Rules – DAMSL

Mission Statement:

Our league exists for the purpose of evangelism—encouraging Christ, fostering fellowship, and supporting church participation—while remaining united under the truth that Christ alone rules the league. No single church is greater than the league, nor may any church dictate how another conducts its evangelism or impose player requirements that conflict with league policy. Participation is open to all; players do not need to attend the church they play for, or attend church at all. Member churches are encouraged to invite unchurched individuals to join not for the sake of winning games, but to introduce them to Jesus Christ, remembering that if we can invite someone to play softball, we can also invite them to church.

Preface:

Except where these rules provide otherwise, DAMSL play adheres to the Minnesota Sports Federation (MSF) rules. Most of their rules are published in their rulebook (which all DAMSL coaches have a hard copy of) and the remaining in their Program Guide. To support quick cross-reference, our sections align with MSF section titles, and related MSF citations are noted in [brackets].

Eligibility
1. Teams [MSF Program Guide]
  1. All teams must have a single sponsoring church. The intent of this rule is to ensure that there is a pastor/board to work with if any issues arise with a team.
  2. There is a limit of 20 players per roster.
2. Players [MSF Program Guide]
  1. Adult players must be 15 years of age prior to the start of the season (April 28th, 2026). If a player is 14 but turning age 15 within the calendar year of the season (12/31/2026 or before), they may play on adult team with DAMSL board approval AND a waiver signed by a parent/guardian.
  2. Players who are eligible to play either adult or youth cannot play in both – they must pick one.
  3. Players are allowed to switch teams ONCE during the season, but once they make the switch, they must remain with the new team for the rest of the season. Please also refer to the eligibility rules for players the tournament in section 9 – Tournament.
  4. Teams may use subs during the regular season, but coaches must confirm that the sub has not already played for another DAMSL team this year. If they have, they can transfer to your team for the remainder of the season, but they must be notified that they cannot sub for any other team going forward.
Field & Equipment
1. The Field [MSF 1-1]
  1. The distance between all bases is 65 feet. The pitcher’s rubber is set at 50 feet. All measurements to first base, third base, and the pitcher’s rubber are taken from the back point of home plate.
  2. All home teams must supply a mat for the game. Mat regulation is 22 inches wide by 36 inches long. If you need help procuring a mat, please reach out to the board.
  3. For safer plays at first base, the league recommends that each home team provide a two-piece (double) first base. The league has bases available to loan to coaches as needed.
  4. Bathrooms must be provided by the home team unless the game is played at a community field, in which case restroom availability is outside the home team’s control.
2. Softballs [MSF 1-2]
  1. The league will supply each team with one 12-inch .52/300 ball for every home game. In addition, the league will provide three to four 11-inch balls per season, which equates to roughly one ball for every other home game. The 11-inch balls are designated exclusively for female batters.
3. Bats [MSF 1-4]
  1. A list of illegal bats and an explanation of what constitutes a legal bat is available at https://www.dalboareamsl.com/illegal-bat-list/. If an illegal bat is used during regular-season play, the team will receive one warning. Any subsequent use by the same team in the same game will result in an automatic out, and the league board must be notified. This rule supports fair play and, more importantly, the safety of all players and coaches on the field.
Players, Substitutions & Coaches
1. Players, Positions [MSF 3-1]
  1. When a female batter is at the plate, the defense must position four outfielders entirely behind the 180′ line and four infielders on the dirt (a clearly perceptible infield). No rover is allowed—including a female rover—and a five-person infield is prohibited for the entire at bat.
    1. If a team is defending with only 8 or 9 players, they may still position four infielders in the dirt (which is the same as if they were fielding a full 10‑player defense).
2. Uniforms, Player Equipment [MSF 3-2]
  1. Players are expected to wear modest, appropriate clothing. Matching jerseys are encouraged whenever possible to make it easy to identify team members during play. Apparel featuring tobacco, alcohol, or any messaging generally considered inappropriate for church related activities should be avoided.
