2019 LINCOLN HILLS SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE (LHSSL) PHILOSOPHIES Our league was established to keep our senior softball sports population in Sun City Lincoln Hills active and social. We play the game for fun and the intent is to keep the Lincoln Hills version of the game exactly that, FUN. We promote good sportsmanship, fair play and above all, safety when playing. We try not and overburden our play with a lot of unnecessary rules that just confuse more than clarify. We have certain philosophies regarding how the game should be played. The rules LHSSL play by are governed by the USA Softball Rules of Play, available from USA Softball for about $10, with certain exceptions compiled by the LHSSL Rules Committee with review and final approval by the LHSSL Board of Directors. A goal of the Committee when the rules were developed, because of the wide age disparity in players, was player safety. While safety cannot be addressed in every rule, the basis for our play is safety first and it is expected that each member of the LHSSL adheres to basic safety whenever they play. Some examples are: We have bat safety rules and high performance 100% composite bats are not allowed for League play. Dented or cracked bats are also not allowed. We allow courtesy runners for player s whose running skills have dwindled or have leg/foot issues that running would exacerbate. We have a substitute system that allows for a team that might be shorthanded a player or two on a given day to pick up players and still play the game. Our Commissioner or his designee will determine the rules regarding selecting players from the CAN. The system works, and it s designed to keep folks playing. We also have a requirement that all players who show up for a game are in the lineup. However, defensive play is not mandatory. There will always be special circumstances that come up. In the end, we have a FAIR-PLAY philosophy that allows managers and umpires to agree to play a game the way everyone agrees to play a game. Rules don t cover everything and when they do not, we are accommodating and put in force our Fair-Play philosophy to keep folks playing. It s simply a game-time agreement reached at the start or during a game that that s the way we ll play that game. 1 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
Table of Contents Page I. FIELD LAYOUT 3 A. Bases B. Pitching Distance C. Batter s Box D. Outfield Limit Line E. Run Past Line II. EQUIPMENT..3 A. Bats B. Softballs C. Pitching Screen D. Pitcher s Gear E. Uniforms III. MANAGERS, PLAYERS, COURTESY RUNNERS & CAN PLAYERS.4 A. Managers & Lineups B. Roster Players C. Courtesy Runners D. Can-Players E. Pitcher Substitutes F. Player Leaving the Game IV. THE GAME..6 A. Game Duration. B. Starting Count C. Home Runs D. Mercy or Run Ahead Rule E. Pitching F. Temperature Rule G. Fair Play 2 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
LOCAL LHSSL RULES The Lincoln Hills Senior Softball League (LHSSL) is governed by the USA Softball (USA) rules and regulations (current edition) with exceptions/additions authorized by the LHSSL. I. FIELD LAYOUT A. BASE DISTANCES 1. Recreation league plays with 65-foot base distances B. PITCHING DISTANCES 1. All leagues play using 53 to 59-foot distance and a pitcher s box measuring 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. C. BATTER S BOX 1. The batter s box consists of a practice batting mat. The edge of the batting mat is the outermost edge of the batter s box. The edge of the mat is treated as if it were the outermost portion of the standard chalk line. D. OUTFIELD 165 LIMIT LINE 1. An arcing line, 165 feet from home plate running foul line to foul line is used. It s marked by strategically placed cones. Outfielders cannot cross the line until the ball is hit to make a play. If they cross before the ball is hit the batter is awarded first base and all other runners are advanced one base from the base last occupied. E. RUN PAST LINE 1. A line marked in foul territory 30 feet from 1 st base. If a batter, who has a runner from the plate, runs mistakenly and passes the run past line they are called out for interference. II. EQUIPMENT A. BATS 1. For Recreation League play the bat must bear an ASA 2000 Certification Mark or an ASA 2004 Certification Mark or ASA 2013 Certification Mark. They must not be listed on the Non-Approved Bat List with 2000 or 2004 Certification Mark. 2. Bats can be single wall or double wall construction. 3. Bat barrels CAN be 100 percent alloy or aluminum or wood/bamboo 4. Bat handles CAN be 100 percent composite or aluminum/alloy materials. 5. 100 percent composite construction cannot be used in the league B. SOFTBALLS 1. Softballs are 12-inch Trump Rock softballs meeting USA requirements for slowpitch softball. C. PITCHING SCREEN 1. The LHSSL make use of a MANDATORY pitching screen for the safety and protection of pitchers during play. a) SCREEN PLACEMENT b) The screen shall be placed seven (7) feet in front of the pitching rubber/pitcher s box. For right handed pitchers the screen s right edge is placed in line with the center of the pitching plate. Left handed pitchers the screen is flipped just the opposite. The screen s wheels are toward the 1st base for right handers and on the 3rd base side for left handers. c) It is encouraged, but optional, for the pitcher to take a position behind the screen after the ball is pitched to avoid being struck by a line drive hit. D. PITCHER S GEAR 1. The use of a face mask and shin guards are MANDATORY for all pitchers. Failure to do so will result in the pitcher being removed from the pitching position. 3 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
