ALLOUEZ PARKS, RECREATION, AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT 2018 Men's Adult Softball League General Rules & Regulations

Transcription

1 ALLOUEZ PARKS, RECREATION, AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT 2018 Men's Adult Softball League General Rules & Regulations

2 Table of Contents Fees pg 3 Leagues...pg 3 Leagues Schedules Eligibility.. pg 4 Managers Players Playing for Multiple Teams Ineligible Players Equipment.. pg 6 Weather/Game Rescheduling. pg 7 Game Play.. pg 8 Pre-Game Time Limits Tie Games Start of Game Batting Order Substitutions Defensive Rules Pitchers Batting Base Running Post Season Ties Protests/Forfeits/Conduct on Field pg 11

3 Fees Sponsor Fee: $ Player Fees: $25.00/Allouez Residents, $35.00/Non-residents o Player fees must be paid for each roster a player appears on. i.e. if a player is on 2 teams they will be required to pay 2 player fees. See eligibility below. Protest Fee: $15 per protest o Fee will be returned if protest is upheld. Leagues Monday over 30 League o Max 8 Teams o Games played at Green Isle Park o Start Date: 4/23/18 o Season End: 7/9/18 o Tournament Start: 7/16/18 Wednesday Competitive League o Max 8 Teams o Games played at Green Isle Park/Langlade Park o Start Date: 4/25/18 o Season End: 6/27/18 o Tournament Start: 7/11/18 Thursday Rec League o Max 8 Teams o Games played at Green Isle Park/Langlade Park o Start Date: 4/26/18 o Season End: 6/28/18 o Tournament Start: 7/12/18

4 Eligibility Managers: Mangers are the official team representative to the Park Dept. o Any change in a manager or a manager's address, telephone number, etc., must be reported to the Parks Department. Managers will be solely responsible for the following: o Releasing a player from their team o Providing Home Plate Umpire with roster/batting order at beginning of each game o Informing Home Plate Umpire of Substitutions o Protesting calls, game decisions, rule interpretations, etc. Players: Players must be an adult (18 years of age or older) by the first league game. The roster must contain a minimum of 12 paid players. New players may be added to the roster until Friday, June 1, A team can only add players after the deadline of June 1, 2018, if the team falls below 12 players. For Monday Over-30 league, a team may have player(s) under age 30 years; however that player(s) must turn 30 years of age by June 1, 2018, to be eligible. Playing on Multiple Teams: Players may participate on more than one team on the same night if the two teams are in separate divisions. Players can also participate on more than one team on different nights in the Allouez Leagues. To be eligible, a new player fee is to be paid for each team he wishes to play with. o Once a player fee is paid, there will be no refund. o A transfer of fee paid for by a player can be transferred only up to June 1, The Parks Department must be notified. o The manager is the official team representative to the Parks Department and he must release a player in writing before a player may sign with another team. An additional player fee will be charged for the change and this must be done before the league deadline for player additions. Ineligible players: A player is considered ineligible if: o His address is incorrect. A player's correct address is the one at which he resides at the time of the player registration. o He is not registered in advance of the first game in which the player participates. o A player may be asked for official identification to prove residence at any time. Any team using an ineligible player will forfeit all games in which the player has participated. o See Forfeit Rule. Players, managers and teams may be subject to exclusion the following season.

5 Procedure for Questioning Players Eligibility: o Before June 1, 2018/last day to add players. The Umpire has the authority to question any and all player s eligibility. The team scorekeeper will inform the home plate umpire of a possible ineligible player by the end of the first inning. The home plate umpire may ask to see identification & the umpire will indicate on the score card the name in question & whether I.D. was given or not. If identification does not match the name on the lineup (a switch) or is not presented, the player will be considered ineligible & the team will forfeit the game, although they can still play it out if they choose. If there is a question as to whether a player is ineligible (is the name on the team roster?), when the lineup is turned into the office, it will be compared to the team roster. If the name is not on the team roster, the offending team will forfeit the game if they won, or an ineligible player notation will be made in the standings. The parks and recreation office will contact the two team managers with the results of the comparison. o After June 1, 2018 The Umpire has the authority to question any and all players eligibility. The team scorekeeper will inform the home plate umpire of a possible illegal player by the end of the third inning. The home plate umpire will ask to see identification and have the scorekeeper compare the lineup in question with the team roster. If the player is ineligible, the team can still play, but the game is lost by ineligible player forfeit. The umpire will note this on the score card. The above procedure will be followed. Let your players know they should have identification with them.

