Rules

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2023     Rules of Play    2023

 

General Rules are in accordance to the 2023 USA Senior Softball Rules of Play (formerly ASA Softball, and may be referred to in this document with the same meaning as USA Softball) with the exception of the specific rules stated below as approved by the Henrico County Senior Softball (HCSS) league Rules Committee.  Rules that differ from previous years are in WHITE TEXT

 

 

 


 

runner may only advance 1 base during the At-Bat of the hitter immediately  following them in the order unless they are forced to advance on a HR, 4-Base Award, or Ground Rule Double.

 *Courtesy runners must be exchanged prior to next pitch. Not runners can be after next pitch unless due to injury.

 

 

“safety plate” or across a “scoring line” (if used).  Runner may slide safely “back” into 1B, 

 

 

 

swing “Senior Bats".  PENALTY:  anyone “stepping into the batter’s box” with an illegal bat is declared OUT.  If they complete their turn at bat and the infraction is discovered BEFORE the next pitch, the defense has the option of choosing the results of the play OR declaring the batter OUT and all runners return to their original base before the at-bat began. Men must turn in calender year.

 

at the end of the line up for each player short of 10.  

 

least  180' from the plate when the pitch is made.  No batter ( Male or Female ) may be FORCED OUT at 1B on a batted ball into the outfield, either by direct throws or indirect throws. Infielders must start in the dirt. 

 

“Substitutes” can be added to any part of the batting order. 

 

 

legally pitched ball that hits the mat is considered a “STRIKE”

Henrico Senior Slow Pitch Softball League Rules (Revised, Spring 2022)

The Henrico County Senior Slow-Pitch Softball League will play by the official playing rules of the Amateur Softball Association of America, ASA, with the exception of the following changes and additions:

I. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND TEAM REQUIREMENTS:

1. An "eligible player" is an individual who has submitted a signed registration, paid required league fees, and is accepted into the organization by the board of directors or its designee. The age criterion for acceptance into the league is specified in the organization's by-laws. Any individual not so accepted is deemed an "ineligible player". In order to play in the league a player must be assigned to a team roster by the Team Assignment Committee. Any violation may result in the expulsion of the unassigned player(s) from the league and/or forfeiture of any or all games in which the unassigned player(s) participated.

2. The President and Team Assignment Committee have the authority to move players as necessary to meet the needs of the league.

II. TEAM REQUIREMENTS FOR AN "OFFICIAL GAME":

1. General plan for the leagues is to play ball and have fun. (Goal is for NO FORFEITS).

  a. A minimum of seven (7) eligible roster players per team is required.

  b. A minimum of eight (8) "eligible players" including at least one (1) female player is required to start the game. Approved substitutes may be used to reach minimum game requirement.

  c. A female must fill one of the first five spots in the batting order.

  d. In order to meet the requirements for an "official game" and the league's preference for at least a 10 player line-up with eight(8) men maximum in the field and two(2) women( 8-2 plan), the league will provide, if possible, up to three (3) "substitute players" , for a team that has less than 10 roster player available. Procedures to obtain substitutes is explained below.

  e. Each team will have a minimum of 10 positions in their batting order with a minimum of 2 female batting positions. A team with less than 10 actual players must take an automatic out somewhere in the batting order for the missing player(s) using either the designation "MM" (missing male) or "MF" (missing female) as appropriate. A team with at least 10 players and only one female must also take an automatic out (MF) somewhere in the batting order. MF cannot be used in the first five batting positions.

  f. A pitcher can be provided for a team without an experienced pitcher regardless of the number of roster players available. That pitcher will bat as a substitute at the bottom of the lineup.

  g. A team with more than 8 men may bat all of the men, but can only play 8 men maximum on defense.

2. Substitute players:

  a. Should a team have less than ten players, only one female available to start the game, or lacking a true position player, an eligible substitute may be picked up by calling someone from the substitute players list or at game time per requirements below. Substitutes may be added to any spot in the lineup. If missing roster player arrives after start of either game, that player will be placed at the bottom of the lineup. Should no substitute be available, or one not picked up, then the short team may use MM or MF in the batting order until a player arrives and fills that batting slot. Any substitute will play the entire game. Should the substitute have to leave to play their game, another approved substitute may take their place in the lineup.

  b. League's preference is for a team to have eight males maximum, two females minimum defensively to start a game:

  c. Team has eight or more males and one female- pick up one eligible female substitute to have two female minimum requirement.

  d. Team has seven or less males and two females- pick up eligible male or female substitutes to have ten players.

  e. Team has seven males and more than two females- team has ten roster players available, no substitutes needed.

  f. Team has six males and more than two females, but not ten total- pick up eligible male or female substitute to have ten players.

  g. All substitute players can be placed any where in the lineup.