III. E. UNIFORMS 1. Uniforms are league issued numbered jerseys and caps. They shall be worn properly by all team members while playing their games. MANAGERS, PLAYERS, COURTESY RUNNERS and CAN-PLAYERS A. MANAGERS & LINEUPS 1. They may coach bases, instruct players, make lineup cards and otherwise represent their team in all LHSSL business a) Playing - A playing manager must be included in the lineup. They cannot pick and choose when they will play in a game. An exception can be made for injury or illness provided the opposing manager and plate umpire agree. Agreements regarding non-play will fall under the Fair Play rule. b) Non-Playing - A non-playing manager is a manager that does not play in games. The only exception is when their team is missing players and there aren t enough CAN-Players available. Agreements regarding play will fall under the Fair Play rule 2. Lineup Cards a) Lineup cards are required for all games and copies must be provided to the plate umpire, the opposing manager and scorekeeper before games start. b) All Players must bat and be shown on the lineup card. Players have a choice to hit and not play defense. c) Minimum number of players to start a game is eight (8) roster players or the game is a forfeit. If a player arrives late, he/she will be placed at the bottom of the batting order. If a CAN-Player was being used to meet minimum player requirement, he/she will leave the game. B. ROSTER PLAYERS 1. Players are selected by the Manager or his designee during the league draft. 2. Once a player is drafted, they are connected to that team for the playing year. 3. If a player is injured and must miss games a replacement player is selected from the Player s Representative s Player Waiting List. 4. If the injured player returns to play, they must rejoin their team. The replacement player is reassigned to the waiting list again. 5. No player may be replaced after July 31 st to preserve the integrity of the year end tournament. C. COURTESY RUNNER (CR) 1. ELIGIBILITY a) A CR is any player who runs for another player. A CR can run for anyone on base or the batter. b) A CR is officially in the game as a runner when they touch the bag they are running from, including the starting point behind home plate. 2. LIMITATIONS a) A player can be a CR no more than three times per game and only one time per inning no matter the circumstance. b) A CR cannot replace another CR except in the case of injury provided the runner doesn t run twice in the inning. c) A non-playing manager and/or a CAN-Player cannot be used as a CR. d) A CR from home plate may only advance to first base. No running restrictions after reaching base. 3. RUNNING FOR THE PITCHER a) CRs for the pitcher will count. There is not an exception to allow the pitcher to gear up for the next inning. 4 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
4. MISUSE a) A misuse of a CR is an appeal play and must be made by the opposing manager before the next pitch. (1) Penalty: CR running illegally and appealed properly is an OUT. Infractions caught before the CR is placed are a warning by the plate umpire and manager s removal if repeated. D. CAN-PLAYERS (Substitutes) 1. SELECTION OF A CAN-PLAYER a) When, at any time, a team is short-handed (less than 10 players), one or two substitute players, of similar playing ability as the missing player(s). can be picked up to play depending upon substitute availability from the CAN. If no substitutes are available, the manager may choose to forfeit or play shorthanded. b) The CAN is a box located at the field. Players desiring to substitute for a missing player must place their name in the CAN. A CAN-Player s name is randomly drawn from the CAN. 2. ELIGIBILITY a) A CAN-Player is defined as an eligible player joining a team on a temporary basis who is not on the roster for that team. A player may be a CAN- Player only if they have paid their minimum dues to LHSSL to play at the LHSSL field. Players out of the CAN are limited to one (1) game a day, as a CAN- Player, unless no players are available. 3. LIMITATIONS a) A CAN-Player has limitations on how they are played. (1) They may NOT act as CRs. (2) The may play catcher, right field or first base only. If a team requires one CAN-Player, the player must catch or play first base. If two CAN-Players are used, they must play first base, right field or catcher. (3) A CAN-Player(s) must bat at the bottom of the lineup (9th or 10th in the order) (4) CAN-Players hitting a fair ball are limited to singles only (including a ball hit over the fence). Any runner already on base can advance without restriction. After the CAN-Player has safely reached first base, there are no restrictions for running on hits by subsequent batters. 