Classic M Balls (12" men, 11" women) will be used for all games. Home team is responsible to provide one brand new 12" ball and one 12" back-up ball in good condition for each game. League will be providing the 11" softballs, both new and backups. If one team is Home team twice in one night, a new ball is not necessarily needed for the second game if the balls provided for the first game are still in good condition. If Home team does not provide a new ball for their game, they will forfeit Home team advantage. Teams need to mark their softballs with their team initials so they can get theirs back at the end of each game.
Code of Conduct & Rules Agreement/Player Registration needs to be completed on the league website by the third week of the season. Rosters can have up to 16 players; Coach, Assistant Coach and 14 additional players.
In order for a player to eligible to play during the playoffs, they must be on the team's roster and have played at least 50% of the season. Coaches will receive a roster sheet at the start of each night - they must check off or list all of the players in attendance that night and return it to the league commissioner by the end of the night.
Two umpires need to be provided for each game from the team that isn't playing for that game time. If a team only provides one umpire, they can only play with 9 players for the entirety of their next game. If no umpires are provided, the team responsible for the umpires will forfeit their next game. A team that forfeits must still provide umpires for the game they are responsible to umpire, if not then the next legal game they play will go down as a forfeit regardless of the score outcome.
Please make sure that umpires are aware of rules listed here as well as the standard softball rules such as the infield fly rule.
Only the coach and the assistant coach are allowed to discuss plays or ask for a “second opinion” during the games.
The home teams for the 630pm games are also responsible for getting the fields ready for the night which includes putting out the bases, matts, safety bases, and score trackers. Additionally, they are responsible for chalking the infields as needed (batter's boxes, safety lines, and home plate to 1st and 3rd bases).
Commitment line should be aligned with the dugout gate (hinged side) and safety line should be off the back corner of the right handed batter's box.
The home teams for the 850pm games are responsible to clean up the fields, put away the equipment and make sure the equipment box is locked.
Teams can bring a maximum of one male and one female if needed from outside the league as substitute players; any additional substitute players must be from one of the other teams' rosters only.
All rostered players present must play prior to having subs play on a team. A rostered player cannot sit the bench so that a substitute can play.
If a team does not meet the rostered player requirements by the 1st pitch of the second inning, the team will forfeit the game provided the other team meets the player requirements.
All batters start with a 1-ball, 1-strike count.
If a guy walks and does not have a called strike, he gets 2 bases - the girl behind him has the option to walk or take the at bat.
A pitched ball must land either on the plate or the matt behind the plate and have an arc of between 6-12 feet to be called a strike.
Minimum game time is 50 minutes - “open inning” should be called at or near that time and when it is the top of an inning.
If the visitor team is up by 13 or more runs when “open inning” is called, they do not get their last at bats.
Runners at 1st base or 3rd base can ask for a “safety” by letting the home plate umpire know. Runner must touch the base they are at once the ball is hit before advancing to the next base.
Senior bats cannot be used by anyone in the league.
Home plate umpires need to record the score of the game on the clipboard hanging on the backstop. Coaches for each team that played should confirm the score was recorded.
Teams can play a maximum of 6 guys and 4 girls in the field during a game - there are no requirements as to where those players need to play.
If a player hits a home run over the fence, they have the option to run the bases or not. This also applies to any runners on base when the home run is hit. The team that hits the home run ball over the fence is responsible for replacing and retrieving the ball in these situations.
If a girl hits the ball into the outfield, a guy cannot throw her out at first base.
Middle of field is closed - lines needs to be 3 feet on each side of the middle of the pitching rubber. Middle is considered anything within the chalk lines drawn and within the normal reach of the pitcher. It is the home plate umpire's discretion on slow hit balls towards the pitcher - err on the side of safety in these situations.
Batters are allowed one “freebie” foul ball, second foul ball is an out.
Extra innings rule - last out on second and each team starts with an out. Batters start with a 1 ball and 1 strike count.
Umpires for playoff games MUST be the coach and one designee from each team. Coach MUST be the home plate umpire for playoff games. For the first game of playoffs, the umpires will be from the two teams that have the bye for the first game and will umpire on the field where they are NOT playing the winner of the game.
For example, Team 1 and Team 2 have the bye for the first game. Team 3 is playing Team 6 on one field and Team 4 is playing Team 5 on the other field. Team 1 is scheduled to play the winner of the game between Teams 4 & 5 so the coach of Team 1 will umpire the game between Teams 3 & 6.
For the championship game, there should be umpires from at least two different teams and if at all possible, 4 total umpires for that game.