– 10.7 Softball Rulebook – Catholic Youth Ministry

10.7.1 General Guidelines

10.7.1-1 If a rule in the sport of softball is not specifically addressed or contained herein, NFHS (“Federation”) rules shall be applied.
- 10.7.1-1.1 DIAA and/or USA Softball guidelines may be referred to and applied in certain situations when deemed appropriate.
- 10.7.1-1.2 No coach or coordinator at the affiliate level shall alter, revise, or change any rules prior to, during, or after the conclusion of competition.
10.7.1-2 The CYM Sports Coordinator and CYM Softball Coordinator are the lead rules interpreter for the sport of softball within CYM Sports programming.
- 10.7.1-2.1 Interpretation of all CYM Sports rulings and governing rules for the sport of softball will be declared final by the CYM Sports Coordinator.
- 10.7.1-2.2 In consultation with Softball Umpires Association, in the event of a discrepancy in rules, the 2026 Umpire Softball Guide shall control.
10.7.1-3 The CYM Softball Coordinator is the lead representative and organizer for the sport of softball within CYM Sports programming.
10.7.1-4 The Softball Ambassador is the lead advocate for all affiliate coaches within CYM Sports programming.
- 10.7.1-4.1 Head Coaches may suggest rule changes to the Softball Ambassador or CYM Softball Coordinator prior to or after season.

10.7.2 Administration of Softball

10.7.2-1 A team registration should consist of 10 participants in order to compete in CYM Sports Softball.
- 10.7.2-1.1 A team may not register less than 10. Teams should take into consideration pitchers required and pitch counts when forming a program.
- 10.7.2-1.2 The Office will not reschedule due to shortage of players on a team, and will result in an administrative forfeit if a team lacks the required, registered players for the game.
- 10.7.2-1.3 Any game that is forfeited due to lack of players and/or coaches where umpires are scheduled to show to officiate will result in a financial charge to that parish/school equal to the cost of the officials and is subject to addition penalties included, but not limited to facility fees.
- 10.7.2-1.4 Forfeited games will not be made up.
10.7.2-2 Teams are placed in divisions in accordance with section 10.1.3 Divisional Guidelines.
10.7.2-3 Team Submission and Location Availability/Parish Conflicts are released on February 1st of each year for administrators.
- 10.7.2-3.1 The deadline to submit all forms is March 1st.
- 10.7.2-3.2 CYM reserves the right to move forward without an affiliated program, once the deadline has passed to submit forms.
- 10.7.2-3.3 All conflicts, including those of the coach and team, must be placed on the conflict sheets. Once the conflicts are placed, games will not be adjusted unless it follows 10.1.2 League Guidelines.
10.7.2-4 Games will begin on the final weekend of March or first weekend of April, whichever is earlier and facilities are available.
- 10.7.2-4.1 Games will play through to Holy Week, and pause beginning on Holy Wednesday. No games or CYM activities may be conducted during the Catholic Triduum.
- 10.7.2-4.2 Games will not be played between Memorial Day Weekend, between Thursday to Monday.
- 10.7.2-4-3 All games must conclude by the first Friday of June.
10.7.2-5 Playoffs will begin in the middle of May for postseason competition, and end prior to Memorial Day weekend. In the event of weather-related events pushing the schedule back, postseason may extend past Memorial Day.
- 10.7.2-5.1 A team must compete in a minimum of 7 games in order to participate in postseason activities.
- 10.7.2-5.2 In the event that a team(s) have an unbalanced amount of games played, total wins will be considered for standings.
10.7.2-6 Each team should plan for ten games; however, the office reserves the right to reduce games based on the availability of facilities.
- 10.7.2-6.1 The amount of games for the season is ultimately determined by the CYM Sports Coordinator and the Office.
10.7.2-7 No coach, parent, or coordinator is authorized to change a game without the expressed written consent of the CYM Office and the appropriate CYM Softball Coordinator.

10.7.3 Equipment

10.7.3-1 All games will use a 12-inch ball, labeled “COR .47” of any color or stitch. Any ball referred as a “senior ball” is also acceptable.
- 10.7.3-1.1 Each team will supply one game ball per game.
10.7.3-2 All participants must use softball bats certified by USA Softball, with proper certification mark, and not listed on the “banned” bat list.
10.7.3-3 All catchers must wear a catchers mask with throat protector, chest protector, head protector, and shin guards with appropriate NOCSAE standards.
10.7.3-3 The home team must provide bases for games, including neutral site locations.
10.7.3-4 The visiting team will provide a scoreboard operator if available at the facility, provided the host facility does not provide one.
10.7.3-5 Uniforms must fall in accordance with 10.1.7 Uniform Guidelines.
10.7.3-6 Players may not wear any jewelry, including earrings during games.
10.7.3-7 Teams must bring their own practice balls for games, including when playing at neutral locations.

