Softball

SPORT RULES

1. This tournament will be conducted in accordance with Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) Rules,

except as modified herein. For a copy of these rules, please visit the SSUSA website

https://seniorsoftball.com or call:

Senior Softball USA (SSUSA)

9823 Old Winery Pl #12

Sacramento, CA 95827

(916) 326-5303

2. Teams must provide their own bats, gloves and practice balls.

3. Strike Zone Mat: A Strike Zone Mat will be used in all games to determine balls, strikes, and outs

at home plate. The top of the mat will be placed at the top of home plate. The mat will measure

twenty-one (21) inches wide and thirty-five (35) inches long with a white home plate centered at

the front of the mat measuring seventeen (17) inches across the front, 8 1/2 inches down each

side, and 12 inches diagonally to a point nearest the catcher. A legal pitch not swung at that

strikes any part of the strike zone mat or home plate shall be called a strike by the umpire.

4. Pitcher’s Plate/Box: A pitcher’s box consisting of the area from the front of the pitcher’s plate, 50

feet from home plate, and extending back ten feet (10 ft.) and twenty-four (24) inches wide

perpendicular to the pitcher’s plate shall be used. The pitcher must release the ball after coming

to a complete stop with one foot or both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate or within the

pitcher’s box. One foot must remain in contact with the plate/box when the pitch is released with

an underhand motion. A step simultaneous with the release of the ball may be taken in any

direction with the free foot. The pitcher must be facing the batter when delivering the pitch. The

catcher must remain within the lines of the catcher’s box until the pitched ball is batted, touches

the ground or home plate, or reaches the catcher’s box. This area should be chalked off.

5. Players and substitutes: SSUSA rules for re-entry and extra player (EP) will apply. Extra players

may play defense at any time provided the total number of defensive players on the field at any

time does not exceed the total allowed for that age division.

1. Men in age divisions 50+, 55+ and 60+: Ten defensive players shall constitute a team.
2. Men in age divisions 65+ 70+ and 75+: Eleven (11) defensive players shall constitute a team

1. Women in all age divisions 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+ and 80+: Eleven (11) defensive players shall constitute a team.

6. Line-up cards: Official line-up cards must be presented to the opposing manager and

scorekeeper 10 minutes prior to game time. Tournament line-up cards will be furnished to all team

managers. Name of player, number and position must be indicated on line-up card.

7. Batting Line Up: A Team can bat the allowed number of players or the ability to bat any number

of players that are available. This must be declared prior to the beginning of the game and

indicated on the line-up card.

8. Mercy rule: A mercy rule will be in effect for all games. The rule shall be 20 runs after four innings

and 15 runs after five innings, or any time a team may not mathematically score enough runs to

stay in the game, ending the game.

9. Base Overrun: Women age divisions 70+ and 75+ and 80+ can run through 2nd and 3rd base

without the possibility of being tagged out unless an attempt is made or a turn toward the next

base is indicated.

10. Legal Pitching Height: The ball must be delivered with perceptible arc and reach a height of at

least 6’ (feet) from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12’ (feet) from the

ground.

11. Official Softball: The men’s divisions will play 12-inch slow pitch. The women’s divisions will play 11-inch slow pitch.

12. Field Dimensions: State qualifying games and the 2027 National Senior Games will utilize a

double first base, second home plate, 30-foot commitment line between third base and home

plate and a 6-foot pitching box. Base paths will be 70 feet for men’s age divisions 50 to 65+; 65

feet for men’s 70+ and women’s 50-70+ age divisions; and 60 feet for women’s 75+ age divisions.

The outfield fence distance will be 300’ for all men’s age divisions and women’s age divisions 50-

69, and will be 225’ for all women’s age divisions 70+. ASO reserves the right to adjust fields

and base paths based on entry numbers, facility restrictions or other circumstance.

13. Equalizer Rule: If teams of different age groups play each other, the older age team will receive 5 (equalizer) points per age group difference. Example: A 50+ team is playing a 55+ team. The 55+ team would automatically have 5 runs added to their score. If a 50+ team were to play a 60+ team, the 60+ team would receive 10 runs added to their score.

ENTRY REGULATIONS

1. Softball will be divided into the following age divisions for both men and women:  50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+.

2. Age divisions for all team competition will be determined by the age of the youngest team member as of December 31, 2026.

3. Teams must be all one gender.

4. Team rosters shall be limited to 22 persons, including non-playing coaches, non-playing captains, and non-playing bench personnel.  No more than 20 of these persons may be players.

5. Teams are not limited to the number of out-of-state players on their rosters.

6. All registration and team rules apply to non-playing coaches, non-playing captains and non-playing bench personnel.