2025 BRL Softball Rules
Updated: April 1, 2025
League play will consist of a single game for each of three age groups: 8U, 10U, and 12U to play on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The player’s age on August 31st of the previous year determines the age classification in which the player is eligible to participate.
Rosters are to be submitted by May 1st. Parents are required to prove a child’s age by birth certificate if questioned. A player is only allowed to be on one roster, but can play up from the age group and town they are registered for. Players cannot play down.
League Fees are to be paid to tournament host by May 1st. 8U Fee is $125. 10U & 12U Fee is $225.
The home team is responsible for contacting the visiting team if game date, time, or site need to be changed because of conflicts or diamond conditions. Please call in as far in advance as possible to reschedule. Confirming a scheduled game the week of is highly suggested.
In the event of inclement weather, coaches should utilize the Weather Bug app to monitor lightning strikes. If lightning is present within a 10-mile radius of a current game, the game should be delayed 30 minutes from the most recent strike. After the 30-minute delay when no lighting is present, the game can resume play.
Coaches are encouraged to register with USA softball or download app if available to obtain a rule book. USA Softball rules apply in all areas not covered by league rules:
Teams are encouraged to wear the same colored jerseys with numbers.
Catchers are required to wear shin guards, throat and chest protectors, and catching helmet. Girls warming up the pitcher must wear a catching helmet and mask.
Batters, on-deck batters, and base runner must wear helmets.
Youth coaches or helpers under the age of 19 must wear helmets in the coach’s boxes or on the field.
Start Times and Limits:
8U will start at 6:00 – Hard stop at 60 minutes of play. Official score will be the last completed inning.
10U will start at 7:00 – time limit is 75 minutes
12U will start at 8:15 – time limit is 75 minutes
A game will consist of seven innings or the time limit, whichever occurs first.
No new inning will be started after the time limit. Tournament games will not finish before the time limit unless the run rules have been achieved.
In tournaments, a tied game will be decided by the international tiebreaker. (The girl who had the last complete at bat from the previous inning is placed on second base to start the inning. The home team does the same for their at bat. If still tied, repeat the procedure.)
In the event of rain, 3 complete innings will constitute a game or 2 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. If rained out before then, game resumes where it left off.
The home team will furnish one or two umpires. Team are highly recommended to use USA Softball certified umpires for 10U and 12U. 8U is usually an unpaid coach or parent volunteer. 10U/12U can use either 1 or 2 paid umpires at their discretion.
One game ball will be furnished by each team and approved by the umpires. Official yellow optic cover, red-stitch with a core of .47 fast pitch softballs must be used. 8U is an 11-inch “soft core” of often called a “Dixie.” “Safety Balls” are not allowed—these are usually soft to the touch and can be pushed in with your finger. 10U-11” and 12U-12”. Game balls will be returned at after the game.
The run rules will be 8 runs after 5 innings, 10 runs after 4 innings, and 12 runs after 3 innings.
Protests will be decided by the game umpires or must be filed according to USA rules.
The Casual Profanity rule and the Sportsmanship rule will be in effect for all league games and tournaments. If a player, coach, or fan is ejected from the game, they will be removed from the area. Failure to leave will result in a forfeit. Coaches ejected will not coach the rest of the day. A second ejection will result in the coach being suspended from league play for the remainder of the season.
Batters will bat in a continuous batting order with free substitution on defense.
Tournaments
Tournament host receives entry fees and concessions. They are responsible for buying individual player medal and team plaques. They must also pay all umpire fees. Tournament fees cover admission, so hosts are not allowed to charge admission to league tournaments.
Participant medals will be awarded to all 8U Tournament players.
10U & 12U – Team Recognition Item and individual medals will be awarded to first, second, and third places. In 2022, we did large cookies.
Tournament seeding will be based on regular season league play. Any individual games or tournaments outside of league play will not count toward the league record.
8U Tournament format is round robin, 10U and 12U format is double elimination.
Regular season rules apply for tournaments.
To be eligible for the league tournament, a player must play in 50% of the league games with the town whose league roster they are listed. Teams must be able to show proof from a scorebook. Failure to prove a player was on a team will result in forfeiture from the tournament. Example: Catcher from 12U Denton breaks her ankle. The sub catcher is on vacation during tournament. Denton may play up their 10U catcher, as she was on the Denton roster for at least 50% of the season. There are no restrictions to the position that a 10U girl can play on 12U. Same for 8U to 10U.
Game balls will be provided by the tournament host.
Tournament hosts rotate in alphabetical order. Please see tournament schedule page for location and date information.
12U Rules – USA Softball rules apply except the following:
Innings will end with 3 outs or stop with the at bat that scores the 8th run of that inning. (8) runs max per inning.
10U Rules – USA Softball rules apply except the following:
Innings will end with 3 outs or stop with the at bat that scores the 5th run of that inning. (5) runs max per inning.
In any game, a dropped 3rd strike is an out. The batter is out, but the ball is in play.
8U Coach Pitch – USA Softball Rules apply except the following:
Playing field: Bases 60 ft., Pitching 35ft and Outfielders start every pitch 15 ft. behind the base path. 15 ft. behind the baseline should be marked on the field/grass behind shortstop and behind the middle between 1st and 2nd base.
Five (5) Innings or Sixty minutes starting at 6:00PM. Game play will stop exactly at 60 minutes and players/coaches will leave the field.
Team: Each team shall use ten (10) players on defense. Six (6) infield and four (4) outfield.
Before the game, the two coaches can make a gentlemen’s agreement to play all bench players in the outfield. This is usually most accepted when there are the same number of girls. The tournament will play with 10 total girls with no exceptions.
Batter: Each batter will be allowed FOUR pitches to bat the ball in play. A batted foul ball on the 4th pitch counts as a pitch. After four pitches from the coach (foul or not) the batter will receive only two (2) swings off the tee. Any hit ball off the tee will be considered a single. The batter will run to first and the base runners will be allowed to advance only one (1) base. No exceptions. Any over-throws to a base during a hit off the tee are not considered a new play, no advancements will be made. Each home team is required to have an adjustable tee to allow for proper placement and create a more positive batting experience.
The tee must be placed directly on top of home plate. It will not extend over the front of the plate to give the batter an advantage.
Innings will end with 3 outs or stop with the at bat that scores the 5th fun of that inning. Five (5) runs max per inning. Balls and strikes will not be kept or called.
Dropped third strike, base stealing, infield fly rule, and designated plater (DP) rule are not in effect. Caught foul fly ball will be an out whenever it occurs.
The run rules will be 6 runs after 4 innings. Games can finish in a tie.
Time shall be called by both coaches when the lead runner has been stopped and the ball in in the circle. Coaches who are pitching must make an attempt to catch the ball. If the ball is overthrown to the pitching circle, the play is dead.
Runners are allowed to advance only one base per pitch on an overthrow on balls hit off the pitch. For example, if the ball is overthrown to first, the runner can advance to second. If the ball is thrown to second and overthrown, the play is dead. It is still within the same pitch. Does not apply to balls hit off the tee. See prior tee rule.
Each team will provide a parent or coach umpire for all regular season games both home and away.
All players are preferred to be 6 years old as of January 1st or finished with Kindergarten.
Pitchers must start every pitch with both feet inside the pitcher’s circle. Pitcher’s circle is approximately 8-10 feet in diameter around the mound.
2 coaches for the fielding team are allowed in the outfield and will positioned behind the baseline.