PYA Adult Softball

Welcome & League Philosophy

Welcome to the PYA Adult Softball League. Thank you for choosing to play at Pacific Youth Association.

Our goal is to provide a fun, organized, competitive, and sportsmanlike recreational softball league for adult players and teams.

League Philosophy: Play softball, communicate clearly, respect the facility, and do everything reasonable to keep games being played.

Season Information

• The season consists of 16 regular-season games over 12 weeks.
• Some teams may play a combination of single games and doubleheaders.
• Some teams may play doubleheaders with bye weeks based on scheduling preferences submitted during registration.
• Home and away assignments are listed on the official schedule and balanced as evenly as possible.
• The league champion will be determined by the best overall regular-season record after all 16 games have been completed.

TeamSideline, Rosters & Communication

• Every player must be added to the team roster in TeamSideline before participating.
• Players must complete the required electronic waiver before participating.
• Players must sign or acknowledge the PYA Code of Conduct before participating.
• Players receive schedule changes, rainout notices, field changes, and league announcements through TeamSideline and email.
• Managers are responsible for keeping rosters current.
• All players are encouraged to download the TeamSideline app for real-time updates.

Player Eligibility, Guest Players & Substitutes

• Players must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
• A 17-year-old may be listed on a roster but may not play until after their 18th birthday.
• Teams using an ineligible player may be subject to forfeiture and additional league discipline.
• Substitute or borrowed players must be at least 18 years old.
• Substitute or borrowed players must sign the PYA Liability Waiver before participating.
• Substitute or borrowed players must sign the PYA Code of Conduct before participating.
• Players may participate on multiple rosters provided required forms are completed.
• League officials reserve the right to deny player additions or guest player use if the rule is being abused or if conduct is detrimental to the league.

Equipment Requirements

Coed Defensive Alignment

• A maximum of 10 defensive players may be on the field at one time.
• Teams must have at least 4 women on the field defensively.
• Teams may have no more than 6 men on the field defensively at one time.
• Teams may play with fewer than 10 defensive players provided minimum player requirements are met.

Minimum Players

• A team may begin and finish a game with a minimum of 8 players.
• At least 4 of those players must be women.
• Teams playing with 8 or 9 players bat only the players who are present.
• Missing lineup spots are not automatic outs.
• Late-arriving rostered players may be added to the bottom of the lineup provided the required alternating batting order is maintained.

Batting Order

Teams may bat their entire roster. The batting order must always alternate Woman, Man, Woman, Man throughout the lineup.

Important: If one gender has fewer players than the other, the players from the smaller group continue batting in the same order as needed to maintain the alternating Woman-Man batting order.

Example: 6 Men and 4 Women

Extra Hitters

• Teams may bat their entire roster even if more than 10 players are present.
• Only 10 players may play defense during any inning.
• Players who are not playing defense remain in the batting order as Extra Hitters.
• Defensive substitutions may be made freely between innings without affecting the batting order, provided defensive alignment requirements continue to be met.

Walk Rule

If a male batter is walked, intentionally or unintentionally, he is awarded second base.

The female batter immediately following him in the batting order may accept first base automatically or take her at-bat while the male runner remains on second base.

Courtesy Runners

• Unlimited courtesy runners are permitted.
• Unless both managers agree otherwise before the game begins, the courtesy runner should be the last recorded out.
• Courtesy runners must be eligible players who are legally participating in the game.

Game Rules

Mercy Rule

If one team leads by the listed run differential after the listed inning, the game will be declared complete.

Home & Away Responsibilities / Scoring

• Home and away teams are designated on the official schedule.
• The schedule is balanced so each team has an equal number of home and away games as closely as possible.
• The home team is responsible for operating the official scoreboard.
• The home team is responsible for keeping the official scorebook.
• Both teams are encouraged to keep score throughout the game.
• The umpire will verify the final score and submit the official score through the TeamSideline post-game report.
• Any scoring discrepancy should be brought to the umpire before the game is declared final.
• Managers may exchange lineup cards before the game, but this is not required.

Injured Players

• If a player leaves due to injury, the team may continue with the remaining players provided the team still has at least 8 players, including at least 4 women.
• The injured player’s spot in the batting order will be skipped and will not be recorded as an automatic out.
• If the injury causes the team to fall below the minimum player requirement, league officials will determine whether the game may continue, be suspended, or be recorded as a forfeit based on the situation.

Batting Out of Order

• Managers are responsible for maintaining a legal batting order.
• If a team bats out of order and the violation is discovered before the first pitch to the next batter, the batting order will be corrected according to the official lineup.
• Once a pitch has been thrown to the next batter, the previous batter is considered legal and play will continue.
• Repeated or intentional batting-order violations may be reviewed by league officials.

Ejections

• Any player, coach, manager, or spectator ejected from a game must leave the playing area immediately.
• An ejected person may be required to leave the facility if directed by the umpire or league officials.
• Ejections may result in additional disciplinary action, including suspension from future games.
• The team manager is responsible for helping control team members and spectators associated with the team.

Weather, Rainouts & Suspended Games

• Lightning, severe weather, unsafe field conditions, or other safety concerns may result in a delay, suspension, or cancellation.
• Rainout notifications will be sent through TeamSideline and email.
• Do not assume a game is canceled until an official announcement has been made.
• Makeup games may be scheduled on weekdays at 5:30 PM, weekdays at 10:30 PM, or on weekends depending on field availability.
• If a game is suspended after it has begun, league officials will determine whether the game will resume from the point of suspension or be replayed based on the circumstances.

Facility Rules

• Alcohol may be purchased from the PYA concession stand.
• No outside food or beverages are permitted.
• Smoking and vaping are permitted only in designated areas.
• Well-behaved pets are welcome but must remain on a leash at all times.
• Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets and ensuring pets do not interfere with games, spectators, or park activities.
• Please clean dugouts and dispose of trash before leaving.
• Report damaged equipment, unsafe field conditions, or facility concerns to league staff as soon as possible.

Sportsmanship & Conduct

• Players, managers, coaches, spectators, and fans are expected to conduct themselves respectfully at all times.
• Abusive language, threatening behavior, fighting, excessive profanity, unsafe conduct, or disruptive behavior may result in ejection and additional disciplinary action.
• Behavior resulting from intoxication that becomes unsafe or disruptive may result in removal from the facility.
• Judgment calls by the umpire are final and are not subject to protest.
• Rule interpretations may be discussed respectfully by the team manager.
• Concerns regarding sportsmanship, player conduct, or facility issues should be reported to the umpire before leaving the park so they can be included in the post-game report when appropriate.

League Authority & USSSA Reference

PYA is committed to providing a more organized and consistent adult softball experience. Rule clarifications or procedural updates will be communicated to managers through TeamSideline and email.

Any situation not specifically addressed in this handbook will be governed by the current USSSA Slow Pitch Rule Book unless superseded by a published PYA local rule.

The League Director’s interpretation of PYA local rules and their application shall be final.

Quick Reference Sheet

Additional Batting Order Example: 9 Women and 1 Man

The lineup must still alternate Woman, Man. The smaller group continues batting in the same order as needed.

Additional Batting Order Example: 14 Players

Example with 8 men and 6 women. All 14 players may bat. Only 10 players play defense each inning. Players not on defense remain in the lineup as Extra Hitters.

2026 League Schedule

The official TeamSideline schedule is the primary source for game times, field assignments, home and away teams, rainouts, makeup games, and any schedule changes throughout the season.

Managers and players should check the schedule frequently, as updates may occur throughout the season.

League Contacts