  2. Metal spikes are prohibited to ensure the safety of all participants. Any player found wearing them must immediately change into legal footwear; failure to do so will result in ejection.
3. Substituting [MSF 3-3]
  1. Teams may bat their full roster. Any player unable to bat when their turn arrives due to injury may be removed from the lineup and may not re-enter. This rule is designed to ensure everyone plays; skipping a batter for strategic advantage is not permitted.
  2. Any player, starter or substitute may be withdrawn from the game and re-entered once, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever in the lineup. A starter and any substitute for a starter may not be in the game at the same time. A violation results in illegal substitution.
4. Bench & Field Conduct [MSF 3-6]
  1. Players and coaches may not participate in a game while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Players or coaches determined to be under the influence will be ejected and the coach must notify the DAMSL Board for review.
  2. Neither smoking nor vaping is allowed on the field or bench.
  3. Any act of unsportsmanlike conduct can result in a warning or ejection — and the umpire has full authority to escalate immediately.
    1. Minor Offense: The coaches should meet off to the side with the umpire, calmly discuss in private, and then the players’ coach issues the warning to the player. The goal here is to address the situation without creating a scene, move on, and have fun. No penalty beyond the warning is assessed. However, a second minor offense by that player in the same game AUTOMATICALLY escalates to a major offense.
    2. Major Offense (The coach needs to report ALL major offenses to the board for tracking).
      1. 1st Offense of the Season: Immediate ejection from the current game.
      2. 2nd Offense of the Season: Ejection from the current game and suspension for the team’s next full game, including tournament play. If the offense occurs during the final game of the season, the suspension will be served in the first game of the following season.
      3. 3rd Offense of the Season: Suspension for the remainder of the season. Reinstatement requires an appeal to the league board and a meeting with the church pastor.
  4. Definitions of unsportsmanlike conduct
    1. Profanity
      1. Minor: Player uses profanity that may be heard by other players nearby but is not loud enough to be heard easily and clearly by spectators AND is not directed towards another person.
      2. Major: Uses profanity loud enough to be easily and clearly heard by spectators OR directs profanity toward another person, regardless of volume).
    2. Demeaning, insulting, or abusive language or gestures.
    3. Attempting to incite umpires, players or spectators.
    4. Throwing equipment in anger
    5. Physical aggression or threatening behavior
      1. Physical aggression is an automatic ejection from the current game and suspension for the remainder of the season. Reinstatement requires an appeal to the league board and a meeting with the church pastor.
    6. Any other action that makes a travesty of the game
Beginning & Ending a Game
1. Starting a Game [MSF 4-1]
  1. In the event of rain, the home team coach must notify the visiting team coach no later than 90 minutes before the scheduled start time if the game will be cancelled. Coaches are responsible for arranging makeup games, which must be completed before the final regular season game. If a field is needed for a rescheduled matchup, please contact Allen Goldsmith or Chris VanAnda.
  2. Before each game, all players, coaches, managers, and umpires will gather at home plate for a single pregame meeting. The home team will first clarify all field boundaries and ground rules (including foul markers, nearby obstacles, the 180′ line, and any other relevant details). Immediately following this, the home team will lead both teams in prayer. All participants are to remove their hats during this time.
2. Ending a Game [MSF 4-2]
  1. The following run rule thresholds apply after the listed innings: 20 after 4 innings, 15 after 5 innings, and 10 after 6 innings. Note: These are the same run thresholds that MSF uses, but each is pushed back one inning so games can’t end after only 3 innings.
  2. If a game is halted due to weather, darkness, or similar conditions, it becomes a regulation game once five full innings have been completed, or if the home team is leading in the bottom of the fourth. If play is stopped mid-inning in the sixth or later, the score will revert to the last fully completed inning—unless the home team has taken the lead during the incomplete bottom half, in which case that lead stands.
  3. On lit fields with a second game scheduled, no new inning may begin after 75 minutes. This ensures the following game can start on time at 8:30 PM.
