Duluth Area Youth Softball Association

Co-Ed Rules (Class II, III, & IV):

AT NO TIME SHALL THERE BE MORE BOYS THAN GIRLS ON THE PLAYING FIELD.
1. Field Positioning:
  A co-ed team ideally should consist of 5 boys and 5 girls with the following Position placements:
  1. 2 boys and 2 girls in the outfield
  2. 2 boys and 2 girls in the infield, and
  3. 1 boy and 1 girl as pitcher or catcher
  As DAYSA’s co-ed teams vary as to the number of boys playing, the following rules shall be followed:
  1. If a team fields 1 boy, he may play at any position in the field.
  2. If the team fields 2 boys, 1 boy MUST play a position in the outfields and the other boy must play a position in the infield, including pitcher or catcher.
  3. If a team fields 3 boys, 1 boy MUST play a position in the outfield but NOT more than 2; 1 boy must play a position in the infield but NOT more than 2; or the third boy may play pitcher or catcher
  4. If the team fields 4 boys, the same rules apply as in Rule #3 except the fourth boy MUST play the position of either pitcher or catcher*.
  5. A roster may contain more than 5 boys.
  *NOTE: In all cases, if a boy chooses to play the pitcher position, the first base position and the catcher position MUST be a girl. If a boy chooses to play the catcher position, a girl MAY play at first base. (This is a special rule adopted by DAYSA.)
  
  These special rules follow as close as possible the INTENT of the ASA approved OFFICIAL RULES OF SOFTBALL, Rule #4, Section 1C6 as pertaining to Co-ed softball.
2. Batting Order:
  The batting order shall begin boy-girl or girl-boy alternating until no longer possible.
  
  At any time that a team batting is not able to insert a girl between two boy batters, an out is awarded to the team batting. HOWEVER, the next boy batter is still allowed to bat.
  
  EXAMPLE BATTING ORDER:
  1. Boy batter
  2. Girl batter
  3. Boy batter
  4. Girl batter
  5. Boy batter
  6. Girl batter
  7. Boy batter
  8. Girl batter
  9. Boy batter
  10. Girl batter
  11. Boy batter
    Out 1 given
  12. Boy batter
    Out 2 given
  13. Boy batter
3. Ball size & type for each Class:
  Class 1 11” Softee
  Class II 11” Standard
  **Class III & IV 11” & 12” Standard
  
  ** Teams will have to switch sizes according to player. Girls will bat using the 11” standard and boys will bat using the 12” standard. Each team will be responsible for contributing 1 ball of opposite sizes and playing a co-ed team.

Pitching Distances Bases:

Class A:	Mim. 20 ft.	60 ft.
Class I:	Mim 30 ft.	60 ft.
Class II:	Mim. 40 ft.	60 ft.
Class III:
	Girls Mim. 45 ft.	65 ft.
	Co-ed Mim. 45 ft.	65 ft.
Class IV:
	Girls Mim. 50 ft.	65 ft.
	Boys Mim. 50 ft.	65 ft.
	Co-ed Mim. 50 ft.	65 ft.

PITCHING & STRIKE ZONE:
Pitching motion – The pitcher shall take a position with both feet firmly on the ground and with one or both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher’s pivot food must be in contact with the pitcher’s plate throughout the delivery. The pitch starts when the pitcher make any motion that is part of their windup after the required pause. The pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate until the pitched ball leaves the hand. If a step is taken, it can be forward, backward or to the side, provided that the pivot foot is in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the step is simultaneous with the release of the ball. The hand shall be below the hip. The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12 feet from the ground.

Pitched balls that do not have the required arc will be called illegal by the umpire before they get to the batter, regardless of strike zone. They will be called a ball if the batter chooses not to swing.

Class A – The coach or person (minimum age of 18 years old) designated by the coach will pitch to his/her own team. Each batter gets 5 pitches to put the ball in play. There are no walks or strikeouts. If a foul ball on the 5th pitch occurs, the batter is out.

Class I – A 6-12 foot pitching arch is NOT mandatory. The arc must be at least over the head of the batter. A 4 ball/3 strike count will be used. There will be NO intentional walks allowed in Class I. (See Special Rules No. 9 – INTENTIONAL WALK)

Class II, III & IV – A 3 ball/2 strike count will be used. There are NO intentional walks allowed in Class Ii, III & IV. (See Special Rules No. 9 – INTENTIONAL WALK)

Strike Zone – The strike zone is the space over any part of home plate between the batter’s back shoulder and their front knees when they assume ea natural batting stance. For Class I & II the strike zone is expanded to include 4 inches in width to the outside of the plate.

3/5 RUN OR 3 OUT RULE:

Class A – Teams are limited to three runs or three outs per inning. The 3-Run Rule is in effect during playoffs.

