Softball

Format:

• 4 games guaranteed.
  • 3 games of pool play.
  • Single elimination following pool play.
• Pool play will determine seeding for single elimination games.
•  Awards will be given to 1st – 3rd place winners.

Rules:

• This tournament will be conducted in accordance with Softball Players Association (SPA) Rules, except as modified herein.  For a copy of these rules, please visit the SPA website https://softballspa.com/
  • Strike Zone Mat:
    • A Strike Zone Mat will be used in all games to determine balls, strikes, and outs at home plate. The top of the mat will be placed at the top of home plate. The mat will measure twenty-one (21) inches wide and thirty-five (35) inches long with a white home plate centered at the front of the mat measuring seventeen (17) inches across the front, 8 1/2 inches down each side, and 12 inches diagonally to a point nearest the catcher. A legal pitch not swung at that strikes any part of the strike zone mat or home plate shall be called a strike by the umpire.
  • Pitcher’s Plate/Box: 
    • A pitcher’s box consisting of the area from the front of the pitcher’s plate, 50 feet from home plate, and extending back ten feet (10 ft.) and twenty-four (24) inches wide perpendicular to the pitcher’s plate shall be used. The pitcher must release the ball after coming to a complete stop with one foot or both feet in contact with the pitcher’s plate or within the pitcher’s box. One foot must remain in contact with the plate/box when the pitch is released with an underhand motion. A step simultaneous with the release of the ball may be taken in any direction with the free foot. The pitcher must be facing the batter when delivering the pitch. The catcher must remain within the lines of the catcher’s box until the pitched ball is batted, touches the ground or home plate, or reaches the catcher’s box. This area should be chalked off.
  • Players and substitutes:
    • SPA Softball rules for re-entry and extra player (EP) will apply. Extra players may play defense at any time provided the total number of defensive players on the field at any time does not exceed the total allowed for that age division.

1. 1. 1. 1. Men in age divisions 50+, 55+ and 60+: Ten defensive players shall constitute a team.
         2. Men in age divisions 65+ 70+ and 75+: Eleven (11) defensive players shall constitute a team
         3. Women in all age divisions 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+ and 75+: Eleven (11) defensive players shall constitute a team.

• • Line-up cards:
    • Official line-up cards must be presented to the opposing manager and scorekeeper 10 minutes prior to game time. Tournament line-up cards will be furnished to all team managers. Name of player, number and position must be indicated on line-up card.
  • Batting Line Up:
    • A Team can bat the allowed number of players or the ability to bat any number of players that are available. This must be declared prior to the beginning of the game and indicated on the line-up card.
  • Runs per inning:
    • For all pool play there shall be a five (5) run per inning rule, with unlimited runs allowed in the seventh or final inning. For double elimination play in skill divisions III and II there shall be a five (5) run per inning rule, with unlimited runs allowed in the seventh or final inning. For double elimination play in the Div. I skill division there shall be a seven (7) run per inning rule, with unlimited runs allowed in the seventh or final inning.
  • Mercy rule:
    • A mercy rule will be in effect for all games. The rule shall be 20 runs after four innings and 15 runs after five innings, or any time a team may not mathematically score enough runs to stay in the game, ending the game.
  • Homerun rule:
    • The homerun rule shall be utilized in pool play (round robin) and double elimination play. All teams except those in the division I will play under the 1-homerun +1-up single rule. Teams in the division I will play under the 3-homerun +1-up single rule. The first ball hit over the fence will count as a home run. Subsequent balls hit over the fence by the same team will count as singles until the opposing team has hit a ball over the fence (homerun). Base runners may only advance one base per single over the fence. This rule shall continue throughout the entire game.
  • Time Limit:
    • The length of a game will be seven innings or 60 minutes for pool play (round robin) and double elimination games. After 60 minutes the umpire shall announce that teams will finish the current inning and play one more. The last inning shall be played with unlimited runs. This rule is designed to allow 1 hour and 15 minutes for a game, which is ample time to play 7 innings. Tie games after seven innings or at the end ofregulation time will continue until one team is ahead after the completion of any subsequent inning using the International tie-breaker rule. There will be no time limit for championship / medal games.11. Base Overrun: Women age divisions 70+ and 75+ can run through 2nd and 3rd base without the possibility of being tagged out unless an attempt is made or a turn toward the next base is indicated.
  • Courtesy runner:
    • An unlimited number of courtesy runners may be used per inning. A player may only be used as a courtesy runner once per inning (except Women 70+ and 75+ which a player can be a courtesy runner as many times as needed per inning). A courtesy runner may not be replaced by another courtesy runner except for injury causing removal of the original courtesy runner permanently from the game. A courtesy runner on base when it is his/her turn at bat will be declared out as the runner. Another courtesy runner may not be used to circumvent this rule.
  • Team clothing:
    • Must be of like design and color. An Arabic whole number (0-99) of contrasting color, or outlined in contrasting color, at least 6 inches high must be visible on the back of uniform shirts. No players on the same team may wear identical numbers. Sponsors may be added to jersey but cannot interfere with number placement. Uniforms shall be free of inappropriate symbols or wording.
  • Pitching Mask:
    • All pitchers are encouraged to wear a defensive face mask while pitching in all games.
  • Legal Pitching Height:
    • The ball must be delivered with perceptible arc and reach a height of at least 6’ (feet) from the ground, while not exceeding a maximum height of 12’ (feet) from the ground.
  • Official Softball:
    • The men’s divisions will play 12-inch slow pitch (.44 core and a compression rating of no more than 375 psi). The women’s divisions will play 11-inch slow pitch (.47 core and a compression rating of no more than 525 psi).
  • Bat Rules:
    • All bats with a *BPF of 1.21 or less will be legal for play. All bats used in play must be stamped with a BPF of 1.21 or less, and must have either a manufacturer installed non-slip grip surface, or a minimum of one wrap of tape. Bats without the BPF stamped on the bat will be considered illegal. All bats’ models approved for senior play by ISA, ISSA, SPA and SS-USA will be allowed for tournament play in NSGA.
  • Field Dimensions:
    • State qualifying games and the 2025 National Senior Games will utilize a double first base, second home plate, 30-foot commitment line between third base and home plate and a 6-foot pitching box. A field diagram with dimensions is included in the SPA Softball rulebook (with the exception of the 6-foot pitching box and strike zone mat). If in the National Chair’s and tournament director’s discretion, such an adjustment is feasible, base paths will be 70’ for men’s age divisions 50 to 65+, and 60’ for women’s 75+. The base paths will be 65 feet for men’s 70+ and women’s 50-70+ age divisions.

(2025 is NOT a qualifying year, therefore this year’s event does not qualify your team for a National Senior Games berth)