ARDEN PARK RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE RULES GENERAL INFORMATION: 1. All softball teams must complete an official roster at or before the first game. 2. Roster limits are 16 for Men s league and 16 for Coed league unless authorized by the district. 3. No roster additions may be made after the middle of the season. 4. A player can play for more than one team in the same league, but when the two teams play each other, the player must choose one team. If player is playing on more than one team, the player must sign each roster/waiver. 5. Pick-up players may be used in an official league game. If a team cannot field eight /nine players at game time, the game will be declared a forfeit. After a forfeit has been declared, a practice game may be played with the remaining time. Umpires and scorekeepers are not required to officiate forfeited games. 6. If team has the required number of players to begin the game, no one may be added to the lineup after everyone on the team has batted through the batting order. The new player must be added to the substitute list. If team is short players, new player must be added to bottom of lineup and vacant spot will count as an out. No new player can be added past the third inning. 7. After 2 forfeits, the League Commissioner has the right to drop any team from the league and all fees will be forfeited. 8. All players must sign the Agreement, Waiver, and Release statement before playing. Players cannot play for a team until the waiver has been signed and turned in to the District. Any team using a player who has not signed a waiver will forfeit the game. (Please see Rule #3) 9. One umpire and one scorekeeper will be supplied per game. If scorekeeper does not show up, it is up to the home team to keep the official score of the game. 10. The District for each game will supply one NEW softball and one USED softball per game. 11. If there is a possibility that a game will be canceled because of poor weather, the team manager will be notified by email.. 12. FIRST PLACE T-shirts will be awarded to individuals on teams who finish first in their league. We will allow a maximum of 16 shirts for winning teams. Players must be on the roster/waiver form to receive a shirt. 13. All rosters will be checked for validity throughout the season. Any team found guilty of falsifying information on its rosters or waivers will be disqualified from further participation. All program fees will be forfeited. 14. Injuries or accidents which occur to players, officials, spectators or park participants as a result of an official softball game are not the liability of the Arden Park Recreation and Park District. 1
15. Each team must furnish their own bats, catchers mask (if desired) gloves or any other ASA approved equipment. 16. If a game is tied at the end of time limit, one more inning will be played to break the tie. If the game is still tied, the game will end and will only be rescheduled if it has a bearing on the league standings. 17. Rainouts may be rescheduled at the discretion of the League Commissioner. Make-up games may be rescheduled on a day that is different from the normal league play. GENERAL RULES: 1. All games shall be governed by ASA rules and regulations. The district reserves the right to alter any ASA rule(s) for the good of the Arden Park program. 2. Batters will start with a 1 ball and 1 strike count. 3. A mat will be placed behind home plate and will be used to determine balls and strikes. 4. A game will consist of 7 innings or 55 minutes. If a player is injured on the field, time will be suspended until the player is removed or is able to continue to play. 5. Eight players are needed to start a game (Men s Division). The game will begin at the scheduled time. If the defensive team does not have eight players on the field, it will be a forfeit. In case of injury or ejection a team may continue with fewer players; however, each ejected player will count as an out in the line-up. A minimum of eight players is required to continue a game. Dropping below eight players will result in a forfeit. When playing short of players, the vacant spot at the bottom of the line-up will be considered an automatic out. When the missing player arrives, he/she must fill the empty spot at the bottom of the line-up. Game time is forfeit time. 6. No drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted during or before the game by team players. Teams in violation of this rule will forfeit the game. Use of glass containers will not be allowed in Arden Park. 7. There will be no protests of an umpire s judgment call. Official protests must be filed at the district office on the first working day following the game. The umpire and scorekeeper are to be notified immediately by the manager of the intent to file protest. Do not wait until the game is over. The fee for the protest is $50.00 and is refundable if the protest is won. 8. After two strikes, a batter will be allowed only 1 foul ball; next foul ball constitutes an out. 9. a. No metal cleats may be worn. b. No bunting or stealing. c. No advancing bases after the third strike. d. No leading off by base runners. e. Sliding is okay in Men s play only. f. NO SLIDING INTO HOME PLATE IS ALLOWED 10. The umpire / scorekeeper will keep official time. 11. When a defensive player has the ball and is waiting for the runner and the runner remains on his feet, with the intent to cause damage or personal injury, crashes into the defensive player, the runner will be declared out regardless if the defensive player drops the ball. 2
