RULES
- NO SENIOR BATS or ASA (220 & 240 bats approved)
- BALLS: Only league provided softballs may be used for game play.
- GLOVES: Players may use any type of softball/baseball glove.
- ATTIRE: Shirts and closed toed shoes/cleats must be worn at all times while playing. No metal spikes are allowed. Wearing metal cleats is an ejectable offense.
- PITCHING SCREENS: When pitching screens are available, they are considered mandatory.
The screen may not be more than 3 feet in front of the pitching rubber and must be within the width of the pitching rubber.
The screen can only be moved between half innings, after it has been dislodged, or when a pitching change has been made.
The pitcher may release the ball from either side of the screen, but must have at least one foot in contact with the pitching rubber.
The pitcher is NOT required to get behind the screen after releasing the ball but IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
If a batter hits the screen, it will be treated as a normal foul ball.
If the screen is hit with a thrown ball, it will be considered a live ball.
The Halo Rule will not apply when a pitching screen is used.
If a pitching screen is not available, the Halo Rule will be in effect, and a pitching mask will be encouraged.
-PITCHER PROTECTION: Pitching masks, face guards and/or pitching screens (when available) are highly suggested for all softball leagues.
- LINEUPS
- BATTING LINEUPS: Lineups must be presented to the umpire before each game by game time. Once the lineup cards have been submitted to the umpire, they become official and you may add players to the bottom only. All substitutions must be given to the umpire as being made.
- BATTING RATIOS: Batting order can be random with no specific sex order as long as you follow your overall ratio. When batting 3 women you may bat up to 8 men, when batting 4 women you may bat up to 9 men.
Keep in mind there must be a minimum of 3 women in the batting line-up (this may include "phantom" women if a team has less than 3 women at their game).
- MINIMUM PLAYERS: A minimum of 6 players from the team's roster must be present at game time or the team will forfeit the game.
When the women who are not there would normally be up to bat, they are listed and recorded as automatic outs.
- LATE PLAYERS: Any players arriving after the first pitch of the game (not already placed on the line-up card) must be placed at the end of the batting order.
If a female shows up late, they may go into the automatic out spots on the line-up card. Captains must notify the umpire of any changes to line-up cards.
- INJURED PLAYERS: If a player is injured during a game, the captain must notify the umpire to remove the injured player from line-up card with no additional penalty (unless the injured player is a female and her removal falls behind the required ratio -- then becomes an automatic out). An injured player that has been removed from line-up cannot return to the game.
- GAME PLAY
3/2 SOFTBALL. We will be playing 3/2 softball, meaning each batter starts the count with 1 ball & 1 strike.
- HOME AND AWAY: Will be determined by a coin flip.
- TIME LIMIT: Games are 55 minutes (unless a team is winning by 12 runs after 5 innings) with a maximum of 7 innings. The inning in progress at the end of 55 minutes will be the last inning and completed. (An inning starts once the third out of the previous inning is called.) NOTE: If the home team is batting with the lead, the score will be final at the time the game is called. The ump will enforce this rule and will try to keep teams informed of time remaining.
FIELDING PLAYERS/RATIOS: Teams may not have more than 7 men in the field defensively. A full defense of ten players would be 7 men and 3 women (or more women with less men).
NO DESIGNATED FIELDERS: Any player playing the field must bat at some point during the game and must be on the batting lineup card while in the field (may share a spot). 2 players sharing a spot in the batting line up MAY play the field at the same time regardless of who is in the batting line up at the time.
INTENTIONAL WALKS: Only one intentional walk may be given per game. No pitches have to be thrown. Also cannot intentionally walk to get to the 3rd out of the inning.
RUN RULE:. When a team brings in the 10th run of the inning, it is counted and is also the 3rd out. In the final 10 minutes of the game. This will go by when the inning starts. (or the 7th inning), the 10 run per inning rule does not apply (unless the team that has scored 10 runs is up by 20 or more runs).
RUNNERS: Stealing bases and "leading" is not allowed (will result in an out).
NO RETOUCH at 1st or 3rd base. The runner must stay in contact with the base at all times.
SLIDING IS PERMITTED.
If the ball beats a runner to a forced out base in time to peel off, the runner must do so or both runners may be called out.
HOME RUNS: Each team may hit a total of 5 out of the park home runs, every home run after that will be an inning ending (i.e.) out (including any homeruns that would result in a team going over 10 runs/inning)
Women can hit unlimited home runs.
If an over the fence home run puts a team at the 10 run rule limit, the home run will count towards the team total of home runs (max of 5) and only the 10th run will count.
On an over the fence home run, base runners and batter do not need to advance any bases.
*HR wristbands:$15 for the day (max 3 players per team)
-Banded players get unlimited HRs and they do not count towards the 5 home runs.
RETRIEVING BALLS OUT OF PLAY: If players refuse to make an attempt to retrieve their balls, the umpires are given the right to call balls/strikes/outs on the offending teams if balls are not brought back into play in a timely manner potentially causing a delay in the game.
FOUL BALLS: Once the batter has 2 strikes, they are allowed one courtesy foul. The next foul ball will be considered an out. Foul tip: Catchers may attempt to make the catch on a foul tip. If the catch is made, the batter is out and the ball is live. The height of the ball over the batter’s head no longer applies.
POSITIONING OF OUTFIELDERS: When a female is batting, all outfielders must stay behind the outfield line until the ball is hit. If this rule is violated, the following procedure will take place: If the player hits the ball, the ball remains alive until the umpire calls time out. The umpire will then decide which is more advantageous to the batting team, the hit ball or an automatic pass to first base. If the ball is not hit, an automatic pass to first base is given.
WALKS: If a guy is walked and the next scheduled batter is a woman, she must bat unless the team has two outs - in which case she will have the option of hitting or taking a walk. Regardless of the number of outs, the guy will advance to second if walked with a woman as the next scheduled batter. The Women has until the 1st pitch is thrown to make this decision.
PITCHING MAT
Pitching- “strike mat” will be used to determine balls and strikes. If the softball touches any part of the mat on a legal pitch (6’-10’ arc), it will be considered a strike.
During play- A second home plate(SHP) will be added. The SHP will be adjacent to the 3rd base side of the original home plate.
ALL plays at home will be considered a force play.
Defensive players can only touch the original home plate/ mat (the whole mat will count).
Runners must touch the SHP.
If a runner touches the original home plate, they will be deemed out. If the defender tags the runner instead of stepping on the mat the runner will be deemed safe.
Running to home
A commitment line between 3rd and home (~20 feet from home) once a runner passes the line, they must continue to the SHP if they turn around they will be called out (unless runner is returning to tag up). Runners may not slide into the second home plate. If they slide, they will be called out
MISCELLANEOUS
- No alcohol is allowed on the fields (dugout ok)
- All teams are responsible for their own trash