🥎 Softball

Farm Softball — Ages 6–8

2026 RNLL Local Rules. These supplement — and do not replace — the official Little League® Regulations.

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Sections

  1. RECOMMENDED LEAGUE AGES: League age 6-8; league age 9 players with no experience may elect to play in the Farm division.
  1. Game time limit is one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes, or six (6) completed innings, whichever occurs first. No new inning may start after the time limit is reached. If the time limit is reached during an inning, the home team will be allowed to complete their inning.
  2. There is no infield fly rule.
  3. Two defensive coaches will be allowed on the field during the first 4 weeks of the season. The coaches must be on the outfield grass.
  1. Inning Limitation: Each half-inning shall end upon the earlier of:
  2. the scoring of five (5) runs, or
  3. the recording of three (3) outs, except as provided below.
  4. Trailing Team Exception: If the offensive team is trailing at any time during its half-inning, it may score more than five (5) runs. The team may continue scoring until it obtains a lead of five (5) runs. The half-inning shall then end immediately upon the earlier of:
  5. the offensive team obtaining a five (5) run lead, or
  6. (b) the recording of three (3) outs.
  7. Example: If a team begins its half-inning trailing 10–2, it may score up to thirteen (13) runs to obtain a 15–10 lead. The half-inning ends immediately upon reaching the five (5) run lead or upon the third out, whichever occurs first.
  8. Time Limitation: No new inning shall begin after the allotted game time has expired. If time expires during the visiting team’s half-inning, that half-inning shall be completed (subject to this rule). The home team shall then complete its corresponding half-inning unless the home team is leading at the conclusion of the visiting half-inning, in which case the game shall be final. If the home team takes the lead during its half-inning after time has expired, the game shall end immediately.
  1. All players are in the batting lineup, in a pre-stated batting order. Each Manager will exchange lineup orders. The batting lineup will remain the same throughout the current game.
  2. The pitching machine will be set up directly behind the softball pitching rubber/plate (just behind 35 feet). The pitching machine will be operated by a coach of the offensive team.
  3. A batter cannot walk but can strike out swinging.
  4. Runners may only advance on overthrows to second and third base. All runners may advance a maximum of one base, including home. In the event of multiple overthrows, the runner may not advance more than one base per play.
  5. On balls hit to the outfield, runners may advance until the ball has broken the plane between the infield and outfield.
  6. If a batted ball hits the pitching machine, it is declared a dead ball, the batter will be awarded first base, and all forced runners will advance one base. If the coach is struck by the batted ball (or interferes with a fielder attempting to field the ball) the batter is out and all runners return to the base occupied at time of pitch.
  1. The defensive team must utilize “standard” infield positions; one player per position. All remaining players will play in the outfield, and must be positioned in an umbrella formation, at least 15 feet off the infield dirt. Use of a short fielder or “rover” is not allowed.
  2. The pitcher must start with one foot in the pitcher’s circle (safe distance from the machine).
  3. All Players must play at least one inning in the infield, and one inning in the outfield per game. This needs to be accomplished by the end of the fourth inning. Exceptions may be made for purposes related to player safety (with approval of the Rules Committee Chair and notification to the Player Agents) )).
  4. While playing in the infield, no player should play more than two innings in the same position. Exceptions may be made for safety reasons (first base and catcher). This can be cleared with the safety officer and or Player Agents of Reno National Little League.
  1. Visors are allowed but not mandatory
  2. Player jerseys and their numbers must be visible at all times.
  3. Headbands and/or bows are allowed.
  1. There is a single elimination tournament. Seeding is determined randomly. The highest seeded team will be the home team.
  2. The five run rule will not apply and a ten run mercy rule will be in effect after the fourth inning.
  3. In the event of a tie after the time limit or the sixth inning, a runner will be placed on second base. The runner will be the player who was the last out in the previous inning.
Rules sourced from Google Docs · Updated automatically · Last fetched 5/20/2026, 6:37:59 PM