3. Procedures for obtaining substitute players:

a. When known in advance that a team will have: less than 10 roster players, only one female, or will not have an experienced pitcher:

b. The league website will maintain a list of all eligible players by position. Managers needing players must contact a player from the Substitute Players list. The substitute player(s) must be an eligible rostered players or eligible players from the league waiting list. The intent is to provide the short team with a full (8-2) defensive team and a substitute equivalent defensively of the missing team player. Any player who is asked in advance to be a substitute player will play in all of the first game. If a player for whom a substitute was requested shows up unexpectedly before or during that game,he or she will have to wait until start of second game to enter. A substitute may be requested for the first game only knowing a player will be late, but available for the second game.

c. Each team will be assigned 3 restricted players. If your substitute(s) exceed the required amount, a 2 run  differential will be awarded to the opposing team; 1 in the 1st inning and 1 in the second. Restricted players on each team will be indicated by *.

d. When the need for a substitute happens at game time as there are: less than 10 roster players, only one female, or the team does not have an experienced position player to start the game:

e. The shorted manager will ask anyone who is not playing in that game to obtain a substitute from available eligible players currently at the field. Substitute(s) will be agreed upon by both Managers.

f. If no substitutes are available, the shorted team will be loaned players for defense only from the opposing team, with the goal of the short team having a full 8-2 .defense. The shorted team will us the MM and MF for the missing positions in the batting order.

g. The Board of Directors will review any instances of non-compliance with these rules that is brought to their attention by "protest" or other timely method and will determine what, if any, penalty shall be imposed. Such penalty may include forfeiture of the game(s) in question.

III. FIELDS AND EQUIPMENT:

1. Distances: The distance between the bases is to be 65 feet. Bases must be secured to the ground. The distance from the front of the pitching rubber to the back of the home plate is to be 50 feet. The pitcher is allowed 6 feet behind the rubber. The outfield line will be set at 185 feet from home plate.

2. Double First-Base Bag: A double bag or a mat, at least equal in size to the regular bag, is to be used at first base and is to be located in foul territory adjacent to first base.

3. Commitment Line: A line, thirty (30) feet from home plate and perpendicular to the third base side foul line, is to be used as a commitment line.

4. Extra Home Plate: An extra home plate will be placed in foul ground adjacent to home plate.

5. Bats: All ASA 100 approved bats are legal unless they are listed on the current official ASA softball list of non-approved bats. Players will be allowed to use these bat for the entire season and playoffs. The decisions of the umpires are final. It is the player's responsibility to know if the bat they are using is legal. (Penalties for using a non-approved bat are covered in ASA rules.)

6. Senior Bats:

  a. All women, and men 65 and over, may use the stronger "Senior Bats". 

  b. Should someone unqualified hit a ball with a marked "Senior Bat", an out will be called, no base runners advance, and the batter will be immediately ejected from the game, disqualified for the rest of the evening, and for the next two following games. Two offenses and the abuser would be disqualified for the remainder of the summer and fall seasons and any tournaments... The ejected player’s spot in batting order is an automatic out for remainder of that game.

7. Uniforms: Players will be provided with a "uniform jersey" and will be expected to wear that at all league games as much as possible. Players may wear other attire of their choosing, providing it does not contain any text or graphics which are deemed by the board to be offensive to the general public. Procedure/Penalty: Player shall be advised and warned. Repeated occurrences may result in the player's expulsion from the league.

IV. ADMINISTRATIVE:

1. Rained out games will try to be rescheduled at end of regular season if possible.

2. The League Standings will be computed using the team's win-loss record. Ties recorded as 1/2 win, 1/2 loss.

3. All rules can be modified at any time, including during the season, at the discretion of the President and Rules Committee.

V. RULES OF PLAY:

1. General:

  A. Games are scheduled to be played at 6:30, 7:20, 8:10, and 9:00 p.m. on each Monday until the end of the season (usually late August).

  B. A game consists of seven (7) innings or fifty (50) minutes, whichever comes first. No inning shall begin after 50 minutes except in the event of a tied game. A new inning begins immediately after the final out of the previous inning.

  C. One extra inning will be played for any game that is tied at the end of the time period or 7 innings, whichever comes first. The extra inning will be "one pitch" and there will be a 3 run limit.

  D. Official Game: Provided three (3) complete innings are played before the umpire declares a rainout, the game will be declared an official game. The final score at the end of the last complete inning played will determine the game winner. Any games which are called on account of time are official provided at least one complete inning has been played.

  E. Each team may score a maximum of five (5) runs in each inning. The last inning called by the umpire will be "unlimited runs".

  F: Unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive language and/or cursing are not permitted. Any player ejected from a game for such conduct will be immediately suspended for the remainder of that night of play and the next night of play. The player must immediately leave the softball complex and may not return until his/her suspension is lifted. During the suspension, the player may not participate in any league activity. A second offense will result in immediate suspension until the Board determines the player's return eligibility.

