SVGSL Rules of Play

Spring 2026

(Updated 3/19/26)

All Rules are governed by USA SOFTBALL Slow Pitch, except as amended by International  Pride Softball (iPride) previously NAGAAA and the SVGSL Board of Directors and the UIC.

EQUIPMENT: 

  1. All equipment used must be approved per the rules of USA Softball. 

  2. Teams shall present all bats to be used in the game in front of their dugout for inspection before the start of a game. The umpire shall inspect all bats and verify their legality for play per USA Softball. 

  3. Use of an illegal bat (dented, cracked, damaged) will result in the batter being called out.

  4. Use of a Non-Approved, altered or bat removed from play will result in the batter being called out and ejected. 

  5. Game balls: 12”- .52/300 optic yellow, red stitch with USA/ASA black or green stamp.

  6. The Double 1st Base rule is in effect. 

  7. When requested, use of the Safety Pitch Screen will be in effect. 

  1. When a batted ball hits the screen, the ball is dead, and the batter will be assessed a strike.

  2. The screen must not be set more than three (3) feet in front of the pitching plate.

  3. The screen must not be set farther than the mid-point of the 24” pitching plate in either direction. 

  4. The screen may be adjusted for a left or right-handed pitcher but must be used for the entire inning while on defense.  

  5. The pitcher must stand behind the Pitch Screen at the time the pitch is released and may not step out from behind the net prior to the first touch of any batted ball by another defensive player.  

UNIFORMS: 

  1. Each player shall wear a shirt of like color with a contrasting color number at least 3” in height on the back. Example - 0 and 00 are considered to be different numbers.

  2. Metal cleats/spikes of any kind or with detachable cleats/spikes are not permitted.

  3. Plastic visors are not permitted.  

  4. Bandanas may be worn, but not around the neck. 

GAME TIME/TIME LIMIT: 

  1. Games are 50 minutes and played at 6:50pm, 7:50pm, and 8:50pm. 

  2. If time remains on the clock after the 3rd out a new inning may start.  

  3. A ten (10) minute grace period is allowed to get the minimum required nine (9) players to start the game.  

  4. The clock starts at the game start time. Grace periods will be deducted from the game time. 

  5. A forfeit (7-0 score) will be assessed against teams with less than 9 players after the grace period.  

  6. If neither team has the minimum number of players at the end of the grace period, a double forfeit will be declared. 

  7. A forfeit of a game will initiate a $35.00 fine paid to SVGSL, due prior to the teams next scheduled game. Teams will not be allowed to take the field if the fee is not paid. 

LINEUPS: 

  1. The lineup card shall consist of the player’s LAST name, first name initial, number and position in the order in which they will bat. 

    C Division: 

    • All players in attendance must bat once. 

    • Lineups may consist of up to 12 batters with all other players in attendance listed as substitutes at the bottom of the lineup card.

    • Late arriving players must be listed as a substitute on the lineup card.

    • Prior to a player entering the game as a substitute, the team manager must notify the umpire and opposing team of the substitution

    Upper D & Lower D Divisions:

    • All teams must bat all eligible players in attendance.

    • Lineups must consist of all players in attendance

    • If a team begins play with ten (10) or more players, late arriving players may be added to the batting order prior to the last listed player in the lineup batting.

    • Any player arriving after all players have batted or the third (3rd) inning, whichever occurs first, may not enter the game.

    Teams with PIP players shall provide supporting documentation to the SVGSL Commissioner prior to participation in league play and noted on the lineup card with a star next to their name.

SHORT HANDED RULE:  

  1. Teams may start play or finish the game with nine (9) players without penalty. If the tenth (10th) player arrives, they must immediately be added in the tenth (10th) spot on the lineup card.  

  2. Teams must have 9 players in the line-up to avoid forfeit. If a team is short handed (only has 8 rostered players present) at the start of the game, that team will be allowed one (1) pick up player to avoid a forfeit of the game. If a team has 9 rostered players present, they cannot pick up a player to bring the count to 10.

    EXCEPTION: When the team is shorthanded and without a pitcher:

    • May pick up a 10th player (listed in the 10th spot on the lineup card) to pitch and play Defense Only (marked DEFO) and may not bat or be a Courtesy Runner.

