Diocese of Austin Youth Softball Rules

Transcription

1 1.0 Before the Game 1.1 Purpose of Event This tournament event is for fun and fellowship amongst parish youth. At the same time we remember Christ as a part in our daily lives at the beginning and ending of each game form a circle to include a prayer; make sure this gathering includes both teams, coaches, and umpires. 1.2 Integrity of Event Each softball game is a drug free event. Tobacco or alcohol of any form is not allowed on the playing field, in the dugout, or in the stands during the course of any game. Please be advised that this includes not only players but the parents, supporters, or spectators. Umpires will be instructed to remove any violators of this rule immediately. 1.3 Dug Outs The home team should take the dugout on the 1st base side. Visitors will take the 3rd base dugout. Visitors bat first. 1.4 Umpires One umpire will be provided for each game by each team. The Umpires will keep the official time for each game. The home team will keep the official scorebook and confirm the score with the umpires and visiting team after each inning. Umpires will be provided for tournament play 1.4a Rules and the Umpires Discretion- During the course of play if an event occurs where the rules set forth here do not render a clear outcome, the play should be replayed. The umpire is the only one that will make this call. 1.4b Umpire Calls Made- There is to be no arguing with the any official over a call made. There is no exception to this rule. Any player, coach or observer whose temper gets out of control over a judgment call, or who by vulgarity, intimidation or yelling confronts an official, will be warned once. If the infraction is repeated, the offending person can be Page 1 of 9

2 dismissed from the game, asked to leave the park, and/or not be allowed to continue playing the remainder of the season, depending on the severity of the infraction. 1.5 Warm-ups Teams may only warm up the first time they take the field. Warm up will consist of 10 pitches after which play must begin. If a new pitcher is substituted in they will be allowed 5 warm up pitches before play must resume. There will be no other infield practice between innings. 1.6 Copy of line up Prior to each game, each team must furnish a copy of their line up, which will consist of batting order, to the opposing team. (See Substitutions in section 6.3). Violators of not following the line-up will constitute as an out or determined by the umpire. 1.7 First Aid Each team should have a first aid kit and ice on hand for any injuries. 1.8 Weather In case of poor field conditions, the opposing coaches must make the decision to play or not, before the game is started. Once the game is started, the umpire will determine if the game can continue based on his/her judgment. Games suspended due to inclement weather conditions will be considered a completed game if 4 or more innings have been played. 1.9 Unsportsmanlike conduct or disrespecting the other team Unsportsmanlike or disrespecting the other team will not be tolerated (ie, putting down the other team, profanity, trash talk, harassing, etc ). Coaches/players are encouraged good sportsmanlike conduct at all times. At the end of each game, each player will shake hands with opponents. Coaches/Players will not deliberately instruct, direct, or teach any player to use unsafe playing tactics or maneuvers. Coaches/players will refrain from making derogatory, slanderous or abusive remarks to any player, parent, coach, or umpire on or off the playing field. Coaches will help support umpires at all times. Players or Coaches will be ejected from the game by the umpires ruling. Parents, families, friends, and supporters of a team will be asked to Page 2 of 9

3 leave the grounds if they become unruly, use profanity, etc. If complaints are given to the tournament official (officials) regarding a team, the officials will consult with the umpire to see about the ruling 2.0 Field Size A standard field size is 60 ft between bases and 47 ft from home plate to the pitchers mound. 3.0 Equipment 3.1 Softballs Each team must supply a softball to be used when they are batting. A standard ASA men s softball is to be used. Must be stamped with ASA and be 375lbs/.44cor 3.2 Bats Standard ASA approved slow-pitch softball bats are to be used. Umpires may check a team s bats at any time and has the discretion to remove bats from use during the game. If an illegal bat is used for a hit during a game, the batter will be called out, any runners that advanced bases must return to the base they were at prior to the at-bat and runs that were scored during the at bat will not be counted. 3.3 Bases A safety base is to be used at first base (two bases) to prevent injuries. The fielder uses the inside base, and the runner uses the outside base. 3.4 Not Allowed Steel cleats, baseball Multi-Walled and Titanium bats, fast-pitch softball bats. 4.0 Length of Game 4.1 Time and/or Number of Innings The game is only 55 minutes long or 7 innings. 99% of the time games will be 55 minutes and never get to 7 innings. The umpire should be instructed to notify each team when there is 10 minutes left and 5 minutes left in the game. The home team has last bat, if the visiting team is Page 3 of 9

4 batting and times up, time will be extended for no more than 5 minutes so home team can bat. If they tie the game in this round it goes to in a new inning see section Ending the Game The home team, if needed, will bat last. During the tournament if a game ends in a tie an extra inning will be played where each batter starts with a 3-2 starting count. If the game is still tied after this inning a coin flip, called in the air by the home team, will decide the winner. 5.0 Scoring 5.1 Official Score The home team will keep the official scorebook and confirm the score with the umpires and visiting team after each inning. 5.2 Maximum Runs per Inning There is a maximum of 7 runs per inning that may be counted toward the score for a team. 5.3 High School Teams Teams must consist of high school age youth that are either entering the 9 th grade or recently graduated in either May or June and will be a college freshman in the fall. A team may, if they so choose, field a team using younger players. In which case, all players must be at least 12 years of age and have completed a consent form. However, it is preferred younger players play on a Middle School Team. Tournament will occur if there is several parishes participation. 5.5 Male/Female Ratio A team must field 5 males and 5 females. If there are not enough males a female may take the males spot but males may not play in the place of a female. Page 4 of 9

