Fastpitch America Softball Association

🏆 World Series and Nationals Qualification Guidelines

How to Qualify for FASA World Series and Nationals:

Teams must be FASTPITCH AMERICA Sanctioned
Attend the FASTPITCH AMERICA State Tournament in your home state or a Regional Qualifier Tournament for your area
Receive an at-large berth
Roster: Up to three pick-up players may be added to a team's roster after the FASTPITCH AMERICA State Tournament/National Qualifier/NIT

📚 Section 1: Definitions

Key Terms and Definitions

1.1 Altered Bat: When the physical structure of a legal softball bat has been changed.

1.2 Appeal: A play or rule violation on which the umpire does not make a ruling until requested by a coach or player. Judgment calls (Balls, Strikes, Safe, or Outs) are not appealable.

1.3 Base Runner: An offensive batter that has just put the ball in play becomes a base runner.

1.4 Bunt: When a batter taps the pitched ball and attempts to put the ball in play. The bat does not have to remain still to be considered a bunt attempt.

1.5 Conference: Anytime a head coach gets permission to suspend play to talk to the players. Only 1 offensive or defensive conference allowed per ½ inning without penalty. On the second defensive conference in a ½ inning the pitcher must be replaced. Replacement pitcher must pitch to at least one batter. The replaced pitcher may go back into the pitcher's position once per ½ innings.

1.6 Stalling: Umpire has a right to end a conference early if the umpire determines a team is trying to stall a game. This call will not be questioned or appealed by a coach.

1.7 5 Minute Rule: Umpire will stop the clock if a time out is called by either team or an injury occurs to a player in the last 5 minutes of the game. The umpire will have the official time.

1.8 Leap: A "Leap" is defined as an act by the pitcher which causes both feet to be airborne at the same time on the initial move and move from the pitcher's plate.

1.9 Crow Hop or Replant: A "Crow Hop" is defined as the act of a pitcher who steps, hops, or drags off the front of the pitcher's plate, replants the pivot foot, establishing a second starting point, pushes off from the newly established point and completes the delivery.

1.10 Dead Ball: When the ball is not in play. Umpire will declare, "Dead ball."

1.11 Fake Tag: When a defensive player makes the motion of tagging a base runner when there is no actual play being made. Penalty could be ejection of the offending player.

1.12 Foul Tip: A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt or hand and is legally caught by the catcher. It is a strike and remains a live ball.

1.13 Hit by Pitch: When the pitched ball hits the batter, and the batter is not swinging at the ball, or a strike is not called. Dead ball results with the batter advancing to first base.

1.14 Illegal Bats: A bat that does not meet the requirements of an official bat as dictated by National Federation of State High School Associations.

1.15 Infield Fly Rule: A batted pop fly in the infield with 1 or less outs when a base runner occupies at 1st and 2nd base or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base. When umpire feels the ball can be caught by reasonable effort he indicates or verbalizes infield fly, and the batter is out.

1.16 Live Ball: Any and all times that the ball is in play or until the umpire calls "time" or "dead ball".

Age Groups and Player Requirements

1.17 Age Groups: Age Groups are the age of a player on 8/1 of the Seasonal Year. Seasonal year begins on 8/01 of the calendar year and runs until 7/31 of the following year.

1.18 Age Update: All Players must age up on 8/01 of the Calendar year. Example: a girl turns 17 on 08/01 of the seasonal year she can play 16U until 07/31 of the calendar year and then on 08/01 must start playing 18U.

1.19 SAFETY REQUIREMENT: All 8U players, all 10U infielders, and 12U pitchers and corners (1st and 3rd) must wear protective face guards. Face Guards are optional for 14U and up.

Roster Requirements

1.20 Online Rosters are REQUIRED. Penalty: If a team's roster is not online and the opposing Coach protests a player's eligibility, the protest is upheld and the team without the roster online will forfeit the game and the player will be disqualified from playing that weekend.

1.21 Single Roster Rule: Players are allowed on only 1 Roster as a rostered player. If a girl is on 2 different rosters as a rostered player then she is officially on the roster of the 1st team that submitted her name and must be submitted as a pickup player on the 2nd team. It is the Coaches responsibility to ensure that their rosters are correct.

1.22 Pickup Players: Up to 3 Pickup Players are allowed but, the team picking up the player must use the online pickup player form and add the player on the online pickup player form.

Penalty: If a player is listed as a rostered player and should have been on the pickup player form then she will be considered a pickup player for the team unless they already have 3 pickup players listed. If the player is listed on the team roster and they already have 3 pickup players and the player is listed as a rostered player on another team, the player will be disqualified and the team must forfeit the current game.

⚾ The Intent and Purpose of the Rules

The restrictions which the rules place upon the players are intended to create a balance of play; to provide equal opportunity between offense and defense; and to create an atmosphere of sporting behavior and fair play.

Therefore, it is important to know the intent and purpose of the rules so that it may be intelligently applied in each situation. A player or a team should not be permitted an advantage that is not intended by a rule. Neither should play be permitted to develop which may lead to placing a player or a team at a disadvantage not intended by a rule.