Class I – Teams are limited to three runs or three outs per inning, whichever comes first, except for the 6th and 7th innings when there will be no limit to the number of runs allowed.

Class II, III & IV – Teams are limited to five runs or three outs per inning, whichever comes first, except for the 6th and 7th innings when there will be no limit to the number of runs allowed.

Class I, II, III & IV: If, because of the time limit, teams will play less than 6 innings, there will be no limit to the number of runs allowed in the final inning.

Games are limited to the 12-Run Rule at the end of five innings. The 12-Run Rule is also in effect at the bottom of the 6th and 7th innings.

*TIME LIMITS – NO NEW INNINGS AFTER:

	TL	NNIA
Class A	1 hr. 30 mins.	1 hr. 15 mins.
Class I	1 hr. 20 mins.	1 hr. 10 mins.
Class II, III & IV	1 hr. 10 mins.	1 hr.

*During playoffs NO time limit is enforced, EXCEPT the 12-Run Rule is still in effect.

EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY:

Ball size and type for each class:

Class A	11” Softee
Class I	11” Softee
Class II	11” Standard
Class III & IV	11” & 12” Standard

Bats
Little League bats less than 28” may be used in T-ball and Classes A & I. High tech bats, double or triple wall, will not be allowed in any class.
Catcher
The catcher must wear a helmet, face mast and chest protector in Class A, I and II.

The catcher MUST wear a helmet and face mask in all classes.
Helmets:
In all classes, the batters, base runners, on-deck batters and any base coaches under the age of 18 MUST wear batting helmets. Chin straps are REQUIRED on all batting helmets.

IF A PLAYER REFUSES TO USE THE PRESCRIBED EQUIPMENT, THE PLAYER SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE GAME. IF A TEAM REFUSES TO WEAR PRESCRIBED SAFETY EQUIPMENT, THE GAME IS FORFEIT.
First Aid Kits must be made available with each team.
Weather: Under no circumstances will anyone be allowed on the playing field during a thunderstorm or when lightning is present as determined by the umpire.
Injuries: Play shall be immediately stopped on an obvious injury to a player. We are playing for fun. The umpire will award bases upon his or her discretion.
Throwing of Bats: Each player is to drop the bat, NOT throw it. After one team warning at the beginning of the game, the next thrown bat is declared an out and the ball is ruled dead.

PLAYERS:
Number of : Teams may play with 8, 9 or 10 players.

Substitutions: In recreational classes all boys and girls MUST play at least two full innings. Free substitution is allowed at all positions. All classes shall bat round robin.

Sign-up: Players may NOT sign up or play for more than one team in the Duluth Area Youth Softball Assoc. (DAYSA), or be an active member of any Little League Association, except for T-ball members.

Final Rosters: Must be turned in at the July 11, 2006 meeting of DAYSA. If no Final Roster is turned in by said date, said team will not be scheduled for the playoffs.
UMPIRES: The home team supplies the game umpire, unless designated by DAYSA.

Umpire Consultation: If either coach desires to speak with the umpire during the game, such conference shall be held at home plate with both coaches and the umpire present.
SPECIAL RULES:
1. THERE IS NO BUNTING AT ANY LEVEL IN THE DAYSA LEAGUES
2. Infield Fly Rule (Classes III & IV only)
  
  A fair fly ball which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary efford when 1st and 2nd bases or 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases are occupied with 0 or 1 out. The pitcher, catcher or any outfielder who position themselves in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
  
  NOTE: When it seems apparent that the batted ball is an INFIELD FLY, the umpire shall IMMEDIATELY declare “INFIELD FLY, THE BATTER IS OUT” for the benefit of the base runners.
3. Rovers & Outfielders Positioning:
  T-ball, Class A & Class I – Infielders consist of the pitcher, catcher, shortstop, 1st, 2nd and 3rd basemen. All other fielders are outfielders and must play either in the grass or 10 feet behind the baseline. For all other classes ASA Rules apply.
4. Courtesy Foul Rule:
  In classes I, II, III & IV, the batter is out on the second foul ball on the final strike.
5. Intentional Walk Rule:
  When an umpire has determined that an intentional walk has been committed by the pitcher, the batter and the base runner(s), if any, are each awarded two-base advancement.
  
  Each center should have an official Rule book and a copy of these special rules available if needed. Each center should have a reliable method of measuring pitching distances.
BEHAVIOR
There will be NO swearing, NO alcohol, NO tobacco and NO drugs of any kind on the playing field, bench area, or spectator stands. NO alcohol shall be in the area of the DAYSA game. This applies to coaches, players & spectators.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
Will be followed by all coaches, players, and fans. Citation cards will be issued to those individuals not in compliance.

EACH TEAM SHALL CLEAN UP ITS BENCH AREA AFTER EVERY GAME!!