Local Rules
General Rules 2007
1. Bowie Sports Association Baseball and Softball Leagues are recreational leagues. Emphasis should
be place on teaching and displaying good sportsmanship and teaching good basic skills.
2. Coaches should make every effort to ensure that the children under their charge have fun.
3. Our primary goal as an association is that all children that register get the opportunity to play.
4. There will be no smoking allowed in the field of play or within dugouts.
5. Inappropriate behavior by persons associated with league play may include, but are not limited to, foul
language, berating other persons, involvement in activities which bring discredit to the Association, or
excessive arguing with umpires or league officials.
6. Complaints regarding inappropriate behavior will be investigated by the Association. Possible
disciplinary action may include a reprimand, probation, suspension, or removal from affiliation with the
league.
7. Umpires' decisions are final, and no excessive argument of said decisions will be allowed.
8. Any appeals regarding game decisions shall follow the policy set forth by the Association.
9. Girls softball shall be played according to ASA rules and boys baseball shall be played according to
UIL rules with the exception of those rules addressed specifically by the Association's local rules.
T-Ball Rules 2007
Boys & Girls Ages 4, 5, and 6
Length of Game: 5 innings or 60 minutes
1. After each game, team members shall pick up trash in and around their dugout and stand
area. Players are urged to tell family and friends to help clean up around the stands during
and after each game.
*Violation of this rule will result in the next game being forfeited.*
2. Home team will be designated on the schedule. The third base dugout belongs to the home team.
3. There will be no score kept.
4. Each team must have a minimum of seven (7) players to start and finish a game.
5. A team unable to start the game after five (5) minutes from the scheduled start time shall forfeit the
game. If neither team can start within this time, it shall be a double forfeit. If a game is started late,
the game will have its full time limit.
6. No limit to the number of players on the field.
7. The infield will consist of a pitcher, catcher, 1st baseman, 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, shortstop, and
short second.
8. Coaches: a. The defensive coaches must stay inside the dugout, unless the umpire gives
permission to leave.
b. The offensive team may have coaches at first base, third base, and in the pitcher's
area.
9. All infielders, except the pitcher and catcher, must play within five (5) feet of the baseline until the
batter hits the ball, but are not allowed to block the baseline. All outfielders must play at least ten
(10) feet behind the baseline until the batter hits the ball. If any of these players leave their positions
too early, it will result in the batter having a choice of first base and all runners advancing one base, or
the ball batted over. Violation of this rule will be at the discretion of the umpire.
10. A legal catch of a ground ball within the arc is a foul ball.
11. Any batter who throws the bat outside the arc or against the fence will be called out.
12. Once a runner is on the base, he or she cannot lead off the base until the ball is hit or they will be
called out.
13. On an overthrown ball that goes beyond the playing field, runners shall be awarded the base they
were advancing to. On overthrown balls that remain within the playing field, runners may advance at
their own risk.
14. No infield fly rule.
15. Dead Ball: Play will be considered stopped and runner(s) shall be frozen to their bases when, in the
opinion of the umpire, the ball is in possession of a defensive player who is in position to make the out
easily.
16. The batter will be allowed three pitches from the coach and two chances to hit the ball from the tee.
If the ball falls from the tee from any contact with the bat, it is a swing. The batter is out after the last
try off the tee is missed, the batter hits a foul ball, or they do not hit the ball past the arc. If the
pitcher picks up the ball before it has a chance to roll free of the arc, the batter will have the choice of
hitting the ball over or first base.
17. An inning consists of once through the entire batting order, even if the two teams do not have an equal
number of players.
18. There will be unlimited outs during a 1/2 inning. If a player is deemed out they must leave the base.
19. Chalk lines are in play.
20. Games called due to weather will constitute a complete game if two (2) complete innings have been
played.
21. In the event of a rainout or incomplete game, the game will be played on the first available,
non-scheduled Saturday following the original game. Each team will only be required to play one
make up game per Saturday.
22. No soft-toss against any ball park fences.
5 Pitch Rules 2007
5-Pitch Boys Ages 7-8
5-Pitch Girls Ages 7-8
Boys Girls
Base Distance: 60 feet 60 Feet
Pitching Distance: 40 feet 40 feet
Pitching Speed: 38 mph 35 mph
Length of Game: 5 innings or 60 minutes
1. After each game, team members shall pick up trash in and around their dugout and stand
area. Players are urged to tell family and friends to help clean up around the stands during
and after each game.