12. Conduct - The league will be governed by the Player Code of Conduct of the Arden Park Recreation and Park District. A photo ID may be used to check for legal players on team rosters. 13. The umpire before each league game will cover specific ground rules and check bats. 14. A forfeit shall be declared for non-appearance and tardiness, as well as flagrant violations of league rules and regulations. 15. If an umpire believes a team is stalling for time, he/she can call the game a forfeit and award the win to the opposing team. 16. League games cannot be postponed; therefore, there are no provisions to make up postponed games. 17. The pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter. The pitching height for Arden Park Recreation and Park District minimum is 6 and the maximum is 10 To comply with ASA pitching rules the minimum is 6 and the maximum is 10. 18. All players are required to wear rubber cleats or athletic shoes. NO STEEL CLEATS ARE ALLOWED! 19. The UMPIRE and SCORE KEEPER have authority during and after the course of a game. Any player(s) or spectators swearing, threatening, or in any way interfering with the game officials before, during or after the game constitutes grounds for suspension or dismissal from the Arden Park Recreation and Park District League. 20. If the pitcher wishes to walk a batter intentionally, he/she will notify the umpire and the batter will advance to first base without any pitches being made. 21. Throwing the bat will not be tolerated at any time and ejection is automatic. EXCEPTION: When bat is accidentally released on swing. 22. Lineups must be given to the scorekeeper 5 minutes prior to scheduled game time. 23. In the event that an official ASA umpire does not show up for a game, the District will decide if the game will be played and under what condition. 24. Multiple wall bats and bats with a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of greater than 1.20 are not permitted. For ASA Non-Approved Bat List go to www.asasoftball.com A player using an unpermitted bat will be ejected from the game and the team will receive an out. 25. All teams must follow ASA rules for a double first base as listed in the 2011 ASA Rulebook 3
COED RULES ONLY: 1. No sliding. Runners must land in an upright position on the base. 2. Teams may not field more men than women at anytime. 3. Men and women must alternate in batting order. In no instance can there be more men than women in batting order or on defense. Teams may not bat six men and five women. EXCEPTION: If more women than men are playing, two women may bat back to back in the order. 4. A game may begin / finish with 8 players. When missing player arrives, (of correct sex missing), that player must be inserted into the line-up at the 9 th or 10 th batting position. If a team plays shorthanded with either 3 in the infield or outfield, at least one of the three must be a female player. Vacant position(s) in line-up will result in an automatic out. At no time can you have more men than women in the line-up. 5. Co-ed teams must place at least 2 male & 2 female in both the infield and outfield positions. 6. 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. NOTE: Should the female batter-runner pass a male batter-runner when choosing to walk, no out shall be called during this dead ball period. A male batter-runner advancing to second base without touching first base shall be called out if properly appealed. 7. All outfielders must play 10 feet behind the dirt infield while playing in the outfield. 8. Free substitution is only allowed in coed leagues. 9. No defensive alternating of men and women is allowed 10. The limit line is midway between 3 rd base and home plate. Once the runner crosses this line, they must continue to the plate and cannot return to third. The play becomes a force out when the fielder touches the plate before the runner crosses the line. 11. All bases may be overrun. Runners must immediately return to the bag or be tagged out. If runner turns to advance to next base and is tagged prior to returning to the base they will be declared out. 12. If a team loses a player due to an injury and the injured player can not be replaced, the team will be allowed to continue the game under the following conditions: a. The team with an injured player who can no longer play must field at least 8 players on defense. If a team has fewer than 8 players, the team will forfeit the game. b. When the team bats it must maintain the male-female batting order. 13. The Arden Park Co Ed softball league will use the regulation Gold Dot restricted flight softball. PARK REGULATIONS: 1. Parking is allowed only in designated parking stalls. 2. Glass bottles are prohibited in all District Parks. 3. Dogs must be kept on a leash. 4. The District is not responsible for any damages done due to a foul ball or ball hit out of play. 4
AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (ASA): 1. All teams participating in the program must be registered through ASA for the current year. The year is from January 1 st to December 31 st. 2. It is recommended that all players and teams carry medical insurance. Insurance may be purchased through ASA. COED RULES ONLY Batting: Unlimited batting will be allowed in the Coed leagues. All registered players on a team can bat in any inning as long as the following rules are followed. 1. Male and female batters must alternate. 2. Batting order must be maintained. Ex. If Judy is the 5 th to bat, she must remain in that slot through out the game. All women must bat before the rotation is repeated and vise versa for the men. 3. Unlimited batting is optional. March 24, 2010 5