SOFTBALL RULES & REGULATIONS SUMMER 2018

Transcription

1 SOFTBALL RULES & REGULATIONS SUMMER 2018 THE WATERMARK S. CENTER ST. BEAVER DAM, WI PH: (920) FAX: (920) BDCAS@CITYOFBEAVERDAM.COM Revised: City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 1 of 9

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL RULES FOR ALL LEAGUES 3 8 LEAGUE-SPECIFIC RULES MEN S LEAGUE 9 RECREATION LEAGUE 10 All rules & regulations are listed below. If a rule says see specific league, refer to the yellow box to the left for the league-specific page numbers. DECORUM 3 EJECTIONS & SUSPENSIONS 5 FORFEITS/FORFEIT COURTESY CALL 5 GENERAL RULES Alcohol Use 6 Authority 6 Base In Running 7 Bats 6 Bleeding Rule 7 Collision 7 Courtesy Runner 7 League Champions 7 Equipment 6 Final Standings 7 Game Location, Days & Times (see specific league) 9 Grace Period 6 Home Run Rule (see specific league) 9 Illegal Pitch 7 Injured Batter 7 Lights 6 Officials (see specific league) 9 Pitching Arc 7 Player Additions Before The Game 6 Point Of No Return Chalk Line (see specific league) 9 Post-Season Tournament/Champion 8 Rule Interpretation 6 Shoes 6 Sliding/Scoring At Home (see specific league) 9 Smoking 6 Softballs 6 Stealing 7 Strikes, Balls & Plate 7 Team Lineups 6 10-Run Rule 7 Tie-Breaker For A Game 7 Tie-Breaker For Final Standings 7 Time Limit (see specific league) 9 Umpire-Suspended Game 7 LIABILITY 6 PLAYER INFORMATION # Of Players Per Team 4 Adding Players 4 Age Requirement 4 Player/Team Restriction (see specific league) 9 Removing Players 4 Residency 4 PROTESTS 4 RESCHEDULING A GAME 5 TEAM REGISTRATION Late Fee 3 Min/Max # of Teams (see specific league) 9 Registration Dates & Fees 3 Team Player Fee Adjustments 3 WEATHER CANCELLATIONS 5 Revised: City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 2 of 9

3 RULES & REGULATIONS FOR ALL LEAGUES DECORUM These regulations will govern the 2018 City Softball Program and will be administered through the Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services (BDCAS) Department. Team managers are solely responsible for understanding them and team adherence to them. Umpires will have complete authority in conducting the game and the behavior over the participants. They will enforce the rules, give warnings and eject any participant who, in their judgment, is not abiding by the conduct expected. Determination of any rules and/or intended meanings, whether actually printed or not, will be administered by the umpires or the Administrator. It is the manager s responsibility to: (1) read and understand all rules and regulations, (2) properly inform and instruct all team members of the rules and regulations, (3) complete and submit the Softball Team Registration form and pay the Team Sponsor Fee in the Department on or before the deadline, (4) complete and submit the Softball Player Registration/Roster form and pay the Team Player Fee in the Department on or before the deadline, and (5) check the account listed on the softball roster daily prior to game day for any important message(s) from the Department on rain-outs, rescheduled games, etc. TEAM REGISTRATION REGISTRATION DATES & FEES: Each team will pay a team sponsor fee and a team player fee. The team sponsor fee is due first and secures your team s spot in the program. The team player fee is due one week later and registers all players listed on the roster. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis or until filled, whichever comes first. All fees and registration forms will be accepted via the 24/7 drop box, in the mail or in person at Department, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm. Priority will be given to those who register via the 24/7 drop box. TEAM SPONSOR FEE Men s League: $195 Rec League: $175 The deadline to pay this fee is no later than 4:30pm on Thursday, April 12. TEAM PLAYER FEE Teams are either a resident or non-resident team. A resident team has 50% or more players who live within the city limits of Beaver Dam. A non-resident team has 51% or more players who live outside the city limits of Beaver Dam. Men s League: Resident $330 & Non-Resident $360 Rec League: Resident $297 & Non-Resident $327 The deadline to pay this fee is no later than 4:30pm on Thursday, April 19. LATE FEE: The Department has registration deadlines for organizational purposes, i.e. preparing game schedules, securing umpires and scorekeepers, preparing paperwork for the leagues, etc. Fees received after 4:30pm on the day designated as the deadline will be considered late. The Administrator will determine whether late registration will be accepted. If late registration is accepted, a late fee of $50 will be assessed in addition to the regular team sponsor fee and/or team player fee. MINIMUM/MAXIMUM # OF TEAMS PER LEAGUE: See specific league for details. TEAM PLAYER FEE ADJUSTMENTS: All rosters will be reviewed and team player fee adjustments will be made following the July 2 deadline for adding players. Example: If a team registered as a resident team at the beginning of the season, but player additions changed the status of the team to a non-resident team, the Department will invoice the team manager for the difference between the two fees. If a team registered as a non-resident team at the beginning of the season, but player additions/deletions changed the status of the team to a resident team, the Department will refund the difference between the two fees City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 3 of 9