* Violation of this rule will result in the next game being forfeited.*
2. Home team will be designated on schedule. The home team will furnish a scorekeeper. Third base
dugout is home team.
3. Home team will be responsible for scoreboard, must be 18 or older to operate.
4. Each batter gets five (5) pitches unless the last pitch is a foul. There will be no bunting or walking.
Once a runner is on base he/she cannot lead off the base until the ball is hit, or he/she will be called
out. Tight bases, only run when the ball is hit.
5. A 1/2 inning will be three (3) outs or six (6) runs.
6. A designated coach will run the pitching machine.
7. Dead ball: Play will be considered stopped and runners shall be frozen to their bases when, in the
opinion of the umpire, the ball is in the possession of a defensive player who is in a position to make
the out easily.
8. There will be no infield fly rule.
9. Chalk lines are in play.
10. A batter is awarded first base if a hit ball hits the pitching machine, at that point the ball is dead.
11. Each game will have a 60 minute time limit or 5 innings.
12. All players will be in the batting order and all players will be in the field. All players must be on the
batting roster at the start of the game. In the event or an injured player, the player will be removed
from the line-up without team incurring an out.
13. Coaches: a. Defensive: Coaches will be allowed outside the dugout, but within close proximity
to the dugout.
b. Offensive: Will be allowed at 1st base, 3rd base, and home plate.
c. If a coach touches a runner during a live ball, the runner is out.
d. All equipment must stay in the dugout.
14. Once an inning has started, it must be completed, even if time expires during the inning. If the home
team is leading after the top of the inning, the inning is over.
15. Three (3) complete innings make a complete game if halted due to bad weather.
16. The defensive person playing the pitcher's position can play any place in the field as long as he/she
is at least as far from home plate as the pitching machine.
17. On overthrown balls that go beyond the playing field, runners shall be awarded the base they were
advancing to, plus one. On overthrown balls staying in the playing field, runners may advance at
their own risk.
18. Any player who throws the bat outside the 20-foot arc or against the fence will be called out.
19. Batting helmets and catchers equipment must be worn. Catcher's mitt is optional. A regular fielder's
mitt may be used by the catcher.
20. All infielders, except the pitcher, must play behind the baseline until the ball is hit. If any of the
players leave their position too early, it will result in the batter having his/her choice of first base and
all runners advancing one base or the pitch over.
21. Each team must have a minimum of 7 players to start and finish a game.
22. In the event of a rainout or postponed (incomplete) game, the game will be played on the first
available non-scheduled (open) Saturday following the original game. Each team will only be
required to play one makeup game per Saturday.
23. If games are tied at the end of regulation play, one more full inning with the number of runs scored
waived will be played. If the game is still tied after the extra inning, it will be recorded as a tie.
Points awarded:
Wins - 2 points Ties - 1 point Losses/Forfeits - 0 points
24. Any pitch 1-5 hit foul and caught will be an out.
25. Any teams tied at the end of the season will be settled with a playoff game.
26. All player uniforms must have the player's number on the shirt.
27. Game balls will be furnished by the Bowie Sports Association.
28. No soft-toss against any ball park fences.
Boy's Baseball Rules 2007
Midget League Ages 9-10
Little League Ages 11-12
Pony League Ages 13-15
Midget League Little League Pony League
Base Distance 60 feet 70 feet 80 feet
Pitching Distance 46 feet 46 feet 54 feet
Length of Games 75 minutes 90 minutes 90 minutes
Run Rule: Midget 10 runs after 4 innings
Little 10 runs after 5 innings
Pony 10 runs after 5 innings
1. After each game, team members shall pick up trash in and around their dugout and stand area.
Players are urged to tell family and friends to help clean up around the stands during and after
each game.
*Violation of this rule will result in the next game being forfeited.*
2. Home team will be designated on the schedule. The home team will furnish a scorekeeper and will be
in the third base dugout.
3. Home team will be responsible for the scoreboard, must be 18 or older to operate.
4. Each team must have a minimum of seven players to start and finish a game.
5. A team unable to start the game within 5 minutes of the scheduled start time shall forfeit the game. If a
game starts late, the game will still have its full time limit. If neither team can start within 5 minutes of
the scheduled start time, it will be a double forfeit.
6. A 1/2 inning will consist of three (3) outs or six (6) runs scored.
7. All players will be in the batting order. All players must be on the batting roster at the start of the
game. In the event of an injured player, the player will be removed from the lineup without the team
incurring an out.
