DGSA is open to the public for registration. Registered players and their families agree to adhere to the following league guidelines throughout the duration of the season.

 

Diamond Girls Softball Association (DGSA) is a non-profit (501c3) organization. Our coaches, staff, and board members are all unpaid volunteers who come together each season to provide the opportunity for girls in Peoria, AZ, and surrounding areas to learn and develop their softball and leadership skills.

 

As a recreational softball league, we expect game play to be cordial between coaches, players, officials, and spectators. If there is a discrepancy, we ask that each party respectfully work together using the Addendum and rules to provide an outcome that is in the best interest of the League.

 

 

DGSA is an organization where registered players are placed on a roster and play against other registered players in the same league/division. We are ONE TEAM with ONE VISION. Develop our players on and off the field.

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Coach Responsibility:

Head Coaches are the primary point of contact for their team roster. Coaches are responsible for creating/implementing practice and game plans, maintaining player safety and development, overseeing parent/player/coach conduct, introducing their team staff to the parents, and communicating league events. Positive reinforcement will help when coaching girls’ softball. Club managers are not allowed to coach within the league while managing a club team of the same age group.

Sportsmanship:

Each player’s parent/guardian, and every volunteer has committed to following our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct acknowledgment is included in the online registration form. Spectators and volunteers who are yelling, screaming, and disrupting the game, are to be managed by the head coach.

Players should conduct themselves positively during practices, games, and league events. Their conduct also includes cheers and chants that are motivational and/or respectful of the other team. Inappropriate conduct, such as screaming at officials, parents, or players will not be tolerated by anyone. After each game, all players and coaches should high-five and congratulate each other in a positive manner.

24-Hour Rule:

Coaches are responsible and empowered to respectfully address the conduct of their team and spectators before, during, and after events. Coaches should communicate the 24+ hour Contact rule to parents at the beginning of the season. As such, the League asks the coaches to also follow the 24+ hour rule when expressing concerns about their peers, umpires, parents, and fans. The exception to this rule is when safety is a concern. If the authorities, park rangers, fire, or ambulance is called, the coach should immediately notify their DC or a board member of the situation.

●     If there is a concern that cannot be resolved by the coaches and team, contact your divisional coordinator (DC) to discuss options.

●     If the DC needs assistance, partnership with the DC Lead should take place in a timely manner.

If the Board determines that a player, spectator, or volunteer has chosen to disregard any rule, they may be given a 1 game suspension. If someone is sanctioned a second time, they may be removed for the balance of the season.

No player or volunteer will be removed from the league without Board approval.

Safety, Gear, Equipment:

Players should wear the appropriate gear and attire for their position. All players should wear athletic attire to practices, including softball pants and cleats, or as coaches deem appropriate.

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DGSA is a learning league. When in doubt, choose what is in the best interest of the organization.

 

As a learning league, we do not contest games or umpire judgement calls when aligned with our rules. Umpires should never be addressed, approached, or followed off the field for any reason by a player, spectator, fan, or coach. When an umpire is not present for a league scored game, the game should be called by someone that both head coaches agree will be impartial and fair. Coaches should agree upon the final score before leaving the ballfield for the evening.

 

When a coach needs assistance understanding the call that an umpire has made, the head coach should respectfully ask for a timeout. The coach can ask the umpire who made the call for help to understand the rule, and/or seek clarification and from umpire or the other coach during the game. Both coaches should work together, using the Addendum, to resolve and discrepancies.

 

​​​​Game Start

●     If a game is played without an official umpire present, the game begins no later than 5 minutes after the scheduled start time and up to the 80 minute mark.

●     If an umpire arrives late to the game, they will pick up the time and pitch count where the teams are currently. Time and pitch count do not start over from the beginning.

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End Times:

●     Game is played until the official stopwatch indicates 80 minutes have passed.

●     If an umpire leaves early, the game continues until 80 minutes have passed. Continuation of the game should not interfere with another game’s progress or start time.

