Waltham Girls Softball  

Spring Season: CityTown information

PURPOSE:

The CityTown Softball League is dedicated to promoting amateur girls’ softball. The focus is placed on the development of softball skills and the enjoyment of playing the game. Our goal is to teach softball fundamentals, build confidence and self-esteem and teach the responsibilities of sportsmanship and being a good team player.  

MEMBERSHIP:

Teams – wishing to join the league must attend the annual meeting and be voted in by a majority of the towns

Coaches – are selected by the softball administrators from their own towns and are expected to follow the rules of the CityTown Softball League. Appropriate CORI checks should be conducted at the local level.

DIVISIONS:

The league shall be divided into 4 different groups.

  1. Division “14U” – A child can be 15 years of age as long as they were 14 on Jan 1st of the current playing year.
  2. Division “12U” – A child can be 13 years of age as long as they were 12 on Jan 1st of the current playing year.
  3. Division “10U” – A child can be 11 years of age as long as they were 10 on Jan 1st of the current playing year.
  4. Division “Coach Pitch – 8U” – A child can be 9 years of age as long as they were 8 on Jan 1st of the current playing year.


ï In each age group, players are (14) (12) (10) (8) or under on January 1st of the current year.  

ROSTERS:

Teams should have a copy of their rosters and be registered with ASA

GOVERNMENT:

The Board should consist of at least one administrator from each town. The board may vote on matters that come before the association. – On matters pertaining to the league, each town is entitled to one (1) vote regardless of how many teams are entered. On matters pertaining to rule changes, members present at meetings may vote.

ANNUAL MEETING:

The annual meeting(s) typically take place in January and approximately one month before the season starts. Teams are expected to have representation at the meeting so that proper planning can take place.  

INSURANCE:

Players and teams should be insured and registered with ASA. 


Quick Steps to Register a Team via RegisterASA.com


  1. www.registerusasoftball.com
  2. Log in if you have a username and password otherwise click on Create Profile or Reset Password
  3. On member’s home plate, click on Add Team button
  4. Assign yourself as Team Administrator. You need this checked otherwise you will not be able to add players to your team. Teams can only have one Team Administrator
  5. Complete rest of information as shown on screen then click Add Team button (Make sure you select $500 deductible non-photo ID card option)
  6. Click Add Member button to add player
  7. Fill in either their Member ID and Date of Birth or First Name, Last Name, Zip and Date of Birth and click Submit. (Note that names need to match exactly. Sue and Susan will result in different players)
  8. If member is found, click Add Member button. If no player is found, click Add New button
  9. Change or add information as requested (address, city, state, zip, phone) and click Add to Team
  10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 to all the rest of the members to your team
  11. Click Generate Invoice Preview button when finished adding players
  12. Click Create Invoice button
  13. Verify mailing info as shown on screen
  14. Click Submit button
  15. Click Open Invoice button when it appears on screen
  16. Print out invoice and mail invoice and check to address in upper right corner of invoice


SAFESPORT:

Safesport training program is available to all members of USA Softball and the course can be taken by first logging in to the Register USA Softball website (www.registerusasoftball.com) and then accessing the SafeSport option under the ACE Education tab. All coaches need to complete SafeSport training and Background Check.

UMPIRES:

Home team is responsible for paying the umpire. Amount is $60 (Arlington, Belmont, Waltham and Winchester) and $70 for Brighton and Watertown. Umpire “no-shows” have been a problem in the past. This is often beyond the control of the league and is usually not known until game time. When this happens a knowledgeable volunteer should be encouraged to work the game (and be paid for it). Please don’t let the lack of an official umpire cheat the kids out of playing their game. Any cancellation, for a reason other than weather related, must be made before 8:00 PM the day before the game; otherwise you may be responsible for the umpire’s fee. The more notice you can provide, the better.

