WMBFSU

 Middle School Rules

A pregame plate meeting is essential to confirm agreement on mercy rules, time limits, substitutions, etc..

Both programs have no new innings after 2 hours

Southern Maine Middle School Athletic Conference - (SMMSACC)

Softball Guidelines 4/10/2018 - confirmed 1/13/2026

1. Game times are 3:30 p.m. unless schools mutually agree upon another time. 

2. Federation Rules are used. (Amendments: if a team is ahead by 15 or more runs at the end of 4 1⁄2 or 5 innings the game will end unless by mutual agreement the game may continue. No new inning may start after 2 hours from actual starting time of the game.) 

3. League Rules

a. Nine (9) players in the field – you may use the EH or DH or both.

b. Fast pitch rules are used.

c. 6th graders cannot play on the 8th grade team.

d. Metal spikes may be used.

e. Nine Batter Rule: if at any point during a game, when a team is ahead by 10 runs the 9-batter rule will be used. The team that is ahead by 10 runs may only bat 9 batters per inning or three outs, whichever comes first, so long as the ten run lead has been maintained.

f. If a coach chooses, he/she may elect to use an extra hitter in their batting line up or use a continuous batting order. Teams MAY NOT bat out of order. Batting order changes must still be reported to the home plate umpire. Coaches still have the option of using nine batters in their line up.

g. Defensively, teams may choose to freely substitute players in and out from the bench to the field. In this situation changes WOULDN’T be reported to the home plate umpire and the reentry rule would not be followed.

4. Helmets must be worn on the bases, at bat and coach’s boxes.

5. Two new balls must be used to start each game.

6. Home team has the field from 3:05 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and the visiting teams from 3:15 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. for infield practice.

7. Home team is responsible for notifying the umpires and assignor of postponed games. The home team is also responsible for notifying all parties of the new date.

8. Certified board umpires will be used.

9. Pitching distance shall be 43 feet.

10. Any team personnel ejected from a game must not participate in the next league game.

Coaches should bring these guidelines to each game for clarification with umpires and opposing coaches.

Schools in the SMMSAC:

Northern Division           Southern Division

Auburn Acton

Bonny Eagle (Buxton)          Biddeford

Falmouth                 Kennebunk

Gorham                   Marshwood (Eliot)

King (Portland)   Massabesic (East Waterboro)

Lewiston       Noble (Berwick)

Lincoln  (Portland)                     Saco

Lyman Moore (Portland)        Sanford

Oxford Hills (Oxford)            Shapleigh

Scarborough           St. James (Biddeford)

South Portland Thornton Academy (Saco)

St. Brigids (Portland) Wells

Westbrook York

Windham               

Printable Copy of the SMMSAC Rules  

Softball Liaison - John Williams, Athletic Director, King Middle School, Portland, Maine

Cumberland County Athletic Conference - CCC

Baseball/Softball 2023 CCC Guidelines      

1. The philosophy for the CCC baseball/softball league is to provide opportunity for everybody to play with winning not being first priority.  Therefore, there is no league champion established.

Weekday games will begin at 3:30 PM unless a change is made in advance.  Officials and assignors must be called with changes. Game times will fluctuate this year due to transportation limitations.  Be sure to confirm games and start times with opponents.

2. No new innings may begin after 2 hours from the scheduled start time and games may end in ties.

3. The MPA pitching rule for baseball is in effect for all teams.  Violations of this rule will result in the forfeiture of the game for the use of an ineligible player.

4. National Federation rules will apply with the exception of the Nine-Batter Rule. (If at any point during the game a team is ahead by 10 runs (BB)/12 runs (SB), the 9-batter rule will be used.  The team that is ahead may only bat 9 batters per inning or 3 outs, whichever comes first, so long as the ten/twelve run lead has been maintained. 

5. Federation rules allow metal cleats.

6. Ejection rule for players and coaches-If a student or coach is ejected or disqualified from a game for unsportsmanlike behavior of any form it will result in the suspension of that student or coach from that game and the next regularly scheduled game.

7. Softball bats must have the ASA 2000, ASA Certified 2004, or USA Softball Certified stamp on them.

8. Baseball bats must have the BBCOR stamp on them.

9. A one-piece catcher’s mask must be worn by all catchers as well as those warming up pitchers (recommended for coaches).  This is true for both baseball and softball.  

10. Baseball chest protectors must be NOCSAE approved.

11. Face masks are required on all softball batter’s helmets.  A Face mask attached to the batter's helmet must match in order for the NOCSAE approval to be enforced.

12. Batters must wear helmets during any pre-game batting practice.  An L-Screen (or C-Screen) will be utilized if there is a  pre-game batting practice.

13. For safety purposes, during pre-game infield, the opposing team will vacate the playing field so that the team that is taking infield may have full use of the playing field.

14. The ten run rule (BB & SB) will be in effect after five innings. (4 ½ if the home team is ahead.)  Once the 9 batter run has been implemented, the game will end after 4 1/2/ 5 innings.

15. It is “recommended” that all softball infielders and pitchers wear facemasks.

16. All baseball base coaches are required to wear an approved helmet.  Players must wear a full helmet.  Catchers’ skull-caps are not allowed.  Players in softball must wear a helmet when base coaching.  It is recommended for adults.

16.  The pitching distance for MS softball will be moved to 43' in order to stay consistent with the high school pitching distance change.

17.  To increase the opportunity to play, coaches may choose

   a.  to bat a traditional line-up

   b.  to bat a traditional lineup utilizing the DH for BB, or EH for SB or (both for SB)

   c.  to bat the entire roster continuously -once this selection is made, the coach must stick with the method (If a player must leave due to injury, that position in the line-up will be scratched and will not affect the pitching record or out)

18.  Free defensive substitutions are allowed.

Schools in the Triple C:

Bath Brunswick Cape Elizabeth

Durham Freeport Gray-New Gloucester

Greely (Cumberland) Harrison (Yarmouth) Jordan Small (Windham-Raymond)

Lake Region (Naples) Loranger (Old Orchard) Molly Ockett (Fryeburg)

Mt Ararat (Topsham) North Yarmouth Acad (Yarmouth) Sacopee Valley (South Hiram)

St. Dominic Acad (Auburn) Tripp (Turner) Waynflete (Portland)

Bruce Whittier (Poland)

Printable Copy of the Triple C Rules

CCC and Western Maine Conference Softball Liaison, Don King, Athletic Director, Poland Regional High School