CityTown League - 2026 Spring Season Rules

RULES BY AGE LEVEL

Coach Pitch 6U (Tee Ball) & 8U Rules

Pre-game: coaches huddle to review the rules of 8U play and any ground rules. 

NOTE: 8U softball is NOT t-ball

• Games will be played with a 10 or 11- inch SAFESOFT softball.
• Games are 5 innings or 1 hour and 30 minutes. Whichever comes first.
• Batting uses a continuous line up
• No paid umpires.
• Coach pitch from 35 feet, not closer. Coaches pitch to their own team.
• 6 pitches and then bring out a tee. No walks.
• Not 10, 15, or 20 pitches before the tee is used. Six pitches. This keeps the game moving and puts the ball in play for the fielders.
• If agreed upon by coaches in advance, players may pitch in 1 or the 2nd innings of the game
• During player pitching, after 4 balls have been pitched to a batter, the coach takes over pitching to the batter. If the batter has not hit after 6 pitches from a coach, the batter will hit off of a tee.
• Players pitchers are encouraged to pitch from the T, L, or K position only and not attempt a full rotation, unless pitcher can consistently pitch strikes with a full rotation (unlikely at this age.)
• A pitcher’s delivery may not be two full rotations. Recommend not even one full 
• No bases awarded on a hit by pitch.
• No drop third strike.
• If a pitcher needs to get closer to home plate to pitch a strike, the pitcher may not be closer than 30’ for safety reasons.
• Base runners may lead but not steal. Base runners must wait until the pitched ball reaches home plate before leaving the base.
• If a catcher attempts to pick off a runner and overthrows the ball, runners may not advance. 
• There is no infield fly rule.
• If the ball gets to the outfield, runners are allowed a maximum of 2 bases on the play. 
• Once the batting team makes three outs, or 4 runs have scored, the half inning ends.
• 4-run limit per inning 
• No more than 4 runs per inning, but the last play should be played to its natural conclusion. 
• For example, if 3 runs were already scored and multiple runners score on the next hit/play, only 1 of those runs would be recorded for a total of 4 runs.
• A team can play with a minimum of 7 players in the field and no more than 10 players in the field at once. 
• A team may use 4 outfielders and 1 pitcher around the mound
• Use a continuous line up
• Infielders should wear safety masks.

10U Rules

• Games officiated by umpires when available. 
• Home team pays the umpire fee, unless the visiting team makes a last minute cancellation, in which case, the team making a last minute cancellation, home or away, pays the umpire fee. 
• When no umpire is available, coaches from each team agree upon the officiating plan by league volunteers, and review game rules before the start of game.
• 10U games will be 5 innings, with the 5th inning being considered the final inning.
• No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drop dead 1:45 or loss of sunlight.
• Completion of 3 innings by time limit or in case of weather stoppage = complete 10U game
• Final score to be reported is for the last completed inning.
• 4-run limit per inning for innings 1 through 4, with continuation on the final play
• For example, a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier
• No run limit in the 5th and final inning.
• Leading & steal attempts: base runners may leave the base once pitched ball reaches home plate.
• Stealing can only occur from 2nd to 3rd base and from 3rd to home in 10U. There is a limit on stealing home to 2x successfully per inning.
• A player may only steal one base per attempt. 
• This means there is no penalty on the defensive team for overthrows to 2nd or 3rd base. Catchers and defensive players should be encouraged to make throws to the bases to get the out.
• Pitching distance is 35’ 
• Fielding safety masks are required for players at pitcher, first base, and third base. Players at other positions are strongly encouraged to wear a fielding safety mask. 
• No Slashing
• Continuous Line up
• U10 will have no walks.
• Once a batter had a 4th ball called during their at bat from a player pitcher, a coach from the batting team will come in to pitch to the batter. The batter’s count will continue towards either a strike out or a hit. The COACH MUST PITCH FROM 35’.
• No infield fly rule.
• No Drop Third strike rule.
• Teams can field 9 or 10 players.
• No Penalty for using only 8 players when shorthanded.
• Teams can call up from a younger age division league team to complete their lineup to either 9 or 10 players for the game.
• If a team has less than 8 players for a game, the score is a forfeit.
• The score of a forfeit is 7-0 against the team forfeiting.
• Teams can avoid a forfeit by calling up league players from an 8U team. Called-up players are eligible to play any position.
• In forfeit situations, teams should still attempt to play an exhibition game at the scheduled game time by borrowing players from another team in the league, including 10U eligible players. Regardless of the outcome of exhibition play, the game is recorded using the 7-0 forfeit score.
• All other USA Softball rules are in effect.