EQUIPMENT:


  • ASA approved equipment must be used; including a safety base at first and a NOCSAE approved helmet and face- mask guard.
  • Anyone warming up a pitcher must wear a mask.
  • Game ball: Home team supplies game balls. 8U uses 11” SOFT softball, 10U uses 11” balls, 12U and older uses 12” balls
  • Teams are responsible for their own uniforms and each player must wear a uniform if they are participating in the game.

GAMES:

  • Scheduled weekday game time is 6:00 PM – However, some games may be played “under the lights.”
  • Umpires are responsible for ending games with regard to darkness or other factors once a game has begun.
  • Home teams should be off the field 15 minutes prior to the game so that the visitors may have infield practice.
  • Teams must play their games according to the league schedule. If for some reason your team is not able to play on an assigned date, and a rescheduled game is not worked out, you must take a forfeit.   
  • When posting a forfeit, the proper score per the ASA is 7-0.
  • Winning team is required to report the score to the designated standings keeper
  • Base coaches may be either adults or players (players must wear a helmet).
  • Smoking by anyone near the softball diamond is prohibited. Coaches should actively enforce this rule.
  • If the game is tied at the end of an official game and there is still time on the clock, the international tie- breaker rule will be put into effect.

RAIN:

The home team should do their best to give the umpire assigner as much time as possible when calling a game due to rain or bad weather. The home team should be in communication with the visiting team’s coaches so that players and families have sufficient amount of time to be notified of a cancellation. The coaches can then try and work out a date for a possible makeup game.

RULES:


Coach Pitch U8 Rules

  • Coach Pitches
  • 6 pitches and then bring out a tee
  • Base runners may steal from second to third. They must wait until the pitched ball reaches home plate.  
  • If a catcher attempts to pick off a runner and overthrows the ball, runners may not advance. 
  • There is no infield fly rule.
  • Games will be played with 11- inch SOFT softball.
  • Games are 6 innings or 1-1/2 hours. Whichever comes first 
  • Use a continuous line up
  • Go through line up once or make 3 outs to end an inning
  • A team may use 4 outfielders and 1 pitcher around the mound
  • Infielders should wear safety masks

U10 Rules

  • No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Home team to provide game balls
  • U10 will be 5 innings, the 5th inning will be considered the final inning.
  • 4 run limit per inning (with continuation on the final play, so for example a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier)/last inning (5th inning) is unlimited.
  • All player must have a helmet with a cage
  • Steal attempts are on the ball crossing the plate.
  • A player may only steal one base per attempt ( so no penalty for overthrows to 2nd/3rd)
  • U10 can only steal 2nd to 3rd base. No stealing home.
  • 11” balls should be used.
  • Pitching distance is 35’ 
  • Girls are strongly encouraged to wear a safety mask. Pitcher, 1st base ,and 3rd base are required to wear one!
  • No Slashing
  • Town/ City team to pay and provide umpire, $60 or $70
  • Continuous Line up
  • U10 will have no walks. 4th ball thrown by pitcher, coach from batting team will come in to pitch batter. Count will continue either strike out or hit. COACH MUST PITCH FROM 35’
  • No infield fly
  • No Drop Third
  • No Penalty for using only 8 plyers
  • If less than 8 players the score is a forfeit regardless of outcome - but teams should try and borrow players and get the game in!!!
  • All other ASA rules are in effect.


U12 Rules

  • No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drop dead 1:45 or loss of sunlight
  • Home team to provide game balls
  • U12 will be 5 innings, the 5th inning will be considered the final inning.
  • 4 run limit per inning (with continuation on the final play, so for example a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier)/last inning (5th inning) is unlimited.
  • Team can field 9 or 10 players.
  • Steal attempts are when ball crosses the plate. Live ball/unlimited stealing.
  • All player must have a helmet with a cage
  • 12” balls should be used.
  • Pitching distance is 40’ 
  • Girls are strongly encouraged to wear a safety mask. Pitcher, 1st base, and 3rd base is required to wear one!
  • No Slashing
  • Town/ City team to pay and provide umpire, $60 or $70
  • Continuous Line up
  • Infield Fly applies
  • Drop Third Strike is in play
  • No Penalty for using 8 players
  • If less than 8 players the score is a forfeit regardless of outcome - but teams should try and borrow players and get the game in!!!
  • All other ASA rules are in effect.


