USSSA Fastpitch Official Playing Rules
With few exceptions, Florida USSSA Girls Fastpitch will abide by the rules and by-laws governed by the 2008 USSSA Rulebook. The on-line rulebook supersedes any printed edition.
Below is a list of exceptions. This is for local Florida tournament play only, including State Championships. These rules do NOT apply when competing in any of the USSSA World Series events.
Courtesy Runner – The team at bat may use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher any time after they reach base. The player in the batting order where the last out was recorded or any player with substitution rights not currently in the game may replace the current (the player physically playing the position when the 3rd out was recorded) pitcher or catcher as a courtesy runner at any time. The same runner may not be used for both positions in the same inning. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave under such circumstances Players who have participated in the game in any other capacity are ineligible to serve as a courtesy runner. A player may not run as a courtesy runner and be used as a substitute for another player in that half inning.
USSSA offers odd-age divisions (7U, 9U, 11U, 13U, 15U, and 17U) as well as the common even-age divisions (8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U). Although Florida teams may register as an odd-age division team, Florida tournaments will not host "odd" age bracket tournaments. If a team were to register as, for example, a 13U team, then they are eligible to play in 14U events.
18U Division will be played as an "open" division. USSSA distinguishes between 18U teams with one or more players attending college (18 Majors) and 18U teams with no college players (18-and-Under).
18U Major teams will be allowed to play in 18U "open" tournaments.
Any berths won by an 18U Major team in an open tournament would be to the 18U Major World Series only. All National and World Series Tournaments will offer an 18 & Under Major division. If an 18 & Under Major team drops the college player(s) from their roster, that team can register as an 18 & Under "A" or "B." They will be classified by the State Director.
The pitching distance for all 18U and 16U shall be 43 feet.
The pitching distance for all 14U and 12U shall be 40 feet.
The pitching distance for all 10U and 8U shall be 35 feet.
All batting helmets must have an attached NOCSAE-approved face mask/guard. No exceptions!
Florida tournament game time limits in all games, including championship games, will be as follows:
In all age divisions, including the 8 and Under Division, no new inning will start after 1 hour 15 minutes. Innings in progress after the time limit has expired will be completed. An inning is considered complete after the third out is made. A game can end in a tie in seeding games. In tournament and championship games, ties will be played out using the international tie breaker. All games, including championship games, will be played with the 1 hour 15 minute time limits or 7 innings, which ever comes first.
Every effort will be made to complete every scheduled game at the 1 hour 15 minute time limit. In the event of rain delays, the Tournament Director reserves the right to reduce the time limits of all remaining games and/or change the format of the tournament to reach a conclusion and determine a champion.
With the exception of the 8 and Under Division, 12, 10 and 8 run rule in all games. If one team is 12, 10, or 8 runs ahead after 3, 4, or 5 complete innings, or after 2 ½, 3 ½, or 4 ½ innings, if the home team is ahead by 12, 10, or 8 or more runs respectively, the game will be called and the team with the 12, 10 or 8 run lead shall be the winner.
In the 8 and Under Division only, a team may score a maximum of eight (8) runs per half-inning. The run rule will be seventeen (17) after three (3) complete innings of play and nine (9) runs after 4 complete innings of play, or after 2 ½ or 3 ½ innings, if the home team is ahead by 17 or 9 or more runs respectively, . This may be revised after further review.
NOTE: The 8-and-under Coach Pitch Division rules governed by USSSA are drastically different from what most Florida teams are used to and are under review.
Currently, USSSA uses a 15, 12, and 8 run rule. This applies to World Series play only. Florida will use the 12-10-8 mercy rule in all age divisions except the 8-and-Unders in local tournaments.
Currently, The Additional Players (AP) remains optional but up to Two (2) AP’s will be allowed.
Florida will permit two (2) additional players. The additional player(s) can be used as the tenth/eleventh player in the lineup. The additional player(s) will be placed in the line up in the batting position she is to occupy. She can also be used on defense (only 9 defensive players in the field), but must keep her same position in the batting order. The additional player(s), if used, must be selected prior to the start of the game, and her name must be included on the lineup card presented to the umpire.
The Additional Player (AP) is not to be confused with the Designated Hitter (DH).
USSSA permits the designated hitter to play defense. The role of the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game when the DH enters the game to as a defensive player. Florida will adhere to this rule.
USSSA grants each team, when on defense, no more than three charged conferences without penalty during a seven-inning game to permit coaches or their representatives to confer with a defensive player or players. In any extra inning game, each team shall be permitted one charged conference without penalty each inning while on defense. The number of charged conferences is not cumulative (i.e., a team loses any charged conferences not used in the seven-inning game). Time granted for an obviously incapacitated player shall not constitute a charged conference. A conference is not charged when the pitcher is removed as a pitcher. This defensive team charged conference is effective when the ball first becomes alive at the start of each half inning. Penalty: after three charged conferences in a seven inning game, or for any charged conference in excess of one in each extra inning, the pitcher shall be removed as a pitcher for the duration of the game. Florida will adhere to this rule.
An unannounced legal substitute brought to the umpire’s attention will result in a penalty, all prior play shall stand. PENALTY: First offense: A team warning is issued. Second offense: The manager is ejected, from the remainder of the game only.
RULE 15. 10/9/8 & Under
1. The pitching distance shall be 35 feet.
2. The 11-inch softball shall be used.
3. The batter is out on a third strike.
If a batter strikes out and the ball is not caught, the batter is out and cannot
advance to first base. The ball remains alive.
4. 9 & Under and 8 & Under will not use the infield fly rule.
5. Unless mentioned above, the 10, 9, and 8 & Under will follow all other Fast
Pitch rules as outlined in this book.
The dropped third strike and infield fly rule is in effect for all divisions, except the 8-and-Unders.
The above rules will take effect on a state level in Florida for the entire 2008 season.
Download the 2008 USSSA Rulebook and By-Laws (Sixth Edition)