Below is some information on any rule updates or changes.

Strike Zone (reminder)

The U11 and U13 strike zone will be generous, ie. A pitch that is pretty close to the plate and hittable is to be considered a strike. Teams are to change their pitchers and catchers at least once in a game, but preferably each innings.
For U11 teams for the first half of the season, teams will bat through the whole team each innings and utilize a ‘last batter’ in a similar way to Tee Ball. Only completed runs will count and teams must bat the same number of players. (eg if one team has 10 players and the other team has 8 players, the larger team can lend a player to the smaller team or the smaller team can bat two players twice.)
While it is preferable that teams field full teams, there will be no defaults if a team fails to field 9 players. If both coaches agree, the larger team can lend players to the smaller team or the smaller team can play with the numbers that turn up.

U15 Boys Pitching Distance Increase (rule change)  

After 3 years of study, discussion and analysis, Softball NZ has decided to increase the Boys U15 Pitching distance from 12m to 13.11m.
Some of the reasons for this change are
• Increasing the distance allows for a progression of approx 1 metre in distance from U13, U15 to U17 ie: 12m, 13.11m, 14,
• The U15 Catcher, batters and umpires will have more time to react to a pitch
The increased U15 distance will be effective for the 2010/11 season and for the U15 Boys North Island and South Island National Tournaments in 2011 and will be included in the Softball NZ 2010 – 13 Rule book.