Rules and Regulations

Softball 2008

Rainouts will be posted on the website(www.munciesportsplex.net) or the  SportsPlex Information line 282-8080 after 4:00pm on the day of play.  We also have a Twitter account that we will update with weather info (twitter.com/munciesports)

 

FORFEITS:

             

·        Special arrangements can be made to reschedule games on a case-by-case basis for emergencies only.

·        A $50 forfeit fee must be submitted prior to playing your first game.  If a team forfeits a game without giving reasonable notice (3 days or more) to the Sportsplex office, so that the opposing team may be contacted, they will forfeit $25 of their fee.  The team receiving the forfeit will be awarded with 150 MVP points for the trouble of missing a game.

·        Any team forfeiting two (2) games during league play without prior notice could be subject to removal from league play without reimbursement of fees of awards due.

 

ROSTERS

 

·        All rosters must be completed and turned into the softball office no later than the late entry deadline.  (Players can sign the roster before the first game)  Rosters will not exceed twenty (20) players or twenty five (25) for coed.  All rosters must be signed by the individual players to make them legal. 

·        Teams may make six (6) roster changes prior to their 7th game.  All changes must be submitted to and approved by the League Director at least 1 week prior to that addition playing in a game.  No longer will players be able to be added the day of a game.  Submission of roster changes can be done via the website form, email, or given to the league director at the Sportsplex. 

·        If a player’s name appears on multiple team rosters, on the same night he/she will be locked into the first team that takes the playing field.  If a player competes for the second team in the same night that team will forfeit all games that player competed in.  EXCEPTION –  A person can play on a men’s/women’s team on the same night as a coed team.

·        If a player competes for a team and is not on the team’s roster, the game is an automatic forfeit as soon as said player takes the field, no exceptions.

·        If an umpire knows an illegal player is being used the umpire may call a forfeit.  The same goes for the League Director.

 

MINIMUM/MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS

 

·        To start and maintain a game, a minimum for eight (8) roster players must be held.  Any team who does not field eight (8) rostered players forfeits the game.  One of the eight (8) players must play the catcher’s position behind home plate.  A team with fewer than 8 players at game time will automatically be the visiting team.  They will be allowed to begin the game and bat.  If they make 3 outs or come up to the 7th or 8th spot in the batting order and the 7th or 8th player has not arrived the game will be called a forfeit.  If the 3rd out is made, the 8th player must be in the dugout for the game to continue. NO EXCEPTIONS.  A Team can start with no fewer than 6 players.

·        In co-ed play when a player leaves the game for any reason, the person directly behind that person in the batting order will also be removed from the batting order, without being an out, but can still field.

·        A maximum of twelve (12) players may bat for a men’s team and maximum of fourteen (14) players may bat for a co-ed team.

·        If a team does not have 10 players to start a game and the other team does, the team with 10 players will automatically be named the home team.

·        Teams must finish a game with the same number of players as it started with.  If not the players who left the game will be automatic outs when their turn comes to bat.  If a team starts with 8 or 9, the roster spots less of 10 are not outs. 

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

·          Any person eighteen (18) years or older will be permitted to participate in league or championship play as long as: (1) he/she completed roster signing, (2) he/she is in good standing with the national sanctioning body (NSA), (3) has signed proper waiver form.

 

REGULATION/OFFICIAL GAME:

 

·        A regulation game is seven (7) innings or sixty (60) minutes, which ever occurs first. 

·        In the “Hit your own ball” teams will be required for all leagues and tournament play to supply a National Softball Association approved optic yellow Sportsplex/Worth softball.  The core not to exceed .44.  The Worth softball will be available at the park for purchase.

·        Each game will begin with a coin toss to determine home team.  The team winning the coin toss will automatically be home team. (Exception; if one team has fewer than 10 players to begin the game)

·        Electronic game clocks will be used and will only stop for serious injury.  This will be up to the discretion of the umpire.  After the time limit has expired, the current inning will be completed, and the game will end unless tied.

·        The inning starts with the third out of prior inning.

·        The game starts with direction from the home plate umpire.

·        All batters will start with a one ball and one strike count.  A foul ball with two strikes is an out. 

·        In the event of extra innings, the player committing the last out of the prior inning will be put on second base.  In extra innings, if there is no time left on the clock, a runner will be put on second base and each batter will come to the plate with a full count.

 

 

PLAYER/MANAGER/FAN EJECTION:

 

·        Any person making physical contact with, or showing intent to harm, or intimidating any umpire, board member, or employee of the SportsPlex will be asked to leave the park and will be suspended indefinitely until the softball board can review the case.  That suspension could be no less than three (3) weeks.  In addition, if conditions warrant, criminal charges will be brought against said person.

·        Fighting will not be tolerated.  Any fighting on park property could result in a one (1) calendar year suspension, and criminal charges.

·        Profanity will not be tolerated.  Any player or manager using offensive language on park property will be immediately ejected from the game.  A player may also be asked to leave the park based on the infraction which is totally based on the umpire’s discretion.  The first time a player is ejected from the park they will be suspended for (1) complete week and cannot participate in any leagues or tournaments during that 7-day period.  The second time this happens, a three (3) week suspension will be put in place.  After a third ejection, the softball advisory board, league director, and umpire-in-chief will review the player’s action and decide a proper punishment.  The player could face up to a one (1) calendar year suspension.

 

 

PARK CONDUCT

 

·        At no time will alcoholic beverages be present at the SportsPlex.   Anyone caught bringing alcohol onto SportsPlex property will be subject to suspension.

·        If at anytime an umpire or SportsPlex representative feels that a player is intoxicated or impaired, that player will be removed from the game.  This action may also be subject to suspension from league play.

