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About the RIIL > Rules and Regulations > Article 25 Softball

ARTICLE 25

FAST PITCH SOFTBALL

 

Section 1. RULES

All Fast Pitch Softball games of the RIIL shall be played according to the National Federation of State High School Association Fast Pitch Softball Rules, except for any special rules adopted by the Committee.

  1. Start of Season:

    1. Teams may allow two (2) catchers and up to four (4) pitchers to report one week prior to the start of the spring season. The date will be determined by the RIIL.

    2. Pre-season conditioning is for 5 days only. Date to be determined by the RIIL.
    3. Grades 9 – 12 may participate.
    4. Recommend a pre-season conditioning program developed and coordinated by a certified athletic trainer or other medical doctor
    5. All athletes must be eligible by the RIIL Rules
    6. Athlete cannot simultaneously be playing on another RIIL team, i.e. winter sports
  2. The Director of Fast Pitch Softball shall have the authority, with approval of the Committee, to establish as many divisions as are judged necessary.
  3. The home school will be responsible for the condition of the field. The bases, baselines, foul lines, home plate, and pitcher’s mound will be prepared according to the official rules. The pitcher’s mound will be forty three feet (43 ft.).
  4. The home team must provide proper scoring equipment and personnel.

Section 2. SCHEDULE/GAMES

The Director of Fast Pitch Softball shall make up the schedules and order of games. No school may make any change to the schedule. See Article 1, Section 17 (Home Confirmation Schedule).

  1. Games played during the regular season may not start earlier than 3:30 P.M. except by mutual agreement of the opposing school’s Principals.
  2. A game may be terminated at the end of five (5) innings (4 1/2 innings for the home team) when either team is ahead by 10 runs. This rule applies during the regular season and playoffs.
  3. During the playoffs, a game which is suspended will be resumed from the point where the game was terminated to the completion of the game.
  4. All coaches are required to submit game results immediately following the scheduled game.

Section 3. POSTPONEMENTS

The postponement rules contained in Article 4, unless otherwise stated, shall govern all postponed Fast Pitch Softball games.

  1. Fast pitch softball games postponed because of weather conditions shall be played, weather and ground conditions permitting, on the following school day, or the next fair weather school day. All regular season games supersede non-league games schedules.
  1. If a game is postponed for any reason other than inclement weather, it must be rescheduled, as soon as possible, to a definite date by mutual agreement of the schools. If a mutual agreement cannot be reached, the representatives of the schools involved must meet with the Director of Fast Pitch Softball to reschedule the contest(s). Teams are encouraged to play on weekends whenever possible.
  2. Where unusual circumstances prevail or where conditions are unfavorable, a game may be postponed by mutual consent of the opposing school’s Principals or their authorized agent(s).
  3. The RIIL game ending procedure is as follows: 

    1. If a REGULATION game (4 (four) and ½ innings if the home team is ahead or 5 (five) complete innings if the visiting team is ahead) during the REGULAR SEASON (not a state tournament playoff game) is stopped for any reason other than forfeiture and a winner cannot be determined, the game is considered SUSPENDED and will be completed at a later date from the exact point of suspension.  Only student-athletes listed on the original scorecard are eligible to participate in the suspended game's resumption.  Only student-athletes eligible by all RIIL and school rules are eligible to be listed on a scorecard.

      Games that have not reached REGULATION length prior to suspension are considered NO GAME and must be replayed from the beginning.

      All state playoff games are SUSPENDED from the first pitch regardless of the inning or score and must be continued from that point to completion.

Section 4. OFFICIALS

RIIL assigned official’s authority extends to pre and post-game oversight. Fighting and unsportsmanlike penalties will be within the authority of the officials at all times at the contest site.

  1. Softball umpires shall have supervision of the playing field from 15 minutes before the game until it is finished.

Section 5. PLAYOFFS

The Championship Playoffs will be conducted under the direction of the Director of Fast Pitch Softball in a format determined by the Director of Fast Pitch Softball, approved by the Committee, and published with the RIIL Fast Pitch Softball Schedule.

  1. Playoff teams using tactics designed to delay or hasten the game shall forfeit the game.
  2. Tournament games to determine the State Championship or to resolve ties to enter the State Tournament must be seven (7) inning games. Games interrupted by rain or other causes will be resumed from the point of interruption to the completion of the seven (7) innings.