Let's Trip League

10 vs. 10 Men's Let's Trip Softball Rules

Complete guidelines for gameplay, team conduct, and league operations featuring arc pitching and unlimited home runs

Updated 2025
Men's League
Let's Trip Rules

1. Game Overview

Summary

Maximum players on field: 10 players

Minimum players required: 8 players (missing 9th player = automatic out)

Batting lineup: All players present must bat (up to 15 players maximum)

No bunting allowed

No metal cleats allowed

No home run limit: Unlimited home runs per game

Pitch Type & Distance

Pitching style: Arc pitch (3–10 feet arc)

Pitching distance: 46 feet from home plate

Illegal pitch: Results in a ball unless the batter swings

Equipment Requirements

Provided by Mellennial Sports:

  • Game balls (UT12MPS Balls)
  • Bases and safety equipment

Required by Players:

  • Gloves (must be worn in the field)
  • Composite bats (240 Stamp Composite Bats only)

Mandatory:

Pitchers must wear face masks (no exceptions)

Strongly Encouraged:

Catchers should wear masks at all times

Not Allowed:

  • • Metal cleats
  • • Bunting

Ball Replacement Fee: If a team loses a game ball, a $10 replacement fee will apply.

Players on the Field

Maximum: 10 players on the field at once

Minimum players to start: 8 players required — If fewer than 8 players, the game is a forfeit after 20 minutes

No home run limit: Unlimited home runs per game

Max runs per inning: 10 runs per inning—teams switch after reaching this limit

2. Players & Roster Management

Roster & Batting Order Guidelines

Roster Limits

  • Maximum roster: 25 players
  • Maximum batting lineup: 15 players

Batting Order

  • All players present on the team must bat
  • No more than 10 consecutive male batters in the lineup

Playoff Eligibility

  • Players must participate in at least 3 games
  • Bye weeks count as games played only if on official roster

Roster Policy

Rosters must be submitted by the registration deadline

Teams may resubmit rosters within the first 3 weeks to account for injuries

Each player's games will be recorded

After Week 3: Only players on the official roster may play

Rosters will be strictly enforced

Substitute Players (Subs)

Outside Subs

  • Outside subs are allowed during the regular season to fill the 10th spot, avoiding a shortened roster
  • Players from other teams in the league are not allowed to sub unless approved by the opposing team captain
  • If the opposing captain agrees, the game can proceed and may or may not count officially—it's the opposing team's decision

Playoff Substitutes

  • No subs are allowed during playoffs (except in the case of injury)
  • Subs must have participated by Week 3 of the regular season to be eligible for playoffs

3. Game Duration & Timing

Game Length

Regular season: 7 innings or 1 hour and 5 minutes, whichever comes first

Official game: 5 full innings (or 4½ innings if the home team is ahead)

Extra innings: Allowed in playoffs if tied and time permits

Last inning: Will always be completed, regardless of time

Mercy Rule

15

run lead after 4 innings

12

run lead after 5 innings

10

run lead after 6 innings

Game Start & Timing

Forfeit Time & Grace Period

  • Game time is forfeit time
  • 15-minute grace period allowed
  • If 10 players arrive at game time: Game begins immediately
  • If 8-9 players arrive: Can wait until forfeit time
  • Late arrivals added to end of batting order

Coin Toss

  • Umpire conducts coin toss between captains
  • Winner chooses to bat first or take the field
  • Both teams present lineup at this time
  • Captains confirm ground rules

Rain Delay & Cancellation

If rain ends before 5 innings: Entire game will be replayed

If rain ends after 5th inning: Result stands based on last completed inning

Notifications: Players notified via text and social media at least 2 hours before game time

Games are played rain or shine unless conditions are hazardous. Please assume your game is ON unless notified otherwise.

