Babe Ruth Softball Rules Changes for 2022 Season

• Babe Ruth Softball Rule 1.15 (b) - No pitcher shall attach to her glove any foreign material of a color different from the glove. The pitcher may wear her batting glove on her non-pitching hand under her pitcher’s glove, provided the batting glove is not optic yellow.

             Local DYSL Rule Changes

             For 2022 in 12U and 10U a new rule change was approved by the BOD

              A “drop dead” time limit of one hour and forty-five minutes will be in play. At the end of the one hour and forty-five     minutes of play the score will revert to the last completed inning. An inning is deemed started at the conclusion of the last out of the prior inning.

Babe Ruth Softball Rules Changes for 2021 Season        

• Rule 0.01; Number 7 - BACKGROUND CHECKS: Babe Ruth League requires all managers, coaches, and volunteers with consistent active engagement with players to register with our National Athletic Safety Program for Background Checks and Abuse Prevention Training. Babe Ruth League, Inc. chartered leagues are required to conduct a nationwide background check on all managers, coaches, Board of Directors, and any other persons, volunteers, or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players. Once a volunteer has successfully completed the background check, it is valid for a two (2) year period from the date of completion.

Babe Ruth Softball Rules Changes for 2020 Season        

• Rule 11.04 Documents – Certification of completion for Coaching Education and Abuse Prevention Training for all rostered coaches as required in Rule 0.04 #4. (Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball, Babe Ruth Softball)
• Clarification - Wireless communication devices are not allowed; however, electronic scoring devices are permitted. No device on the field or in the dugout may be used as a means of communication. (Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball, Babe Ruth Softball)

• Addition to the current pitching rules for the 2020 Season:

Pitcher’s Foot Placement:

The new addition will eliminate the requirement that a pitcher must have part of her pivot foot on top of the pitcher’s plate. Now, the pivot foot must only start in contact with the plate. This addition will also allow the pitcher to start with the non-pivot “stride” foot in contact with or behind the plate and allows the pitcher to step back with the stride foot off of the plate; provided the step back begins prior to the official start of the pitch, the separating of the hands.

With the new rule addition, Pitchers will have the choice to either continue with the current rule or to comply with the new addition. Both will be accepted as legal play and will not result in an illegal pitch scenario.

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2019 Babe Ruth Rules Changes and Clarifications

• Babe Ruth Softball Rule Change – Face Masks – Face Masks are required for the infield positions – First, Third and Pitcher.

• 15 RUN RULE (Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Softball 12U and Younger Divisions) Any tournament game for Cal Ripken Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball 12U and younger divisions must be terminated immediately if one team is ahead by fifteen (15) or more runs after two and one half (2 ½) or three (3) innings and each team has had equal times at bat.

Any tournament game for Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth Softball 12U and Younger Divisions must be terminated immediately once becoming regulation (3 ½ or 4 innings) if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs and each team has had equal times at bat, or the home team is leading.

• 15 RUN RULE (Babe Ruth 13-15 and 16-18 Baseball, Babe Ruth Softball 14U and Older Divisions - Any tournament game for Babe Ruth 13-15 or 16-18 Baseball, or Babe Ruth Softball 14U and Older Divisions must be terminated immediately if one team is ahead by fifteen (15) or more runs after three and one half (3 ½) or four (4) innings and each team has had equal times at bat. 

Any tournament game for Babe Ruth 13-15 and 16-18 Baseball or Babe Ruth Softball 14U and Older Divisions must be terminated immediately once becoming regulation (4 ½ or 5 innings) if one team is ahead by ten (10) or more runs  and each team has had equal times at bat, or the home team is leading.

• Babe Ruth Softball Bats (Clarification) – Softball bats with an adjustable knob are allowed, provided the knob is permanently fastened by the manufacturer.  Any devices, attachments or wrappings that cause the knob to become flush with the handle are also permitted.