2022 Corn Belt Princess League-10U
Volume I, Jan. 1, 2022
PRINCESS SOFTBALL RULES AND BI-LAWS
THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEAGUE IS TO PROMOTE SOFTBALL, ENCOURAGE SPORTSMANSHIP, AND
GIVES YOUNG WOMEN A CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITY, WHILE PROVIDING
VALUABLE RECREATION.
1. The CORN BELT PRINCESS SOFTBALL LEAGUE-10U
A. The Corn Belt Princess Softball League-10U
shall consist of how every
many Division's The league managers vote on.
B. Any team wishing to enter the league must
attend and be approved by a vote of the
league at the annual league meeting in the
spring.
C. Each division shall select a Division Director
at the league meeting.
D. All correspondences to the League should
be done by email, rockcreekball@aol.com
ONLY Phone in EMERGENCY
E. Each Town has one vote on League matters, regardless how many teams each town
has, for By-Law and Rule Changes.
F. There is No
Complaints to be addressed to the League concerning Umpires,
that
should be handled on the Field
G. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEAGUE IS TO PROMOTE SOFTBALL, ENCOURAGE SPORTSMANSHIP, AND
GIVES YOUNG WOMEN A CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITY, WHILE PROVIDING
VALUABLE RECREATION.
2. OFFICERS - CORN BELT PRINCESS SOFTBALL LEAGUE-10U
A. Officers: The league’s governing board will consist of four officers:
B. President – Vice President – Secretary – Treasurer(Only if a League fee is required)
C. Officers will maintain their office for one year, but may be re-elected. Officer
nomination and election to be held at first meeting of the season.
D. Election of officers for the year will be at the first meeting of the year.
E. The league President and or Secretary will receive $5 of each Entry Fee each year
for his-her time.
3. RULE BOOK
A. The National Federation of State High School Associations rulebook as used by the
Illinois High School Association will be used. This league will use fast pitch rules
only. No additions or subtractions of these rules will be permitted, unless otherwise
stated in the bylaws. (See attachments) The town representatives will vote on all
bylaw and rule changes by majority vote.
4. LEAGUE DUES
A. League dues will be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) per team per year.
5. INSURANCE
A. Each team must carry insurance to cover all girls participating. Policy number must
be on the roster sheet. No team will be allowed to play until they have shown proof
of insurance. Practice sessions prior to being insured will be at your own risk.
6. SEASON
A. The playing season may start in May before school is out. The playing season will end
in July before school resumes. Dates are subject to change each year.
B. 10U – will play Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
C. The number of scheduled games will be a minimum of 12 per season. (If possible)
7. TEAM STRUCTURE
A. 10U Division: 10 and Under - A player who is 10 years or less on Sept. 1, 2022 is
eligible.
B. Roster: The number of teams for each town, league dues, proof of insurance, conflict
dates, field availability, and rosters must be turned in by March 15, no exceptions.
The roster should contain the following:
1) Manager’s name, phone number and email address
2) Player’s names, player’s birth date, jersey # and age as of Sept. 1, 2022
C. No players may be added or changed to a different roster after the turn in date. Girls
that move in after the roster deadline can be added to that town’s roster. No girl may
be on more than one CBPL roster. She may play up (10U can play on 12U etc.) but if she
is on a 12U roster, she may not play for a 10U team, even if her age makes her
eligible.
D. A player must play for the team in her school district or for the private school she
attends. No all-star teams or tryouts will be allowed. If a town does not have a
team at her age level, she may play for an adjacent town, with board of directors
approval. This is effective beginning with the 2022 season and is not retroactive. All
eligible players must submit a valid birth certificate or other confirming information
in order to be eligible to play. These must be turned into the league at the time of
the registration or the player will be ineligible for any games until it is presented
and verified.
E. You must have 9 players to start a game, but may continue with 8 if one is injured, etc.
If at any time during the game a player who is in the batting line-up at the beginning
of the game (continuous with all batters or just batting nine players) is injured and
must be removed from the game the following applies: When the injured players next time
at bat occurs –
1. She may be removed from the line up for the remainder of the game – No out will
be charged for her at bats, but she may not return to the game.
2. She may forfeit her at bat for this round with the option of returning to the
lineup at a later time if able – An out will be charged for each time she does
not bat for the remainder of the game. This rule applies to 14U and 17U divisions.
12U, 10U & 8U will not be charged an out for injured players not batting.
(See 12U and 10U by-laws)
F. You may borrow up players with notification to opposing manager prior to start of game.
8. PLAYING FIELD
A. The home team manager must provide a suitable playing field by game time, which
includes having a safety base for first base. If the game is called because of
inclement weather, the home team manager must call the visiting manager by 4:00 p.m.
