WGSL
Instructional Division Rules
SPRING SEASON 2024
It is the objective of the Wallingford Girls' Softball League to provide an organized slow pitch softball league to school age girls who live in the Town of Wallingford or in neighboring towns, while providing a positive experience for all participants. The League stresses fundamental skill development, team play and fun in a sports activity. Fair play, cooperation and respect among players, coaches, parents/spectators, and officials are emphasized at all times. All rules and regulations established by the League are directed to these ends. All regulations shall be interpreted and applied by the coaches in the way in which they are intended. Circumventing League intentions to win, though technically permissible in some cases, is not considered in the best interest of the league, its participants, and most importantly the girls.
GOAL - The Instructional Division introduces our youngest players to the game of softball. Only the most basic rules of the game will be used in this non-competitive atmosphere. Players will see team play as they learn to bat, throw, catch, and run bases.
ELIGIBILITY - The Instructional Division is open to any girl who will attain the age of five (5) years old by Opening Day and all girls in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and first (1st) grade who either lives in the Town of Wallingford or any neighboring town. The maximum age is seven (7) years as of January 1st.
Exception: If a player is in grade one (1) and has completed at least one year in the instructional division, that girl is eligible to play in the clinic division.
THE PLAYING FIELD
a. The pitching rubber shall be placed thirty (30) feet from the rear point of home plate.
b. Bases shall be placed forty-five (45) feet apart. The home team coach will set the bases and pitching rubber before the game and return them to the locked field box after the game (if necessary).
EQUIPMENT
a. Bats used in the League must be marked T-ball, "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" and/or bear an ASA certification mark. All approved bats must have a WGSL label affixed to the bat.
b. The official game ball is a poly soft ball (9") as approved and provided by the League.
c. All batters and baserunners must wear approved batting helmets. Helmets must not be removed until the player is off the field. The other team will provide additional helmets upon request.
d. Players must wear their League issued t-shirt. The WGSL visor is the only visor/hat that can worn during the game.
e. Players must wear athletic shoes with socks. Non-athletic shoes, street shoes and boots are not allowed.
f. The only acceptable jewelry is stud jewelry.
g. The head coach of each team will maintain all League distributed equipment in good working order and will request replacement equipment from the League's Equipment Manager as necessary.
BATTERS AND RUNNERS (OFFENSE)
a. The batting order includes all players present and ready to play. Coaches will insist that players arrive at least ½ hour prior to a scheduled game, when most of the instruction is provided.
b. All players who are not playing in the field, batting, on deck, or running bases must remain in the dugout area (preferably on the bench).
c. All players at the start of the season will use a batting tee. Coach pitching may be introduced into the game after Memorial Day. Since abilities may vary greatly in this Division, the introduction of coach pitching will be at the coach’s discretion. However, if the coach pitching is introduced to a player and if after three pitches the player is unsuccessful in her attempt to hit the ball, the batting tee will be re-introduced for the remainder of the “at-bat”.
d. Upon hitting the ball, the batter and all runners may advance one base. The last batter in the Team’s respective line-up and all runners on base at that time will be allowed to run to all of the bases. Once the last batter has reached home plate, play will be stopped. As a courtesy to the players running the bases the defensive team must remain on the field until the last runner has reached home plate.
e. All baserunners must proceed and stop at the base they have been awarded regardless of the playmaking conducted in the field by the defensive team.
f. Runners cannot advance on bad throws.
DEFENSE (FIELDERS)
a. Teams will use all available players on defense.
b. Only five (5) players can play in the infield at any one time; there is no catcher in the Instructional Division. A coach should act as the catcher while also assisting the player that is batting.
c. The base players and shortstop shall be no closer than 40 feet from home plate prior to the pitch.
d. Only one (1) player-pitcher can play in the pitching area. She will stand no closer than 30 feet from home plate prior to the pitch (the player-pitcher fields batted balls but doesn't actually pitch).
e. The remaining players will play the outfield. All outfielders must be positioned no less than five (5) feet beyond the normal infield dirt area prior to the pitch.
f. We encourage all defensive players to make an attempt to finish the play. Infielders should be directed to throw caught balls to 1st base, outfielders should be directed to throw caught balls to 2nd base.
THE GAME
a. Games in the Instructional Division are simply an extension of the learning process. Coaches shall concentrate on teaching skills to their players in a game setting without worrying about the score.
b. The length of an Instructional Game may vary depending on weather factors, however generally speaking Instructional games should not last any longer than an hour and fifteen minutes.
c. Postponements: In case of inclement weather, the League no later than one hour-fifteen minutes before game time will post the status of all games on its website, (www.wgsl.org); it is the responsibility of the Head Coach (or his/her designate) to confirm the status of his/her team’s game. It is then the responsibility of the Head Coach (or his/her designate) to inform his/her players within a reasonable timeframe of any postponement. Teams must report to the field of play, unless otherwise notified.
d. Postponed or incomplete suspended games will be rescheduled by the League to be played at the earliest available makeup date.
OTHER
a. Coaches: The League encourages each head coach to use as many parents/coaches as can be managed to teach the girls. All parents participating in the game as either a coach or simply a volunteer must have completed the League’s volunteer form and cleared a background check, as required by the League.
b. On defense (in the field), three coaches will be allowed to roam the outfield to help guide the girls. No defensive coach will be allowed in the infield area during normal play. Nor will any coach be allowed to physically interfere with a ball in play. A coach can provide fielding instruction from the sidelines or outfield. Coach not in the outfield should remain in the dugout area.
c. On offense (at bat), there will be the two base coaches and a batter coach. For the safety of the girls, a coach should be assigned to the bench to maintain discipline and prepare girls for batting. Players who are not on the field, at bat, on deck or on base are to be in the dugout-bench area preferably on the bench.
d. Coaches should be positioned themselves behind the outfield players to provide assistance and instruction to players without physically interfering with them or the ball in play. A coach from the offensive (batting) team should be stationed behind the plate to retrieve the ball and place balls on the tee; however, this coach will not interfere with a ball in play- There are no umpires in this Division.
e. Coaches Conduct: All coaches are reminded that players and spectators may copy their actions. Coaches will set the proper example by reflecting those values and intentions herein. The League will review all complaints relative to the conduct of coaches, players or spectators and respond accordingly.
f. For the safety of our girls, the playing area must be kept clear of equipment not being used. Players who are not in the field, at bat, on deck or on base should remain on or immediately around the bench. Spectators and equipment must remain behind the backstop, and out of the players dugout or behind an imaginary line drawn from the end poles of the backstop parallel to the foul lines. A bench coach should be used to enforce this rule, since failure to comply will seriously compromise player safety.
g. Smoking/Alcoholic Beverages: There shall be no drinking of alcoholic beverages allowed in the parks. There shall be no smoking on the playing fields and the surrounding areas. Smoking is not allowed within the Gaylord Complex. Coaches committing an infraction of the smoking rule will receive a written warning after the first infraction. Coaches committing a second infraction of the smoking rule will be suspended indefinitely and subject to review by the Instructional Division Commissioner, League Vice-President, and League President.
Coaches committing an infraction of the alcoholic beverages rule will be suspended indefinitely and subject to review by the Instructional Division Commissioner, League Vice-President, and League President.
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Approved by the Wallingford Girls Softball League, Inc.
Last revision date:
November 2022