●     If there is less than 10 minutes on the clock and the away team doesn’t have the ability to overtake the score of the home team both coaches can agree to end the game after 70 minutes instead of starting a new inning. One coach cannot make this decision for both teams.

●     When time expires:

                        ○    If the home team is ahead and at bat, the game has ended.

                        ○    If the home team is behind and at bat, the home team finishes their at bat.

                        ○    If the away team is ahead and at bat, the home team has the last at bat.

○ If the away team is behind and at bat, the away team finishes their at bat. If the home team is still ahead, the game has ended. If the team is ahead after their at bat, the home team will finish their at bat.

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Team Rosters:

Each team will be assigned an equal number of players, as registration permits. Team rosters are created during the draft meeting when all registered players are assigned.

Each coach is responsible for contacting the player’s parents/guardians to welcome the player to their team and set expectations for the season. Coaches should not add or remove players from their roster without bond approval.

Non-registered DGSA softball players (including external club teams) are prohibited from participating in DGSA organized events. This includes using DGSA permitted fields, league equipment, league designated practice/game times, etc, without prior written consent from the board.

Keeper List

Coaches can keep up to 5 returning players from the previous season. Keeper’s List includes coaches’ children as part of the returning players. These players do not participate in the tryout/draft selection.

Player Attendance:

If a player has not attended 4 consecutive games/practices and has not communicated their absences to their coach, the coach should reach out to the parent to discuss the absences. If the parent is unresponsive to the head coach’s emails, phone calls and messages, the head coach should notify the Divisional Coordinator. Player removal from the roster and/or league cannot take place without board approval.

Field Reservations:

The first practice of the season should include a coach/parent/player meeting. This meeting should include introductions, what to expect at practice/games, reminder about the code of conduct (including the 24-hour rule), player attendance, and what support is requested of parents/families (ex: field help at practices, snacks schedules, not approaching dugout, notifying when running late, sponsorships, league events, playoffs, etc.).

Practices:

Practices are assigned to all teams at the beginning of the season. If a coach would like to trade a scheduled practice, they should work directly with the other coaches and notify the Divisional Coordinator to confirm. If trading with a coach from another division, the pitching distance will remain at the original division's distance. If a coach cannot use a designated practice field, they should notify the Division Coordinator to cancel the reservation (requires 24+ hour notice).

Teams are prohibited from organizing additional DGSA events outside of Peoria, AZ as our insurance covers Peoria fields and locations only.

Teams can begin warm-ups before their scheduled start time, only after the gates are open. Players, parents, and coaches should not jump the fence to gain access if the gate is locked. Lights are automatically shut off at 9 p.m. and cannot be extended for regular practices. The lights may be extended past 9 p.m. for games. The coach must call the city by 8:45 p.m.to extend the lights or the game will end and the current score is recorded.

Games:

All coaches have been provided a copy of the League Guidelines and the USSSA Addendum. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to carry both documents with them at all DGSA events, practices and games. When there are questions that arise during gameplay, coaches should refer to these documents and the USSSA Fastpitch Rulebook.

Gameplay should be timely and efficient. If a player needs a water break, pitcher needs to cool down, or any other reason that stops gameplay, an alternative team player should be moved into her place and the game should continue within 2 minutes of calling time, unless a lesser amount of time of one minute is determined by the official. If an official believes that a team is running the clock or taking an unreasonable amount of time to continue the game, the official can make the necessary determination to advance gameplay by calling either a ball for the pitcher or a strike for the batter who delays the game.

Games are not contested to the board, the official score and game rulings are determined by the official on record for each game.

Scorekeeping (All divisions except 8U):

Each team is provided a (digital) scorebook and asked to keep record of runs scored for each of their games. Coaches should have the same score reported for both winning/losing teams. If there is a discrepancy, coaches need to discuss and agree upon a fix of the discrepancy before leaving the field.

