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I. CONDUCT/SPORTSMANSHIP
1. Any unsportsmanlike actions/behaviors/violations consisting of (but not limited to) the following are strictly prohibited and subject to immediate ejection: Anti-social behavior, excessive arguing, cursing, disrespecting umpires and/or players, vulgar, abusive, sexist, racist, discriminatory comments or gestures towards any individual, physical violence of any type, threats including menacing, charging, confronting any opponent, umpire, spectator or other individual in a combative or threatening manner, throwing equipment in anger, overly aggressive play, intentionally tripping a player, attempting to punch, kick, or strike with a ball/glove or bat at any individual, brandishing/displaying any type of weapon including equipment.
2. An ejected player may not be replaced in the field or batting order for the remainder of the game. The defensive alignment is reduced by one. Team is charged an automatic out for ejected player's spot in batting order.
Managers-It is your responsibility to control your players.
Ejected player has 10 mins. to leave the benches, bleachers and game area.
Ejected player is automatically suspended from his team’s next game and subject to further punitive action, including longer suspension, loss of playoff eligibility or banishment, at the discretion of the Commissioner.
3. Umpires may issue a verbal warning to both teams if a minor rule is violated, such as throwing bat, kicking a base, stepping on the wrong base at 1st, phantom tags, etc. A second violation will result in ejection of player and/or manager, or, in extreme cases, a forfeit.
4. Managers may appeal a situation to be reviewed by the Commission within 24 hours of the offense. Players and managers will be notified of final decision prior to the team’s next game.
5. Contacting an umpire at any time other than at the field during league games is strictly prohibited. This includes contact via telephone, text, email or any other method. Violations are punishable by suspension at the discretion of the Commission.
6. Any use of tobacco, marijuana and/or alcoholic beverages at league games is strictly prohibited by mandate of NYC Parks Dept. permit rules and PASL rules. This includes bleachers, sidelines and all areas surrounding the fields. Violators will be subject to immediate suspension and/or other punitive measures.
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II. ROSTERS
1. Rosters shall consist of players’ first/last names upon request or initial entry into the league. All team rosters must be properly entered on the PASL website and players must be added team’s online roster before appearing in a league game.
2. Rosters may hold as many as 35 players for first 6 calendar weeks of the season. By the end of Week 6, rosters must be reduced to maximum of 25 active players and finalized, with full first/last names submitted. Rosters are closed after Week 6 and no new names may be added.
3. Anyone participating in a game must be able to identify himself if so requested by the opposing manager or umpire. Verification of signature may be requested. Failure to identify oneself, or use of an ineligible player, results in an automatic forfeit.
If a manager feels an ineligible player is being inserted, he should protest immediately to the umpire and give notice to the Commissioner. The umpire may require a signature for roster verification.
4. Any rostered player wishing to transfer to another team must do so before rosters are closed, and obtain approval from the managers of both teams involved. This request is then submitted to the Commissioner for league approval.
5. A player is required to play in a minimum of 6 regular season games in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
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III. PRE-GAME MEETING
Starting time for games is 1pm.
1. At pre-game meeting, umpire will go over ground rules. Both managers will have fully filled out lineup cards ready to exchange with opposing manager and umpire. Lineups must be legible with first/last names, DH, EH, Courtesy Runners (2 max) specified. The CR will be the last recorded out.
Umpire will take photos of lineups
2. Any in-game lineup changes must be announced to the umpire and opposing manager before play resumes.
3. The score kept by the umpire at home plate will be considered the official score of the game.
4. A 15-minute grace period will be allowed to field a team. At that point, if a team has 8 players they must start the game. If they do not have the minimum 8 it is a forfeit. Forfeiting team must pay all umpire’s fees for both teams.
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IV. EQUIPMENT
Umpires will set up the bases and ready the field for play.
Bases are measured at 65’ from the back point of home plate. Pitching rubber is 46'.
The league will provide bases, including an orange “courtesy base” for first base.
1. Each team is required to bring one brand new Clincher F-12 softball for every game.
Umpire will put a new ball in play in the top and bottom half of the 1st inning. After that, the best ball will be selected and used.
If a team fails to bring a brand new ball, they will provide their best ball available. That team will hit with that ball for at least the first 2 innings of the game.
2. Teams will provide their own bats. Wood bats only.
Only bats with the proper USA Softball certification stamp are legal for league play.
Any bat used in the game will be left at the backstop and be available for use by any player on both teams.