4 The deadline for paying team player fee adjustments is July 10. Fees may be paid in the Department or at the game site. Any team with an outstanding balance after July 10 will not qualify for an award at the end of the season and will not be included in the post-season tournament. Fees not paid by the end of the season will be added to the team s fees for the upcoming season. PLAYER INFORMATION PROTESTS # OF PLAYERS PER TEAM: The Department requires a minimum of 14 players on the roster at all times, with a maximum of 25 players. A manager that will be playing softball will be counted as one of the 25 players. PLAYER/TEAM RESTRICTION: See specific league for details. RESIDENCY: The Department has two different residency categories; resident and non-resident. Residents are those who live within the city limits of Beaver Dam; non-residents are those who live outside the city limits. Upon request, a player may need to show proof of residency or possible forfeit(s) could result. Please note college students may use their parent s address for residency purposes. AGE REQUIREMENT: All players must be at least 18 years of age prior to participating in this program. Graduating seniors in a spring sport may not participate in this program until their sport is completed. For underage participation, the player is suspended for balance of the season, the team forfeits all games the player participated in with a $15 forfeit fee for each game and the manager will receive a one game suspension for the next game. ADDING PLAYERS: You may make an unlimited number of player additions to your roster, up to a maximum of 25 players, until the day before the league starts. The day the league starts through July 2 a maximum of five players can be added. After this date, only hardship cases will be accepted by replacement only. Replacement only means that one player must be removed from the roster for the balance of the season in order for a new player to be added. The Administrator will determine if hardship cases will be accepted. Hardship cases will not be included in the maximum of five player additions. No money is exchanged. All players must be registered with the Department to become eligible to play. All players on the roster one week prior to the league beginning are automatically registered and eligible to play. To become registered after this date, a player must complete a Softball Player Change Card and give it to the scorekeeper at least 10 minutes prior to their first game. A Softball Player Change Card can be obtained from any team manager, the scorebox at the game site or in the Department. If a player is not registered with the Department, each game the non-registered player participated in is a forfeit at $15 per game. REMOVING PLAYERS: Players may be removed from the roster at anytime throughout the season by completing a Softball Player Change Card. This card must be submitted to the person in the scorebox at least 10 minutes prior to game time. No money is refunded. Only protests of rule interpretation or player eligibility will be allowed and will need to be forwarded to the Department in writing in a sealed envelope marked "PROTEST" including a $10 protest fee, the next working day. Protest procedures in the official rulebook are followed. If protest is not allowed, the $10 will be forfeited. If protest is allowed, the $10 will be returned. A softball committee selected by the Administrator will make the determination. A majority vote present will prevail. In case of a tie, the Administrator will vote. No member will be from the league of the protesting team. RESCHEDULING A GAME Each team will be allowed to reschedule one game per season. The requesting team manager is responsible for completing the Request to Reschedule a Softball Game form. The completed form and the $15 rescheduling fee must be turned in to the BDCAS Office (209 S. Center St.) no later than noon on the day of the originally rescheduled game. After the reason to reschedule has been deemed legitimate by the BDCAS Administrator or Head Umpire and staff has been secured for the rescheduled game, the request will be approved. Both team managers City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 4 of 9

