2026 League Rules
2026 Lanco Senior 70’s Slow Pitch Softball Rules
Revised: March 28, 2026
Information that is UNDERLINED has either been added or revised for the 2026 season.
Mission Statement: Winning is not the goal. The goal is to have people of our age enjoy playing the game of softball.
1. League Alignment
a. There is 1 division.
i. The division contains 6 teams – Strasburg Masonry Whiz Kids, New Danville Blue, Elizabethtown, GE Richards Graphic Supplies, Clippers, and Ephrata.
b. Each team’s regular season schedule is uniquely designed based upon ability.
c. The point system.
i. Red point teams (3 points) – Whiz Kids and Blue.
1. A team is awarded 3 points for defeating a red point team.
ii. White point teams (2 points) – E-town and GE Richards.
1. A team is awarded 2 points for defeating a white point team.
iii. Blue point teams (1 point) – Clippers and Ephrata.
1. A team is awarded 1 point for defeating a blue point team.
iv. Seeding for the playoffs will be determined by each team’s regular season final point total.
1. In the case of point-total ties, head-to-head record will be the determining factor, followed by a coin flip.
2. Eligibility
a. All teams must have a roster before the start of the season. The rosters must include names, addresses, and birthdates. There will be no more than 25 players. Managers will keep the roster updated during the season.
b. All players must be 69 years old or reach 69 during the calendar year. A team may use up to 3 players who are 68 during the calendar year.
c. All team rosters must be completed and submitted to the league president prior to the first scheduled game. Any updates during the season must also be forwarded to the league president.
d. No team shall be allowed more than 6 players who reside outside of Lancaster County.
e. New roster players must be reported to the league president before they play. A player may be added to the roster at any point in the season.
Game Rules: (any rule not covered here will follow the current ASA Senior rules)
3. Pitching:
a. A pitch, delivered with an underhand motion, must have a perceptible arc that reaches a height of at least 6 feet from the ground, while not exceeding 12 feet.
b. A pitch is a strike if it hits any part of the plate or the extended board behind the plate.
c. Pitcher’s rubber is 46 feet from home plate.
d. The pitcher may take a position from the front edge of the pitcher’s plate to ten feet behind the pitcher’s plate within the 24-inch width of the pitcher’s plate with both feet firmly on the ground.
e. A deliberate walk can be done by pointing to first base.
f. A team may choose to use a screen for the pitcher. See details for screen under the Miscellaneous section of the rules.
4. Catcher:
a. A catcher may touch any part of the strike plate for a runner to be out.
b. A catcher cannot make a pick-off play. He must return the ball to the pitcher who then can attempt to throw out the runner.
5. Runner:
a. If the batter is unable to run to first, a courtesy runner may be used for this batter. The courtesy runner must wait until the ball is hit. He must keep both feet behind the line. The line should be drawn parallel to the 3rd base foul line, but positioned two feet closer to the backstop, thereby causing the courtesy runner to run an additional two feet to first base. The line should be approximately 5 feet in length beginning from the outside line of the left-hand batter’s box and drawn in a direction away from the home plate area, all the while remaining parallel to the 3rd base foul line. The courtesy runner must stop at first base regardless of the play on the field. They cannot advance until the next batter is up.
b. If a batter can run to first base, he must reach base before being replaced with a courtesy runner. If the batter reaches a base beyond first base, then the courtesy runner will take the base reached on the play. The courtesy runner must enter the game before the next pitch is thrown. The batter does not need to wait at the base for the courtesy runner. If a player gets a walk, he does not have to go to first base; the courtesy runner may proceed directly to first. A courtesy runner may only run 1 time per inning. A runner on base at his turn at bat is an automatic out.
c. Runners may leave their base only when the ball is hit, or it is a dead ball. Runner may only advance to the next base when a pitched ball is hit.
d. No quick pitch. Pitchers must give runners a reasonable time to return to a base.
e. No stealing
f. No sliding
g. No contact between a base runner and the defensive player. Interference by the runner results in the runner being out. Obstruction by the defensive player results in the runner advancing to a base. When there is a play at a base, the runner is required to run through the base on the side away from the defensive player to avoid contact, as well as visual or physical interference. If he does not, the runner is out. Contact or interference with a double play will cause both runners to be out. If a defensive player moves to the offside and contact occurs, the runner may not be out – according to the umpire’s discretion (that the runner did what was required to avoid contact.) Contact avoidance also applies to returning to a base.
h. If a runner is going to overrun a base: at first base, he crosses the doublewide base (or the 3-foot line in foul territory.) At second and third base he may run on either side of the base and may turn to the left or right at all bases.
i. If a runner over runs a base and an error occurs, he may advance without retouching the base crossed.
j. No run downs. If a runner sees he cannot advance to the next base, he must return to the previous base. He can’t advance a second time (unless an error occurs.)
k. The runner must cross the second home plate (chalk line). If he crosses the normal home plate, he is out.
