COACHES MUST BRING MEDICAL FORMS & KITS TO ALL GAMES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AN ICE PACK (ICE CUBES) BE AVAILABLE AS WELL!!

Girls should wear tie shoes (no flip-flops, clogs or beach sandals). No metal cleats - molded cleats only (if used). Uniforms must be worn unaltered for all games (i.e. No torn shirts, etc.). In the Dover and Demon

Divisions for protection we encourage players to wear sweatpants or sliding pants. Catchers must wear face mask and chest protector at all games & practices (Dover & Demon Division catchers must also wear

catchers helmets and shin guards). HELMETS MUST BE WORN WHILE AT BAT AND RUNNING THE BASES IN THE PIXIES, MINOR, MAJOR, DOVER, DEMON, & PONY DIVISIONS, DURING GAMES AND AT PRACTICE. Helmets are made available to be worn in the Colt Division upon the advice of the coach and the parent. EQUIPMENT BAGS & MEDICAL KITS ARE TO BE RETURNED TO THE DIVISION DIRECTOR AFTER THE LAST GAME !!!

Pixies, Minor, Major, Dover, Demon, and Pony Division weekday games will start at 6:30 p.m. sharp and end at 8:00 p.m. All games are 7 innings, unless shortened by time constraints. Pony & Colt Division weekday games on C-4 will start sharply at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. All softball games are 1:30 long. THERE WILL BE NO TIE GAMES IN THE MAJOR, DOVER, DEMON, PONY, & COLT DIVISIONS! These games will be played to their conclusion.

Sunday game starts vary, see schedule. No new innings are to start after the l-1/2 hours are completed in the Pixies & Minor. A game is complete if 4 innings are played (3-1/2 innings if the winning team is up to bat last) and the umpire calls the game due to weather. In the event of rain after the start of the game, the umpire will determine whether to continue or postpone the game. If lightning is sighted the game must be stopped. Assume all games are to be played as scheduled, unless rain out recorded message says otherwise. Before the game, if the weather is bad, coaches and umpires will decide if the game should be postponed. ONLY THE COACH CALLS THE RAIN-OUT NUMBER!!!

To prevent field damage, you are not permitted to use the field If the game Is called because of rain. No raking, shoveling or sweeping to dry the field. Coaches are to call division directors immediately to reschedule make up games. In the Major, Dover, Demon, Pony, and Colt Divisions it is necessary for the winning coach to immediately contact the Division Director with the game score. Standings will be kept in all divisions except the Pixies and Minor Divisions. Coaches will not report standings or scores to the newspapers or media.

A player or coach who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment has been administered. If medical care or treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual does not have to leave the game. The length of time that is considered reasonable is umpire judgment. The re-entry rule would apply to players. If there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform, it must be changed before that individual may participate (any t-shirt or shorts are acceptable). No player is to start a game or continue in a game with a broken bone.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COACHING STAFF TO STRESS THE FMPORTANCE OF HUSTLING ON AND OFF THE FIELD! IN ADDITION THE COACH SHOULD HAVE PREPARED IN ADVANCE THE GAME PLAN, SPECIFICALLY, PLAYER POSITIONING!!

Slow-Pitch: The ball must be pitched with a perceptible arc. If the pitched ball fails to have an arc, the umpire will call the pitch a ball, unless the pitch is hit or swung at and missed. The pitch should have an arc between 6 and 12 feet high. Pitchers in the fast-pitch divisions must use windmill motion. Pixies & Minor Divisions coaches pitch. Pitching distances: Major: 35 ft, Dover: 35 ft, Demon: 40 ft, Pony: 46 ft, Colt: 46 ft

MAJOR & DOVER DIVISION ONLY: THE PITCHER MUST BE REPLACED AFTER WALKING 3 BATTERS CONSECUTIVELY IN QNE INNING. THE PITCHER WHO HAS BEEN REMOVED CAN PITCH THE NEXT INNING IF SO DESIRED BY THE COACH. IN ADDITION 5 BALLS ARE REQUIRED TO WALK A BATTER.

Replacement pitchers will be allowed 3 warm-up tosses. Pitchers are to have only 2 warm-up tosses prior to the start of each inning. The pitcher must have 1 foot touching the pitching rubber before she releases the ball. The pitcher is to take only 1 step forward as she releases the ball. The umpire will call an illegal pitch a ball.

Slow-pitch: there is no sliding allowed. Penalty – runner is out and the ball is dead, (umpires judgment call). Fast-pitch the runners may slide into all bases.

