2013 Lower Bucks Co-Ed Slow Pitch

Softball League Rules

Revised: 3/7/2013

President: Bob Meyerle (deadmeatposse@aol.com)               Cell: 267-250-2579 

Address: 705 Sunflower Ave, Langhorne, PA 19047        Home: 215-856-9498

Umpires: Tom Wicks Home: 215-262-7339

Commissioner:  Mike Grimshaw (Cell) 215-906-2289 (Text or calls are acceptable)

 Email: imbigmike59@aol.com

Postponing for Rain: President & Commissioner decide whether to play by 4pm. Cancellations will be posted on softballtracker.com if nothing is posted, teams are to show up to the scheduled field and the judgment is made by the umpire to postpone the game before or during the game.  (Note: Intermittent rain/passing scattered showers are not necessarily reasons to postpone games.  Use good judgment.  Try to play the scheduled game. )

Postponing for "Convenience": If a coach needs to re-schedule a game for something OTHER than rain (e.g. company picnic), the coach must contact the other coach, then contact Mike Grimshaw for game re-scheduling & he will contact Bob Meyerle for umpire scheduling.  AT LEAST 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE GAME. You cannot cancel or postpone a game because you are short players---the roster size is unlimited--fill it with subs.

Scores- Please post scores on softballtracker.com after every game. Mike will check that both scores are the same.

LEAGUE FORMAT

There will be 2 Divisions an Upper and Lower. Each team will play 2 games against each division opponent.  Top 6 teams from each division make the playoffs and teams playoff within their own division to make the championship game with seed 1 and seed 2 on bye 3 vs  6 and 4 vs 5 in best of 1 in round 1. Division Semi-Final Best of 3 and Championship Best of 3.

Playoff Format:

(***The actual start date of the playoffs will vary based on makeup games.  Usually the next Monday or Wednesday after the last game of the season for every team.  The date may move up or it may move back.  Playoffs start regardless of player vacations or holiday weeks.)

2 Division Format:

Round 1:  First Round: Best of 1 (Seeds 1 and 2 get bye)

Round 2: Semi-Finals: Best of 3

Round 3-Division Championship: Best out of 3

Tiebreakers

1) Head to Head Competition 2) Total Runs Head to Head 3) Total Runs for the season 4) Runs allowed for the season

RULES: Respect umpires.  This is a FUN league/good sportsmanship counts.  Umpires are authorized to eject a player from a game.  Repeat offenses/gross misconduct are subject to ejection from the league. Threats toward other players can result in ejection and will be followed with a 5 game subsequent suspension.

1. A.S.A. rules apply, except where noted below.

a. NO METAL SPIKES.  A player caught with metal spikes will be ejected from the game.  Any repeat offenses are subject to further suspended games up to ejection from the league.

b. Umpire is in complete control and sets ground rules at each field---review this Rule Sheet with your team and the ump before each game.

2. Ejections: If a player is ejected from a game, he must leave the field area, including the parking lot, within 5 minutes.  This is a 2006 ASA rule that umps will be enforcing.

3. Disqualifications: If a player is disqualified from a game (e.g. batting out of order), that player cannot play the rest of the game, but may remain at the field.  2006 ASA rule.

4. Runners: the rule is runner can't leave bag until the ball crosses the plate.  However, some umpires call when the ball is actually hit.  Clarify with ump during ground rules.

5. Fielders: Outfielders can not come up to stand on dirt infield before play, or on non-dirt infields must stand behind the base cutouts.  Any player can use a first baseman’s glove.

6. 12-Run-Rule: If a team leads by 12 or more runs after 5 innings, the game is called by the ump.  The 12-run rule does apply during the playoffs.

7. Collisions/Contact: RUNNERS must avoid contact at all costs. Runners must slide or veer away to avoid interfering with a fielder or that fielder's throw when there is a play at a bag/plate. NO FAKE TAGS; they can cause injuries by making people slide unnecessarily. Ump can call a runner out or eject a player who doesn’t try to avoid contact. Accidental/incidental contact is ump's judgment call. No fielder should EVER be standing in a base path to take a throw.  Catchers should take throws in FRONT of home plate.  The plate can not be blocked unless you have the ball.  However, it’s not recommended to block the plate.

8. Arc-Pitching: 6-12 feet from the ground. A strike is a pitch that lands on any portion of the black rubber strike mat or on any portion of the plate and has proper arc. The plate is a strike.  This is a fun league and  Quick Pitching is not recommended.  Catchers are encouraged to wear a mask!

