, the coach pitcher intentionally interferes with play:

       1. The ball is declared dead.

       2. The batter is awarded first base.

       3. All other base runners will advance one base, only if forced by the award of first base               to the batter.

       4. The batting team will be given an out.

       5. No team will be allowed to score because of coach pitchers intentional interference, should a run be forced home, then that runner will be the one mentioned in rule # 4 above.

If the batted ball strikes the coach pitcher, and in the JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE to be unintentional interference:

     1. The ball is declared dead.

     2. The batter is awarded first base.

     3.  All other base runners will advance one base, only if forced by the award of first base to the batter.

     4.  No out will be given.

     5.  Batting team will be allowed to score if forced.

I.   Once the batter hits a fair ball, and until the ball is declared dead, normal ASA Softball rules apply.

J.   If a batted ball is hit directly into the pitcher in the pitcher’s circle, it may be relayed for additional outs, if in the JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE; the pitcher does not hold the ball to stop play.

K.  All base runners must be on the base until the ball has been released from the pitcher’s hand.  PENALTY: Out and the No-Pitch rule applies. (No ball or strike will be given to batter)

L.  Overthrow Rule: An overthrow is defined as any ball, which in the JUDGMENT OF THE UMPIRE, is not catchable by the first baseman due to the ball being is thrown over her head. (Not a bad throw to left or right of her)

     On the first play after the ball is hit, and a dead ball has be declared by the umpire due to an overthrow. The batter/runner shall be allowed second base only after an overthrow. All other base runners will be allowed the base they were going too, plus one more base at the time the dead ball was called by the umpire.

M.  Player-pitcher shall have at least one foot in the pitcher’s circle and stand in the back half of the circle. (Pitching rubber is the halfway mark) when the batter bats.

N.   Until the ball is hit, all infielders, other than the catcher, must remain behind an imaginary line thirty five feet (35) from home and first base, and home and third base, through the center of the pitcher’s circle.  EFFECT OF RULE: Illegal pitch will be declared by umpire and runner(s) will take the next base.