4. PRIORITY SELECTION PROCESS a) The Commissioner or his designee draws the names from The CAN. Players not on a team will have 1st priority and will fill out a pink slip. All others will fill out a white slip. Players selected should match the skill levels of the missing players whenever possible and that decision is solely the Commissioner s. Managers cannot refuse to accept the player drawn from the CAN. b) CAN-Players do not have to have a uniform jersey or hat but must be attired in clothing appropriate for playing softball. A CAN-Player shall not wear the jersey for the team they will be playing. E. PITCHING SUBSTITUTES 1. In cases when a team is without a pitcher, a pitcher may be selected outside the CAN by mutual agreement of all the managers involved (including the manager of the team for whom the pitcher plays, if available), even if the team is not short-handed. A substitute pitcher is under the same running and hitting restrictions as a CAN-Player. 5 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
IV. F. PLAYERS LEAVING THE GAME 1. There is no penalty for a player leaving the game for a legitimate reason. Just skip the batter in the lineup and play on. If the departing player leaves the team shorthanded (less than 10 players) the manager may request a player from the CAN, following the same restrictions as above. The clock does not stop unless there was an injury causing the player to leave the game. Once the player is off the field the clock is restarted. The CAN-Player is placed at the bottom of the order. THE GAME A. GAME DURATION 1. The time limit is sixty-five (65) minutes. When 65 minutes are up the umpire notifies both teams that the current inning, if it s not the open inning, will be completed and the following inning will be the open inning. Tied games are allowed during recreation league. The only time the clock is stopped is for an injury. The decision is the plate umpire s only. B. STARTING COUNT 1. The batter starts with a 0-0 count (USA Softball rules start with 1-1 count). C. HOME RUNS 1. Any ball hit leaving the field, over the fence and/or the scoreboard/clock, in fair territory shall be declared a home run. Unlimited home runs are allowed. D. MERCY OR RUN AHEAD RULE - Background: The Mercy Rule is in place to keep games from being blowout games and keeping games on schedule. 1. If a team is trailing by 10 runs at the completion of the 5 th inning, the 6 th inning will be declared the open inning and the flip-flop rule should be used if appropriate. Clock time does not matter. 2. End of the 6th inning: If either team is ahead by 10 or more runs at the end of the 6th inning, the game is over. 3. Flip/Flop: The flip/flop rule comes into effect when the home team is behind by ten or more runs at the end of five innings. The home team becomes the visiting team in the sixth inning. If they tie or go ahead, their opponents will bat as home team in the bottom half of the sixth in order to give them their final at bat of the game. When the inning is over the game is over. The Flip/Flop rule will be enforced whenever possible. It s not a manager s choice. E. PITCHING 1. PITCH HEIGHTS a) Pitch heights are a minimum of 6 feet and a maximum of 12 feet judged by the plate umpire. Pitcher must start with both feet within the 6-foot pitching box. b) Violations of pitching heights or pitching mechanics will be called as illegal pitches. 2. BATTED BALLS HITTING SCREEN. a) The first two batted balls hitting the screen will be called strikes. Batted balls thereafter will be called dead balls. b) If a thrown ball hits the screen it is a live ball and still playable. 3. FORCE OUT AT FIRST EXCEPTION a) A batter-runner hitting an untouched ball to the outfield cannot be thrown out at first base by an outfielder unless the ball is first touched by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, shortstop or pitcher. Relays to 1 st base are not allowed. Infielders playing on the grass are still considered infielders. F. TEMPERATURE RULE 1. If a game has started and the temperature measured in the shade (under the Scorekeepers tower) at DWF is 97 degrees or below, the game will play to conclusion. If 6 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s
only one team wants to stop play, they incur a forfeit. Any games scheduled to start with a temperature of 98 or above, will be canceled. G. FAIR PLAY 1. Generally, prior to the start of the game, in order to play under a fair play rule the rule must be by mutual consent and approval of both managers and the plate umpire. If no agreement can be reached regarding the proposed fair play rule then the matter shall be decided by the plate umpire. Fair play rules may, but it is recommended they not, take precedent over established rules. Fair play rules should be allowed in circumstances that will not impact the game in such a way as to give an unfair advantage over an opponent. 2. Examples of fair play rules are: 3. allowing a player to wear a different hat. 4. allowing a player to wear a coat over their uniform. 5. allowing a player to play without a team shirt. 6. allowing a non-playing manager to play when no substitutes are available and there are only eight available players to play. 7 P a g e 2019L H S S L R u l e s