2018 SOFTBALL RULES THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION I. CONDUCT AND PENALTIES

Transcription

1 2018 SOFTBALL RULES THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION I. CONDUCT AND PENALTIES A. General : All participants in the sftball prgram are expected t act in a curteus and sprtsmanlike manner. This applies t all persns n the rster, whether they are n the field r nt. B. Grss Miscnduct : The fllwing ffenses are deemed t cnstitute grss miscnduct. On written reprt frm an umpire, the Parks and Recreatin designee shall, if it is determined that such an ffense was in fact cmmitted; suspend participant(s) frm the prgram fr a minimum f ne (1) game t a maximum f the entire seasn. 1. Physical cntact with an umpire. 2. Assaulting an umpire. 3. Fighting. 4. Abusive r prfane language directed tward participants, umpires r spectatrs. Penalties fr grss miscnduct shall begin fllwing the cnclusin f the game in which the ffense ccurred and shall, if the ffense shall warrant it, carry ver t subsequent year(s). Said penalties shall be in additin t any penalties levied by an umpire n the playing field during a game. Any ejectin frm a game will result in a $10.00 fine fr the player, payable in the recreatin ffice prir t the next game. C. Spectatrs : Nn-participant spectatrs shall nt interfere with fficials r games at any time. A spectatr may be ejected frm the ballpark by an umpire and shall thereafter be cnsidered t be trespassing. The Department f Public Safety may be called t remve trespasser(s). D. Managers : Team managers are respnsible fr the cnduct f their players and ther team participants, and any change in managers must be reprted t the Parks and Recreatin Department and nted n the rster. A manager may be suspended fr participating in, r failing t reasnably cntrl, unsprtsmanlike cnduct by her/his team. E. Alchl : Is nt allwed at the Park, except by City Cmmissin/State Permit fr special events. Any persn seen with Alchl at the Park will be subject t penalties including frfeit, suspensin r bth. F. Smking : Smking is prhibited n playing fields, duguts and/r caches bx. G. Authrity : The Parks and Recreatin Department may reasnably regulate the cnduct f the sftball prgram and interpret and apply these rules in any situatin nt specifically cvered herein; and may apply penalties reasnably related t verified ffenses, up t and including indefinite suspensin frm the prgram. II. ROSTERS, WAIVERS, ELIGIBILITY AND FEES A. Rsters and Waivers : Player rsters and waiver frms must be delivered t the Parks and Recreatin Department by the date and time t be set annually by the Department. The Department will als annually set dates fr sftball leagues t begin play. B. Invice : Upn receipt f yur rster and waiver frms, which must specify street addresses f all players, yur invice cvering the team entry fee will be mailed t yu. These fees are paid at the Recreatin Office, 251 Mills Street, Kalamaz, MI 49048, by a date and time t be set annually by the Divisin. The Recreatin Office is pen frm 8:00 a.m. t 5:00 p.m., Mnday thrugh Friday, except City emplyee hlidays. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 1 -

2 C. Team Frfeit Rules : If yu have nt paid, yu will nt be put n the schedule. EACH TEAM GETS 3 FORFEITS BEFORE BEING REMOVED FROM THE LEAGUE. D. Rster Changes : After the rster submissin deadline each year, all changes n the team rster will be made by the team manager. Additins/deletins may be made by calling the Parks and Recreatin Office at After the start f the 2 nd half f the seasn, n players may be added t the rster. If a sub is needed, they must be frm the same divisin and be Okayed by the ppsing manager. E. Player Eligibility : N player shall play fr r appear in the lineup f any team unless his name is legally affixed t the team rster in cmpliance with the rules. F. Transfer : Players n a team rster shall remain the prperty f that team until prperly released by the manager f that team, and added t anther rster by the manager f the ther team. Once play starts, a player may transfer nly nce. Once a player is released frm a team after play has begun, she/he is n lnger eligible t play again with that team during the current seasn. G. Deadlines : Players may nly be added t a team rster up t 5:00 p.m. the day that team s secnd half f play begins, accrding t the league schedule. If a player t be added t the rster is cming frm anther team, that player must have been drpped frm the ther rster by 5:00 p.m. the day f the game and must have been added t the new team s rster in cmpliance with these rules prir t 5:00 p.m. f the day f the game. ROSTERS ARE FROZEN AFTER START OF SECOND HALF OF PLAY. H. Eligibility Prtests : If it is brught t the attentin f the Department thrugh frmal prtest that a team used an ineligible player, and the prtest is upheld, the ffending team will frfeit the prtested game. Mre than ne game may be prtested by a cmplainant, wh need nt be the manager f an ppsing team. I. Dispute Over Players : In any dispute ver rights t players, the team t whse rster a player s name was first affixed with his cnsent shall initially be cnsidered t have title t said player. In any eligibility prtest r ther dispute ver a player s request t change teams in cmpliance with these rules, the player s preference shall be given primary cnsideratin. A manager shall nt unreasnably refuse t release a player, and must be ntified by the player f his desire t be released t anther team. The Parks and Recreatin designee will decide such cases. J. Special Rster Additins : Fllwing the deadline fr adding players t rsters, team managers may lse players fr reasns beynd their cntrl: fr example, illness, mving frm the area, changes f jb schedule, respnsibilities in the hme, etc. A manager wh needs t add players t field a team may apply t the Parks and Recreatin designee ( ) fr special permissin. The Parks and Recreatin designee may, at his/her discretin, allw r disallw the additin f any specific player t such a team rster, s as t prvide fr cntinued play but prevent lading f a rster with talented players. K. Prfessinals : Any player wh plays in a prfessinal league r receives mney fr playing is ineligible. L. Participatin Limitatins : Players may play nly n ne team per night. Players n multiple rsters n a particular night are nly eligible t play n the team that has the earliest registratin date. IV. SCHEDULES AND FIELD RESERVATIONS A. League Schedules : The Department will arrange all league schedules. Pstpned games will be rescheduled at the discretin f the Department, as diamnds are available. If a game is rescheduled befre Labr Day weekend, n the nrmal day f the week the league plays, the teams shall be required t play r frfeit. Player absences due t a lnger league seasn than anticipated shall nt be cnsidered gd cause fr rescheduling at anther time. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 2 -