8. Chalk lines are in play.
9. Tight bases for midget league. Once a runner is on base, he may lead off or steal only after the ball is
thrown.
10. There is a limit on the number of innings that a pitcher can pitch in 7 days.
Midget League - 6 innings Little League - 7 innings Pony League - 9 innings
11. All batters and runners will wear safety headgear at all times. All catchers will wear a catcher's helmet.
12. Coaches: a. Defensive coaches must stay within the dugout unless the umpire gives permission to
leave.
b. Offensive team may have a coach at 1st base and 3rd base, all other coaches must
remain in the dugout.
c. If a coach touches a runner during a live ball, the runner is out.
d. All equipment must remain within the dugout.
13. Midget league only: No infield fly rule.
No balks.
No running on the third strike.
Can steal home.
14. Postponements and rainouts will be played as soon as possible (if necessary, on Saturdays), or on any
open diamond at the agreement of both coaches and at the discretion of the league director.
15. Three (3) full innings will make a complete game if halted due to bad weather.
16. Each team will furnish catcher's equipment. Game balls will be furnished by the Bowie Sports
Association.
17. No flagrant or intentional plowing at any base will be allowed.
18. All player's uniforms must have the player's number on the shirt.
19. If games are tied at the end of regulation play, one more full inning with the number of runs scored
waived will be played. If the game is still tied after one extra inning, then the game will be recorded as
a tie.
20. Any teams tied at the end of the season will be settled with a playoff game.
21. On overthrown balls that go beyond the playing field, runners shall be awarded the base to which they
were advancing plus one. Runners may advance at their own risk on overthrown balls which remain in
the playing field.
22. Points to be awarded as follows:
Wins - 2 points Ties - 1 point Losses/Forfeits - 0 points
24. No soft-toss against any ball park fences.
Girls Softball Rules 2007
Midgette League Ages 9-10
Ponyette League Ages 11-14
Midgette Ponyette
Base Distance 60 feet 60 feet
Pitching Distance 35 feet 40 feet
Length of Game 75 minutes 90 minutes
Run Rule: Midgette: 10 runs after 4 innings
Ponyette: 10 runs after 5 innings
1. After each game, team members shall pick up trash in and around their dugout and stand
area. Players are urged to tell family and friends to help clean up around the stands during
and after each game.
*Violation of this rule will result in the next game being forfeited.*
2. Home team will be designated on the schedule. The home team will furnish a scorekeeper. The third
base dugout belongs to the home team.
3. Home team will be responsible for operating the scoreboard. Must be 18 or older to operate.
4. Each team must have a minimum of seven (7) players to start and finish a game.
5. A 1/2 inning will consist of three (3) outs or six (6) runs scored.
6. All players must be on the batting roster at the start of the game.
7. All games will be played under ASA rules unless otherwise stated.
8. Infield fly rule in effect for all leagues except midgette.
9. Chalk lines are in play.
10. A team unable to start the game after 5 minutes of the scheduled start time shall forfeit the game. If
a game is started late, the game will still have its full time limit. If both teams are unable to start, the
game will be a double forfeit.
11. Free Substitution: A player may enter or leave the game once per inning, but a player must stay in
the same batting order the entire inning. Once a player enters, they must bat before they leave,
except for injury.
12. On overthrown balls that go beyond the playing field, runners shall be awarded the base they were
advancing to, plus one. On overthrown balls staying in the field of play, runners may advance at
their own risk.
13. Coaches: a. Defensive coaches must remain inside the dugout unless given permission to
leave by the umpire.
b. Offensive teams may have a coach at 1st base and one at 3rd base, all
others to remain inside the dugout.
c. If a coach touches a runner during a live ball, the runner is out.
d. All equipment must stay inside the dugout.
14. All batters and baserunners will wear safety headgear at all times. All batting helmets will be
equipped with safety facepiece. All catchers shall wear helmets with face mask.
15. Four (4) complete innings make a complete game if halted due to bad weather.
16. No flagrant or intentional plowing on any base.
17. All leagues will be allowed to steal all bases and home.
18. All leagues will have the third strike rule.
19. League games can end in a tie.
20. All player uniforms must have the player's number on the shirt.
21. Each team will furnish all catcher's equipment. Game balls will be furnished by the Bowie Sports
Association.
22. In the event of a rainout or postponed (incomplete) game, the game will be played on the first
available non-scheduled (open) Saturday following the original game. Each team will only be
required to play one makeup game per Saturday.
23. No soft-toss against any ball park fences.