Rules Updates

The 2025 Handbook provides a detailed description of all game rules. The following list provides a summary of rule changes for the 2025 season. Some of the rule changes are aimed at improving the safety of the pitcher in terms of reinforcing the importance of stepping behind the pitching screen after releasing the ball.

  • The pitcher must step behind the screen after delivery of the ball. If the pitcher doesn’t step behind the screen after throwing the ball, the play is dead even if the ball is hit and it counts as a pitch to the batter. If this happens after the fourth ball is thrown, the batter will be considered automatically out regardless if the ball is hit or not.
  • If the batted ball hits the pitcher who is not behind the pitching screen, the batter will be considered to be out regardless of the pitch count.
  • A team with 13 players may field a maximum of 11 defensive players. Teams with 12 players may field a maximum of 10 defensive players except when the opposing team has 13 players in which case, they have the choice of playing a maximum of 11 defensive players.
  • If a team cannot field the minimum requirement of one female player, and a female spare is not available from the spares list, the team may ask another female player from a different team that is not playing, subject to the mutual agreement from the team captains.

In addition to the above, new players should also note the following rules:

  • There is no “infield fly rule”.
  • Baserunners cannot overrun bases except for first base.
  • Runners to first base must touch the orange part of the bag or be called out but may touch the white portion if there is no play at first and the runner heads to second base.
  • A runner cannot touch home plate but instead must cross the safe line. The runner will be called out if home plate is touched.
  • There is also a commitment line for players running from third base to home. Once the commitment line is crossed, the runner may not return to third base.
  • No player shall sit out twice before all other players have sat out once.