Pinetop-Lakeside Community Services Softball Rules & Regulations INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Summer Softball Program organized and sponsored by the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside 's Community Services Department. This program is provided solely for your fun and enjoyment so please practice good sportsmanship on the field. Your close communication and cooperation with the Community Services Staff is important in making this summer's softball season a success! All the Community Services staff wishes your team the best of luck and hope you have a fun and successful season! 1. PARKS & RECREATION STAFF Director Matthew Williams (Wk) 368-6700 or (Cell) 770-827-2195 mwilliams@pinetoplakesideaz.gov (preferred contact method) Field Supervisor - Mike Mettie 368-3255 2. CLASSIFICATION OF PLAY "C & D" CLASS(during tournaments) - Two recreational divisions, moderate competition and average skill level. 3. ENTRY FEE: All league teams pay $350 Make check or money order payable to: Town of Pinetop-Lakeside Community Services. Entry fee with registration roster is due April 28th before 5:00 p.m. (If Fees are not in by due date the next team on the waiting list will be given that spot). Entry fee pays for: umpires, ASA team registration, field supervisor, softballs, awards, utility costs, and field preparation. The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside will assume financial responsibility for administrative costs. 4. ROSTER Every team must submit a team roster (25 player maximum) prior to the first night of play. A player may be added to or deleted from a roster until the fifth game of season play. At this time rosters are frozen. A player MUST have played a minimum of three (3) league games to play in the tournament. (*Exception would be allowed if both coaches and the supervisor agree to a change prior to game time, the player in question must have been on the roster for most of the season) In order to add or delete players from a roster, a team representative must notify the Pinetop-Lakeside Parks & Rec. Dept., in person, at 958 S. Woodland Road, Lakeside, AZ 85929 or notify the Field Supervisor, in person. A. Coaches should keep up-to-date records of the team roster at all times. This practice can eliminate any questions as to whether a team member is eligible to play or not. B. A player must be on a team's roster to play in any game. C. No player will be allowed to play for more than one team in the Pinetop-Lakeside League.
5. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS A. A player can play in only one division. B. A player may play on both a men's slow pitch and a co-ed rec. team. C. A player must be 15 years old by the beginning of the season to participate in the league. D. Any violation of these rules could lead to forfeiture of game and/or suspension of player(s) involved. The league director has the final decision on the severity of any punishment. E. Rosters for all teams will be kept at the ball field to be examined in case of protests. Coaches may check an opposing team's roster for any suspected discrepancies F. Player protest: Coach must protest at the time a suspected illegal player enters the game. After calling time out, file protest with home plate umpire who will stop the game momentarily to notify supervisor of protest. While the game continues the player in question must produce identification between innings. If person in question is determined to be an illegal player, that team will forfeit the game. G. Player protests will not be accepted after the game. The $20.00 protest fee will be returned if the protest is accepted and is determined valid. Also See Section: 12 PROTESTS 6. CONDUCT No manager, player or spectator shall: * Exhibit threatening physical or verbal behavior toward an official, player or spectator * Demonstrate objectionable dissent at an official's decision * Refuse to abide by official's decision A. All players or teams will be reprimanded for un-sportsman like conduct, with the second warning possibly resulting in the automatic ejection of said player or team. B. Any player ejected from a game will automatically be suspended for a mini mum of one (1) game and may be asked to leave the playing field. If disruptions continue, said player will be required to leave the park facilities entirely. C. A second offense will result in that player being dismissed from the league. D. Any player that assaults an official will be expelled immediately from league play and will not be allowed to play in the Pinetop-Lakeside Parks & Recreation league for a minimum of five (5) years. E. The Community Services Manager reserves the right to make final decisions in all disciplinary matters. 2
