Elementary Majors Rules

Elementary Majors Rules

Equipment & Field Rules

All batters are required to wear helmets with facemasks (chin straps are optional).
11-inch ball
Only ASA/USA approved bats can be used.
A safety bag (double bag with Hi-Vis Orange) at first base is required.
All fields must have movable or breakaway bases to ensure the safety of runners.
Pitchers, 1^st base and 3^rd base must wear a protective face mask, but it is (highly) recommended that all infielders wear a mask to ensure safety and build confidence.

In general, the league will follow all USA Softball rules except where listed by exception below.
50-foot base distances.
35-foot pitching distance. A pitcher can move 1 step in only if they are struggling to throw strikes and BOTH COACHES AGREE that the velocity is low enough that batters feel comfortable. Safety first!
6 innings per game. A game called by an ump shall be regulation if 3.5 innings have been played and the home team is winning, or 4 innings if the visitors are winning.
No new inning can start after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
12-run mercy rule after 4 innings.
Maximum 5 runs can be scored by one team per inning. Inning ends when the 5th run crosses the plate.
Teams can share players if one team doesn’t have enough players to field a team.
Unlimited free substitutions, including pitchers.
Batting orders are continuous.
There are no automatic outs.

A player must play half the regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.
Each player must play at least every 2 innings in the field unless restricted by injury.
A player coming late to the game is added to the bottom of the batting order.
A player leaving early from the game is skipped in the batting order.
Catchers should have their equipment on and ready to go if they are not hitting or on base and must wear all equipment (helmet, chest protector, shin guards, and glove).
When the defensive team is in the field, one (1) coach can be on the field to help instruct the players.

Home team practices on the field until 15 minutes before the game.
Visiting team practices on the field from 15 minutes prior until game time.
Make-up games should be rescheduled within 1 week of cancellation if possible, or during the week between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs. Please include the EMA Presidents when rescheduling to make sure there is field availability and an umpire scheduled.

35-foot pitching distance. A pitcher can move 1 step in only if they are struggling to throw strikes and BOTH COACHES AGREE that the velocity is low enough that batters feel comfortable. Safety first!
Any pitcher that directly hits four (4) batters in a game must be removed from the game by her coach. (Note: batters need to attempt to get out of the way.)
A pitch that hits the dirt first and then the batter is still considered a hit-by-pitch but will not be counted as directly hitting the batter.
A batter hit-by-pitch that is granted 1st base can choose to continue the at-bat. The pitch is counted as a ball. If hit again during the same at-bat, the batter must take the base.
There are no walks. A coach must come in and pitch to the batter until the batter either strikes out or puts the ball in play. The count remains the same once the coach comes in. This provision will make the game flow more smoothly.
If a coach comes in for a third batter in the same inning, the coach will finish the inning, with the player will make the plays. The pitcher can return to pitching the next inning.

Only 4 infielders, plus 1 pitcher and 1 catcher are allowed in the infield.
A maximum of 4 outfielders can be on the outfield grass and may not make a primary play in the infield (e.g. cover second on a force out).

Bunting is allowed; however, batters may not show bunt, then pull back and swing.
When a ball is overthrown during a play at any base, runners may advance one (1) base if the ball goes out of play. If it remains in play, runners may continue until the ball is controlled near the pitcher’s mound. The play stops when the pitcher has the ball in or around the circle or when there is clear intent to get the ball to the pitcher's circle.
Base runners may only steal 3rd base when the catcher makes a clean catch. Each team is allowed to steal only 2 times per inning.
Runners must wait until the pitched ball reaches home plate before leaving the base on a steal.
If a runner leaves 2nd base early, the ump will call a dead ball and return the runner to 2nd. On a second offense by the same runner, they are out.
Runners may not advance from 2nd to 3rd on passed balls, wild pitches, overthrows to the pitcher, or dropped balls by the pitcher.
Catchers are encouraged to throw down to 3rd base, but runners may not advance to home on an overthrow. Runners on 1st may not advance on the overthrow.
There are no walks. A coach must come in and pitch to the batter until the batter either strikes out or puts the ball in play. The count remains the same once the coach comes in. This provision will make the game flow more smoothly.

This league promotes positive play. Anyone at the field (coaches, players and team followers) is prohibited from harassing any individual player or umpire verbally or physically (all players and parents have signed Code of Ethics Form from City of Beverly which prohibits these actions). Chanting in unison against your opponent is not allowed, only positive chanting for your team is allowed. SWING is not to be said by the catcher or any other person during the actual pitch.