Prince William Girls Fastpitch Softball: Local Rules

Updated April 26, 2026

PWGFS local rule modifications

The league uses USA Softball rules except for any modification listed below. Rule numbers listed correspond with previous rule numbers in the USA rule book. The section numbers may not always correspond. 

All divisions

Any and all rule clarifications or questions shall be delivered to the appropriate age division commissioner via email.

All pitchers, regardless of division, are required to wear a protective face mask while occupying the pitching position, whether physically pitching or not. No exceptions.

No metal-spiked cleats are permitted.

Batting helmets need to have a guard on the front.

No balls will be carried on to the field by fielders after the first inning. This is intended to speed up game play.

On-deck batters will be to the back side of the batter at the plate, for safety reasons.

All players present shall be in the batting order.

Players should wear the complete issued uniform during games. However, in the case of excessive heat, cold or inclement weather, jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, etc. may be worn. No team or player will be penalized for variations from official team dress. It is the umpire's responsibility to rule on clothing variances which may cause a safety concern or hinder play. 

A team has a 15-minute grace period from the scheduled start time to field a legal lineup before the game is declared a forfeit. All grace time used will count towards game time. 

Only ACE certified coaches and players are allowed in the dugout.

Base Runners: If a runner cannot continue her time on the bases, that player will be substituted with the last batter out. She must be ready to bat the next time her turn comes up or she will be removed for the remainder of the game.

Home team will occupy the first-base dugout while the away team will occupy the third-base dugout.

Home team will be responsible for turning on and off the field lights at Dale City Rec.

Home team is responsible for field preparation before their game. The last home team of the day needs to make sure equipment is put away and locked up. 

Away team is responsible for providing concessions stand workers when playing at Andrew Leitch Park.

During all games, except for base coaches and 10U designated adult pitchers, only one coach will be permitted outside of the dugout area, within the field of play. Any such coach must remain at the fenced area by the dugout opening furthest side from home plate. The coach may sit on a bucket but is responsible for removing the bucket when a possible play is occurring. This rule does not apply to the 8U division, which is 100% instructional. While this is a PWGFS local rule, certain umpires may not allow this. In such cases, the umpire’s decision supersedes the local rule.

Regarding communication with umpires, only the head coach:
1. participates in the plate conference before the game 
2. communicates questions or concerns to the umpire during the game
3. initiates protest of a ruling (plays game under protest)[BL1] 

If head coach is not present at the game, he or she will designate someone to take that role during the game. If the head coach is running late, the assistant can let the umpire know that she/he will take over upon arrival.

8U Division rules

1. An 11-inch Softball safety ball will be used for game play. Coaches may introduce a regulation softball during practice time only, and at their discretion.

2. The Coach or another designated Person will pitch to each batter. There should be no arc in the pitch. The distance from the batter shall be no closer than ten (10) feet and no farther than thirty-five (35) feet. After the ball has been pitched and the ball is in the air, the designated pitcher should not provide guidance to the batter as to whether she should swing at a pitch. The designated pitcher and coaches on the field must make every effort to avoid impacting the play on the field in any way. If the designated pitcher or coaches on the field make contact with a batted ball, a dead ball is called, and the batter returns to the plate with the same count. Any runners on base return to the base occupied at the beginning of the play.

3. When up to bat, each batter will receive up to 5 pitches. After 5 coach pitch attempts, a tee may be substituted to encourage contact, base running, and fielding. After three attempts at the tee without hitting the ball into play, the player is out. Foul balls are not missed attempts.

4. Up to 10 players are allowed on the field at a time and should be assigned to the standard fielding positions to include 1 pitcher and 1 catcher. Two (2) coaches are permitted to be on the field when on defense to help instruct and guide players. It would be expected to have one on each side of the field. An additional coach (from either team) must be behind the catcher to quickly return pitches that get beyond the catcher, but should not assist with plays on the field. Note that all coaches and parents that assist on the field must have completed a background check with the league. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

5. It is encouraged to have all players wear fielder’s masks while in the field. It is mandatory for the player in the pitcher’s position to wear a fielder’s mask and for catchers to wear a full set of catcher’s gear. 