7. TIE GAMES Tie games will be played out. 8. LEAGUE STANDINGS If teams are tied in various positions in the final standings those teams will compete Head-to-head. League standings will be updated and available to you via email shortly before the tournament schedules are sent out. 9. TOBACCO Smoking is not allowed in town parks. No cigarettes, e-cigarettes are smokeless tobacco products may be used. Anyone caught using tobacco shall be subject to the fines under the rules & ordinances of Pinetop- Lakeside. 10. END OF SEASON TOURNAMENT A single elimination tournament will be held for each division at the end of the league. 11. INSURANCE Medical insurance is the responsibility of the team or the individual. The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside DOES NOT carry medical insurance for teams or individuals. Each team is required to be registered ASA to play in the league. ASA also carries team insurance at very reasonable rates. Call the ASA Softball Insurance Hotline at 1-800-526-1379. 12. PROTESTS A. Only rule interpretation will be justifiable for protest and not an Umpire's decision on a call. If a team protests, it must be made by the team captain or manager, before the next pitch, to the next batter. Protest is made to the umpire who will notify the Field Supervisor. B. Protests must be written and submitted by 5:00 p.m. of the next working day. C. A $20.00 hearing fee will be required and must accompany the protest and is refundable if honored. D. All protests must be made in accordance to 05-ASA rules and written up in proper form (refer to rule book). E. Ineligible player protest must be made during the game with the umpire and field supervisor. No protest is accepted after completion of the game. 3
F. Field Supervisor must resolve Tournament game protests with the assistance of the Umpires, at that game. The supervisor s decision is FINAL. G. The Parks & Rec. Director will handle all protests. 13. SCOREKEEPING An official scorekeeper will not be provided. Teams are required to keep score and confirm the score every inning. Home team is the designated official score-keeper unless the visiting team agrees take responsibility. Scores must be kept in the official score book provided by the Field Supervisor and returned at the end of the game. Scorekeeper should clearly mark the games with a W (win) or L (lose) after each game. These books are used to coordinate the tournaments. It is the scorekeepers responsibility to mark the books correctly. 14. PLAYING RULES (MEN & CO-ED) These rules are in addition to any current "ASA" Softball Rules: A. Run Rule: After any one complete inning, any team 18 runs ahead will be declared the winner. Ifan umpire determines that a team is intentionally prolonging a game to avoid the I 8 run rule the game will be declared over. After four and one-half (4 112) or five (5) innings, a team that is ahead by ten (10) runs will be declared the winner. B. Foul Ball Rule: A batter who fouls off a pitch after two strikes will be called out. C. Infield Warm-Up: No infield warm-up allowed unless time permits. DO NOT warm-up close to the spectators. DO NOT bat balls against the backstop or foul line fencing for batting practice. D. Forfeit Time: There is a 5-minute grace period from the scheduled game time. The grace period becomes part of the playing time if used. Any team who forfeits games will not have any portion of their registration fee refunded. E. Players: A team must have eight (8) players to begin and finish a game. Player #9 and # 10 will not be considered automatic outs. When your 9th and 10th player arrive they are not permitted to enter the game until the next inning if you're in the field. If your team is batting, they must bat in the 9th and 10th spot in the lineup. Every attempt should be made to have ten (10) players at every game. F. Substitution: The manager shall immediately notify the plate umpire at the time a substitute enters. That umpire shall report the change to the scorer prior to the next pitch. Violation of an illegal substitute not reported is handled as a protest by the offended team. G. Courtesy Runner: A player not officially in the game or the player who made the last out may be the courtesy runner. Only one courtesy runner allowed per inning. H. Game and Innings: All games are seven (7) innings. Except in case of a tie no new innings will begin after 1 hour and 5 minutes. The home plate umpire's watch is official. 4
I. If a game must be terminated before regulation time of four (4) innings (or 3 'h if home team is ahead) it will constitute a complete game. J. Home Plate Mat: A strike is when the pitched ball hits either home plate or the mat behind it. K. Pitching Distance: Pitching rubber distance is placed at 50 feet. L. Shoes: No metal sole or heel plates allowed in either MEN'S Play or COED Play 14. PLAYING RULES (MEN & CO-ED) Cont. L. In the event of any rule questions or changes the Parks & Recreation Director shall have the authority to institute new rules or to change old rules to maintain a continuity of the overall softball program. In the event of a rule change teams will be notified. M. A rule change request must be presented in writing to the Parks & Rec. Dept. A quorum of at least 112 of the team representatives must vote on a non-field related rule change in order for the vote to be valid. A majority of the quorum will rule. All votes will be recorded by ballot. 