REC PROGRAM: 10U Rules

Published by FT Softball

Apr 18, 2025

Franklin Township Softball 10U Rules

Revised 04/01/2025

BASE DISTANCE: 60 feet

PITCHING DISTANCE: 35 feet

SOFTBALL SIZE: 11 inches

1. Only the Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and additional assistants assigned by the Head Coach are permitted on the field and in dugouts during a game.

2. A regulation game shall last 70 minutes. A new inning will not begin after the time limit of 70 minutes has elapsed. Innings in progress should be finished unless the home team is batting and they are in the lead. During regular season games, if teams are tied when time has expired and the home team has completed the inning, the game will result in a tie; During tournament play the USSSA International Tiebreaker* rule will be used. The Tournament Championship Game will be played for 6 innings with no time limit.

3. Both teams shall maintain their own separate books. Umpires are the official timekeepers.

4. If a game is called by an umpire for any reason, the game will be considered complete and the score will stand if 2 or more innings have been completed.

5. Offensive coaches are allowed at 1st & 3rd base. Two defensive coaches are allowed in the outfield.

6. All players must play a minimum of every other inning on defense.

7. The playing field shall consist of a maximum of 6 infielders with up to 5 players in outfield positions

(Right / Right Center / Center/ Left Center / Left).

8. All rostered players who are present for the game must be in the batting order. Players who are not present at the start of the game shall be placed at the bottom of the batting order. When the player arrives, the coach shall inform the scorekeeper from both teams.

9. If a player is unable to bat due to illness or injury, the scorekeepers from both teams shall be informed so the player can be bypassed in the batting order. This will NOT result in an out, and the player is permitted to return to the lineup with no penalty assessed.

10. Teams may score only 6 runs in any one inning. If additional runners reach home on the same play, the runs do not score.

EXCEPTION: There is no run rule in the 6th inning in the Tournament Championship game.

11. Run Rule: After 4 innings of play, if one team is leading by 10 runs, the umpire shall call the game (after the home team has been allowed to bat).

12. Pitching distance shall be 35 feet from the apex of home plate to the front center of the pitching rubber. Both coaches and players must pitch from the 35 foot pitching rubber.

13. All innings of the game will begin with player-pitch. If the pitcher walks 3 batters in an inning (does not have to be in a row), including walks from being hit by a pitch, a coach from the batting team will pitch the remainder of the inning. The pitcher will become a pitcher's helper.

14. A player may only pitch every other inning in a game.

15. During player-pitch, a hit batter will advance to 1st base, and it will be considered a walk for the pitcher. During coach-pitch, a hit batter will not advance to 1st base.

16. During coach-pitch, the batter will receive up to 5 pitches or 3 swinging strikes, whichever comes first. If the 5th or latter pitch is fouled, the batter will receive another pitch. Walks will not be called while a coach is pitching.

17. During coach-pitch, the pitcher’s helper must stand at or behind the pitching rubber, and have one foot inside the pitching circle (the line itself is considered inside the circle) when the pitch is delivered to the batter.

18. During coach-pitch, coaches may wear a glove while pitching, and are permitted to catch balls thrown back to the circle by the catcher after a pitched ball. All other throws to the circle must be caught by the pitcher’s helper. When the ball is in play the coach must exit the pitcher’s circle to avoid interfering with the play.

19. If it is deemed by the umpire that a coach inadvertently interfered with a play, a dead ball will be called and all runners will be sent back to their starting positions. If it is deemed by the umpire that a coach intentionally interfered with a play, a dead ball will be called and the lead runner (or batter, if there are no runners) will be called out.

20. Bat throwing is NOT permitted. The first time a bat is thrown, the umpire will notify the scorekeeper that the team has received its first warning. The second time a bat is thrown, the player who threw the bat is called out. This is a judgment call by the umpire.

NOTE: This rule is applicable to the team, and not the individual player. The second player to throw a bat is called out regardless if another player received the first warning.

21. Bunting is allowed during player pitch only. No bunting is permitted during coach pitch.

22. Stealing 2nd & 3rd base is allowed while a player is pitching. Stealing home is NOT permitted. Runners may leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball. Stealing is NOT allowed while a coach is pitching.

23. For both coach-pitch and player-pitch, runners may leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball.

24. Dropped 3rd Strike and Infield Fly Rules do not apply.

25. No intentional walks are permitted. This is a judgment call by the umpire.

26. The ball is dead when the defensive team stops the lead runner. Once the lead runner has been stopped, the player with possession of the ball may call time.

*International Tie-Breaker Rule (Tournament Only)

During tournament games, if the teams are tied when time expires, the following procedures shall apply:

"At the start of the inning in which the tie-breaker rule is used, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base (e.g., if the number 5 batter is the lead off batter, the number 4 batter in the batting order will be placed on second base). The umpire and the scorekeeper will determine that the proper runner has been placed at second base and the inning shall begin."