    • Lower D Division: With at least seven (7) rostered players, may pick up to ten (10) and all players shall be listed in the batting order.

    • Rules for playing in the appropriate division still apply.

  3. All pick up players must be appropriate for the division in which the team they are being picked up for. If a player or team exceeds the rating limitations, they will forfeit the game

  4. If a player is lost due to ejection: If no substitute is available, the team shall take an out in the vacated spot of the lineup whenever that spot is due to bat.

COURTESY RUNNER: 

  1. Any eligible player or substitute may be used as a Courtesy Runner (CR) at any time.

  2. C Division: 

    • A maximum of one (1) CR is allowed per inning.

  3. Upper D & Lower D Divisions: 

    • A maximum of two (2) CR’s are allowed per inning. 

  4. A Courtesy Runner whose time at bat comes up while on base: 

    • The player who the CR is running for will be called out.

    • The CR will be removed from base to take their turn at bat. 

    • A second CR or substitute is not permitted to avoid the out.

  5. PIP players and Pitchers may have a CR which does not count toward the CR limit.

  6. PIP players and Pitchers may have a runner more than once per inning and at any time once reaching base.

    • PIP CR must be the last completed at bat.  

    • Pitcher CR can be anyone, including a player who has already been a CR in that inning.

    • The same penalty is in effect for PIP and Pitcher CRs if that CR is on base when due to bat. (See Rule 4)

STARTING COUNT: 

  1. All batters begin with a one ball, one strike (1-1) count, with no courtesy foul after the 2nd strike. 

PITCHING RULES: 

  1. The Pitcher may start up to six (6’) feet behind the pitching plate.

  2. The Pitcher shall face the batter and pause at least one (1) second before delivering the pitch.

  3. Pitching height is 6’ - 12’ feet from the ground with a perceptible arc.

  4. Any ball striking home plate shall be ruled a ball.

SCORING RULES: 

  1. Runs Ahead Rule will be fifteen (15) runs ahead after four (4) innings.

  2. Teams are limited to scoring seven (7) runs per inning through the third (3rd) inning, with unlimited scoring of runs beginning in the fourth (4th) inning. 

  3. C Division:

    • One (1) over the fence (OTF) home run is allowed per game.

    • Any subsequent OTF home run will be assessed an out.

  4. Upper D & Lower D Divisions:

    • Over the fence (OTF) home runs are not allowed.

    • Any fair, fly ball over the fence will result in an out.

  5. Lower D Division:

    • A commit line will be used for all runners approaching home plate.

    • Running past the commit line signals intent to score.

    • If the defense touches home plate after the runner passes the commit line but before runner passes the scoring line, the runner will be declared out.

EJECTIONS: 

  1. Any player ejected by an umpire is subject to an automatic suspension from their team’s next game.  

  2. Any ejection related to sportsmanship, misconduct or inappropriate behavior may be subject to further action by the Board. 

  3. All players are required to follow the SVGSL and SANCRA Player Code of Conduct.

PROTESTS: 

  1. An official protest involves a Misinterpretation of a playing rule, an Ineligible player, or an Illegal player.

    • Protests based solely on umpire judgment will not be considered.

    • Rule interpretation protests must be made before the next pitch.

    • Ineligible or Illegal player protests must be while player is in the game and before the end of the game.

    • Definitions:

    • Ineligible Player is a player who is not registered to play with SVGSL

    • Illegal Player is a player who is either rated incorrectly or participating in a division in which they are not appropriate to play in

  2. A $50.00 fee will be required for any and all protests and must be paid at the time of protest to an SVGSL Board Member.

  3. If a protest is confirmed, the $50 fee will be returned.

  4. Protests must be brought to the umpire by the coach or manager of the team.

    • When a protest is requested, the umpire will call time, stop the clock and request a Board Member to come to the field.

    • The Board Member will request the protest form and fee.

  5. The umpire will follow these modified USA SOFTBALL rules for the SVGSL. Any rule not  covered in these modifications will revert to the Official Rules of USA SOFTBALL for Slow Pitch.