The 10U Eastern Girls Fast Pitch Teams will follow the basic Eastern league rules and ASA 10 and Under rules with the following exceptions and additions:

1. An 11 inch ball will be used with raised seam and optic yellow color with a cork or poly core center.
1. Ball Type – Wilson A9260 or equivalent (0.47 Core, 375 lbs. Max Compression)
2. Games will be 6 innings in length unless time restrictions on the field will limit the length of the game.
3. A 4 run per inning rule will apply to all innings except the last inning.
4. A pitcher cannot pitch more than 4 innings in a 6-inning game.  If extra innings are required, the original pitcher or the second pitcher cannot pitch more than 4 total innings each during the game.
5. Only three TOTAL walks can be pitched by one team in any one half inning, with no more than two consecutive walks at one time.  The offensive teams’ coach will come in to pitch to batter when the walk limit (2 consecutive or 3 total) has been reached.  When the coach comes in to pitch, the batter retains the strike count only.  The ball count is no longer of importance.  The coach gets 4 pitches to the batter.  If the batter does not reach safely after 4 pitches, she is out.  The batter cannot be walked by the coach.  The batter cannot be hit by the coach and reach base.  The umpire will call the pitches (ball, strike or foul).  When the coach is pitching, the batter can reach base safely on a hit or error, reach base on catcher's interference, strike out, be put out on a batted ball, or be called out for not hitting safely after 4 pitches.


Example:  Two consecutive walks are pitched to the first two batters.  The pitcher throws 4 balls to the 3rd batter.  The offensive team coach comes in to pitch to the 3rd batter and then leaves.  The pitcher throws 4 balls to the 4th batter.  The offensive team coach comes in and pitches to the 4th batter and then leaves.  The 5th batter gets a hit.  The pitcher walks the 6th batter (3rd total walk of the inning).  The pitcher then throws 4 balls to the 7th batter.  The offensive team coach comes in to pitch to the 7th batter.

1. Any subsequent ball 4 counts require the offensive team coach to come in and pitch.
2. The coach will get 4 total pitches to the batter {any combination of balls, fouls, strikes}. If the batter doesn’t hit it fair after those 4 pitches, the batter is out.
3. The batter cannot reach base on a walk when hitting against the coach.  Once the coach is done pitching to that batter, then the pitcher can return to the mound for the next batter.
4. As an option, the defensive team can request that the opposing team’s coach finish pitching the inning at any time once the coach has come into to pitch.
5. The coaches themselves are highly encouraged to develop a flat pitch with decent speed in order to make the hitters learn to hit good pitches.
6. Stealing is permitted with the following exceptions:
1. Stealing of only one base per runner per inning is permitted.
2. The catchers are encouraged to throw down to 2nd base or 3rd base even if they do not have a reasonable chance of getting the runner out on a steal attempt.
3. If the catcher overthrows the base on a steal attempt, the runner cannot advance to the next base.
4. Stealing of home plate is not permitted.  This is an ASA 10U rule.
5. Stealing of any base cannot be attempted if the pitcher misses the ball thrown back from the catcher.
7. The dropped 3rd strike rule does not apply (i.e., 1st base cannot be reached on a dropped third strike).  This is an ASA 10U rule.
8. Runners cannot leave the base (jumping off or attempting to steal) until the ball crosses the plate.
9. Runners can advance one base (base you are going to plus 1) on any overthrow to include an overthrow to 1st base from the infield and an overthrow from the outfield to the infield.
10. The in-field fly rule does not apply.  This is an ASA 10u rule.
11. Base length is 60 feet.  Pitching rubber distance is 35 feet (no raised mound is permitted).  A pitching rubber is desirable but not required (a chalk line 2 foot wide will be sufficient).  A pitching circle of 16 foot in diameter must be used.  A three foot running lane must be marked on the field.
12. The home team will provide an umpire.
13. Standings will be kept in the 10U division.  The following point system will be used:

Win – 2 points   Tie - 1 point   Loss/Forfeit – 0 points
Tie breakers are 1) head-to-head competition and then 2) a coin toss.
14. In the event that one team is shorthanded, players may be exchanged among competing teams in order to play an unofficial game.  Both teams should do whatever necessary to play a game.  The shorthanded team will still be charged with a forfeit but this will allow the girls to get their time in.
15. An official game occurs after 4 complete innings.  If the home team is ahead, it reverts to 3 ½ innings.
16. Any tie games do not need to be finished later.  If a game is called when an inning is not complete, we will revert back to the last complete inning to determine the final score.
17. The home team coach needs to call the opposing team coach or assistant at least 1 hour in advance in the event the game has to be cancelled for weather.  Umpire notification is dependant on who your local organization deals with.  The earlier the notification, the better.  Many times a team is already in transit an hour prior to game time.
18. The winning team’s coach/assistant (or home team coach in case of a tie) shall e-mail the 10U commissioner with the game details – date, field, teams involved, innings played, score and your name/phone number.  Provide the score within 2 days of the game.  Put the other teams coach on carbon copy (CC) of the e-mail.  If you’re the assistant, put your head coach on cc of the e-mail also. E-mails only please at RichScottEastern@msn.com.
19. All games are to be rescheduled as best as possible.  It is up to the coaches that are playing each other to make up the rain dates and reschedule the umpire.
20. The home team is to provide 2 game balls - 1 new ball, 1 relatively new ball.
21. Safety first applies.  In addition to the basic Eastern League rules on equipment, make certain you have proper catcher equipment and that batting helmets with face masks are used.  The skill level will vary greatly between teams and girls – let’s keep them all safe!
22. If your team is short players, you can call up players from a slow pitch team in your organization if one is available.   You cannot double up roster players in order to field two or more teams.


23. The standard Eastern League 12 run rule (after 5 innings) does not apply unless the coach of the losing team wants to revert back to that rule after 4 innings.  The intention is to get complete 6 innings in the game so the girls can get their playing time.
24. All players rostered must play at least 2 innings in the field.  Don’t wait until the end of the game to get your players in the game.