A batter in the batter’s box holding an illegal bat can be called out by the umpire, or on proper appeal.
A batter who reaches base using an illegal bat will be called out if detected by the umpire, or on proper appeal.
Anyone caught with a tampered or altered bat (as determined by umpire) will be ejected and suspended for the team’s next game.
3. Teams are required to have uniform shirts by the start of the 4th game. After that, an opposing manager may ask that a strike be called on any player not in uniform.
4. Metal spikes and are prohibited. Penalties for this violation are the same as USA Softball penalties.
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V. LINEUPS
1. Teams must have a minimum of 8 players on the field to play. If a team has less than 8 players 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time, a forfeit is declared.
A lineup with 8 is charged an automatic out in the #9 slot in the batting order.
2. Teams may use an 8,9 or 10 man lineup (with/without DH), or an EH (11th batter who does not play the field), or any combination thereof.
*Designated Hitter (DH): The DH bats in place of any fielder who then does not bat in the entire game. The DH may be inserted into the defense only to replace the player he has been batting for. At that point, he may play any position. The DH position no longer exists. The replaced player is out of the game and may not return.
*Extra Hitter (EH): The EH is an 11th batter who has no starting defensive position. The EH may be rotated into the defense while continuing to bat in his original slot in the order. The fielder rotated out remains in the batting order and temporarily becomes the new EH.
3. If a team does not have a player for a substitution, or to replace an injured player, the vacated spot in the batting order becomes an automatic out.
(Possible exception: Injury situations, if agreed to by the opposing manager).
4. If a team begins the game with fewer than the maximum (11), they may add to the lineup until the leadoff hitter bats a 2nd time. At that point, the lineup is closed and normal substitution rules apply.
5. RE-ENTRY RULE: A player in the starting lineup may substituted for and later re-enter the game. He returns into his original slot in the batting order, replacing the same player who replaced him. The substitute is then out of the game and may not return.
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VI. GROUND RULES
1. Rules for individual fields will be discussed by the managers and umpires at the home plate meeting before the game.
2. Any batted ball in flight that touches any part of a tree is an immediate dead ball.
A ball that touches a tree in foul territory is a foul ball strike.
A ball that hits a tree or any leaf in fair territory will be ruled no pitch.
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VII. GAME PLAY
1. Single games are 9 innings during the regular season and playoff tournament.
2. If tied the end of 9 innings, the game will go to the “ghost runner” tie-breaker (last recorded out on 2nd base) to start the 10th inning. Unfinished tie games will be completed another day by arrangement with both managers.
3. The league employs a 10-run “mercy” rule. This is a Sudden Death rule. The moment a team is losing by 10 runs after 6 full at bats, the game is over and official. If losing by 10 after 6 the home team will not be allowed to bat
The mercy rule is waived during the playoffs.
4. In case of a weather stoppage, a game is considered official and complete if the team that is losing gets at least 5 full at bats.
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VIII. PITCHING/RUNNING/HITTING
All official USA Softball rules will be in effect with the exceptions noted in these Rules and Regulations.
1. PITCHING
This is a modified, or ‘9 o’clock’ fast pitch league.
a) A pitcher cannot go past ‘9 o’clock’ in the backswing of his delivery, cannot hide the ball behind his back at any time during the pitching motion, cannot slap the ball off his hip, and must keep hips square to the batter throughout the delivery.
b) Any ‘arc ball’ pitch higher than 6-feet will be called an automatic ball.
2. RUNNING
a) No stealing. Runner will be called out if he leaves the base before ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
b) On a pickoff play it is a force play at the base. The runner who is the target of the pickoff must make an immediate attempt to return to his base or he is immediately out.
On any pickoff throw, all runners must first tag up before advancing at their own risk.
c) A “courtesy” base will be used at 1st base. Batter/runner must use the outside “courtesy” base. The inside bag is for use by the fielder. Any a batter who runs to the inside bag will be called “out” even if he beats the throw. On a ball that reaches the outfield, the runner is allowed to touch the fielder’s base provided there is no play to first.
To avoid injury on a play that pulls the 1st baseman into foul territory, the umpire will allow the fielder to use the outside base and the runner to use the inside base.
d) The courtesy base is “safe” only for runner leaving the batter’s box. Once he reaches 1st base and makes the turn towards 2nd, runner must use the inside base (in fair territory) when returning to 1st.
e) Sliding into 1st base from the home plate side is illegal. Sliding player will be called out.