Scores should be submitted to the league through TeamSnap at the end of each game.

Questions, Comments, and Concerns:

Please work with your team coordinator and divisional coordinator for a positive solution. If not resolved, please notify the divisional lead. If the matter is still unresolved, please contact the board.

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Development and Learning First

 

DGSA is a learning league. When in doubt, choose what is in the best interest of the organization.

 

T-Ball and 8u are developmental divisions. Fundamentals should be taught and explained, although not all rules will be enforced during games as we are focused on training the basics and educating players on the different elements of the game.

​​​​​Field Access

 

As a courtesy, the city of Peoria grants our league access to the facilities earlier than their start time, only after field maintenance crews make the fields available. Teams should not jump fences or remove city locks to access fields prior to being allowed onto city premises. We suggest using open grass fields and other areas to warm-up when fields are not available. Coaches should not contact the city to open the park early or to extend the lights for practices or unauthorized games.

 

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Base Running

T-Ball: Runners should be taught not to leave their base early, but encouraged to run through first base, and not overrun other bases. Players can advance to the next base(s) on a live ball.

 

Stealing Bases (8u):

There are no lead offs. All base runners must wait until the pitcher has released the ball before they leave their base. Players can attempt to steal 2nd and/or 3rd base, but no stealing at home. Begin teaching these fundamentals for 8u players who are advancing to 10u.

● If the pitcher starts her wind up and the runner is off base, they will be called out.

● If a runner attempts to steal a base and the pitcher enters the pitching circle, the runner is committed to continue to the next base or immediately return to the previous base.

 

Fielding (8u):

Obstruction / Interference: Fielders should be taught to stay off the bases unless they are in the act of making a play. Runners should be taught to avoid interference of the play, without running out of the baseline.

 

Pitching

T-Ball: A tee should be placed on Home Plate for batters to use during game play. Coaches should help batters with their stance, swing, and where to place the bat once the ball is put in play.

 

8u Kid/Coach-Pitch: When appropriate, players can be taught to pitch in this division with slight modifications to continue preparing them to play the game at the next level & introduce pitching.

● The kid pitcher will pitch the first 4 balls to each batter:

○ If the batter hits the ball, the ball is live & the teams finish the play.

○ If the batter does not make contact within the first 4 pitches, a coach relieves the kid pitcher and pitches 3-5 additional balls to allow the batter another opportunity to hit the ball.

■ If after 3-5 balls the batter has not made contact, the batter is out.

● The kid pitcher will continue to play the pitching position for defense and resume their 4 pitches to the next batter.

● If a pitcher is removed from the circle due to the Hit by Pitch rule, they can stay in the game in another position but cannot pitch the rest of that game.

 

Division | Ball Size | Pitching Distance

T-Ball | 11-inch | A coach soft toss the softball from a safe distance and/or use a T to help the batters put the ball in play

8u | 11-inch | A coach should stand beside the pitcher and allow them to pitch from a safe distance up to 35’

 

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Ending an Inning (8u)

Teams should bat their line up or 3 outs, whichever comes first.

 

Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. Every time you play with class.

 

Team Rosters

 

Roster Assignment

 

All registered players will be designated to a specific team. T-ball and 8u will be randomly assigned. All players must be registered and insured to play in the League's current season and use league-reserved fields.

​​​Development and Learning First

 

DGSA is a learning league. When in doubt, choose what is in the best interest of the organization.

 

As a learning league, we do not contest games or umpire judgement calls when aligned with our rules. Umpires should never be addressed, approached, or followed off the field for any reason by a player, spectator, fan, or coach. When an umpire is not present for a league scored game, the game should be called by someone that both head coaches agree will be impartial and fair. Coaches should agree upon the final score before leaving the ballfield for the evening.