3 B. League Assignments : The Department will assign teams t leagues, making reasnable effrts t cmply with the requests fr certain leagues r days f the week. The Department reserves the right t decline t assign teams t requested leagues t team skill, and may mve teams amng leagues fr this reasn during the seasn, as lng as the day f the week is nt changed withut the affected team s cnsent. C. Field Reservatins : Fields are reserved prir t seasn start and are reserved nly t teams registered in the City f Kalamaz Sftball leagues. Once the seasn has begun field reservatins must be paid fr and reserved as a park reservatin in the Parks and Recreatin Department. D. Time Limits : N new inning shall begin mre than ne hur and ten minutes fllwing the scheduled starting time f a slw pitch game. These limitatins shall nt apply t the last game scheduled n any field. Player safety due t limited daylight may decrease the time f the secnd game. If the game is n a lighted field, lights can be turned n t finish the game. E. Hme Team : Designated n the schedule. F. Official Scre: Bth teams will be respnsible fr keeping a screbk and the umpire will cnfer with bth managers after each half inning. G. Official Game : A game called befre seven (7) innings have been played shall be fficial if fur (4) cmplete innings have been played, three and a half (3 ½) if the hme team is ahead. Cancellatin Ntices H. T receive sftball text alerts, subscribe t yur specific night with RainedOut Alerts. 1. G t 2. Search: City f Kalamaz - Parks and Recreatin 3. Enter phne number r 4. Enter Validatin Cde - Subscribe t the night yu want t receive alerts fr. I. League Playffs : Number f teams in the playffs will vary based n night and divisin. All playffs will be bracket style turnament t be played in ne night at the cnclusin f the regular seasn. Champins will receive either a trphy r shirts. V. UMPIRES, OFFICIAL PROTESTS, CITY PROPERTY A. General : Umpires are the fficial representatives f the City f Kalamaz, regulating the play f sftball games, and have cntrl f the fields t which they are assigned fifteen (15) minutes befre and fifteen (15) minutes after each game. The umpire is the final authrity n cnduct f the game, including screkeeping, and will decide when a game shall be stpped due t inadequate r unsafe playing cnditins. B. Physical Abuse f Official : Physical cntact with an fficial is cnsidered cause fr autmatic ejectin. Assault f an fficial is cnsidered cause fr autmatic ejectin frm the game being played, and will result in autmatic suspensin frm the prgram as specified elsewhere in these rules. The City cnsiders abuse f umpires a severe ffense. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 3 -

