USSSA Softball Rules

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) promote play among different groups of men, women, races, jobs and religions. Leagues range from all-inclusive male leagues, to church and African American leagues. Rivalries of the police department against the fire department or the Army against the Navy are rekindled in these competitive leagues.

  1. Church League Rules

    • Leagues specific to churches limit who a church can list on a player roster. For example, a church cannot have a player on its roster who does not actively worship at that church. Have a church team rosters checked by a pastor to confirm that the players on the roster are members of the church and not new recruits.

    African American League Rules

    • The African American League rules place no limits on who can play in the league. You can add a person of any race to an African American league team. The league rules includes the universal 10-batter rule, in which a team may bat with nine batters, but take an out every time the 10th batter's position is called.

    Military Rules

    • In order to join a military league, a player must be at least 18 and have a military connection whether it be active duty, retirement, ROTC, National Guard, or employed by the department of defense as a civilian. There are three military leagues, consisting of Varsity A, Varsity B and intramural teams.

      Intramural teams are limited to four players from any varsity team and these players must be registered on the roster before the first game of the first tournament. If this rule is not followed, the team must forfeit the right to have the varsity players on its roster. If the two teams play games at the same time, the player has the choice of which team to play with.

      Intramural teams can only form a team with at least nine members from their squadron (Air Force), company (Army), command, squadron or unit (Navy); division (Marines), or group (Coast Guard). Women only have one league, which includes only a varsity league. The same rules apply to women as to men concerning team formation.