9. Catcher: We do not follow the 2006 ASA rule, which states that a fouled pitch that then hits the catcher and pops up can not be caught for an out by the catcher.  If the catcher or any other player catches a tipped pitched that then pops up before hitting the ground, it is an out.

10. Substitutions: A player can enter the game twice, but if they are moved from the lineup a 2^nd time they are ineligible to return. See double reentry rule for ASA.

11. Courtesy Runners:  Each team gets 2 Courtesy Runners for 2 designated people each game and they must be requested during ground rules, except if a player gets injured.   The rule is designed for injured players. Male for Male; Female for Female, unless no available female.  It’s the last male or female batted out in the lineup, or if the lineup hasn’t changed over yet and has no outs, it’s the last possible male or female who will bat in that inning.  A hitter must reach base before requesting a courtesy runner.  All fielders must bat.  There are no courtesy batters.  If a player doesn’t bat, that is a substitution. If the last batted out is on base the ump must select another person to be a courtesy (Previous batted out).

12. Lineup: A team can bat up to 16 players.  If you want to bat more than 16, the opposing coach has to agree before the game.  A team must have at least 2 women in the field and batting, and everyone must stay in same order.  The same players must keep hitting in the same order unless a player gets injured or must leave the ballpark.  If a player shows up late, he may be added to the end of the batting order, as long as the top of the order has not been reached.  If the top of the order has been reached, the batter can not be added, and only substituted for a batter already in the lineup.  You can, however, add a batter to the end of the lineup if you don’t have 10 batters in the lineup regardless of whether you reached the top of order or not.  Once you reach 10 batters, you can not add after the batting order has reached the top of the order, unless it’s a substitution. 

13. Lending Players: Teams can lend or share players when necessary to help the other team avoid forfeiting. If you only have 8 or 9 players DON'T ASK TO BORROW A PLAYER--- it’s legal to play with 8.  You field 8 and take 1 automatic out each time around in batting order.  (Automatic outs must be tracked by team and told to umpire.  If umpire is not informed, it’s not an automatic out.)  Lent players don't bat for the team they’re lent to, nor do they make plays at the plate.  If they're catching, pitcher should always cover home.  Good sportsmanship dictates that lent players try to make all routine plays.

14. Injuries: If a player (man or woman) is injured during a game and that team doesn't have an active roster player to sub, that team does NOT take an automatic out in the batting order. That position is merely skipped every time through the 1ineup from then on.  Injuries NEVER cause an “automatic out.”  However, players ejected (if there are no subs) do not get the same break.

15. Women: Teams must always have at least 2 women on the field and batting except for the cases below:

a) If a team has only 1 woman, they play 9 fielders and take an automatic out every time in that position of the batting order.  If only 1 woman, you can not bat an extra male.

b) If a team has 0 women, they play 8 fielders and take 2 automatic outs every time in those positions of the batting order.  If 0 women, you can not bat extra males.

c) If a woman is injured or must leave a game, and that team has no other women at the game to sub, the team plays with only 9 fielders, and skips her spot in the batting order (no automatic out). If a team loses BOTH women to injuries (and no other woman from the roster is available to play) 1 man can take the second woman's spot in both the field and batting order--that makes 9 fielders and one automatic out every time in that position of the batting order.

d) A 3rd strike foul ball is an out for men, but women can hit foul balls all day long.

e) If a man is walked ahead of a woman, normal baseball rules apply. The woman must bat.  Good sportsmanship dictates that a pitcher doesn't “accidentally” walk a man to get to a woman.

16. Outfield Rule for Women Batting:  Outfielders cannot come up to stand on dirt infield before play, or on non-dirt infields must stand behind the base cutouts.

17. Double First-Base Bag:

Helps reduce injuries/collisions at first base on plays at first. The “double bags” straddle the first base line. The first baseman tags the “official white” bag, which is located where the base normally is, and the runner uses the “extra orange” bag, which is located in foul territory just on the other side of the first base line.

a.) The orange bag should be used by the hitter/runner when there is a play at first base, i.e. infield grounders.  The fielder tags the white bag.  The runner tags the orange bag. 

b.) When a ball is hit to the outfield and there is no play at the bag, the runner may touch either the orange or the white bag to be safe.  The white bag is preferable.  However, a runner should not be called out, if there is no play at the bag (i.e. a single into the outfield), simply for touching the orange bag instead of the white.