6. Players will rotate their positions on the field and the same player will not sit in the dugout for consecutive innings. All players need to play at least one inning in the infield per game.

7. The batting order will be determined by the coach at the beginning of the game and must include all players in attendance. The batting order cannot change once the game has started. A player can be removed from the batting order due to injury or scheduling conflicts. If a player shows up late to a game they can be added to the end of the batting order.

8. Runners are permitted to advance one base per infield hit. If the ball is hit to the outfield grass in the air, coaches have the option of advancing the runner(s) one additional base, with the risk of potentially being tagged out at the next base (e.g. If a runner is already on first base, she could advance to third, allowing the hitter to advance to second. Likewise, a runner on second can advance to home plate). Missed infield grounders that roll to the outfield do not apply and only allow for advancing one base.

9. Runners are allowed a maximum advancement of one base at the runner’s risk of being thrown out, following an overthrown ball. If a second overthrow results while attempting to put out the advancing runner, the runners may not advance again – it is a dead-ball situation after the second overthrow. A dropped ball is not considered an overthrow. 

10. The side is retired with 3 outs or when 4 runs are scored. Coaches will expedite the transition from offense to defense.

11. Games will be four innings with a time limit of 1 hour 15 minutes. 

12. While it is encouraged to play all games to completion, a game may end early if the run limits make it impossible for one team to win the game, and both coaches agree that the game should end. 

13. Unofficial scores will be kept throughout the season. Umpires will not be present so coaches must resolve any close on-field calls amongst themselves. Scores do not need to be reported back to the league as standings will not be kept.  Both teams should keep a book for all scored games.

14. In order to emphasize instruction and development at this age, 8U will not be participating in tournament play. Other end-of-year activities will be planned for this division. 

10U Division rules

Official rules: USA Softball Association with local modifications

The rule modifications for the 10 & Under Division are designed to allow players who have been playing instructional league or other various playing rules to make the transition toward a more-competitive level of play.

RULE 4: Players and substitutes

Section 1 (a) (Also Rule 7, Section 2 (a) (b) ) — All players present will be in the batting order and will bat in turn. Players arriving after the start of play will be placed at the end of the batting order upon arrival. A player who is injured, becomes ill, or leaves early will be removed from the batting order without penalty.

Section 1 (d) — A team must have a minimum of eight players to start or continue a game. In no case will teams agree to play a legal game with fewer than eight players.

Section 4 (d) (1)(c) — A team will not be penalized nor charged an out because of an unoccupied spot in the batting order.

Section 1 (d) (2) — The ninth and subsequent players may enter the game upon arrival and must be added to the end of the batting order.

Sections 5 and 7 — A starting pitcher may re-enter the game as a pitcher only once. She may return as a pitcher in the same inning after one batter has been pitched to by the relief pitcher and that batter completes her turn at bat, whether an out has been made or the batter reaches base. Relief pitchers, after being removed from the pitching position, may not return as a pitcher.

Section 6 — There will be open substitutions on defense except for the pitcher. This means a team may make defensive changes at will and as many times as they want as long as all players meet the minimum play requirements.

Section 8 — Except for illness, injury or special situations, the defensive innings played must constitute a minimum of two innings (six outs). A player who arrives after the first defensive inning is not subject to minimum-play rules. However, a coach should try to use the player as much as possible.  Each player must play a minimum of 1 inning per game in the infield.

Section 9: Player Pool Rule — When a team is short-handed and needs to borrow additional players to field a full team (maximum 10 players), it must pull players from the next lower age division player pool only.

10U shall pull players from the 8U division.

Using players from the same division or players who are not on a PWGFS roster is not permitted under any circumstance.

Borrowed players will maintain their positions in the batting rotation for the entire game. Players who arrive late shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. If a player pool player was requested from a lower division to play up and is present at the start of the game, they are subject to the same minimum-play rules as regular team players.

All player pool players must be identified to the opposing coach prior to the plate conference with the umpire, and must be obtained through contacting the player agent, who will assign the player(s).

Coaches must contact the player agent and division commissioner at least 24 hours in advance via phone and or email when requesting a player pool player, when possible.