4. Gameplay Rules

Batting Rules

Batting Count & Foul Balls

  • Games begin with a 1–1 count
  • One courtesy foul ball after two strikes
  • If foul is caught but fielder's momentum carries them out of play, runners get one base

Batter's Box Requirements

  • At least one foot must remain in batter's box
  • If both feet are out during live at-bat: automatic out

Batting Out of Order

  • Error caught during at-bat: Correct batter assumes current count
  • Incorrect batter reaches base: Correct batter is out, runners return to previous bases
  • After next pitch: Incorrect batter's action stands

Pitching Rules

  • Arc pitch: 3–10 feet arc
  • Illegal pitch: Results in a ball unless the batter swings
  • If batter swings at illegal pitch, the ball is live and the outcome stands

Special Rules

Infield Fly Rule

  • When: Runners on base, fly ball hit in infield, fewer than 2 outs
  • Call: Batter is automatically out
  • Result: Play is dead

Strike Zone

  • Mat and plate: If ball hits the plate or mat, it is a strike

Ground Rules

Soccer goals or benches: If ball hits or enters, it is a ground-rule double. Players must raise hands to signal umpire.

Ball bounces over fence: Ground-rule double in fair territory

5. Base Running & Sliding

Base Running Rules

No leading off or stealing: Violations result in runner being called out

Base path rule: Runner who moves more than two steps out of base path is out

Fielder blocking: If fielder blocks base without possession, runner is safe (fielder's interference)

Retouch rule: Runner must notify umpire when retouching a base

Runner vs. Fielder contact: Runners must avoid contact with fielders attempting to field a hit. Contact with a coach is interference and results in an out. Malicious contact will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

Runner hit by ball: Runner hit with batted ball in fair territory is out (runner's interference)

Thrown balls: Ball thrown out of play awards runner the base they are advancing to

Equipment touch: Ball touching equipment left outside dugout advances runners one base

First Base Safety Bag

O

Orange Safety Bag

Runner uses this bag

W

White Bag

First baseman uses on force plays

Runner stepping on white bag = automatic out. First baseman stepping on orange bag on force play = runner safe.

Sliding Rules

Sliding is allowed at all bases

No head-first sliding at home plate or first base

Courtesy Runner

Two courtesy runners per team (Must be last batted out)

6. Administrative Policies

Forfeit Rules

Forfeit Definition & Scoring

  • A forfeit results in a 15-run penalty against the forfeiting team
  • Forfeits are recorded on the team's standings

Progressive Penalties

  1. 1st Offense: Loss of game
  2. 2nd Offense: Loss of game + removal from playoffs
  3. 3rd Offense: Removal from schedule + no refund

Forfeit Notification

3+ hours before: Contact Mellennial Sports

Less than 3 hours: Still contact immediately. If we notify the other team in time, no additional penalty.

No notification + other team arrives: Your team will be eliminated from the rest of the schedule

Umpire Authority & Sportsmanship

Umpire Authority

  • Only the team captain may ask the head umpire for rule clarifications
  • Judgment calls may not be questioned by players or captains
  • Umpires may confer with each other and captains to discuss calls

Sportsmanship

  • At Mellennial Sports, the ultimate goal is for everyone to have fun
  • All players must maintain good sportsmanship at all times
  • Abusive language or behavior may result in suspension or ejection
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in removal from future activities

Refund Policy

After a game has been played: No refunds will be issued

Before the season starts: You may be eligible for a refund upon consultation with management

7. Standings & Playoffs

Team Rankings

Team rankings are determined using the following criteria, in order:

1 Ranking Points (Win = 3, Tie = 1, Loss = 0)
2 Win Percentage
3 Head-to-Head Record
4 Runs Against

Playoff Seeding & Adjustments

  • Once teams are seeded (1–4), rankings are finalized
  • If a team forfeits during playoffs, the 1st place team has priority to secure a spot in the championship

Example:

If the 3rd place team forfeits, teams will be reseeded. It would become 2nd place vs. 4th place, with the winner advancing to play the 1st place team in the championship.

Playoff Rules

Roster Changes

No substitutes allowed during playoffs (except in case of injury)

Game Timing

Extra innings allowed if game is tied and time permits

Eligibility

Only players who participated in at least 3 games are eligible

Notes & Clarifications

All rules are subject to clarification by Mellennial Sports management

For questions or rule disputes, contact Mellennial Sports directly

Rules may be updated at the discretion of Mellennial Sports before the season

Have questions about the rules?

Contact Mellennial Sports