Pitching Regulations
1. Preliminaries [MSF 6-1-1]
  1. Pitchers have the option to take a position up to six feet behind the 50’ pitcher’s plate as a safety and defensive measure. Once they take their position, the pitcher must come to a full and complete stop (one second) with both feet firmly on the ground. Also, one foot must remain in contact with the ground at least partially within the width area of the pitcher’s plate until the pitched ball leaves the hand.
2. Legal Delivery [MSF 6-1-3]
  1. A legal pitch must reach a minimum height of 6 feet from the ground, display a clear and perceptible arc, and be delivered underhand at a moderate speed. This standard is intended to eliminate “flat” pitches and is enforced at the umpire’s discretion.
  2. There is no maximum height limit.
3. Warm Up Pitches [MSF 6-1-9]
  1. Pitchers are allowed five warmup pitches before the start of the game and three warmup pitches at the start of each inning. Any new pitcher entering the game is permitted five warmup pitches.
Batting
1. Position and Batting Order [7-1]
  1. Each team must have two women on the field and within the top ten spots of the batting order at all times.
    1. If a team has only one woman
      1. They must play with one fewer fielder (9) on defense.
      2. The team may still bat its full lineup, but a woman must appear within the first ten spots, and an automatic out will be taken in place of the second required woman—this out must occur within the top ten positions.
      3. If a male batter is walked immediately before an empty female spot, he still receives the standard two‑base award.
      4. If a woman shows up after the game has started, she can slide into the open slot and remove the penalty from that point forward.
    2. If a team has no women
      1. They must play with two fewer fielders (8) on defense.
      2. The team may still bat its full lineup, but women must appear TWICE within the first ten spots, and an automatic out will be taken in both of those spots.
      3. ADDITIONALLY, that team must begin each inning with an automatic out, which effectively gives them two outs each inning instead of three.
      4. If a male batter is walked immediately before an empty female spot, he still receives the standard two‑base award.
      5. If a woman shows up after the game has started, she can slide into either open slot and reduce the penalty from that point forward to match the rule above for playing with one woman short.
2. Strikes, Balls & Hits [MSF 7-2]
  1. The count is 3 balls and 2 strikes. Each batter is allowed one courtesy foul after reaching one strike; the next foul ball results in a second strike and the batter is out.
  2. A pitch is a strike any time the ball makes contact with the strike mat—period. The mat should be positioned with a one inch gap between its edge and the back of home plate to help the umpire clearly see whether the ball hits the mat. If the ball touches the mat in any way, it is a strike. This includes simultaneous contact with the dirt and mat, or the plate and mat.
3. When a male batter is walked—intentional or unintentional—and a female batter is on deck, the male batter is awarded second base and the female batter will bat. All base runners advance only if forced. If a male batter is walked with two outs, the female batter has the option to hit or accept an automatic walk. This rule does not apply in youth divisions.
4. Each team is allowed a maximum of four (4) over‑the‑fence home runs per game. [MSF Program Guide]
  1. Any additional home runs are ruled an out.
  2. A ball that is touched by a defensive player while in flight and subsequently goes over the fence shall be awarded four bases but will not count toward the team’s home‑run total.
Batter-Runner & Runner
1. Runners Entitled to Advance [MSF 8-4]
  1. All overthrows that go into dead-ball territory result in a two-base award from the last base legally touched, based on the runner’s position at the moment the ball leaves the fielder’s hand. For example, if a batter-runner is advancing to first and an overthrow goes out of play before they reach the base, they are awarded first and second, since those are the next two bases from their position at the time of the throw.
2. Courtesy Runners [MSF 8-9]
  1. Up to two batters per half-inning may receive courtesy runners without restriction, and any player may serve as a courtesy runner for any other player. All batters must reach first base before a courtesy runner may enter. A courtesy runner who is still on base when their turn at bat arrives will be declared out on the base, must vacate it, and then take their at bat.
  2. If a batter comes to the plate multiple times in the same half inning, they may use a courtesy runner each time; however, the same courtesy runner may only run for one batter per half inning.
