REVISED 05/19/24 (Note, no updates for 2025)
***Teams may have a maximum of ten (10) players on a field; at least three (3) must be female. Teams must have minimum of nine (9) players on the field to start the game, but may finish with eight (8), with at least two players being female in both cases. Each team must field a minimum of four (4) outfielders when having ten (10) players on the field. If nine (9) players are used a minimum of three (3) outfielders are required. Each outfielder must be positioned behind the cones placed behind 1st and 3rd base until the ball has been put in play.***
***Each field will have two home plates – a traditional home plate in the field of play, and a designated “scoring” home plate located in foul territory. All runners must contact this designated scoring plate in order to score a run. Any runners coming into contact with the traditional plate will be called OUT. This second home plate is designated strictly for runners to safely score runs by removing the need for runners to avoid a collision or slide. In order to clearly officiate this, the designated scoring plate will have a “line of commitment” clearly marked halfway between third base and the designated scoring plate. Any runner who advances past this line of commitment effectively declares their intent to score and will not be permitted to return to third base – turning any “play at the plate” into a force play. In order to clearly officiate this, the designated scoring plate will have a “line of commitment” clearly marked halfway between third base and the designated scoring plate. Any runner who advances past this line of commitment, effectively declares their intent to score and will not be permitted to return to third base – turning any “play at the plate” into a force play.***
- Games will be seven (7) innings, or one (1)-hour in length, whichever comes first. The umpire will announce the starting time at the beginning of each game. If the game is tied at the end of the 1-hour time limit, the score will revert back to the last completed inning in which a lead was held. If the lead cannot be determined, the game will proceed to extra innings, with each team starting with a “designated runner” at second base. This designated runner should be the last batted out and cannot be substituted for. In the event a lead was never established, a half-inning sudden death period will be invoked to prevent delay to any proceeding games. This period will be determined by a coin toss called by the home team. The winner of the coin toss will have the choice to bat or play the field. If the winner of the coin toss elects to bat – the offense must score a run that half inning or the defense wins the game. If the coin toss winner elects to play the field – the defense must prevent the offense from scoring a run or the offense wins the game. ***Please note: Although this period may be considered an “extra inning” there will be no designated runner for the sudden death period. ***
- There will be no time limit the championship games.
- Coin toss will determine home team.
- Maximum of 6 runs per inning, except for the 7th inning or any extra inning. Provided 1 hour has not been reached.
- Third (3rd) strike foul is an out.
- No walks – count will start with 1 strike.
- No Bunting is allowed, automatic out.
- There is a restriction on the height of all pitches. The minimum height is six (6) feet, and the maximum is twelve (12) feet.
- Any pitch hitting the mat is a strike. Any pitch hitting home plate is a strike. It’s the umpire’s discretion on whether a ball hits home plate or the mat.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated! NO FOUL LANGUAGE, UMPIRE ABUSE OR ILLEGAL PHYSICAL CONTACT. All individuals violating these rules will be asked to leave immediately.
- NO ALCOHOLIC beverages permitted! All individuals violating either rule will be asked to leave immediately.
- Only one base may be taken on an over-thrown ball that goes out of play or off the field.
- No stealing bases. Runner may only leave base once the ball has been hit. Only one (1) warning per team will be given.
- Rubber cleats (baseball, football, soccer, softball, lacrosse etc.) are permitted, NO METAL SPIKES – NO EXCEPTIONS
- Players MUST BE 16 years of age or older, again NO EXCEPTIONS.
- All players on a team may bat. Team captains will be responsible for establishing a batting order for their team and making sure that the players bat in same order. If a team chooses one (1) “field” player per team may play the field but does not have to bat. Late players may be added to the end of the batting order. If a player gets hurt or has to leave, their spot in the batting order is skip ped with no penalty.
- Teams may freely substitute field players. Players on the field may be changed and substituted for, but the batting order must stay the SAME. Players may bat but not play in the field.
- A courtesy runner may be granted to any player who requests one. The player on the batting team that made the last out shall run for the batter once the batter safely reaches first base. The courtesy runner exchanged must be male for male and female for female.
- No smoking on the field. Smoking outside of the fences is allowed.
- Home Runs equal an OUT and a $1 donation is to be paid to the umpire before the next pitch is thrown. A home run is any untouched fair fly ball hit over the fence in fair territory. This rule is also in effect for field 3.
- Any fair fly ball touched by a defensive player which then goes over the fence in Fair Territory will be declared a ground rule double.
- All players are required to sign a team waiver prior to entering the field of play – NO EXCEPTIONS. Waivers will be distributed to all Team Captains upon team registration and submitted upon the team’s completion of the tournament. Once a team has been eliminated, all players are free to play for another team that has a need due to a lack of players, etc..
- All of other slow pitch softball rules apply.
- NO COMPOSITE BATS – All bat models must be ASA/USA approved single-wall, slow-pitch softball bats. By definition, a single wall bat is a bat that has a hitting surface composed of one continuous, single shell or layer composed entirely of the same material. ALL BATS MUST BE APPROVED PRIOR TO TOURNAMENT PLAY AND ARE TO BE CHECKED IN DURING TEAM/INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION. Any violations to the bat regulations can result in immediate ejection from the tournament for the offending player. A second violation can result in a forfeiture of the game/tournament by the offending team.
- No player may be thrown out at first base from the outfield prior to establishing possession of first base.
- ALL RULINGS BY THE UMPIRE ARE FINAL. ANYONE ARGUING OR QUESTIONING AN UMPIRE MAY BE EJECTED AND ASKED TO LEAVE THE DWLL PROPERTY.
May 2025