U14 Rules

  • No new inning after 1 hour and 30 minutes. Drop dead 1:45 or loss of sunlight
  • Home team to provide game balls
  • U14 will be 7 innings, the 7th inning will be considered the final inning.
  • 4 run limit per inning (with continuation on the final play, so for example a team could score 7 runs if they hit a grand slam after scoring 3 runs earlier)/last inning (7th inning) is unlimited.
  • Team can field 9 or 10 players.
  • Steal attempts are when the pitcher releases the ball. Live ball/unlimited stealing.
  • All player must have a helmet with a cage
  • 12” balls should be used.
  • Pitching distance is 43” 
  • Girls are strongly encouraged to wear a safety mask. Pitcher, 1st base, and 3rd base is required to wear one!
  • No Slashing
  • Town/ City team to pay and provide umpire, $60 or $70
  • Continuous Line up
  • Infield Fly applies
  • Drop Third applies
  • No Penalty for using only 8 players
  • If less than 8 players the score is a forfeit regardless of outcome - but teams should try and borrow players and get the game in!!!
  • All other ASA rules are in effect.


CITYTOWN END OF YEAR PLAYOFF TOURNEY:


A single elimination round robin playoff tournament will be played at the conclusion of the regular season. Brackets will be made according to the teams seeding based on their win loss record during the regular season. All towns will share the costs to purchase the winning teams trophies (Team Trophy and player trophies) for each division 10U, 12U and 14U as well as the cost for the umpires. 

Zero Tolerance Policy


Purpose: The league strongly encourages healthy, age appropriate competition. However, this ideal can only be reached through the principles of Good Sportsmanship.  


A zero tolerance policy is just that; zero tolerance. This document serves as your warning. The policy applies to anyone and everyone connected with the CityTown Softball League, e.g. players, coaches, parents, fans and umpires.


An umpire’s decision on fair/foul, safe/out and ball/strike is final. They are judgment calls and not subject to complaint, debate or protest.  

  • Coaches who argue or comment in a negative fashion shall immediately be ejected from the game. The ejection carries a two game suspension. In addition, the coach may be required attend a hearing at the office of the ASA Commissioner before resuming coaching duties. The length of the suspension may be extended as a result of the facts presented at the hearing.
  • Players who argue or engage in negative behavior shall be immediately ejected from the game. The player must serve a two game suspension. Players will be confined to their bench area for the remainder of the game and any additional outbursts will result in a forfeit.
  • Parents / Fans who argue or engage in negative behavior (yelling, teasing, taunting, etc.) shall be removed from the playing area. Play will stop while this process is carried out. However, the time limit for the game will NOT be suspended. The head coach for the team will approach the unruly fan(s) and inform them they must leave. If the parent or fan refuses to leave within one minute, the game will end with a forfeit charged against the offending team and based upon the report, the league reserves the right to cancel their next game as well.
  • Any argument or disagreement that becomes physical, in any way, will result in an immediate, indefinite suspension for any adult involved. Players involved in any physical misconduct will be subject to a hearing with the CityTown League administrators, the ASA Commissioner(s) and the player’s parent.
  • Any team involved in a second ejection issue during the season will be excluded from the league for the remainder of the year.
  • Any team involved in any of these situations is not eligible for a Division Championship. 


One coach may ask for “time-out” to speak with the umpire regarding a question over a rule interpretation. A brief, respectful conversation is expected. If the situation remains unresolved, the team may exercise its right to play the game under protest based on the incorrect rulebook interpretation. 

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