4 C. Cmplaints Abut Umpires : Persns may make cmplaints abut umpires thrugh the Parks and Recreatin Department Office, Cmplainants are asked t btain the name f the umpire and be as specific as pssible abut the alleged deficiencies f the umpire. D. Assignment : The Department will cntract with, assign and terminate the services f umpires thrugh the Sprts Park Supervisr. E. Umpire Cmplaints : Umpires are required t reprt in writing any incidents r grss miscnduct prvided elsewhere in these rules. Umpires are required t reprt t the Divisin when they have reasnable cause t believe that a player vilated the eligibility rules herein; such infrmatin shall be first-hand and specific, and shall nt be based n hearsay. F. Identificatin f Umpires and Participants : An umpire must, upn request by the manager r team representative, give his crrect name. A team manager r representative must give the crrect name f any member f his team n request by the umpire r ther manager. G. Team Representatives : Prir t a game, each team shall infrm the umpire f its manager r ther designated representative(s). N team shall have mre than tw designated representatives. Team members ther than designated representatives shall nt argue decisins with umpires; if they attempt t d s, this shall be cnsidered unsprtsmanlike cnduct. H. Grund Rules : The grund rules fr each game shall be discussed by the umpire and team representatives befre each game. I. Eligibility Prtests : These are cnsidered frmal prtests and must be submitted by team managers in writing in accrdance with the rule that is affected. An umpire shall nt submit a prtest fr a manager; nr shall he tell a manager whether he plans t reprt a player eligibility questin t the Divisin. J. Prtest Prcedure : Frmal prtests under these rules r established rules f sftball must be submitted in writing t the Parks and Recreatin Office nt later than 5:00 p.m. the next day the ffice is pen fllwing the prtested game. A $10.00 prtest fee, by mney rder r check made ut t Kalamaz City Treasurer, must be submitted with the prtest and will be returned if the prtest is upheld. The Department will rule n the prtest within ne calendar week. (Reminder: A prtest related t play in a game must deal with applicatin r interpretatin f the rule, nt slely with the umpire s judgment as t whether a ball was fair r ful, a pitch, a ball r strike, r a runner safe r ut). K. Prtest Prcedure, Playff, r Turnament : When a frmal prtest arises during a City playff r turnament game under circumstances which require an immediate decisin, the umpire shall stp the game and present the prtest t the Parks and Recreatin designee. The $10.00 prtest fee must be prvided in cash r check; returned if upheld. A decisin will be made n the spt and the game will then resume. The prtest may be presented and discussed rally. L. Game Balls : Game balls are the respnsibility f each team. Teams will hit their wn ball and fllwing an inning will be returned t each team. Balls must be NSA qualified: Optic Yellw.52 c..r/275 cmpressin 11 inch fr wmen. Optic Yellw.52 c..r/275 cmpressin 12 inch fr men. Optic Yellw 44 c..r/400 cmpressin 12 inch fr men. Ced must have ne f each. VI. PLAYING RULES K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 4 -

5 A. Start Frfeit Time : The game will begin at scheduled time r when bth teams have the minimum number f players, either (8), and whichever is sner. If a team is nt able t field a team at GAME TIME f the scheduled time a frfeit win will be awarded t the ther team. B. Equipment : G t fr the entire NSA apprved equipment list. 1. Shes: Steel spikes are prhibited. Rubber and plastic cleats nt mre than ¾ inch lng is permitted. 2. Ball: In wmen s slw pitch leagues, the 11-inch sftball will be used. Male will us a 12" ball. 3. Bats: All bats must cme frm the manufacturer list prvided by this link and be stamped with the NSA apprval. Base Distance : Due t the prhibitive cst f installing dual sets f pegs fr bases, wmen s games may at times be played n 65 r 70 ft bases and all VerSluis fields will remain at 65 feet. Pitching Distance : In wmen s slw pitch leagues belw the tp league and in ced slw pitch, the pitcher must deliver the pitch frm the 53-ft pitching plate, prvided that in ther respects the pitching rule is bserved. If a pitcher wuld like t deliver the ball frm the 50-ft, and a pitching rubber is in place n that field, they may request this variance frm the umpire. Any pitcher judged t be abusing this rule shall be warned by the umpire, and if ffending again shall be remved frm the pitching psitin fr the remainder f the game. Extended Lineup Optin : In slw pitch leagues the fllwing ptinal lineup prcedure may be used: A manager may, n ntificatin f the umpire(s) and ppsing manager befre the game, list eleven (11) r mre players in the lineup and this batting rder shall be fllwed thereafter. A team with an extended lineup must cntinue t bat the same number f persns thrughut the game, in the same rder. If it is unable t d s due t injury r departure f players, each vacant psitin in the lineup shall be declared an ut when that turn at bat ccurs. Substitutes may be used. When a player leaves the game fr a substitute, the substitute s name must be entered in the same spt in the lineup. The player leaving the game fr a substitute may nt reenter the game. As lng as the abve rules are bserved, the manager may send any ten (10) players prperly listed in lineup t play the field in any inning. In additin, any f the ther players prperly in the lineup may replace such ther players in the field at any time. If the umpire judges that the game is being unduly delayed by such defensive replacements, he shall warn the ffending manager; thereafter, the ffending manager and/r player(s) may be ejected frm the game. When this ptin is used in ced slw pitch, it shall be in a manner which cmplies with the special rules f ced sftball; specifically, male and female alternating in the batting rder, except where wmen are mre numerus r the manager agree t sme ther arrangement. Number f Players : A team must have (8) players t play an fficial game. If a team starts with eight players, but at any time drps belw eight, the game is frfeit. Mercy Rule: The Mercy Rule shall be as fllws 20 runs after 4 innings, 15 runs after 5 innings and 10 runs after 6 innings. Ced Sftball :The fllwing rules shall apply specifically t ced slw pitch sftball: When n defense: Teams may play with 5 men and 5 wmen, 6 men and 4 wmen r 7 men and 5 wmen. When teams have FIVE WOMEN, must have 2 wmen in the infield and 2 wmen in the utfield. The ther girl is either pitching r ding the catching. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 5 -