 

When a coach needs assistance understanding the call that an umpire has made, the head coach should respectfully ask for a timeout. The coach can ask the umpire who made the call for help to understand the rule, and/or seek clarification and from umpire or the other coach during the game. Both coaches should work together, using the Addendum, to resolve and discrepancies.

 

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End Times:

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●     If an umpire leaves early, the game continues until 80 minutes have passed. Continuation of the game should not interfere with another game’s progress or start time.

●     If there is less than 10 minutes on the clock and the away team doesn’t have the ability to overtake the score of the home team both coaches can agree to end the game after 70 minutes instead of starting a new inning. One coach cannot make this decision for both teams.

●     When time expires:

                        ○    If the home team is ahead and at bat, the game has ended.

                        ○    If the home team is behind and at bat, the home team finishes their at bat.

                        ○    If the away team is ahead and at bat, the home team has the last at bat.

○ If the away team is behind and at bat, the away team finishes their at bat. If the home team is still ahead, the game has ended. If the team is ahead after their at bat, the home team will finish their at bat.

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Field Positions:

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Batting

Batting Line-Up:

Players bat in a continuous batting order, which cannot be rearranged throughout the game. At the start of each inning, the batting order continues from the last player to bat in the previous inning.

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Substitutions:

All players must be fit to play, not injured at the start of the game. A substitute “courtesy” runner is permitted for pitchers, catchers, and batters who are injured after they have safely made it to or past first base, and should be the last batted out.

●     If a player is injured during the game, but can safely take their next turn at bat, they can continue with the option to have a courtesy runner replace them after safely making it to first base. The substituted player would be the last batted out.

●     If a team has 9 or more players in the lineup and there is an injured player who cannot continue, they will receive an auto out for the remainder of that player’s at bats.

●     If a team has less than 9 players in the lineup and there is an injured player who cannot continue, there will not be a penalty. The player is crossed off the lineup without an auto out.

Fielding

Obstruction:

When a fielder, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner, it is considered obstruction. The obstructed runner is awarded at least one base beyond their position on base when the obstruction occurs.

●    If any preceding runner is forced to advance by the awarding of a base or bases to an obstructed runner, the umpire shall award this preceding runner the necessary base or bases.

In Field Fly Rule:

If first base and second base are occupied with runners, or all three bases are occupied, and the batter hits an infield fly ball, the batter is automatically out.

Pitchers:

There is no limit to the number of pitchers or maximum pitch count on a particular team. It is encouraged to have, train, and develop more than one pitcher throughout the season. Any player on a designated team may pitch.

●     Pick up players from other teams are not allowed to pitch in their pick up game.

●     Pitchers are given a designated number of warm-up pitches or an appropriate amount of time to warm up the pitcher.

●     Umpires will notify the catcher how many warm up pitches are remaining, and the pitcher/catcher should promptly conclude their warm up and begin the inning.

●     Pitchers can be replaced in the circle at any time but may not come back to the circle in the same inning unless they stay in the field at another position.

●     If they return to the circle in the same inning, they are not allowed a second warm up period.

A pitcher will be asked to leave the circle after they strike 5 players that are walked due to the strike (hit by pitch). A dead ball strike does not count. If a pitcher is removed from the circle due to hit by pitch rule, they can stay in the game in another position but cannot pitch the rest of the game.

Leaping is a legal delivery when the pitcher has both feet off the ground at the same time, and the pitcher does not replant the pivot foot.

● A replant occurs when the pitcher pushes off the playing surface from anywhere other than the pitcher’s plate in the act of delivering a pitch.

 

Pitching Distance/Ball Size:

Division

Pitching Distance

Game Ball Size

10u

35’

11-inch

12u

40’

12-inch

14u and above

43’

12-inch

Base Running

Base Distance:

The distance between bases measures 60 feet between first, second and third bases. If a coach believes the distance is set incorrectly by the field maintenance crew they should contact field maintenance no later than 15 minutes prior to the game start time (see contact information).

