SOFTBALL MINOR "AAA" DIVISION RULES

All rules according to most recent Little League Rules and Regulations.
In addition, the following “Local Rules” shall apply:

General:

1. Stealing 2^nd and 3^rd is allowed. No stealing of home. Runner may leave when the ball has crossed thome plate.  After a successful steal, the runner may NOT advance on an overthrow. Maximum of 9 steals per game, 3 steals per inning. Double steals count as 2 steals.

2. If an inning before the 6th inning is deemed to be the last inning because of time, weather, or visibility constraints, each team will be allowed to score unlimited runs in that inning.  If an inning prior to the 6th inning is going to be the “last inning”, it should be specified by the umpire before the inning begins

3. 10 players allowed in field with 4 outfielders.

4. Bunting is allowed.

5.  A play will be deemed over when the pitcher has the ball in the immediate vicinity of the pitcher’s mound.  At that point, any runner who is not at least halfway to the next base must return to the previous base.

6. Outfielders must be positioned on the outfield grass.

7. Courtesy runners should be used for the catcher with 2 outs to speed up play.

8. Home team supplies the softballs.

9. Three coaches are allowing in the dugout, no coach in the field.

Pitching:

1. The pitching distance shall be 35 feet.

2. The softball used shall not be less than 10 7/8 “ in circumference nor more than 11 1/8 “ in circumference and shall not weigh more than 6 ounces.

3. If a player pitches in more than 1 inning, 1 calendar day of rest is mandatory.

4. Pitchers may pitch a maximum of three (3) innings per game. Delivery of a single pitch constitutes having pitched an inning.

5. After a pitcher walks/hbp 3 batters in an inning, the defensive coach may substitute another pitcher.  The substitute pitcher may pitch the remainder of that 1 inning plus an additional 3 full innings in any order during that game. If the substitute pitcher is used for relief in any additional inning, it will count toward 1 of their 3 full innings.  If the defensive coach chooses not to substitute the pitcher with another player, the pitcher will continue to pitch until 4 balls are thrown to a fourth batter. At this time, the coach from the offensive team will pitch. The pitch count will start over when the coach pitch begins. When the coach pitches, the coach must pitch from the pitcher's mound (35') and the batter can only hit or strike out, but not walk. The umpire will call strikes when the batter swings and misses and when the batter does not swing, but the ball is in the strike zone. The player will then pitch to the next batter and this will repeat each time 4 balls are thrown. However, at any time, if a batter is hit by a pitch, the batter advances to first base.  The same player can continue to pitch in subsequent innings in the same game (subject to the inning limits) without accounting for walks/hbp from previous innings except that if a player hits 3 batters in the same inning, that player may not continue to pitch in that game.

6. The defensive coach may not unilaterally elect to go to coach-pitch before 3 walks have been issued

7. A pitcher may be removed before they walk 3 batters.  However, if a pitcher is removed before surrendering 3 walks, she may not return to pitch until the following inning.  If a coach comes in to pitch after a third walk, the pitcher who just surrendered the third walk may not be removed from the pitching position and placed in another position in the field

8. A hit batter is a walk.

9. There are no intentional walks.

10. A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime as long as she is eligible.

11. Innings pitched in games declared “SUSPENDED” shall be charged against a pitcher’s eligibility for that game.

Call-Up Process:

If 24 hours before gametime, a manager learns that he/she will have 9 or fewer players available for a game, the manager should email the Vice President of Softball to request a call-up from AA (if a manager learns that he/she has 8 or fewer players, he/she may request 2 call-ups).  In the email, the manager must specify the names of the players who they know will not be able to make the game. 

A call up cannot be used to start a game over a roster player in the event of 11 players.

Call-ups must bat last in the batting order.  Additionally, the maximum number of IF positions that they may play is equal to or less than the number of innings that the rostered player with the least IF innings in that game plays.  Call-ups may not pitch or catch. 

If a call-up is requested less than 24 hours before gametime, the Vice President of Softball will attempt to find a call-up based on the guidelines above.  However, if a suitable call-up cannot be found, the team will play with whatever number of players it has.  Teams may play with 8 players in the field.  If a team has 7 or fewer players 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of the game, the teams will still play the game, however for the purposes of the standings, the game will be deemed a forfeit.

There are no call ups during playoffs without permission from the Vice President of Softball.

Please see the Ardsley Little League Rules Quick Guide for a rules summary by division.