  3. Courtesy runners do not need to be the same gender as the batter.
Umpiring
1. General [MSF 10-1]
  1. Coaches are responsible for providing one or two knowledgeable umpires for all home games. Umpires must understand the basic rules of softball, be familiar with all rules outlined in this rulebook, and have watched the DAMSL Umpire Tips video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fS2vOTSmoQ).
  2. The home team determines whether an assigned umpire will be used or if both teams will umpire their own at bats.
Tournament
1. Player Eligibility
  1. Players must participate in at least four full regular‑season games with their current team to be eligible for tournament play. If that requirement is not met and there are extenuating circumstances, DAMSL board approval must be obtained.
  2. If a team allows a player to participate in the tournament who has not met the requirement of four full regular season games, that team will forfeit the current game. If the team remains in the bracket, they may continue competing, but only with players who have met the minimum eligibility requirement.
2. Team Eligibility
  1. Any team that accumulates four or more forfeitures during the regular season will be disqualified from the league tournament.
3. Seeding & Tiebreakers
  1. Cancelled games must be made up before the final game of the regular season. If the game is not completed by then, both teams will be assigned a loss.
  2. When more than two teams are tied in the standings, the following steps are applied in order. After each seed is determined, the process resets (“rinse and repeat”) for the remaining tied teams.
    1. Head-to-Head Comparison: Compare the head-to-head records of all tied teams. The team with the best head-to-head record receives the highest available seed.
    2. Re-Evaluate Remaining Teams: For the remaining tied teams, compare their head-to-head records again.
    3. Unequal Matchups: If the remaining teams did not play each other an equal number of times, compare runs scored among those teams. The team with the highest runs scored receives the next seed.
      1. Repeat as Needed: Continue this process until all tied teams have been seeded.
      2. The higher seeded team (as assigned before the tournament) will be the home team until it loses a game and therefore loses its seed. Once a team has lost its seed and enters the playback/losers bracket, home team designation will be determined by a coin flip. If an undefeated team meets a team from the losers bracket, the undefeated team will be the home team regardless of original seeding. In an “if game” championship scenario, the home team will be determined by a coin flip, as both teams will have lost their seed.
Youth League Specific Rules
1. Youth games will have a run limit of 10 per inning during the regular season. This can be reduced to a lower number (recommended 7) if both coaches agree before the game. If they do not agree, it defaults to the league standard of 10. There is no run limit during the tournament.
2. Youth games will not have a new inning will not start 90 minutes after first pitch during the regular season. In the event of a tie, extra time/innings are allowed if both coaches agree to continue playing based on weather conditions, lighting, and time commitments (ex: some churches incorporate the game into their youth group night).
3. Youth teams must have all of their outfielders lined up 10 yards behind the edge of the infield grass line until the ball his hit. The intent of this rule is to prevent outfielders from crowding the infield, especially when younger players are batting so they have a fair chance to get a hit.
4. Typically, if a batter steps on home plate while making contact with the ball, that is an automatic out. In youth league only, we’re going to issue a warning to the player for the first instance and replay the pitch. If the player does it again during the same game, then they are out. The intent of this is to make this a teaching moment since it is a softball rule not widely known, is not practical to expect volunteer umps to call consistently and is something highly unlikely to be done intentionally by the batter.
5. If a youth player throws a bat, it is an automatic out after they have received one warning in that game. If a warning is received, it should be noted in the scorebook with a W by their name.
6. Younger youth players are encouraged (not required) to wear a batting helmet when batting and on the basepaths and are encouraged (not required) to wear protective gear when catching.

Version History

Version	Date	Comments
2026.1	4/26/2026	Complete rewrite of existing rulebook.
2026.2	5/31/2026	Appended the youth specific rules as section 10.