SOFTBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS

SOFTBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS

I. Age Requirements: City of St Pete Beach Recreation 7701 Boca Ciega Dr St Pete Beach, FL 33706 Phone: 363-9245 Men s and COED Adult Softball Bylaws A. All leagues: Players must be at least 18 years old. II. Player Roster Eligibility and Contracts: A. Rosters are open. A player must play at least 2 games in the regular season to compete in the playoffs and championship. B. The legality of all players is the manager s responsibility. C. All players must COMPLETELY sign their team s roster. D. Teams are NOT required to have uniforms. However, they are strongly encouraged as it makes for a more professional look and feel to the league. It also helps scorekeepers and umpires in regards to keeping track of players, subs, etc. III. Scheduling of Games: A. The department reserves the right to arrange postponed games at its convenience in order to catch up with the schedule. The department also reserves the right to cancel games, if necessary, due to excessive rain or conditions beyond our control. In the event of any misunderstanding or error, managers are urged to contact the department. B. If a team forfeits two (2) games in succession or three (3) games overall in a season for not having the required number of players, the team may be dropped for the remainder of the season. IV. Standard Game Procedure: A. Starting time of games: 1. Games will begin at the proper game time or earlier if BOTH managers comply that BOTH teams are ready to play; if teams are not ready, the game will not start until the designated time on the schedule. 2. A five (5) minute grace period will be in effect for the first game only. Teams with not enough players will receive an automatic out their first time at bat. When the 5 minute grace period has been used the game will last 55 minutes.

V. Playing Rules & Equipment: ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED UNDER ASA RULES UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ON LEAGUE SCHEDULE OR LISTED IN THESE BYLAWS. A. The scorekeeper s time is the official time. The managers will meet with the umpires prior to the start of the game to go over ground rules and procedures. Once the manager's meeting has concluded, the umpire will announce that the time will start, and the scorekeeper will then activate the clock. Major injuries will stop the clock (once 5 minutes has passed), otherwise, the clock will continue for the full 60 minutes. B. The home team will supply one (1) new and one (1) good usable ASA approved softball, a.44 core and a 375 compression with ASA logo on the ball. C. All coaches and players must follow the ASA sanctioned nonapproved bat list. An updated list will be supplied to each scorekeeper at the scores table. Any person(s) or team caught using an illegal bat will be warned the first time. Any time thereafter an automatic ejection of the player using the bat will occur. D. A team must have a minimum of nine (9) players to start a game, and nine (9) to finish a game. Teams cannot start or finish a game with eight (8) players. G. Extra Players: Eleven Player Batting Rule: Coaches have the option of putting eleven (11) players in their batting lineup. Once the game begins, the eleventh (11) player cannot be added or dropped. Note: Coed league has 12 player option or can bat eleven (11) provided the extra player is a female. If a team loses a player in the course of the game due to injury and has no eligible substitute, that batting position becomes an automatic out. If a team loses a player from the game by ejection and has no eligible substitute, the game shall be declared a forfeit. H. There will be open substitution by defense; any 10 players may play defense at any time. A substitution only occurs when there is a change in the batting lineup. I. Courtesy Runners: There are no courtesy runners. The only time a runner can be used is for an injured player. The injured player must have been injured in the game in progress, not a previous game (including a game in the same week). J. Run Rule: A 15 run rule will be in effect after 4 innings. A 10 run rule will be in effect after 5 innings. K. Pitch height will be a 6 to 12 foot arc. L. Time Limit: One (1) hour time limit for all leagues/games. Must start a new inning if any time is left. Any inning started must be