·        Dogs are not allowed at the SportsPlex, except for the visually impaired.

·        Food or Beverage carry-ins is strictly forbidden. 

 

TEAM/PLAYER APPARELL

 

·        No Metal spikes are allowed in league play!  This also includes plastic covered football cleats.  Anyone found playing in metal spikes will be ejected from the game.

·        There are no uniform requirements for teams participating in Sportsplex leagues.

·        An entirely foot covering shoe is required on the playing field.

·        All bats must appear on the “Approved Bat List” provided by the NSA.  The list can be found at www.playnsa.com

 

LEAGUE STRUCTURE

 

·        All leagues will have an upper and lower division and the softball advisory board will determine talent pools within each division.

·        Gold division – 5 home runs allowed with a 1 up rule after the 5th HR, play on the 325’ diamonds.

·        Silver division – 3 home runs allowed with a 1 up after the 2nd, play on the 305’ or 325’ diamonds.

·        Bronze division – 1 home run allowed with a 1 up after the 1st, play on the 305’ diamonds.

·        Women’s leagues will depend on the number of participating teams, if enough teams register there will be an upper and lower division.

·        Coed League teams should have equal number of females to the number of males playing at all times.  A team may have up to 2 additional females over the number of males playing.  (Example; 4 men & 6 women or 5 men & 6 women)

·        Coed teams must have 2 of each sex in the infield and 2 of each sex in the outfield.  An outfield player cannot start on the infield surface. 

·         If a male is intentionally walked, he automatically is awarded 2nd base, the upcoming female batter has the choice of either taking 1st base or taking her at bat and vise-versa.  If a female pitches a male must catch and if a male pitches a female must catch.  Outfield and infield must be two females and two males. The field is also split through second base and 1 male and 1 female must be on each side of second base in the infield and outfield.  (Example: a female must play shortstop or 3rd base and a female must play left field or left center field).  A male or female may pitch with the opposite sex as a catcher.

·        Players will no longer be classified as Gold/Silver/Bronze.  Complete team rosters will be reviewed by the directors, umpires, and softball advisory board in determining the team’s classification among the other teams playing in the same evening of competition.  To make this possible it is important for teams to have their rosters in as early as possible (preferably by the early entry deadline).  Failure to do so could result in the classifying of your team being bumped up into a higher league then what you have requested.

·        League champions and league tournament champions will receive a sponsor trophy plaque & 1000 MVP Points. (points are awarded to team manager)  Team can then choose how they’d like to redeem their points.

 

RUN RULES

 

·        At the completion of four (4) innings of play, if a team is leading by fifteen (15) or more runs they will be declared the winner of the game being played.

·        At the completion of five (5) innings of play, if a team is leading by ten (10) or more runs they will be declared the winner of the game being played.

·        In men’s leagues only will a twenty (20) run lead after three (3) innings constitute a complete game.

 

 

GRACE PERIOD

 

·        There are no grace periods for any game.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  Games will begin at the scheduled game time and the new “less than 8 player” rule will be used (see above MIN/MAX player rules).

 

RAINOUTS

 

·         In case of rain all games will be rescheduled for a later date.  After a 1st rainout games will be rescheduled on the same night that the league is playing.  Any subsequent rainouts may be subject to being played on other nights.  Teams can list their preference of makeup days when registering for the league. 

·         In the case of rain during play, a game is considered complete after the completion of 4 innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead.  In the case of a rainout in the visitor’s half of the 5th, 6th, or 7th inning the score would revert to what it was at the completion of the previous inning.

 

 

TIE BREAKER FOR 1ST AND 2ND  PLACE

·        Head to head play

·        Run differential between tying teams only.

·        Total Runs Allowed

·        Total Runs Scored

·        Coin flip

·        In the event of a 3-way tie, Head to head will be looked at first, then a runs scored versus runs given up system will be used.

 

TEAM/PITCHER WARM-UPS

 

·        When the pitcher takes the pitching position for the first inning, the pitcher will be allowed five (5) warm-up pitches.

·        After the first inning, the pitcher is allowed one (1) warm-up pitch, unless a new pitcher enters the game.

·        An infield ball will only be allowed prior to the start of inning number 1.  After the 1st inning no infield ball will be allowed.

 

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

 

·        All substitutions must be reported to the home plate umpire.  Failure to report substitution to the umpire will result in the ejection of the illegal player, when brought to the attention of the home plate umpire by the opposing team manager.

 

COURTESY RUNNER

 

 

RE-ENTRY

 

·        Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered one (1) time during a game and must re-enter at the same time batting position.  Any substitution (non-starter) who is withdrawn may not re-enter.

 

SMOKING

 

·        No smoking is permitted on the playing field before or after a game.  Smoking is not permitted in the dugout.

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DUGOUT CONDUCT

 

·        Two (2) coaches, 1st and 3rd base, a batter and one on deck batter only will be allowed on the playing field.  All other non- players must remain in the dugout or outside the playing field.

 

BAT BOY/GIRL

 

·        Bat Boy/Girl(s) are no longer allowed for all league play per NSA national rule!

 

PROTEST RULE

 

·        The following steps must be taken with all protests

·        Notify the home plate umpire

·        Notify park director

·        Submit $25 cash protest fee to director with a written description of the rule being protested.

·        No judgment calls will be considered

 

ROSTER CHALLENGES

 

·        FEE $25.00 CASH

·        If challenge is correct, fee is reimbursed.

Challenge must be brought to the attention of the league director before the game in question is finished.

 

PLEASE AVOID THIS SITUATION BY HAVING ALL TEAM MEMBERS ON YOUR ROSTER PRIOR TO THE GAME.