For a Full Set of the 2025 USA Softball Rules, please visit – www.usasoftball.com/official-rulesbook/

A Team shall consist of players in the following positions:

• Pitcher (F1)

• Catcher (F2)

• First Base Player (F3)

• Second Base Player (F4)

• Third Base Player (F5)

• Shortstop (F6)

• Left Fielder (F7)

• Center Fielder (F8) *10u and below divisions may have 10 players on the field, F8 becomes the Left Center Field position

• Right Fielder (F9)

• Extra Player (EP) *10u and below divisions may have a 10th player in the Right Center Field Position

Scoring of Runs

• One run shall be scored each time a runner:

  • Touches first, second, third base and home plate.

• No run shall be scored if the third out of the inning is the result of:

  • A batter-runner being called out prior to reaching first base or any other runner forced out due to the batter becoming a batter-runner.

  • A runner being put out by a tag.

Pitching Regulations

• Before starting the delivery (pitch), the pitcher shall comply with the following:

  • When taking the pitching position in contact with the pitcher’s plate, the pitcher must have their hands separated and must have the ball in either the glove or pitching hand.

  • The pitcher shall not be considered in the pitching position unless the catcher is in position to receive the pitch.

  • Both feet must be on the ground within the 24-inch length of the pitcher’s plate. The shoulders shall be in line with first and third bases. The putcher shall take a position with their pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and their non pivot foot in contact with or behind the pitcher’s plate.

  • While in contact with pitchers’ plate, the pitcher may take a signal or appear to take a signal with the hands separated. The ball must remain in either the glove or pitching hand.

  • The pitcher shall bring the hands together for not less than one second and not more than 10 seconds before releasing the ball; a backward step may be taken before, simultaneously with or after the hands are brought together. The pivot foot must always remain in contact with the pitcher’s plate prior to the forward step.

  • The pitch starts once the hands are separated once they have been placed together.

  • The pitcher shall not make any motion to pitch without immediately delivering the ball to the batter.

  • In the act of delivering the ball, the pitcher shall take one step with the non-pivot foot simultaneous with the release of the ball. The step must be forward and toward the batter.

  • Pushing off and dragging the pivot foot in contact with the ground or having both feet in the air is allowed.

  • If the ball slips from the pitcher’s hand during delivery:

    • The ball remains live.

    • A ball is called on the batter.

    • Runners may advance at their own risk.

• A pitcher shall not wear any item on the pitching hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or thighs which may be distracting to the batter. Gloves shall not be worn on the pitching hand.

• At the beginning of each half inning, or when a pitcher relieves another pitcher, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than five pitches. Play shall be suspended during this time.

On-Deck Batter

• The on-deck batter shall take a position within the lines of the on-deck circle nearest the offensive team area.

• Only one on-deck batter is permitted on the field at a time.

• The on-deck batter may not interfere with a defensive player’s opportunity to make an out.

Batting Order

• The batting order shall show the names, first and last, and jersey number in the order in which the players are scheduled to bat.

• When the third out in an inning is made before the batter has completed their turn at bat, that player shall be the first batter in the inning.

• Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely within the lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the pitch.

• The batter must take the batter’s position in the batters box within 10 seconds after being directed to do so by the umpire.

A Strike on the Batter

• For each legally pitched ball entering the strike zone

• For each legally pitched ball swung at and missed by the batter

• For each foul ball when the batter has fewer than two strikes

A Ball on the Batter

• For each legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone, touches the ground before reaching home plate, or touches home plate, and the batter does not swing.

  • The ball remains live.

  • Runners are entitled to advance with liability to be put out.

    The Batter is Out

• When an entire foot is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box at the time the ball contacts the bat

• When any part of a foot is touching home plate at the time the ball contacts the bat

• At the completion of the third strike

• When a called or swinging third strike is caught by the catcher

Batter-Runner and Runner

• The batter becomes a batter-runner.

  • As soon as the batter legally hits a fair ball.

  • 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.

  • When four balls have been called by the umpire. The batter-runner is awarded first base.

  • When a pitched ball, not swung at nor called a strike, touches any part of the batter’s person including the hands or clothing. The batters’ hands are not part of the bat. The batter is awarded first base.

The Batter-Runner is Out

• When the catcher drops the third strike, and the batter-runner is put out prior to reaching first base. This is in effect if there are two outs or with less than two outs and first base is not occupied at the time of the pitch.

• After hitting a fair ball and the batter-runner is put out prior to reaching first base.

• After hitting a fly ball that is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground

• When the batter-runner runs outside the three-foot running lane and interferes with a fielder taking the throw at first base. The batter-runner may run outside the three-foot lane to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball.

• When the batter-runner interferes.

  • With a fielder attempting to field a batter ball

  • With a fielder attempting to throw the ball

  • By making contact with a fair batted ball before reaching first base

• When an infield fly is declared

Touching Bases in Legal Order

• Awarded bases must be touched on in legal order.

• When a runner must return to a base while the ball is live or dead, the bases must be touched in reverse order.

• Two runners may not occupy the same base at the same time.

• Bases left too soon on a caught fly ball must be retouched prior to advancing.

Runners are Entitled to Advance WITH Liability to be put out.

• When the ball leaves the pitchers hand on the delivery

• On a thrown ball or fair batted ball

• When a legally caught fly ball is first touched by a defensive player

• After overrunning first base, the runner attempts to continue to second base.

• When an infield fly is declared and caught, runners may tag-up and advance. If the ball is not caught, runners may advance at their own risk.

Runners are Entitled to Advance WITHOUT Liability to be put out.

• When force to vacate a base because the batter was awarded a base on balls

• When a fielder, not in possession of the ball or not in the act of fielding a batted ball, obstructs the progress of a runner or batter-runner.

A Runner Must Return to their Base

• When a batted ball is declared foul

• When an intentionally dropped fly ball is ruled

The Runner IS Out

• When running to any base in regular or reverse order and the runner runs more than three feet from the base path to avoid being touched by the ball in the hand or glove of the fielder

• When the ball is live and while the runner is not in contact with the base, the runner is legally touched with the ball in the hands of a fielder.

• When, on a force play, a fielder contacts the base while holding the ball or tags the runner before the runner reaches the base.

• When a runner passes the preceding runner

• When the runner leaves a base to advance to another base before a caught fly ball has touched an infielder

• When the batter-runner legally overruns first base, attempts to run to second base and is legally touched with the ball while not in contact with the base.

• When a runner interferes:

  • With a fielder attempting to field a batted fair ball or a foul fly ball

  • With a fielder attempting to throw the ball

  • With a thrown ball

• When a runner is struck with a fair untouched batted ball while not in contact with a base and before it passes an infielder, excluding the pitcher.

• When a runner intentionally contacts a fair ball that an infielder missed

• When a coach intentionally interferes with the defensive team’s opportunity to make a play

• When a defensive player has the ball, and the runner maintains upright and crashes into the defensive player

• When the runner fails to keep in contact with the base to which the runner is entitled until the ball leaves the pitchers hand

The Runner in NOT out

• When a runner off a base:

• Is touched with a ball not securely held by a fielder.

• Is touched with a hand or glove of a defensive player and the ball is in the other hand.

• When a batter-runner overruns first base after touching it and returns directly to the base

Conduct

• When a player throws the bat intentionally in anger, the player should be ejected. Should the bat slip from the batters’ hands, there is no penalty unless the discarded bat prevents the defense from making a play on the ball, then interference should be ruled.