completed. No new inning will be started after the time limit. Extra innings can be played if the game is tied with the following restrictions: The last batter from the previous inning will be placed on second base to start the extra inning. Also, there is a two (2) extra inning limit. If the game remains tied after two (2) extra innings, the game will be a tie. The reason for the time limit and the limit on extra innings is to minimize waiting for teams. M. Shoes: Metal spikes will not be allowed in any adult league. Only shoes with rubber soles or plastic molded soles will be allowed. N. One and One Count: Each batter will have a 11 count upon entering the batter's box. There is a courtesy foul after the second strike. For example, a batter steps up to the plate and fouls each of the first two (2) pitches. The batter is not out, and has two (2) strikes. Any foul balls hit after the courtesy foul is used will result in an out. O. Double Base at First: A white base with an orange base attached will be used at first for all games. The white base is in fair territory and the orange base in foul territory. Whenever a play is being made on the batter-runner the defense must use the white portion and the batter-runner the colored portion. The batterrunner is out when there is a play being made at first base and the batter-runner touches only the white portion (No longer an appeal play before runner comes back and touches white base). The only exception is when a force out attempt from the foul side of first base or an errant throw pulls the defense off the base into foul ground. In this instance, the defense and batter-runner can use either the white or colored portion. On extra base hits or balls hit to the outfield when there is no play being made at first, the batter-runner may touch the white or colored portion. VI. Regulation Games: It will be a regulation game when seven (7) innings have been played and the game is not tied or time limit has elapsed. Once an inning has started, you must complete the inning. It will be a regulation game if it is called by the umpire on account of darkness, rain, or other causes within the umpire's judgment interferes with further play, provided five (5) or more innings have been played. Four (4) and one half innings (4 1/2) will constitute a regulation game if the home team has scored more runs in its four innings than the visiting team has in its five (5) innings. Games will be picked up where suspended ONLY IF the game has reached the top of the fourth (4) inning. Any game suspended before the 4th inning will be STARTED OVER. VII. Player/Team Conduct: NO SMOKING OR PROFANITY Players, coaches and managers will not be permitted to smoke on the coaching lines, dugout or playing field. The use of loud and obvious profanity will also not be tolerated. If a player at bat is heard yelling profanity, then the on deck batter will be declared out (Dakota Rule). An umpire is empowered to eject any player that flagrantly ignores warnings about their use of offensive language.

NO DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON OR AROUND THE DIAMOND AS WELL AS IN THE PARKING LOTS AND PUBLIC SPACES AT EGAN FIELD BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER A GAME. Managers will be held responsible for their teams, so please notify all members of your teams and their followers of this rule. Please keep our diamonds and park free of cans and bottles. A. Violations will result in the offending player to leave the field and will receive a one game team forfeiture and one game suspension of individuals. a. Failure to leave the field will result in a trespass from the Sheriffs Office. Trespass is for up to one (1) year from date of violation i. This includes spectators of the teams B. Repeated violations will result in the team's expulsion from the league. VIII. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: A. Any player or coach ejected from the game by an official for unsportsmanlike conduct shall automatically be suspended for the next seven (7) days. This includes all nights of play (not just the night of the ejection). In case of rain delay or other cancellations, the suspension will remain until a following scheduled game takes place. In the event a player or coach deviates from this ruling, it will constitute a forfeit and the team not at fault will receive credit for a win. B. Any player(s) or coaches ejected from the game by an official for fighting will automatically be suspended for the remaining season. In the event of a player or coach deviating from this ruling, it will constitute a forfeit and the team not at fault will receive credit for a win. C. If ejected from a game, this means that this player is not allowed to participate in ANY games during that time of suspension. D. A player who is suspended is not allowed on ANY City property during the time of suspension. A player may be suspended for a longer period of time by the Athletic Director if this behavior is considered serious. A player receiving two (2) suspensions in one (1) season will be suspended for a minimum of five (5) games. Any player who plays while under suspension will be eliminated from further play for a period of one (1) year, and his/her team will forfeit each game which he/she played under suspension. Suspensions for a specific number of games begin with and include only played games and will overlap into the following season when needed. E. Any player, or spectator, who is guilty of striking an official or staff member in any manner on City property during or after a game, shall automatically be suspended indefinitely from participating in all leagues sponsored by the Recreation Department. XI. INSURANCE/IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

COED SOFTBALL: A. Players participating in the league should have accident insurance coverage. This is your responsibility. The department does not provide insurance in case of injuries for the players or coaches. B. It is to be understood that the Recreation Department will not be held liable for injuries sustained by any person, or group participating in our program while they are playing, practicing or traveling to and from games or practice. A. Each team may play with 9, 10, 11 or 12 players. If 9 people play, the combination must have at least 5 women to avoid an out. If 9 people play and there are five men and four women, the tenth spot in the batting order will be an automatic out throughout the game. If 10 people play, the combination must have at least 5 women. B. Players defensive positions are not designated. C. Outfielders must remain at or beyond the dotted line painted in the outfield when a female player is up to bat until the batter makes contact with the ball. D. The batting order must alternate male, female or female, male. The only exception to this will be if 9 or 11 people play. The order will be 2 men or 2 women (whichever sex has more) batting together at the end of the lineup, but the tenth or twelfth slot in the batting order is an automatic out when 2 men bat together. E. If a male batter is walked, he takes two bases rather than one. Also, the female following him in the order has to bat unless there are two outs. With two outs, the female after him may automatically go to the open first base. F. Coed leagues will use a double home plate with all ASA senior play rules in effect. Defensive players can only touch the original home plate and runners can only touch the second home plate. Runners tagged by the defensive team will not be out. If the runner touches the original home plate, the runner will be out and the ball will remain live. Once a player crosses, or touches the commit line, they must continue to home and may not return to 3rd base.