5 FORFEITS will be informed of the decision no later than 4:30pm on the same day. The forfeit fee is $15 per game and can either be paid in the Department or it may be given to the umpire prior to next scheduled game time. Any team with outstanding forfeit fees will not qualify for an award at the end of the season and will not be included in the post-season tournament. Forfeit fees not paid by the end of the season will be added to the team s fees for the upcoming season. A forfeit may cover many situations, among them might be the following, but may not be all-inclusive; a team doesn t have a minimum of 9 players at game time or thereafter, a team doesn t have a substitution for a player that is ejected that results in less than 9 players, falsifying an address, falsifying age, un-sportsmanlike behavior and other behaviors listed in the rule book and player(s) that are not registered is/are a forfeit. Scrimmages are allowed during the normal game time, but the game will not be officiated and scores will not be kept. Please note that if the forfeit is the last game of the evening, the lights will be turned off and the staff is dismissed. FORFEIT COURTESY CALL In the event a team knows that they will need to forfeit their game, a courtesy call should be placed to the Department. The Department will then contact the opposing team s manager to inform him the game has been forfeited and his team doesn t need to show up at the field site to take the win. The Department will also contact the umpire to inform him/her of the forfeited game. The $15 forfeit fee will still apply. If you plan to make the courtesy call, it must be placed to the Department prior to 12:00 pm on the day of the game. If the Department isn t notified of a forfeit prior to 12:00 pm on the day of the game, the opposing team must be in attendance at the field site at game time, with a minimum of nine players, in order to take the win. If the Department isn t notified of a forfeit and neither team is in attendance at the field site at game time, both teams will forfeit the game and pay the $15 forfeit fee. EJECTIONS & SUSPENSIONS Any player(s) ejected by an umpire will be subject to a minimum suspension of two games (not including the game the player was ejected from) or a maximum of one year from the time of the incident. Suspensions would be for the entire softball program, not just the specific division the player was suspended from. Any intentional physical contact to an umpire will mean the player will be suspended and subject to a disorderly conduct citation. The umpire involved and Administrator shall administer this rule and it will be at the discretion of the Department. An ejection or suspension also means a write-up by the umpires of an infraction report. An ejection includes such areas, but is not limited to: excessive arguing with an umpire, profanity, chastisement of an umpire or an opponent, deliberately crashing into a player or making a mockery of the game. A suspension includes such areas, but is not limited to: threatening comments to an umpire, physical contact to an umpire, fighting with or kicking an opponent or abusive language to an umpire. WEATHER CANCELLATIONS In case of bad weather or the field conditions appear unplayable, the Administrator or the head umpire will cancel the games. Prior to 4:30pm, the Administrator will make the decision to cancel games and the announcement will be sent via and text messaging only. To opt-in to our texting service, text BDCAS to Please note that phone calls and radio announcements will NOT be made notifying of the cancellation. After 4:30pm, the head umpire will make the decision to cancel games. Please note that the games could be cancelled at the game site. So if you are unsure, report to the game site! Any game in process that is cancelled due to rain, will be replayed in its entirety. Exception: If 5 innings were City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 5 of 9

