San Antonio Seniors Softball League www.sassl.org 2018 Rules a/o September 1, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Age Qualification... 4 Ball/Strike Count... 5 Bats. 2 Batter's Box... 7 Batter Eligibility... 6 Batter Runner Reaching First Base.. 8 Commitment Line 5 Courtesy Runners.. 4 Crossing or Touching Strike Mat or Batter s Box 5 End of Season Tournament... 8 Equalizer... 4 Flip-Flop 6 Forfeit 4 Handicap Player. 3 Home Runs. 6 Injured Player.. 3 Lineups... 2 Mercy Rule. 6 Players Constituting a Team.. 3 Pitchers Box.. 5 Pitchers Screen... 7 Player Conduct... 7 Player Placement.. 3 Regulation Game 5 Released Player.. 2 Replayed Game. 6 Roster Changes.. 2 Roster Restrictions.. 3 Rosters New Calendar Year.. 2 Runs per Inning.. 6 Scoring Line.. 5 Softballs 2 Team Classification. 4 Tie-Breaker 5 1
San Antonio Seniors Softball League www.sassl.org RULES 2018 GENERAL STATEMENT: The San Antonio Seniors Softball League (SASSL) is a nonprofit organization established to provide opportunities to senior men and women to promote physical and mental fitness by participating in slow-pitch softball. SASSL has adopted the SSUSA Rulebook (www.seniorsoftball.com) as a guide. (Selected rules are listed below along with league exceptions) APPROVED BATS All bats marked 1.21bpf or below, SSUSA approved bats, or bats having an ASA 2000 or 2004 stamp are approved for use. Any bat displaying the label Exceeds 1.21 BPF is not approved. The rating must be clearly visible on the bat, or it must be obvious to the inspector that the bat is of an age to make it not High-Tech. ** Use of an illegal bat will result in the batter being ejected from the game. OFFICIAL SOFTBALL Shall be a 12-inch ball with a COR of.44 and a Compression Rating of no more than 375psi, approved by SASSL and having a SASSL stamp. ** Use of an illegal ball inserted in play and hit by the batter will result in the batter being called out. Runners on base return to base previously occupied. ROSTERS IN A NEW CALENDAR YEAR At the start of a new calendar year, all players are considered free agents. A manager signs up players with which to begin the Spring League and/or the team s first season for that year. Roster changes during the season are made via the Roster Change and Player Release Notification form. The form is on our SASSL website or may be obtained from the League Chairman, Vice Chairman, or any League Commissioner. ROSTER CHANGES Any roster changes (adds, deletes) must be submitted online one week prior to the player participating. LINEUPS Managers are required to give the opposing manager a legible copy of their lineup before the start of the game. Any changes to the lineup during the game must be coordinated with the opposing manager. Non compliance will result in a forfeit. RELEASED PLAYER Players requesting a release from their current team after the season starts will be assigned to a team within that age division by the league commissioner. If a player refuses his new team assignment due to valid reasons, he is assigned to another team. If he refuses again, he sits out the remaining season. 2
If his refusal for not accepting his new team assignment is not valid, he sits out the remaining season. If the manager refuses, he is then offered to other teams within that age division according to their needs. INJURED PLAYER A player removed because of injuries cannot be reinstated until the beginning of the next season (spring, summer, fall). An injury must be certified by the manager (with the agreement of the player) and is defined as a debilitating injury that prevents a player from actively participating at least for the remainder of the season. Another player may be added to the roster replacing the injured player without penalty. NOTE: The League Commissioner has the authority to reinstate the ballplayer due to extenuating circumstances. HANDICAP PLAYER Chairman, Vice Chairman and League Commissioner must approve any handicap player before they are entitled to special batting consideration. If commissioner is not available, manager with handicap player must notify and receive acknowledgement from the opposing manager. Handicap player is entitled to have a designated runner from home plate. Designated runner (last out recorded) to stand opposite side of batter behind extended foul line. Last out recorded does not apply to 75+ league. Designated runner may not leave before ball is struck. Umpire will declare an Out for a designated runner leaving early. Handicapped batter must not cross the line that is 10 feet from home plate or risk being called out. Once designated runner