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http://Softball Policies and Procedures

Spring 2022 DSA Softball Schedule

Registration will open January 1st!! 

Here are some important dates to make note of.

- Registration will be open for all divisions from January 1st through February 28th with no late fee. After February 28th, registration is subject to availability and a a late fee

- After registration is closed, teams will be formed and the head coach will reach out to families communicating important information including the team's practice day

- Practices are expected to begin mid to the end of March

- Uniform Distribution is TBA

- Spring team and individual picture day is scheduled for TBD

- Games will likely begin on Saturday April 2nd 

- Regular season games will tentatively end Saturday June 4th with playoff following

-Playoffs are held each season and are included for 8U, 10U and 13U teams. Playoffs will end before the MCPS school year is let out in June

Home Fields

Damascus Elementary School: 10201 Bethesda Church Rd, Damascus, MD 20872

Ridge Road Recreational Park, Field #2: 21155 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD 20876

Clearspring Elementary School: 9930 Moyer Rd, Damascus, MD 20872

Damascus High School: 25921 Ridge Rd, Damascus, MD 20872

Recreation Softball - Fastpitch Rules

Recreation Softball - Fastpitch Rules - Fall 2021 

The recreation league follows National Federation of State High School Associations Rules for Fastpitch  Softball with some modifications. The modifications are intended to address the developmental aspects  of the younger leagues, ensure player safety and facilitate the equitable participation of all players.  

These rules will be used at all games. Please do not deviate from these rules and/or have any discussion  and mutual agreement at the plate meeting before the game with the umpire. 

• The home team should provide 2 game balls for each game. 

1. Length of Game – All Divisions 

• The last inning is the inning whose top half begins 90 minutes after the scheduled start time of a game. All games will have a 120 minute maximum limit. 

• If a batter is up at the time limit, the batter will get to finish her at bat. 

• If the last inning cannot be completed, the score will revert back to the end of the previous complete inning. 

• The time limit begins from the start time of the game declared by the umpire. 

• All teams must ensure to quickly clear the field at the 120 minute limit for the next game. ************************************************************************************************************* 

2. Umpires - 8U Division: 

• The 1st base coach makes all calls at 1st base and fair/foul balls on the 1st base side of the infield. • The 3rd base coach makes all calls at 3rd base and fair/foul balls on the 3rd base side of the infield. • The Coach Pitcher makes all calls for plays at second base, at the plate, determining the 10 foot rule, 

strikeouts and determines when play stops on defensive plays. The Coach Pitcher also makes the final call in plays where there are disputes. 

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3. Continuation: 

• There is no continuation in Fall 2021. The runs allowed per inning apply innings 1-3. The runs  allowed per inning is a hard stop for runs scored regardless of play in the field. There is unlimited  runs beginning in the 4th inning and through all remaining innings.  

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4. Coach Pitch – 8U Division 

• Coaches will pitch to their own teams and will not interfere with the ball if hit into play. If the coach is hit by a ball, "dead ball" will be called. Players will advance one base as required. 

• Coaches may take no more than one extra pitch per six pitches to a batter to account for a bad pitch. • Coaches should pitch from 35' with little arc but can move closer to home plate and adjust the arc as needed and with agreement with the opposing coach. 

Coach/Pitcher – 10U Division  

• There are NO walks. Once a player pitcher has thrown ball 4, the offensive team's coach steps in and throws a maximum of 5 pitches. 

• The strike count continues from where the player pitcher left off. The batter will either get a hit, strike out, or be called out after the 5th pitch from the coach (if it is not a foul ball/tip). In addition, players on base when a coach is pitching may not steal or advance on a passed ball. 

• Pitches should be thrown with as little arc as possible. The coach pitch ball should not go above the pitcher’s head. 

• The coach can pitch from the pitcher’s mound, the Distance to Pitcher (General Information), or distance in between. 

5. Number of Hit Batters – 10U and 13U Divisions 

• No more than 3 above the knee during the game. After the 3rd hit batter (3 above the knee), pitcher MUST be removed and cannot pitch the remainder of the game. 

6. Hit by Pitch – 10U and 13U Divisions 

• Any ball that hits a batter inside the batter’s box is considered hit-by-pitch regardless if it touches the ground first. In addition, the batter does not have to attempt to move out of the way from being struck by the pitch. (A ball that hits the ground before the batter does not count towards the 3 that removes the pitcher.)

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7. Batting Lineups – All Divisions 

• Players who arrive after the first pitch of the game will be added to the end of the lineup. If a player leaves the game and/or is unable to bat, her place in the lineup is skipped and an automatic out is NOT taken. 

8. Balls and Strikes – 10U Division 

• There are NO walks. Once a player pitcher has thrown ball 4, the offensive team's coach steps in and throws a maximum of 5 pitches. The strike count continues from where the player pitcher left off. The batter will either get a hit, strike out, or be called out after the 5th pitch from the coach (unless it’s a foul ball on the last pitch). 

9. 10 Foot Rule – 8U Divisions 

• A batted ball must go forward at least 10 feet on the ground in fair territory to be a fair ball. Defensive players can make plays on all foul pops, including those hit behind the plate, that go over the batter’s head (i.e., if the ball is caught, the batter is out). Teams must use this rule unless otherwise agreed to by both coaches. 

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8U Unoccupied Outfied Position Rule: For Fall 2021, some 8U teams may not have sufficient players  to field 10 players in the defense. For those games and with coordination between 8U coaches before  the game, if a ball is hit into the outfield and the defensive team does not have a player in an outfield  position, offensive runners are permitted to advance no more than two bases.