15. PLAYING RULES (CO-ED) ***Also be aware of all rule changes ASA Rule Book*** A. Teams may start a game with 8 players. There must be an equal or more number of women to men playing. B. Alternating batting order is required. C. A one & one count will be given to every batter as he/she enters the batter's box. D. Two women in the infield, two women in the outfield minimum not including the pitcher or catcher. Pitcher-catcher must be male/female combination. E. Played with both the 11" and 12" softball. F. Teams are limited to five (5) runs per inning, except for the final inning of the game, in which each team may score an unlimited number of runs. Umpire must announce the last inning unless it is the?1h inning. G. On any walk to a male batter will result in a TWO BASE AWARD. The next batter (A FEMALE WILL BAT. EXCEPTION: With TWO OUTS, the female batter has the option to walk or bat. H. If an "EP" is used, 12 players (6 men & 6 women) must bat and any 10 players (5 men & 5 women) can play defense.(see page 72 EXTRA PLAYER : Rule 4, Section 4). 5
16. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION A. Only beer and wine are allowed within the boundaries of Woodland Lake Park. Glass containers of any kind are not allowed. Players may not be intoxicated; i.e. they are not allowed to drink prior to or during their games. There will be positively NO DRINKING allowed on the fields or in the dugouts. B. Team managers will be held responsible for enforcing this rule with their players. The Field Supervisor, Umpires and the Parks & Recreation staff all have the authority to eject a player from the game if they are caught drinking prior to or during a game. C. The Pinetop-Lakeside Town council has stressed that allowing drinking at the park is a privilege. They have stated that if this privilege is abused, teams will lose this right. 17. GAME TIMES Standard Game times are: 6:30 p.m., 7:40 p.m., and 8:50 p.m. 18. SCHEDULES (Tentative) A. League Games - Mid-May through early August. B. Make-up Games will be scheduled when schedule allows, possibly Tuesday and Thursday nights, during the month of June, July and August. C. Town League (Single Elimination Tournament) - follows completion of league schedule. D. Teams will not be guaranteed certain nights of play, game times, etc. E. The schedule will only be changed by the Community Services Manager due to inclement weather or wildfire. The only other way the schedule can change is if one team needs to change a game, "they" must first contact the Parks & Recreation Department, at mwilliams@pinetoplakesideaz.gov, to find an open slot. Then "they" must get permission from the affected team's manager. "They" must also contact the referees and the field supervisor to see if they can work the game. Remember teams need time to plan, don't call them on short notice and expect them to be able to change their game. If your team has special scheduling needs, the league director needs to know prior to time to make the season schedule. If your team plays on other leagues, you are responsible for providing the director with the schedule from the other league. The league director will not call other departments to get your schedule for you. However, if you provide the department with your schedule the league director will try to accommodate individual team's scheduling needs. 19. COMPLAINTS OR EVALUATIONS A. Complaints or suggestions should be made to the Community Services Manager, Matthew Williams, mwilliams@pinetoplakesideaz.gov. 6
B. Teams are encouraged to evaluate their game umpires. Please do so in a professional manner on the evaluation form provided. Give this form to the field supervisor when completed. Only formal complaints turned in on an evaluation form will be acted upon. 20. AWARDS Awards will be given for league and tournament play. 21. UNIFORMS Optional but recommended. 22. WEATHER (Inclement) If there is any doubt as to whether or not the diamond is in playable condition, it is the manager's responsibility to follow the procedure below: A. After 4:00 p.m. - Call the Parks & Recreation office for information at (928)-368-6700 or email mwilliams@pinetoplakesideaz.gov. B. Only the team manager may call the office, then, he/she must call the team members. C. Game (field) conditions change very suddenly, we will try our best to keep you informed. C. League games that are rained out will be rescheduled. Game cancellations due to weather or wildfire will be sent out via email & posted to the town facebook page. D. Call the office after 1:00 p.m. on the following business day for the reschedule time. 23. PRE-GAME PROCEDURES In order to remain on schedule each night it is necessary that each team be responsible for the following: A. Arrive for scheduled game at least 10 minutes prior to game time. B. Locate supervisor and obtain the scorebook for your game. C. Fill in your line-up immediately and return to field supervisor. 0. Umpires will be starting games at the scheduled time. E. It behooves each team to place line-ups on scorebooks prior to their game; otherwise, you are wasting valuable playing time with line-up responsibilities. HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON AND ENJOY THE GAME! 7
REVISED 4/3/17 8