reaches base, he can be replaced by a courtesy runner. PLAYER PLACEMENT The League Commissioners, with approval of the Chairman or Vice Chairman, have discretionary authority on player placement whenever there are unusual or special circumstances. This includes, but not limited to, placement in a different age division, placement on a particular team, etc. ROSTER RESTRICTIONS 40+,50+,60+,65+ - Teams will be allowed a minimum of 12 players and a maximum of 20 players on their roster. Saturday players can sign up for only one team. 70+,75+ - Teams will be allowed a maximum of 18 players on their roster. (75+ teams can carry five age 74 players that can be on only one 75+ roster) EXCEPTION: A player returning from an injury or other health problem has the option of returning to their former team (with manager approval), provided the team is under the maximum number of players. NUMBER OF PLAYERS CONSTITUTING A TEAM 1. 40+,50+,60+, 65+ - Ten (10) players constitute a team; however, a team may start a game with no fewer than nine (9) players (see Forfeit Rule for exception). A tenth (10 th ) player on the roster may be added any time during the game, batting in the last (10 th) position. If starting with 9 players, an out will not be recorded for the 10 th position. 3
2. 70+,75+- Eleven (11) players constitute a team; however, a team may start a game with no fewer than ten (10) players (see Forfeit Rule for exception). An eleventh (11 th ) player on the roster may be added any time during the game, batting in the last (11 th ) position. If starting with 10 players, an out will not be recorded for the 11 th position. TEAM CLASSIFICATION The Chairman and Vice Chairman of SASSL has the authority to classify/reclassify a teams' rating based on their team strength. AGE QUALIFICATION The age a player attains on his birthday in any particular year will be considered to be his age for that entire calendar year. FORFEIT If teams have a minimum of 8 (9 for 70/75), they are allowed to pick up 1-2 registered players from their age group or above without penalty in order to reach the maximum of players for their age group. Team members arriving late must replace picked up players. A minimum of 9 players(10 for 70/75) are required to start the game in order to avoid a forfeit. Picking up more than 2 players must be approved by the opposing manager and if that team is receiving equalizer runs, those runs will be forfeited. Teams that forfeit due to insufficient players can pick up players from any age group in order to play the game. If a team forfeits two games (without playing the game), they will be removed from the league. COURTESY RUNNERS Courtesy runners can be inserted into the game at any time. 70+,75+ = Unlimited courtesy runners and the same runner can run multiple times in the same inning. 40+,50+,60+, 65+ = Unlimited courtesy runners but the same runner cannot be used twice in the same inning. Note: A runner who is replaced with a courtesy runner may not be used as a courtesy runner for the remainder of the inning. EQUALIZER The Ratings Committee will assess each team and assign equalizers based on the following three ratings levels: Level 1 recreational teams Receive a maximum of 5 runs or an extra defensive player when playing a Level 2 team Receive a maximum of 7 runs or 5 runs and an extra defensive player when playing a Level 3 team Level 2 competitive teams Receive a maximum of 5 runs or an extra defensive player when playing a Level 3 team Level 3 highly competitive teams If there is a substantial change in the makeup of any team during a season, the Ratings Committee may revise team rating levels as needed. 4
(NOTE: Teams receiving 5 runs will have 1 run added in innings 1 thru 5. Teams receiving 7 runs will have 2 runs in inning 1 & 2 and one run in innings 3, 4, 5.) 40+, 50+ teams receive 5 or 7 runs depending of the level of competition and do not have the option of an extra defensive player. Teams comprised of 11 defensive players can only receive equalizer runs. REGULATION GAME Seven (7) innings or 50 minutes followed by a modified open inning. The time will start when the umpire says Home Team Take The Field. After the allotted minutes have expired, the umpire shall notify both teams that the next inning will be the open inning. In the open inning, visiting team is limited to 15 runs (10 for 70/75) over the home team score, thus ending the half inning. Home team in their at-bat can score runs only to tie the visiting team score, thus ending the half inning. The next inning will utilize the Tie Breaker Rule utilizing the same modified