U12 Rules

• Games officiated by umpires when available. 
• Home team pays the umpire fee, unless the visiting team makes a last minute cancellation, in which case, the team making a last minute cancellation, home or away, pays the umpire fee. 
• When no umpire is available, coaches from each team agree upon the officiating plan by league volunteers, and review game rules before the start of game.
• 12U games will be 5 innings, with the 5th inning being considered the final inning.
• No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drop dead 1:45 or loss of sunlight.
• Completion of 4 innings by time limit or in case of weather stoppage = complete 12U game
• Final score to be reported is for the last completed inning.
• 4-run limit per inning for innings 1 through 4, with continuation on the final play
• For example, a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier
• No run limit in the 5th and final inning.
• Teams can field 9 or 10 players.
• Teams can call up from a younger age division league team to complete their lineup to either 9 or 10 players for the game.
• No Penalty for using 8 players when shorthanded.
• Leading and steal attempts: base runners may leave the base once the pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. 
• Live ball/unlimited stealing.
• Pitching distance is 40’ 
• Fielding safety masks are required for players at pitcher, first base, and third base. Players at other positions are strongly encouraged to wear a fielding safety mask. 
• No Slashing.
• Continuous Line up.
• Infield Fly in effect.
• Drop Third Strike rule is in effect.
• If a team has less than 8 players for a game, the score is a forfeit.
• The score of a forfeit is 7-0 against the team forfeiting.
• Teams can avoid a forfeit by calling up league players from a 10U team. Called-up players are eligible to play any position.
• In forfeit situations, teams should still attempt to play an exhibition game at the scheduled game time by borrowing players from another team in the league, including 12U eligible players. Regardless of the outcome of exhibition play, the game is recorded using the 7-0 forfeit score.
• All other USA Softball rules are in effect.

U14 Rules

• Games officiated by umpires when available. 
• Home team pays the umpire fee, unless the visiting team makes a last minute cancellation, in which case, the team making a last minute cancellation, home or away, pays the umpire fee. 
• When no umpire is available, coaches from each team agree upon the officiating plan by league volunteers, and review game rules before the start of game.
• Home team to provide game balls
• U14 will be 7 innings, the 7th inning will be considered the final inning.
• No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drop dead 1:45 or loss of sunlight
• Completion of 5 innings by time limit or in case of weather stoppage = complete 14U game
• Final score to be reported is for the last completed inning.
• 4-run limit per inning for innings 1 through 4, with continuation on the final play
• For example, a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier
• Teams can field 9 players.
• No Penalty for using 8 players.
• Teams can call up from a younger age division league team to complete their lineup to either 9 players for the game.
• Leading and steal attempts: base runners may leave the base once the pitched ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. 
• Live ball/unlimited stealing.
• Pitching distance is 43” 
• Fielding safety masks are required for players at pitcher, first base, and third base. Players at other positions are strongly encouraged to wear a fielding safety mask. 
• No Slashing.
• Continuous Line up.
• Infield Fly rule is  in effect.
• Drop Third Strike rule is in effect.
• If a team has less than 8 players for a game, the score is a forfeit.
• The score of a forfeit is 7-0 against the team forfeiting.
• Teams can avoid a forfeit by calling up league players from a 12U team. Called-up players are eligible to play any position.
• In forfeit situations, teams should still attempt to play an exhibition game at the scheduled game time by borrowing players from another team in the league, including 14U age-division eligible players. Regardless of the outcome of exhibition play, the game is recorded using the 7-0 forfeit score.
• All other USA Softball rules are in effect.