(unless last minute weather problems occur). The home team manager shall, at this
time, set a date for the make-up game. Please make every attempt to have fields
striped for all games at all levels.
B. Field dimensions will be – 35 foot pitching plate, 60 foot bases
C. A 5 run per inning rule will apply
9. GAME TIME
A. Each game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. 14Uand 17U may have games start as late as
8:00 p.m. if a lighted diamond is available and both coaches agree to this time
change. A 15-minute delay will be allowed; however, after 15 minutes, the team
causing the delay will forfeit the game and the score will be logged as 7-0.
B. Rescheduling: The home team will present the opposing manager with two (2) options
for rescheduling a game within 1 week of the original date. If the game is not
rescheduled or played within this time frame, the team causing the delay will
forfeit. If a game should need to be rescheduled again due to inclement weather,
it must be done within one (1) week or team causing the delay will forfeit. If
the last game of the season is postponed, it must be played within 72 hours of
the original date or the team causing the delay must forfeit. Rescheduling
should only be done in the event of graduation ceremonies or inclement weather,
unless the two teams decide otherwise. In the event of a dispute, the President
and the Scheduling Committee will decide the deciding rule on forfeiture.
C. GAMES ENDING IN A TIE – Use international tie breaking rules. After the 6th or
7th inning (depending on the age group), if the game is tied and must go into
extra innings to determine a winner, the following would apply--The visiting team
would place their last out from the previous inning on second base, then that half
of the inning would be played as usual. The same applies to the home team when they
bat in the bottom of the inning. This would continue until one team has won. Please
note, this is the last out of the previous inning, not the last batter of that inning
10. INFIELD
A. Each team should be allowed infield practice at least 10 minutes before game time.
11. LINE-UP
A. Line-ups must be given to the other team 10 minutes before game time.
12. UMPIRES
A. Home team should furnish two (2) umpires; 10U and 12U may play with only one.
10U and 12U umpires must be at least 16 years old. 14U are to use a patched
umpire behind the plate if possible. 17U is encouraged to have a patched umpire
behind the plate; otherwise the umpire must be at least 21 years old. 8U teams
do not use umpires since scores are not kept.
B. Umpires are required to wear a face mask and tennis shoes at all times when
behind Home Plate. Base umpire must wear tennis shoes.
13. BALLS
A. The home team at all divisions will provide one new and one slightly used ball
for each game played. 8U and 10U will use an 11 inch regular ball (not a rubber
or safety ball)
B. 10U uses an Use regular 11” ball
14. TIME LIMIT
A. No new inning may start after 8:00 pm, even in the event of a tie. In the case
of an 8:00 p.m. start time, no new inning may start after 10:00 p.m. Game will
be considered official after 5 innings or 2-hour time limit. No new inning
can be started after 2 hours of play. Inning start is considered as soon as the
3rd out is recorded from previous half inning.
15. UNIFORMS
A. The uniform is to be of decent and proper attire for softball. Shoes are to be
tennis shoes or rubber spikes. No steel spikes will be allowed except for 17U,
but no L-shaped or pointed spikes. A helmet, with a facemask, is mandatory
16. SCORES/STANDINGS
A. The winning team manager must report game results to division rep at the
completion of each game. Any games not reported one (1) week after the completion
of the game will be marked as a loss for both teams.
B. Divisional Ties: In the event of a tie in standings, the following would apply
in the order listed below:
· Division record
· Head to head
· Point difference in head to head
· One game playoff on a neutral diamond with neutral umpires and a coin toss
to determine home team
C. Slaughter Rule – 15 run rule applies after 4 complete innings (10U and 12U only)
(14U- 12 runs after 3rd and 4th inning), 10 runs after 5 complete innings - All
Divisions
17. PROTESTING A GAME
A. YOU MUST MAKE YOUR PROTEST KNOWN AT THE TIME OF THE INFRACTION OR EVENT CAUSING
THE PROTEST. NOTIFY OPPOSING COACH AND THE OFFICIALS YOU WISH TO PLAY THE GAME
UNDER PROTEST –FOLLOW UP WITH NOTIFICATION OF THE RULES COMMITTEE. A team wishing
to protest a game must submit the protest to any member of the Rules committee
within 24 hours via e-mail, faxes, or phone. This must be followed up in writing
along with a $50.00 filing fee within 3 days. In the event your protest is upheld,
your filing fee will be refunded. The opposing coach will then be notified by a
member of the Rules Committee and will have three (3) days to submit their
interpretation of the infraction. Failure to do so will result in an automatic
forfeit. The rules Committee will review and notify both coaches of the decision
made. All decisions are final and are not up for review.