3. HITTING
NO BUNTING, CHOPPING, SLAPPING OR HALF SWINGS. If the umpire calls a batter out for any of the above, the ball is dead. All runners return to last base occupied at time of pitch.
INTERFERENCE:
A fielder almost always has the right of way. A runner must make every effort to avoid collisions, either by sliding or giving himself up, if fielder is attempting to field a throw or has the ball and is ready to make a tag.
“Barreling in”, “running over” or any other intentional physical contact by the runner will be an automatic out and cause for ejection.
This rules includes fielders is in possession of or attempting to catch or throw the ball. The trailing runner may also be called out if, in the umpire’s judgment, such action prevented a fielder from attempting to complete a double play. The ball is dead, and all runners return to last base touched at time of the interference.
Similarly, a fielder may not block a base when he does not have the ball or has no chance of making a play. This is Obstruction. “Phantom tags” are prohibited as this is a form of Obstruction.
It is umpire’s judgment as to whether these rules have been followed on any specific play, and he will rule accordingly.
PARK INTERFERENCE:
Balls that strike objects or people from other fields, games and/or activities will be in play unless umpire deems it “intentional” interference, at which point umpire will call time out and decide if the batter is safe/out and place runners according to his judgement.
Any fielder in the act of catching a ball who is interfered with by a player from another field (or a spectator), and in the umpire’s judgment the ball would have been caught, will be awarded an out. The ball is dead. Runners will be placed according to umpire’s judgement.
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IX. RAINOUTS/MAKEUP GAMES
On game days with iffy weather conditions, the NYC Parks Dept. or the Commissioner will decide, as early as possible, if games will be called because of rain or unplayable conditions.
If there is any doubt as to whether a game will be played, managers and players may call the Heckscher rainout number starting at 9am.
That number is 212-628-1036, then x332
1. Only the NYC Parks Dept., the Commissioner or an umpire can suspend or postpone a game. If you do not get definite word from the rainout number, Commissioner or an umpire, consider the games to be ON.
2. Once a game begins, or before first pitch with both teams present, it is in the hands of the umpire or the Parks Dept. Only the umpire can begin, suspend or resume a game. Managers or players cannot decide to quit. If a team does not have enough players because they either did not expect to play or do not want to play, that team will forfeit. If both teams do not have enough players, a double forfeit will be called with both teams receiving a loss (USA Softball).
3. Suspended games of less than 5 innings, or suspended games that are tied, will be completed at the discretion and scheduling of both managers. Games that are suspended after the losing team has batted 5 full times will be considered final.
4. Rained out games will be rescheduled in consultation with the Commissioner and both managers.
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X. PROTESTS
1. There is no arguing or disputing any judgement calls by umpires, at any time.
Only managers may briefly discuss calls or rules with the umpire.
2. Rule protests must be declared to the umpire before the next pitch. The situation must be recorded in writing on the lineup cards and/or scorebooks, and given to a league official after the game. Emails with detailed explanations will be accepted with a timestamp until midnight on the day of the protest. All USA Softball rules apply except for pitching or where superseded by PASL rules.
3. Protests can only be filed on interpretation of a PASL and/or USA rule. Protests cannot be made on ball/strike, out/safe, fair/foul or any judgment call by an umpire.
4. Legal protests will be reviewed by the Commission. Their decision is final and binding.
5. Umpire’s discretion/judgment will be used to settle all other disputes not specifically covered in these rules.
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XI. LEAGUE STRUCTURE/PLAYOFFS
The league consists of one division with 6 teams. The top 4 finishers will qualify for the playoffs. Seed 1 plays 4, seed 2 plays 3 in the First Round.
In case of ties in the standings, tiebreakers are as follows:
1) Head-to-head record
2) Fewest runs allowed
3) Most runs scored
The playoff tournament is single elimination until the Finals. The Final Series will be a best of 3 series. The winner will receive the Heckscher Cup.
Playoff scheduling is at the discretion of the Commissioner and subject to field availability, dates and permits.
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XII. LEAGUE FEES
League fees must be paid in full 2 weeks before the first league game.
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XIII. ELIGIBILITY
NO player with prior Major League Baseball (MLB) experience may be added to a PASL roster. Any violation of this rule will result in immediate and permanent expulsion of said player(s), forfeits of any games in which they played, and mandatory suspensions for the respective managers.
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All rules published herein will be enforceable and binding throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Jack Mulcahy, Commissioner
Performing Arts Softball League
As of April 1, 2025
Click here to download PDF
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