Kid Pitch · Revised August 2026
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USSSA rules apply, unless specified below
As stated, a minimum of 8 players must take the field or a forfeit will be called.
All 12U games will be played with 10 players on the field (4 outfielders)
All 14U games will be played with 9 players on the field (3 outfielders).
A player may sit up to two innings in the dugout during defensive play, but the innings cannot be consecutive.
All infield players MUST wear a fielding face mask on the field, outfield players are encouraged to wear them.
Offensive Play - up to 2 coaches allowed on the field.
1st base and 3rd base coaches must always remain in their respective coach's box.
Defensive Play - no defensive coaches are allowed on the field at any time. During your team's defensive play coaches may not be positioned any closer to home plate than the end of the dugout.
Coaches must not create a distraction or interfere with play. Coaches violating this rule may be warned once and then prohibited from coaching for the remainder of that game and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
As stated, the team in the dugout with the lock box will be responsible for putting out the bases if they are not already out and stowing them if last game of the day.
All coaches and umpires should meet at home plate five (5) minutes prior to the start of the game to go over any rule clarifications or any other questions or concerns that may come up.
All games will be played to a 75-minute time limit. After the time limit is reached, the in-progress inning will end when the home team takes a lead in the bottom half of the in-progress inning, or when each team has three outs.
An in-progress inning will not be stopped merely because one team cannot score enough runs in the inning to tie or win the game.
A game that is called due to weather or darkness is considered complete after 45 minutes of play provided two complete innings have been played.
Each team will be limited to 5 runs per ½ inning.
A half-inning consists of either five (5) runs being scored by the offense or three (3) outs being recorded by the defense. After either of these conditions are met, the teams will switch between the offensive and defensive positions. The home plate umpire will be notified by the home team score keeper when one of these conditions has been met.
The dropped 3rd strike rule is in effect.
The infield fly rule is in effect.
The look-back rule is in effect.
No coach or defensive player shall at any time, whether in the coach's box or on the playing field, use language, cheers or arbitrary noises which are intended to affect the performance of an opposing offensive player. Cheers, of a positive nature only, are allowed from the dugout area while occupying the offensive position.
If, for any reason, a game is forfeited, the umpires will not be allowed to remain on the field. However, the two teams may still use the field to scrimmage until 30 minutes prior to the next game starting
If a batter throws the bat while batting or after hitting the ball, a dead ball will be called immediately. If the thrown bat occurs prior to the final swing by the batter, she will be able to continue her at bat with the swing being counted toward her swing limit. The second bat thrown by a team will result in a team warning and all other thrown bats will be considered automatic outs. Any time an umpire rules that a bat was thrown, play will stop immediately, and no base runners will be allowed to advance.
The on-deck batter will stand in the on-deck area that is behind the current batter.
Substitute Runner - A substitute or "pinch" runner for an injured player will be the batter who made the last out.
The same Substitute Runner can only be used one time per inning.
Additional Substitute Runners used in the same inning will revert to the next previous batter in the lineup to be declared out.
Courtesy Runner - Coaches may put in a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher of record. The pitcher or catcher of record is the pitcher or catcher during the final out of the previous defensive inning; the courtesy runner must be the last person to be out. The courtesy runner is not restricted from playing in any position during the next inning.
There is no limit to the number of innings or pitches a pitcher may pitch in one game.
The batter will be awarded first base if hit by a pitch throw by the player pitcher. Batter must try to avoid being hit, the player can decline the Hit by Pitch call by the umpire and continue her at bat.
If three batters in a single inning are awarded first base because they are 'hit by pitch' from a single pitcher, the offending pitcher must be replaced for the remainder of the inning. There are no limits to how many times this rule can be invoked per game.
Only 5 warm-up pitches or a period of 1 minute will be allowed between half innings. Infield and outfield warm up is permitted.
Bases will be set at 60 feet.
A 16-foot diameter circle will be chalked around the pitching rubber.
Pitching rubber 12U will be set at 40 feet.
Pitching rubber 14U will be set at 43 feet.
Official ball: 12" Fast Pitch Softball.