Last updated 7/25/06, 10:30 PM
Section Four--Comments
Current rules established by the Amateur Softball Association (A.S.A.) will govern play. The A.S.A. rulebook will serve as a basis for final determination of rules and protests, which cannot be clearly defined in this manual.
· A ten (10) minute grace period will be allowed from the scheduled starting time before a game is forfeited.
· A forfeit shall be declared if a team fails to field the number of required eligible players ten (10) minutes after the scheduled starting time.
· The required number of eligible players to field a team for softball is nine (9). In Co-Rec the number of women may exceed the number of men, however, the number of men may not exceed the number of women.
· Forfeits will be assessed a $10.00 penalty if St. Feriole Island Park is not notified of the forfeiture in advance. Fee must be paid before the next scheduled game.
· Unpaid fees will result in loss of returning team status.
· Teams forfeiting two games may be dropped from the schedule.
·
A protest shall only be accepted on rule interpretation (not
judgment calls) and use of an ineligible player.
·
The umpire and scorekeeper must be notified of a protest before
the NEXT PITCH.
·
A protest must be completed and filed with the protest fee ($15)
within 24 hours of the game to be considered.
·
Arbitration of protest shall be conducted with representatives of
both teams, umpires, supervisory staff and/or any other individuals deemed
necessary by St. Feriole Island Park.
· Criteria used to determine league champions is as follows:
1. Leagues with two halves-champion are determined by winner (best won-loss record) of first half versus winner (best won-loss record) second half.
2. Leagues without rounds-champion is determined by best won-loss record for the season.
· Ties for round winners shall be played off prior to championship and consist of one game.
· Ties for round or places consisting of more than two teams shall consist of a single elimination playoff. St. Feriole Island Park shall place teams into a playoff.
· The minimum number of awards to be given per league is based upon the number teams as follows:
1. Leagues of 4-6 teams-1st place sponsor award.
2. Leagues of 7-9 teams-1st place sponsor award and 2nd place sponsor award.
3. Leagues of 10 or more teams-1st place sponsor award, 2nd place sponsor award and 3rd place sponsor award.
· If a player has been suspended from a softball league, he/she will receive written notice within 72 hours of the situation as viewed by the staff.
· If the suspended participant feels he/she has been treated unfairly, the participant must prepare a written response.
· The written response must be turned in to the Pdc Park and Rec office within a week of receiving first written notice.
· There will then be an appropriate hearing of the people involved in the situation to consider all information.
· There will be a fair and impartial decision made and put in writing by the St. Feriole Island Park Administration regarding the matter.
· Teams must start a game with a minimum of 8 players.
· Teams may use a maximum of 10 players in the field and bat 11. Exception: Co-Rec (See Co-Rec rules).
· Teams, which do not meet minimum player requirements to start a game, will forfeit the contest.
· Teams starting with 8 players may add players arriving late into the line-up in the last position of the batting order. (revised 5/14/05)
· Each game will start with a new ball and a used ball. All leagues will use a 12” .44 core ball.
· All leagues will adhere to the A.S.A. banned bat list. Bats on this list cannot be used in league play.
· Any player found to be using an illegal bat will be ejected for the remainder of the game.
· THROWING BATS:
1. Throwing of bat will result in an automatic out.
2. Intentional throwing of bat will be ruled an automatic ejection. This is a judgment call of the umpire. No Protests will be allowed.
Limited Arc Play
· Three (3) balls and two (2) strikes count limit will be utilized.
· The batter is out if he/she has:
1. Two swinging strikes.
2. Two called strikes.
3. Two foul balls, one if the first foul is caught.
4. Any combination of the above that equals two.
· Three balls constitute a walk.
· A rubber mat (strike mat) will be placed behind the plate and will be utilized to designate strikes.
· A legal pitched ball, which hits any part of the plate and /or mat, will be called a strike.
Semi-Fast Play for Co-Rec
· Four (4) balls and three (3) strikes count limit will be utilized
· If a male player is walked on 4 straight pitches, the following female batter has the option of a walk.
· Limited Arc leagues will adhere to the A.S.A. rule concerning minimum and maximum arc requirements on pitched balls. The A.S.A. rule reads: “The ball must be delivered with a perceptible arc, and reach a height of at least 6’ from the ground while not exceeding a maximum height of 12’ from the ground.”
· Semi-fast pitchers hips are to remain square with the plate and the pitchers hand isn’t to come above the pitchers shoulder during the windup.
· Pitched balls judged not to meet the requirements will immediately be declared an illegal pitch by the umpire.
· An illegal pitch call only protects the batter from a called strike. An illegal pitch will be called a ball unless the batter attempts (legally swings) to hit the called illegal pitch.
· An illegal pitch call is a judgment decision of the umpire. No Protests will be allowed.
· A.S.A. definition: A fielder who is not: (1) in possession of the ball, (2) in the act of fielding a batted ball, or (3) about to receive a thrown ball, which impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases.
· When obstruction occurs (in the judgment of the umpire), the umpire will signal delayed dead ball and let play come to a “live” natural conclusion. At the conclusion of play, the umpire will assess the play and judge if the base runner or runners have safely reached the bases they normally should have reached. If the umpire feels they have, the obstruction will be waived. If not, the umpire will signal dead ball and award the appropriate base advancements.
· In cases of obstruction, the base runner or runners are not entitled to deliberately run into the fielder. In such cases, the guilty base runner would be subject to a game ejection.
· A.S.A. definition: The act of an offensive player or team member which impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play. Defensive players must be given the opportunity to field the ball anywhere on the playing field.