  G. Umpires have the authority to control the games in progress.

  H. All physically able players must bat and play at least 2 innings of defense per game.  Players who have informed the President that there is a medical reason why they should not play in the field are exempt from this. 

2. Batting:

  A. When ~ team consists of more than ten players, each player will bat. There must be at least one female batter in one of the top five batting positions.

  B. Two (2) strikes constitute an out; three (3) balls constitute a walk. A courtesy foul is given to the batter.

  C. If a male batter who precedes a female batter is walked, intentional or not, the male batter is walked to second base. Any current base runners will advance as forced. The female batter has the choice to take her turn at bat or take a walk to first base.

  D. Any pitched ball, not called illegal or dead that hits the plate or the mat is a strike.

 3. Pitching:

 A. When facing male batters, pitchers are to use twelve-inch (12") balls; when facing female batters, they are to use eleven-inch (11") balls. If the incorrect ball is pitched and the batter makes contact with the ball, play continues until conclusion and the offensive team has the option to:

  a. Take the result of the play or

  b. "No Play" is called and the batter is awarded first base and all runners move up as forced.

B. Pitcher can start/stand up to 6 feet behind the pitching rubber.

4. Defense:

A. No more than ten (10)) defensive players may be on the field at any given time and a maximum of eight of these players may be male.

B. All outfielders must remain behind the white line of the outfield until the batter hits the ball. Note: The umpire must see the infraction in order to impose any penalty.

1. If an umpire sees an outfielder "over the line" before the pitch is delivered, he should stop play and instruct the player(s) to move back.

2. The outfielder causing the infraction is not involved in the play, no penalty will be enforced; the play stands.

3. lf the outfielder causing the infraction fields the ball or makes contact with the batted ball – play continues until conclusion and the offensive team has an option:

a. Take the result of the play or

b. "No Play" is called and the batter is awarded first base and all runners move up as forced.

C. No batter may be thrown out by an outfielder before they successfully reach first base, even with relay by an infielder.

D. Teams may not bring in outfielders to load an infield or play as short fielders; outfielders start play behind the painted outfield line, infielders must play in the dirt and not touching grass. Only exception for infielders not in dirt would be for safety. They may then be no more than 10 feet in grass.

5. Base Running:

A. Base stealing is prohibited.

B. Sliding into second or third base is permitted.  The sliding player is responsible for not injuring the defensive player in such plays.

C. Base runners may not leave their bases until the ball reaches the plate.

D. A base runner who has tagged and passed third base may return to that base unless his/her foot touches the ground on or beyond the commitment line. He/she is now "committed to home" and may not re-cross the commitment line in the direction of third base. Violations will result in the base runner being called out.

E. In order to score, a base runner must tag the extra home plate before a defensive player in possession of the ball touches home plate. To get a runner who is "committed to home" out, a defensive player must touch home plate while in possession of the ball before that runner tags the extra home plate. He or she must touch home plate; not the base runner. Contact with a base runner who is committed to home by any defensive player may result in an "obstruction call" by the umpire in which case the runner will be awarded home plate.

F. A base runner will also be called out if he/she touches or crosses any portion of home plate.

6. Courtesy Runners:

A. The request for a courtesy runner must come from the base runner.

B. No player may be used more than once an inning as a courtesy runner.

C.  A courtesy runner may not be replaced by another courtesy runner, except in the case of a discernable injury to the runner.

D. Should a courtesy runner be on base when his/her turn to bat comes up, an out will be recorded for that "at-bat" and the courtesy runner will remain on base. The next batter in the order will then bat.

E.  A courtesy runner may only advance one base as a result of the next batter's attempt. After the next batter they may advance at will. Exceptions to the one-base advancement are: over the fence home run; batted ball bounces over outfield fence for ground rule double; ball thrown by defense goes out of play or into dugout - applicable ground rule advancement applies.

VI. PROTESTS:

1. A manager who believes that the opposing team is guilty of a rules infringement shall inform the umpire immediately that he/she is protesting the game while game is in progress. The protest must be written by the protesting manager and signed by that manager and the umpire in the official scorebook before the teams leave the field. The protest must include the specific rule(s) which was (were) violated and the names of any individuals involved.

2. Managers involved in a protest must provide league officials with accurate copies of lineups and/or scorebook pages from the protested game.

3. Protests involving team roster and/or player participation must be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing within 24 hours of occurrence.

VII. VIOLATIONS:

Violation(s) of any of these rules by a manager, whether a protest is filed or not, is/are subject to review by the board of directors who will decide on any appropriate action(s) to be taken which may include forfeiture of the game(s).