6 Equipment Dress: o Players are not required to wear uniforms. Pants or shorts, shirt and shoes must be worn at all times. o Any player with a splint or brace will have to have it covered in an acceptable manner. Any exposed metal must be covered by a soft material and taped. The umpire will make the final decision on what is acceptable for the player to participate. o Players may wear rubber-tipped spikes. Players cannot participate with metal or metal-tipped spikes. The game will not continue until there is a compliance with this rule. o Any fielder can use a glove as long as it is of legal size. Only the catcher and 1st baseman may wear mitts. Bats: o All bats must be tagged with a Blue Greater Green Bay approved bat tag. The Cities of Green Bay & De Pere and the Villages of Allouez, Ashwaubenon and Howard have cooperatively adopted the ASA banned bat list. Once a bat is tagged it is considered legal in the above mentioned communities. o No tagging will be conducted at any ball field. Tagging of bats will be conducted at all managers meetings. As well as locations below: Allouez Village Hall: 1900 Libal St. Howard: 2456 Glendale Ave. Green Bay, WI Green Bay: 100 N. Jefferson St Room 510 Green Bay, WI Ashwaubenon: 2155 Holmgren Way, Green Bay, WI De Pere: 600 Grant St, De Pere, WI o All bats are tagged on a two year cycle. *Note all bats will be required to be retagged this year (2018). Bats not tagged will be considered illegal and not allowed. o If a bat is deemed illegal after the start of the season, that bat will be pulled from play immediately. o The ASA website for banned bats is

7 Weather/Game Rescheduling Inclement Weather: Rain Cancellations: o Before 3:00 p.m. The parks office will use the following to inform of cancellations: all team managers Village Facebook: Twitter: Website: Rained Out website: o After 3:00 p.m. - If the officials decide to cancel, the umpire will call the team managers. In inclement weather (rain) it would be to the team s best interest to bring rakes and shovels to prepare the field for play at umpire's discretion. The Allouez Parks Department does not furnish these items to the umpire crew. Postponement of a game: Postponement of a game for time limit or weather is at the umpire's discretion. o Lightning will be cause to postpone a game while it is occurring. o This game will resume only at the discretion of the umpire(s). o If not a complete game, a game called due to weather or darkness will be played from the point of interruption providing the game is a factor at the end of the season standings. Rescheduling Games: All games scheduled are final. If a team is unable to make their scheduled game, it will be declared a forfeit. The Parks Department will not reschedule games due to a team unable to play because of lack of players, injuries, vacations, etc.

8 Game Play The 2018 ASA Rules for Slowpitch will be the official rule book with local adaptations as stated below. Pre-Game: Teams will be allowed to use the field for warm-up at the discretion of the umpires, time permitting. If the field is in questionable condition, teams are to remain off until game time. Time Limits: The umpires will be the official timekeeper for the start of all games. Each game will consist of 7 innings or one hour, whichever comes first. o Unless after 50 minutes of playing time one team is ahead by 10 or more runs, They shall be declared the winner regardless of the number of innings played. The team which is losing in this situation will only be allowed to finish their inning if they are at bat. o Four (4) full innings constitutes a game o No new inning may begin after one hour of playing time has elapsed. o There will be no run rule or time limit for the tournament championship game. Tie Games: Green Isle games will play out tie games until a winner is determined. At unlighted diamonds (Langlade), darkness becomes a factor and the first game will maintain a onehour time limit regardless of whether game is tied. o Should this game then be a factor at the end of the season standings, the games shall be continued at that later time, until a winner is determined and the game will start where it had ended that evening. o The second games at the unlighted diamond will be played out in the event of a tie subject to umpire discretion due to darkness. o If a winner is not determined, the same rule will apply as in game one above. Post Season Ties: Ties: When necessary, the following methods will be used to break a tie: o Head-to-head competition (when the teams involved played one another & if time permits) o Least number of runs given up amongst teams involved o Least number of runs given up within the league o Coin flip Number of Players to Start a Game: Ten players constitute a full team. Eight players are needed to start a game. If team does not have 8 players to start the game, a 10 minute grace period will be given o Start the game within the 10 minute grace period. The game will start in the second inning and the team not having enough players will be down by five (5) runs. Games will only be allowed to play up to the hour time limit. The start time will be the time the game was supposed to begin (i.e. 6:00 p.m.) o NOT the actual time the teams start to play. Unless the start time is delayed due to field conditions. o Exception: If your game is at Green Isle Park, it will be the start time the official indicates. If, after 10 minutes, the team not having enough players to play will have to forfeit the game. Refer to Forfeit Rule. No exceptions.