open inning. If the score is tied at end of regulation, the Tie-Breaker Rule will be used. CROSSING OR TOUCHING STRIKE MAT OR BATTER'S BOX The runner shall be called out if he touches or crosses over any portion of the strike mat or the batter's boxes. The ball will remain live. SCORING LINE A base runner s foot must be down on the line or down past the scoring line prior to the ball being received by a defensive player touching the strike mat. COMMITMENT LINE A commitment line 30 feet from the scoring line will be used. Once a runner s foot touches the ground on or past this line, the runner is committed to advance to the scoring line and may no longer be tagged out. A runner re-crossing the commitment line to return to third base will be called out and the ball remains live. BALL/STRIKE COUNT Batter starts his at-bat with zero ball, zero strike count, no courtesy foul after two strikes. 70+ & 75+ will utilize a 1-1 count with no courtesy foul. 50+ will use 1-1 w/courtesy PITCHERS BOX The Pitchers Box consists of the area from the front of the pitchers plate, 50 feet from Home Plate, and extending back ten (10) feet perpendicular to the pitchers plate. TIE-BREAKER Each team will start each additional inning with a runner on second base and the batter having a 3-2 count. The runner will be the last player that completed his turn at bat when the third out was made in the previous inning. No courtesy runner is allowed to replace the runner starting at second base until he has advanced to third base. If this runner is unable to continue play, for any reason, he will be declared out and the next previous batter will be the tie breaker runner. The runner that was unable to continue may not play for the remainder of the game. All additional innings will be played according to the modified open inning as described in the Regulation Game Rule. 5
REPLAYED GAME Games that are interrupted shall be replayed from the point of interruption of that game, unless the teams mutually agree to accept the existing score as the final score. Original lineups will be used but if a lineup player is unavailable, substitutes can be used from the team roster. In the event that a game cannot be completed, an official game may be called after five (5) innings of play or 4 1/2 innings of play (if the home team is ahead.) FLIP-FLOP After the umpire has declared the unlimited inning AND if the Visiting Team is ahead by 10 or more runs, the Home Team will remain at bat and start new at-bats. All runners on base will return to the dugout. The Home Team will start the open inning. If the Home Team fails to tie or pull ahead of the Visiting Team, the game ends and the Visiting Team wins. If the Home Team ties or pulls ahead, the Visiting Team comes up to bat. If the game ends in a tie, the game continues with a one-pitch format using the Tie-Breaker Rule. NOTE: If the Visiting Team is ahead by less than 10 runs, the Home Team manager (with agreement of the Visiting Team manager) may request that the Flip-Flop Rule be invoked. HOME RUN (Home Run batter hits and sits runners on base walk off). When the ball clears the outfield fence it is considered a dead ball and runners on base return to their respective dugout without penalty. 40+ teams = limit of 6 home runs over the fence. Over the limit is an out. 50+, 60/65 tournament teams = limit of 3 over the fence home runs (over the limit see below) 60/65 rec, 70+ teams = limit of 1 over the fence home run (over the limit see below) ***Each home run over the limit is a walk and the base runners advance only if forced by the batter being awarded the walk. A team may hit up to its limit of home runs at any time during the game, including a game-winning home run. MERCY RULE A 15 run mercy rule will be in effect after 5 innings (4 ½ if the home team is ahead) thus ending the game regardless of whether either team has had their unlimited inning. RUNS PER INNING Five (5) run maximum per inning except for the modified open inning. BATTER ELIGIBILITY A team may bat every player in the dugout listed on the team roster. All batters must be listed on the Line-up card submitted to the scorekeeper prior to the start of the game. The number of batters listed cannot be reduced without recording an out when the vacant position comes to bat. A player on a teams roster who arrives late for a game may be inserted at the end of the lineup without penalty. In the case of an injury, an out will be recorded only the first time the vacant position comes to bat. (Exception: if a player is ejected, an out will be recorded every time that position comes to bat) PLAYER CONDUCT 1. Alcoholic beverages will not be permitted within the confines of the playing field or the dugout. Manager and player will receive a warning. If the warning is ignored, 6
