Rules

1) GENERAL

The intent of this league is to provide a casual organization for co-ed softball. While all sports are naturally competitive, Division C Softball games are intended to be fun and fair. Because the organization of the league is casual, abundant regulations are inappropriate. However, experience has shown that the rules listed below act as necessary guidelines which allow games to run smoothly and allow everyone to have fun.

Not every situation can be covered. It is up to the coaches only to settle all disputes which are, or are not, covered by the rules. Common sense and fairness should prevail. While it should not be necessary, disputes which cannot be resolved by team coaches should be brought to the attention of the league commissioner for resolution.

At times, certain conditions may require an adjustment to the rules. If so, such adjustment can only be made if both coaches agree to waive or adjust a rule for a particular game or circumstance; if either coach wishes to play by the rules listed below, then said rules shall govern.

2) ELIGIBILITY

The intent of the eligibility rule is to discourage the use of "ringers" which would give teams an unfair advantage. Teams should be comprised of employees of the representative firms. Former employees (who are not playing for their own team), significant others, and family members are also eligible. Players who are not directly associated with a team except for the purpose of playing softball are considered ineligible. This rule is difficult to define, and offenders are difficult to identify. The spirit of the rule is to discourage teams from using acquaintances as players simply to field a team.

If a coach feels that an opposing team has an ineligible player, he/she should bring it to the attention of the opposing coach for an explanation. If it is determined that a team is playing with ineligible players, then that team forfeits the game in which the violation occurred. Two forfeits during the season, for violation of this rule, shall constitute expulsion from the league. All violations of this rule should be brought to the attention of the league commissioner.

3) CO-ED REQUIREMENT

Throughout the regular season and the playoffs, all teams must have at least one member of each gender on the field at all times, or that team forfeits the game.

If a team has two or more female players, then that team may field up to ten players, with one player at the catcher position, and four players in the outfield.

During the playoffs only, the 'ghost out' rule shall be enforced. If a team has only one woman playing, then that team must place an 'out' at the tenth spot in their batting order. This out will count every time that spot is up to bat. Sometimes this will cause an inning to end after two standard outs, or begin with an out. Coaches must keep the other team informed.

If a team arrives at a game short of players and invites bystanders to join the team, those bystanders are considered ineligible.

If a team has one female player, then that team may field up to nine players, with one player at the catcher position.

4) TEAM SIZE

A team fielding ten players must have at least two members of each gender. A team may field no less than eight players and no more than ten players per inning per game.

If a team has only 8 players, the opposing team shall provide a non-defensive catcher to return the ball back to the pitcher. This player is not eligible to defensively field the position of catcher.

If a team has only 9 players, the position of catcher must be filled by the fielding team, and may not make requests to the opposing team to provide a non-defensive catcher.

5) LENGTH OF GAME

All regular season games will begin at 6:00pm, unless determined otherwise by mutual consent of the coaches. Games shall typically be seven innings. If a game is tied after seven innings it will be considered a tie unless both coaches agree to play extra innings. The resulting score from the extra innings will be considered the official score.

In the event of rain, darkness, or other limits, the games shall be official at the end of five innings minimum. Both coaches must agree to start an inning. If the home team takes a lead in the bottom half of an inning, and the game is called before that inning is completed, then the score will stand at the point the game was called. If the game is called before the home team can finish its inning, then the score shall revert to the end of the previous completed inning.

Refer to time-of-sunset on the league calendar. Innings beginning after time-of-sunset should be played only upon agreement by both coaches.

6) MERCY RULE

To avoid heavily lopsided results, games will be called if the difference in score is 20 or more runs after four complete innings or 15 or more runs after five complete innings. In either case, if the home team is ahead by the requisite number of runs, the game ends after the top half of the inning. This rule does not apply to playoff games.

7) WEATHER

a) Light rain & drizzle: Teams are expected to play in light precipitation unless the fields are too saturated for game play. Coaches should go to the field and mutually agree if fields are unfit or unsafe for a game.

b) Steady rain: Teams are not expected to play in steady rain. Coaches should get in touch by 3pm on game day and mutually agree to call off the game. If the decision is not made by 3pm, then both coaches should assume the game is still scheduled to occur. In which case both teams should head to the fields make the determination on-site.

d) Fast moving storms: If the forecast indicates a weather cell that might blow through quickly, coaches must mutually agree to either wait it out or call off the game.

e) T-Storms: Game play must immediately stop in case of lightning (per ASA regulations). Game play may not resume until a minimum of 30 minutes after the last lightning flash is seen. Coaches shall use their best judgment.

f) Extreme weather: Hurricanes, tropical storms, or other extreme weather events automatically cancels games.

Notes from the commissioner:

Communication is the key. Players should not abandon the game until both coaches mutually agree that a game is cancelled due to weather. This is a friendly social league, and therefore coaches are not permitted to pressure other coaches into playing in poor weather conditions, darkness or unsafe fields. That being said, teams that are short on players should not use weather as an excuse for not playing if the weather is reasonably suitable for game play.

8) RESCHEDULES

Games may be rescheduled by either team's coach provided that notification be sent to the opposing coach by 12:00 noon Friday of the week prior to the scheduled game day. Coaches must reschedule any games not played by the last Thursday evening before the beginning of the playoffs will count as a loss for both teams.

9) FORFEITS

At least eight players must be prepared to play no later than 15 minutes after the start time, or that team forfeits the game. Start times are indicated on the schedule.

