(Last Updated: February 6, 2008)
Unless modified by this set of rules, all games of the league shall be played in accordance with the current slow pitch rules of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) or National Softball Association.
1.
Unsportsmanlike
conduct will NOT be tolerated in our softball league, including abuse (verbal
or physical) of other players or game umpires.
Additionally: (a) If an umpire ejects a player from the game, he MUST
immediately leave the ball field and the surrounding area; (b) the tossed
player must write an apology to the umpire, which
will need to be approved by both the team captain and the commissioner(s); (c) the player will be suspended
at least the following week and possibly more, at the discretion of the
commissioner(s); (d) a second ejection will likely result in a player being
suspended for the entire year; (e) captains have a responsibility to set an
example for their team and ensure that all players treat opponents and umpires
with respect. Should the need arise,
captains are required to inform their players in CLEAR EXPLICIT language that
unsportsmanlike behavior is unacceptable and must stop!
2.
If
a captain has a problem with an umpire or a specific call, the issue should be
raised to the commissioner(s) and the head of umpires after completion of the
game in a calm professional manner.
3. During the regular season as well as the playoffs, EXCEPT for the Playoff Semi-Finals and Finals, no new inning may begin after the 65-minute time limit has been reached, UNLESS the score is tied. In this case, the game will continue with no change in the rules, until the tie is broken.
4. For the Playoff Semi-Finals and Finals, there will be no time limit.
5.
There
will be a 12-run mercy rule after 5 innings.
This rule will be suspended ONLY during the Playoff Finals.
6.
Courtesy runners will
be allowed for any injured batter who reaches first base safely.
The opponent and umpire must be advised before the start of the game, unless an
injury takes place during the game. The
substitute runner must be the person who made the most recent out, either as a
batter, or as a runner. If more than one courtesy runner is needed per inning, then
runners are chosen in reverse order of who made the last out (i.e., most recent
out, second most recent out, etc.). However, no one may be a courtesy runner
more than once per inning. A courtesy runner whose turn at bat comes while he
is on base will be out. He will be removed from the base and come to bat. A
second courtesy runner cannot be substituted at this time.
7. A team may play with a minimum of 8 players. They bat 1 through 8 and then start with number 1 again. There is not an automatic out in the 9th and 10th position.
8.
ALL games will begin at 9:15 am. There will be a
5-minute intermission between games. A team that forfeits game-1 does not
automatically forfeit game-2.
9.
All
players must either:
Clause (a): Be part of a family which is currently financially affiliated, through dues, nursery school fees and/or Hebrew school fees, with the team’s synagogue; Or
Clause
(b): Be a current member of the Norbeck Meadows Community
Association to play on their community team.
10.
For
synagogues that have more than one team, a player may NOT switch between teams
once the season has begun.
11.
The
minimum age for any player is 18 on game day.
Women are NOT allowed to play.
12.
To
be eligible for the playoffs, a ball player must have played in approximately
half of the team’s regular season games.
13.
Teams
should e-mail game results to the League
Web Master by Sunday evening, if possible.
Any team that fails to provide game results by 9:00 pm Monday evening
will forfeit those games.
14.
A
team that forfeits games due to lack of players on three Sundays will be
subject to removal from the league for the following season. Such action will require a majority vote of
the other teams in the league.
15.
A
forfeit for any reason results in two losses for that team and two wins for the
opposing team. Once the season has
started, should a team fold, all remaining games scheduled for that team will
count as wins for their scheduled opponents.
16.
Base
running rules:
i.
A
runner may not leave a base until a pitched ball has crossed the plate.
ii.
Runners
should take care to avoid unnecessary contact. Stand-up collisions MUST be avoided. Feet-first OR head first sliding is
permitted. A runner who has been forced
out should either slide or vacate the base line so as not to obstruct an
ensuing throw. Failure to do so can
result in an out call, at the judgment of the umpire.
iii.
A
"double-bag" will be used at 1st base. On a ball hit to an infielder, the runner
MUST run to the OUTSIDE bag or will be automatically out.
iv.
A
second “scoring” home plate shall be
located with its right corner eight (8) feet from the back of the “actual” home
plate. The scoring plate shall be
situated on an imaginary extension of the first base foul line. The offensive
team must always touch the scoring plate when scoring a run. If the runner touches the actual home plate,
that runner is automatically out.
v.
The
defensive team must always touch the actual home plate to record an out. On a
wide throw home, the defensive team must catch the ball and touch the actual
home plate before the runner crosses the scoring plate to record an out.
Tagging the runner is NOT allowed. If the defensive team attempts to tag the
runner, the runner is automatically safe.
vi.
A
three (3) foot long commitment line shall be marked across and perpendicular to
the foul line and placed ˝-way
between 3’d base and home plate. Once a runner’s foot touches the ground on or
past this line, the runner is committed to advancing to the scoring plate.
vii.
If a
runner retreats back across the commitment line toward 3’d base, he will be
declared out and the ball will remain alive.
17.
When a batter enters the batter’s box, he will
have the count of one ball and one strike.
On the second foul ball after reaching two strikes, the batter shall be
declared out.
18.
The home team shall furnish softball bases for
each home game not played at a
The bases shall be placed 65 feet apart, with the pitching mound 50 feet from home plate.
19. BALLS: The official game balls are any 12” 44-core softball with a “375” compression rating. Each team will furnish 1 new ball to start the game. If additional back-up balls are needed, the team that loses the ball shall furnish ball(s) as needed.
20. BATS: The department will use the ASA rule - please refer to the ASA website at: http://softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp .
21.
Seeding for schedules will be based on previous 3-year
average standings.
TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE: http://www.synagogue-softball.org/