Starting with the 2026 playing season (beginning August 12, 2025), United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) has updated its age eligibility determination period for youth fastpitch softball to run from September 1 through August 31, in accordance with USSSA guidelines. (Please see below.)

Equipment: 

• 12u select softball will use an 12" leather softball. Ball must bear mark of USSSA. Two (2) new or like new balls are required for each AfftonAA softball game, with each team furnishing one (1) at the start of the game. No synthetic cover material.
• Bats must be 2 ¼ inches in diameter and approved for FASTPITCH SOFTBALL play. Softball bats must bear either the USSSA or ASA (2000 or 2004) mark on the bat. Wood bats do NOT need to have a mark but must be approved for softball.
• Uniforms must consist of a same color shirt with different # on the back of each shirt. Anything else is up to the team (matching pants/hats/socks/belts).
• All players must wear tie or Velcro-fastened shoes. Shoes with metal spikes or metal cleats are strictly prohibited. 
• All batters & base runners MUST wear protective helmets. No face masks are required on helmets.
• Any player catching a pitcher while in the catching position will be required to wear a catcher's mask including throat protection and full ear protection and a chest protector.
• All infield players while in the field must wear a face mask (Pitcher, 1st base, 2nd base, shortstop, 3rd base).
• A pitcher may not have a glove that resembles of having possession of the ball, meaning the glove CANNOT be optic yellow, neon green, or yellow.

Playing rules (unless otherwise noted, all normal softball rules apply):

• No new inning may start after one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes of continual playing time, regardless of the game situation, including time.
• No lead-offs until the ball has left the pitcher’s hand.
• Play ends when the ball is returned to pitcher.

Mercy Rules and Run Limits:

• A half inning ends when three (3) outs are made. There are no run limits.
• Mercy Rule: 10 runs after the 5th inning.

Roster Rules (Who Plays?):

• Free substitution of defensive players with every player playing at least three (3) of the seven (7) innings in the field. Players may be inserted defensively at any time during the game.
• All players showing up for a game will be placed in the batting order. Players arriving late will be added to the bottom of the batting order. Players who leave the game early will be removed from the batting order WITHOUT penalty with the exception of a player that is ejected. If a player is ejected, then it will be counted as an out.
• Exceptions are as follows:
  • A player who has continually missed practice or previously scheduled games without reasonable excuse.
  • Sickness or injury.
  • Players being disciplined.
  • In the above three cases, the umpire and opposing manager must be notified before the start of the game.
  • Injury Exception: In all divisions if a pinch runner is needed for an injury, the player making the last out will be the pinch runner. If an injured player cannot take his/her turn at bat that player must be removed from the game. The injured player WILL NOT be recorded as an out in batting order.
• A courtesy runner will be allowed for catchers at any time. Player who made the last out will be the courtesy runner.
• All line-up changes/additions become official when reported to the home plate umpire.
• Teams capable of fielding eight (8) eligible players must start their game at the scheduled starting time with eight (8) players. Should either team not be ready to start the game within fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled starting time, the umpires must forfeit the game to the opposing team.
• Nine (9) defensive players are allowed. 

Playoffs and Championship:

• League consists of a 12-game season.
• If league is made up of six (6) or fewer teams, the top two (2) teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will play one game to determine the league champion. First place team will be the home team.
• If the league consists of seven (7) or more teams, the top four (4) teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will compete in a playoff (1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd ; higher seed is the home team). Teams winning their playoff games will face off in a single championship game. Higher seeded team will be the home team.
• Championship team will receive a plaque and 15 individual awards. Runner-up will receive a team plaque.