18. NO SLIDE RULE
A. No Slide Rule SEE RULE 8-6-13, Page 65-66 of NFHS RULE BOOK, In the middle of the
page, it states: “NOTE: Runners are never required to slide, but if the runner
elects to slide, the slide shall be legal.” SEE RULE 2-52, page 26 of NFHS RULE
BOOK for the definition of a legal slide.
19. HOME PLATE IS FAIR
A. Home plate is fair, SEE RULE 1-2-2, page 9.
20. SPORTSMANSHIP
A. Good sportsmanship will be a primary goal for all Princess League teams and their
fans. While cheering your teammates on is a part of team sports, any negative
chanting when the opposing team is batting will not be allowed. All
chanting/cheering is to stop as soon as the pitcher is on the rubber.
21. TRAVEL LEAGUE PLAYERS
A. All travel league players must be identified by May 1st to ensure they meet the 50%
minimum of games played in order to play in the post season tournament.
22. COACH'S CODE OF CONDUCT
A. Each coach participating in NIPL organized games must sign and adhere to the Coach’s
Code of Conduct. The Coach’s code of conduct is attached to the By-laws as
attachment #1
23. THUNDER/LIGHTMING POLICY
A. Prior to the game if thunder or lightning is present the game will be delayed 30 minutes.
Each time a new occurrence of thunder or lightning happens the 30 minutes starts over.
This holds true for in game weather issues. However once the game starts the umpire may
suspend the game based upon incoming weather and/or field conditions.
24. BATTING/FIELDING/BASE RUNNING
A. All levels must use continuous batting order and all players must play a minimum of
2 defensive innings
B. No designated hitters are allowed. Courtesy runners allowed for pitcher or catcher
at any time
C. Courtesy runner will always be the player who made the last out.
D, Helmets with face masks are mandatory for 17U, 14U, 12U, and 10U; to be worn while batting,
while running bases, and by players coaching bases
E. There will be no walks, stolen bases or lead-offs
F. If a player is not present at the start of the game and is on the line-up, but does not
show up, she will be counted as an out.
G. Maximum of 5 runs may be scored in an inning, except for the last complete inning as
determined by the umpire. (If a player hits a home run, etc. with runners on, there may
still be only 5 total runs scored for that inning). Regular games consist of 6 innings.
In case of darkness, weather, etc., a complete game consists of 4 innings or 3 1/2 if home
team is winning.
H. Free substitutions on defense with no restrictions. (This refers to any position)
I. No stealing.
J. No dropped third strike
K. May field 10 players, all fielders may be anywhere in fair territory, except the catcher,
which must be in the catcher’s box.
L. No infield fly rule
M. Bunting will be allowed. Rules will follow IHSA rules.
N. Everyone must play 2 defensive innings
O. NOTE: A runner may not leave the base until the pitch has left the pitchers hand. In other
words, as soon as the ball leaves the pitchers hand, the runner may take no more than 2
steps off first base. Coaches should instruct their players in proper base running (watching
for grounders, tagging on fly balls, and returning to the base by the time the pitcher has
the ball and is in the pitchers circle or on the mound). There will be NO picking off of
runners returning to the base after a leadoff.
25. PITCHING
A. All pitchers in 10/12/14u must wear a protective masK
B. Warm up pitches: 1st inning: 5-7 pitches
Returning pitchers: 3 pitches to coach or catcher (not both)
New/Relief pitcher: Maximum of 10 pitches
C. All pitching must be done by the players.
D. Coach Pitch - After 5 walks in an inning by any combination of pitchers, the team at bat coach
will pitch for the remainder of that inning. The umpire still calls balls and strikes, a
player can strike out, but a player may not walk. The pitcher remains on the diamond to
field her normal pitching position. When the next inning starts a player must pitch until
there are 5 walks in the new inning for the coach pitch to begin again.
26. ALL-STAR
A. All Star Game: Format for the All-Star Game will be determined on a yearly basis.
B. Continuous batting order 3 Players from each team
C. 2 innings maximum a player can pitch
D. No run rule
G. Game must be 6 innings
H. Coach from the best records will coach each team
I. Players will may receive a Medal for Participating (see awards)
27. POST SEASON
A. Tournament Qualifiers
I) All teams qualify
a) Seeding will be done by the board
b) 2019 seeds will be Winning Pct. times games Played, then head to head
then Runs against
c) All seeding is Final
d) Forfeits will be recorded as 7-0. If game is not played, both teams will be recorded
as a loss with a score of 7-7. The Board of Directors will act as the seeding committee
for all postseason tournaments
28. AWARDS
A. Individual (16)trophies will be awarded to all divisional champs. A different trophy will be
awarded to Individuals in the league tournament for top 4 as a result of the Post Season
Tournament. (16 Trophies for each top 4 teams. NO TEAM TROPHY)
B. All star team members will also receive medal awards.
***Please Remember that this League is here to teach and have Fun.***