6. Hitter:
a. No bunting
b. If a batter comes to home plate with an illegal bat, his team forfeits the game.
c. A team’s starting lineup may include extra batters in the lineup. These players will be known as extra hitters (EH). The EH bats for himself, not for another batter. The decision to use an extra hitter is optional with the team’s manager but must be determined and listed in the starting lineup before the game begins.
d. All bats must be ASA approved. Any player aged 75 or over may use a Senior Bat. A batter using a Senior Bat must announce it to the opposing team prior to stepping into the batter’s box. Failure to do so will result in the batter being called out.
e. After two strikes, the second foul ball is considered a strike, and the batter is out.
f. A batter begins to bat with a 1 ball, 1 strike count on him.
7. Fielder:
a. The fielder may not interfere with the runner at any base.
8. Bases:
a. There will be a double-wide 1st base, and a 3-foot line in foul territory (as described in rule 7. Bases b.) will be used. Runners will touch the base or the line in foul territory, unless advancing. If advancing, the fair territory base much be touched.
b. A 3-foot line must be placed on both sides of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd bases.
c. A second home plate (a chalk line) is placed about 3 feet from the back corner of the right-hand batters’ box.
d. Bases are 60 feet apart.
9. Innings:
a. A game consists of 9 innings unless shortened by inclement weather as per ASA rules (7 innings) or when the home team is ahead after six and a half innings.
b. All games will be 9 innings in length. Each team will stay on the field/at bat for 6 outs. After 6 outs are made the teams will switch. The bases will be cleared after 3 outs are made, 5 runs are scored, or the catch-up rule is achieved. The 9th inning will include 3 outs for both teams…..a normal inning. Playing 7 of 9 innings is considered an official game for rain out purposes or when the Mercy Rule applies.
c. The first 8 innings are governed by a maximum of 3 outs, or 5 runs scored.
d. Exception: A team that is behind by 6 runs or more may score as many runs as necessary to tie the score, or 3 outs whichever occurs first.
e. The 9th inning has no run limits. If you are ahead by 10 or more runs in the 9th inning, please do not continue to run up the score.
f. An incomplete game will resume at the point of suspension.
10. Miscellaneous:
a. Games will be played with 11 players. A team may “lend” players to the other team. Teams must have 9 players to start. If 10 players are present at game time the game must start. Players that arrive after the start of the game may be added to the end of the lineup without penalty, if the team has not batted through the original lineup. If a player becomes injured during the game, and there is no available substitute, the existing batting position is skipped and no automatic out occurs at that spot. This provision does not apply to players that are ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.
b. All players and substitutes may re-enter the game only once. They must stay in the same batting slot.
c. A designated player may be used for any number of fielders. On the line up the DP is listed in the batting lineup and the fielder is batter for is listed to the right of the batter’s name. If the connected fielder bats in place of the DP or the DP takes the field for the connected player that is considered a substitution and the DP for that position is eliminated for the game. Reentry rules apply.
d. Managers must report all changes to the other team scorekeeper.
e. The suggested Game time is 10:00 am, unless changed by agreement of the managers. Double Headers will begin at 10:00 am.
f. No player may use foul language or be abusive to another player or umpire. Such a player may be ejected at the umpire’s discretion and must leave the field of play, or the game is forfeited.
g. To assist the scorekeeper, players’ shirts should have a number, be of a uniform color and be league approved. (Waived for the 1st year of league existence.)
h. All game equipment must be league approved.
i. Most fields do not allow tobacco or alcohol.
j. Most games begin with a prayer.
k. The home team will provide a new ball and a good ball for each game.
l. There is an “infield fly rule” in this league.
m. There will be a playoff after the conclusion of the regular season.
n. A new team can take no more than one player from an existing team.
o. In the case of a rain out, the next time the teams are scheduled to play then they shall play a double header consisting of two 7-inning games, with a break between games. If the rained-out teams can schedule the make-up game before they are scheduled to play again, then they may do so. The day of the make-up game will be at the discretion and mutual agreement of both coaches.
p. A pitcher’s screen (4’x7’) may be used. The use of a pitcher’s screen is optional. The screen is intended as a safety device for the pitcher. The screen will face directly toward the home plate within three to five feet in front of the pitcher rubber. The screen must be positioned to cover half of the pitcher’s plate and be placed on the left side of the rubber for a right-handed pitcher and on the right side of the rubber for a left-handed pitcher. If a pitcher chooses to use the full depth of the ten-foot pitchers’ box, then the screen must be positioned in the three-to-five-foot limits of where the pitcher chooses to pitch. Pitcher may not throw a pitched ball over the screen. The screen cannot be moved when the play is live. A batted ball into the screen is considered a non-pitch. A thrown ball that touches the screen is a live ball. If the ball touches a player before hitting the screen it is considered a live ball. When a screen is used, a pitcher may still field the ball.
q. There will be no “bye” for the 60’s playoff.
r. Disputed calls should be resolved between the two team managers.
11. Fields:
a. All fields must be dimensionally the same.
b. There is to be an anchored doublewide 1st base, or 3 ft run over lines on either side of all bases.
c. See “Batter Section” for the substitute runner starting line.