9 Batting Order: A team may bat the entire roster o It must be declared at the beginning of the game when the line-up is presented. o This will remain throughout the entire game. o The batting order cannot be changed. Substitutions: The team may freely substitute players defensively throughout the game. All substitutions must be reported to the plate umpire who, in turn, will report the changes to the official scorekeeper. All substitute names and numbers should be listed on the official lineup card submitted to the plate umpire at the start of the game o If a player is not listed on the card and is on the official roster, he can be added after the game has begun. o In addition, if there is a question regarding the validity of a player, this must be questioned by the end of the First Inning. If a substitution is in the game without reporting, he is considered an unreported substitute. o If brought to the plate umpire s attention by the offended team after the first legal or illegal pitch and before the team in violation informs the umpire, the umpire will eject him from the game. (Refer to Rule 4, Section 6B for various situations.) o All players are subject to the reentry rule of 6 consecutive outs. If a player leaves and cannot bat as indicated on the line-up, there is no reentry if he returns later. Violation of any substitution rule is handled as a protest by the offended team. Injury Substitution: o A courtesy runner will be allowed - one per inning. o If more than one courtesy runner is requested by a team, it will be up to the umpire s and the opposing team s manager s discretion. o The courtesy runner must be the runner who made the last recorded out and must be entered prior to the first pitch to the succeeding batter. Defensive Rules: Fielders should avoid contact with runners at all times. Fielders not making a play must leave the baseline. Infield fly rule: o Less than two outs, runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd or 3rd, batter is automatically out on fair ball only. Runners advance at their own risk. Pitchers: An illegal pitch is called by the home plate umpire at his discretion. A 3-2 count will be used. Strike zone: o Ball must land on or any part of the mat or plate to be a strike. The strike zone includes the white and black part of the plate. Legal Pitch: o Must attain a perceptible arch of 6 ft/minimum There is no maximum height. o An illegal pitch shall be called immediately when it becomes illegal. Hitter may swing at that pitch thus marking it legal. o Legal delivery means the pivot foot must remain in contact with the pitcher s plate until the pitched ball leaves the hand. If a step is taken, it can be forward or backward, or to the side, provided the pivot foot is in contact with the pitcher s plate and the step is simultaneous with the release of the ball.

10 Batting: A batter may only choose to switch sides of the plate prior to the first pitch. o Once the first pitch is thrown batter may not change. Batter will be considered ready once in batter box. Batter may ask for time from umpire prior to a pitch o It is at the umpire s discretion to grant request. Throwing of equipment (i.e.: bats, helmets, etc) is not permitted. o Umpire will warn the entire team once. o Next infraction will result in ejection from the game. Base Running: Sliding is permitted. o Any runner who intentionally "takes out" a defensive player by not sliding is automatically out, along with the batter. Baserunners may not attempt to break up a double play with contact. o Initiating contact to break up double plays will result in an automatic double play enforced by the umpire. Player is out if they attempt to run over the catcher. Runners are always awarded two bases on overthrows which go out of play or become blocked. o Two bases from the last base touched at the time the ball left the hand. If the ball is in play, runner (s) may advance at their own risk. Protests/Forfeits/Conduct on Field Protests: Protests on technicalities must be in writing by the manager. No later than 48 hours after game in question. The home plate umpire must be notified at the time of the infraction. All protests require a $15.00 fee o Fee will be returned if the protest is upheld. A protest should contain the following: o Date o Time o Location of the game o Teams involved o Names of umpires o Rule and section of the official rule book under which the protest is made o Decision and conditions surrounding the making of the decision. o Be sure to report all essential facts! Under no circumstances shall any player or person other than the manager or the captain of either team have any legal right to protest on any decision and seek it's reversal on a claim that it is in conflict with these rules. ASA Rule 10, Sec 3. 10

11 Forfeit Rule 1st infraction /forfeit - no penalty to team 2nd infraction/forfeit - $15.00 fee to be paid before following week's game 3rd infraction/forfeit - Out of the League Collection of forfeit fees: o Any team owing forfeiture fees from the previous week must make arrangement with the Village of Allouez who will monitor fees for timely collection. o Any collection program will be handled at discretion of the Parks Department. o Any team owing forfeiture fees from the previous season will not be eligible to play in the league. o Members from these teams will not be eligible to play on another team. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Any act of unsportsmanlike conduct before, during or after a game, include but limited to: o The use of profane language o The use/prior use of controlled substances i.e. drugs, tobacco products, etc. o Acts the Park, Recreation and Forestry Staff deem not representative of the Department or in bad taste Any player, coach, or team performing acts listed above may be face removal of the offending player, coach or team from the playing area of the premises by the order of any working Parks personnel. Successive game offenses will result in player(s) or team being dropped from the league and forfeiture of all fees. Ejected Player: Any player(s) ejected from play must sit out the next scheduled game. o If the game is rained out, the player(s) will then miss the next game scheduled. Prohibited Substances: Drinking of all alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all parks except Green Isle Park. Excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages is not permitted for anyone on the roster before or during the game. Tobacco use is prohibited at all Allouez Parks. Violation will result in one warning. Further violation will result in forfeit. Other than exceptions herein listed, the league will be governed by official ASA. 11