On overthrows or when the ball goes out of play, runners advance only 1 base(umpires judgment call). The ball remains alive until the umpire calls "time". Play will stop when: the ball enters the infield from the outfield and the umpire determines that the ball is under control by an infield player. The infield is the dirt area and the outfield is the grass on all Westlake Girls' Softball Fields! Exception: Pixies & Minor Divisions: No advancement on overthrows. There are no advancements once the ball, hit to the outfield, has been thrown back into the infield. Once the ball has hit the dirt, or a player's glove, the runners may no longer advance. The ball does not have to be caught or returned to the pitcher to stop the advancement.

All girls bat in the batting order before the 1st batter bats again. Pixies, Minor Major, and Dover girls are not to take practice swings before their turn at bat. Demon, Pony and Colt girls who are next to bat may take practice swings in the caged areas at fields: 4, 5, C-4, & C-5. Only 1 batter inside the cage at a time!

Bats should be kept behind the backstop or against the fence nearest the bench or placed on the bat rack if available. No pinch runners, or substitutions! A player who bats out of order shall be called out. Girls arriving late may be inserted at the end of the line up as last batter. A batter is out if she throws a bat (umpire's judgment). Slow-pitch batter hit by a pitched ball does not advance to 1st base. Fast-pitch, batters advance to first base when hit by a pitched ball.

Pixies and Minor Divisions: There are no balls and strikes called. There is a limit of 7 pitches per batter in the Pixies and 5 pitches per batter in the Minor Division. If the batter does not hit the ball it is not an out, batter returns to the bench.

Major and Dover Divisions: To walk a batter 5 balls are required. No advancement on a drop third strike in all divisions, with the exception of the Demon Division.

A half inning will end with 3 outs or 7 runs scored. If the home team is down by more than 7 runs in the last inning, the game is won by the visitors. If time allows, the inning may be played, but the 7 run rule applies. Coaches should agree upon total runs scored at the end of each half Inning. If the run total is disputed, the umpire shall rule on the score before the game continues.

If umpires don't show up for the game, the coaches may agree upon a spectator to umpire. Coaches in the Major, Dover, Demon, Pony, & Colt Divisions may only file a protest to the head umpire during the playing of the game and before the next pitch. If volunteer umpires are used no protest can be filed. No unruly spectators or team members are allowed behind the backstop. Un sportsman like conduct & abusive or foul language by players, spectators, or coaches Is not allowed. One warning may be given, but Is not necessary for ejection by the umpire. THE COACHES ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES SET FORTH IN THE LEAGUES "CODE OF CONDUCT"!!

Coaches are not allowed Inside the left and right field fences unless they are coaching lst or 3rd base. Coaching the team in the field from inside the fence is prohibited!. Pixies and Minor Divisions: Two

coaches are allowed in the outfield to instruct players in the field.

The slow-pitch and fast-pitch programs abide by the rules set forth In the 1997 A.S.A. manual. Some of these rules have been modified by The Westlake Girls' Softball League are listed below.

Pixies & Minor Divisions play with all girls on the field. Major & Dover Divisions play with 12 girls on the field. Demon, Pony & Colt Divisions play with 1 1 girls on the field. All girls will bat in all divisions. A team may start a game with 8 players. The injury rule is waived. Players may be freely substituted.

Pixies and Minor Divisions: A maximum of 7 infielders including the catcher. All infielders must remain behind the pitching rubber, 35 feet from home plate.

Major and Dover Divisions: A maximum of 7 infielders including the catcher and pitcher. Demon, Pony and Colt Divisions: A maximum of 6 infielders including the catcher and pitcher.

All girls play defense a minimum of 3 innings per game. Pixies and Minor Divisions: No girls shall play the same position for more than 2 innings. No infield fly rule except In the Colt Division.

Slow-pitch: No stealing allowed. No lead-offs. Runner may not leave the base until the ball is hit in the Pixies, Minor, Major, Pony, and Colt Divisions.

Fast-pitch: In the Dover Division a runner may steal third base from second. The runner may not advance on a catchers overthrow when stealing a base. The Demon Division allows the runner to steal all bases. Runners may advance on all overthrows. In both fast-pitch divisions, there are no lead offs, the runner must wait until the ball passes home plate. If the runner leaves early, she will be called out. Runners must return to base when the ball Is In the pitchers control. Runner must commit to steal a base before ball Is In pitchers control. On some fields there will be a double first base. When double base is present, runner is to step on the base to the right and fielder touches base on the left.