· Most common types of interference:
1. Base running
2. Batter
3. On deck batters
4. Coaches
· When interference occurs, the ball is dead, someone must be called out and all base runners return to the last base touched at the time of the interference.
· Interference calls are the judgment of the umpire, no protests will be allowed.
· The coaches, batter’s and on-deck batter’s box areas (even if not marked) are not “sanctuary” areas. Players/coaches must make room for plays to be made.
· A.S.A. definition: An appeal play is a play on which an umpire may not make a decision until requested by a manager, coach, or player. The appeal may not be made after any one of the following has occurred: (1) a legal or illegal pitch, (2) the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory, (3) the umpires have left the field of play.
· Most common types of appeals:
1. Missing a base.
2. Leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the ball is touched.
3. Batting out of order.
· An appeal can be made during a “live” ball by touching the base missed or left too soon on a fly ball, or by tagging the runner committing the violation (if he/she is still on the playing field). The umpire should then make a decision on the play (out or safe). Runners may advance during a “live” ball appeal.
· A “deal ball” appeal can be made once a time-out has been granted. Any infielder, with or without the ball, can make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon on a fly ball. The umpire should then make a decision on the play (out or safe). Runners may not advance during a “dead ball” appeal.
· Batting out of order:
1. May be appealed by the defensive team while the batter is at the plate.
2. The offensive team may correct a wrong batter at the plate with no penalty.
3. Once a batter has completed his/her turn at bat and before the next pitch, an appeal may be made by the defensive team only. The proper batter will be declared out.
· A.S.A. definition: A fair fly ball (not including a line drive) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort when first and second or first, second, and third bases are occupied before two are out. Any outfielder who positions him/herself in the infield on the play shall be considered an infielder.
· When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “infield fly-the batter is out” (if near the foul lines…. the batter is out if fair).
· The ball is “live” and runners may advance at their own risk.
· Any player may be substituted or replaced and re-entered once, providing players occupy the same batting positions whenever in the lineup.
· Players may not re-enter a second time. The starting player and their substitute may not be in the line-up at the same time.
· An extra player (EP) is optional, but if one is used, it must be made known prior to the start of the game and be listed on the scoring sheet in the regular batting order. If the EP is used, the EP must be used the entire game.
· The EP must remain in the same position in the batting order for the entire game.
· If an EP is used, all 11 on the starting line-up must bat and any 10 of those 11 may play defense. Defensive positions may be changed, but the batting order must remain the same.
· The EP may be substituted for at any time. The substitute must be a player who has not yet been in the game. The starting EP may re-enter.
· If the EP is used in co-rec, all 12 must bat and any 10 (five male and five female) may play defense. The batting order must remain the same throughout the game.
· A game will be called when there is a ten (10) run difference at the end of five (5) innings or any full inning thereafter, or a twenty (20) run difference after three (3) innings or any full inning thereafter.
The following modifications apply to all St. Feriole Island Park Softball Leagues:
· Only one bat person per bench.
· Profanity is not allowed. Abusive language will lead to ejection from the game.
· No smoking or alcohol allowed on the field.
· Warm-up practice is restricted to the corridors. The main entrance may not be used for warm-up practice.
The following modifications are for individual leagues.
· Starting times are scheduled every 60 minutes, there is no time limit
· The mat and plate will be a strike.
· The number of players need to start a game is eight (8).
· Teams may use a maximum of 10 players in the field and bat 11. (Extra Player /EP)
· There is a five (5) homerun maximum for each team per game. Homeruns after the five (5) will be called an out.
· The team batting will provide a base umpire. In order to keep the game moving, it is suggested it be the last out of the previous innig or a player who is not in the lineup.
· Courtesy runners are allowed as needed.
· Starting times are scheduled every 75 minutes and there is a 90-minute time limit. No new inning is to start after the 90 minutes are up unless the score is tied.
· The number of rostered players needed to start a game is eight (8); the number of women may exceed the number of men, however, the number of men may not exceed the number of women on the field.
· The batting order must alternate sexes; teams can never have two men bat in consecutive order in the line-up.
· Batting Order options:
1. Standard ten (10) person order.
2. Eleven (11) person order (Extra Player/EP), this batter must be a woman.
3. Twelve (12) person order. Any ten (10) players play the field, but twelve (12) can bat.
4. The option chosen must be utilized throughout the entire game.
5. If a male batter is walked on four straight pitches, the following female batter has the option of a walk.
6. Players must slide on all close plays. A player who does not slide on a close play will be called out. This is a judgment call by the umpire and no protest will be allowed.
7. Courtesy runners are allowed as needed. The courtesy runner must be the last recorded out of the same sex.
8. Bunting is not allowed.
9. Stealing of bases is not allowed.
10. Runners cannot lead off until after the pitch
11. There is five (5) homerun maximum for each team during each game. Homeruns after five (5) will be called an out.
· Starting times are scheduled every 75 minutes and there is a 75-minute time limit. No new inning is to start after the 75 minutes are up unless the score is tied.
· The number of rostered players needed to start a game is eight (8).
· The use of a protective batting helmet is optional.
· The catcher must wear a mask, but all other equipment is optional.
· Except as specified above, NFHS rules shall apply to this league.
After a recent discussion on "courtesy pitches" in the CoEd League, the following was determined to be the case:
1> There is no written rule on courtesy pitches--it is an accepted practice in this league.
2> While there is no penalty for failing to pitch a courtesy pitch on request, a pitcher shall be reminded that courtesy was requested and SUBSEQUENT pitches failing to comply with this practice shall be called an illegal pitch and a ball if the batter does not swing.