18. Banned Bats: Have the banned bat list available.  Go to ASA website for updated lists.  In addition all Miken Freaks are banned in our league. Girls may use fast pitch bats, but men can not. Each coach is responsible for checking the bats of their team and the opposing team before the game.  A batter is considered to be using an illegal bat once he/she steps into the batter’s box with the illegal bat.  The opposing coach must bring it to the attention of the umpire.  If the bat is ruled illegal, that player is suspended for 5 games.  All bats for both teams will be placed out on the back stop before the game and separated by team. Any player can use any bat from any team during the game. If a player comes late they must show the umpire their bat when they arrive. No bat may be removed from a bag during the game otherwise as this would be considered using an illegal bat. An illegal bat will result in an ejection and subsequent 5 game suspension. BROKEN BATS - If someone is using your bat and they hit the ball in normal softball use and the bat breaks, it is the owner’s responsibility to replace the bat. If someone is using your bat and they throw it (out of anger or accidentally) and the bat breaks, it is the player who broke its responsibility to replace the bat. If you don’t want other people to use your bat, don’t bring it out at all for the game. A broken bat must be paid for in full before the offenders team’s next game or they will forfeit every game until its repaid.

19. Taped Bats: A bat can only have one wrap on its handle.  It cannot be electrical tape.  If the rubber grip is coming off the bat, it cannot be taped. The rubber grip must be removed, and then a non-slippery tape must be placed over the handle area.  If a player is caught using an illegally taped bat, that player is suspended for 5 games.

20. Rosters:  Season rosters will be due at the beginning of the season.  You may continue to add players to the roster during the season and submit a final roster before the playoffs. It’s always good to have extra players when needed to avoid forfeit. Always put first and last names in the scorebook. Team managers are responsible to do this for both teams. If the other team will not give first and last names let Mike know so the game will count for your playoff eligibility but will not count for the other team’s playoff eligibility. Illegal players in the playoffs has been a big issue.

21. Playoff Roster Eligibility: Playoff  rosters will be due to all playoff teams before any playoff games begin.  During the regular season, a player must play or must have appeared at a minimum number of 6 games.  This playoff roster rule does apply to women with no minimum game requirements for women just that they appear on you roster prior to playoffs.  All playoffs team will hand in score books to commissioner at end of regular season for review, along with a list of Male eligible players and a list of females who may play for your team in the playoffs.

Always put first and last names in the scorebook. Scorebook check will be very strict!!!

22. Darkness:  Games do not end in a tie unless called for darkness by umpire.  Extra innings are played.  A game is official after five complete innings, top and bottom of the inning played.

23. There is NO stealing in our league.

24. If an umpire doesn’t show up at the game by 6:15pm, call Bob Meyerle’s cell phone.  When an umpire is not at a field by 6:15pm, call Bob Meyerle on his cell phone 267-250-2579.  If a team leaves the field before speaking with Bob, that team will be considered to forfeit.  Bob will investigate and inform your team whether an ump can get to your field.  After speaking with Bob, teams have options.  The goal is to play the game as scheduled.  Both coaches can agree on an umpire from either team or from the sideline.  Once both coaches agree, the game is played and is recorded as official.  If coaches can not agree, discuss it with Bob and get his consent before any team leaves the field.

25. $850 League Fee, Payable to Lower Bucks Softball c/o Bob Meyerle.  Full balance due before  April 1^st. Mail check to Bob Meyerle, 705 Sunflower Ave, Langhorne, Pa 19047.  If full fee is not paid before first game, a team forfeits any game until full payment is made.

FIELDS:

 1. The HOME team is responsible to set up the field with bases, home plate, pitching rubber, ball/strike mat, and sideline cones before the game.  Dimensions: 60 feet between bases.  45 or 50 feet from home to pitcher's rubber.

2. Ump sets foul and out-of-play areas during ground rules.

 3. Each HOME team is required to set up sideline cones 20 yards behind each bag.  Not from the cutout, but from each bag. 

4. It is recommended that teams bring shovels, brooms, rakes to field in case of puddles.

Permits for Fields

1. Bring permits to all games.

2. If another league/team is on our fields, please show them the permits and ask them to leave. 

3. If they do not leave, call 215-945-3100 and ask for a ranger to be dispatched to the field.  FYI: Core Creek Front is field 4.  Core Creek Middle is field 6. 

4. If able, find out what Athletic Association the other league is with.