For tournament (playoff) games, short-handed teams may only borrow enough players from the next lower division to allow them to field a legal team of eight players.

RULE 5: The Game

Section 3 — Games will be six innings if time allows. Each inning has a four-run limit, except for the sixth inning, which will have a six-run limit. All innings started will be played to their conclusion (if needed) but no new innings will begin beyond the 1-hour 40-minute time limit. If the home team is behind, regardless of the number of runs, they will complete their at-bat. The inning will end when the home team a) is ahead by 1 run, b) earned the maximum number of runs allowed in the inning, or c) three outs are achieved. If the home team is leading, the inning will be complete at the end of the visiting team's at bat.

In case of a tie after six innings and there is remaining time, the game will continue using international tiebreak rules (ITB). The last player who completed her turn at bat in the prior inning will begin the next inning as a runner on second base with no outs. The next regularly scheduled batter will lead off. ITB innings will follow a four-run limit. If the time limit has been reached, the game will be recorded as a tie unless in tournament play.

Section 4 — A team has a fifteen-minute grace period from the scheduled start time to field a legal lineup before the game is declared a forfeit. All grace time used will count towards game time. 

Section 9 — The game is over if a team is behind by 10 runs or more after a legal game (four innings) is established, and the losing team has had its rightful turn at bat. 

General — During playoff games, if the game ends in a tie after the sixth inning, ITB rules apply. ITB rules will be followed and innings continue until there is a winner.

Championship games shall be played to completion without time restrictions.

There will be no infield fly rule.

There will be no look back rule.

Rule 6: Pitching regulations

(Also affects Rule 8 Section 1 (c) ) This local rule modifies the pitching regulations. The intent of the rule is to improve the play of the game, both on offense and defense while also developing pitching. 

Prior to the start of the game, each head coach shall designate an ACE certified coach to assume the position of coach/designated pitcher. These pitchers will pitch to the opposite team’s batters who are issued a fourth ball, through the completion of the at-bat. The batter will keep the current strike count in the at-bat. If the coach pitcher throws 5 balls, the batter is awarded first as a base on balls. Once the at-bat is completed, the player pitcher then resumes pitching to the next batter. A batter will not be awarded a base if hit during coach pitch. 

If the designated pitcher or coaches on the field make contact with a batted ball, a dead ball is called, and the batter returns to the plate with the same count. Any runners on base return to the base occupied at the beginning of the play.

If the coach/designated pitchers are called upon, they will pitch from within the pitching circle and this will not count as a player pitcher leaving and returning as a pitcher unless she is moved to another position or removed from the game. 

In order to ensure the continuity of the game, coach/designated pitchers must be prepared to pitch. While a coach is pitching, the player pitcher shall assume a defensive position with at least one foot in the pitching circle. 

Rule 8 — Batter-runner and runner

Section 1 (b) — There will be no dropped third strike rule.

Section 4 (a) — Runners are allowed to steal one (1) base per pitched ball regardless of any put out attempts or overthrows resulting from the runner's attempt to advance.

Section 4 (f) (2) base stealing — If, in the act of the catcher returning the ball to the pitcher, the ball leaves the 16-foot circle, the runners may not advance. The intent here is to keep the game moving by eliminating catchers walking the ball back to the mound and to minimize overaggressive base stealing while the ball is in the air between the catcher and pitcher. There will be no delayed stealing allowed. Stealing home is not allowed, but a runner may advance home if the catcher attempts a throw-down play to third base.

Runners are not allowed to steal while the coach/designated pitchers are pitching.

Section 4: Overthrows — On a hit fair ball, runners are allowed a maximum advancement of one base at the runner's risk of being thrown out following a throwing error. If a second overthrow results while attempting to put out the advancing runner, the runners may not advance again — it is a dead-ball situation after the second overthrow

12 & Under division

Official Rules: USA Softball Association with local modifications

Rule 3 — Players and substitutes 

Section 1 — All players present will be in the batting order and will bat in turn. Players arriving after the start of play will be placed at the end of the batting order. A player who is injured, becomes ill, or leaves early will be removed from the batting order without penalty.

Section 2 — A team must have a minimum of seven players to start or continue a game. This constitutes a legal lineup. A full team will consist of nine players.