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10. Overthrows - 10U Division 

• A batter/base runner CAN advance to 2nd base on an overthrow at 1st base during a defensive play but cannot proceed any further. This limitation applies only to the runner at 1st base. All other runners on base at the time of the overthrow are not limited to one base. If the ball is still in play on an overthrow to first, the defense can attempt to make a play on a runner going to second base after an overthrow without liability of giving up any additional bases to that runner (i.e., runner limited to one base). 

• A base runner on 1st base CAN advance to 2nd base on an overthrow as the result of a pickoff attempt of that base runner by the catcher. 

• A base runner at third base CANNOT advance home on an overthrow during a defensive play made on a batted ball or on a pickoff attempt of that base runner by the catcher. A base runner stealing third base CANNOT advance past third base on an overthrow by the catcher. 

11. Courtesy Runner – 10U, 13U divisions 

• A courtesy runner may be used for the player who starts the next inning in the catcher or pitcher position and may be inserted at any time after the player has safely reached base. 

• The courtesy runner should be the player who made the last out of the inning. If there are no outs, then the courtesy runner is the last runner who scored a run. If there are no outs or no runs in the first inning, then the courtesy runner is the last batter in the batting order. 

12. Dropped third strike – 13U 

• When the catcher fails to catch the third strike before the ball touches the ground and there are fewer than two outs and first base is not occupied at the time of the pitch or any time there are two outs 13. Infield Fly – 13U 

• An infield fly is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive or an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort. The rule applies when 1st and 2nd bases (or when 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases) are occupied with less than 2 outs. 

14. Stealing 2nd Base on a walk – 13U 

• A runner who was walked can attempt a steal to 2nd base as long as it is a continuous motion and does not stop or pause after touching 1st base.

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14. Maximum Players in Field – 10U 

• Coaches have the option to play 10 players in the field (4 outfielders instead of 3) if they can mutually agree before the start of the game. 

15. Minimum Playing Time – All Divisions 

16. Applies only to players that are present for the entire game. Also catcher is considered an infield position in the 10U and 13U divisions. 

16. Maximum Playing Time – 10U and 13U divisions 

17. Playing time limit does not apply to the catcher in the 10U and 13U divisions. Any inning that a player is at any one position counts as a complete inning in that position, even if they did not play in that position the entire inning. (ie. Pitching, even if a player only pitches to one batter, that inning counts toward the three allowed even if she does not throw the full 3 outs or inning maximum) 

For Fall 2021, 8U teams may play with catchers if they wish to do so. Coaches can consider both  pandemic concerns due to the exchanging of catching gear as well as the size of 8U teams when  deciding to play catchers. Coaches will discuss catchers prior to the beginning of each game and  

make arrangements for the safe retrieval of softballs behind batters at the backstop if catchers are  not used.  

For 8U batters hit by a pitch, a pitch that hits a batter is deemed unhittable and does not count against the  batter and her six pitches. At the discretion of the two coaches, a player hit by a pitch may be awarded 1st  base. 

For 8U, the minimum 8-player in the field rule is suspended as some teams are small and may  not have sufficient numbers. Coaches must discuss team size and any adjustments needed prior  to each game. 

FOR ALL DIVISIONS: If coaches agree and to ensure appropriate-sized teams for all games,  players from another team can fill in positions for the opposing team. 

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Other Important Safety Rules 

COVID-19 Guidelines. During this pandemic, coaches will take all necessary steps to ensure the  safety of their players and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Each league will issue its own specific  guidelines that all opposing leagues must follow during scheduled games. As a general matter, all  

leagues will abide by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to include, but  not limited to, wearing masks when directed and when social distancing can't be done, maximizing  social distancing at all times, and cleaning high touch surfaces such as shared equipment. Player  safety is the top priority, and coaches must work together to ensure appropriate mitigation steps  are followed at all times and league rules are strictly followed.  

Suspending play for Lightning 

• If at any time lightning is seen or thunder is heard at the field, all play must be stopped immediately and all players, coaches, and fans need evacuate the area and seek shelter. Play cannot continue until there has been a 30-minute waiting period after the last lightning flash is seen. Even if weather conditions appear to have improved within the 30-minute window, you must wait the required time. Lightning can strike from as far as 10 miles away. 

• The onus of removing a team or individual from an athletic site in the event of lightning activity is on the coach supervising the activity. The safety of all team members rests with that coach. 

Concussion Awareness  

• If a player has a suspected concussion during a practice or game, that player is to be immediately removed from that activity and is not allowed to participate in a practice or game until they have a note from a doctor allowing them to play. Coaches should report these incidents to the appropriate points of contact within their leagues. 

Warming up Pitchers • Anyone under the age of 18 who is warming up a pitcher prior to or  during a game must wear a catcher’s mask. This applies to both  

players and non-players.  

Jewelry • All jewelry must be removed prior to the game. 

Helmets • Batting helmets must be worn at all times when the batter/runner is in the field of play.  Batting warm-ups  

• Batting warm-ups must take place in an area that is out of play and away from spectators. The on deck batter may warm-up in the batter’s circle but must be alone. All warm-ups with toss, tees, hitting sticks, bat sleeves or any other equipment other than the player’s bat, must take  place in an area out of play and away from spectators. 

• For Fall 2021, face masks on helmets are not required. League commissioners expect  face masks on helmets to be mandatory in Spring 2022. 

6 Updated September 2021