All basic rules of Softball apply except for the following:
1. Stealing is allowed. The base runner may not leave the base until after the pitch has crossed home-plate. Only runners that start the play on 1st or 2nd may steal. The runner may score from 1st or 2nd on the throw or an error.
2. Tagging up on fly balls is allowed.
3. Pitchers must pitch from the rubber farthest from the plate.
4.The pitching screen will be placed 5 bat lengths from the pitching rubber and must be directly between the rubber and home plate. The pitch must be delivered in an arc. Any pitch that hits the screen will be ruled a ball.
5. If a batted ball hits the screen it is considered a dead ball. At all other times, the screen is considered in play and may be knocked down by the defensive team.
6. Umpires have the final say on all calls.Only designated Captains, 2 per team, may discuss rule interpretations with the Umpire. Anyone else may be ejected at the Umpires discretion. The Umpire, with the approval of the league executive, may eject any player who attempts to:
Injure another player
Yells or argues with an Umpire
Behaves in a manner unbecoming to the league (swearing, fighting, etc.)
Any ejection will also be subject to an AUTOMATIC 1 game suspension. The suspension may be longer than 1 game at the discretion of the executive committee.
7. Any player ejected from a game must leave the field and player benches and remain quite in the stands. Any refusal to do so will result in the default of the game by the team of the player involved. This will constitute an AUTOMATIC 1 game suspension.The suspension may be longer than 1 game at the discretion of the executive committee.
8. Any player striking an Umpire for whatever reason is immediately ejected from the league.
9. All teams must field a minimum of eight (8) players by 15 minutes after the scheduled game time or the game is defaulted. Umpires will be paid for defaulted games by the team that defaults the game. Players may be added to the lineup after the game starts, and MUST be placed at the bottom of the order. Once a player is added to the batting lineup, he may not be removed. If a player must leave early or gets injured, and there is no player available for a substitution, when that spot in the order comes up, it will be an automatic out. Every player in the batting lineup, must play in the field for at least 1 inning.
10. If at least 5 innings have been completed, or 4 1/2 innings with the home team in the lead, the game is considered official. If it is impossible to finish the inning currently being played, the official score is the score at the end of the last full inning completed. If a game is under 5 innings the entire game will be replayed. Playoff games with at least 3 innings complete, will be resumed at the next available date.
11. To qualify for the playoffs a player must have played in a minimum of 10 games in the regular schedule.
12.The minimum age to play in the league is 18 years old.
13. The home team is responsible to provide a new ball to start the game.
14. Only ASA approved bats are allowed in the league. For a bat to be used in a league game, it must have been taped and initialled by a representative of the league. Anyone caught using a bat that does not comply to these rules will be ejected from the game, and the team will default the game.
15. Bunting is not allowed. The penalty for bunting is an automatic out for the hitter. The play is dead and all runners returned to their original bases.
16. Only rubber or plastic cleats will be allowed.
17. Trapper gloves can be worn at any position.
18. Base runners may take a base without sliding as long as NO contact is made, except for first base. Sliding into first base is not permitted.
19. Ground rules will be reviewed by the team captains with the Umpire before the game.
20. The batter is out on a fouled ball that is a 3rd strike. Base runners are alive and can advance at their own risk.
21. Pinch runners are allowed. The previous out must be the pinch runner. The pinch runner must stand with 1 hand touching the pole to the right of the umpire at home plate. He MUST stop at 1st base, and cannot make a turn into fair territory, unless the ball is hit over the fence. Pinch runners who make a turn into fair territory will be called out. Once a player uses a pinch runner, he must continue to do so for the remainder of the game.
22. Mercy Rule: If, after five (5) full innings of play, any team with less than nine (9) players is losing by more than fifteen (15) runs, the game must be stopped, and the team ahead by more than fifteen (15) runs is declared the winning team.