                FASA Philosophy: FASTPITCH AMERICA SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION will always be about the "can do's". We demonstrate flexibility and tolerance while maintaining strict adherence to safety rules.
            

Reference to NFHS Rules: To keep the FASTPITCH AMERICA SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Rulebook as streamlined as possible, we will refer to the National Federation of High School's (NFHS) rulebook for all rules and case studies.

🎪 Section 10: Special Rules for Age Divisions

10.1 6-U Tee Ball Rules

Special rules apply for the youngest division to ensure safety and fun while learning the game.

10.2 8-U Coach Pitch Rules

Coach pitches from 30 feet
Maximum 5 pitches per batter
No walks - batter must hit or strike out
10 defensive players allowed
Bunting and slapping are allowed
NO SMASH Hitting (Faking a bunt and then hitting away)
No "Infield Fly Rule" or "Intentional Walk"
ALL Players MUST wear a face shield

10.3 8-U Modified Girl Pitch Rules

Player-Pitcher pitches 5 pitches or until 3 balls, whichever comes first
If batter doesn't hit, coach assumes count and pitches up to 3 more pitches
No walks - batter must hit or strike out
Pitching distance: 35 feet with 8-foot circle
Bases: 60 feet
10 players on offense and defense
No base stealing or throwing behind runners
ALL Players MUST wear a face shield

10.4 8-U Machine Pitch Rules

5 hittable pitches = 5 strikes
Runner may lead off when ball leaves the machine
10 defensive players allowed on field
Machine set at approximately 35 MPH
Bunting and stealing allowed
Runners not allowed to steal home
8-foot circle around the machine
ALL Players MUST wear a face shield

10.5 10-Under Special Rules

11" diameter game ball must be used
Pitching distance: 35 feet
10-Under teams play by same rules as older divisions
Heart Guards are recommended for Pitchers

10.6 High School Division Special Rules

High School group is a combined age group of 16-U and 18-U.

🤝 Section 11: FASA Sportsmanship Guidelines

11.1 Sportsmanship Guidelines

Player Safety: If a player gets hurt, after the play has stopped the umpire shall call Dead Ball. Until Dead Ball is called on an injury the runners may advance at their own risk. Safety of the players is taken very seriously and should be monitored by all coaches and umpires.
Unsportsmanlike Behavior: Unsportsmanlike behavior by a player, coach or fan is an ejectable offense.
Umpire Respect: Umpires should be fair, impartial, use good judgment and never speak rudely or out of turn to a player, coach or fan. An umpire puts a human element into the game. They are subject to making errors the same as coaches and players are subject to making mistakes. In the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship we will not allow anyone to show disrespect towards them because of their decisions.
Coach Responsibility: Coaches will follow the rules of sportsmanship, never stall a game, be a graceful winner and loser, and never speak rudely or out of turn to a player, coach, fan or umpire. Coaches are also responsible for the sportsmanship of their own players and fans. Coaches should not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct from their own players or fans.

FASTPITCH AMERICA will do their part by pursuing the best decision makers to call FASTPITCH AMERICA events.

📊 Section 12: Team Classifications & Pickup Players

                In an effort to find a better way to correctly classify teams, FASA considers winning record and run differential in bracket play to determine Team classification.
            

12.1 Team Classifications

Classification	Requirements
CLASS A	Teams with winning percentage of 75% and run differential greater than 10 in bracket play only
CLASS B	Teams with winning percentage of 51% and run differential greater than 10 in bracket play only. Also all unpaid teams will be classified as Class B
CLASS C	Teams with winning percentage less than 51%
FASA REC	Team formed from and play in a drafted League
FASA SELECT REC	Teams from or play in a non-drafted league. A Non-Drafted league is a league that has less than 5 girls on any team that were not in the open draft

Note: Team classifications will be based on win percent and run differential can cause teams to be bumped up in class or to drop in class.

12.2 Pickup Players Rules

Pickup Players must be listed on the team roster as pickup Players.
Class C Events: Teams playing in Class C Events can pickup only 1 player from a Class A or Class B team while playing in a Class C only Event. The other 2 pickups must come from a Class C Team.
Playing Down: Pickup players may play down in Classification but not in age. Players "playing down" may not play in the pitcher or catcher position in class "C" events.

Penalty: Player is ejected from the event and team forfeits the game.

If a player is not on a FASA roster then FASA will check other organizations to check the team roster.
If the player is on a FASA roster then only the FASA roster will be checked.
FASA will not check or accept Game changer for roster verification.

📖 Complete Rule Book

This page contains the key rules and guidelines from the FASA Official Rule Book. For complete details on all sections including:

Section 2: Basics of Playing the Game
Section 3: Pitching Rules
Section 4: Batting and Base Running
Section 5: Official Lineup of Players and Substitutes
Section 6: Equipment
Section 7: Regulations of the "Playing Field"
Section 8: Umpire's Rights and Responsibilities
Section 9: Tournament and League Play Guidelines

📥 Download Complete PDF Rule Book

Questions about the rules? Contact your local FASA director or reach out through our Contact Us page.

📖 FASA Official Rule Book