5 5.6 Number of Players Diocese of Austin A team can play with only 9 players but must forfeit if there are only 8. An adult youth group leader may play ONLY if the team is in danger of forfeiting the game. There is a limit of ONE female adult youth group leader per team. 6.0 Hitting 6.1 Batting Order Batting Order will alternate male/female. Either male or female may lead off the batting order. When batting, there will be an automatic out between two males batting in a row. 6.2 Extra batters Each team may use extra batters, up to 14 total batters. For every additional male batter there must also be one female, and they follow the regular batting order. 6.3 Substitutions Any player that substitutes for a teammate must first play the field prior to batting. When coming onto the field to substitute, the player must let the umpire know between innings so no confusion occurs when a player comes up to bat. Players can only substitute or be switched onto the field of play after two innings of play, unless injured. A substitute must bat in the same order as he/she replaced. Substitutes must play a full inning in the field. When a player re-enters a game, he/she must bat in the same place as they did initially. Violators of not following the line-up will constitute as an out or determined by the umpire. 6.4 Walks If a male batter is walked, the following female batter is walked. OPTION: The female batter may choose to bat. Regardless of whether or not she is walked the male batter will take second base. Intentional walks are not allowed. If an umpire determines a batter was intentionally walked, the batter will be awarded a home-run. Page 5 of 9

6 6.5 Starting Count Diocese of Austin Starting count on the batters will be one ball and one strike; 1-1. The umpire should call this out each time a new batter is up. Batters will begin their turn at bat with 1 strike and 1 ball automatically. The purpose of this is to speed up play and allow for more innings to be played within the time limit. A foul ball hit as a third strike will be called no strike as a courtesy. A fourth is an out. 6.6 Throwing a Bat A batter must not throw the bat. The umpire will warn the batter and the team if a bat is thrown. After the warning, if a bat is thrown, it is an automatic out. This is for the safety of everyone. 6.7 Bunting Bunting is not permitted. 6.8 Home Runs (Over the fence) A home run consists of the batter hitting the ball over the fence. There is a limit of 3 home runs per team during the course of a game. After 3 home runs, each proceeding home run will constitute an out. 7.0 Base Running 7.1 First Base A safety base is to be used at first base (two bases) to prevent injuries. The fielder uses the inside base, and the runner uses the outside base. Remind all players that they may over run first base. If the base runner turns left and begins to advance to second base, the runner can be tagged out. It is important to make it clear to base runner if they overrun first base and do not intend to run to second they should turn to their right when heading back to first base to avoid possible injury. 7.2 Sliding Sliding is allowed. There is to be no head-first sliding at any base. This will result in an automatic out. Page 6 of 9

7 7.3 Running the Bases 7.3a A batter may never pass a proceeding base runner. 7.3b All ties go to the runners. 7.4 Leading Off and Stealing Bases There is no leading off and no stealing of bases. A team will be warned once if they violate either rule. The second warning will constitute an out. 7.5 Tagging Up Runners may tag up. When tagging up a runner must not leave the base until the ball is caught. If a fielder catches a ball in foul territory the base runner may tag up. 7.6 Use of the Infield Fly Rule This is only in effect if there is zero or 1 out, and a runner is on 1 st and 2 nd, or 1 st, 2 nd, and 3rd base and the batter hits a fly ball into the infield, the batter is automatically out. 7.7 Base Runner Injury If an injury occurs to a base runner a substitution may be made for a team member of the same gender. 8.0 Fielding 8.1 Players on the Field 8.1a A maximum of 10 fielders, 5 males and 5 females, may play on the field. 8.1b A maximum of 4 outfielders, at least two females, may play in the outfield 8.1c There must be at least 3 females in the infield (1 st Base, 2 nd Base, 3 rd Base, Short Stop, Pitcher, or Catcher) Page 7 of 9

8 8.2 Field Substitutions Diocese of Austin 8.2a Players can only substitute or be switched onto the field of play after two innings of play, unless injured. The Pitcher can be subbed or switched at any time 8.2b Any player that substitutes for a teammate must first play the field prior to batting. When coming onto the field to substitute, the player must let the umpire know between innings so no confusion occurs when a player comes up to bat. 9.0 Pitching 9.1 Pitch Movement and Height Pitches must be slow and have an arc that is at least 6 feet high but not higher than 12 feet. Pitchers must also throw underhanded followed all the way with palm up until release. 9.2 Strikes A strike consists of any ball that passes over home plate and lands within 24 inches of the tip of the plate. The umpire should make this clear before the start of each game Other 10.1 Rule Modifications Coaches can agree to modify rules for season play, but rules will not be modified for tournament play Tournament 11.1 Teams The tournament will consist of 12 teams and play in a round robin fashion. For a team to be considered registered the Office of Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry must have received a check. Once a check has been received the team will be considered registered and their spot will be held Players During the course of the tournament picking up players in order to field a team is not permitted. Page 8 of 9

9 11.3 Roster THIS IS A MUST!!! All teams participating must submit a closed roster by July 14, 2012 of all players stating their first/last name, age, and name of school. The roster (.xls file provided electronically) should also include the coaches and adult staff that will be in the dugout/field. On July 29, 2012 the original signed consent form of each person must be provided to the officials prior to the first game All Star Game Each Team will nominate 1 guy and 1 girl for the All Star Game, they can also submit two additional team members (1 guy & 1 girl) to sub incase of injury, exhaustion, have to leave, etc. Coaches will be determined by pool play, the team with the best record in each pool will have their coaches be the All Star coaches. A copy of the players submitted for the All Star Game must be presented to the Tournament Official Page 9 of 9