Rules and Guidelines
The Federal League is a Milton softball league operating with the Town of Milton and community permits. We are a deep Fall League. The season can, and will, run into November, until nearly Thanksgiving, should your team advance in playoffs.
Eligibility
Residency: Players on team’s roster must reside in Milton.
Exception #1: Returning players who have been grandfathered
Exception #2: New for 2025: Prospective new players who grew up in Milton and/or graduated from Milton High — or — someone who can demonstrate they lived in Milton for 10+ years previously. Proof of residency is required.
Please don’t try to skirt this rule — it’s our mandate as a Milton community organization.
Exception #1: Returning players who have been grandfathered
Exception #2: New for 2025: Prospective new players who grew up in Milton and/or graduated from Milton High — or — someone who can demonstrate they lived in Milton for 10+ years previously. Proof of residency is required.
Please don’t try to skirt this rule — it’s our mandate as a Milton community organization.
Age: Players must be 40 years old. Full stop.
Equipment
Wood bats only. No composite or non-wood bats.
No metal spike cleats. Cleats are highly recommended.
Registration and Team Rosters
Players must register before playing.
Team rosters are capped at 21 players.
Player registration closes after the 2nd week of games.
Games
Eight players are needed to start a game.
Fill-in players from other teams are allowed with opponent manager approval. They cannot pitch or play shortstop and must bat last. Max roster with subs: 9 players.
Game is official after 5 innings (or 4½ if home team is winning). If called early, the game is rescheduled and restarted from the 1st inning.
Games are 7 innings, scheduled for 90 minutes.
Extra Innings: Starting in the 8th inning, the "automatic runner" or "ghost runner" rule applies. A runner is placed on second base — the last out from the previous inning. Regular season games may end in a draw; playoff games cannot.
Games must end by 10:00 PM. Lights shut off at Gio/Gile.
Mercy Rule: 15-run lead after 5 full innings or 12-run lead after 6 full innings ends the game. Home team gets last ups if trailing.
Fielders must bat unless batting order exceeds 10. DH is allowed if all positions are covered.
Pinch runners are allowed. The last player who made an out may pinch run.
Left field walking path is out of play — automatic double. Batting cage fence is in play. Right field hill/fence area is out of play.
Home Team Responsibilities
Home team uses the 3rd base dugout.
Responsible for placing bases before early game and storing/locking them after late game.
Responsible for lights before/after games (lights are scheduled since 2024).
Playoffs
All teams participate in playoffs.
Players must be registered and have played in 3 regular season games to be eligible.
Seeding Tiebreakers:
1. Record (Points)
2. Head to Head
3. Run Differential – Head to Head
4. Run Differential – All Games
5. Coin Flip
1. Record (Points)
2. Head to Head
3. Run Differential – Head to Head
4. Run Differential – All Games
5. Coin Flip
Have fun!