Pitching Circle Violations:

The play is dead when the pitcher is in the circle with the ball. If the batter is walked to first and the player turns to go to second, she is committed to continue to second or immediately return to first base. IF the runner stops or does not commit to go one way or the other, she is out. The only exception is if the pitcher tries to make a play on her.

Dropped Third Strike:

If the catcher fails to catch the ball on a third strike, and first base is open, or there are two outs, then the batter becomes a runner.

Stealing Bases:

There are no lead offs. All base runners must wait until the pitcher has released the ball before they leave their base. On a passed ball at home plate, players can advance and third can steal home. When a runner is stealing home the batter should move safely out of the way of the play for safety reasons.

●     If the pitcher starts her wind up and the runner is off base, they will be called out.

●     If a runner attempts to steal a base and the pitcher enters the pitching circle, the runner is committed to continue to the next base or immediately return to the previous base.

●     If the runner stops or does not commit to go one way or the other, she is out. The only exception is if the pitcher tries to make a play on her.

Sliding:

Whenever a tag play is evident , a runner should slide or seek to avoid contact with the fielder or catcher. Malicious contact shall supersede all obstruction penalties.

Scoring Games

Runs Per Inning:

Each team alternates offense and defense in an inning. The inning ends after each team has 3 outs, or:

●     10u: Up to 5 runs plus continuation, with a maximum of 8 runs.

●     12u and above: Up to 7 runs plus continuation, with a maximum of 10 runs.

Continuation of runs is allowed until the play is over in one of the following:

●     The lead runner stops moving forward.

●     The play is dead and the ball is returned to the pitching circle.

Score Keeping

After the game ends (see Game Setup), both scorekeepers should confirm scores for each team. Both team coaches will report final scores in Team Snap before leaving the field for the evening. Regular season games can result in a win, loss, tie, or forfeit. Forfeit will result in a 1:0 score.

An incomplete game due to severe field/weather condition issues, confirmed by the umpire/field maintenance crew, may revert back to the last completed inning. If there is not a last completed inning this will result in a tied 1:1 score. Games are unable to be rescheduled due to city permits and field availability.

Playoffs (Quarters/Semi/Finals) will require a game winner to advance to the next bracket. If there is a tie at the end of any of these games, the international tiebreaker rule will apply and the overtime inning will begin with a runner on second base. The runner will be the last batter out.

Contact Information (Coaches Only)

Field Maintenance:

It is the head coach’s responsibility to respectfully report concerns related to your designated field reservation and field conditions, such as lights, un-chalked game fields, inaccurate pitching or base distance, base placement, locked gates, water, uneven dirt/holes, no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the first game.

If the 7:15 pm game is running longer than 8:40, the coach should call the respective park field maintenance to extend the lights no sooner than 8:30. Extended lights are an additional cost to the league and should only be used for game situations where there is not a clear winner by the designated end time.

Rain Out Hotline

623-773-7575

Park Ranger Hotline

623-773-7700

Pioneer Park

Office: 623-773-7060

Mobile: 623-888-1770

Rio Vista Park

Office: 623-773-8608

Mobile: 623-888-1566

Gates may open at 5:30 pm and warm ups can be done in open fields by the softball fields at Rio Vista and Pioneer Parks. Please do not call to have the gates opened sooner. Extensions to permits are an additional cost to the league and should not be done without prior consent from a board member.

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Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. Every time you play with class.

Coaches, players, and fans will exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Violation results in a warning, the second violation will result in an ejection from the game.

• Players, parents, and coaches may not taunt an opponent.

• Derogatory comments and offensive behavior is not allowed.

• Profanity is strictly prohibited.

 

The umpire’s rulings are final and non-contestable.

• Balls and strikes will not be argued. If the strike zone is unclear, the catcher can ask the umpire where it is missing.

  • Pitchers, batters, and catchers should adjust their approach with support from their coaches.

  • Parents are spectators and should never engage or question players, coaches, or umpires during the game.