10.7.4 General Game Regulations

10.7.4-1 Game Length: The duration and length of softball games are set by the Office for Catholic Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministry, in consultation with CYM Coordinators, Athletic Advisory Committee and facility availability in the present-day landscape of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.
- 10.2.4-1.1 All games in the Diocesan Catholic Softball League will consist of six (6) innings, and playoffs will consist of seven (7).
10.7.4-2 Stopped Games: any game stopped due to weather only will be considered complete if four (4) full innings were played, or if 3 1/2 innings were played and the home team is ahead.
- 10.7.4-2.1 If fewer innings were played, the game will be considered a suspended game, and will be played from the point where the game stopped at the next schedule game of both teams. If this is the final game of the regular season, the game will be abandoned and follow 10.7.2 Administration of Softball procedures for determining postseason.
- 10.7.4-2.3 Coaches for both teams are to have the umpire sign their scorebooks noting the weather the game was stopped if the minimum requirement has not been met.
10.7.4-3 Time Limit: No new inning will begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes of play. The clock starts immediately after the coach/umpire meeting prior to first pitch.
- At approximately 10 minutes to go:
  - If visiting team is at bat, teams are informed that this inning is the last.
  - If home team is at bat, teams are informed that next inning will be the last (e.g. top of 3rd = the 3rd will be the last; bottom of 3rd, the 4th will be the last.
  - The unlimited batters rule then applies to the designated last inning.
10.7.4-4 Re-entry Rule: a starting player may be withdrawn and then re-enter a game.
- 10.7.4-4.1 Any player re-entering a game must occupy the same position in the batting order upon return.
- 10.7.4-4.2 A substitute who is withdrawn may not re-enter the game.
- 10.7.4-4.3 If a starting pitcher is replaced using a designated player/flex (DP/FLEX) or base runner (Courtesy Runner), she may re-enter the game immediately as a pitcher.
10.7.4-5 Number of Players: A team must have 9 players for a game to be completed.
- 10.7.4-5.1 A team may begin a game with 8 players, but not fewer. If a 9th player appears later, she may enter the game but must bat in the 9th position.
- 10.7.4-5.2 If a team has fewer than 8 players after 15 minutes from scheduled start of the game, the game will be considered a forfeit.

10.7.5 Postseason & Championships

10.7.5-1 Postseason will be held for varsity softball.
10.7.5-2 Postseason will be a single elimination bracket tournament.

10.7.6 Mercy Rule

10.7.6-1 If a team, in the Diocesan Catholic League, has a 10-run lead at the completion of 3 1/2 or four (4) innings depending upon home/away status, the game will be considered complete.
- 10.7.6-1.1 In the event of a 10-run lead in a postseason game, the game will be considered complete at the completion of 4 1/2 or five (5) innings, depending upon home/away status.

10.7.7 Batting Regulations

10.7.7-1 Continuous Batting Order is available for all teams provisionally for the 2026 season.
- 10.2.7-1.1 Nine defensive players will bat, or teams have the option of having up to and including all roster players present bat.
  - When batting up to all roster players, any additional batter(s) shall be listed as an EP and may be listed anywhere in the batting order and may play defense at any position.
  - The EP must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game.
  - The EP may be substituted for at any time. The substitute must be a player who has not yet been in the game. The starting EP may re-enter one time.
  - Players who are currently in the game or have participated in the game in any playing capacity are not eligible to serve as courtesy runners, except when all roster is in the line-up.
10.7.7-2 Use of designated player, or flex, is optional for each team.
- 10.2.7-2.1 The decision to use a designated player or flex must be made prior to the start of the game. Once the first pitch is thrown, the designated player/flex is locked in or out of the line-up.
10.7.7-3 Use of extra batter, as a 10th player, is optional for each team.
- 10.2.7-3.1 If an extra batter is utilized, the re-entry rule under 10.7.4 General Game Regulations will apply to this player.
- 10.2.7-3.2 Once the decision to use or not use an extra batter is made, it applies for the entire game.
10.7.7-4 A courtesy runner may be used for a catcher and pitcher on base at any time.
- 10.7.7-4.1 The courtesy runner must be a player on the bench who is currently not in the game defensively. The player will not be charged with a game appearance.
- 10.7.7-4.2 In the event a team is using all available players in a game with no substitutes, the player that made the last out may be used as the courtesy runner.
- 10.7.7-4.3 The same courtesy runner may be used more than once in a game, and in the same inning.
10.7.7-5 Stealing is permitted in accordance with NFHS guidelines.
- 10.2.7-5.1 The runner cannot leave the base until the pitcher releases the ball.

10.7.8 Pitching Regulations

10.7.8-1 CYM Softball coaches are responsible for ensuring safety and well-being of all participants, including pitchers and their pitch counts.
10.7.8-2 The pitching distance is 40 feet.
- 10.7.8-2.1 Pitchers are limited to 5 warm-up pitches within 60 seconds from the end of the previous inning.

10.7.9 Misc. Related Policies

10.7.9-1 Metal cleats are not prohibited.
- ADDENDUM: CYM Representatives are reviewing this policy in conjunction with NFHS, DIAA, and USA Softball standards and studies to make final determination.
10.7.9-2 Players who are batting, waiting on-deck, running the bases or coaching a base must wear NOCSAE batting helmets, with approved face protector.
- 10.2.9-2.1 Chin straps are recommended, but are optional.
10.7.9-3 Infield conferences should be reviewed with the umpire prior to the start of a game.
10.7.9-4 Head-first sliding is permitted.