6 LIABILITY completed, the game would not be replayed. Rainouts will be played at the end of the season on the dates listed on the schedule OR on additional dates not listed on the schedule, if deemed feasible in order to complete the season. The Department will the rescheduled game dates to all managers affected by the rainout as soon as it is known. If the manager doesn t have access to their or doesn t check it frequently, it will be their responsibility to call the Department to confirm the rescheduled date. GENERAL RULES The City of Beaver Dam does not carry medical coverage and participants should seek their own coverage. SOFTBALLS: Leagues will use a 12 Leather Dudley Thunder HyCon (Core:.52, Compression: 300) AUTHORITY: Official ASA Softball Rules will prevail except where indicated herein. RULE INTERPRETATION: Managers only, represent their team in all rule interpretations with the umpire(s). The penalty will be the player is ejected and subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule. BATS: The Department follows the ASA Playing Rules regarding equipment. Please refer to the ASA website ( for a current complete listing of all approved and non-approved bats. The non-approved bat listing will apply to our local leagues. Any player that attempts to use a bat included in the ASA Non-Approved Bat Listing will be subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule. The team manager will also be subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule. The Department reserves the right to ban a bat from local competition at any time throughout the course of the season, if necessary (for example: bats without the official markings will be removed). SHOES: Metal spikes are not allowed. If metal spikes are worn, the player will be removed for balance of the game and is subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule. EQUIPMENT: A mask is optional for the catcher. Uniforms are optional, but shirts must be worn. No unusual attire may be worn and if it is, in the judgment of the umpire(s), this is considered a mockery of the game and a forfeit will be called. SMOKING: There will be no smoking in the player enclosures or on the playing field. This rule will include all tobaccobased products such as, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco. After warning, the player will be removed for balance of the game and is subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule. ALCOHOL USE: Alcoholic beverages are permitted for consumption by players of legal drinking age. No glass is permitted. No alcohol is allowed on the playing field. Alcohol is allowed in the dugout. GAME LOCATION, DAYS & TIMES: See specific league for details. GRACE PERIOD: There is a no grace period on scheduled starting time. The penalty will be a forfeit and the umpire(s) and both managers will assemble at home plate before game time if it is imminent that a forfeit appears possible. If both teams are unable to field 9 players, a "no-contest" is called and both receive forfeit losses. An umpire-called forfeit at or after game time is final. TIME LIMIT: See specific league for details. LIGHTS: Athletic Field ball diamond lights will be turned off no earlier than 10 minutes after the completion of the final game, if applicable. OFFICIALS: The Department will provide at least one umpire and one scorekeeper per game. TEAM LINEUPS: It is the manager s responsibility to submit the team lineup forms and any Softball Player Change Cards to the scorekeeper at least 10 minutes prior to game time. PLAYER ADDITIONS BEFORE THE GAME: A team starting with 9 players may add the 10th player at the half inning in the last batting position with no penalty. At the manager's option, all players may be put in the batting order. Unlimited City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 6 of 9

7 defensive changes can be made at any half-inning. Any late arriving player(s) can be inserted as extra batters at the end of the half-inning. The batting order remains the same except for injury or departure, in which case the batter(s) is/are skipped. A team without a substitution on a player ejection will be an out in his/her batting order or if less than 9 players, the game is forfeited. STRIKES, BALLS & PLATE: A ball hitting the mat or the plate is called a strike. The batter is out if he/she steps on the plate or mat. Two strikes or fouls and the batter is out. If a runner leaves the base prior to the ball being swung at, the runner is out. INNINGS: Games will be 7 innings in length, unless called due to 10-Run Rule. ILLEGAL PITCH: Umpire will call the pitch illegal, either verbally or by a hand signal. PITCHING ARC: 6 to 12 from the ground. BASE IN RUNNING: A batter/runner must touch the orange base in running through the base, but may hit the white base in rounding the bag or taking second. STEALING: Stealing is not allowed. SLIDING/SCORING AT HOME: See specific league for details. POINT OF NO RETURN CHALK LINE: See specific league for details. COLLISION: A base runner is out and ejected from the game and is subject to the Ejection/Suspension rule if he, in the opinion of the umpire, runs into a player who is in or near possession of the ball and preparing to make a play. The runner must avoid the defensive player. HOME RUN RULE: See specific league for details. 10-RUN RULE: The game will be terminated if, after the bottom of the 5 th or 6 th inning, a team is ahead by 10 or more runs. Note: There will not be a 10-Run Rule for the post-season tournament championship game. UMPIRE-SUSPENDED GAME: Any umpire-suspended game will be continued from the point of suspension. COURTESY RUNNER: If in the umpire s judgment a runner is deemed injured, a courtesy runner may be used. The player that made the last out is the courtesy runner. If a player is injured prior to the start of the game and cannot run the bases, the injured player is not allowed in the line-up. INJURED BATTER: If a player becomes injured while batting, the normal substitution rule applies, unless all registered players are listed in the line-up. If all players are listed in the line-up, an out will be taken for this position in the batting order. BLEEDING RULE: As in all competitive sport leagues, anyone who is bleeding must be removed from play until the bleeding has completely stopped. Any player who is bleeding or who has an open wound shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment has been administered. If treatment can be administered in a reasonable amount of time, the individual does not have to leave the game. The length of time that is considered reasonable is the umpire s judgment. A removed player is allowed to return after treatment is administered. If the player s clothing is soaked with blood, it must be changed before the individual may participate. TIE-BREAKER FOR A GAME: In case of a tie after regulation, the last batter of the previous inning will be placed on second base for each team until a winner is claimed. FINAL STANDINGS: Games marked with an asterisk (*) on the game schedule will not count toward the final standings. LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: The champion of each league will be the team with the best record and will be determined based up on the final standings. The champion team in each league will receive their choice of a 1 st place trophy or a $75 Visa gift card. A 2 nd place trophy or $50 Visa gift card will be awarded to each league with 7 or more teams. TIE-BREAKER FOR FINAL STANDINGS/TOURNAMENT SEEDING: In case of a tie in the final standings at the end of the City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 7 of 9