6 Nte: If teams play 6/ 4 1. Girl catching/guy pitching/ne girl in utfield/ne girl in the infield/and last girl where ever the team wants her OR 2. Girl pitching/guy catching/ ne girl in utfield/ne girl in the infield/and last girl where ever the team want There can nly be FIVE GUYS ON DEFENSE WHEN YOUR TEAM HAS 6 GUYS AND 4 GIRLS. If playing 5/5 the batting rder will alternate males and females. i. If batting 6 males and 5 females r have ONE MORE MALE THAN FEMALE IN THE BATTING LINE UP, YOU MUST BAT ONE MALE AT THE TOP OF THE LINEUP AND ONE MALE AT THE BOTTOM OF LINE UP. That is the ONLY time where 2 male batters can bat back t back. ii. If batting 6/4 r 7/5 YOU MUST WEAVE. If a batter has walked, he/she shall have tw ptins. 1. The batter may g t first base. 2. The batter may refuse the walk and start HIS / HER at bat again, BUT THE STRIKES REMAIN. Fr example, if a batter walks n a cunt f 4 balls and 2 strikes, and refuses the walk, he/she shall begin the new at bat with a cunt f 1 ball and 2 strikes. The pitcher shall always attempt t pitch the ball in the strike zne. If the umpire judges that the pitcher is intentinally aviding the strike zne, the pitcher shall be warned. On a subsequent ffense, the pitcher shall be warned. On a subsequent ffense, the pitcher shall be remved frm the pitching psitin fr the remainder f the game. Deviatins frm rules (1), (2), and (3) will be tlerated if bth managers agree n the specifics. The umpire shall be ntified f the deviatins, which will ccur. If such a game is played, the scre will be fficial. NO INTENTIONAL WALKS TO ANY BATTER AT ANYTIME! 1. If there are NO OUTS OR 1 OUT AND: a.) a guy gets walked he ges t 1st nly b.) girl up t bat next HAS TO BAT 2. WITH 2 OUTS - When there are 2 uts and a guy is walked, the next girl batting has the ptin f hitting r walking. If tw guys are batting back t back, and GUY BATTER #1 is walked, than 2nd guy HAS TO HIT. IF GUY BATTER #1 & GUY BATTER # 2 get walked, the next batter is a girl, she has the ptin f taking first r hitting. Hme Plate Extensin Rule. When attempting t scre, runners can nly tuch the hme plate extensin line. Defensive players must tuch the riginal hme plate n all plays at the plate (the white hme plate). The runner may nt tuch hme plate r he/she will be called ut. Cmmit Line Rule. A "Cmmitment Line" will be drawn perpendicular t the third base line, 20 feet dwn the line frm third base tward hme plate. Once a runner has tuched r crssed the "Cmmitment Line", he r she has cmmitted t trying t scre and may nt return t third base. A frce play will nw be in effect at hme plate. In the event that the runner returns t third base and des nt try t scre after having "cmmitted", the runner will be called ut nce the play is ver. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 6 -

7 Under n circumstances is a runner permitted t return t third base nce they've crssed the cmmitment line, and that includes returning t tag up n a caught fly ball. Mst smart baserunners will te the line, and then crss it if the ball is drpped, r they'll return if it's caught. If there is an attempt by the defensive team t tag the runner when she is between the cmmitment line and the scring line, the runner is autmatically safe. Once a runner has tuched the cmmitment line r the grund past the cmmitment line, defensive players can nly put the runner ut by tuching hme plate while in pssessin f the ball. GENERAL INFORMATION Please tell yur players t enter and exit thrugh the Duglas St. entrance, the Wdward gates will be lcked thrughut the seasn. The gates at Duglas will be lcked 10 minutes after the last game is ver. Restrms are lcated near the cncessin stands by Dickinsn fields 1 and 2 and near the VerSluis diamnds 2 and near VerSluis 1, 5, 6 and 9. The City f Kalamaz recmmends each team manager t cnsider putting tgether a small first-aid kit fr minr injuries that may ccur during a game. Managers are als asked t prvide a safe playing envirnment fr their players. The City f Kalamaz Parks and Recreatin Department wish each and every team a safe and enjyable seasn. K:\recdcs\PETE\ADULT SOFTBALL\2016\2016 SOFTBALL RULES.dc - 7 -