(Last Updated: March 2, 2011)
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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).
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 during the
season will result in a player being suspended for the remainder of the
season (e) captains shall, provide the
name of the ejected player to the commissioner(s) and upon request, to the
umpire, and (f) 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) via e-mail after
completion of the game.
3.
Teams should e-mail game
results to the League Web Master by Sunday 6 pm.
Any team that fails to provide game results by
9:00 pm Monday evening will risk forfeiting those games.
4.
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 captains.
5.
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.
6.
If
a team can't play due to attendance of a large percentage of team members at a Bris or funeral, the game(s) will not count (i.e., treated
as a rain-out rather than a forfeit).
7.
Should
4 weeks or more of the regular season be rained-out, the regular season would
be extended by two weeks and the playoff format would shift to a 2-week single
elimination tournament format.
8. During the regular season as well as the playoffs, EXCEPT for the Playoff Finals: (a) 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; and (b) there will be a 12-run mercy rule after 5 innings.
9.
For the Playoff Finals: (a) there will be no
time limit provided the umpire agrees to be available prior to the start of the
game; and (b) the 12-run
mercy rule after 5 innings will be suspended.
10.
Courtesy runners will
be allowed for any injured batter who reaches base safely. The
opponent’s captain and the umpire must be advised during ground rules before
the start of the game which players will require a courtesy runner, 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 to bat. A second
courtesy runner cannot be substituted at this time.
11. 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.
If a player leaves during a game and is not replaced by another player, there is no automatic out. The umpire and opposing coach must be informed when a player leaves early. If the early departure results in a team fielding less than eight players, the game is forfeited.
12.
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.
13.
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.
14.
For
synagogues that have more than one team, a player may NOT switch between teams
once the season has begun.
15.
The
minimum age for any player is 18 on game day. Women are NOT allowed to play.
16.
To
be eligible for the playoffs, a ball player must have played in approximately
half of the team’s regular season games.
17.
Pitch
arc limit is set at 6 to 12 feet.
18.
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 two-color "double-bag" (for
example, orange & white) 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. The
defensive player covering first base must touch the INSIDE bag on a force play
(batter running to first after hitting the ball) to avoid a collision.
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.
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 ½-way between
third 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 third base, he will be
declared out and the ball will remain alive.
19.
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.
20.
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 the rearmost corner of home plate.
21.
BALLS: The official game balls are a 52-core 375 softball. 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.
22.
BATS: The league will use the ASA rules -
please refer to the ASA website at: http://softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp
.
23.
Seeding for schedules will be based on previous 3-year
average standings.
24. The umpires’ on-the-field decision as to playability of a field is final and shall supersede the commissioners’ early morning decision to allow league play that weekend. If the umpire cancels the games due to playability issue, s/he will leave the field and will not work the games, even unofficially. Teams may use the field only for practice at their own risk. If the umpire cancels a game because of an unplayable field, it will be counted as a rain-out.