8 season, the following procedure will be used to determine final placement and tournament seeding: 1) head to head games between tied teams, 2) head to head games between tied teams using the games that weren t included in the final standings if applicable, 3) most runs scored between tied teams, 4) run differential between tied teams and 5) coin flip between tied teams. In case of a tie, a champion will be determined by using the tie-breaker procedure. POST-SEASON TOURNAMENT/CHAMPION: A single elimination post-season tournament will be held after the regular season and any rain-outs are completed. The team with the best record, based upon the tournament s final standings, will receive their choice of a 1 st place trophy or a $75 Visa gift card City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 8 of 9

9 MEN S LEAGUE RULES & REGULATIONS PLAYER INFORMATION PLAYER/TEAM RESTRICTION: Players may play on more than one team, but not within the same league. TEAM REGISTRATION RULES MINIMUM/MAXIMUM # OF TEAMS: A minimum of 4 teams is required with a maximum of 12. All teams are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. GAME LOCATION, DAYS & TIMES: All games will be held at the Athletic Field East and West diamonds on Tuesday & Thursday evenings. All games will be scheduled every 50 minutes at 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm. TIME LIMIT: The umpire is the official timekeeper and no time limit will be imposed. HOME RUN RULE: A maximum of 4 home runs will be allowed per game. Each home run after this will be an automatic out. Exception: If the defense touches the ball and it goes over the fence, it will then be counted as a home run and not an out. SLIDING/SCORING AT HOME: Sliding at home is allowed; the player may slide to the mat or plate, but MUST avoid contact with the catcher. Base runners can either touch the mat or plate when scoring. POINT OF NO RETURN CHALK LINE: The chalk line will not be used. There is no forced out at home. PLAYER INFORMATION RECREATION LEAGUE RULES & REGULATIONS PLAYER/TEAM RESTRICTION: This is a Recreation league; both males and females are allowed to play in this league, with no restrictions on the gender split. TEAM REGISTRATION RULES MINIMUM/MAXIMUM # OF TEAMS PER DIVISION: A minimum of 4 teams is required with a maximum of 4 as well. All teams are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. GAME LOCATION, DAYS & TIMES: All games will be held at the Athletic Field West Park diamond on Tuesday evenings. All games will be scheduled at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. TIME LIMIT: The umpire is the official timekeeper and a 55-minute time limit will be imposed. No full inning will start after the allotted time. HOME RUN RULE: A maximum of 3 home runs will be allowed per game. Each home run after this will be a groundrule double. Exception: If the defense touches the ball and it goes over the fence, it will then be counted as a home run and not a ground-rule double. SLIDING/SCORING AT HOME: Sliding at home IS allowed and contact with the catcher is not allowed. Base runners MUST touch the mat when scoring. POINT OF NO RETURN CHALK LINE: The chalk line will be used. Once a player crosses this line they must go home. It is always a forced out at home City of Beaver Dam Community Activities & Services 2017 Softball Rules & Guidelines Page 9 of 9