10) EQUIPMENT

The home team shall provide three bases and one new ASA rated 12” diameter softball. To help prevent injuries to infield players and especially the pitcher, softballs must be the ASA Standard .300 compression with 52 COR. Shirts and closed-toe shoes/cleats must be worn at all times during the games.

http://blog.anthem-sports.com/news-for-coaches-athletic-directors-ads/asa-changes-ball-type-rule/

In addition, beginning with the 2012 season, it is required to use only bats that are certified by the Amateur Softball Association of America or “ASA”. All bats used in play in BAASL Division C shall have an ASA approved stamp and not be listed on the ASA prohibited bat list. More information can be found at the link below. Enforcement of this rule is based on the honor system.

http://www.asasoftball.com/about/build_batlist_one_page.asp

11) SAFETY BASE

To help prevent collisions, an additional base shall be provided at first base. This ‘safety base’ shall be provided by the away team and will be placed immediately adjacent to the ‘standard’ base, on the foul side of the chalk line. The standard base will remain in its usual position on the fair side of the chalk line. The runner steps on the safety base, instead of the standard base when overrunning first base.

12) BASE COACHES

The offensive team is responsible to provide base coaches. Base coaches are responsible for all base calls, with any disputes resolved by the team coaches only. If no resolution can be made, then the team in the field will be awarded the call. If the offensive team forgets to provide the necessary base coach, then the team in the field will make the call.

13) EXTRA BASES / FIELD RULES

Coaches must make field rules clear to all their players, especially the base coaches, before the start of the game. A player may advance a maximum of one base on any ball thrown out of bounds by the fielding team. The coaches must determine out of bounds prior to the start of the game. Any ball which hits an out of bounds fence and remains in bounds is still in play and runners advance only at their risk.

14) CONTINUOUS BATTING ORDER

While a team may field a maximum of nine or ten defensive players, there is no limit to the number of offensive players in a team’s batting order. All offensive players must bat in a continuous unchanging batting order. Players arriving late should be added to the bottom of the order. Coaches should advise each other of late arriving players. Batting orders should be exchanged.

15) SLOW PITCH

A slow pitch is considered to be an underhand pitch with no wind-up. A legitimate pitch should be in the normal strike zone of the batter and should arc between six and ten feet. If the pitcher is consistently pitching outside the strike zone (e.g., bouncing in front of the plate, over the batter’s head, far inside or outside, etc.), then the opposing coach may request a new pitcher. The offending team is allowed one warning. If inconsistent pitching continues, and the opposing coach makes a second request for a new pitcher, then the pitcher must be replaced. Ball spin or changes in allowable arc are not reasons for complaint so long as the pitches fall within the batter’s strike zone.

16) STRIKE OUTS

During the regular season: Five swinging strikes in an at-bat will constitute an out.

During the playoffs: Three swinging strikes in an at-bat will constitute an out.

Foul balls count as strikes; however, they do not count as the last strike. There are no walks or called strikes. However, to keep the game moving, if the fielding coach observes a batter intentionally sitting on pitches, after seven pitches they can request the opposing coach instruct their batter to start swinging within the next five pitches or they will be out. PLEASE ENFORCE THIS RULE. It is more dangerous for all players if games extend past sunset.

17) FOUL OUTS

A foul ball shall be counted as an out if the ball is hit over the batter’s head and is caught by an active defensive player. The catcher is responsible for calling all foul balls. If there is a close call and the catcher cannot make the call, the ball shall be considered fair.

18) NO WALKS

19) NO BUNTING

20) OUTFIELD STAYS OUT

There may not be more than four infielders (i.e., no ganging up on weak hitters).

Prior to the pitch, outfielders must stay outside of the infield, which is about 40 feet offset from the baseline.

Once the pitch is thrown then players are permitted to move from their positions freely.

Since each field is a different size, so please use these diagrams below as your guide.

21) OVERRUNNING

Base runners are allowed to overrun first base when running from home plate toward first base. The base runner must use the safety base when overrunning. Base runners who overrun second or third base do so at the risk of being tagged out.

22) NO SLIDING

Except for the bottoms of their feet, players may not touch, drag, or push any part of their bodies on the ground in order to reach base. Players, upon coming to rest at a base, should be standing with both feet on the ground. The intent of this rule is to keep the spirit of the league casual; if a coach is interested in challenging this rule, it must be done before the game starts.

23) NO LEADING OFF

Base runners are NOT permitted to leave the base until the batter makes contact with the ball.

24) NO STEALING

25) TAGGING UP

Players are permitted to tag up, following the catch of the ball for an out. The runner must stay on the base until the ball is caught. After the ball has been caught, the runner may try to advance to the next

base. You may tag-up on both fair and foul balls.

26) PINCH RUNNING

Pinch running is permitted only for players who are injured. Pinch running is not to be used as a way to put in a player who is a faster runner. The offensive player who was most recently called out shall be the pinch runner.

A pinch runner may be substituted in for an injured player at any base, but once the injured player requests a pinch runner, s/he is not allowed to run bases for the remainder of the game. Whenever a pinch runner is being used, the offensive team must announce the pinch runner to the coach of the defensive team.

Players too injured to run should consider not playing to reduce the risk of further injury.

27) GAME RESULTS

The winning coach shall notify the league commissioner of the game’s result, by email, withing 24 hours of the game being played.

28) PLAYOFFS

At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams will play for the championship in a single elimination format.

Seeds are determined first by Win Percentage.

A tie counts as 1/2 of a win in calculating Win Percentage. The formula for win percentage is: Wins + (Ties/2) / Games Played

Two teams with identical records defer to their head-to-head outcome for high seed.

Due to earlier sunset times, playoff games may have an earlier start time. Refer to calendar for start times.

29) AWARD

The championship game winner shall receive the traveling award trophy for BAASL Div C and must return said trophy at the start of the play-offs the following year.