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. 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.

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 1 age group difference and 7 points for 2 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 7 runs added to their score.

14. Home Run Limit: Each team will be allowed 3 home runs per game. All home runs over the limit are dead ball outs.

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.