Official Rulebook

10 vs. 10 Men's Softball League Rules

Complete guidelines for gameplay, team conduct, and league operations

Updated 2025
Men's League
ASA 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

Pitch Type & Distance

Pitching style: ASA arc pitch (6–12 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 (ASA-approved softballs)
  • Bases and safety equipment

Required by Players:

  • Gloves (must be worn in the field)
  • Composite bats (ASA/USA-approved with certification sticker only)

Mandatory:

Pitchers must wear face masks (no exceptions)

Strongly Encouraged:

Catchers should wear masks at all times behind the plate

Not Allowed:

  • • Metal cleats (soft cleats only)
  • • Bunting

Ball Replacement Fee: If a team loses a game ball, a $10 replacement fee will apply. All teams are responsible for retrieving foul balls and home run balls.

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

Extra innings: Allowed in playoffs if the game is 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

Rain Delay & Game Cancellation

Rain Delay

  • If rain ends the game before 5 innings (or 4½ with home team leading), the entire game will be replayed
  • If rain ends the game after the 5th inning, the result stands based on the last completed inning

Game Cancellations

  • Games are played rain or shine unless conditions are hazardous
  • Mellennial Sports will only cancel games when absolutely necessary
  • If a cancellation occurs, all players will be notified via text message and social media no less than 2 hours before game time

Game Start & Timing

Forfeit Time & Grace Period

  • Game time is forfeit time
  • • Games start on schedule with a 15-minute grace period
  • • After the grace period, a forfeit is declared

10 Players Arrive

Game begins immediately

8-9 Players Arrive

Team can wait until forfeit time without penalty

Late Arrivals

Players arriving late may be added to the end of the batting order

Coin Toss

  • The umpire will conduct a coin toss between the two team captains at the start of every game
  • The winning captain chooses whether to bat first or take the field (designating home or away)
  • Each team must present a lineup at this time
  • Captains should confirm ground rules, including home run limits and ground rule doubles

4. Gameplay Rules

Batting Rules

Batting Count & Foul Balls

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

Batter's Box Requirements

  • • At least one foot must remain in the batter's box during the at-bat
  • • If both feet are out of the box during a live at-bat, this results in an automatic out

Batting Out of Order

  • Error caught during at-bat: The correct batter assumes the current count
  • Incorrect batter reaches base (caught before next pitch): The correct batter is out, runners return to previous bases
  • If the next pitch has been made: The incorrect batter's action stands

Batting Order & Lineup

All players present must be in the batting order

Field players must also be in the batting order, but not all batters are required to play the field

Players cannot be removed from the batting order unless due to injury or extenuating circumstances

Teams may bat up to 15 players

Pitching Rules

Arc pitch: 6–12 feet arc

Illegal pitch: Results in a ball unless the batter swings

If the batter swings at an illegal pitch, the ball is live and the outcome of the swing stands

Infield Fly Rule

  • When it applies: Runners are on base and a fly ball is hit in the infield with fewer than two outs
  • Call: The batter is automatically out
  • Result: The play is dead

Strike Zone

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

Ground Rules

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

Ball bounces over fence: If the ball bounces over the fence in fair territory, it is a ground-rule double

5. Base Running & Sliding

Base Running Rules

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

Base path rule: A runner who moves more than two steps out of the base path is out

Fielder blocking: If a fielder is blocking a base without possession of the ball, the runner is safe (fielder's interference)

Retouch rule: The runner must notify the umpire when retouching a base

Runner vs. Fielder Contact

  • • Runners must avoid contact with fielders attempting to field a hit
  • • Runners must also avoid base coaches
  • • Contact with a coach is interference and results in an out
  • • It is the runner's responsibility to avoid collisions whenever possible
  • Malicious contact will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct

Runner Hit by Ball

A runner hit with a batted ball in fair territory is out (runner's interference)

Thrown Balls

  • • A ball thrown out of play results in the runner being awarded the base they are advancing to
  • • If a ball touches equipment (glove, bat, etc.) left outside the dugout, the runner advances one base

First Base Safety Bag

  • Runner must step on orange safety bag when running to first base
  • Stepping on the white bag is an automatic out
  • First baseman must step on the white bag on a force play to record an out
  • If the first baseman steps on the orange safety bag to record an out on a force play, the runner is automatically safe

Sliding Rules

Sliding is allowed at all bases

No head-first sliding at home plate or first base

6. Administrative Policies

Forfeit Rules

Forfeit Definition & Scoring

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

Forfeit Penalties (Progressive)

1st Offense

Loss of game

2nd Offense

Loss of game and removal from playoffs

3rd Offense

Removal from the rest of the schedule and no refund

Forfeit Notification Requirements

If you know in advance:

Contact Mellennial Sports at least 3 hours before game time

If less than 3 hours before:

  • • Still contact Mellennial Sports immediately
  • • If we notify the other team in time, no additional penalty
  • • If you fail to notify and the other team arrives, your team will be eliminated from the schedule

Short-Handed Play

  • • A minimum of 8 players is required to start a game
  • • If you do not have enough players to start, the game will be considered a forfeit after 20 minutes

Mellennial Sports Forfeit Prevention

  • • Mellennial Sports strongly discourages forfeits
  • • Your teammates and opponents rely on your participation to ensure a full roster and competitive game
  • • At check-in, please notify umpires if your team knows it will be short on players
  • • Umpires will assist in making sure a game is played—whether official or scrimmage—on every field

Umpire Authority & Questions

Only the team captain is permitted to ask the head umpire for rule clarifications

Judgment calls made by the umpire may not be questioned by players or captains

However, umpires may confer with each other and team captains to discuss calls if they choose (at the discretion of the umpire)

Sportsmanship

At Mellennial Sports, the ultimate goal is for everyone to have fun.

  • • While games can get competitive, all players must maintain good sportsmanship at all times
  • • Any behavior or abusive language directed at another player or umpire that is deemed unacceptable by the umpire may result in suspension or ejection from the game or league
  • • Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in player/team suspension or removal from future Mellennial Sports activities

Game Cancellations

Games are played rain or shine unless conditions are hazardous

Mellennial Sports will only cancel games when absolutely necessary

Please assume your game is ON unless you are notified otherwise

If a cancellation occurs, all players will be notified via text message and social media no less than 2 hours before game time

Refund Policy

Once 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 & Standings

Team rankings will be determined using the following criteria, in order:

1

Ranking Points

Win = 3, Tie = 1, Loss = 0

2

Win Percentage

Overall winning record

3

Head-to-Head

Record vs tied teams

4

Runs Against

Fewest runs allowed

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

Playoff Seeding 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 the case of injury)

Game Timing

Extra innings are allowed if the game is tied and time permits

Playoff 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