Softball

Primary Competition Rules

• Competition Format and Schedule

  Expand Competition Format and Schedule
  • Match Format: For Regions and Division match format, please consult the relevant page on the SSV website or contact the relevant Coordinator.
  • State Format: Split Round Robin, Final
  • State Match Schedule: There will be a Pre-Championships Briefing for all teams prior to the first round of matches. See the Softball Draw, on the SSV website, for the Match Schedule.
  • State Match Format: Matches to be played over 3 innings or 60 minutes. A minimum of 1 complete innings must be completed in each match.

• Winner Determination

  Expand Winner Determination

  State Round Robin Winner

  • At the conclusion of each game, teams will be awarded 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and 0 point for a loss.
  • If two teams are tied on match points then the team that has the greater percentage of the two tied teams will be the winner. If their percentage is equal, then the face to face match will be used to determine a winner. If the face to face match was a draw, then a tie-breaker innings will be played in as per the rules.
  • If more than two teams are tied on match points then percentage will be used to determine places. If the two highest ranked teams are of equal percentage, then a tie-breaker innings will be played as per the rules. If the percentage of more than two teams is equal, then the matches between the tied teams only will be used to determine places.

  State Final Winner

  • If the final is tied when time is called, or at the end of the 3rd innings, a tie breaker innings will be played as per the rules.

• Conditions and Team Rules

  Expand Conditions and Team Rules

  Conditions

  • See the School Sport Victoria’s ‘General Conditions of Competition’. All players, teachers, spectators and officials are bound by the ‘SSV Codes of Conduct’ and the ‘Participant Behaviour Policy’.
  • A girl cannot play in a girls’ team and a boys/mixed team in the same sport.
  • The level of competition chosen by a student at District level remains binding through to Division, Region and State levels.

• Team Size

  Expand Team Size
  • A maximum of twelve (12) players may be used in one day.
  • Teams are permitted to bat through the line up to the maximum of twelve (12) players.
  • Nine (9) players are only permitted to field with up to three (3) substitutes to be named for each game. Substituted players are permitted to return to the field of play.
  • Only twelve (12) SSV medallions plus one (1) for the team coach will be awarded to placegetters.
  • Extra medallions will not be available.

• Match Playing Rules

  Expand Match Playing Rules

  General Rules

  • Fully Loaded Slow Pitch Softball is conducted as set out in the Fully Loaded Softball – Junior School Playing Rules.
  • Please see the SSV Primary Schools Resource Manual for more useful sport specific information.

  Playing Area

  • Baselines: The baselines are to be 17 metres (55 ft).
  • Pitch Length: The Pitch Length is 10m. The pitch length is to be measured from the front of the pitcher's plate to the back corner of the Strike Zone Mat.

  Ball Specifications

  • The 11” (Easton Softcore ball or Ausport Primary Softball) Synthetic leather softball (with SOFT polycore centre) to be used.
  • Match balls will be supplied for State Finals, teams will need to bring their own practice balls.

  Game Duration and Innings

  • Regulation Game: A regulation game consists of three completed innings. The time limit for the completion of three innings shall be 50 minutes. If three innings are not completed within these times, the game will be decided on the number of runs scored in equal innings by each side. Any innings in progress when time has elapsed shall be completed if it so affects the result of the game.
  • Abandoned Game: If a game is abandoned before the time limit is reached, then the game is decided on the score of the last complete innings, provided 1 innings have been played in all final games, or the team which has had less innings has scored more runs than a team which has had more innings.
  • Each Innings: An innings is completed when ALL batters have batted on one team. The umpire will call “Last Batter” when the final batter comes to bat. Once the play is finished on the next play, players swap sides.
  • Completed Innings: A completed innings is when both teams have had all their batters’ bat all the way through. At the end of a completed innings both teams will have had equal chances to score runs.

• Officials and Coaching

  Expand Officials and Coaching
  • Officials: Umpires will be provided at State Finals.
  • Base Coaches: Each team, when batting, may place one student from the participating school, near third base, and one student from the participating school, near first base to coach their side. They must not be nearer than 3 metres from the diamond or touch the runners as they go by.
  • Helmets for Coaches: The wearing of helmets by base officials/coaches near the diamond is compulsory.
  • Time Outs: There are no Time Outs during the game.
  • Interpreting Rules and Conduct: Between innings, coaches may seek interpretations or clarification of rules from the Umpire. No unsporting remarks are to be made at any stage of the game. A 'ball' is called on the pitcher if the fielding team is at fault. A 'strike' is called on the batter if the batting team is at fault.

• Penalties

  Expand Penalties
  • Lateness Penalty:
  • If a team is late for the start of their match for reasons beyond their control and the team communicates with the convener, then the convener will try to accommodate the team as best he/she can.
  • If a team is more than 10 min late without notice or communication or in the convener’s opinion their lateness makes the draw impracticable, then they will be penalised one run for every 10 minutes late, or part thereof.