Section 3 — The eighth and subsequent players may enter the game upon arrival and must be added to the end of the batting order.

Section 4 — A team will not be penalized nor charged an out because of an unoccupied spot in the batting order. 

Section 5 — In no case will teams agree to play a legal game with fewer than seven players. 

Section 6 — There will be open substitution on defense except for the pitcher. This means a team may make defensive changes at will and as many times as they want as long as all players meet the minimum-play requirement. 

Section 7 — A starting pitcher may re-enter the game as a pitcher only once. She may return as a pitcher in the same inning after one batter has been pitched to and an out has been made or the batter reaches base. Relief pitchers, after being removed from the pitching position, may not return as a pitcher.

Section 8 — Except for illness, injury, or special situations, all players must play a minimum of two defensive innings (nine outs). A player who arrives after the first defensive inning is not subject to minimum-play rules. A team will not be penalized for not meeting the minimum-play rule if a game ends early, a player is injured, becomes ill, or leaves early, etc. Willful disregard of the minimum-play rule by a manager or coach is grounds for a protest and forfeiture of the game.

Section 9: Player Pool Rule — When a team is short-handed and needs to borrow additional players to field a full team, (maximum 9 players); it must pull players from the next lower age division ONLY. 

12U shall pull players from the 10U division player pool.

16U shall pull players from the 12U division player pool.

Using players from the same division, or players who are not on a PWGFS roster, is not permitted under any circumstance. The fill-in player shall be subject to the PWGFS minimum-play standards (Local Rule 4 – Section 8) at the expense of the player(s) who arrived following the game’s start time. Once the fill-in player has met the minimum-play standards, if a player becomes ill or is injured and is completely removed from the game, a fill-in player already in the lineup may replace the player defensively only if there are no remaining regular players. 

Player pool players will maintain their position in the batting rotation for the entire game. Players who arrive late shall be inserted at the bottom of the batting order. If a player pool player was requested from a lower division to play up and are present at the start of the game, they are subject to the same minimum-play rules as a regular team player.

All player pool players must be identified to the opposing coach prior to the plate conference with the umpire and obtained through contacting the player agent, who will assign the player(s).

Head coaches must contact the Player Agent and Division Commissioner at least 24 hours in advance, when possible via phone and or email when requesting a player pool player.

For tournament games, short-handed teams may only borrow enough players from the next lower division to allow them to field a legal team of seven players

Section 10: Player Pool Rule for Pitching Situations – Teams may request to borrow player pool pitchers or catchers from the next lower division. The player pool pitcher playing up may occupy the pitching circle for a maximum of three innings. 

Rule 5 — The Game

Section 3 — Games will be seven innings if time allows. Each inning has a 5-run limit, except for the seventh inning, which will have a 7-run limit. All innings started will be played to their conclusion but, no new innings will begin beyond the 1-hour 40-minute time limit. If the home team is behind, regardless of the number of runs, they will complete their at-bat. The inning will end when the home team a) is ahead by 1 run, b) earned the maximum number of runs allowed in the inning, or c) three outs are achieved. If the home team is leading, the inning will be complete at the end of the visiting team's at bat.

In case of a tie after seven innings and there is remaining time, the game will continue using international tiebreak rules (ITB). The last player who completed her turn at bat in the prior inning will begin the next inning as a runner on second base with no outs. The next regularly scheduled batter will lead off. ITB innings will follow a 5-run limit. If the time limit has been reached, the game will be recorded as a tie unless in tournament play.

Section 9 — The game is over if a team is behind by 10 runs or more after a legal game (5 innings) is established, and the losing team has had its rightful turn at bat. 

General — During playoff games, if the game ends in a tie after the seventh inning, ITB rules apply. ITB rules will be followed and innings continue until there is a winner.

If a team is up by more than 10 runs, they can no longer steal home.

Championship games shall be played to completion without time restrictions.

16 & Under division

Rules for 16 & under division mirror the 12U rules with one exception: The pitcher's rubber shall be 43 feet, not 40, from home plate.

Tournament Play

The tournament for 10U and 12U will be pool play. Each team will be a hat draw to determine the brackets.