offending player will be ejected from the game and is required to leave the premises. Additional offenses by the same player will result in suspension for the remainder of the season. 2. Vulgar or offensive language will not be tolerated and will result in a warning from the umpire. Continued misconduct will result in ejection and the player required to leave the premises. 3. Throwing the bat in anger will result in ejection and the player is required to leave the premises. 4. Throwing a punch at another player will result in immediate ejection and may result in expulsion for a calendar year. Ejected player is required to leave the premises. 5. Arguing with the umpire will result in a warning and continued misconduct will result in ejection from the game and the player is required to leave the premises. 6. Only on-deck batter and base coaches are allowed outside the dugout when the team is at bat. First offense will result in a warning to the manager, second offense will result in the manager being ejected. Third offense will result in a forfeit of the game. BATTER'S BOX The batter must have at least some portion of both feet on or inside the lines of the batter's box at the start of the pitch. A batter who steps out of the batter's box at any time during the pitch and then hits the ball, fair or foul, shall be called out. Step out means touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box. PITCHERS SCREEN (mandatory use for 40+ only) 1. Each pitcher has the option of using or not using the screen. If elected to use the screen, the screen must be used the entire game. 2. If the opposing pitcher chooses not to use the screen, the pitcher using the screen must place and remove the screen at the end of the half inning. If the screen is not used, it will be placed behind the catcher, next to the backstop fence. 3. If a pitching change is made, the new pitcher has the option of using/not using the screen. 4. First batted ball striking the screen is a foul ball. Second batted ball striking the screen is an out. Batter having two strikes and hits the screen will be an out. 5. Pitchers refusing to utilize the screen are not protected by any up the middle rule. 6. Pitchers are required to wear protective face mask. Chest protection and shin guards are recommended. Screen Placement 1. The screen will directly face home plate within one to three feet in front of the pitching rubber. 2. The screen may be positioned anywhere from the outer left side of the pitching rubber for a right handed pitcher or the outer right side of the pitching rubber for a left handed pitcher. Pitcher can reposition the screen once in a half inning. 3. Any pitch delivered with the screen not in a legal position will be declared a "no pitch". If a pitcher refuses to place the screen in the correct position, the umpire will notify the players' manager and remove the pitcher from the pitching position. 4. The pitcher will deliver the ball and step behind the pitchers screen, failure to do so will result in an illegal pitch being called by the umpire (umpire judgment). 5. Any thrown ball hitting the pitchers screen is in play. 7
BATTER/RUNNER REACHING FIRST BASE Each batter must reach first base on his own. A double bag shall be used at first base, the double portion of the bag (normally orange) being in foul territory abutting first base. If there is a play on a batter/runner going to first base, the batter/runner must touch the orange portion of the double bag extending into foul territory. He will be called out if he fails to do so, except to avoid a collision in the judgment of the umpire. This is NOT an appeal play. EXCEPTION: If a defensive player has to move onto the orange bag in foul territory to make the play, the runner may touch either bag if, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner touched the inside white bag to avoid a collision. Important: The defending player has only the white base inside fair territory to make the putout; his touch of only the orange bag in foul territory will NOT result in an OUT. END OF SEASON TOURNAMENT Rosters at the end of the Fall Season are frozen and will be the official rosters used for the End of Season Tournament. Players may not be added after rosters are frozen. Forfeit Rule used in regular season is also in effect for End of Season Tournament. Championship game and 'if' game will be 60 minutes or 7 innings, mercy rule in effect. 8